At age 8, they’d go antiquing with their parents, both antique dealers. By age 12, they were building their own collections of rare, early American hardware.
“We’ve always loved treasure hunting,” said Leigh Keno. They’d scour thrift-stores, flea markets, and antique stores throughout their high school years. “We built up collections and dealt and sold them to help pay for college.”
Leigh and Leslie Keno, 54, known as the blond-haired brothers from PBS’s Antiques Roadshow, have enthusiastically and eloquently brought the show to life for the past 15 years.
After majoring in Art History and English and dabbling in archeology (they’d actually go digging in old barns or home foundations in the woods and country), they moved to New York. Leslie has been at Sotheby’s for 25 years, and Leigh did stints at Doyle New York and Christie’s before going on his own with an antique store in Manhattan and his newest venture, recently launching Keno Auctions, also based in the city.
The pair are very excited about their latest collaboration, Buried Treasure. They came up with the idea during dinner with Tim Miller, a leader in the TV and entertainment business, about five years ago.
“We came up with the idea of a great American treasure hunt. We also have another idea for a show: That one would be called Lights, Camera, Auction. The auction world is so exciting,” explained Leigh, who apparently was running solely on sugar and coffee after days of publicity interviews and red-eye flights in the flurry surrounding the season premiere of the show, which began Aug. 24 on Fox.
Co-hosting the show is a perfect fit for the two antique experts and appraisers, but they’ve really hit on a spot that many people can relate to. Who hasn’t daydreamed about finding out grandma’s old treasure or piece of furniture at home is valuable, or picking up a rare 18th century item for $3 at a garage sale?
The show holds that thrill for the twins because they really didn’t know what they would find.
“The show is really a true reality show,” says Leigh. “When we say ‘hi’ at the front door, it really is for the first time.”
People from all over the country sent in images to them, and after assessing if the object had potential, they’d go out and visit people. “Every day we wake up, it’s like a treasure hunt. We get emails. For example, just the other day, we got an email from an 85-year-old gal from Texas, with a photo attached (of her potential treasure). We think that’s amazing.”
But once in the home, and the introductions have been made, the brothers get serious.
“What we do is go in there and identify objects of potential,” said Leigh. “It’s like [the show] CSI, but in the home, we set up a time lab, special lights, and UV lamps to examine the pieces carefully.”
They found some great treasures as well as junk during the filming of the first season.
“One piece—and I don’t want to give too much away—was worth six figures,” said Leigh. “It was an ancient masterpiece, and there’s a possible Rembrandt too.”
One important aspect of the show involves finding people who really need the money. The twins find something of value so the people can use it to rebuild their lives.
“One woman had just lost her horse farm in a fire, her horses and barn, and those horses were like children to her. It was so sad, and it looked like she might have to sell everything,” said Leigh, his tone changing. “Her only hope was finding out if she had anything valuable to sell to save the farm.”
‘Transforming Lives’
“The whole thing is like the show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, but it’s antiques transforming lives. It’s a feel-good show with lots of tears and emotion,” continued Leigh. “We really like people. We have compassion for people. It feels good to help them.”
After they identify an object as being valuable, the Kenos use their insider connections to facilitate the sale of the piece, either by auction or bringing in top experts to make cash offers.
Leigh says: “There’s a lot of tension that builds up as the owners of the piece have to make a quick on-the-spot decision to sell or not.
“And it’s interesting because although they need the money, some don’t want to sell because they are too attached to it. Maybe it’s an heirloom or has important family provenance to them. Keeping stories attached to objects really keeps them alive and adds personal value.”
But not all the stories are successes.
“There was an intervention. A wonderful lady, but she had so much stuff it had become a problem, and her family asked for help.” That drama played out in the season premiere show last Wednesday night.
Each show presents three visits, switching between the unfolding stories to keep the pace.
Leigh said he missed doing the Antiques Road Show while filming Buried Treasure, which took one and a half months.
“It’ll be interesting to see how it is received—it’s a different demographic on Fox from PBS and the Antique Road Show viewers.” Leigh joked that his 13-year-old son might start to think his dad doesn’t have such a boring job after all.
Casting Call: Do you think you have buried treasure? The Kenos are currently casting families who have an item or antique with a great story or background. If you’re interested in having your item appraised by the Keno brothers, please contact them: www.fox.com/buried-treasure/
