THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, September 21, 1994 TAG: 9409210427
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LINDA MCNATT, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ISLE OF WIGHT LENGTH: Medium: 85 lines
Parked in a pasture and packed with high-tech transmitting equipment, the satellite truck from Massachusetts combined music and live action from New York with the flavor of rural Virginia and country store collectibles.
The result was one of the hottest new cable television shows around: ``Personal fX: The Collectibles Show.'' Geared toward collectors of just about anything, it was launched in June into 18 million homes on Fox's newest cable channel.
Since then, the crew has been touring the United States, interviewing folks who collect everything from Howdy Doody memorabilia to egg beaters.
This week, Hampton Roads is America's collecting hot spot.
There were toy soldiers Monday. Today, host John Burke, a soap opera veteran who gave up his wild ways to become a kind of Charles Kuralt among collecting cable viewers, will interview a Norfolk man with a preponderance of ties.
But on Tuesday, ``fX'' moved to the suburbs. Burke and his crew were in Isle of Wight County near Smithfield, at the home of Gurley and Barbara Barlow. They have been collecting antiques, especially country store stock, for most of their 50 years of marriage.
In fact, they have a complete reproduction of a country store in their basement. That's what brought the show to Smithfield, Burke said.
``I didn't know collecting is as popular as it is,'' he said. ``It's what's fun, what's passionate.''
The entire daily selection of live programs on the Fox cable channel is based in a seven-room apartment in New York City. Crews broadcast from there throughout the day while other crews wander the country. The traveling satellite truck provides the mix.
The collectors' show is dedicated to the growing trend of buying, selling, trading and collecting objects of all kinds, from memorabilia to the brand new. It airs at noon each day, and a telephone number runs at the bottom of the screen so interested parties from across the country can call to bid on items.
Viewers also are invited to send in photos or videos of their trash or treasures for free appraisals.
``fX'' found the Barlows as they do many of their special guests, Burke said: through the local Chamber of Commerce.
Barbara's grandfather owned a country store in West Virginia; Gurley's uncle had one in Isle of Wight.
The collection, Barbara said, came naturally.
``We both have country store proprieties in the family. A real country store was a socializing place. People met, picked up local gossip. When we started this, the real country stores were drying up. A new way of life was taking its toll.''
The Barlows have everything in their collection: collar buttons - 6 for 5 cents; Packers Tar Soap; Snow King Baking Powder; Stud smoking tobacco; Lucky Strike flat 50s.
And their telephone was ringing within minutes after the show went off the air. Callers wanted to buy the Barlows' ``roly-poly'' tobacco tin containers.
``Now how in the world did they get our number so quick?'' Barbara Barlow asked, after she hung up talking with collectors from Colorado and Texas.
``Information,'' said Maureen Nolan, who travels with the show. ``It happens all the time.''
And Nolan told the story of one guest, with a violin that had been in the family for years, who was offered $125,000 for the antique instrument after a viewer saw it. The woman turned the offer down, Nolan said, and later found out it was worth only about $1,500.
At the Barlows, ``fX'' and company got its money's worth.
She couldn't let the New Yorkers leave without at least tasting Smithfield ham, Barbara Barlow said. And the snack soon grew into a full-scale lunch of ham biscuits, chicken salad, tomato aspic and homemade brownies.
``You just can't leave a Southerner's home until you eat a meal,'' she said, smiling.
It may be that ``fX'' will visit the South more often. ILLUSTRATION: JOHN SHEALLY II/Staff
Helen King presents her centerpiece, which she bought 45 years ago
in Newport News, to Fox cable's ``Personal fX'' viewers. The show is
featuring Hampton Roads this week.
[Also see color photo on page B1 for this date.]
by CNB