entertainment tours bus company

More often than not, when clients compare a Star Coaches proposal to our competitor's proposals, our proposal will "appear" to be more expensive.

Why? Because it is thorough...

It's NOT designed to be "pretty"...   it's designed to be accurate.   Actually, it is designed for you to end your tour BELOW the projected budget.

Don takes the time to prepare every single proposal for every single tour himself.

He suggests stop point cities on longer drives to keep a driver safe and legal.

While this level of thoroughness takes more time, it has been invaluable, especially for foreign clients that are not familiar with the geographical layout of the United States.

See for yourself what many consider to be the best, and most informative proposal in the industry, and then get ready to enjoy "coming in below budget" at the end of your tour.

REQUEST A PROPOSAL

EXCLUSIVE: 2023 TOUR COST ESTIMATOR

In LESS than 5 minutes, find out how much an entertainer coach will cost for your next tour!

We are pleased to offer you the new 2023 Star Coaches Online Tour Cost Estimator!

Only Star Coaches offers such an online experience!

Only Star Coaches offers complete transparency!

Only Star Coaches offers you this budgeting advantage!

During the development and creation of this website, we consulted over a dozen Tour Managers about this concept...

Their reactions were all the same:  "Wow!!"...  "Amazing!!"...  "Unbelievable!!"...  "Oh My Gosh!!"

They were blown away!

Only Star Coaches offers such an online experience:  The Tour Cost Estimator!

Now YOU can enter variables into a form and calculate approximately how much it will cost to lease various entertainer coaches for your next tour.

Here is what you'll need to get started:

a)  your tour itinerary with mileage...

b)  your pick up city...

c)  your drop city...

d)  approximately how many overdrives will take place

Now YOU can see how much bus your budget will allow...  Experiment with different logistical scenarios...

This online feature will give you a very good idea of the estimated cost you will incur on your next tour...

TOUR COST ESTIMATOR

EXTERIOR BUS WRAPS

TRAILER WEIGHT LIMITS…

Most of the time, this is not a problem, as most bands are staying within our 10,000 pound limit for GVWT (Gross Vehicle Weight, or a loaded trailer)...

By the way, for you Production Managers, our trailers weight about 4,500 pounds empty, leaving you about 5,500 pounds for the gear / merch...

Anyhow, a more frequent occurrence is that we find ourselves receiving a frantic call from our drivers at pick up stating that "this trailer is very heavy"...

So we instruct the driver to immediately weigh the full trailer, only to find that the GVWT is over 10,000 pounds... This becomes a new problem...

To battle this potential problem, we suggest making sure your packed load is less than 5,500 pounds, and if you must exceed that limit, act BEFORE the tour pick up...

Rent a box truck and a driver...

Star Coaches now has a small team of box truck drivers that can help solve the problem of a disaster at pick up...

If you can't get the gear to 5,500 pounds, let us know, and we will gladly assign one of our auxiliary drivers to your rented box truck from Hertz, Budget or UHaul...

Don't be THAT guy who is overweight at pick up...

RENTAL TRAILERS

PHOTOS FROM THE ROAD

HIGHER CAPACITY​

Standard Napaway coaches feature 18 private sleeper suites—meaning we can carry more people on a single coach than the industry-standard 12-bunk sleeper can. Or, transport up to 36 passengers in a business-class configuration. You can even use our 13-sleeper-suite model that features a lounge!

Life on the road often comes with limited privacy—but with Napaway, everybody gets their own personal space. Unique among entertainment tour buses, Napaway offers riders true privacy in the shape of suites that boast over 13 feet of usable space.

FLEXIBILITY​

Each Napaway suite can be converted into two executive, extra-legroom business-class seats. Plus, each suite can be adjusted individually, so the total coach capacity can range anywhere between 18 and 36 passengers. Need to pick up some extra help late in the tour? It’s no problem!

PRODUCTIVITY

Onboard WiFi and full-sized tray tables (large enough for a laptop and more) allow traveling entertainers and tour members to watch movies, stream video, and prepare for the next stop!

