It's natural to have a certain feeling toward pawn shops when you hear the word pawn shop. We usually think of a store in a bad part of town where people sell and pawn watches and jewelry that could be fake without evening knowing it. But History Channel has shed a more positive light on the business, especially when welcoming millions of viewers in the Harrison Family's Gold and Silver Pawn Shop on Las Vegas Boulevard with their reality show Pawn Stars. It's a show that would be the child of American Choppers and Antique Roadshow, and your high school or college history courses.
Rick Harrison, the star and middle man of the family business, where he works with his father Richard, referred to as "the old man" and his son Corey aka "Big Hoss," is a street smart book worm who picked up the pawning game when he was 13. He picked it up from his old man, who lost millions in the real estate market, and moved his family out to Sin City to start a new life, which became his pawn shop.
Rick developed the show with the History Channel. Like I said, he admits to being a bookworm who reads a few hours a night and definitely knows his history, which just adds on to knowing a real $30,000 Rolex from a fake one. He takes the business seriously but still bends more for the old man and is always willing to make a joke about the Old Man being bitter at times.
Corey, who is still learning the ropes, is almost as smart as his dad and grandfather when it comes to working in the pawn shop. Although he still makes a few mistakes. An example would be when Corey buys a hot-air balloon for $38,000, which breaks Rick's rule of a $10,000 limit on Corey selling any item without his approval, and sets Rick off. Corey did save himself on a purchase of a run-down 1942 European motorcycle and made a profit at the Las Vegas Motorcycle Auction, while rubbing it in Rick's face. Overall, Corey knows what he is doing, and one day, he'll be running the shop.
And then there's Chumlee, which in the television world, you would call "comic relief." Chum has been Corey's best friend since they were 12. He's not the brightest in any sense. He never negotiates a deal during the taping of the show, which would cause the Old Man and Rick to drop dead of a heart attack if he did and we see him wanting to buy items that would never sell, like video games and once offered a $1000 for a Ancient Roman soldiers costume. Chumlee is the most popular star of the show next to Rick, I believe, especially since everyone flocks to him when they enter the shop.Chum also gets the honor of testing old guns and weapons, cause someone has to do it!
For those of you who don't know what a pawn shop is, here is a brief history. Back during the Great Depression, pawn shops became a way for people to get money for old, valuable items, which was good especially since they get paid in straight cash. In our current economy, the pawn shops are doing well. There are a few rules to the game of pawn. You can either sell and item for cash, or you can pawn an item, which means you are given a loan and that item is collateral, for example, your car. If you don't pay it back within 30 to 60 days or else the store owns your item legally. There is also the ability to trade, which results in getting an item at the same value as their item.
Of course, there is another code that store owners and sellers must follow. You will never get the exact amount for an item. Rick and his employees are buying these items with the hope of selling them to make a profit. Harrison might buy a car for $9,000, but will re-sell it for $13,000 and make a $4,000 profit. Determining the price they would buy it at makes for the most entertaining part of the show that leaves me thinking like Rick, Corey or the Old Man at times.
Another reason the show is entertaining, especially for me, is the history in some of the items. Not all of the items are authentic or real, which Rick's expert friends usually determine, making the customer happy or disappointed in their item. Items include an old Colt 45 revolver from the late 19th century, Buttons worn by George Washington and vintage vending machines are favorites of mine from the show. Early American items are as popular with me as they are with Rick. While there are items with history that don't sell as much. A "Little Orphan Annie" decoder pin (remember A Christmas Story from the 1930's radio show only sold for $27 and an Apple computer from 1988 for $100, which Rick explained are turned into aquariums called "Macquariums."
What separates their pawn shop from other ones in America I believe has to be the location. Las Vegas, Nevada is the gambling capital of America. Most people who come to the shop from what I have seen, are looking for some spending money.
Thousands of people have begun flocking to this pawn shop daily since the show began, making the owners of this shop instant celebrities, taking pictures with customers while trying to work, but they have to like the business they are getting due to the TV show. For me, it has become a constant show to watch. I have many guilty pleasures, but this one I am not afraid to reveal, I'm hooked. Whether its the history, the haggling or Chumlee, it is now my favorite show on History Channel.
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