SKOWHEGAN — The cast and crew from “American Pickers” were back in Skowhegan on Wednesday, this time to film commercials for upcoming episodes of the reality TV show and another program on the History Channel, “Down East Dickering.”

Some 30 actors, producers and crew members took over the Old Mill Pub on the shore of the Kennebec River to do the filming. The restaurant was closed to the public from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

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Unit production manager Kip Kippax and Skowhegan Town Manager Christine Almand speak outside the Old Mill Pub in Skowhegan on Wednesday as workers bring equipment into the tavern to film promotional commercials for “American Pickers” and “Down East Dickering.” Staff photo by David Leaming

Extras and production staff fill two floors of the Old Mill Pub in Skowhegan before filming promotional commercials for “American Pickers” and “Down East Dickering.” Staff photo by David Leaming

at a glance

On “American Pickers,” a reality television program on the History Channel, the show’s stars – Mike Wolfe, Frank Fritz and Danielle Colby Cushman – travel the country searching for forgotten antiques in junkyards, basements, garages and barns, which they restore and sell. It airs Wednesday nights.

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Mike Wolfe, who with his co-host and partner Frank Fritz appears on “American Pickers,” said there were three or four sets inside the converted former mill to film the commercials. The entire parking lot from the Skowhegan Foot Bridge over the river and the area around the pub was turned into a big movie set with lights and cameras.

“We’re shooting a commercial today with another show on History because they’re on the same night that we’re on,” Wolfe said walking back from a local collectibles store called Red Roof Relics. “It’s a show called ‘Down East Dickering’ that’s shot here in Maine. So we’re going to shoot a commercial that says ‘Hey, watch us on Wednesdays; watch them on Wednesdays.’ ”

On “American Pickers,” the show’s stars travel the country searching for forgotten antiques in junkyards, basements, garages and barns, which they restore and sell.

The “American Pickers” crew was picking Tuesday at two homes on Pleasant Street in Skowhegan. One of the homes had an attic full of old stuff, including old newspapers and the original site plan for the town of Moscow, upriver about 25 miles from Skowhegan, Wolfe said.

Wolfe said a new episode of “Dickering” shot this week in Skowhegan is expected to air in four or five months.

“Down East Dickering” follows four groups of New Englanders for whom dickering is a way of life, according to the show’s website.

“Whether it’s building a bridge, climbing a bell tower or officiating a wedding, they’ll do whatever it takes to make a few bucks so they can enjoy life on their own terms,” the website says.

The website points out that “Uncle Henry’s Swap or Sell It Guide” published in Augusta, was used to identify potential purchases for the episode in Maine.

Greg Dore, co-owner of the Old Mill Pub, said he was contacted last week by the History Channel to use the establishment for the commercials. The pub also catered breakfast and lunch for the crew on Wednesday.

“They’ve got it all set up in there with cameras and lights,” Dore said. “They’ve been out on our deck all morning. The commercials are all 30 seconds, so as they do the advertising for the show, they’ll use a different set for each ad.”

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