The New York Times ran an article recently about the voice of the city subway - you know, the "please stand clear of the closing doors" guy. It answers a question I never knew I had, namely, how the hell do you get a job like that.
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/23/your-fantasy-subway-announcements/
My favorite subway announcement story, however, has nothing to do with this guy, but with one of those poor conductors who spend their days just trying to get people to move along. My mother and I were on the 7 train on our way to Citifield last year with a conductor whose slow descent into madness went something like this:
Grand Central/42nd Street: "Please don't block the doors. Thank you."
Vernon Boulevard/Jackson Avenue: "Please step out of the doors. Please."
Queensboro Plaza: "Really, please. Don't block the doors."
Woodside/61st Street: "People, please. If you block the doors, it slows us all down."
82nd Street/Jackson Heights: "I'm begging you. Don't block the doors.
90th Street/Elmhurst Avenue: "Don't. Block. The. Doors."
103rd Street/Corona Plaza: "QUIT BLOCKING THE DOORS!!!"
That last one was delivered in a full-on scream over the speakers. You could practically hear his patience snapping. It was, quite possibly, the best part of the trip.
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