Maybe We'll Be on Auction Kings!

Barb told me about Gallery 63 and the show Auction Kings. It seemed like a fun thing to do, so we checked out the auction dates, and here we are on the outskirts of Atlanta, ready for the Gallery to open.

I had seen pictures of huge lineups. The Gallery only opens at 9:00 a.m., with the auction at 11:00, but I read that  if you don't want to be standing for the auction, make sure you get there early.

Is this early enough? It was just after 8:00 a.m. and it was a little chilly. They weren't taping a show today, so I guess you didn't need to show up that early. Jim is holding our place in line and chatting with some of the other early birds.

Looks like they'll be auctioning off a car...

Straight from the Heart of Dixie. I love the South!

Quite an intricate mantle outside...

And some weighty columns...

This big boy says we're open. I think he needs a little facelift.

Hey! Look who showed up for work. I guess that's one perk of showing up early. Paul Brown is the owner of Gallery 63, and a cutie patootie.

He was very gracious and took the time to take pictures with everyone and autograph some promotional pictures that people had. Barb and I with Paul...

Paul signing an autograph...

And just after 9:00, the doors opened. It was a lot warmer inside. Huh! All the seats are actually reserved and the unknown people (read tourists) sit in the bleachers. If someone doesn't show up to claim their chair after an hour or so, they open the seats to the public.

Delfino, the handyman; Cindy, the office manager; Jon, the assistant manager and picker; and Paul, the owner.

Jim got Paul's autograph. I'm not a diehard fan, but I'll take it!

Aww...a bear for sale.

An interesting Taj Mahal lamp...

Deer head candle holders...

Guitars...

Are they really going to sell these mounted animal heads?

Jim sneaking up on stage to get his picture taken with Paul. They are so busy running around, they hardly notice the tourists.

A turquoise encrusted steer head...

Jim and Ed checking out the bear...buy him!

Cindy, the office manager, mulling something over with Paul's father, Bob. He owns Red Baron Antiques in Atlanta.

Cindy is full of fun. She was working, but wasn't too busy to joke with the crowd.

Paul with his son, Elijah. They don't look much alike, do they? Behind them are Jason Brooks and Guerry Wise, the auctioneers. And look! I got Jim and Ed in the photo as well. Bonus!

A Whizzer bike from the 1940s or 50s. The ad near it said it was going for over $3000.

A dune buggy...

And some kind of crazy contraption....

Paul and his son, who is learning the business...

Jon, the assistant manager, is now sporting a beard...

And we're off!

Guerry is a great auctioneer, funny and quick. How he manages to talk and listen to what Paul is telling him about the item, I don't know.

The people on the stage are lined up with the next items for sale, so there is no break in the action.

Hey! Here's that turquoise steer head...

Cindy doing her best pose to show off the rug...

My bum was getting numb by now, so I got up and wandered around. Some media releases on the walls...

And a little controversy over some items that ended up at the Gallery belonging to Martin Luther King. I am sure they would have gone for a pretty penny, but the King family stepped in and claimed they belonged to the family, not the lady who was claiming they were given to her.

Lots of smiles...it's really a fun thing to go to.

Jason's doing the calling now...

Barb and Ed have decided to bid on this print. It's a really nice scene of the Civil War and a great souvenir of our time in Savannah.

Let's see if they get it...

Oops! Forget to turn the camera off before I applauded!

By now it was after 1:00 and we had enjoyed the auction. It was going to go on for some time and we had a three hour drive back to Savannah. Barb and Ed with their purchase!

It was a fun day!