Jim Henson Company to Sell Historic Hollywood Lot
Kermit, Miss Piggy, and the Muppet gang might be looking for a new office! According to The Wrap, the Jim Henson Company is selling its longtime headquarters on La Brea Avenue in Hollywood. The iconic lot has served as the company’s home since 2000.
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The company plans to consolidate its headquarters and the world-famous Jim Henson Creature Shop into a single location in Burbank.
This move stems from a need for more space, which their current location on La Brea Avenue in Hollywood simply cannot provide. While details haven’t been finalized, The Wrap reports that the company will initially remain tenants at La Brea for a period of time.
This iconic lot has a rich history beyond the Jim Henson Company. Previously home to A&M Records for over three decades, it’s the very studio where the legendary 1985 charity single “We Are the World” was recorded. With the Muppets moving on, a new chapter awaits this historic Hollywood location.
Before becoming a haven for Kermit and the gang, the lot served as a stage for various television productions, including classics like “The Red Skelton Show,” “Perry Mason,” and even the iconic “Adventures of Superman” series with George Reeves.
But the lot’s true claim to fame predates even television. Originally built in 1917 as the Charlie Chaplin Studios, the site holds a special place in cinematic history. Silent film legend Charlie Chaplin himself called this lot home, and it’s where some of his most beloved works were brought to life, including “City Lights,” “The Great Dictator,” and “Modern Times.”
For younger fans, the lot might hold a different kind of magic. It served as the inspiration for the abandoned “Muppet Studios” in the 2011 movie-musical “The Muppets,” where Kermit and the gang race to save their beloved home from demolition.
The Jim Henson Company itself purchased the property in 1999, breathing new life into the historic site. Extensive renovations transformed the lot, and today, a whimsical statue of Kermit dressed as Charlie Chaplin’s iconic Tramp character welcomes visitors to this Hollywood landmark.
Even as the company moves on, the lot continues to entertain. “Puppet Up! Uncensored,” an adult improv show created by Brian Henson (son of Jim and Jane Henson and current chairman of the Jim Henson Company), will take the stage at the historic Chaplin Stage on the property from July 26th to August 4th.
While the buyer and their plans for this iconic piece of cinema history remain unknown, one thing’s for sure: the legacy of the Jim Henson Company Lot promises a future as captivating as its past.
