HBO continues their marketing blitz for Game of Thrones, now offering fans in select US cities the chance to have their picture taken on the Iron Throne. Starting today and running through Sunday, the Iron Throne will be in New York City, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and San Francisco. Here are the exact times and locations:
NEW YORK
Thursday, April 14 – Union Square (photo booth 11am – 7pm)
Friday, April 15 – Columbus Circle (photo booth 11am – 7pm)
Saturday/Sunday, April 16/17 – 14th and 9th (photo booth – 1pm – 9pm Sat / 11am – 7pm Sun)
LOS ANGELES
Thursday, April 14 – Sunday April 17 – Hollywood & Highland Courtyard (photo booth 11am-7pm)
PHILADELPHIA
Thursday, April 14 – Sunday April 17 – 30th Street Station (photo booth 11am-7pm)
SAN FRANCISCO
Thursday, April 14 – Sunday April 17 – Yerba Buena Gardens (photo booth 11am-7pm)
In addition, HBO has Iron Throne-fitted pedi-cabs wandering the streets of New York City, giving complimentary rides for those brave enough to sit on its dangerous, blade-infused seat. (Just kidding, the seats are normal, padded seats.) You can check out a shot of one in action at GRRM’s Not A Blog.
Winter Is Coming: This is crazy. HBO has pulled out all the stops for this marketing campaign. If this show doesn’t get big numbers on Sunday, we can’t blame the HBO marketing dept. And I may just have to head over to Philly and have a seat on the Iron Throne…
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72 Comments
That is officially awesome!
ToddQuote Reply
WASHINGTON DC is the perfect place for this!!!!! PLEASE!
Catherine Henry-GreskovicQuote Reply
I think it will pay off. The reviews overall have been very positive and their sales to foreign markets have been more than ever before. I think they have the next big hit on their hands.
And their bottoms.
HollyoakQuote Reply
Catherine Henry-Greskovic, Philly is only a 3 hour drive up 95. Road trip!
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
Disgusting mass market merchandising of the lowest kind.
I wouldnt be caught dead sitting on that cheap thing.
Pedi-cabs with Iron throne backseat? I think im going to puke.
If i see any ill set it on fire.
(not really no – i really dont give a flying tortoise about it but thats the only comment they deserve)
The Smiling KnightQuote Reply
Might have been good to at least have one of these in the middle of the country like Chicago or Dallas.
SuperdeluxeQuote Reply
Or Austin. We’re full of pedicabs as it is. ;)
McSherrieQuote Reply
The Smiling Knight, u mad?
Superdeluxe, I agree with you. They should have skipped San Fran (they just had it there during Wondercon) and sent one to a Midwest city.
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
They sure made a lot of those thrones
bgrahamboQuote Reply
This is a little bit over the top, methinks. May cause the opposite reaction. “Enough of this Thrones b***shite. I’m sick of it”.
But still, kudos to HBO and its PR & Marketing budget guy.
CaedesQuote Reply
Hollywood Reporter with a nice GOT by the numbers article:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/game-thrones-by-numbers-178659
SuperdeluxeQuote Reply
Hahaha! Those pedi-cabs are great!
Lord Ned’s HeadQuote Reply
Arghh…Just drove by 30th Street YESTERDAY!
BTW, does anyone know of any public viewings Sunday in the Philly area? As my name indicates, I don’t have (and can’t get) HBO.
HBOlessQuote Reply
HBO better be on the up-and-up with their liability insurance.
(Those swords are sharp!)
MajorPayneQuote Reply
The Midwest gets the shaft again.
Thanks HBO,
Love from MN!
*sniffle*
WolfheartQuote Reply
okay. HBO has officially jumped the marketing shark with the pedicabs. that is just some ridiculous shite. something like that is just slatternly, seriously HBO have a bit of dignity … i know whoring the show out and about is necessary to get viewers but there is a difference from being a high priced call girl and being a cheap $2 street walker.
but i would sit in the full sized replica throne if one came to my town, that is pretty damn cool.
Who Is Jacopo Belbo?Quote Reply
Winter Is Coming,
I know but I don’t get off until 6pm! Had I known sooner, I would have taken the day off!!! Ack!
Catherine Henry-GreskovicQuote Reply
How bout send one to Chicago and Minneapolis for example
WolfheartQuote Reply
Here is a negative review by the Washington Post:
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700127153/Game-of-Thrones-can-be-too-much-avast-for-all-but-the-stalwart.html?pg=2
Basically it sounds like the guy doesn’t like fantasy, and isn’t willing to keep up with the number of story lines to give this series a shot. Basically the guy doesn’t like Fantasy, and is not willing to put in the time.
SuperdeluxeQuote Reply
Catherine Henry-Greskovic, but you have all weekend. :)
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
Cool! it’s in my city!
MetalgoddessAMBQuote Reply
Today at lunch, I grabbed my ginormous foam cowboy hat and ran to 30th street station. And I got a kickass picture on the Iron Throne! :)
davebQuote Reply
As it happens… Bloodraven and I were planning on heading out to the Union Square area after work together… how seredipitous! :D
The Winter RoseQuote Reply
What is it about this type review that inspires the author to blather on about some youthful rejection of fantasy?
fafhrdQuote Reply
Superdeluxe,
He chose to make Rice Crispy treats with his friend’s mom instead of playing D&D with his friends. I think that says it all.
