In the world of cinema there is a classic: Ghostbusters o The Ghostbusters, as we know it in Spanish, and in the world of tourism the classic is New York. Can we combine both classics? Obvious!
That's what the Ghostbusters Tour proposed by the city. If you are more than 40 years old or you like the classics of the big screen, you surely remember The Ghostbusters, a 1984 film mix of science fiction, fantasy and comedy. The plot takes place in New York so if you visit the city you can have fun doing the tour.
The Ghostbusters
Ghostbusters is a 1984 film starring the then popular Alien actress, Sigourney weaver and a group of distinguished comedians led by Bill Murray y Dan Aykroyd. He broke ticket sales records.
The plot revolves around a group of para-psychologists expelled from the university who join forces and set up an independent business of ghost hunting. A bit inventive, in addition, they develop their own technology to get rid of spirits. And one day they meet the character of Weaver and then the story of possessions, the occult, spirits and demigods who want to invade our world.
With such success in 1989 it was released Ghostbusters II although it did not go so, so well. Years passed and the latest version is from 2015 starring girls. Although it was not a great success, the truth is that the two films of the '80s have marked an entire generation and people specialized in tourism know it well. That's why there is a Ghostbusters Tour! Here is the tour:
New York Public Library: the 1984 film begins precisely here, in the library, one of the most haunted places in the city according to what is said in the film. Books and papers fly and our protagonists enter the scene with their characteristic equipment. The building is beautiful so it's worth a look. It is on 5th Avenue and 42nd Street.
Columbia University: appears in both the original and its sequels. You can visit the Low Memorial Library and the campus, a great and very green place to stop or relax.
Company 8 Hook & Ladder: el ghostbusters barracks, a site similar to a fire station, is in the neighborhood of tribecca. Today it has the popular Ghostbusters logo on the external walls. I do not know if they will let you in but the photo cannot be missing. You can find this place at 14 Moore Street in Manhattan.
Umbertos Clam House: the films are always edited and when they are filmed in a real location, the order and layout of the streets and their houses is not always respected. The montage arms and disarms to the liking of the director and that is what has happened with Ghostbusters and New York. At the beginning of the film, when the team have their first great success capturing the ghost of the Sedgewick Hotel, they begin to tour the entire city and on that capture tour they pass through this corner of Little Italy, Mulberry Street with its shops and Luna restaurant with its sign that you can still see today. It's at 132 Mulberry Street.
Rockefeller center: Actually the surroundings of this popular place appear several times in the film, both the pedestrian zone along the square and the bronze statue of Prometheus. Rockefeller Center is at 45 Rockefeller Plaza.
Central Park West: in this part of the city lives the female protagonist of the film and interest of the character of Bill Murray. Dana Barrett, that's what Sigourney Weaver's character is called, she's musician and lives here at 55 Central Park West.
Lincoln Center: in the film appears the fantastic water source from this place and although nowadays the games of the water jets are somewhat different, it is still there. The place is great for a walk, a picnic and a cultural visit. It's at 70 Lincoln Center Plaza.
Manhattan Bridge: this bridge is iconic of the city beyond the film. In it is the scene of the discussion about Doomsday between the characters of Ray Stantz and Winston Zeddermore near the end. It is recommended to enter the bridge from the Bowery, between Canal and Bayard streets, on the Manhattan side.
Cityhall: The NY City Hall building has appeared many times in different movies but it has a great scene in Ghostbusters in which Inspector Peck appears, himself Greater of the city and the archbishop.
National Museum of the American Indian- This site appears in Ghostbusters II as the Manhattan Museum of Art (which doesn't really exist, there isn't any museum like that). It is located at Bowling Green, 1.
St. Mark's Place: is the location of the Ray's Hidden Book Library. It is at 33 Mark's Place and the meeting place of the protagonists in Ghostbusters II. It's in the East Village.
Gracie Mansion: we spoke before the City Hall or City Hall of New York. In the first movie the Ghostbusters meet with the mayor there but the second time they meet they do so at the manor's house on the Upper Side. The Gracie Mansion is not the place where that scene was filmed but, it was a studio, but it looks the same and It can be visited on Tuesdays.
Times Square: It is also an iconic place in NY and although in the Ghostbusters 2015 version it was a stage the walk through the real Times Square cannot be missed. With this tour you will have given a complete tour of the places in New York that in their own way have also been protagonists of The Ghostbusters. Bon voyage!