Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theatre (partially lost showtape recordings for animatronic theater of restaurant chain; 1977-1995): Difference between revisions
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(Filled out the main description, included more in-depth description of the format of the media the tapes were stored on, updated showtape dates, added additional tapes not found, and added the lost status on the signals of each tape, including references.) |
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''Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theatre'' is | ''Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theatre'' is an animatronic restaurant chain started in 1977 by Atari co-founder Nolan Bushnell. It featured multiple animatronic stage performances amongst the dining areas, which evolved and changed over the course of a decade through bankruptcy, company mergers, and attempts to keep the brand modern. Starting in the late early 90's, the company began a movement to modernize the look, characters, and animatronic offerings presented at their stores, leading to the ''Pizza Time Theatre'' moniker being dropped, and a heavy separation from the previous brand. | ||
== Showtape Info: == | |||
The animatronics performed songs, skits, birthday shows, and special events through a swappable showtape system. Each showtape had a select collection of character performances, which would run individually for three to ten minutes, before having a "break" to let the air compressor behind the stage refill. A full showtape would have between 30-80 minutes of shows. Every few months the stores would be sent a new showtape to keep the content fresh, along with costumes and other themed props to adorn the stage, keeping with the showtape's theme. | |||
The animatronics, lights, and other stage effects were controlled by a computer system in the backroom running off of a reel-to-reel audio tape. For the main life of the show, this was a Maxell UD 35-90 7" audio tape, which played showtape audio through one channel, and animatronic programming signals through the other. Later on in 1988 the show computers would be upgraded to run on SVHS video tapes. These tapes played showroom audio on HiFi left, game-room audio on HiFi right (birthday shows were muted in this channel), and a new animatronic signal format running across both normal channels. Video was also displayed through the TVs scattered around the store. In July of 1993 the signal format was altered to shuffle around the programming signal outputs, causing stores to be unable to play older showtapes. | |||
The | |||
{| class="wikitable" style="vertical-align:top;horizontal-align:left; | ==Media Recovery:== | ||
Due to the showtapes only ever being owned by the store, along with becoming obsolete once the next tape was sent in, most original tape copies are lost or destroyed. Tapes are mostly found in possession of a former employee (usually the technician) after their location has shut down. This is usually either the last showtape before closure, or all tapes owned throughout the store's use. This makes older tapes increasingly harder to find, being sent to less stores than when the company was larger. | |||
Tapes are typically seen on eBay every 1-3 years going for $30-40, while most are held by private collectors. Due to the analogue nature and formatting of the showtapes, reels require expensive reel-to-reel tape decks to record audio/signals. SVHS tapes are even harder to extract a full archive of, as a VCR that can output 4 separate audio channels + video, along with a capture card able to record it, is needed. The analogue format requires simultaneous recordings of AV and signals, as multiple takes or rips from separate tapes combined can result in large amounts of desync. | |||
Though a large amount of showtape audio and video was archived in the early 2000's by a group of private collector's, they never released the accompanying signal audio channels, making almost all of the showtapes partially found. | |||
==Main Showtapes - 7" Reel:== | |||
The following listed are tapes performed by the main cast of animatronic characters. | |||
{| class="wikitable" style="vertical-align:top;horizontal-align:left;" | |||
|- | |- | ||
! style="background-color:lightblue" | Showtape title | ! style="background-color:lightblue" |Showtape title | ||
! style="background-color:lightblue" | Release Dates | ! style="background-color:lightblue" |Release Dates | ||
! style="background-color:lightblue" | Status | ! style="background-color:lightblue" |Audio Status | ||
! style="background-color:lightblue" |Signal Status | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Original PTT | |Original PTT Tape with Crusty | ||
|May 17, 1977 | |May 17, 1977 | ||
|<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Lost'''</span> | |<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Lost'''</span> | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Helen Henny "Portrait" Showtape (With Crusty & Warblettes) | |Helen Henny "Portrait" Showtape (With Crusty & Warblettes) | ||
|August 1977 | |August 1977 | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Line 31: | Line 43: | ||
|February 1978 | |February 1978 | ||
