John Mayer and producer McG set to buy historic Jim Henson studio lot in Hollywood

A statue of Kermit the Frog dressed as Charlie Chaplin’s famous character the Tramp stands at the entrance of Jim Henson Co.’s studio lot in Hollywood. John Mayer and movie director McG have agreed to buy the Jim Henson Company Lot, a legendary studio in Hollywood founded by Charlie Chaplin. The pending sale was confirmed by Mayer’s representative Larry Solters, who said in an email: “John Mayer and McG are under contract to purchase Henson Studios.” McG is the professional name of Joseph McGinty Nichol, a former record producer who is now a movie producer and director known for “Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle,” “Terminator Salvation” and “Uglies.” It’s unclear when the sale will close and Solters did not elaborate on what the buyers’ plans are for the property at 1416 N. La Brea Ave., which has a history as a movie and television studio but now functions primarily as a music recording studio. Some of Chaplin’s best-known films were shot there, including “The Kid,” “The Gold Rush” and “The Great Dictator.” After Chaplin left the country in 1952, the studio was used for television production.