BAGGAGE SPACE​

Bring all of your equipment and gear with you—our coaches have the most baggage space in the industry.

Charter inquiries

Stay in the loop about our entertainment tour bus services, stay up to date​.

© Copyright Napaway Holdings LLC 2022 All Rights Reserved / Site by BWD

Privacy Policy

Customers with disabilities, questions we're here to help., coach charters available. please visit napaway.com/charters.

Encore Luxury Coaches is on a relentless pursuit to perfect the art of luxury travel for the entertainer community. Headquartered in Nashville, TN, our team of industry veterans are committed to supporting our customers and providing a seamless experience.

Our respected leadership team, comprised of highly experienced industry professionals, is committed to upholding the principles that guide our company.  Their unwavering dedication to reliability and stability in our business operations is integral to our success and growth as a company.

Contact us for more information about our fleet.

Hemphill Brothers | Coaches

Star Bus at Night

Since 1980 Hemphill Brothers Coach Company has been rolling strong.

We bring a personal and customized approach, to every project we work on, which is why, our clients love riding with us, and why they trust us to get them wherever they need to be..

Our Executive Staff

TRENT HEMPHILL

President and ceo, trent hemphill president and ceo.

Trent spent the first part of his life traveling all over North America in entertainer coaches with his family, the well-known gospel group, The Hemphills. It was a natural progression to entertainer coach leasing, as Trent and his brother Joey started what has become one of the top companies in the bus leasing industry.

Trent believes that the continuted success of Hemphill Brothers Coach Company will be based on exceeding the expectations of our clients. We do that through a combination of quality design, careful attention to detail and a world-class staff. Under Trent’s leadership “Hemphill Quality” service is now an industry standard. This has resulted in many strong, long-term, relationships in the entertainment industry.

An honest and amoxil online innovative leader, Trent has successfully guided this business to a record-breaking year of continued growth. The company has provided transportation for clients such as NSync, Ricky Martin, Britney Spears, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Cher, Ed McMahon, and George W. Bush, just to name a few.

Trent believes that one record-breaking year deserves another. He will continue to focus his time and efforts on maintaining established relationships, while acquiring the business of many more new clients in the years to come.

JOEL W. HEMPHILL Jr. (JOEY)

Chairman & treasurer, joel w. hemphill jr. (joey), chairman & treasurer.

Joey Hemphill has been around buses all of his life. When Joey and Trent started the company in 1980 with two old 1965 Eagles, Joey spent much of his time repairing the buses. This experience helped him acquire a talent for building and maintaining the quality buses that travel this country’s highways today.

By working with many of the country’s top entertainers, Joey has developed a reputation for building quality custom interiors that is synonymous with Hemphill Brothers Coach Company. Joey pays attention to the needs and desires of Hemphill clients, a key factor in the company’s success.

Many of the artists who lease a new Prevost long term contribute to the design and layout of the coach, which is a key element in making Hemphill Brothers stand out from all other coach companies.

Under Joey’s supervision and with the expertise of his qualified mechanics and interior conversion crew, the fleet continues to grow by leaps and bounds.

Although anyone who sees the interior of a new bus leaving the Nashville-based facility thinks it to be the most beautiful one ever made–one that could never be topped–Joey already has new plans for the next “best interior ever to be built”.

MARK LARSON

Vice president, mark larson vice president.

Mark plays a major roll in the day-to-day operations at Hemphill Brothers Coach Company. Mark is originally from Minneapolis, MN but spent the majority of his childhood growing up in Central America and sale levitra drugs uk Europe. In 1982, he moved to Nashville and started out as both a musician and a driver for a Gospel group. This experience helped him develop a unique perspective of both a performer and the demanding responsibilities of driving an entertainer coach.

Mark started driving part-time for Hemphill Brothers Coach Company in 1985. Things quickly moved from part-time to full-time and over the next few years, he drove artists like Paul McCartney, Michael Bolton, Gloria Estefan and Natalie Cole, to name a few.

