Stranger Than Fiction: A Walk With Ric “The Professor” Coleman of Hottest Hell Tours
Ricardo “The Professor” Coleman with Hottest Hell Tours
March 2026There’s something to be said for infotainment, as a tour with ‘The Professor’ blends historical facts with a little local flavor.
– by Kim Ranjbar
–photos by Ellis Anderson
This column is underwritten in part by Karen Hinton & Howard Glaser
“This is a weird ass town . . . it really is.” laughs Ric “The Professor” Coleman of Hottest Hell Tours. “You can mine its history for a thousand years and come up with thousands of stories about things that actually happened.”
Dressed in black and standing at 6”3’, Coleman cuts a striking figure, his presence and mischievous smile draws guests in before the tour even begins in front of the iconic arched entrance to Armstrong Park. Unlike some “haunted history” guides in the city, Coleman eschews dramatic makeup, jaunty hats and capes, instead relying on his knowledge and inherent charm to captivate.
Tapping out the route with a silver-topped cane, his only prop, Coleman guides visitors on a wild ride through our city’s history, from the brutal Sicilian lynchings after the murder of police chief David Hennessy in 1891, to the mysterious Count of St. Germain, a European adventurer and philosopher who claimed to be 800 years old and whose identity and origins remain unknown. Throughout the experience, Coleman injects jokes, local aphorisms and references to 80s cinema, almost effortlessly easing tensions felt by his revelatory, ‘true crime’ stories of New Orleans’ past.
‘The Professor’ in front of the fences at Armstrong Park
While many are led to believe that the mansion that stands on the corner of Royal and Gov. Nicholls is the original where the infamous Madame LaLaurie lived until she was driven out of town as a torturer of enslaved people in 1834, myth-buster Ric explained that the original building was destroyed and the current building (seen in the background) was constructed in 1838.
“Luckily, Hottest Hell is a tour company that doesn’t require a corporate script,” The Professor explains. “You hit a few bullet points and whatever you do in between is up to you. It makes for a more compelling and authentic experience. The guide is able to show facets of their personality and amplify it.”
Born and raised in the 9th Ward’s Desire neighborhood, Coleman truly is a ‘Professor” from both a personal and academic perspective. His passion for American history was nurtured by professors during his undergraduate studies at Southern University at New Orleans (SUNO), but it was first ignited at home.
“My mother had history books around the house,” explained Coleman. “We spent a lot of time inside because we grew up in the projects and she wanted to keep us out of the street. There wasn’t much left to do but read.”
Bitten by the academic bug, Coleman didn’t stop after earning his bachelors degree at SUNO, instead going on to pursue not one, but two masters degrees online through Capella and Southern New Hampshire universities in Education and American History respectively.
“My mother was up in age and she was dealing with cancer, so I thought it was best to stay close to home.” says Coleman.
After graduating, The Professor earned his nickname teaching at the University of New Orleans and later, Delgado Community College as an adjunct professor for over seven years. Eventually, he decided to “spread his wings and just do his thing.”
For a short time, he worked as a tour guide for a different company, and while he loved the job, it didn’t feel right. “They provided scripts and there was an inherent phoniness. It just didn’t feel authentic.”
Luckily, he found the right fit with Hottest Hell Tours right before Halloween in 2022, and has remained with the company ever since.
What drew Coleman to Hottest Hell was the company's unwavering dedication to telling the city's macabre true stories, blowing visitors minds with the facts. The tour company also features a collaborative atmosphere, inviting guides to do their own research.
“We get together as a company and swap out stories we want to tell on the tour. I think that’s a sound approach, it makes you more comfortable with the material.”
“We all have different styles. I liken Hottest Hell to the 98 Chicago Bulls. You’ve got this Murderers’ Row of players and then you’ve got Michael Jordan. I’m not saying I’m Michael Jordan … well … I might be saying I’m Michael Jordan,” laughs Coleman. “What I’m saying is we all have different abilities, skills and it reflects on how we do tours.”
The Professor describes his guiding style as the “down-home, folksy” kind, making direct eye-contact with everyone, ribbing the crowd, and creating an interactive experience. He encourages guests to call “Bullshit!” when he’s spinning obvious falsities or employing assistants to demonstrate how famed local Voodoo priestess Marie Laveau divined secrets from wealthy patrons.
“It’s almost like an uncle on the porch, you know with a cigarette and a drink in his hand telling stories – a lot of people have uncles like that,” laughs Coleman.
Despite comparing his style to a tipsy uncle, Coleman doesn’t appreciate guests who get wasted on his tours. In fact, his ideal group would be comprised of what he calls his fellow nerds. “Very well-read people, people with an open mind. The drunks, not so much. Though I am able to win some people over despite themselves.”
While he loves to incite excitement and participation, The Professor – like all guides at Hottest Hell Tours – maintains an atmosphere of respect, for the guests, fellow tour guides, and the neighborhood. Over the years, Coleman has discovered the importance of developing relationships with the people who live and work in the French Quarter.
“These people are my neighbors, they’re my fellow New Orleanians. When I’m out and about I’ll try to talk to them and ask if they have any concerns, anything that we can do better. I think it’s created some positive situations in regards to the guests and ways for residents to navigate through these crowds that have suddenly formed in front of their homes,” explains Coleman.
“Also, you never know, they also might have a story or two.”
Everyone has a story to tell, even The Professor. His mother, Joann St. Cyr, became a self-taught historian and genealogist in the last half of her life. She was the daughter of Reverend John St. Cyr and granddaughter of pioneer jazz musician Johnny St. Cyr, a banjoist who performed in bands with Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton and King Oliver.
The Professor is now planning to pursue a doctorate while assisting the opening of the next chapter, a sister company to Hottest Hell Tours. But you haven’t seen the last of him yet as he plans to make appearances during the busier months in New Orleans, like March and October.
“[Tour-guiding] is in my blood, it’s something I truly enjoy doing, I think it’s something that I would never leave behind completely.”