|<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Lost'''</span> | |<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Lost'''</span> | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Foxy Colleen "Portrait" Showtape (With Crusty & Warblettes) | | Foxy Colleen "Portrait" Showtape (With Crusty & Warblettes) | ||
|October 1978 | |October 1978 | ||
|<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found?'''</span> (Some of the segments without Crusty might have been reused in Foxy Colleen IV - Irish Stew. All Through that's unconfirmed) | |<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found?'''</span> (Some of the segments without Crusty might have been reused in Foxy Colleen IV - Irish Stew. All Through that's unconfirmed) | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Helen Henny "Portrait" Showtape (With Mr. Munch & Mopsey Sisters) | |Helen Henny "Portrait" Showtape (With Mr. Munch & Mopsey Sisters) | ||
|November 1978 | |November 1978 | ||
|<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found'''</span> | |<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found'''</span> | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Madam Oink "Portrait" Showtape #2 | | Madam Oink "Portrait" Showtape #2 | ||
|May 1979 | |May 1979 | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|Unknown | |Unknown | ||
|August 1979 | |August 1979 | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Line 51: | Line 68: | ||
|November 1979 | |November 1979 | ||
|<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Unknown | |Unknown | ||
|March 1980 | |March 1980 | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|Foxy Colleen III - Showboat (With Mr. Munch & Warblettes) | |Foxy Colleen III - Showboat (With Mr. Munch & Warblettes) | ||
|May 1980 | |May 1980 | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Line 63: | Line 83: | ||
|August 1980 | |August 1980 | ||
|<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Madam Oink - Around the World (Normal and X-Mas ver.) | |Madam Oink - Around the World (Normal and X-Mas ver.) | ||
|November 1980 | |November 7, 1980 | ||
|<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> (Both Variations) | |<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> (Both Variations) | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Harmony Howlette's Wild West Show | |Harmony Howlette's Wild West Show | ||
|May 1981-October 1982 | |May 1981-October 1982 | ||
|<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Harmony II - Harmony's Hoedown (Normal and CEC's 5th B-day) | |Harmony II - Harmony's Hoedown (Normal and CEC's 5th B-day) | ||
|December 1981 | |December 1981 | ||
|<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> (Both Variations) | |<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> (Both Variations) | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Madame Oink III - Tunnel of Love (CEC's 5th B-day and Normal) | |Madame Oink III - Tunnel of Love (CEC's 5th B-day and Normal) | ||
|May 1982-March 1983 | |May 1982-March 1983 | ||
|<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> (Both Variations) | |<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> (Both Variations) | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Madame Oink III - "Tunnel of Love" Spanish Version | |Madame Oink III - "Tunnel of Love" Spanish Version | ||
|1982 | |1982 | ||
|<span style="color: | |<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Madame Oink IV - "The Tune Machine" | |Madame Oink IV - "The Tune Machine" | ||
|March-September 1, 1983 | |March-September 1, 1983 | ||
|<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Broadway Helen Henny | |Broadway Helen Henny | ||
|June 1983-March 1984 | |June 1983-March 1984 | ||
|<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Bandstand 1 | |Bandstand 1 | ||
|March 1984 | |March 1984 | ||
|<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Bandstand 2 | |Bandstand 2 | ||
|1984 | |1984 | ||
|<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Country Helen | |Country Helen | ||
|1984 | |1984 | ||
|<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Unknown (Back to School?) | |Unknown (Back to School?) | ||
|January-March 1985 | | January-March 1985 | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|Hit Parade | |Hit Parade | ||
|April-May 1985 | |April-May 1985 | ||
|<span style="color:Green;">'''Found'''</span> | |<span style="color:Green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Salute to America | |Salute to America | ||
|June-July 1985 | |June-July 1985 | ||
|<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Salute to Kids | |Salute to Kids | ||
|August-September 1985 | |August-September 1985 | ||
|<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Happy Holidays (1985 & 1986) | |Happy Holidays (1985 & 1986) | ||
|November-December 1985 & November-December 1986 | |November-December 1985 & November-December 1986 | ||
|<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|World of Kids | | World of Kids | ||
|January-February 1986 | |January-February 1986 | ||
|<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Unknown | |Unknown | ||
|March-April 1986 | |March-April 1986 | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|Unknown | |Unknown | ||
