Hollywood Real Estate News

We are still interested in what becomes of the Jim Henson Studio Lot — formerly owned by all sorts of people including Herb Alpert, Red Skelton and Charlie Chaplin — over on La Brea Boulevard in Hollywood. Rupert Murdoch's New York Post and other outlets reported it had been purchased by the Church of Scientology and that caused all manner of reactions across the Internet. But the Henson folks have now issued a statement saying, "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."

So we dunno what's happening there but it seems pretty certain it is not a done deal the way the Post and other sources were claiming. A lot of those getting it wrong also seemed to think that Scientology was acquiring the Muppets as well, which could never be the case. All the known Muppets are either owned by Disney or are in a business relationships with the folks who bring us Sesame Street. They wouldn't come with the buildings. The Jim Henson Company as it now stands owns current projects that it has developed — like Puppet Up! — and I suppose it could be sold but there is no indication that it has been or that the family is willing to part with it.