Who owns Chaplin's former studio in Los Angeles now and is it open to the public?

[gasolinegus]

I know that A&M records owned it at one time but who owns it now? Is
it even still standing? Can one get in?

[David Totheroh]

I know that A&M records owned it at one time but who owns it now?  Is
it even still standing?  Can one get in?

It's my understanding that the studio itself is now owned by members
of the Jim Henson family. The Jim Henson Company (owned and run by
members of Jim's family, after a buyback from German media company
EM.TV & Merchandising AG), including Jim Henson's Creature Shop (an
animatronics design/creation and manufacturing company) utilizes the
physical studio plant (what the exact legal arrangements are, i.e.
lease or rent or ?, I don't know). btw, the Jim Henson Co. licensed
rights to The Muppets characters to the Walt Disney Company a few
years back.

As a privately owned company/business, the studio is not now typically
open to the public.

My personal opinion is that the Henson family is respectful and
appreciative of the history of which they are now custodians.

[gasolinegus]

Thanks David! I'm going to drive by there when I visit now.

[Jim Reid]

Thanks David! �I'm going to drive by there when I visit now.

Definately worth it. I stopped by there last summer. Be sure to go up
and look at the cement step to the right of the studio gate. That's
where Chaplin wrote his name during construction in 1918.

[David Totheroh]

Post by Jim Reid

Thanks David! �I'm going to drive by there when I visit now.

Definately worth it. I stopped by there last summer. Be sure to go up
and look at the cement step to the right of the studio gate. That's
where Chaplin wrote his name during construction in 1918.

Really? I've never seen that signature. The only one I know about is
the one that WAS (before Red Skelton removed it) at the end of the
footprints (now partially covered by the entry steps to the recording
studio built where the swimming pool used to be) in the walkway
between the dressing rooms and the (now sound) stage.

Did the signature you're talking about get moved with the buildings
when La Brea was widened in the summer of 1929, during the shooting of
City Lights?

[Jim Reid]

Post by David Totheroh
Did the signature you're talking about get moved with the buildings
when La Brea was widened in the summer of 1929, during the shooting of
City Lights?

Not sure. I just know it was there last September. I have a picture if
you'd like to see it.

[gasolinegus]

Post by Jim Reid

Post by David Totheroh
Did the signature you're talking about get moved with the buildings
when La Brea was widened in the summer of 1929, during the shooting of
City Lights?

Not sure. I just know it was there last September. I have a picture if
you'd like to see it.

I'd love to see it so I know what to look for. Thanks!

[Jim Reid]

The picture of the signature is about the fourth down.

http://s86.photobucket.com/albums/k86/hogwild30/Hollywood%20Vacation/

[David Totheroh]

Post by Jim Reid
The picture of the signature is about the fourth down.
http://s86.photobucket.com/albums/k86/hogwild30/Hollywood%20Vacation/

Thanks for the photo, Jim. My best guess is this is a newly installed
replica of the original that was located in the inner courtyard. I
have to go to the studio regarding an exciting new project (more on
that later, I hope) and I'll let you know what I discover.

[David Totheroh]

Post by David Totheroh

Post by Jim Reid
The picture of the signature is about the fourth down.
http://s86.photobucket.com/albums/k86/hogwild30/Hollywood%20Vacation/

Thanks for the photo, Jim. My best guess is this is a newly installed
replica of the original that was located in the inner courtyard. I
have to go to the studio regarding an exciting new project (more on
that later, I hope) and I'll let you know what I discover.

Back from my meeting at the studio. The Henson people made 2 replicas
of the Chaplin-signature-in-concrete slab and installed them both last
year, one in the original location at the northeast entryway to the
stage, the other one, the one Jim photographed, out front just south
of the main gate.

For anyone who's interested, here's a comparison of how that section
of the studio was configured in 1919 or '20 (before the move 15' east
in 1929) and how it was when Jim took his shot (Sept. 2007?). Chaplin
couldn't have signed the concrete step (dated Jan. 21, 1918) because
it wasn't there then. I don't have my studio photo file handy, so I
can't say when the reconfiguration (swapping door for window & vice
versa) happened. (Copyright violations of MK2 and Jim Reid totally
unintentional.)

http://s283.photobucket.com/albums/kk287/TopChap/

[gasolinegus]

Post by David Totheroh

Post by David Totheroh

Post by Jim Reid
The picture of the signature is about the fourth down.
http://s86.photobucket.com/albums/k86/hogwild30/Hollywood%20Vacation/

Thanks for the photo, Jim. My best guess is this is a newly installed
replica of the original that was located in the inner courtyard. I
have to go to the studio regarding an exciting new project (more on
that later, I hope) and I'll let you know what I discover.