HBOlessQuote Reply
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-game-of-thrones-review-20110415,0,4570301.story?track=rss&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+latimes%2Fentertainment+%28Entertainment+News%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher
LA Times Positive review
SuperdeluxeQuote Reply
fafhrd,
He wants to make sure everyone knows he was not a geek. I hate the D & D comparisons too. I absolutely hate D & D myself, but I still like some fantasy. You have to be able to judge something for what it is.
That being said at least he admits in his review that he just hates fantasy.
YeremiahQuote Reply
Catherine Henry-Greskovic,
Winter Is Coming,
I’m an idiot! I will be there on Saturday! Just talked someone in to going with me!
Thanks for sharing!!!
Winter Is Coming,
Catherine Henry-GreskovicQuote Reply
HBOless,
So true!
SuperdeluxeQuote Reply
Mary McNamara of the Los Angeles Times has a strongly positive review of Game of Thrones,
link is here: http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/tv/la-et-game-of-thrones-review-20110415,0,5959180.story
Steel_WindQuote Reply
Haha, this almost makes me want to drive back home to Philly for the weekend. :) If the Flyers weren’t playing at 5 on Saturday and I didn’t have plans Friday night… lol
It would be pretty kick ass to see the throne, just not sure if I’m up for the 2 1/2 hour drive.
NakmalQuote Reply
Loved this tweet:
miriamgershow Media blitz drinking game: Every time you read, see or hear mention of GAME OF THRONES, take a shot. #letsgetsloshed #itsEVERYWHERE
Twitter – seconds ago
SuperdeluxeQuote Reply
Catherine Henry-Greskovic,
I second that.
Pucinette FUQuote Reply
I’ve just made a trek out to Union Square to get a picture. Also went back to the HBO store, this time made sure to snap plenty of pictures, and got a keychain and a Stark beer stein, only to come home and check my mail to find another keychain! (Thanks WiC!)
Fun!
ZackQuote Reply
30th St station makes a nice throne room! :) Love the pedicabs too.
LauraQuote Reply
Winter Is Coming,
It’s going to thunderstorm on Saturday. Will it still be out in the rain?! I would hate to drive there to find out they took it away. Any info would be fantastic! I will still risk getting struck by lighting just to sit on it but it would not be cool if it was gone.
Catherine Henry-GreskovicQuote Reply
Boston is dissed again. Okay, I can see NYC — The Big Apple, Jeter and all of that. But Philly? I’d say “The Others take Philly” but I think they already took it long ago. *pouting with arms crossed, green with envy, and totally going back to the Deathgate post*
Mike ChairQuote Reply
I swear HBO’s marketing department thinks everyone lives on a coast. Well Lake Michigan has a coast!
Grumble Grumble
…Starts bending swords for his own throne
VohdreQuote Reply
Catherine Henry-Greskovic, the one in Philly is inside (see above pic). So you will be safe and dry while seated on the Iron Throne.
Zack, haha! I told you I was gonna send you one. Did you think I would forget about you? ;) Well now you have one extra to give to a friend!
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
Hmm, a difficult question.
From my point of view, probably not. How about you? All planks present?
Look, i understand that the marketing must pull of the cheapest dirtiest tricks, and i know why those work.
But i dont have to like it.
While the throne (plastic as it is) at least looks quality crafted (painted) those cabs look like the definition of fake and fail.
-How very Hollywood of them.
(pukes in someones helmet)
Although, im really not saying this to ruin anyones fun.
The Smiling KnightQuote Reply
I also think there should be an iron throne in Washington DC. 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW?
Cruella Bunny BunsQuote Reply
PS That’s the White House address.
Yeahhhh.. I’ll be here all week.
Cruella Bunny BunsQuote Reply
Winter Is Coming,
Would I get arrested if I brought Long Claw or Needle with me?
I’m calling the station but not sure if anyone will have an answer.
What I wouldn’t give to have ICE right now.
Catherine Henry-GreskovicQuote Reply
Darn. Then told me no I couldn’t Long Claw or Needle. Bummer. That would have been AWESOME!
Catherine Henry-GreskovicQuote Reply
Can anyone tell me if there are long lines? I want to go so bad but have to be at work and cant wait in line. Im kinda banking on the fact that i go on a Friday at 11am when everyone is at work. Any info would be great!
BayratQuote Reply
I didn’t forget! They were giving them away for free if you brought in a sheet from where the Throne was, that also gave 15% off any merch. That’s why I made the trek. Made it impossible to pass up on the stein that way, and who can pass up a free keychain? I know someone who’ll appreciate the extra one!
ZackQuote Reply
None at all when I was there. It takes about 20 seconds per person, and it wasn’t that crowded.
ZackQuote Reply
My first thing to do as a tourist in NYC was to stop by at the HBO store. I took several nice pictures, talked with staff (and I guess they laughed about me when I left :)), bought 2 t-shirts and 2 beer steins and got swagged a key-chain. While there one of the employees casually dropped the bomb that the throne would be in Union Square today. My day just went from great to fan-frickin-tastic! I seized it while holding my new Targaryen beer-stein.
