His Rock-afire performances became increasingly complex. The New Monterrey, West Cybersland location, The New Reykjavk, East Cybersland location (A Taco Bell is inside), The Togatoga, West Cybersland location (This location is a combo with a Subway and a McDonald's), The Wave, East Cybersland location (A combo with a Pizza Hut), The Sidelands, West Cybersland location (Uses a variant of Chuck E. Live where both Billy Bob and Chuck E. Cheese do the Chuck E. Live format. The life-sized characters were capable of facial expression, and some could even play simple melodies on musical instruments. For Fechter, the goal was to turn animatronics into a fully realized art form. Fechter, too, moved onto other inventions. The show was created and manufactured by inventor Aaron Fechter through his company Creative Engineering, Inc. in Orlando, Florida. For the first year of its operation, the restaurant was actually a division of Atari Inc., but in June 1978, Bushnell purchased all the assets and rights from Atari for $500,000 and formed Pizza Time Theatre as a private corporation, with himself initially acting as president and chairman. This towering bee statue is a tribute to Ontario's first meadery and a century-old honey producer. Frustrated at the complete lack of ANYTHING regarding ShowBiz Pizza Place, I took it upon myself to start a website to keep the memory alive. Rock-afire inventor Aaron Fechter, meanwhile, was in heaven. I treasured my experiences, and each and every ShowBiz vinyl record and doll and merch I was able to get my hands on (many coming from second hand stores). You're currently viewing the new "5.0" version of ShowBizPizza.com. [3][6] During this period, Creative Engineering began to sever ties with ShowBiz Pizza Time (they officially left the company in September 1990), eventually resulting in the unification of its mixed characters. Fechter also implemented computer programming that permitted some of the characters to move in rhythm with music. [4] During this period, Topeka Inn Management also changed its name to Brock Hotel Corporation and moved its headquarters to Irving, Texas. Brian helps maintain our social media presence and is administrates our Facebook page. Showbiz Pizza (East and West Cybersland)/Locations, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 1980 - The 1st ShowBiz Pizza Place opens in Kansas City, Missouri. A row of tables and booths purchased from a former ShowBiz Pizza franchise location in Florida line the center of the room. [4], In November 1979, Brock met Aaron Fechter of Creative Engineering, Inc. - Facing slowing sales, Chuck E. Cheese Entertainment Inc. revamps the Chuck E. Cheese mascot, transforming him into a computer generated rock star. And thats precisely when things started to fall apart. Over 20 years later, both myself and the website are still here, continuing to archive documents, audio, video and more. 1986 The Rock-afire Explosion began churning out covers of hit 60s and 70s pop songs (legend has it that when Michael Jackson heard the Rock-afires Beatles medley, he decided on the spot to purchase the entire Beatles catalogue), as well as original numbers. [1] They performed medleys of classic rock, pop, and country music, as well as original compositions and comedic skits.[2]. The Rock-afire Explosion uses four recorded tracks, two for audio and two for data. 1981 Pizza Time Theatre files a lawsuit against Topeka Inn Management and Brock for breach of contract. 1989 Travis (aka VegaNova) has been the webmaster of ShowBizPizza.com for over 20 years, still updating whenever there's free time to do so - which admittedly is in rare supply these days. . Over at Chuck E. Cheese, Bushnell was incensed by Brocks betrayal, and launched a lawsuit against ShowBiz Pizza. [4] Brock immediately issued a counter-suit against Bushnell, citing misrepresentation. And for posterity's sake, here's a few screenshots that illustrate the progression of ShowBizPizza.com through the years ShowBizPizza.com - Where Everyone Can Be a Kid, since 1999.All characters and brands are / their respective owners. Sales begin to weaken for both chains. Offer available only in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). - Atari opens the 1st Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theatre in San Jose, California. [3][6] In 1999, CEC Entertainment, Inc. bought out competitor Discovery Zone. A location shared with a Subway off the 1-24 Highway in some sandunes near El Uno, East Cybersland. The old Chuck E. Cheese's logo labelscar can be seen behind the Showbiz sign), The Novo Omotesando, East Cybersland location (In 2007, the crew for the Monster Jam program on the US channel Speed visited this location to film John Sprinkles talking about Chuck E. Cheese's and Showbiz's sponsorship for Cyberslandian Monster Jam events. We are completely non-profit - all of our hosting fees, bandwidth costs, etc are paid directly out of pocket with no monetization from revenue, advertising or