In 1993, Mark left the road to put his driving experience to work in the office assisting Trent in booking the tours and in the day-to-day operations of the company. As the fleet grew, Mark was promoted to Operations Manager where he assumed more of the responsibility of booking tours, hiring drivers and scheduling buses. He also developed specialized software and method systems for a better organized and cialis super force canada price smoother operation.

RANDY PITMAN

Randy pitman cfo.

Randy joined the Hemphill Executive Staff in November 2010. Pitman, a CPA, received his Bachelors of Science degree in Accounting from Tennessee Tech University. Before joining Hemphill Brothers he worked for Comdata Corporation where he served most recently as the Executive Vice President of Finance. Prior to Comdata Pitman was an Audit Senior for Arthur Andersen & Co. in Nashville, TN.

VALERIE BELL

Assistant operations manager, valerie bell assistant operations manager.

Valerie is a key member of the management team at Hemphill Brothers Coach Company. Valerie also plays an important role in Coach leasing where she works closely with clients such as Oprah, Doobie Brothers, A&E Network, and Vanderbilt University to insure that their lease programs are successful.

Valerie joined the Hemphill Brothers team in February 2004, after 20 years in the corporate Christian Music Industry. Originally from Benton, KY, Valerie worked in Inventory Control and Artist Relations before joining the Tour Bus Leasing Industry.

MARSHA PRICE

Office manager & safety director, marsha price office manager.

has been with Hemphill Brothers Coach Company for twenty-five years. Starting out as a one girl office in 1989 she has watched the company grow from two company owned buses to an impressive fleet of over ninety top of the line Prevost buses. Her responsibilities have changed as the company has grown. She now handles personnel issues for the over 50 on-site employees and maintains driver qualification files for more than 100 drivers addressing Department of Transportation requirements and safety issues.

STEVE HOKER

Driver pool coordinator, steve hoker driver pool coordinator.

Steve has been with Hemphill Brothers Coach Company for over 25 years. After retiring from the road as a driver, Steve moved into the office to take over the training and development of new drivers. He is an integral part of a driver’s day, as well as assisting Mark Larson and Valerie Bell with coordinating drivers for all of our tours. Steve also serves as Hemphill’s in-house travel agent.

CRYSTAL BURCHETTE-JOHNSON

Executive assistant to joey and trent hemphill and artist relations manager, crystal burchette-johnson executive assistant to joey and trent hemphill & artist relations manager.

Crystal left North Carolina over ten years ago with a dream of making a career in Nashville, TN and a love of music in her heart. Shortly after settling in to “Music City”, she became the Director of Publicity at a prominent Gospel label. After almost 8 years promoting the public image of 21 artists, Crystal left to work full-time in the management and buy cialis super force marketing for multiple groups assisting in their careers. With highlights including red carpet press for three consecutive GRAMMY Awards, media for 12 Dove Awards, numerous mainstream television promotions and working alongside prestigious venues and publications such as the Grand Ole Opry and Billboard Magazine, Crystal balanced a daily routine of seeking maximum exposure for the artists she worked beside on and off the road. Crystal joined Hemphill Brothers Coach Company in late 2011 and is excited about working with the executive staff and clients to provide a superior touring experience.

Safety Director

Dale brock safety directory.

At the age of 18 Dale began a career in the entertainment industry and traveled extensively throughout the US and Canada as both a performer and a driver. Dale began working with Hemphill Brothers over 15 years ago as a driver. With his experience and knowledge of the day to day inner workings of the entertainer coach industry, Dale has been able to bring a fresh and viagra for women uk different perspective to his role as Driver Liaison and Safety Director.

Our Coaches By The Number

Miles of Thread or 4,400 Yards Used per Coach

Presidential Details

Miles of Wire Used in a New Coach Build (Longest Wire is 65 feet)

Time Parnelli Coach Company of the Year

Over 60 Interior Lights Included in Every Coach

Custom Made Interiors Currently on the Lot

Apple TV's, running on 100+ 4G aircards

Over 6 Million Miles Driven Each Year

© Hemphill Brothers Coach Company 2022 All rights reserved. Design by i3

Bus Tour: Toronto - Haliburton

Bus Tour : <Haliburton – Lindsay – Bowmanville – Oshawa – Toronto Yorkdale mall>

EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 1, 2024

please click below to view bus schedules and routes Map for all your stop

With high recommendations and returning travels, you can rest assured put your feet up and leave the rest to Entertainment Tour. We continue to serve our clients in Canada, the United States, and the rest of the world with reliable, cost-friendly, and entertaining tours.

