Walk down La Brea Avenue and you’ll see him. A twelve-foot Kermit the Frog, decked out in a tuxedo, top hat, and a cane, perched right above the gate. He’s dressed as Charlie Chaplin’s "Little Tramp." It is, honestly, the most Hollywood thing you’ve ever seen. But as of January 2026, the era of the Muppet-themed gates at 1416 North La Brea is officially over.
The Jim Henson Company lot has changed hands.
If you haven’t heard the news, John Mayer and the director McG (of Charlie's Angels fame) just finalized the purchase of the property for a cool $45 million. They aren't keeping the Henson name, either. It’s officially been rebranded back to its 1917 roots: Chaplin Studios.
A History That Reads Like a Fever Dream
To understand why people are so obsessed with this 2.2-acre patch of land, you have to look at who has held the keys. This isn't just some corporate office. It’s a series of English-style cottages that look like they were plucked out of a Cotswolds village and dropped into the middle of Los Angeles smog.
Charlie Chaplin built this place because he was tired of working for other people. In 1917, he bought an orange grove and spent $35,000 to build his own kingdom. Most of his masterpieces—The Gold Rush, City Lights, The Great Dictator—were filmed right here. He even shot time-lapse footage of the construction, which is basically the 100-year-old version of a "Get Ready With Me" video.
Then things got weird.
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In the 50s, Chaplin was essentially exiled from the U.S. during the Red Scare. He sold the lot, and it became a revolving door of legends. Red Skelton owned it. CBS used it to film Perry Mason. At one point, the guy who played Superman, George Reeves, was walking these halls in spandex.
By 1966, Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss bought it to house A&M Records. They took Chaplin’s old swimming pool—where he used to film aquatic scenes—and turned it into a recording studio. They didn't even fill it in; they just built a floor over it. If you’re a musician today and you’re recording in "Studio A," you’re technically standing in a dead man’s pool.
The Muppet Takeover
When the Jim Henson Company lot was born in 1999, the Henson family bought the property for $12.5 million. At the time, Jim's children, Lisa and Brian, were looking for a place that didn't feel like a sterile corporate box.
They found it.
Lisa Henson famously called the place a "lovable hodge-podge." It had fish-tank-like bathrooms and original film vaults that were used to store office supplies. The Hensons didn't just move in; they breathed life into the bricks. They added the Kermit statue. They filled the offices with Skeksis from The Dark Crystal and creatures from Labyrinth.
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For twenty-five years, this was the heartbeat of puppetry. Even after Disney bought the Muppets characters in 2004, the Jim Henson Company stayed as tenants. They filmed Puppet Up! Uncensored there. They built the creatures for Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio there.
Why Did They Sell?
It’s the question every fan asked when the "For Sale" signs went up in 2024. Was the company in trouble? No. It was a matter of logistics.
The Jim Henson Company lot in Hollywood is beautiful, but it’s small. Their world-famous Creature Shop is actually based in Burbank because they need massive amounts of space for foam, lathes, and giant monster molds. Managing two separate locations across the Cahuenga Pass is a nightmare in LA traffic.
They wanted to consolidate. They wanted everything—the executives, the writers, and the puppet builders—under one roof. So, they decided to let the Hollywood lot go.
The John Mayer Era and the Ghost of "We Are The World"
So, what happens now? John Mayer and McG have been very vocal about not wanting to "Disney-fy" or ruin the historic charm. Mayer has had an office on the lot for years. He recorded his album Sob Rock there. He knows the ghosts.
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And speaking of ghosts, the recording studio on-site is legendary. It’s where "We Are The World" was recorded in 1985. Think about that: Michael Jackson, Bruce Springsteen, Tina Turner, and Bob Dylan were all squeezed into that one room on the Jim Henson Company lot.
The new owners have promised to:
- Keep the existing staff (many of whom have been there for decades).
- Maintain the facility as a working studio for film and music.
- Update the infrastructure for 2026 standards without tearing down the "English Village" facade.
The biggest heartbreak for fans? The Kermit statue. As of early 2026, Kermit has been taken down. He’s being shipped off to the Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta, Georgia. It makes sense, but the corner of Sunset and La Brea looks a lot emptier without him.
What You Need to Know if You Visit
If you’re planning to do a drive-by, don't expect to just wander in. It’s still a working studio. They have high-profile clients recording there every day—Harry Styles and Taylor Swift are frequent fliers at these studios.
However, the "Puppet Up!" live shows are the best way to actually get inside. They usually happen a few times a year. If you get a VIP ticket, you might still get to see the "Haunted Alleyway" or the original Chaplin hand-saw that’s still kept on the property.
Actionable Takeaways for History Nerds
If you want to experience the legacy of the Jim Henson Company lot before it fully transitions into its next phase:
- Check the 2026 Tour Schedule: Even under new ownership, Chaplin Studios is expected to host historical tours. Book early; they sell out in minutes.
- Visit the Center for Puppetry Arts: Since the Kermit-Chaplin statue has moved to Atlanta, that’s where you’ll need to go to see the iconic piece of the lot’s history.
- Watch "The Greatest Night in Pop" on Netflix: It gives you an incredible look at the interior of the recording studios on the lot during the 80s.
- Look for the Footprints: If you ever get onto the lot, look for the wet concrete near Soundstage 3. Chaplin’s signature and footprints were once there, though some have been moved to private collections over the years.
The Jim Henson Company lot isn't disappearing; it’s just evolving. It’s survived silent film, the birth of television, the rise of rock and roll, and the peak of puppetry. Hollywood changes, but the English village on La Brea seems to be sticking around.