otherwise. ShowBiz Pizza Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. Pizza, Fun, Enterainment It continued to operate both Chuck E. Cheese and ShowBiz locations independently (by that point, its likely Chuck E. Cheese was simply too popular a character to kill off) and renamed the company Showbiz Pizza Time. Metal monsters made from repurposed materials lurk alongside this Pennsylvania road. As hed recently sold both Chuck E. Cheese and Atari to Warner, he was hoping the company would be interested in helping him turn the place into a franchise. Then Dan Evans (driver of the Jetix truck) decided to dance with Chuck E. and Billy Bob), The Dillock, West Cybersland location (The oldest in the chain, which opened on January 1, 1983), The Ricastan, East Cybersland location (Known as Looney Bird's), The Dlindlintown, West Cybersland location (Combo with a TJ Hartford's), The Tincity, West Cybersland location (The sign's letters are scrambled), The Cahsenorehbelz, East Cybersland location (This location is designed for the market that is too small for the typical ShowBiz stores, and this store uses a mini stage with Mitzi wearing her clothing from the country tapes and has a few games and a small kitchen and counter), The Bananaaphone, West Cybersland location (This location has a Rock-afire Explosion with Rolfe and Earl replaced with Princess Haylee of the Moon Rockers), Trance, East Cybersland (This location is co-branded with Chuck E. Cheese's and this location has the Moon Rockers as it's only band and Billy Bob and Chuck E. only exist as walk-around characters at this location), The Town of Lightning, East Cyberland location, The Bananaville, West Cybersland location (uses a Fatz and the Hillbilly Bears show that replaces Rolfe and Earl with Uncle Klunk), The Moncton, East Cybersland location (has a RAE with wacky characters, featuring a country-style Mitzi and a naked Fatz), The Cloncton, West Cybersland location (known as Uncle Klunk's and a combo with Hungry Jack's. [22], Although the Volo Auto Museum received a Rock-afire Explosion show and was expected to be put on exhibit in the summer of 2020, Fechter halted it due to their plans to use a third-party control system, similar to the Rock-afire Bar dispute. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! Even without any sort of website building skills or know-how, the basis of what would become ShowBizPizza.com was born. ShowBizPizza.com is an educational website designed to inform the public about all aspects and topics relating to the history of Chuck E. Cheese's and ShowBiz Pizza Place. The data tracks are encoded using Biphase mark code produced during the programming process by two Apple IIe computers. In 1998, the company once known as Showbiz Pizza was rebranded simply as CEC Entertainment Inc.; in 2014, it was sold to Apollo Global Management (which owned Claires jewelry stores) for $950 million. He eventually teamed up with Bob Brock, chairman of the Brock Hotel Corporation, one of the largest franchisees of Holiday Inns. 1985 Pizza, 1154 E Ogden Ave., One also operated in Salmiya, Kuwait, but was firebombed during the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait during August 1989 and was repaired or reopened. We have the largest online archive of ShowBiz and Chuck E. Cheese documentation dating back to 1977, archival photographs, historical video clips, and an ever expanding pool of information. Cyberstar was also implemented at Pizza Time Theatre, and remains in use at all Chuck E. Cheese's locations, albeit using DVDs rather than VHS tapes. Mafia members are, for the most part, anonymous and prefer to keep it that way. (But they later emerged from it.) Pink = PTT stores that relocated. Unlike other animatronic shows of the early 1980s, the Rock-afire Explosion was life-sized, with most of the performers about the size of an average adult human. 1978 No purchase necessary. Bushnell had racked up somewhere in the realm of $50 million in debt by using Chuck E. Cheese money to fund other start-up ventures, and was forced to file for bankruptcy in 1984. Restaurants, Blog All rights reserved. That means that the information you're looking for is much easier to locate and find, with simple navigation and easy access to what you're looking for. Naperville , I was terrified of them, and spent the majority of the night turned away from the stage when they would come out, staring instead at the patrons behind us and the back wall of the showroom. I remember only brief snippets of that initial visit, and a rather traumatic experience first seeing The Rock-afire Explosion. The show also has several smaller prop characters, many of which did not have speaking roles. Get Store Hours, phone number, location, reviews and coupons for Showbiz Pizza Place located at 1154 E Ogden Ave., Naperville, IL, 60563 An experiment of Paul Linden and Dave Philipsen using JVC BR-7000 VHS Hi-Fi tape decks which integrated two stereo audio tracks, two longitudinal data