Safety First

Our drivers are highly trained to get you to your destination safely with respect and honesty. Tour guides are well versed in the history of the destinations we visit. Our staff is friendly and readily available to answer any questions or queries you may have. With over 25 years in the tourism industry

Our Promise

We value our motto being” All customers are treated equally”. We take inclusivity very seriously to ensure that our guests are treated with respect, dignity, and compassion. Our success is your enjoyment guaranteed.

Our Travels

Entertainment Tour was established in 2016. We continue to serve our clients in Canada, the United States, and the rest of the world with reliable, cost-friendly, and entertaining tours.

Contact us!

Email: [email protected] Call: 647•745•2550 | 437•733•6852

Our motorcoach, rail, air and cruise guided tours are a wonderful way to explore different cultures, cuisines, and ways of life, in addition to creating new friendships. From one-day excursions on our bus tours , weekend getaways by train, to traveling across America by boat or plane, our experienced bus tour guides will make the vacation of your dreams a memorable and pleasant experience. Our guided tours are not only affordable but also a once in a life time experience. Only a tour bus away from your dream destination, learn more about each city tour below and make sure to buy your ticket before they sell out!

Interested in dramas, musicals, matinee shows, and more? Coach USA offers a wide variety of theatre tours throughout North America for you to choose from. Hop on board one of our bus tours today and experience the theatre in a way you haven’t before.

When planning your next cruise, let Coach USA help book your perfect vacation. We provide motorcoach and cruise packages, serving popular cruise companies and destinations. You can choose between a guided tour that will take you across the States, or stay close to home on a city tour.

Take a ride with us to the best casinos in North America. Our services include regularly scheduled bus guided tours , single and multi-day tours at various times throughout the year. Check out our casino bus schedules today.

Interested in exploring local museums? Choose one of Coach USA’s museum guided tours to explore the history of many different subjects, countries, and families. Get a chance to explore the key highlights of national museums with our multiple guided tours. There are museum visits across the States so find the schedule that fits best for your schedule.

Shopping has never been easier! Coach USA offers convenient bus tours to popular outlets, malls and shopping centers, giving you more time to shop and less time planning and parking. What’re you waiting for? Hop on one of our bus tours and brace yourself to shop until you drop!

Coach USA offers safe, reliable and convenient bus tours to many different music, art, and food festivals throughout the year. Treat yourself to a good time without the extra hassle. Our bus tours are the perfect way to get the festivities rolling.

Looking to explore new cuisines? Coach USA offers restaurant tour bus packages based on top restaurants in the area of your choice. Feast like a king and let Coach USA’s guided bus tour handle the rest. Sit back, relax and enjoy the journey to the restaurant on one of our very own tour buses.

Throughout North America, Coach USA offers safe, reliable and convenient bus tours to get you to and from multiple different sporting events. Say goodbye to hectic travel arrangements post events and rest assured as our tour buses will be awaiting your departure. Enjoy the game and enjoy your smooth ride back on a Coach USA tour bus.

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Entertainer Coach Leasing & Tour Bus Rentals

Village Coach provides luxury entertainer coach leasing and tour bus rentals for musicians, political campaigns, performers, theatrical groups, and comedians. Our fleet of tour buses features a variety of capacities, styles and amenities. Need tour trucking or a trailer ? We have you covered.

