Turner Classic Movies launched the TCM Classic Film Tour in New York City today, with a ribbon cutting ceremony featuring on-air host Robert Osborne and legendary actress Jane Powell, star of LUXURY LINER (1948), ROYAL WEDDING (1951) and SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS (1954).
Afterward, Osborne and Powell joined members of the press on the inaugural voyage, with guide Roseanne Almanzar from On Location Tours. TCM is partnering with On Location, which also operates sightseeing excursions based on The Sopranos, Sex and the City, and Gossip Girl.
Public tours begin Thursday, August 22 and will be offered three times per week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays beginning at 11:30 a.m. Tickets can be purchased here.
Robert Osborne prepares to cut the ribbon with classic film star Jane Powell and Dennis Adamovich, SVP, Digital, Affiliate, Lifestyle, and Enterprise Commerce, TCM, TBS and TNT. (Photo by Will)
Robert Osborne says, “And…..CUT!” (Photo by Will)
Robert Osborne does a fist pump. Next stop, Jersey Shore?
Mr. Osborne does some patter, while Jane Powell looks on. (Photo by Will)
Miss Powell rocks the mic. (Photo by Will)
The TCM Tour has a sweet ride. (Photo by Will)
Tour bus driver Harold Jean-Pierre told me his favorite classic film is “anything with Barbara Stanwyck.” Clearly, this man has excellent taste. (Photo by Will)
Guide Roseanne Almanzar poses above the subway grate where Marilyn Monroe’s famous dress blowing scene was originally filmed. It ended up being re-shot on a soundstage, and that version appears in THE SEVEN YEAR ITCH (1955). (Photo by Will)
Monitors display clips from classic films as the bus visits each location. Here King Kong prepares to meet his fate as we idle in the shadow of the Empire State Building on 5th Ave. (Photo by Will)
Parked outside the Dakota on 72nd Street, awaiting the arrival of Rosemary’s Baby. He has his father’s eyes, apparently. (Photo by Will)
Robert Osborne with the guides of the TCM Classic Film Tour. If they all end up sharing an apartment it would make an excellent sitcom. (Photo by Will)
“This really is a great city, I don’t care what anyone says.” – Woody Allen, MANHATTAN (1979)
cinematically insane 
I want to go to there.
Elise, the next time you come to NYC we will go> And maybe we can drag Aurora along for the ride!
This may be the thing that finally gets me to New York.
Elise, why don’t you come and cover the NY Film Festival?
Looks like a lot of fun – so jealous that you were there for the kick-off! Great photos – thanks for sharing them with the rest of us.
Thanks Jennifer. It was a lot of fun.
Your photos really make the trip look fantastic. And I was there! I’m reliving the event through your photos.
Theresa, thanks for being my seatmate. Sorry for my gigantic backpack!
Next time on NYC I’m so there for this. Thanks, Will 🙂
You would love it Michael!
JEALOUS! Thanks for posting such great photos — makes me feel like I was almost there. 🙂
Also, love Jane Powell’s dress.
Thanks. BTW Jane Powell is super nice in person. She was chatting with everyone when we stopped for lunch.
So epic! I cannot wait until the next time I’m in NYC! Last time I was there to do research at the public library where all Hepburn’s papers are. This time I’ll go for the TCM tour. It’s nice that they’re doing something on this coast for those of us who can’t make it out west for the film festival. Thanks for posting these fantastic pictures, Will!
Thanks Margaret. One big disappointment for me: no stop at KH’s apartment. They were in the neighborhood and could definitely have done it.
I used to go to NYC every summer but then that stopped once I started visiting England. I’ve wanted to go back to NYC very much, and this tour has really made me make up my mind. Perhaps sometime in 2014 I’ll venture south and partake of the new TCM Tour 🙂 How long was it? A couple of hours? Thanks for the post Will!
Thanks Vanessa. The tour is three hours or so, starting at 51st & B’way, going up the west side, crossing the park at 96th, and going down the East side to the Empire State Building. It ends at Grand Central Station.
Fabulous photos, Will! Thanks for sharing these with us. 🙂
Thanks Christy.
looks like you guys had fun. i will eventually get out on the tour. i have done the brooklyn tour a couple of years ago and enjoyed it.
Thanks. Which one is the Brooklyn tour?
“Anything with Barbara Stanwyck” is one of my favourite movies too!
Thanks for taking us on that tour. It may be as close as some of us get.
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