Charlie Chaplin Studios

Jim Henson Studios (Original Charlie Chaplin Studios)
L.A. Historic-Cultural Monument  #58
Front gate to the old Chaplin Studios, March 2009
Location:	1416 N. La Brea Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California
Coordinates:	34°5′47″N 118°20′35″W / 34.09639°N 118.34306°W / 34.09639; -118.34306
Built/Founded:	3076
Designated as LAHCM:	1969[1]
Governing body:	Private

Charlie Chaplin Studios is a motion picture studio built in 1917 by silent film star Charlie Chaplin just south of the southeast corner of La Brea and Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California.

After being sold by Chaplin in 1953, the property went through several changes in ownership and has served at various times as Kling Studios, the Red Skelton Studios, the shooting location for the Adventures of Superman and Perry Mason television series, and as the headquarters for A&M Records and Jim Henson Productions. In 1969, it was designated as a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument.

Charlie Chaplin Studios

In October 1917, Charlie Chaplin announced plans to build his own motion picture studio at the southeast corner of La Brea and Sunset Boulevard.^[2] In his autobiography, Chaplin described the decision as follows:

"At the end of the Mutual contract, I was anxious to get started with First National, but we had no studio. I decided to buy land in Hollywood and build one. The site was the corner of Sunset and La Brea and had a very fine ten-room house and five acres of lemon, orange and peach trees. We built a perfect unit, complete with developing plant, cutting room, and offices."^[3]

Chaplin purchased the site from R.S. McClellan who lived on the site and had a large grove of old orange trees on the property.^[2] The lot had 300 feet (91 m) of frontage on Sunset and 600 feet (180 m) on La Brea, extending south to De Longpre. Chaplin announced he would make his home on the northern part of the property, and build his own motion picture plant on the south part of the property, cornering at La Brea and De Longpre. Chaplin's plans for six English-style buildings, "arranged as to give the effect of a picturesque English village street," were published in the Los Angeles Times in October 1917.^[2] The plans were prepared by the Milwaukee Building Company (Meyer & Holler), and the total investment was estimated to be approximately $100,000.^[2] The layout of the buildings was described by the Los Angeles Times in 2002 as a "fairy-tale cottage complex."^[4] Another writer has described the style as "eccentric Peter Pan architecture."^[5]

Postcard of Charlie Chaplin Studios, 1922

The location was at that time a residential neighborhood, and Chaplin's application for a building permit was opposed by area residents, some of whom complained that it was too near the Hollywood High School. However, the City Council voted 8-1 to approve Chaplin's permit.^[6] Chaplin reportedly built his "English cottage-style studio" in three months beginning in November 1917, at a reported cost of only $35,000.^[7] The DVD collection titled "Chaplin Collection" includes Chaplin's 1918 film, How to Make Movies, which depicts the studio's construction in time-lapse photography.^[8]

Construction of the studios was completed in approximately 1919.^[9] Chaplin preserved a large existing residence on the northern (Sunset Boulevard) end of the property, and planned to live there, but never in fact did. Various studio personnel lived there over the years, including his brother Sydney Chaplin. The "english cottages" along La Brea served as the facade for offices, a screening room, and a film laboratory. The grounds included stables, a swimming pool and tennis courts.^[9] The central part of the property, which was originally an orchard, became the backlot, where large outdoor sets were constructed. The two large open-air stages used for filming were constructed on the southern end of the property, and the rest of the facility consisted of dressing rooms, a garage, a carpenter's shed, and a film vault. Many of Chaplin's classic films were shot at the studios, including The Kid (1921), The Gold Rush (1925), City Lights (1931), Modern Times (1936), The Great Dictator (1940), Monsieur Verdoux (1947), and Limelight (1952).^[7][10][11]

The studios saw a number of changes over the next 20 years. The two open-air stages were converted to closed soundstages in the mid-1930s, before the filming of Modern Times, and a smaller stage was also built over the site of the studio swimming pool at this time. Stage 2 had previously been seriously damaged by a fire during production of The Circus in 1927. Also, the expansion of La Brea Avenue in 1928-29 forced the physical movement of the buildings adjacent to the street back 15 feet (4.6 m) from their original locations.

Chaplin filmed many famous visitors at his studios on La Brea, including Winston Churchill, Helen Keller, Lord Mountbatten, and Henry Lauder.^[10]

Television production

In 1942, Chaplin sold the northern portion of the property, the portion containing the residence, tennis courts, and a portion of his backlot, to Safeway Stores.^[9] The house was destroyed,^[12] and a shopping center was built in its place.

