Antiques Roadshow

GUEST

"The Nanigan's" started in 1954 in Cleveland, Ohio. It was a concept of a gentleman by the name of Pete Lee. He was affiliated with W.J.W. Store Broadcasting Company and he managed to get Coca-Cola to sponsor us. "The Cokettes" were a segment within the Nanigan's--basically, the backup groups we sang vocals and we did comedy. We got to go all over the world through Coca-Cola.

APPRAISER

Now, where'd you take "Nanigan's" from?

GUEST

Well, in the studios we were always cutting up and he was trying to contain us. He says, "So now I've got the name--from 'shenanigans,' we'll call you 'The Nanigan's'." And we toured all through Europe and through Asia performing for both youth hostels and for NCO clubs, Officer's clubs... because we have four albums...

APPRAISER

Wow.

GUEST

We did two movies.

APPRAISER

You were in Korea though. This was not simple stuff.

GUEST

When they sent us to Korea of course, if was a new experience for us and I remember going into the NCO club to perform and then they had monsoon season and when we came out, the GIs had to carry us--which was exciting--because the mud was so very thick. We traveled in what they called "duce-and-a-halfs." We were allowed one dress... and the rest of the time we had to wear combat boots and fatigues.

APPRAISER

Well, so let me tell you a little bit about this in terms of a collector's point of view. First of all, you know, Coca-Cola is one of the biggest advertisers in the world and in World War II alone they put in 64 bottling plants in Europe. Robert Woodruff, their president stated that every GI that was over there in World War II would be able to buy a bottle of coke for five cents wherever he was, whatever the cost to the company.

It was a twofold purpose

it was patriotic and at the second time, they could keep their branding. Because how could they resist a group like the Nanigan's wearing those great Coca-Cola hats? I've rarely seen these Nanigan's sweaters; I've never seen the hat; I've never seen the pin. If you were looking at all of this as a group you know, strictly from a collecting point of view I would guess that a collector would probably pay somewhere between $1,500 and $2,500 for all of it.

GUEST

I think I would prefer, probably to donate them to a museum or somewhere where everybody can view them after I'm gone.

APPRAISER

Well yeah, and your memories are priceless, right?

GUEST

Priceless.