Premium High-Tech Interiors

• DVD/Blu-ray players
• Bluetooth capabilities
• Satellite TV with separate receivers in front and rear lounges
• PlayStation & Xbox game systems
• Flat screen TVs in both the front and rear lounge
• Premium sound systems
• 110 volt outlets with USB plugins throughout the coach,
• Leather couches
• Kitchen – Keurig coffee maker, microwave, refrigerator/freezer, sink, toaster, electric kettle

Request A Quote

Transporting Coast-to-Coast

Deluxe Entertainer Coaches, Tour Buses, Trailers, and Tour Trucking

When you’re on the road for any amount of time, you demand reliability and comfort. Our fleet of tour buses are available in a variety of configurations, including slide out, non slide, and star configurations. We offer leasing of single coaches or multi-bus tours to accommodate your entire group. Village Coach holds the highest standard in bus maintenance. Our Prevost trained diesel mechanics take pride in their work to ensure our customers have trouble-free travels. Our preventative maintenance plan is detailed and extensive.

Live Event Logistics

Learn more about our tour trucking solutions !

Entertainer Coach Leasing from Nashville, Chicago, LA, NYC, Vancouver & more

Operating in Nashville, OKC & Wichita

While our entertainer coaches are positioned in Nashville, OKC and Wichita, we pick-up and drop-off entertainers all over North America . So whether your tour kicks off on the coast, or ends in Music City, we can provide you with a quick and affordable quote for tour bus rental.

Request A Quote We Go Nationwide

• Theatrical Groups

Sightseeing & Bus Tours of Moscow

Below you can see a few samples of the tours offered in Moscow by our recommended tour providers. Unfortunately, Moscow does not yet have a company like Peter's Walk (in St. Petersburg), who are more on the alternative side of things. But you can still take a bus tour of the main attractions or visit a KGB museum if you wish. If you would like to customize your own tour , please, fill in the tour request form at the end of this page.       Introductory Sightseeing Tours:    

Tours around Moscow: Trips out of Town  

Customize Your Own Tour :

Send a request through Way to Russia Support System (Choose Walking Tours department) and our managers will refer your inquiry to the most relevant provider.

You can also post a question in our Talk Lounge forums and other travelers will be able to give you a good advice.

Comments, Questions, Feedback?

Most recent articles:.

Explore Smolensk on a Private Day tour (from Moscow)

• Transfer to and from train station
• Transportation by fast train to Smolensk and back to Moscow
• Transportation in Smolensk by car
• Museum entrance fees
• Should your hotel not be listed, You have to provide us with your hotel location so that we can arrange your pick up. Otherwise, we can not guarantee your timely pickup Pickup from your hotel at 6:15 am
• Not wheelchair accessible
• Infants must sit on laps
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
• This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
• This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
• All sales are final and incur 100% cancellation penalties.
• You'll get picked up See departure details
• 1 Cathedral of the Assumption (Uspensky Sobor) Stop: 45 minutes See details
• 2 Smolensk Fortress Stop: 60 minutes See details
• You'll return to the starting point