tracks, and video led to a system in 1988 where television screens were installed above the Rock-afire stage as the company introduced their new Cyberstar TV screen system. Chuck E. Cheese Entertainment, Inc. files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Even though ShowBizPizza.com is a monument to days long past (and not to mention that I personally hate change) every now and then it's time for an upgrade. As sales improved at ShowBiz locations with the 3-Stage, ShowBiz Pizza Time (the merged company of ShowBiz and Chuck E. Cheese's) decided to bring Munch's Make Believe Band to Chuck E. Cheese's locations, first with the Road Stage, then with the 1 and 2-Stages . To the right, there's a small arcade room complete with black. Since 1999, we have been the premiere online resource for people seeking to learn more about this unique restaurant concept. A dramatically eroding canyon thousands of miles from the desert. In a staggering move, Bushnell was pushed out and ShowBiz snapped up the failing franchise. Furthermore, in 2015, a documentary on the Rock-afire Explosion was released on YouTube, and as of 2023, has over a million views. Since 1992, independent companies and people have been preserving it and one can still view the show in various locations around the world where it is still in operation to this day. USA Store Fanon Wiki - Where Retail Goes to Live! Videos of the performancesposted to his YouTube[18] upon completionare credited with helping to further revive interest in the group and ShowBiz Pizza, and spurred individuals who owned their own Rock-afire bands to begin programming new shows themselves. Known locations are in Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates. UNITED STATES, Worldwide > If you've been here before, you probably notice some differences. Our operation and service to the fan community is completely self-funded by the generous contribution and support of our most dedicated fans. Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. The inspirations from family pizza chains like Chuck E. Cheese and ShowBiz Pizza Place are obvious. Nearest Restaurants in Naperville, IL. Of course kids grow up, as I did, and didn't get back into ShowBiz until my senior year of high school when my small school finally gained access to this thing called the "internet". New attractions are test marketed in select locations, with the prospect of rolling out new features system-wide. In the mid 2000s, spurred by the growing online Rock-afire fan community, Fechter reunited some of the Rock-afire performers and began to program shows set to fan-requested songs. Before the Chuck E. Cheese's characters became the family franchise destination we know today, ShowBiz Pizza Place was the direct descendent of the Pizza Time Theater chain started by creators Robert L. Brock and the team at Creative Engineering, Inc. ShowBiz was led by a group of mascot animatronics that even included Chuck E. Cheese at one . A version of this article originally ran in 2015 and has been updated for 2023. in: Showbiz Pizza locations Former Showbiz Pizza locations Category page Edit Trending pages Chuck E. Cheese's Bangor, Maine Chuck E. Cheese's Fort Walton Beach, Florida Chuck E. Cheese's Amherst, New York Chuck E. Cheese's Hawkins IN Chuck E. Cheese's Wilmington, North Carolina Chuck E. Cheese's Iuka, Mississippi I spent the next few years of my childhood absolutely obsessed with ShowBiz and The Rock-afire Explosion. In addition to pizza and arcade-style video games, it featured a live show starring a cast of animatronic performers, led by their namesake Chuck, a robotic New Joisey Rat with an attitude, and who sometimes sported a cigar. ShowBizPizza.com - Where Everyone Can Be a Kid, since 1999.All characters and brands are / their respective owners. Kentwood Historical and Cultural Arts Museum. Following Pizza Time Theatre's bankruptcy filing in 1984, however, ShowBiz Pizza Place bought the struggling franchise and formed ShowBiz Pizza Time Inc., a combination of the former companies' names. The company was previously known as ShowBiz Pizza Time, Inc. before taking its current name in 1998. She also helps with gathering and organizing photographs and information that is utilized on ShowBizPizza.com. Type Most locations with these stages were originally Showbiz Pizza Place locations. However, in the latter part of the decade, relations between Creative Engineering and ShowBiz began to sour. For years, hed been struggling to get his inventions off the ground, and now, with a 20 percent share in the ShowBiz franchise (Brock held the other 80 percent), he finally had the financial backing and creative freedom hed dreamed of. Although we have no official affiliation with CEC Entertainment, Inc or Creative Engineering, Inc, we have always sought to remain on positive terms with both companies. Aside from the volunteered time and efforts of our community, the material we host and share has been submitted / donated by dedicated