There was a nice turn-out by interested people – most of which just seemed to want to sit on a throne and get their picture taken. While I was there Sandor Clegane sat on the throne! (or it could have been some other dog). There never was a line longer than a minute or so.
Johan SporreQuote Reply
Superdeluxe,
DH87 prediction: Late in this season/early next season, Hank Stuever is going to be forced to admit that he’s sick of hearing about GOT and its Emmy nominations and its ubiquity on the interwebz and must grudgingly, as part of his sad job, revisit the show and admit that there’s some there there.
Not that he’s going to like it, but he can’t stay in the kitchen eating his Rice Krispy treats with June Cleaver for two years running while the rest of the television universe is all about GOT. It would be like watching “Kendra” while everyone else is discussing Tony Soprano around the watercooler. Too lonely.
DH87Quote Reply
Winter Is Coming,
No need to hate on San Francisco, Winter! They should have made ANOTHER one and sent it to the Midwest :) But SF is a major focal point for a lot of Sci-Fi/Fantasy/near-LA/special-effects/etc. Plus, there are a lot of foreign tourists who visit, and GoT is just as much a global show as a US one.
I just went to the SF Iron Throne and it was great, the buzz was building!
AceQuote Reply
Got me my picture on Iron Throne LA…. woohooo!
Tamsin Cleo GermanQuote Reply
They close promptly at 7 in Philly. Got there about 5 minutes before the cutoff. The promo company takes your picture for you with a professional photography / lighting setup and then emails the photo to you. I’m sure they harvest the email addresses but I didn’t get asked to sign any kind of consent form. The promo company did not seem to think that the prop throne would be traveling to other destinations besides Philly.
Dennis BrennanQuote Reply
Some art, since I’m starting to get annoyed …
KGQuote Reply
KG,
Classic!
KnurkQuote Reply
does anyone know if u have to pay?
Marilyn BonesQuote Reply
KG,
Oh noes, they’re in the wrong part of your country!
GaRQuote Reply
This is completely crazy! I’ve never never never seen this much marketing for one series ever before! Crazy I tell you! What I wouldn’t give to be residing in America right now…
BroQuote Reply
Marilyn Bones,
No charge.
Dennis BrennanQuote Reply
No Detroit? Chicago? Heck, Minneapolis, even!
WinnietheWootQuote Reply
WinnietheWoot,
I mean, as a Detroiter, I’m used to national abuse. But jeez, they’re even shooting down Chicago.
KGQuote Reply
I just got back from the Los Angeles promo… the photographer and greeters were incredibly friendly, they let me take as many pictures as I wanted, and there was no line. They also gave me at least 6 little postcards with Ned on the throne and were even trying to convince me to take some more if I wanted them. The giant… poster? was really impressive, although I couldn’t stay til 7 to see the clip that it plays.
I recommend checking it out to anybody near Hollywood & Highland. It was quite fun and a quick trip. :)
AlyxQuote Reply
They will most likely bring the Iron Throne to the San Diego Comic Con; they should bring the pedicabs as well, since those things are so ubiquitous outside the convention center.
Maester TcostQuote Reply
Where was it in Yerba Buena park?
Christy TaylorQuote Reply
I went to the one in Union Square yesterday. Pretty awesome! And on the line, I overheard people working the booth explaining the series to people who had never heard of it, but were still waiting on line to get their pictures taken. It only took about 5-10 minutes. And when I was almost at the front, I overheard someone who didn’t know about the books, get up from the throne and say, “that’s pretty comfortable”. I couldn’t help thinking it’s not supposed to be.
KevinQuote Reply
Long time lurker, first time poster. Had to share because it was awesome:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150153633557734&set=pu.74133697733&type=1&theater
James Andrew FeigenbaumQuote Reply
I drove 4 hours in the rain to sit on the Iron Throne in Philly from DC. It tooks us another 4 to get home. Well worth it!!!!!
Catherine Henry-GreskovicQuote Reply
I live in Philadelphia so I went on Friday. I’m glad it came here because I was feeling so left out with all that cool stuff happening up in NYC, and being so close, but so broke I couldn’t make it up there.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150153839752734&set=a.10150153704507734.288291.74133697733&type=1&theater
MetalgoddessAMBQuote Reply
I had an awsome time at 30th street station in Phila. Thanks
Winter for bringing this to our attention. George was late posting about the photo booths.
We are 3 hours away for the Game to actually begin. Enjoy!!!!
Craig AlbuckQuote Reply
Any news of this happening again? I missed it the first time round even though I’m just 45 min from Philly!
Jamie PriceQuote Reply
Up!
It is to my interest if there will be any chance in June 2011 in NY, LA, SF or Vegas?
Mikhail SamsonovQuote Reply
I would love to have a chess set, the Starks representing the ( white ). The Lannisters representing the ( black ). I think that would be good seller. HOW ABOUT IT HBO?? WHY NOT MAKE A PEWTER CHESS SET, OF THE STARKS AND THE LANNISTERS??
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