Selling Dead People's Things: An Interview with Duane Scott Cerny
Table of Contents
Introduction
About Duane Scott Cerny
Selling Dead People's Things Book
The Broadway Antique Market
Film and TV Productions
Upcoming Projects
Conclusion
Introduction
Duane Scott Cerny was a recent guest on the popular drag queen comedy talk show, Amber Live!, where he discussed his fascinating career selling antiques and props from deceased people's estates. Cerny has led a remarkable life working in the antique business, which he chronicles in his memoir Selling Dead People's Things.
Order Duane Scott Cerny’s books today!
About Duane Scott Cerny
Duane Scott Cerny is an antique dealer, author, and television personality based in Chicago. He is the co-owner of The Broadway Antique Market (BAM!), which opened in Chicago in 1991 and bills itself as Chicago's oldest and largest antique mall.
Selling Dead People's Things Book
In 2021, Cerny published his memoir Selling Dead People's Things: Strange Stories from an Antique Dealer. The book provides a fascinating glimpse into the antique business through Cerny's stories of purchasing items from deceased people's estates and reselling them in his store.
Selling Dead People's Things has garnered critical acclaim, including 5-star reviews on Amazon where it became a #1 Best Seller. It was named one of the Top LGBTQ Memoirs of the Year by The Advocate magazine.
Order Duane Scott Cerny’s books today!
The Broadway Antique Market
The Broadway Antique Market (BAM!) first opened its doors in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood in 1991. Cerny runs the business alongside his partner of over 30 years.
BAM! operates as a vintage collective, housing over 75 different antique dealers under one roof. It has over 50,000 square feet of inventory spanning over three floors. The antiques mall is a popular shopping destination in Chicago, having been featured in USA Today, HuffPost, and on HGTV.
Film and TV Productions
Given Cerny's expansive collection of one-of-a-kind antiques and props, BAM! has become a go-to source for set decoration in Hollywood film and television productions.
Cerny has helped supply props for over 200 productions filmed in Chicago, including Fargo, Chicago Fire, Candyman, Natural Born Killers, and the Child's Play franchise.
Some of the upcoming projects featuring BAM! props include Ripple Effect and The Big Leap.
Order Duane Scott Cerny’s books today!
Upcoming Projects
In addition to running his antique business, Cerny continues to share stories from his long career. He makes appearances on television programs and podcasts to provide an inside look at the fascinating world of antiques.
Cerny is currently working on another book drawing from his decades of experience in the industry. He aims to publish the new book in late 2023 or early 2024.
Duane Scott Cerny has led an extraordinary life which he has shared through his writing, television appearances, and eclectic antique shop. His passion for collecting unique historic items has also helped bring realistic props to beloved TV shows and films. For anyone interested in antiques and Hollywood, Cerny provides an entertaining and enlightening viewpoint.
—This article was written, restructured, or adapted by Russell with information gathered from sources around the internet. Russell is the producer of Amber Live and is greatly overworked to pull it all together. If it’s on the internet, it must be true. (We’re kidding.) BUT, if you find any errors or omissions in the article, please let us know so that we may correct the issue. Thanks for your support!