|May-June 1986 | |May-June 1986 | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Line 139: | Line 178: | ||
|July-August 1986 | |July-August 1986 | ||
|<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|History of Rock and Roll II | | History of Rock and Roll II | ||
|September-October 1986 | |September-October 1986 | ||
|<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Happy Holidays (1985 & 1986) | |Happy Holidays (1985 & 1986) | ||
|November-December 1985 & November-December 1986 | |November-December 1985 & November-December 1986 | ||
|<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Movie Magic | |Movie Magic | ||
|January-February 1987 | |January-February 1987 | ||
|<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|TV Westerns | |TV Westerns | ||
|March-April 1987 | |March-April 1987 | ||
|<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Summertime | |Summertime | ||
|May-June 1987 | |May-June 1987 | ||
|<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Working / Summertime | |Working / Summertime | ||
|July-August 1987 | |July-August 1987 | ||
|<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|CEC Faves / Working | |CEC Faves / Working | ||
|September-November 1987 | | September-November 1987 | ||
|<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Home For the Holidays (Reel Only) | |Home For the Holidays (Reel Only) | ||
|December 1987 | |December 1987 | ||
|<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Country / Faves | |Country / Faves | ||
|January-February 1988 | |January-February 1988 | ||
|<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Tune Machine/ Country | |Tune Machine/ Country | ||
|March-April 1988 | |March-April 1988 | ||
|<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Summertime/Tune Machine | |Summertime/Tune Machine | ||
|May-June 1988 | |May-June 1988 | ||
|<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|CEC Grammy Awards/Summertime | |CEC Grammy Awards/Summertime | ||
|July-August 1988 | |July-August 1988 | ||
|<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|CEC Dance/CEC Grammy Awards | |CEC Dance/CEC Grammy Awards | ||
|September-November 1988 | |September-November 1988 | ||
|<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Home For the Holidays (Reel Only) | |Home For the Holidays (Reel Only) | ||
|December 1988 | |December 1988 | ||
|<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Fractured Classics/Dance | |Fractured Classics/Dance | ||
|January-February 1989 | |January-February 1989 | ||
|<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|CEC Kiddie Songs/Fractured Rock | |CEC Kiddie Songs/Fractured Rock | ||
|March-April 1989 | |March-April 1989 | ||
|<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Best of 1988 | |Best of 1988 | ||
|May-June 1989 | |May-June 1989 | ||
|<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|CEC Dreams/Kiddie Songs | |CEC Dreams/Kiddie Songs | ||
|July-August 1989 | |July-August 1989 | ||
|<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|CEC Neighbors / Dreams | |CEC Neighbors / Dreams | ||
|September-November 1989 | |September-November 1989 | ||
|<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Home For The Holidays (Reel & Cyberstar) | |Home For The Holidays (Reel & Cyberstar) | ||
|December 1989 | |December 1989 | ||
|<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|CEC American Pride/Neighbors | |CEC American Pride/Neighbors | ||
|January-February 1990 | |January-February 1990 | ||
|<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|CEC Kids/American Pride | |CEC Kids/American Pride | ||
|March-April 1990 | |March-April 1990 | ||
|<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|CEC TV Classics | |CEC TV Classics | ||
|May-June 1990 | |May-June 1990 | ||
|<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Summer Days | |Summer Days | ||
|July-August 1990 | |July-August 1990 | ||
|<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|} | |} | ||
== | |||
The following listed are the | ==Main Showtapes - SVHS:== | ||
The following listed are tapes performed by the main cast of animatronic characters. Listed up until the discontinuation of the reel format. | |||
{| class="wikitable" style="vertical-align:top;horizontal-align:left;" | {| class="wikitable" style="vertical-align:top;horizontal-align:left;" | ||
|- | |- | ||
! style="background-color:lightblue" | Showtape title | ! style="background-color:lightblue" |Showtape title | ||
! style="background-color:lightblue" | Date Recorded | ! style="background-color:lightblue" |Date Recorded | ||
! style="background-color:lightblue" | Status | ! style="background-color:lightblue" |Audio / Video Status | ||
! style="background-color:lightblue" |Signal Status | |||
|- | |||
|CEC Country / Faves | |||
|January 1988 | |||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |||
|CEC Tune Machine / Country | |||
|March 1988 | |||
|<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Lost'''</span> (Some footage can be pieced together from other tapes. Missing intermissions and live shows) | |||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |||
|CEC Summertime | |||
|May 1988 | |||
|<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found'''</span> (Missing footage of the intermissions and live shows) | |||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |||
