PBS: History Detectives

PBS Series

History Detectives is a PBS series featuring a team of architects, antique experts and historians using the latest investigative technology to make amazing discoveries about the homes, possessions and family histories of everyday Americans.

Episode two features a search for the first Hollywood movie studio that a resident of Lincoln Heights, Calif., thinks may be in her neighborhood park. Also, a Washington resident owns an old movie camera he believes could have been used to film the original version of "King Kong." Finally, the team investigates an antique Kaschie lighter engraved with the name of one the Warner brothers and Ufatone, Germany's largest studio. What are the names of these competitors doing on the same lighter?

Elyse Luray, an independent appraiser and expert in art history, was online Tuesday, July 13 at 1 p.m. ET to discuss the episode and the series.

Luray was formerly the vice president and auctioneer at Christie's for over 10-years. She has made regular appearances on "The Early Show" on a segment called "The Real Deal." She has also appeared on NBC, AMC, FX, CNBC, Fox and on such programs as the "Today" show. She has contributed to several publications, including the New York Times, the Daily News and USA Today. She has also appeared on PBS's "Antiques Roadshow" since 1998.

Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.

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Elyse Luray: hello. thanks for all for watching last night's episode. I hope you all are enjoying our second season!

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Downey, Calif.: Oh my...I got home in time to see your search on the Movie KING KONG...my favorite.

But now, I have just got to have a copy of
the King Kong game. Can you let me know
where I can purchase one just like the one you gave on your episode...I need one.

Thank you, Alice

Elyse Luray: Thank you were watching. I love King Kong as well and have sold the original movie poster for more then $100,000! Collectors love things from the first movie.

As for the game, we actually bought it on Ebay! Just make sure you find one with all the original pieces and the box should be in mint condition.

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Ridgecrest, Calif.: Hiya Elyse,
I loved last night's episode with the Hollywood mysteries and I enjoy the show immensely. But my question is of a different vein. What are your two favorite time periods in ALL of history?

Ruby

Elyse Luray: Thanks for watching. I am in love with the wild west and the period of the cowboy after 1865. When I was at Christie's auction house I helped launch the Western Americana Department. I loved traveling around the west and seeing objects that cowboys and Native Americans made for survival.

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Phoenix, Ariz.: Just wanted to say that I very much enjoy watching this program. It's different, you learn unusual bits of history and entertaining.

Elyse Luray: Thank you so much. It really means the world to all of us on History Detective that others enjoy our show as much as we do.

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Columbia, S.C.: To: Elyse Luray

What was missing on the side of the lighter last night??

Elyse Luray: On one side of the lighter there was a missing piece. It's a cap thats round and screws on to the top of the piece on the side. It does not effect the value or importance of the piece.

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Phoenix, Ariz.: How can someone trace the history of a Civil War officer's sword? I apparently have a relative who was a Union general and the sword was handed down to my father about 20 years ago, along with a boatload of 19th century furniture shipped out from Massachusetts (none of which fits a 21st century house and which will eventually be a massive headache for my brothers and I).

I like the show very much, by the way; PBS hits another home run.

Ken

Elyse Luray: First, you need to gather more information about the sword and your family. Do you have the sword? If so, are there any markings on it? Can you tell who the maker is? We need to date the sword and make sure its period to the Civil War. Then, I would start gathering information about your relative. THere is ton of information on the web about the Union and its officers. You can use our website at pbs.org/historydetectives to show you show to research a relative. Sounds like a ton of fun!

As for your furniture, 19th Century furniture is very collectible and commands strong prices at auction! You should send pictures to Wes Cowan and have it appraise it

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Phoenix, Ariz.: Elyse I love History Detectives I was wondering if you could just give a little more of your background. I was also wondering what your favorite History Detective story was and also what was your favorite item you appraised on the Antiques Roadshow.
Thank you,
Lisa C.

Elyse Luray: Thank you so much for your reply. I was an Art History major at Tulane University. After school, I worked for Christie's auction house for 10 years as a Vice President and Auctioneer. I ran the Collectibles Department and help start the Western Americana, American Indian Art and Arms and Armour Department.

Looking at objects and being at so many auctions and antique shows gave me the best education that I could get. Appraisers are always learning something new as objects are always connnected to history.

My favorite item from the Road Show was a group of animation cels from the Disney studios from the 1937 to the 1950's. The women who brought them in worked in the Ink and Paint Department at the studio and actually made them. She did not earn hardly any money in those days and now her collection was worth $30,000! She was so nice and had so much knowledge of the history of Disney. She was priceless!

