ABOUT US

Red Line Tours is Los Angeles' first, and only, daily operating walking tour company. We have Tour Centers located in the heart of Hollywood and in Downtown Los Angeles and focus primarily on these two culturally and historically rich districts within the city.

Our tours are special in two ways. We use a listening system called Live-Audio and we go inside landmarks not normally accessible to the public. Below you will find descriptions on both of the these very important elements.

Live-Audio

We use a "Live-Audio" system on all our tours - they're not pre-recorded. The system, provided by Williams Sound helps our customers hear better. You will be fitted with an audio headset so that your guide can speak to you over a headset microphone. This will allow you to hear above extreme city noise such as traffic, construction noise, etc. The system allows you to absorb the surroundings without having to concentrate on the guide as he or she speaks.

To find out more about Live Audio, click here.

We go inside...

Our tours don't just brush the surface we actually take you inside the landmarks! Through special cooperative agreements we have gained access to many of the landmarks in Hollywood and Downtown Los Angeles.

On our "Inside Historic Hollywood" tour we visit the El Capitan Theatre (Disney's premiere theatre), Grauman's Egyptian Theater, the Blossom Room (home to the first Academy Awards ceremony) and a real Hollywood speakeasy.

On our "Inside Historic Downtown LA" tour we visit the inside of the Bradbury Building, Grand Central Market, Title Guaranty Building, Edison Building, Central Library, and the Warner Bros. Theatre.

Perfect Timing

Typically walking tours are 2 hours or more in length. Our tours are within 1-1/4 hours of "leisure walking" making them a perfect length to fit into your busy schedule. The length of our tours also make them just right for seniors. Our "Inside Historic Hollywood" tour covers only three blocks and provides opportunities for less active groups to sit.

Company Bios

Tony Hoover, Founder (Mishawaka, IN)
Okay my life story isn't as colorful as those below.  Actually, my story is rather boring by comparison, unless you count the 1984 cow-tipping incident in Muncie, Indiana - which we won't go into because they may still be looking for me. I grew up in the small town of Mishawaka (IN) aka "the Princess City" (no snickering) and have a BFA (that's Fine Art) from Ball State University aka "Testicle Tech".  My life came to an abrupt halt when I decided to start my own business, Red Line Tours, in March of 1999.

Michael Hernandez, Operations Director
(Los Angeles, CA) I’ve lived in California my entire forty-one years of age.  I am the youngest of seven children from Mexican immigrants that came to the United States to build a better life for themselves and their family.  A couple of things that people don't know about me are...I am a twin and second I am the only child in my immediate family with an American name.  That was due to my oldest sister having the biggest crush on a boy in her school and begged my parents to name me after him...Aaah young love!  I have spent most of my working career in the non-profit sector working with people living with disabilities.  I am a HUGE animal lover.  I live with 3 dogs (two Great Danes, Natasha and Titus and 1 Boxer, Panda) and 2 cats (Montgomery and El Pachino).  We are one big happy family.

Mick King, Operations Manager & Lead Guide (Newcastle England) Mick King is the Englishman who climbed up the Tower of London but came down Hollywood’s Chinese Theater.  He comes to us from London and is Redline Tours chief tour guide. After an exemplary army career, Mick had the honor of being selected as one of England ’s colorful cultural icons; a Yeoman Warder at the Tower of London .  As a Yeoman Warder or “Beefeater”, as they are fondly referred to, Mick electrified audiences with stories of bloody English history. His dramatic story telling ability prompted numerous London television appearances and radio program interviews.  In addition to the Tower he also thrilled audiences as a Jack-the-Ripper guide; leading visitors through the daunting streets of Whitechapel; taking them to the sites of Jack’s murderous deeds while translating the chilling facts! After marrying his Los Angelena wife and coming to Hollywood , Mick now sports a warmer skin tone, casual California smile and delights all with his vast knowledge of the L.A. story with all its glamorous and enticing details, both past and present.  He has a passion for the cinematic experience, art history, architectural history, travel and tourism.  Mick has been with Redline Tours since 2005.