|CEC Grammy Awards | |||
|July 1988 | |||
|<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found'''</span> (Missing footage of the intermissions and live shows) | |||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |||
|CEC Dance Showtape | |||
|September 7, 1988 | |||
|<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found'''</span> (Missing footage of the intermissions and live shows) | |||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |||
|CEC Home for the Holidays | |||
|November 1988 | |||
|<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Lost'''</span> (Some footage can be pieced together from other tapes. Missing intermissions and live shows) | |||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |||
|CEC Fractured Classics | |||
|January 1989 | |||
|<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Lost'''</span> (Some footage can be pieced together from other tapes. Missing intermissions and live shows) | |||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |||
|CEC Kiddie Songs | |||
|March 1989 | |||
|<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Lost'''</span> (Some footage can be pieced together from other tapes. Missing intermissions and live shows) | |||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |||
|CEC Best Of 1988 | |||
|May 1989 | |||
|<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found'''</span> (Missing footage of the intermissions and live shows) | |||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |||
|CEC Dreams/Kids Showtape | |||
|June 29, 1989 | |||
|<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found'''</span> (Missing footage of the intermissions and live shows) | |||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |||
|CEC Neighbors / Dreams | |||
|September 1989 | |||
|<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Lost'''</span> (Some footage can be pieced together from other tapes. Missing intermissions and live shows) | |||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |||
|CEC Christmas '89 / Wave Bday | |||
|November 9, 1989 | |||
|<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Lost'''</span> (Some footage can be pieced together from other tapes. Missing intermissions and live shows) | |||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |||
|CEC American Pride / Neighbors | |||
|January 1990 | |||
|<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Lost'''</span> (Some footage can be pieced together from other tapes. Missing intermissions and live shows) | |||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |||
|CEC Kids / American Pride | |||
|March 1990 | |||
|<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Lost'''</span> (Some footage can be pieced together from other tapes. Missing intermissions and live shows) | |||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |||
|CEC Summer Days | |||
|July 1990 | |||
|<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found'''</span> (Missing footage of the intermissions and live shows) | |||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |||
|CEC September 1990 Show | |||
|September 1990 | |||
|<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Lost'''</span> (Some footage can be pieced together from other tapes. Missing intermissions and live shows) | |||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |||
|CEC Cyberstar Diagnostics Tape (Master) | |||
|November 7, 1990 | |||
|<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Lost'''</span> (Some footage can be pieced together from other tapes. Missing intermissions and live shows) | |||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |||
|CEC Christmas '90 / Wave Bday | |||
|November 9, 1990 | |||
|<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |||
|} | |||
==Cabaret / Other - 7" Reel:== | |||
The following listed are the Cabaret, Lounge, and diagnostic tapes. | |||
{| class="wikitable" style="vertical-align:top;horizontal-align:left;" | |||
|- | |||
! style="background-color:lightblue" |Showtape title | |||
! style="background-color:lightblue" |Date Recorded | |||
! style="background-color:lightblue" |Audio Status | |||
! style="background-color:lightblue" |Signal Status | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Dolli Dimples | |Dolli Dimples | ||
|November 1978 | |November 1978 | ||
|<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Lost'''</span> | |<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Lost'''</span> | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Dolli Dimples II | |Dolli Dimples II | ||
|December 1982 | |December 1982 | ||
|<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Helen Henny | |Helen Henny | ||
|October 1979 | |October 1979 | ||
|<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Artie Antlers | |Artie Antlers | ||
|Early 1980 | |Early 1980 | ||
|<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Beagles I | |Beagles I | ||
|1980 | |1980 | ||
|<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found'''</span> | |<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found'''</span> | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Beagles II | |Beagles II | ||
|May 1982 | |May 1982 | ||
