'American Pickers' star Danielle Colby-Cushman signs an autograph at the Grand Rapids Antiques Market
GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Danielle Colby-Cushman, one of the stars of the History Channel's "American Pickers" reality TV show is in town for the Grand Rapids Antiques Market at DeVos Place, 303 Monroe Ave. NW on Jan. 4-5, 2014.
Hundreds waited in line, some for as long as two hours, to meet Colby-Cushman and get an autograph and picture. Colby-Cushman was very generous with her time, giving each fan as long as they wanted to ask her questions, show her vintage items or just talk about the industry.
“Starting a vintage or antique store is what I want to do with my life,” said Amanda Whiting, 21, of Grand Rapids. “It was very cool to get advice from her on how to start out.”
On the television show, Colby-Cushman runs the office of Antique Archaeology as buyers (pickers) Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz travel the Midwest in search of antiques to purchase on the hit reality show.
Known for her heavily tattooed style and background in burlesque, Colby-Cushman is a fashion designer and owner of the store 4 Miles 2 Memphis in Chicago.
Janet and Dick Saddler, of Richland, were also among the crowd waiting to meet the TV star. Dick Saddler, a retiree who works on the restoration of Futurliners as a hobby, said: "We watch 'American Pickers' and we love the stuff that they find. I've got a lot of that stuff out in my barn. I've got a three post windmill made in Chicago around 1930 for her to look at. I'm going to invite her over."
Colby-Cushman said that her love of antiques began around the age of 12 when her love of beautiful things was faced with her family’s limited income.
“I found out that I can have the pretty things and I don’t have to spend a million dollars on them,” she said.
While she loves all types of vintage and antique items, her passion is her first love – burlesque.
“Vintage erotica and burlesque,” she said without hesitation. “That will always be my where my heart is because I think that is where you find the pure glamour of history.”
Colby-Cushman dances burlesque herself with a company she formed called "Burlesque Le'Moustache". She dances under the name Dannie Diesel and her troupe of nine dancers tours eastern Iowa and western Illinois.
She calls Nita Charda’s pasties and g-string, a gift from a colleague from the American Pickers show, her most prized possession.
“If it’s extravagant, colorful and detailed, it catches my eye,” she said.
Colby-Cushman has discussed interest in doing her own show that focuses on people who follow a vintage lifestyle.
“They pick one trend and engross themselves completely,” she explained. “It’s really interesting but I would still tell the story from the perspective of the buyer and the pieces they collect. I still think that’s the most important thing – the story of the item and the person the item comes from.”
Colby-Cushman will be making a second appearance with a Q&A session at the Grand Rapids Antiques Market starting at 1 p.m. There is no additional charge beyond the admission price into the event. Fans are welcome. Hours for the final day on Sunday at the DeVos Place are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Todd Chance is the West Michigan Entertainment Concierge for MLive/Grand Rapids Press. Email him at tchance@mlive.com or follow him on Facebook , Twitter, Google Plus