• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Contact

Cool and Collected

Collecting pop culture toys, comics, and collectibles collections

June 29, 2010 By 24 Comments

American Pickers – Smooth Operators Episode Recap and Review

Each episode of American Pickers gives us a little more insight into the complex lives of the hosts, Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz. For example, right off the bat in this episode, we learn that Frank thinks Lady Ga Ga is “mega hot” and Gene Simmons is hotter than Kim Kardashian. Gene Simmons???

The first pick of this show is the 11-acre junkyard of Steve, AKA “Boo” and his fiancé, Deena. Mike refers to the place as an “Addams Family meets Sanford & Son” pick. Ha!

I liked Deena quite a bit. She was happy to get rid of any of Boo’s junk, and had a good sense of humor. The pickers find a Clinton chainsaw sign, an ugly lime green phone, a huge clock/thermometer sign, and some vintage Corvette parts. They also come across a NASCAR race car driven (and wrecked) by Ryan Newman. Remember, Ryan Newman was featured on an earlier episode this season, when the guys visited his palatial estate with a Phillips 66 sign. It is a small, small world.

American Pickers Smooth Operator episode

One thing that always amazes me about this show is that the people who have amassed these enormous stockpiles of “junk” always know exactly what they have. Boo knows his cars. He can look at a rusty old piece of an engine and tell you exactly what it is and what model and year of a car it was made for. Collectors really are experts in their area of interest, and this show repeatedly displays that fact.

A bit of insight is given about how Danielle finds all those great leads for Mike and Frank. One technique she uses is to call the local town halls and “find out who has ordinances against them because they have crap all over the yard.”

On the morning of the next pick, Mike is granted a genie in a bottle wish. He and Frank are allowed to pick through a motorcycle repair shop with boxes and boxes of New old stock (NOS) Harley Davidson parts from the 1930’s and 40’s. My thought: “Oh boy, more motorcycle parts.”

American Pickers Smooth Operator episode Harley Davidson parts

Billy is the owner of the shop and seems a little reluctant to part with some of the items. He doesn’t want the parts to be resold for a profit, but he’s fine with parting with them if Mike uses them on his own bike. So, of course Mike says they’re for his own bike, wink-wink. The guys leave with a small box of parts, but I think they could have spent a month looking through all those boxes if Billy had let them.

The last South Carolina pick is at the home of Michelle, who’s father died recently, leaving behind a house full of projectors from his days in the movie business. Michelle is overwhelmed by all the equipment and doesn’t know what to do with it. Mike is sympathetic for her and others in her situation.

When collectors die, they can leave a big burden on their heirs. I’ve actually thought about this myself and whenever I purchase something of value for my collections, I write it down in a little black book along with the price I paid. In case anything (God forbid) ever happens to me, my wife and kids will know not to just put those items out on the curb.

American Pickers movie projectors

Mike and Frank admit that they don’t know enough about the movie equipment to make an offer, so they connect Michelle with one of their buddies in California who does know the stuff. Of course, Mike does buy the one projector that looks like it might be valuable — a Motiograph Deluxe from around 1914 for $200.

The pickers head  home, to their shop in Le Claire and find a note from one of their past buyers, saying he wants to sell back some of his items. Steve buys signs and decorative items to be used in theme restaurants (think Fuddruckers), and has an enormous barn filled with amazing stuff. I could spend days poking around in that dusty old barn.

Earlier in the show, Mike was in his “picking Heaven,” well now we move on to Frank’s. To quote the Grateful Dead, “Signs, signs, everywhere there’s signs.” Frank is buying signs left and right for brands like John Deere, Quaker State, and Sealtest Ice Cream, while Mike is receiving prices that are way too high for his budget. He needs a little bit of wiggle room to make a profit, and Steve is not giving him any. Mike does finally gets Steve to crack a little and buys an antique phone booth for $475.

American Pickers Sealtest ice cream sign

All told, the guys purchased 40 signs and a phone booth. I have never been able to figure out how these guys make a profit spending all afternoon picking for a few small items where they may make a $100 or so in profit. This is the kind of pick that can make some money. It’s the Costco way — buy in bulk.

I am a little worried for the guys though, because it doesn’t look like they’re selling very much these days. If you look around the shop, the walls and shelves are filled with items they picked on previous episodes. Maybe we need a show dedicated to Danielle and how she sells the items. Hello Danielle.

American Pickers Danielle Colby Cushman

Once they’re back at the shop, Mike and Frank meet with Kenny, a coin-op expert, and learn that the phone booth is worth $850 which would give them a profit of $375. The show ends with Danielle using the booth as her “office” which she doesn’t care for very much.

American Pickers phone booth

I’m really enjoying this season so far. The producers have figured out how to make the pickers “good guys” which was a big problem for them in the first season. The uncomfortable moments are few and far between now, and everyone seems to be having fun which makes for more enjoyable hour of TV. What do you think? Are you digging the show this season?

Filed Under: Other

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. dj says

    July 6, 2010 at 1:15 am

    does anyone know if that guy boo is from loris sc he looks like a guy that used to go to my salvage yard buying old car parts lol

    Reply
    • Dena and Boo says

      December 18, 2010 at 12:00 pm

      yea we r from loris sc

      Reply
  2. Tammy Johnson says

    July 13, 2010 at 5:36 pm

    We are trying to find out where Boo lives too. My husband wants to talk to him about some of his stuff.

