For more than two decades, a whimsical statue of Kermit the Frog dressed as Charlie Chaplin's The Little Tramp has towered over Jim Henson Studios in Hollywood, greeting passersby with a tip of its black bowler hat.
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But the 12-foot-tall statue of Henson's most iconic Muppet that has stood atop a tower at the studio's front gate since 2000 will soon be gone, with news Tuesday that the Jim Henson Co. has donated the landmark to the Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta.
"This Kermit-as-Chaplin statue represents a chapter in The Jim Henson Company's story," company CEO Lisa Henson -- Jim Henson's daughter -- said in a statement. "We know that our friends at the Center for Puppetry Arts -- who are such important partners in celebrating our history -- will provide the perfect home where this part of the Henson legacy can be shared."
The Center for Puppetry Arts is home to the largest collection of Henson artifacts in the world, according to the organization. The collection includes original Muppets, "Sesame Street" items, "Fraggle Rock" characters and more.
"Thanks to the generosity of the Henson family, including our board member Cheryl Henson, an iconic piece of Hollywood history will continue to delight fans from around the world," Beth Schiavo, executive director of the Center for Puppetry Arts, said in a statement. "We are deeply honored to be the new stewards of this joyful symbol of creativity, humor, and storytelling."
The Henson Co. moved into the former Charlie Chaplin studio property on La Brea Avenue south of Sunset Boulevard in 2000. The statue of Kermit dressed as Chaplin's The Little Tramp was created and installed as a tribute to the Hollywood legend.
Last year, however, the Henson Co. sold the property ahead of its planned move to the Radford Studio Center in Studio City.
It was unclear exactly when the statue will be moved, and when it will go on display at the Center for Puppetry Arts.
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