‘American Pickers’ is coming to Illinois this summer. Here’s how you could be featured
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A popular History Channel show will visit the Land of Lincoln this summer, and producers are searching for Illinois residents with interesting collections to feature.
The American Pickers crew will film in Illinois this July, though specific dates have not yet been announced. The show has featured a wide variety of collections in its 362 episodes, but some items tend to stand out more than others, producer Jasmina Joseph said in an interview with the Belleville News-Democrat.
The pickers travel the U.S. seeking out “hidden gems” to restore, and the show aims to educate viewers on the history behind antique items.
The show’s cast includes Mike Wolfe, “one of the country’s foremost foragers,” per his history channel biography, his brother Robbie Wolfe and Danielle Colby, shop manager and vintage collector.
Mike Wolfe was born in Joliet, Ill., and he explored vintage items in the Land of Lincoln in a 2013 episode titled “Hometown Pickin’.”
Here’s what to know about the American Pickers selection process and how you can apply in Illinois.
What do the American Pickers look for?
The American Pickers gravitate toward historically significant or rare items. Bikes and vintage cars tend to be popular, Joseph said, but anything with an interesting story behind it is a good candidate.
“We definitely look for the aspect of great stories, something that is historical,” Joseph said. “Sometimes you may see something, but once you hear the story behind it or how it got collected, it gives it more of a deeper meaning.”
Past “picks” include an engraved sword, a bike from the 1880s, a 1948 jukebox and more.
The show has come through the state in the past. In season two, episode nine, the pickers visited a storage facility in Illinois and bought three “Victorian-era erotic photographs” for $25, according to the History Channel.
In a 2013 episode, the pickers bid on a frame of a famous hotrod in Illinois.
How can you submit your collection for consideration?
The American Pickers have already received a volume of submissions for their upcoming shows, but are still accepting inquiries from Illinois residents.
If you’re interested in being considered for American Pickers, you can call 646-493-2184 or email AmericanPickers@cineflix.com. The pickers ask applicants to include their full name, city and state, contact information and a brief description of their collection.
You will only receive a response if the the show is interested in your collection, the History Channel website says.
Only private collections are considered, so anything at a store, museum, business or anywhere else public is ineligible.