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Mclean, Va.: Dear Elyse,
I love your show. I have been waiting all spring for its return. Last nights show was great. I do have a quick question. Do you believe that Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 911 is a documentary? Since it's based mostly on opinion and not fact? Do you believe it can be a true documentary since it is not 100 percent accurate? I was really surprised that it came up in last night's show. Keep up the great work the whole team is amazing. I bet you guys really rack up the frequent flyer miles!! Take care. Glenn

Elyse Luray: Thanks Glenn. I am so happy you like the show. I really could not tell you my opinion on Fahrenheit911 as I have not seen it yet. I am going on vacation this weekend, to Sun Valley, Idaho, and hope to find time to see it!

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Franklin, Tenn.: First off, I want to say "Thanks" to you and everyone involved in the show. It's great!

I am curious how much influence you, as a presenter, have on the choice of stories to be explored? And, following the decision to research a story, how are the tasks divided up?

Elyse Luray: Thank you so much for your kind words. Gwen, Tukufu, Wes and I all help with picking the stories. We all use our professional backgrounds to help to our research team decide if they should persue a story. For example, Wes and I vet objects to make sure they are real and have a true story, before we start looking into the person's question. If you can tell right away that a letter is a fake then there is no use in going thru all that work!

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Harrisburg, Pa.: I love the series and looked forward to its return this summer. Where did the idea for the series come from, and how were the four of you chosen?

Laura

Elyse Luray: Thank you Laura for your kind words. The series idea came from Lion TV, a production company out of London that is now in New York City as well. I believe the four of us were chosen after a long search. We all have different backgrounds and expertise. Wes is an excellent appraiser and knows a lot about photography and documents. Tukufu and Gwenn are Professors and have published many books in their fields of African History and Architecture. I am an appraiser as well and my speciality is pop culture.

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Swampscott, Mass.: I saw just one episode of History Detectives and am now hooked. I loved it. I had honestly never considered such a profession. As a soon to be senior in high school I am looking at colleges and thinking about my own education and future. I am interested to know about your educational background and when you decided that you wanted to become a historian and art history expert.

Elyse Luray: I am so happy that you love the show. I decide to study art history while attending college. I LOVE working with objects and feel as thought I learn something new everyday. My advice to you is to look into all areas of art; paintings, decorative objects, photography, documents, etc and see what period you want to study. Also, internships help. I interned at the Baltimore Museum of Art, A Gallery for Fine Photography in New Orleans and the New Orleans Contemporary Arts Center. Flea markets and museums are a great place to learn. There is certainly alot of history in you neck of the woods!GOOD LUCK!

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Rochester, NY: Your investigation of the Monopoly--Landlord's Game connection was extremely fascinating, but I wish you had also explored any legal or financial link between Lizzie ?? and Charles Darrow. Parker Brothers apparently thought she had some minor claim because they paid her $500. For example, did her patent attorney write any "cease and desist" or "you owe us royalties" letters to Darrow when he was selling his Monopoly game? It is my understanding that patents were good for 17 years (at that time), and Lizzie's was issued in 1904, so patent infringement does not appear to be a factor. But why, then, did Parker Brothers pay Lizzie $500?

Elyse Luray: Thanks for watching. Unfortunatley, Lizze McGee did not pursue the "legal game" to get more money. Her intentions were simply to spread the theory of the Georgist movement. According to our reseach, when Parker Brothers bought the game from Charles Darrow, they did not kwow about Lizzie. In my opinion, they simply bought her off, to make sure that their "money making" and successful game was clean. Maybe they were trying to make sure there were no future problems.

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Arlington, VA: I thought the lighter was the best of the three episodes last night - since it was really a rare piece from such an interesting historical time. The themed shows are good, but I also very much enjoy the "random" different episodes.

Elyse Luray: Thanks. I love the lighter story as well and it was a treat to meet with Harry's family. He was a quite a man.

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Pittsburg California: I see you love the same period in history as I do but what about WW2? I have some items from that time that were handed down to me.

Elyse Luray: You should submit them to our site. pbs.org/historydetectives. It depends what they are and how rare they are, but WW2 items can be worth some money

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Memphis, Tenn.: I have a log of when my grandfather was in the Navy in 1900's. He was on the USS Decatur when it was commissioned and brought back Oliver Perry's from France. He went on to the Orient and returned from there to be discharged.
Is there any value in this? My sisters and I were wondering if a museum or something like this would be valuable.
Thanks, John

Elyse Luray: Without seeing it, its hard to tell. The condition is important. Of course, I do think it has value, especially historical value. Wes Cowan's auctions does appraisals and Historical Societies are ALWAYS interested in items like yours.

thanks for wathcing!

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St. Cloud, Fla.: I love the show and was wondering, what is your favorite object that you have investigated? P.S. I think you are incredibly beautiful...

