Bronze 'kissing chair' donated by Ron Howard heats up park visitors

Ron Howard and his wife Cheryl contributed a bronze, Victorian-inspired love-seat to Johnny Carson Park in Burbank, honoring the spot where they first dated. The sculpture, valued at $88,440, sits in full, uninterrupted sunlight, causing the metal to become extremely hot even on 80-degree days. A Los Angeles-based location scout posted that the seats can scorch anyone who touches them, and a warning sign about the heat is often ignored.

Park users have reported jumping off the chairs in pain after sitting down. Howard explained the piece was intended as a place for couples to sit and kiss, recalling his own high-school memories of the park. Despite the safety issue, some couples still use the chairs when the metal is cooler, and the director’s brother photographed a kissing couple there recently.