    Reply
    • Dena and Boo says

      December 18, 2010 at 11:59 am

      here is our email thanks for your interest: boo23racing@aol.com

      Reply
      • John Creech says

        September 5, 2011 at 11:46 am

        Where are you located in Loris THANKS John

        Reply
  3. Sherry House says

    September 13, 2010 at 4:37 pm

    Hey is there anyway I can get any info on Boo? We are bike builders and would love to possibly go and look at some of his stuff.

    Reply
    • Dena and Boo says

      December 18, 2010 at 11:56 am

      Hi here we are and we certainly want to wheel and deal on anything and have anyone come on out and look at some junk. Sorry we have not been up to date on the website didnt know about it until I talked to Reggie.email me if you are interested in some of the JUNK as Dena calls it. And we r from Loris SC
      boo23racing@aol.com

      Reply
  4. raymond higinbotham says

    October 24, 2010 at 11:43 am

    does anyone know how to get a hold of billy with the harley parts been putting a 1947 together and still looking for a lot of parts also have 1972 and in need a few more parts for in if any one can help please email me at qestalrocks@yahoo.com

    Reply
  5. alton says

    November 2, 2010 at 8:56 pm

    when is the next episode luv the show

    Reply
  6. reggie says

    December 5, 2010 at 10:41 pm

    So get this everyone.. I sold boo a Jeep on ebay.. Unknowingly at te time of the sale.. he informed me after of who he was and of the show etc.. Hes coming down next week to pick it up and Im sure he would be interested to wheel and deal on some goodies. Let me know what ya’ll would like and I run it by him.

    Reply
  7. Dena and Boo says

    December 18, 2010 at 11:58 am

    Hi everyone this is Boo and Dena from Smooth Operators we apologize for not getting back sooner but are very interested in getting rid of the Junk as Dena calls it here is our email love to hear from you and have you come on out to Loris SC
    boo23racing@aol.com

    Reply
  8. James says

    May 4, 2011 at 1:00 am

    I want that Sealtest Clock, my father worked there for 48 years.

    Reply
  9. wayne says

    November 11, 2011 at 4:10 pm

    seen the eposide with Dena and boo was interested in the camero that was in the back ground on the show 70-73 model please contact me by email if interested in selling one,

    Reply
    • dena says

      January 11, 2012 at 10:45 am

      Call dena or boo or email either boo23racing@aol.com i will sale his junk

      Reply
      • Silas Harrison says

        February 27, 2012 at 11:39 am

        please let me know if you still have any of the 70 series camaro and a possible price call me at xxxxxxxxxx or text at the same number thank you

        Reply
  10. gerald Cole says

    June 3, 2012 at 5:08 am

    I need an alluminum door for a westen elctric telephone booth . If you have one or know where I can get one please let me know .
    Thank You

    Reply
  11. babelefantrunk says

    July 11, 2012 at 4:09 pm

    value of projector- anyone?

    Reply
  12. sambo says

    May 8, 2013 at 7:33 pm

    Hey Billy, do you have any XA parts in your Harley Davidson collection for sale???
    Thank you,
    dick s
    southern nh

    Reply
  13. Stacey Hindes says

    October 20, 2013 at 2:35 pm

    Hi, just wondering what was the Motiograph valued at.

    Reply
  14. Angry says

    October 25, 2013 at 10:46 pm

    These guys are douchebags. Even those projectors from the 30s are going for minimum 4k. They likely robbed that lady of a 10k projector and played it off like her deceased father would have been happy for her. Karma hopefully works fast for these thieves.

    Reply
  15. james greene says

    September 24, 2014 at 6:36 pm

    Hey Boo

    Have you still got the Newman 27 car outback? If so what,s the price?

    Reply
  16. Lacey says

    January 14, 2015 at 1:50 pm

    Hey looking to contact Billy for some really old harley parts. If anyone knows how to contact him appreciated. ty

    Reply
  17. jay says

    April 18, 2015 at 8:43 am

    200 bucks for a motiograph? OMG THEY go for about 5k. I never thought I’d say this but the Apicker guys conned the poor lady

    Reply
  18. Cobb says

    August 23, 2015 at 2:35 pm

    I am also looking for some old Harley parts if any one knows how to contact Billy

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • “Did you say ‘Youts’?”
  • Marx Marvel Tricycles
  • Here there be dragons
  • Vintage Batman Toy Collection
  • Batman Pinbacks

About Cool & Collected

This site is devoted to us crazy few who go to great lengths to acquire items for our collection. Read more.

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

Support this site:

If you enjoy reading articles on Cool & Collected, I would greatly appreciate you clicking on this eBay link before you do your shopping. I will get a few pennies from any purchase you make, but those pennies can add up. Thank you for your support!

Footer

Submit a Product for Review

Want to have your product(s) featured on Cool & Collected? This is how you can submit something for review.

Recent Posts

  • “Did you say ‘Youts’?”
  • Marx Marvel Tricycles
  • Here there be dragons
  • Vintage Batman Toy Collection
  • Batman Pinbacks
  • Monkeying Around
  • Current View
  • A drawer filled with Joes
  • It’s all good, man.
  • Feeling Green

Topics

  • Art and Photography
  • Books
  • Collections
  • Comic Books
  • Games
  • Other
  • Pop Culture League
  • Shows & Events
  • Toys
  • TV & Movies

Pages

  • About Cool & Collected
  • Blog
  • Contact Cool & Collected
  • Privacy Policy
  • Submit a Product for Review
  • Tips for starting (and enjoying) a collection

Copyright © 2023 Big Fish Design. All rights reserved.