Back from my meeting at the studio. The Henson people made 2 replicas
of the Chaplin-signature-in-concrete slab and installed them both last
year, one in the original location at the northeast entryway to the
stage, the other one, the one Jim photographed, out front just south
of the main gate.
For anyone who's interested, here's a comparison of how that section
of the studio was configured in 1919 or '20 (before the move 15' east
in 1929) and how it was when Jim took his shot (Sept. 2007?). Chaplin
couldn't have signed the concrete step (dated Jan. 21, 1918) because
it wasn't there then. I don't have my studio photo file handy, so I
can't say when the reconfiguration (swapping door for window & vice
versa) happened. (Copyright violations of MK2 and Jim Reid totally
unintentional.)
http://s283.photobucket.com/albums/kk287/TopChap/

Wow, David. I can't believe my question spawned a trip over there
yourself! Thanks so much for all the great info. I can't wait to go
there when I visit now.

[David Totheroh]

Post by David Totheroh

Post by David Totheroh

Post by Jim Reid
The picture of the signature is about the fourth down.
http://s86.photobucket.com/albums/k86/hogwild30/Hollywood%20Vacation/

Thanks for the photo, Jim. My best guess is this is a newly installed
replica of the original that was located in the inner courtyard. I
have to go to the studio regarding an exciting new project (more on
that later, I hope) and I'll let you know what I discover.

Back from my meeting at the studio. The Henson people made 2 replicas
of the Chaplin-signature-in-concrete slab and installed them both last
year, one in the original location at the northeast entryway to the
stage, the other one, the one Jim photographed, out front just south
of the main gate.
For anyone who's interested, here's a comparison of how that section
of the studio was configured in 1919 or '20 (before the move 15' east
in 1929) and how it was when Jim took his shot (Sept. 2007?). Chaplin
couldn't have signed the concrete step (dated Jan. 21, 1918) because
it wasn't there then. I don't have my studio photo file handy, so I
can't say when the reconfiguration (swapping door for window & vice
versa) happened. (Copyright violations of MK2 and Jim Reid totally
unintentional.)
http://s283.photobucket.com/albums/kk287/TopChap/

Wow, David.  I can't believe my question spawned a trip over there
yourself!  Thanks so much for all the great info.  I can't wait to go
there when I visit now.

It didn't. As I said, I had a meeting scheduled there for another
project already. Enjoy your visit. (And don't forget to pay all due
obeisance to the Rollie window on the north side of the main gate when
you're there.)

[c***@ttu.edu]

Post by David Totheroh

Post by David Totheroh

Post by Jim Reid
The picture of the signature is about the fourth down.
http://s86.photobucket.com/albums/k86/hogwild30/Hollywood%20Vacation/

Thanks for the photo, Jim. My best guess is this is a newly installed
replica of the original that was located in the inner courtyard. I
have to go to the studio regarding an exciting new project (more on
that later, I hope) and I'll let you know what I discover.

Back from my meeting at the studio. The Henson people made 2 replicas
of the Chaplin-signature-in-concrete slab and installed them both last
year, one in the original location at the northeast entryway to the
stage, the other one, the one Jim photographed, out front just south
of the main gate.
For anyone who's interested, here's a comparison of how that section
of the studio was configured in 1919 or '20 (before the move 15' east
in 1929) and how it was when Jim took his shot (Sept. 2007?). Chaplin
couldn't have signed the concrete step (dated Jan. 21, 1918) because
it wasn't there then. I don't have my studio photo file handy, so I
can't say when the reconfiguration (swapping door for window & vice
versa) happened. (Copyright violations of MK2 and Jim Reid totally
unintentional.)
http://s283.photobucket.com/albums/kk287/TopChap/

Sorry for the slow take-up on this thread. I've been otherwise
occupied for
awhile, but not from any loss of interest in this newsgroup.

May I ask how these replicas were made? Did the person who presently
has the original agree to let it be copied?

I think the original ought to be on display in a museum somewhere,
safe
from the elements or the whims of vandals.

Connie K.

[David Totheroh]

Post by David Totheroh

Post by David Totheroh

Post by Jim Reid
The picture of the signature is about the fourth down.
http://s86.photobucket.com/albums/k86/hogwild30/Hollywood%20Vacation/

Thanks for the photo, Jim. My best guess is this is a newly installed
replica of the original that was located in the inner courtyard. I
have to go to the studio regarding an exciting new project (more on
that later, I hope) and I'll let you know what I discover.