• TravelSomeMore24 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Unique Authentic Russian Experience We had such an incredible experience. It felt like we were transformed into a different time. Our guide was so informative and gracious. We are so grateful for a unique experience and would absolutely recommend it to everyone. Read more Written July 21, 2021
• JulieArquette 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great day 😘 in Moscow We booked a one day your and were able to change the itinerary as we wanted to visit WW2 memoreal. Our guide was very knowledgeable and passionate and explained us a lot about Moscow life now and back to Soviet times. Loved our day, thank you, Mariya and all Read more Written March 5, 2020
• creitzy 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Guide Have used Anton 2 times now for different friends when they have visited Moscow.he is very knowledgeable, friendly, helpful and speaks very good English.i would recommend the metro tour and WW II museum. Thanks again Read more Written February 11, 2020
• JeffKuptchuck 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles This is definitely a unique experience After looking at all of the big cathedrals in Moscow and being rather overwhelmed this was a much more intimate and personal experience. It was great to be able to be there by ourselves and the monk that showed us around and Anton both were obviously very passionate about the monastery so you were able to understand much better what the various churches and icons meant to them The view from the bell tower was awesome even if the climb up took some faith! Dinner was very good except for my wife who doesn't like fish and that is all they eat at the monastery besides vegetables, but still very unique dinner. Read more Written February 9, 2020
• justinbM9877MC 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Sightseeing in Moscow over New Year’s Anton was great, very friendly, knowledgeable about local history as well as general Russian history, and had good recommendations for day trips that didn’t over-schedule. He was easy to work with and an excellent English-language speaker. Would highly recommend. Read more Written January 26, 2020
• TanechkaVas 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles The whole day tour to Zvenigorod, the country side of Moscow, with Anton. We organized that tour from Australia well ahead of time, planning to visit Zvenigorod with big group of extended family and friends with teens as part of our New Year trip to Moscow. The communication with Anton, our guide, was excellent during the time since booking till the excursion day. The actual day was organized very good, taken into account mixed group of adults, born in USSR and kids, born in Australia. Anton organized our activities to be suitable for all of us. As adults, we were enjoyed country side during winter and Monastery's quietness and ability to jump to the cold "holy" water at one of the oldest Monasteries of Russia - Savva Storoghevskiy Man Monastery. That was the most amazing and nearly magical experience! Kids were enjoyed of snow and treats Anton provide for us, including buisquits and Sbiten'. We also visited very interesting Museum of Russian desserts and learn a lot about ancient russian sweets; have a look on our past in the Museum of USSR and bought some yammie things to enjoy later. In general we all agree that our tour to Zvenigorod with Anton was enjoyable and educational; well organized and unforgettable. We wish we would have more time there! We would recommend such trip to everyone wishing to see Russia's country side. Read more Written January 17, 2020
• GuidesAndGuides 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Loved this experience. Especially the hidden gems! Anton brought us around places which we couldn't have done it alone. I went with the family, my husband and two daughters and they enjoyed every minute. Anton was very attentive to our needs and have good connections with the local communities. We tasted delicious Russian lunch on this tour. We had a fun time painting our Russian dolls (matryoshka) and finished the trip with a great feeling of connection to Russian culture, tasty food, fantastic people and magnificent architecture.   Do not hesitate to book this tour. It is worth your money and time. It was a great day, Thank you Anton! Read more Written January 14, 2020
• 161sinemg 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles It was a very interesting experience This tour was the most exciting activity on our trip to Moscow. I would strongly recommend but climbing stairs was a bit hard. I will not forget all my life. Many thanks to our guide Hektor and Anton Read more Written January 7, 2020
• Mustafa19890 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Tour was amazing We had exceptional experience 45 meters deep underground. You really feel how it was to be in Soviet Union during the Cold War era, what were their fears Read more Written December 27, 2019
• yeatharhiu 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Unique Experience Victor is our English speaking guide. It's a small group tour so you dont have to worry about being left out. He took us down the bunker 43 meter down the surface, explained about the heavy doors and let us open them, kept us informed about its functions and introduced us whatever exhibits were left there. Very patient guide and informative tour. Sign up for it if you are in Moscow. Read more Written December 26, 2019
• NickRobson101 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles WOW. We absolutely recommend this tour! This is a tour for the senses and truly exceeded our expectations. There is an interesting balance of history, access you would not expect around a monastery, the visuals of the architecture and decoration, unique chance to observe the inner workings of the monastery, views from vantage points and the towers. Favourite parts included climbing the bell tower for the bell ringing and an exceptionally good meal. For something interestingly different that will add unique memories and experiences Read more Written December 20, 2019
• Loxiee 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles The Highlight of our trip Elena, was very attentive and knowledgeable. She took us through the city as if she was a long lost friend. She made us not only feel comfortable in any way possible but she made the experience feel like a another day in our hometown. I am so happy to have met her, she was the highlight of our entire trip. Read more Written December 17, 2019
• Deryabayazit 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Amazing and delicious We had great time, Anton showed us around Moscow local food, it was jus awesome. Tasty and a lot of fun!!! Read more Written December 14, 2019
• ShingoKamiki 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Interesting and delicious Had a tour and dinner inside the monastery with Moscow with Locals. It was a very interesting tour, a monk presented us the monastery, the temples, the bell tower with ringing bells. Amazing! And then we had delicious dinner with Russian traditional cuising, Lovely! Arigatou, Anton! Read more Written December 8, 2019
• Hideo_Aoki78 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Moscow is marvelous Good job, Anton! We were a group of friends from Japan and Anton did a great job, showing us Moscow. The metro is so interesting and important for local citizens, Red Square is amazing, St. Basil cathedral was iconic both outside and even more interesting inside. It was both interesting and educational seeing central Moscow streets. Anton managed to book us a table for lunch with delicious local food and he helped us with recommendations for dinner (booked is a table as well). Brilliant job, Moscow with locals! Read more Written December 1, 2019