|<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Beagles III | |Beagles III | ||
|February 1983 | |February 1983 | ||
|<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|King I | |King I | ||
|June 1981 | |June 1981 | ||
|<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|King II | |King II | ||
|February 1983 | |February 1983 | ||
|<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|King III | |King III | ||
|November 1985 | |November 1985 | ||
|<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|King-Combo-Birthday | |King-Combo-Birthday | ||
|July 1986 | |July 1986 | ||
|<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found'''</span> | |<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found'''</span> | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|King '90 #1 | |King '90 #1 | ||
|October 1990 | |October 1990 | ||
|<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|King '90 #2 | |King '90 #2 | ||
|October 1990 | |October 1990 | ||
|<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Still the King | |Still the King | ||
|March 1993 | |March 1993 | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost?'''</span> | |<span style="color:red;">'''Lost?'''</span> | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|King '95 | |King '95 | ||
|1995 | |1995 | ||
|<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Four Little Shavers | |Four Little Shavers | ||
|August 1981 | |August 1981 | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Line 312: | Line 495: | ||
|December 1982 | |December 1982 | ||
|<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Beach Bowzers '91 | |Beach Bowzers '91 | ||
|March 1991 | |March 1991 | ||
|<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|B.B. Bubbles | |B.B. Bubbles | ||
|December 1982 | |December 1982 | ||
|<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found'''</span> | |<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found'''</span> | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|King Kat | |King Kat | ||
|October 1984 | |October 1984 | ||
|<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Dr. Dux Diagnostic Stage/Shelf | |Dr. Dux Diagnostic Stage/Shelf | ||
|1980 | |1980 | ||
|<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | |<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> | ||
|<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span> <ref>https://www.dropbox.com/sh/nh1v3sotagq65k7/AABD9NPgeF15BEUD9pi39BDwa/Non-Showtape%20Audio/PTT%20Diagnostic%20Reel?dl=0&subfolder_nav_tracking=1</ref>(Though signal audio is damaged) | |||
|} | |} | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| Line 354: | Line 536: | ||
*https://www.showbizpizza.com/radio/index.html | *https://www.showbizpizza.com/radio/index.html | ||
*http://showbizpizza.com/radio/archive.html | *http://showbizpizza.com/radio/archive.html | ||
*https://www.showbizpizza.com/radio/schedule.html | *https://www.showbizpizza.com/radio/schedule.html | ||
*http://www.showbizpizza.com/ptp/characters/helen.html | *http://www.showbizpizza.com/ptp/characters/helen.html | ||
*[http://w11.zetaboards.com/Retro_Pizza_Zone/topic/11368627/1/#new The Retro Pizza Zone forums.] | *[http://w11.zetaboards.com/Retro_Pizza_Zone/topic/11368627/1/#new The Retro Pizza Zone forums.] | ||
| Line 360: | Line 542: | ||
*https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdKLsomLbtY&t=50s | *https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdKLsomLbtY&t=50s | ||
*https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xSQhwpX8DQ | *https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xSQhwpX8DQ | ||
*https://www.youtube.com/user/Pizzacam3/videos | |||
*https://www.youtube.com/c/pizzacam/videos | |||
*https://www.dropbox.com/sh/nh1v3sotagq65k7/AABD9NPgeF15BEUD9pi39BDwa/Non-Showtape%20Audio/PTT%20Diagnostic%20Reel?dl=0&subfolder_nav_tracking=1 | |||
[[Category:Lost audio]] | [[Category:Lost audio]] | ||
[[Category:Partially lost media]] | [[Category:Partially lost media]] | ||
<references /> | |||
Revision as of 03:40, 16 October 2021
Example of a showtape.
Status: Partially Lost
Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theatre is an animatronic restaurant chain started in 1977 by Atari co-founder Nolan Bushnell. It featured multiple animatronic stage performances amongst the dining areas, which evolved and changed over the course of a decade through bankruptcy, company mergers, and attempts to keep the brand modern. Starting in the late early 90's, the company began a movement to modernize the look, characters, and animatronic offerings presented at their stores, leading to the Pizza Time Theatre moniker being dropped, and a heavy separation from the previous brand.
Showtape Info:
The animatronics performed songs, skits, birthday shows, and special events through a swappable showtape system. Each showtape had a select collection of character performances, which would run individually for three to ten minutes, before having a "break" to let the air compressor behind the stage refill. A full showtape would have between 30-80 minutes of shows. Every few months the stores would be sent a new showtape to keep the content fresh, along with costumes and other themed props to adorn the stage, keeping with the showtape's theme.