In October 1943, Chaplin's studios were opened up for the first time to be used to shoot an outside production, Curly, produced by Columbia Pictures.^[13] The Los Angeles Times reported at the time that the Chaplin Studio "has been more or less sacrosanct, in the sense that outsiders were practically never permitted to work there."^[13] However, studio manager, Alfred Reeves told the Times was emphatic that the Chaplin organization was "not going into the space rental business," and the use of the studios by Columbia would not create a precedent.^[13]

In 1949, the studios were reportedly the site of Greta Garbo's last screen test.^[10]

In 1953, a New York real estate investor bought the studio from Chaplin, who had left America permanently in October 1952, for $650,000.^[7] The new owner had planned to tear down the studio, but it was leased to a television production company and became known as Kling Studios.^[7][14] Starting in 1953, the property went through a succession of owners who used the studios to shoot television series. In 1953, the Adventures of Superman television series starring George Reeves was shot there.^[10] Beginning in 1959, Red Skelton shot his television series at the facility, and in April 1960 Skelton purchased the studio.^[15][16] From behind a desk in the office once occupied by Chaplin, Skelton said:

"I'm not the head of the studio. I'll be president and just own the joint. ... Seriously, I couldn't be a studio executive because I'm not qualified. ... I've got a nice enough racket trying to make people laugh and don't intend to foul that up. And, besides, that's harder than running a studio."^[17]

Skelton also purchased three large mobile units for taping color television shows, making a total investment estimated at $3.5 million.^[17] Skelton had a large "Skelton Studios" sign erected over the main gate on La Brea Avenue.^[17] Skelton also removed a block of sidewalk on the studio grounds which Chaplin had signed and pressed his footprints into in 1918 for display at his Palm Springs home.

Skelton sold the studio to CBS in 1962, and CBS shot the Perry Mason television series there from 1962-1966.^[12][18]

From 1981 to 1984, Soul Train taped at The Chaplin Stage.

A&M Records

In 1966, Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss purchased the studio from CBS to serve as a headquarters for A&M Records.^[12] A&M Records had grown from $500,000 in revenues in 1964 to $30 million in 1967.^[19] Alpert and Moss reportedly "astonished the big network by having their bank deliver a cashier's check for more than $1 million, the full amount."^[19] A&M converted two of the old soundstages and Chaplin's swimming pool into a recording studio.^[10] A 1968 profile on Alpert and Moss described their renovation of Chaplin's old studios:

"The old sound stages are in the process of being completely rebuilt into what must be the most luxurious and pleasant recording studios in the world. Chaplin's cement footprints are one of the few reminders of the past."^[19]

In 1985, the hit single and video, We Are the World was recorded in A&M's Studio A by a cast that included Michael Jackson, Bob Dylan, Kenny Rogers, Stevie Wonder and Bruce Springsteen. Many of the recording industry's greatest stars have recorded albums and videos at the studios, including Styx, the Carpenters, The Police, the Moody Blues, Oingo Boingo, Soundgarden, and Van Morrison. Music videos filmed at the lot include "Every Breath You Take" by the Police and Ray Parker Jr.'s "Ghostbusters."

The elderly Chaplin briefly revisited his former studio in 1972, when he made his only return trip to America to accept an honorary Academy Award. A&M Records had hoped to welcome him back with a ceremony, but instead he chose to avoid the attention and arranged to drive by the studio gates on a weekend.

Jim Henson Productions

Henson Productions front gate with 12-foot color statue of Kermit dressed as "The Tramp"

In February 2000, Jim Henson's children purchased the studio for $12.5 million to serve as the new home of The Jim Henson Company.^[11][20] The 80,000-square-foot (7,400 m²) facility was leased to The Jim Henson Co. under a ten-year lease.^[10]

Henson's daughter, Lisa Henson, said, "The buildings are a lovable hodge-podge of quirky, unusual spaces. There are unexpected elements in some of the offices like original vaults and fish tank-like bathrooms. It's not your typical corporate space, but it's ideal for the Muppets."^[10] The landmark A&M recording studios were retained and became Henson Recording Studios. At a ceremony in June 2000, the Henson Company unveiled a 12-foot (3.7 m) color statue of Kermit the Frog, dressed as Chaplin's "Little Tramp," above the studio's main gate.^[11] Henson's son, Brian Henson, said at the time, "When we heard that the Chaplin lot was for sale, we had to have it. It's the perfect home for the Muppets and our particular brand of classy, but eccentric entertainment. When people walk onto our lot, they fall in love with Hollywood again."^[11]

In 2007, the Sci-Fi Channel series "Ghost Hunters" shot an episode at the studios, reporting on ghost stories told for years by employees working on the lot.

On February 1, 2010, "We Are The World" was re-recorded in the same studio as the original to benefit victims of the Haiti earthquake.^[21]

Recently^[when?], the lot was used as the set for the old and abandoned Muppet Studios in the upcoming Muppet film.

Designation as a Historic-Cultural Monument

In February 1969, the old Chaplin Studios were designated as a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument.^[9] At the time, Carl Dentzel, the President of the Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Board said the property was one of the few locations from old Hollywood that retained a complete early-day production layout.^[9] Dentzel also noted, "His studio was one of the first to be established here and by some quirk of fate continuity from the movies' earliest times to today's television and recordings demands has persevered."^[9] The studio was only the second entertainment-related building to receive the Historic-Cultural Monument designation.^[9] (Grauman's Chinese Theater was the first.)

