Antiques Roadshow Tour 2000

Showing up the likes of Austin City Limits, Masterpiece Theater and even Big Bird, Chubb's Antiques Roadshow currently leads the pack being touted as "the most-watched television series on PBS."

And it's really no wonder the show's so popular. Its amazing appraisals on items worth thousands of dollars even capture the attention of non-collectors. References to the program turn up on prime time television shows like Frasier, and Roadshow appraisers have even appeared on the Today Show.

For folks living in or near a city where the 2000 summer taping tour makes a stop, the real excitement is merely months away.

The Show

On June 3, the Austin Convention Center will buzz with people from all over Central Texas hoping their treasures amount to something worthy of on-air attention. They'll be part of the first leg of the Roadshow's 2000 tour. And even if they don't make the cut for television, everyone with an Antiques Roadshow ticket gets a verbal appraisal for up to two items.

Beginning at noon April 22, the tickets for this first stop on the roadshow tour went up for grabs. And as we say in Texas, they didn't last till the water got hot. All the tickets, issued through Ticketmaster free of charge and distributed by mail, were snapped up by eager Texans hoping for a chance to partake in the festivity.

And you definitely need an advance ticket to gain entrance to the tapings. No tickets will be distributed at the events and only a limited number are available, so be sure to call early if you'd like to attend. There is a limit of four tickets per household and each ticket holder must bring at least one item to be appraised to gain admittance to the venue.

Appraisals will begin at 8 a.m. and continue throughout the day. When you order tickets, you'll be given a choice of entrance times at 1 1/2 hour intervals through 3:30 p.m. The event ends when appraisals have been completed for all ticket holders in line.

All children over the age of 3 need tickets and all children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. If a child under 18 lucks out by bringing an item chosen for taping, a parent's signature is required on a release form. In fact, anyone taped for a televised appraisal must sign a release form.

About 60-70 appraisers in more than 20 different categories will provide verbal assessments. No coins or stamps will be appraised at any show and neither Austin nor Denver will host appraisals on firearms.

Experts employed by Chubb's Antiques Roadshow see about 700 items each hour on a first-come, first-served basis. How long it actually takes to navigate a line depends on how many people are in front of you. Some categories are more popular than others and require more wait time.

In other words, dress comfortably and plan to be in line for quite some time. Special provisions aren't made for the elderly or physically challenged, but all Roadshow venues are wheelchair accessible.

And if you're taking a large or heavy item, be prepared to transport it yourself on a luggage cart or dolly. No staffers will be on hand to assist with moving.

Lots of rules, lots of restrictions, but with the capacity for thousands of people at each taping, it just makes sense to keep things organized.

Where you can try to catch up with the show: