A global sensation
Richard Harrison was shopping with his wife, Joanne, at a local outlet mall when “a busload of tourists from Argentina showed up. I counted ’em. I took 27 pictures.”
The anecdote, which Harrison doled out during a rare interview in 2012, spoke to the international appeal of “Pawn Stars.” At last count, the reality series aired in 150 countries and 38 languages.
When it debuted on July 26, 2009, “Pawn Stars” wasn’t the first reality series set in a Las Vegas business. Everything from “Inked” and “Sunset Tan” at the Palms to “The Casino” at the Golden Nugget beat it to the punch. But it was easily the most popular. Dozens of other local reality series, as well as spinoffs and knockoffs, soon followed.
Within months of the premiere, a velvet rope was installed outside Gold & Silver Pawn Shop to control the crowds. The store, which had seen around 70 customers a day before the series began, would ultimately average 3,000 to 5,000 visitors each day.
“Pawn Stars” was such a hit, it finished 2011 as the fifth most popular series on cable — and the second most watched reality show behind only “Jersey Shore” — with more than 7 million viewers. It averaged more viewers that year than critical broadcast darlings “30 Rock,” “Parks and Recreation” and “Community.”
And still, Harrison was the only cast member who regularly tuned in. “I have to. My wife makes me,” he explained in 2012. “My wife is bound and determined, she’s gonna watch that program.”
As grumpy as he could appear on television, Harrison loved the show and the attention it brought the shop. Until his health caused him to scale back his appearances about 18 months ago, he had no plans to leave “Pawn Stars.”
“Twenty-one years in the Navy. Thirty years in the pawn shop. I was ready to quit,” he said of his life before the series. “I’m not quitting this. This is too much fun.” Christopher Lawrence he was more than my grandfather,” he said. “He was my best friend.”
He said he could write a book filled with advice his grandfather shared.
“He was never a guy who would carry anger around,” Corey Harrison said. “If there was a problem, he was the guy to fix it. He wouldn’t sweat the small stuff.” In passing, Corey said, “I think he was pleased at how his life turned out.”
“The Old Man” also is survived by his wife, Joanne. The two were married in 1960.
Rick Harrison remembers a final conversation he had with his father:
“He said, ‘I love you, son. Please take care of your mother.’ ”
Contact John Katsilometes at jkatsilometes@reviewjournal.com. Follow @johnnykats on Twitter.