Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theatre (Partially lost showtape recordings for animatronic theater; 1977-1990)
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 four decades through bankruptcy, company mergers, and attempts to keep the brand modern.
The animatronics (Referred to as Cyberamics) 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 Six 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 beginning 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.
==Main Showtapes== - 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 | F |
Unknown | March 1980 | Lost | Lost |
Dr. Dux Diagnostic Stage/Shelf | 1980 | Found | Found [1](Though signal audio is damaged) |
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 |
Cabaret Showtapes - 7" Reel: (1978 - 1995)
Alongside the main animatronic show, other rooms in the restaurant would host additional characters, playing their own individual showtapes. They were phased out in the 90's as stores were redesigned with a new modern look.
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 |
Main Showtapes - SVHS Format #1: (1988 - 1993)
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. Breaks between shows could now have accompanying videos play on the monitors to entertain guests while they waited.
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 |
CEC Jan '91 | December 10, 1990 | Found | Lost |
CEC Future | March 14, 1991 | Partially Lost (Some footage can be pieced together from other tapes. Missing intermissions and live shows) | Lost |
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.
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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.youtube.com/c/ChuckECheeseShowtapeArchive/videos
- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS_WzSwT0QqjayJfR6hRQaA/videos
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