Explore Smolensk on a Private Day tour (from Moscow) provided by Moscow With Locals

Classic film lovers: See James Dean’s apartment and more on new TCM tour at Warner Bros.

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In 2021, the Warner Bros. Studio Tour created new interactive exhibits focused on the company’s recent history, unveiling areas dedicated to the DC Comics universe and the “Harry Potter” franchise.

This week, the popular Studio Tour in Burbank is doubling down on its more distant past.

Warner Bros. is now offering a Turner Classic Movies-branded version of its studio tour that will bring guests to previously off-limit areas of the lot, including vintage animation buildings, a mini rose garden and an apartment that once housed James Dean. The 90-minute tram portion of the jaunt — about 30 minutes longer than the studio’s standard tram excursion — will allow guides to go deeper into the history of the studio’s catalog to deliver factoids related to such films as “Casablanca,” “My Fair Lady,” “Rebel Without a Cause,” “Auntie Mame” and many more.

“We’re off the leash,” says Brad Taylor, a 15-year tour guide veteran with Warner Bros., noting that the TCM excursion will include time for guides to chat with visitors about their favorite films.

“We get to talk to the guests and really hang out with people who have the same passion that we do,” Taylor says. “I find that ‘classics’ guests are less about behind-the-scenes and more, ‘I can’t believe this is where we are.’ It’s just the look on their faces when they realize ‘Casablanca’ filmed here, or James Dean stood right here.”

The launch of the TCM tour arrives during the network’s 30th anniversary and close to 12 months after classic film fans were given a scare. In June, Warner Bros. announced that layoffs would hit TCM, including some of the network’s top executives, prompting concern from prestige directors such as Steven Spielberg, Paul Thomas Anderson and Martin Scorsese. After garnering national attention, key cuts were reversed and Warner Bros. sought to assure fans that TCM would continue to be handled with care.

Long live TCM! Our culture would be worse off without movies on TV

Without Turner Classic Movies and other channels for movies on TV, we’d lose the instructive pleasures of the happy accident, the unexpected discovery.

Aug. 1, 2023

TCM network hosts — Eddie Muller, Jacqueline Stewart, Ben Mankiewicz, Alicia Malone and Dave Karger — recorded new video segments for the outing. The tour will take guests into the lot’s Property House, an area not visited by the standard tour. Here, visitors can get glimpses of materials for a full set, including items for a complete Oval Office setting, but expect guides to highlight vintage items, such as a throne from the Errol Flynn pirate film “Captain Blood.”

Danny Kahn, vice president-general manager of the studio tour, says there have been numerous requests over the years from guests to delve a little deeper into the studio’s animation history. That’s why the TCM tour will for the first time take visitors to an area of the lot once known as “Termite Terrace,” which from 1955 to 1964, says Taylor, housed the animation department, a building with a sloped roof designed to capture sunlight. Animation legend Chuck Jones, says Kahn, had an office in the Termite Terrace area in the 1990s despite Warner’s moving animation production elsewhere.

Entertainment & Arts

How the Universal Studios tram tour defined the modern theme park

The most important theme park ride ever created? It may just be the Universal Studios tram tour, which dates to the silent film era. Once primarily a behind-the-scenes tour, the trek has evolved to define the modern theme park.

Aug. 3, 2023

Another unique tour locale is the exterior of the Dean apartment. When Dean resided there during filming of “East of Eden,” it was actually across the street from the lot, the apartment nesting above a pharmacy. But gradual studio expansion has led to the area now being on Warner Bros. property.

