History Jim Henson Company Lot

1 history

1.1 construction
1.2 charlie chaplin (1919–1952)
1.3 television production (1953–1966)
1.4 a&m records (1967–1999)
1.5 historic designation
1.6 jim henson company (2000–present)

history
construction

in october 1917, charlie chaplin announced plans build own film studio @ southeast corner of la brea , sunset boulevard. in autobiography, chaplin described decision follows:

@ end of mutual contract, anxious started first national, had no studio. decided buy land in hollywood , build one. site corner of sunset , la brea , had fine ten-room house , 5 acres of lemon, orange , peach trees. built perfect unit, complete developing plant, cutting room, , offices.

chaplin purchased site r.s. mcclellan, lived on site , had large grove of orange trees on property. lot had 300 feet (91 m) of frontage on sunset , 600 feet (180 m) on la brea, extending south de longpre. chaplin announced make home on northern part of property, , build own motion picture plant on south part of property, cornering @ la brea , de longpre. chaplin s plans 6 english-style buildings, arranged give effect of picturesque english village street, published in los angeles times in october 1917. plans prepared milwaukee building company (meyer & holler), , total investment estimated in region of $100,000. layout of buildings described los angeles times in 2002 fairy-tale cottage complex. writer has described style eccentric peter pan architecture.

the location @ time residential neighborhood, , chaplin s application building permit opposed area residents, of whom complained near hollywood high school. however, city council voted 8–1 approve chaplin s permit. chaplin reportedly built english cottage-style studio in 3 months beginning in november 1917, @ reported cost of $35,000. dvd collection titled chaplin collection includes chaplin s 1918 film how make movies, depicts studio s construction in time-lapse photography.

construction of studios completed in approximately 1919. chaplin preserved large existing residence on northern (sunset boulevard) end of property, , planned live there, never in fact did. various studio personnel lived there on years, including brother sydney chaplin. english cottages along la brea served facade offices, screening room, , film laboratory. grounds included stables, swimming pool , tennis courts. central part of property, orchard, became backlot, large outdoor sets constructed. 2 large open-air stages used filming constructed on southern end of property, , rest of facility consisted of dressing rooms, garage, carpenter s shed, , film vault.

charlie chaplin (1919–1952)

postcard of charlie chaplin studios, 1922

many of chaplin s classic films shot @ studios, including kid (1921), gold rush (1925), city lights (1931), modern times (1936), great dictator (1940), monsieur verdoux (1947), , limelight (1952). chaplin filmed many famous visitors @ studios on la brea, including winston churchill, helen keller, lord mountbatten, , harry lauder.

the studios saw number of changes on next 20 years. 2 open-air stages converted closed soundstages in mid-1930s, before filming of modern times, , smaller stage built on site of studio swimming pool @ time. stage 2 had been damaged fire during production of circus in 1927. also, expansion of la brea avenue in 1928–29 forced physical movement of buildings adjacent street 15 feet (4.6 m) original locations.

in 1942, chaplin sold northern portion of property, portion containing residence, tennis courts, , portion of backlot, safeway stores. house demolished, , shopping center built in place.

in october 1943, chaplin s studios opened first time used shoot outside production, curly, produced columbia pictures. los angeles times reported @ time chaplin studio has been more or less sacrosanct, in sense outsiders practically never permitted work there. however, studio manager alfred reeves told times chaplin organization not going space rental business, , use of studios columbia not create precedent.

in 1949, studios reportedly site of greta garbo s last screen test.

television production (1953–1966)

chaplin, had left america permanently in october 1952, sold studio in 1953 webb , knapp $650,000. new owner had planned tear down studio, leased television production company , became known kling studios. in 1955, used shoot adventures of superman television series starring george reeves.

beginning in 1959, red skelton shot television series @ facility, , in april 1960 skelton purchased studio. behind desk in office once occupied chaplin, skelton said:

m not head of studio. ll president , own joint. ... seriously, couldn t studio executive because m not qualified. ... ve got nice enough racket trying make people laugh , don t intend foul up. and, besides, s harder running studio.

skelton purchased 3 large mobile units taping color television shows, making total investment estimated @ $3.5 million. skelton had large skelton studios sign erected on main gate on la brea avenue. skelton removed block of sidewalk on studio grounds chaplin had signed , pressed footprints in 1918 display @ palm springs home.

skelton sold studio cbs in 1962, , cbs shot perry mason television series there 1962–1966.

a&m records (1967–1999)

a&m studios main gate, february 1988

in 1966, herb alpert , jerry moss purchased studio cbs serve headquarters a&m records. a&m records had grown $500,000 in revenues in 1964 $30 million in 1967. alpert , moss reportedly astonished big network having bank deliver cashier s check more $1 million, full amount. a&m converted 2 of old soundstages , chaplin s swimming pool recording studio. 1968 profile on alpert , moss described renovation of chaplin s old studios:

old sound stages in process of being rebuilt must luxurious , pleasant recording studios in world. chaplin s cement footprints 1 of few reminders of past.

the elderly chaplin briefly revisited former studio in 1972, when made return trip america accept honorary academy award. a&m had hoped welcome him ceremony, instead chose avoid attention , arranged drive studio gates on weekend.

historic designation

in february 1969, old chaplin studios designated los angeles historic-cultural monument. @ time, carl dentzel, president of los angeles cultural heritage board, said property 1 of few locations old hollywood retained complete early-day production layout. dentzel noted, studio 1 of first established here , quirk of fate continuity movies earliest times today s television , recordings demands has persevered. studio second entertainment-related building receive historic-cultural monument designation. after grauman s chinese theater.

in april 1989, organization hollywood heritage celebrated 100th anniversary of chaplin s birth rare screening of chaplin s 1918 documentary how make movies , kid, both shown @ chaplin stage @ a&m records. chaplin s son, sydney, received plaque @ screening honoring father s achievements.

the jim henson company (2000–present)

henson studios main gate

in february 2000, jim henson s children purchased studio $12.5 million serve new home of jim henson company.

henson s daughter, lisa henson, said, buildings lovable hodge-podge of quirky, unusual spaces. there unexpected elements in of offices original vaults , fish tank-like bathrooms. s not typical corporate space, s ideal muppets. @ ceremony in june 2000, henson company unveiled 12-foot (3.7 m) color statue of kermit frog, dressed chaplin s character tramp, above studio s main gate. henson s son, brian henson, said @ time, when heard chaplin lot sale, had have it. s perfect home muppets , our particular brand of classy, eccentric entertainment. when people walk onto our lot, fall in love hollywood again.

in 2007, sci-fi channel series ghost hunters shot episode @ studios, reporting on ghost stories told years employees working on lot.

the lot used set abandoned muppet studios in 2011 film muppets.