The animatronics, lights, and other stage effects were controlled by a computer system in the backroom running off of a reel-to-reel audio tape. For the main life of the show, this was a Maxell UD 35-90 7" audio tape, which played showtape audio through one channel, and animatronic programming signals through the other. Later on in 1988 the show computers would be upgraded to run on SVHS video tapes. These tapes played showroom audio on HiFi left, game-room audio on HiFi right (birthday shows were muted in this channel), and a new animatronic signal format running across both normal channels. Video was also displayed through the TVs scattered around the store. In July of 1993 the signal format was altered to shuffle around the programming signal outputs, causing stores to be unable to play older showtapes.
Media Recovery:
Due to the showtapes only ever being owned by the store, along with becoming obsolete once the next tape was sent in, most original tape copies are lost or destroyed. Tapes are mostly found in possession of a former employee (usually the technician) after their location has shut down. This is usually either the last showtape before closure, or all tapes owned throughout the store's use. This makes older tapes increasingly harder to find, being sent to less stores than when the company was larger.
Tapes are typically seen on eBay every 1-3 years going for $30-40, while most are held by private collectors. Due to the analogue nature and formatting of the showtapes, reels require expensive reel-to-reel tape decks to record audio/signals. SVHS tapes are even harder to extract a full archive of, as a VCR that can output 4 separate audio channels + video, along with a capture card able to record it, is needed. The analogue format requires simultaneous recordings of AV and signals, as multiple takes or rips from separate tapes combined can result in large amounts of desync.
Though a large amount of showtape audio and video was archived in the early 2000's by a group of private collector's, they never released the accompanying signal audio channels, making almost all of the showtapes partially found.
Main Showtapes - 7" Reel:
The following listed are tapes performed by the main cast of animatronic characters.
| Showtape title | Release Dates | Audio Status | Signal Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original PTT Tape with Crusty | May 17, 1977 | Partially Lost | Lost |
| Helen Henny "Portrait" Showtape (With Crusty & Warblettes) | August 1977 | Lost | Lost |
| Madam Oink "Portrait" Showtape (With Crusty & Warblettes) | February 1978 | Partially Lost | Lost |
| Foxy Colleen "Portrait" Showtape (With Crusty & Warblettes) | October 1978 | Partially Found? (Some of the segments without Crusty might have been reused in Foxy Colleen IV - Irish Stew. All Through that's unconfirmed) | Lost |
| Helen Henny "Portrait" Showtape (With Mr. Munch & Mopsey Sisters) | November 1978 | Partially Found | Lost |
| Madam Oink "Portrait" Showtape #2 | May 1979 | Lost | Lost |
| Unknown | August 1979 | Lost | Lost |
| Sally I | November 1979 | Found | Lost |
| Unknown | March 1980 | Lost | Lost |
| Foxy Colleen III - Showboat (With Mr. Munch & Warblettes) | May 1980 | Lost | Lost |
| Foxy Colleen IV - Irish Stew | August 1980 | Found | Lost |
| Madam Oink - Around the World (Normal and X-Mas ver.) | November 7, 1980 | Found (Both Variations) | Lost |
| Harmony Howlette's Wild West Show | May 1981-October 1982 | Found | Lost |
| Harmony II - Harmony's Hoedown (Normal and CEC's 5th B-day) | December 1981 | Found (Both Variations) | Lost |
| Madame Oink III - Tunnel of Love (CEC's 5th B-day and Normal) | May 1982-March 1983 | Found (Both Variations) | Lost |
| Madame Oink III - "Tunnel of Love" Spanish Version | 1982 | Lost | Lost |
| Madame Oink IV - "The Tune Machine" | March-September 1, 1983 | Found | Lost |
| Broadway Helen Henny | June 1983-March 1984 | Found | Lost |
| Bandstand 1 | March 1984 | Found | Lost |
| Bandstand 2 | 1984 | Found | Lost |
| Country Helen | 1984 | Found | Lost |
| Unknown (Back to School?) | January-March 1985 | Lost | Lost |
| Hit Parade | April-May 1985 | Found | Lost |
| Salute to America | June-July 1985 | Found | Lost |
| Salute to Kids | August-September 1985 | Found | Lost |
| Happy Holidays (1985 & 1986) | November-December 1985 & November-December 1986 | Found | Lost |
| World of Kids | January-February 1986 | Found | Lost |
| Unknown | March-April 1986 | Lost | Lost |