Elyse Luray: Thanks for your sweet words. My favorite investgation was the Monopoly board. I love Pop Culture and I loved the history of the game. Also, I feel that EVERYONE has played this game and can relate to it!

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Staten Island, N.Y.: hi elyse,i am trying to trace a civil war relative,but have very limited information on him.i believe he served at ft.hamilton in brooklyn n.y.can you tell me where i can find the records of the fort where he served?

Elyse Luray: Thanks for wathcing. You should check our website at pbs.org/historydetectives. It has infomation that will help you start your investagation!

good luck!

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Columbia, S.C.: Dear Elyse,

I have an old glass insulator from the top of a telephone pole. It is green and has 1946 molded on the bottom. I have been told they are valuable. Are they???

Ricky

Elyse Luray: Thanks Ricky. It's hard to say without seeing the piece. Just be careful as 1946 is probably the patent date on the glass. It could be made later. Either way, people love to old glass..

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Bushnell, Fla.: Early 1900's electric train. Lionel with Pullman cars and stained glass widows. Have more info on Ser# and date of purchase. Original transformer and still runs every Christmas, supposedly seized from Burghoff (Wolfs lair) 1945. Would like appraisal and possible invest into Nazi train set used by (Hitler) or Spirman for war gameing purposes.
Have verbal documentation for possesion of train. Please reply.

Elyse Luray: It hard to say without seeing the piece although early 1900 Lionel with the pullman cars are very collectible (assuming the condition is good and they have their original parts.) Do you have the original boxes? Do you have documentation about the Burghoff connection? Without it, its a hard sell. We would need to look into this. Although I am against it in belief, people do pay money for things associated with Hitler. Wes Cowans auctions does appraisals

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Little Falls, Minn.: Do you only track US Historical items/people? Is there an equivalant entity in other countries, such as the Netherlands?
Thank you.

Elyse Luray: thanks for watching. Right now we are trying to only cover the United States!

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Athens, Ohio: Just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate programs like yours keeping the quality high at PBS.

Elyse Luray: Thank you so much. It means the world to all of us!

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New Castle, Del.: Hi Elyses! I love the show. My question is...My Great Great grandfather was murdered in a church in Calabra, Italy around 1880. There was a fued between him and his neighbor over my great great grandfathers sheep eating his neighbors grass. How do I begin to try to research this? Also, I would like to research when my great grandparents came over on the boat but because my grandfather couldn't read or write, his last name may have been altered. Can you help? Thank you, Danielle

Elyse Luray: Wow! Thats a great story. Look at our website on pbs.org. There are instructions on how to start reseaching you family! Good Luck!!

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Houston, Texas: The History Detectives did a show from Galveston awhile back. I really learned a lot about Galveston's history that I didn't know, and I've been going there all my life.
I think that's a really important aspect of the show. You are living right in the middle of all this history and are not aware of it until a show like the History Detectives bring it out. Do a lot of other viewers comment on this?

Elyse Luray: Thank so much for your reply. We try VERY HARD to include the history that surrounds the object. IT helps us all learn. My favorite part of doing the show is traveling to Historical Societies around the counrty. They are all so important!

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Philadelphia, Pa.: Caught the episode with the old Hollywood antiques and thought it was wonderful. How long does it typically take your team to do the research on each item?

Elyse Luray: Thanks for watching. It usually takes us about 4 weeks to research a story and then a week to film it. We need much more time but the schedule starts to get crazy! (deadlines!)

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Riverside, California: I noticed that the Mitchell camera could be either hand-cranked or powered automatically. Why would the camera person ever want to hand-crank the camera? Wouldn't he or she have trouble filming at a consistent speed?

Elyse Luray: Thanks for your question. Hand Cranking came first then the motor was added. The Mitchell last night had both but some did not.

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Swansea, S.C: Hello my name is Beth F. and I have a Gold Bond pen. I'm having troble trying to find out the year it was made and the woman who had the pen. Her name is on the pen. Her name is Hazel Cooke. I'm a teenager and I really truly badly want to find out who this woman is. Will you help me PLEASE!?

Elyse Luray: Thanks for your question. There are many books on pens that can help you date it. Look for markings. Also, look on our website at pbs.org to see how you can start looking into Hazel Cooke.

good luck!

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milwaukee, wisconsin: What makes a better quest for the history detectives, one that is of a general interest or one that is really unique?

Elyse Luray: Actually either. There just needs to be a good story to tell!

thanks for watching...

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Elyse Luray: My time is up. Thank you all for all your great qustions. I am so sorry I could not answer them all ! Please continue to keep watching and if you have something for us to look into please let us know! Happy Summer!

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