{{Short description|American TV art-appraisal series (1948–1953)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Infobox television | image = | caption = | runtime = 30 minutes | creator = | starring = Sigmund Rothschild (host) | country = United States | network = CBS Television | first_aired = {{start date|1948|5|21}} | last_aired = {{end date|1953|10|11}} | num_episodes = }} '''''What's It Worth''''' is an early American television series that aired on the CBS Television network from May 21, 1948, and into 1949. The series was later revived in 1952, before finally finishing its run on October 11, 1953.<ref name="brooks">{{cite book|last1=Brooks|first1=Tim|last2=Marsh|first2=Earle|title=The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946-Present|date=1999|publisher=The Ballentine Publishing Group|location=New York|isbn=0-345-42923-0|page=1109|edition=7th}}</ref>
The show was hosted by self-taught appraiser Sigmund Rothschild (1917–1991),<ref>[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-11-16-mn-1252-story.html ''Los Angeles Times'' obituary (November 16, 1991)]</ref> who appraised antiques for celebrities. Gil Fates was Rothschild's assistant.<ref name=tt>{{cite book|last1=McNeil|first1=Alex|title=Total Television: the Comprehensive Guide to Programming from 1948 to the Present |date=1996|publisher=Penguin Books USA, Inc.|location=New York, New York|isbn=0-14-02-4916-8|page= 906|edition=4th}}</ref> Nelson Case was the announcer for the episodes on Dumont until March 1953, when Bill Wendell replaced him.<ref name="brooks" />
As the series title suggests, the audience submitted items of art, and Rothschild would tell them how much they were worth.
Originated by Maurice C. Dreicer,<ref>{{cite news |title=Maurice C. Dreicer, 78; Was Radio Entertainer |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/08/30/obituaries/maurice-c-dreicer-78-was-radio-entertainer.html?searchResultPosition=1 |access-date=August 16, 2024 |work=The New York Times |date=August 30, 1989 |page=B 5|url-access=subscription }}</ref> a radio version of the program preceded the TV show.<ref>{{cite news |title=The News of Radio: NBC Lists Three Summer Replacements -- Petrillo Orchestra in CBS Series |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1948/05/05/archives/the-news-of-radio-nbc-lists-three-summer-replacements-petrillo.html |access-date=August 16, 2024 |work=The New York Times |date=May 5, 1948 |page=50|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
==See also== *''Antiques Roadshow'' (PBS series) *''Trash or Treasure'' (DuMont series)
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb title|tt0040059}}
Category:1948 American television series debuts Category:1949 American television series endings Category:1952 American television series debuts Category:1953 American television series endings Category:CBS original programming Category:Black-and-white American television shows Category:1940s American reality television series Category:1950s American reality television series