Back from my meeting at the studio. The Henson people made 2 replicas
of the Chaplin-signature-in-concrete slab and installed them both last
year, one in the original location at the northeast entryway to the
stage, the other one, the one Jim photographed, out front just south
of the main gate.
For anyone who's interested, here's a comparison of how that section
of the studio was configured in 1919 or '20 (before the move 15' east
in 1929) and how it was when Jim took his shot (Sept. 2007?). Chaplin
couldn't have signed the concrete step (dated Jan. 21, 1918) because
it wasn't there then. I don't have my studio photo file handy, so I
can't say when the reconfiguration (swapping door for window & vice
versa) happened. (Copyright violations of MK2 and Jim Reid totally
unintentional.)
http://s283.photobucket.com/albums/kk287/TopChap/

Sorry for the slow take-up on this thread.  I've been otherwise
occupied for
awhile, but not from any loss of interest in this newsgroup.
May I ask how these replicas were made?  Did the person who presently
has the original agree to let it be copied?
I think the original ought to be on display in a museum somewhere,
safe
from the elements or the whims of vandals.

Repro'd from photos, as I understand it.

[Phil P.]

Post by David Totheroh

Post by Jim Reid
The picture of the signature is about the fourth down.
http://s86.photobucket.com/albums/k86/hogwild30/Hollywood%20Vacation/

Thanks for the photo, Jim. My best guess is this is a newly installed
replica of the original that was located in the inner courtyard. I
have to go to the studio regarding an exciting new project (more on
that later, I hope) and I'll let you know what I discover.

So David, when do I have to start arranging for my passport?

[David Totheroh]

Post by Phil P.

Post by David Totheroh

Post by Jim Reid
The picture of the signature is about the fourth down.
http://s86.photobucket.com/albums/k86/hogwild30/Hollywood%20Vacation/

Thanks for the photo, Jim. My best guess is this is a newly installed
replica of the original that was located in the inner courtyard. I
have to go to the studio regarding an exciting new project (more on
that later, I hope) and I'll let you know what I discover.

So David, when do I have to start arranging for my passport?

Sorry Phil. I didn't mean to raise false expectations. It's not THAT
kind of project. We've sorta run out of 50th anniversary events, as
far as the studio is concerned. (Maybe we can work something out for
Jan 21, 2018 though.) You won't miss anything staying on the sane(er)
side of the border for now.

[Feuillade]

Post by David Totheroh

Post by Phil P.

Post by David Totheroh

Post by Jim Reid
The picture of the signature is about the fourth down.
http://s86.photobucket.com/albums/k86/hogwild30/Hollywood%20Vacation/

Thanks for the photo, Jim. My best guess is this is a newly installed
replica of the original that was located in the inner courtyard. I
have to go to the studio regarding an exciting new project (more on
that later, I hope) and I'll let you know what I discover.

So David, when do I have to start arranging for my passport?

Sorry Phil. I didn't mean to raise false expectations. It's not THAT
kind of project. We've sorta run out of 50th anniversary events, as
far as the studio is concerned. (Maybe we can work something out for
Jan 21, 2018 though.) You won't miss anything staying on the sane(er)
side of the border for now.

Actually, David, 2008 is the 80th anniversary of the last year in
which all three of the great silent comedians released silent comedies
in the same year. Chaplin did "The Circus," Keaton did "Steamboat
Bill Jr." and "The Cameraman" and Lloyd did "Speedy."

That has to be worth celebrating. :)

Tom Moran

[David Totheroh]

Post by Feuillade

Post by David Totheroh

Post by Phil P.

Post by David Totheroh

Post by Jim Reid
The picture of the signature is about the fourth down.
http://s86.photobucket.com/albums/k86/hogwild30/Hollywood%20Vacation/

Thanks for the photo, Jim. My best guess is this is a newly installed
replica of the original that was located in the inner courtyard. I
have to go to the studio regarding an exciting new project (more on
that later, I hope) and I'll let you know what I discover.

So David, when do I have to start arranging for my passport?

Sorry Phil. I didn't mean to raise false expectations. It's not THAT
kind of project. We've sorta run out of 50th anniversary events, as
far as the studio is concerned. (Maybe we can work something out for
Jan 21, 2018 though.) You won't miss anything staying on the sane(er)
side of the border for now.

Actually, David, 2008 is the 80th anniversary of the last year in
which all three of the great silent comedians released silent comedies
in the same year.  Chaplin did "The Circus," Keaton did "Steamboat
Bill Jr." and "The Cameraman" and Lloyd did "Speedy."
That has to be worth celebrating. :)

Well, The Circus premiered on Jan. 6, so that ship's already sailed.

Besides, I usually think of the ends of eras as things to be mourned
rather than celebrated. However, if ya wanna talk about certain
political eras...