October 15, 2004
Dream On: Celebs Lead Local Walking Tours
Would you like Steven Tyler to tell you to "walk this way" in Boston, or Jerry Stiller to escort you through New York City?
The Aerosmith rocker, "Seinfeld" actor and "Aliens" actress Sigourney Weaver are among several stars lending their voices to new cell phone-guided tours of U.S. cities, a technology-based project that trades unknown docents for high-wattage celebrities, reports Fox News.
"In the "Boston: City of Rebels and Dreamers" tour, for example, visitors to the Massachusetts capital can call a special number and be treated to Tyler's quirky take on Fenway Park, Boston Common and other historical hotspots.
Similarly, tourists walking the streets of Manhattan can call in to hear Stiller talk about the Lower East Side, where he grew up, or listen to Weaver, a New York native, explain the varied history and new rebirth of Lower Manhattan.
"We wanted always to make the guide of the tour someone who had a personal connection to the place," said Miles Kronby, the executive producer of Candide Media's Talking Street, which creates the tours. "We want to simulate the experience of having an ultra-savvy local show [people] around."
Related articles:
-- Cell phone walking tour - A cell phone walking tour of New York City's Lower East Side launched September 15, 2003 narrated by Jerry Stiller.
-- Talking Street - In May 2004, Minute Man National Historic Park became the first in the country to offer a cellphone guide. For $5.99, visitors can call up an hourlong take on Paul Revere and the North Bridge.
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