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On Location Tours-NYC

“A special gift of New York”

by Donald Anthony

A trip to Manhattan is not complete with a tincture of a unique experience, a New York experience.

On Location Tours gives a guided tour of site locations of movies and TV programs that used and use New York City as the backdrop. The particular tour I experienced was the Classic Movie tour where some of the most famous Manhattan back drop spots were pointed out. The bus tour is easy to get to, less expensive than a Broadway Ticket, and more informative than a guidebook.

We started in Midtown at the top of the theatre district and then drove south, north, east, west, make a turn here, no do it there, and then stop for quick walk. No this was not an exercise class but a class in fun. The tour guide for our trip was Roseanne, who had a contagious laugh, a knack for film trivia, and a way of pulling us into her enthusiasm for all things film, some TV shows, and even a smattering of contemporary history. She enchanted us with history as we viewed the historical spots, serenaded us passing Broadway, and even did a little opera in the shadow of Lincoln Center.

The tour is not just for film aficionados but really for anyone with a passion about all things New York. The movie makers tend to pick special and unique spots around Manhattan and On Location Tours seems to know everyone of them. Go ahead ask a question, try and stump the tour guide, if you dare. Where did Marilyn stand when her dress blew up in the air? Does the Ghost Buster’s building really exist? Did the Sopranos ever come to Manhattan?

I suppose one would think that to enjoy the trip, the movies have to be seen first, but the guide provides short clips showing the location that is coming up. “Yes! There! Over on the left, next to the brick building, that’s George Jefferson’s building”… and then the bus breaks into a chorus of “Moving’n On Up.”

The internet site at www.screentours.com lists the various tours, locations, and even the movies/TV shows covered in an almost three hour jaunt around Manhattan. There are tours covering sites in “Sex in the City,” “Gossip Girls,” and other current TV shows. Is this trip special? You bet it is! And I can assure you, for me it was more interesting than jogging.

On Location Tours - screentours.com