One of the most popular shows on DIY network, Salvage Dawgs, will kicks off its sixth season Sunday, July 31. Fans are wondering what to expect from the Black Dog Salvage team in the 2016-17 season, so I spent some time visiting with the crew and their executive producer, Beth Glover to find out what we could look forward to and uncover some of the reasons why this show is growing such a loyal fan base.
As executive producer, Glover sees behind the camera happenings and assures me that Mike Whiteside and Robert Kulp‘s relationship is enjoyable both for the crew and the fans.
“One of the best things about working with the entire Black Dog Salvage team on Salvage Dawgs is the camaraderie and fun that they bring to every salvage job and every project,” Glover says. “That friendship can’t be fabricated; it’s authentic to the team and it shows up on the camera throughout each episode.
“In my opinion, that’s definitely part of the show’s success and what keeps fans coming back week after week,” she says. “In the realm of unscripted TV, it’s refreshing to see people that are passionate about saving architectural pieces and who also genuinely enjoy working with each other day in and day out.”
After 15 years as business partners, Whiteside and Kulp have a comfortable trust and respect for each other, despite some obvious personality differences. The result is an almost brotherly affection, wherein they playfully compete and tease each other about differences in salvage approach. “The banter between them is something that naturally happens, and we’re always trying to catch it on camera and share it with the audience,” she says.
Mike Whiteside, CEO of Black Dog Salvage, agrees with Glover. “Robert is a counterbalance to my ‘get it done, no matter what’ mentality,” he says. “His attention to details and my cowboy engineering make for a team that tends to work well despite the odds. Sharing the challenges of a small business with someone that has an eye on the bottom line is what makes it work. I could not and would not have been able to do this without Robert being who he is.”
Robert Kulp, president of Black Dog Salvage, says “my absolute favorite part of working with Mike…his quick wit and amazing sense of humor. And, despite his ‘bull in a china shop’ persona, he truly is one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet.”
When I asked Mike if he ever envisioned his salvage business becoming so successful, he had this to say, “I never would have thought in a million years that we would be where we are right now. You just can’t plan something like a TV show that chronicles what we do and create… We are grateful to all the companies and folks that take the time to save our architectural history for the next generation.” Robert had this to add, “For us, it was about being in the right place at the right time — both for the business and the show. We had some lean times early on, Black Dog Salvage started off as a speculative venture when Mike and I had the opportunity to save one house 16 years ago. For me, it was a hobby that has now gone wild…It’s gratifying to know that our company, and the salvage/up-cycling industry in general, has resonated with viewers around the world.”
As far as the upcoming season six goes, Glover says it holds some especially challenging removals and some poignant moments for both Mike and Robert. In one of the episodes, Mike and Robert tour the Bally Block factory in Pennsylvania where Robert’s grandfather worked for over 50 years.
They brought home a butcher block counter-top from the factory that they incorporated into a custom bar for their new office. And in another episode, Mike and Tay, his son, visit daughter/sister Grace, where she is an art student at Virginia Commonwealth University, and they get to watch her blow glass for a custom lamp. One episode will includes a special project for Robert’s daughter Caroline.
Season six will see the Salvage Dawgs team heading to: Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and Tennessee. They will be working to save bits of history from churches, industrial buildings, iconic landmarks, period homes and a former bank. There are a number of high wire acts this season also, as Mike and Tay, known as the “Flying Whitesides,” tackle roof-top crosses, a church bell and enormous stained glass panels. Mike revealed that removing the stained glass panels from St. Agatha’s Church in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, were difficult. “We have taken stained glass out before with success, mostly. We had to remove an eight foot round rose stained glass window almost three floors off the ground, in the snow. We had lots of hurdles and I almost lost it.”
The crew has already begun work on season seven. “It has been a nice mix of salvage jobs for next season, including a church, several houses, a bowling alley and a corn crib,” Glover says.
Watch Salvage Dawgs season six premiere this Sunday, July 31 on DIY network.
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