“That was an actual drugstore with apartments, and the studio rented it for him,” Kahn says. “I think it was to keep an eye on him and keep him on a short leash.”

The tour will also give tram riders a look at executive life at the studio, allowing them to briefly walk around a rose garden. The manicured spaces once held a tennis court as well as offices and personal screening rooms for the likes of studio mogul Jack Warner, with many of the structures dating to the 1920s. “It’s a really historic area of the lot that hasn’t really changed a lot in all these years,” says Kahn, noting the area is still in use by studio principals. “Jack Warner, when he ran the studio, privatized the first floor. That was a massage parlor that he had beneath his office.”

TCM Classic Films Tour

Where: The Warner Bros. Studio, 3400 Warner Blvd., Burbank 91505

When: Most days, 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Cost: $95 for adults; $82 for children. A SoCal resident discount is available for $75

Info: (818) 977-8687 or wbstudiotour.com

Staples of the tour, such as a journey around the backlot city streets, a visit to the “Friends” set and cafe and recent additions highlighting the studio’s modern franchise films are included in the TCM trek, as is a pre-tour reception with beverages and pastries. All told, expect the tour to last about 3½ hours. A tour spokesperson says the first TCM-branded outing is scheduled for Wednesday, with trams expected to depart daily after that date. Adult tickets are $95, but there is a Southern California resident discount available for $75.

“It feels so good to have TCM here,” Kahn says. “People understand that the TCM brand is synonymous with classic film.”

More to Read

Jason Reitman and a group of directors have bought Westwood’s iconic Village Theater

Feb. 21, 2024

Tom Cruise teams with Warner Bros. in a deal to make new movies

Jan. 9, 2024

TMZ’s new ‘selfie’ tour of Hollywood isn’t just for Gen Z

Nov. 16, 2023

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Here’s what happened to the double-decker tour buses downtown

City sightseeing of san antonio closed shop in january.

Spencer Heath , Digital Journalist

SAN ANTONIO – Remember the bright, red double-decker tour buses downtown? Well, they have gone out of business, and a new company has taken their place.

David Strainge, founder of City Sightseeing of San Antonio, started the trolley company in 2010, according to the San Antonio Report . He opened the company as a franchise of the international tour bus operator based in Seville, Spain.

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City Sightseeing closed shop in early January. Since the closure, Strainge has branched off into other business opportunities.

This has made way for Historic Tours of America to bring Old Town Trolley Tours to San Antonio.

“The timing could not have been more perfect. We have been looking to expand and the opportunity presented itself in this amazing city,” said Historic Tours of America’s CEO Chris Belland.

Old Town Trolley Tours, featuring orange and green-style busses, offers guests a 90-minute narrated tour with 14 stops throughout San Antonio.

The 12-mile tour ride includes stops at the Alamo Plaza, Japanese Tea Garden, San Antonio Zoo, Witte Museum, Botanical Gardens, The Pearl, San Antonio Museum of Art, Veteran’s Memorial Park, The Tobin Center, Buckhorn Saloon, E. Houston Street, Spanish Governor’s Palace, Historic Market Square, Tower of the Americas, Hemisfair, The Alamo, and the Crockett Hotel.

“San Antonio is a city with incredible history, attractions, sites, and fabulous people which is what we look for when going into a city,” said Belland.

Old Town Trolley Tours also offers a ‘Hometown Pass’ to Bexar County residents, granting free access when bringing an adult paying guest, according to a press release.

In addition to San Antonio, the release mentioned Old Town Trolley Tours also operates in Key West, Boston, Washington, Savannah, St. Augustine, San Diego, and Nashville.

For more information, click here.

Copyright 2024 by KSAT - All rights reserved.

About the Author

Spencer heath.

Spencer Heath is a Digital Journalist at KSAT. Spencer graduated from the University of Texas at Austin, where he studied Radio-Television-Film. He’s worked as a journalist in San Antonio since June of 2022. Outside the newsroom, he enjoys watching movies and spending time with family.