| Unknown | May-June 1986 | Lost | Lost |
| History of Rock and Roll | July-August 1986 | Found | Lost |
| History of Rock and Roll II | September-October 1986 | Found | Lost |
| Happy Holidays (1985 & 1986) | November-December 1985 & November-December 1986 | Found | Lost |
| Movie Magic | January-February 1987 | Found | Lost |
| TV Westerns | March-April 1987 | Found | Lost |
| Summertime | May-June 1987 | Found | Lost |
| Working / Summertime | July-August 1987 | Found | Lost |
| CEC Faves / Working | September-November 1987 | Found | Lost |
| Home For the Holidays (Reel Only) | December 1987 | Found | Lost |
| Country / Faves | January-February 1988 | Found | Lost |
| Tune Machine/ Country | March-April 1988 | Found | Lost |
| Summertime/Tune Machine | May-June 1988 | Found | Lost |
| CEC Grammy Awards/Summertime | July-August 1988 | Found | Lost |
| CEC Dance/CEC Grammy Awards | September-November 1988 | Found | Lost |
| Home For the Holidays (Reel Only) | December 1988 | Found | Lost |
| Fractured Classics/Dance | January-February 1989 | Found | Lost |
| CEC Kiddie Songs/Fractured Rock | March-April 1989 | Found | Lost |
| Best of 1988 | May-June 1989 | Found | Lost |
| CEC Dreams/Kiddie Songs | July-August 1989 | Found | Lost |
| CEC Neighbors / Dreams | September-November 1989 | Found | Lost |
| Home For The Holidays (Reel & Cyberstar) | December 1989 | Found | Lost |
| CEC American Pride/Neighbors | January-February 1990 | Found | Lost |
| CEC Kids/American Pride | March-April 1990 | Found | Lost |
| CEC TV Classics | May-June 1990 | Found | Lost |
| Summer Days | July-August 1990 | Found | Lost |
Main Showtapes - SVHS:
The following listed are tapes performed by the main cast of animatronic characters. Listed up until the discontinuation of the reel format.
| Showtape title | Date Recorded | Audio / Video Status | Signal Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| CEC Country / Faves | January 1988 | Lost | Lost |
| CEC Tune Machine / Country | March 1988 | Partially Lost (Some footage can be pieced together from other tapes. Missing intermissions and live shows) | Lost |
| CEC Summertime | May 1988 | Partially Found (Missing footage of the intermissions and live shows) | Lost |
| CEC Grammy Awards | July 1988 | Partially Found (Missing footage of the intermissions and live shows) | Lost |
| CEC Dance Showtape | September 7, 1988 | Partially Found (Missing footage of the intermissions and live shows) | Lost |
| CEC Home for the Holidays | November 1988 | Partially Lost (Some footage can be pieced together from other tapes. Missing intermissions and live shows) | Lost |
| CEC Fractured Classics | January 1989 | Partially Lost (Some footage can be pieced together from other tapes. Missing intermissions and live shows) | Lost |
| CEC Kiddie Songs | March 1989 | Partially Lost (Some footage can be pieced together from other tapes. Missing intermissions and live shows) | Lost |
| CEC Best Of 1988 | May 1989 | Partially Found (Missing footage of the intermissions and live shows) | Lost |
| CEC Dreams/Kids Showtape | June 29, 1989 | Partially Found (Missing footage of the intermissions and live shows) | Lost |
| CEC Neighbors / Dreams | September 1989 | Partially Lost (Some footage can be pieced together from other tapes. Missing intermissions and live shows) | Lost |
| CEC Christmas '89 / Wave Bday | November 9, 1989 | Partially Lost (Some footage can be pieced together from other tapes. Missing intermissions and live shows) | Lost |
| CEC American Pride / Neighbors | January 1990 | Partially Lost (Some footage can be pieced together from other tapes. Missing intermissions and live shows) | Lost |
| CEC Kids / American Pride | March 1990 | Partially Lost (Some footage can be pieced together from other tapes. Missing intermissions and live shows) | Lost |
| CEC Summer Days | July 1990 | Partially Found (Missing footage of the intermissions and live shows) | Lost |
| CEC September 1990 Show | September 1990 | Partially Lost (Some footage can be pieced together from other tapes. Missing intermissions and live shows) | Lost |
| CEC Cyberstar Diagnostics Tape (Master) | November 7, 1990 | Partially Lost (Some footage can be pieced together from other tapes. Missing intermissions and live shows) | Lost |
| CEC Christmas '90 / Wave Bday | November 9, 1990 | Found | Lost |
Cabaret / Other - 7" Reel:
The following listed are the Cabaret, Lounge, and diagnostic tapes.
