Reality TV is a weird beast. One minute you’re watching a guy in Atlanta haggle over a vampire hunting kit, and the next, the show vanishes into the ether of cable reruns. That’s basically the story of Gallery 63. If you spent any time on Discovery Channel around 2010, you definitely remember the cast of Auction Kings. They weren't the polished, Hollywood-style experts we see on some of the high-budget appraisal shows today. They were just... people. They felt like folks you’d actually meet at a local estate sale, which is probably why the show stuck around for four seasons before things went quiet.
The show centered on Paul Brown and his crew at Gallery 63 in Sandy Springs, Georgia. It followed a simple, addictive loop: someone walks in with a weird item, the team calls an expert, they argue about the value, and then—the best part—the hammer falls. But the cameras stopped rolling years ago.
Paul Brown: The Man Behind Gallery 63
Paul Brown wasn’t just some guy picked by a casting director. Auctioneering was in his blood. His father, Bob Brown, was a legend in the Atlanta auction scene, running Red Baron’s Antiques. Paul basically grew up surrounded by high-end junk and legitimate treasures. When he opened Gallery 63, he brought that "no-nonsense" energy that made the show work.
People always ask if Paul was actually that intense in person. From most accounts of locals who visited the Sandy Springs showroom, he was. He had a genuine passion for the "picker" lifestyle. He wasn't just interested in the money; he loved the story behind the objects. Whether it was a piece of the Titanic or a letter signed by a Civil War general, Paul treated the history with a weird kind of reverence that felt authentic.
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After the show ended in 2013, Paul didn't just disappear. He kept the gallery going for a while, but the landscape of the auction world changed. The "reality TV boom" that fueled shows like Pawn Stars and Storage Wars eventually cooled off. Paul eventually transitioned away from the traditional brick-and-mortar gallery setup that fans remembered. He’s remained active in the industry, but he’s moved toward more specialized consulting and high-end private sales rather than the high-volume public spectacle seen on Discovery. He’s also dabbled in other media projects, but nothing quite captured the zeitgeist like those early Gallery 63 days.
Cindy Shook and the Rest of the Crew
If Paul was the engine, Cindy Shook was the heart. As the office manager, she had to deal with the chaos. She wasn't an appraiser by trade, but she knew the business better than anyone. Her banter with Paul provided the "sitcom" element that kept the show light. After the cameras left, Cindy continued her work in the estate and auction world. She’s often remembered by fans as the most relatable member of the cast of Auction Kings because she reacted to the bizarre items exactly how we would—with a mix of confusion and "why is this in my office?"
Then there was Jon Hammond and Delfino.
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Delfino was the guy who could fix anything. Every reality show needs a "magic" person in the back who can take a rusted-out piece of metal and make it shine. That was him. He stayed largely out of the spotlight after the show, returning to the quiet, skilled labor that made him essential to the gallery in the first place. Jon Hammond, the assistant manager, was the young guy learning the ropes. He eventually moved on to other ventures, but his time at Gallery 63 served as a masterclass in how the secondary market actually functions.
The Experts Who Stole the Show
You can't talk about the cast without mentioning the rotating door of experts. This is where the show gained its E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness). They didn't just guess values. They brought in people like:
- Dr. Lori Verderame: A frequent guest and Ph.D. antiques appraiser who actually knew the science of dating an object.
- Guernsey's Auction House representatives: For the truly high-stakes items.
- Local Atlanta historians: Who could verify if a piece of furniture actually belonged to a certain era.
These experts weren't regular "cast members" in the traditional sense, but they were the backbone of the show's credibility. Without them, it would have just been another scripted drama. They provided the factual anchor that kept the audience coming back.
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Why Auction Kings Ended
Honestly? The market got crowded. By the time Auction Kings hit its fourth season, every network had an "antique" show. You had American Pickers, Storage Wars, Pawn Stars, and Oddities. The niche was saturated. Discovery shifted its programming toward more survival-based content (think Naked and Afraid), and the smaller, personality-driven shop shows began to fade out.
There was also the reality of the business itself. Running a high-profile auction house while a film crew is underfoot is incredibly difficult. It disrupts the flow of actual bidders. If you've ever been to a real auction, you know it's fast-paced and high-stress. Adding a production schedule to that makes it nearly impossible to sustain long-term without compromising the business.
The Legacy of Gallery 63
Despite the show being off the air for over a decade, its impact on the Atlanta auction scene remains. It put Sandy Springs on the map for collectors. Before the show, the auction world felt like a closed-door club for the elite. Paul Brown and his team democratized it. They showed that anyone could bring in a weird item and potentially walk away with a windfall.
It’s easy to be cynical about reality TV. Much of it is staged. We know that now. But with the cast of Auction Kings, there was a level of transparency that felt different. When an item didn't sell, it didn't sell. They showed the disappointments alongside the big wins. That’s a rarity in a genre that usually demands a happy ending every twenty-two minutes.
Actionable Insights for Antique Enthusiasts
If you’re a fan of the show and looking to get into the auction game yourself, here is how you can apply the Gallery 63 philosophy today:
- Verify Before You Buy: Just like Paul called in experts, never take a seller's word at face value. Use Google Lens as a starting point, but seek out certified appraisers for high-value items.
- Research the Provenance: An item's story is often worth more than the item itself. Documentation, original receipts, and historical context are what drive up the price at the hammer.
- Watch the "Pass": One of the biggest lessons from the show was knowing when to walk away. If an item doesn't hit its reserve, don't panic-sell. The right buyer might just be at the next auction.
- Check Local Listings: While Gallery 63 isn't the TV hub it used to be, local auction houses are still the best place to find deals that eBay hasn't snatched up yet. Look for estate auctions in your zip code.