A Look Back at Auction Kings: How Paul Brown and Gallery 63 Brought Auctions to Reality TV
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| Photo from Discovery. |
The Birth of a Reality Hit
When
Discovery went looking for a real-life auction house to feature, Paul Brown and
Gallery 63 stood out from the rest. Unlike traditional auctioneers clad in
suits, Brown proudly leaned into his unpolished charm. “We don’t necessarily
look, talk, or act like your average antique dealer,” he admitted in a 2011
interview. That authenticity—combined with the high-stakes drama of the auction
floor—made Auction Kings a perfect fit for television.
In 2009,
Discovery’s production team sent Brown a flip camera to film a typical day at
Gallery 63. That raw footage sealed the deal. The network ordered 26 episodes,
and Auction Kings was born. Alongside Brown, the
core cast included Cindy Shook, Jon Hammond, and Delfino Ramos, each bringing
their own personality and expertise to the screen.
The Gallery 63 Formula
Located
in Atlanta, Gallery 63 was far from a typical antique gallery. What made the
show compelling was the variety of items that came through its doors—often with
little warning and big backstories. A vampire killing kit, letters signed by
Harry Houdini, and vintage Coca-Cola machines were just a few of the strange
and rare finds featured on the show.
While
every episode followed a familiar structure—discovery, appraisal, auction—the
results were far from predictable. “Sometimes, we’d follow an item we thought
would hit a home run only to see it fizzle on the block,” Brown shared. “Other
times, there were ‘dark horse’ items that ended up ringing the bell on auction
day.”
This
element of surprise became a defining feature of Auction Kings, making
it stand out from similar shows like Pawn Stars. Viewers tuned in not
just for the items, but for the drama of the bidding wars and the energy of the
auction room.
Paul Brown: A Natural Showman
Paul
Brown wasn’t new to the world of antiques. Raised around auctions, his family
operated Red Baron Antiques, a well-known name in Georgia’s antiques scene. Gallery
63 originally served as an outlet for bulk sales—what Brown called a “clearing
house” for box lots and low-cost furniture.
But Brown
saw potential. Using his background in English literature, he researched the
items in depth, uncovering historical significance that boosted their value.
Under his leadership, Gallery 63 evolved into a full-scale auction house
specializing in high-end decorative arts, jewelry, rare documents, and fine
art.
The End of an Era—and a New Chapter
After
four successful seasons and 96 episodes, Auction Kings wrapped in 2013.
However, the show lives on through reruns on channels like Quest TV and
streaming platforms, continuing to introduce new audiences to the world of live
auctions.
Paul
Brown and Gallery 63 didn’t slow down after the cameras stopped rolling. The
auction house expanded its operations and refined its focus. “These days, we
specialize in unique collectibles, high-end decorative arts, fine art, jewellery,
and couture items,” Brown said in a later interview. The gallery now hosts
numerous auctions each year, adapting to market trends and changing buyer
interests.
His son,
Elijah Brown, has also joined the business, bringing a new generation of
leadership to Gallery 63 while maintaining the authenticity and boldness that
made the auction house a TV success.
Legacy of Auction Kings
The
impact of Auction Kings goes beyond entertainment. The
show helped demystify the auction industry for everyday viewers. It showed that
auctions aren’t just for wealthy collectors—they’re for anyone willing to take
a chance on a unique find.
It also showcased the excitement and uncertainty of the auction process. With every lot, there was a story waiting to be uncovered, and a price waiting to be discovered. For millions of viewers, that was part of the thrill.
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Rolex Oyster Precision watch. Photo courtesy of Gallery 63.
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