| Showtape title | Date Recorded | Audio Status | Signal Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dolli Dimples | November 1978 | Partially Lost | Lost |
| Dolli Dimples II | December 1982 | Found | Lost |
| Helen Henny | October 1979 | Found | Lost |
| Artie Antlers | Early 1980 | Found | Lost |
| Beagles I | 1980 | Partially Found | Lost |
| Beagles II | May 1982 | Found | Lost |
| Beagles III | February 1983 | Found | Lost |
| King I | June 1981 | Found | Lost |
| King II | February 1983 | Found | Lost |
| King III | November 1985 | Found | Lost |
| King-Combo-Birthday | July 1986 | Partially Found | Lost |
| King '90 #1 | October 1990 | Found | Lost |
| King '90 #2 | October 1990 | Found | Lost |
| Still the King | March 1993 | Lost? | Lost |
| King '95 | 1995 | Found | Lost |
| Four Little Shavers | August 1981 | Lost | Lost |
| Beach Bowzers | December 1982 | Found | Lost |
| Beach Bowzers '91 | March 1991 | Found | Lost |
| B.B. Bubbles | December 1982 | Partially Found | Lost |
| King Kat | October 1984 | Found | Lost |
| Dr. Dux Diagnostic Stage/Shelf | 1980 | Found | Found [1](Though signal audio is damaged) |
References
- https://youtu.be/4tgH_eThNZI
- http://www.dropbox.com/sh/nh1v3sotagq65k7/AAAfHFWlSDwkugsgOcneA09La?dI=0
- https://www.showbizpizza.com/info/documents/ptt/ptt_pizzatimes-1979.pdf
- https://www.showbizpizza.com/info/documents/ptt/ptt_pizzatimes-1980.pdf
- https://www.showbizpizza.com/info/documents/ptt/ptt_pizzatimes1-1.pdf
- https://www.showbizpizza.com/info/documents/ptt/ptt_pizzatimes1-2.pdf
- https://www.showbizpizza.com/info/documents/ptt/ptt_pizzatimes1-3.pdf
- https://www.showbizpizza.com/info/documents/ptt/ptt_pizzatimes2-2.pdf
- https://www.showbizpizza.com/info/documents/ptt/ptt_pizzatimes2-3.pdf
- https://www.showbizpizza.com/info/documents/ptt/ptt_pizzatimes2-4.pdf
- https://www.showbizpizza.com/info/documents/ptt/ptt_pizzatimes3-1.pdf
- https://www.showbizpizza.com/info/documents/ptt/ptt_pizzatimes3-2.pdf
- https://www.showbizpizza.com/info/documents/ptt/ptt_pizzatimes3-3.pdf
- http://showbizpizza.com/review/ptt/index.html
- https://www.showbizpizza.com/history/index.html
- https://www.showbizpizza.com/radio/index.html
- http://showbizpizza.com/radio/archive.html
- https://www.showbizpizza.com/radio/schedule.html
- http://www.showbizpizza.com/ptp/characters/helen.html
- The Retro Pizza Zone forums.
- https://www.instagram.com/p/B1wTxauHqYD/
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdKLsomLbtY&t=50s
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xSQhwpX8DQ
- https://www.youtube.com/user/Pizzacam3/videos
- https://www.youtube.com/c/pizzacam/videos
- https://www.dropbox.com/sh/nh1v3sotagq65k7/AABD9NPgeF15BEUD9pi39BDwa/Non-Showtape%20Audio/PTT%20Diagnostic%20Reel?dl=0&subfolder_nav_tracking=1