Scott Spalding, Tour Guide Extraordinaire
(Denver, CO) Scott Spalding was born in Calcutta, India where his father was involved in archeological research.  As a teenager working in his family video store, Scott watched thousands of classic movies and fell in love with Hollywood history and lore.  His hobbies include sailing and attending the opera.  As a tourist, Scott took Red Line's tours of downtown and Hollywood and became so enthralled, he asked to join the company!  Scott especially enjoys meeting international visitors and has met thousands of people from countries around the world.


Mike Sonksen, Tour Guide Extraordinaire
(Los Angeles, CA) Mike Sonksen, also known as, Mike the Poet, is a 3rd generation L.A. native widely acclaimed for live performances, published articles & legendary city tours. Mike started tour guiding in 1997 right after graduating from U.C.L.A. Along the way he's published in the L.A. Citybeat, New Angeles, L.A. Weekly and performed over 1,000 spoken word poetry gigs in art galleries, literary festivals and major universities across the country.  His book I AM ALIVE IN LOS ANGeLES! has been added to the curriculum of several colleges and high schools. Mike is proud to be a Red Line tour guide, he's been walking the boulevard for Red Line since 2005. His unique blend of tour guiding and poetry is edutainment. He's been known to rock poems at any time or any place and drop facts the whole way.   

Frank Maciel, Tour Guide Extraordinaire (Los Angeles, CA) Frank is a native Angelino with a long-time interest in Hollywood history.  He started reading at a ridiculously young age and in the sixth grade read Gone with the Wind, then saw the movie on videotape—remember those?  After that, he was hooked.  Currently, Frank teaches acting and improvisation workshops through the Walt Disney Company and writes and directs productions for theme parks and various corporations.  He's performed improv for close to twenty years, appeared on television and worked on shows with Jason Alexander (Seinfeld), Dan Castellaneta (The Simpsons), Ed McMahon (Yes, THAT Ed McMahon), and his friend Derek Mears who plays the psycho killer Jason Voorhees in the new version of Friday the 13th.  Frank happens to think that last one is kinda awesome.

Kathrin Klueppel, Tour Guide Extraordinaire
(Kassel, Germany) Kathrin was born in the town of Kassel, which is in the middle of Germany and used to be very close to the barrier to East Germany. She was raised in a little village called Sand and when she was a child she would not have imagined living in the USA one day. She is interested in history, art, music, different cultures, and of course movies and the entertainment industry.  Back home she always loved to watch American movies (talking about the American influence on a child growing up in West Germany in the 1980s).  After a visit to Los Angeles and Hollywood when she was an Au-Pair in northern California she knew that she wants to move to LA one day. Back home in Germany and still in university she received a letter which stated that she had won the green card.  That is called destiny!!! She finished her Masters in American Studies and economics moved to LA and here she is ……


Jarod Millsap, Tour Guide Extraordinaire
(Riverside California) Jarod grew up in Southern California and has always had an interest in Los Angeles history and architecture. I feel really lucky that I get to share some of his favorite places with the guests and clients of Red Line Tours. He likes to stand on the roof of his favorite building "The Griffith Observatory" point down to Hollywood and say "Look! That’s where I work..!



Kimberly Fero, Tour Guide Extraordinaire (San Diego, CA)
Kimberly grew up in sunny San Diego before moving to Orange County to pursue her undergraduate degrees in English and dance.  She currently works at the Happiest Place on Earth (Disneyland!) and in January of 2009 decided to expand her expertise from wishing upon a star to talking about the stars as a guide for Red Line Tours in Hollywood.  She loves sharing all the history and heritage of the Boulevard, but she especially enjoys the classic motion picture stars like Doris Day, Debbie Reynolds, and Gene Kelly.



Jeffrey Rush,
Tour Guide Extraordinaire
(Golmud, Tibet) Jeff was raised by Tibetan Monks high in the Himalayas. There, he was taught the simplicites of life in total solitude. It wasn't until many years later when Jeff was a guest speaker at the Beyond Solitude Convention in Los Angeles that he attended his first Lakers basketball game. As soon as the Laker Girls took the court, Jeff realized there was a lot more to life than just inner peace.  Needless to say, Jeff never returned to Tibet (Managements Note: ...ummm...yea.)