In April 1989, the organization, "Hollywood Heritage" celebrated the 100th anniversary of Chaplin's birth with a rare screening of Chaplin's 1918 documentary How to Make Movies and The Kid, both shown at the Chaplin Stage at A&M Records. Chaplin's son, Sydney, received a plaque at the screening honoring his father's achievements.^[22]

See also

• Henson Recording Studios
• Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monuments in Hollywood

References

1. ^ Los Angeles Department of City Planning (February 28, 2009). Historic - Cultural Monuments (HCM) Listing: City Declared Monuments. City of Los Angeles. http://cityplanning.lacity.org/complan/HCM/dsp_hcm_result.cfm?community=Hollywood. Retrieved March 2, 2000. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d} "Charlie Chaplin Will Build Own Film Plant". Los Angeles Times. October 16, 1917. 
3. ^ "At the end of the Mutual": Chaplin, Charles, My Autobiography
4. ^ Mary McNamara (January 30, 2002). "Drive Time; On a Clear Day, La Brea Offers Views of a Diversified City". Los Angeles Times. 
5. ^ "Charlie Chaplin Studios". Seeing Stars. http://www.seeing-stars.com/Studios/ChaplinStudios.shtml. 
6. ^ "Will Go Ahead: Protests Against Motion-Picture Studio for Hollywood Denied". Los Angeles Times. October 21, 1917. 
7. ^ ^{a b c d} J.A. Aberdeen. "The Charlie Chaplin Studio: History of the Legendary Lot". Hollywood Renegades Archive (Cobblestone Entertainment). http://www.cobbles.com/simpp_archive/charlie-chaplin-studio.htm. 
8. ^ "A&M Record (Original Charlie Chaplin Studios)". Big Orange Landmarks (Floyd Bariscale). http://bigorangelandmarks.blogspot.com/2007/08/no-58-m-records-original-charlie.html. 
9. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} Ray Hebert (February 6, 1969). "City's 58th: Old Chaplin Studio Now Historic Site". Los Angeles Times. 
10. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} "The Henson Family Acquires Charlie Chaplin Studios; Major Restoration Planned for Historic Lot". PR Newswire. February 14, 2000. 
11. ^ ^{a b c d} "Hollywood Frog: Henson Co., Kermit and Muppets make move to Tinseltown". Daily Breeze. June 24, 2000. 
12. ^ ^{a b c} "Old Chaplin Studio May Be Landmark". Los Angeles Times. May 5, 1969. 
13. ^ ^{a b c} Edwin Schallert (October 4, 1943). "Drama and Film: Sacrosanct Chaplin Studio Stage Invaded". Los Angeles Times. 
14. ^ Thomas, Bob (27 January 1954). "Ghosts of the Kid and the Dictator Aroused by Sale of Chaplin Studios". The Milwaukee Journal. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=P9BQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vyMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6401,5232470&dq=sid+grauman&hl=en. Retrieved 4 June 2011. 
15. ^ "Chaplin Studios Sold To Skelton". The Victoria Advocate. 20 April 1960. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=n6NOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=QIgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4680,2220111&dq=charlie+chaplin+studios&hl=en. Retrieved 21 May 2011. 
16. ^ Adir, Karin, ed (2001). The Great Clowns of American Television. McFarland & Company. pp. 270. ISBN 0786413034. http://books.google.com/books?id=5jr9L--C4tMC&pg=PA193&dq=red+skelton&hl=en&ei=LM7WTb_RO4ragQeUvKiMBw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&ved=0CFcQ6AEwCA#v=onepage&q=red%20skelton&f=false. Retrieved 21 May 2011. 
17. ^ ^{a b c} Joe Finnigan (September 15, 1960). "Skelton Buys Studio but Won't Play Boss". Los Angeles Times. 
18. ^ Humphrey, Hal (14 July 1962). "Red Will Outlast Amateur Analysts". Toledo Blade. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=K7FOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JQEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7302,4080944&dq=charlie+chaplin+studios&hl=en. Retrieved 21 May 2011. 
19. ^ ^{a b c} Wayne Warga (September 29, 1968). "Alpert and Moss: Their Midas Touch Is Not For Sale". Los Angeles Times. 
20. ^ "Henson Moving to historical Charlie Chaplin Studios". Los Angeles Business Journal. February 21, 2000. http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Henson+Moving+to+historical+Charlie+Chaplin+Studios.-a060371488. 
21. ^ "Pop & Hiss". The Los Angeles Times. February 1, 2010. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2010/02/an-allstar-we-are-the-world-remake-for-haiti-relief.html. 
22. ^ "Screening to Mark Chaplin Anniversary". Los Angeles Times. April 8, 1989. 

External links

• Seeing Stars: Chaplin Studios
• Big Orange Landmarks article on A&M Records (Original Charlie Chaplin Studios)