Hoping to catch the CTA holiday train? You’ll also hear Lee Crooks, the voice behind the city’s transit agency.
Crooks has been helping Chicagoans figure out where to hop on and off the city’s trains and buses for the last 25 years. He joined the City Cast Chicago podcast to share his experience and what he’s learned.
How did you hear about the CTA gig?
“It came through my agent. … But, then the question became, ‘What do we do for a voice for the CTA?’ I didn't know exactly what a train voice sounded like. So, I went, ‘Well, we just got back from Disney World. They had a voice on the monorail. How about I do an imitation of that guy?’”
Do you ever get recognized?
“I've been working on some totally unrelated project and the producer will go, ‘Your voice sounds really familiar. Where do I know you from?’ And I know what the answer is.”
What’s your favorite stop?
“I was literally standing under the L tracks on my way to a recording session and a train pulled up and I heard the things go, ‘This is Chicago.’ And I went, ‘Got it on that one.’ So that's sort of become my favorite.”
