EXCLUSIVE: The Jim Henson Company is not selling its historic La Brea Avenue located studio lot to the Church of Scientology . Despite reports in the Rupert Murdoch-owned New York Post and other outlets that the Henson family was unloading the 1917 lot originally known as the Charlie Chaplin Studios, the estate was very specific today that the lot would not be joining Scientology ‘s extensive real estate portfolio any time soon A spokesperson for the Jim Henson family said: “In regards to recent rumors about the sale of the La Brea studio lot, the Henson family is not in any business dealings with the Church of Scientology, and that organization is not in consideration as a potential buyer of the property. It is still the family’s intention to move The Jim Henson Company to a new location it can share with Jim Henson’s Creature Shop, but at this time the family is not in escrow with any buyer.
” In 1999, the Henson family bought the studio for a reported $12.5 million, serving as the HQ for The Jim Henson Company. While declared a Historic-Cultural Monument by the City of Angels in 1969,, the former Chaplin property is in no way owned by Disney.
The Bob Iger-led conglom only owns The Muppets franchise. Certainly that Mouse House confusion is pretty straightforward as the Jim Henson studio lot is distinguished by its gates just south of Sunset Blvd which feature a statue of Kermit the Frog, dressed as Chaplin’s character The Tramp, in a nod to the lot’s roots. The.