fans who have managed to care for and preserve it through the years. In addition to overseeing the production of the animatronics, Fechter provided several of the characters' voices. Pizza Time Theatre - Waterbury, CT (1980s) FLORIDA LOCATIONS. CEC University TEAM2 Leader Manual 96-97, ShowBiz Pizza Time, Inc. 1993 Annual Report and The Dennis Foland, Inc. 1997-1998 Merchandise Catalog, go . (He later attributed the blast to pressure and rust.) Fortunately, Fechters remaining Rock-afire Explosion robots were largely unharmed by the blast. I was four years old when I first visited a ShowBiz Pizza Place restaurant. The last Showbiz Pizza location in the United States was shut down in 1994. A new kid friendly version of Chuck E. is also promoted, giving a thumbs-up gesture in the new restaurant logo. [10] Jaret Reddick, lead singer of the musical group Bowling for Soup, was hired to become the new voice of Chuck E. Cheese,[11] after having been voiced by Duncan Brannan for 19 years. 1992 [15], The Rock-afire Explosion performed at Rock-afire, an arcade bar in Kansas City, Missouri. Travis is also working hard at adding to his personal collection which includes a brand new Rock-afire Explosion animatronic show, the only two surviving portrait animatronics that came from the first Pizza Time Theatre, and so much more. [4] The court case began in March 1980, eventually settling out of court; with ShowBiz agreeing to pay Pizza Time Theatre a portion of its profits over the following decade. - With stores forced to shutter amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Chuck E. Cheese begins selling pizza under the pseudonym brand Pasqually's Pizza & Wings. It was released on DVD in 2009. It was started in 1980. [1][3] In 1978, Bushnell purchased the Pizza Time Theatre concept from Atari's then-corporate parent, Warner Communications. [3] But once again, victory was short-lived, only this time for Fechter. Our operation and service to the fan community is completely self-funded by the generous contribution and support of our most dedicated fans. - Nolan Bushnell leaves Atari and purchases the Pizza Time Theatre assets for $500,000, founding Pizza Time Theatre, Inc. 1979 In 2011, it was released on iTunes. Without the rights to the Rock-afire Explosion, ShowBiz was forced to convert the remaining Rock-afire robots into Chuck E. Cheese characters, replacing their exteriors, but leaving the original machinery intact [PDF]. [8] Chuck E. Cheese's celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2007. 1994 He's also responsible for many of the graphic logos and design work that's been a key feature on this website throughout the years. Fechter refused, on the grounds that ShowBiz offered no monetary compensation for the rights. Manuela Beltrn Is a Colombian Hero. We depend on ad revenue to craft and curate stories about the worlds hidden wonders. In the end, though Fechter and Bushnell have moved on to new endeavors, the pizza warsand the ultimate loss of their companiesleft a bad taste in their mouths. Concerned that Fechter's animatronics would be too strong a competition for Bushnell's work, Brock requested that Bushnell release him from the co-development agreement, citing misrepresentation. Even without any sort of website building skills or know-how, the basis of what would become ShowBizPizza.com was born. Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day. You're currently viewing the new "5.0" version of ShowBizPizza.com. - Having completed Concept Unification, Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza becomes the exclusive store brand operated by the company. 1984 Although Showbiz had a relatively short lifespan, opening its first location in 1980 and closing by 1992, it made many memories for kids of the 80s. Brock and Fechter were victorious. A giant fiberglass Muffler Man found new life as a rodeo guardian. USA Store Fanon Wikia is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. In addition to the eponymous rat, the act consisted of multiple characters, including Jasper T. Jowls (a hound dog); Crusty (a cat); Madame Oink (a pig); the Warblettes (three magpies); Pasqually (a pizza chef, and the only human cast member); and Mr. [25], Where to see the Rock-Afire: https://where-to-see-the-rock-afire-explosion.jimdosite.com/, Later years at ShowBiz and Concept Unification, Independent public shows in the United States, "Characters Index Page- The Rock-afire Explosion", "Stages Index Page- The Rock-afire Explosion", "Masters of Puppets: The Rock Explosion Story", "Fatz Geronimo - The Rock-afire Explosion", "Hips Don't Lie- Shakira- The Rock-afire Explosion", "Mitzi Mozzarella - The Rock-afire Explosion", "Rolfe DeWolfe & Earl Schmerle - The Rock-afire Explosion", "The Rolfe and Earle Show (Cyberstar) Show Tape Review", "The New Rock-afire Explosion Stage - The Rock-afire Explosion", "Animatronic Band Moves from Pizza Parlors to YouTube", "It's true: The ShowBiz Pizza robot band is back, at a retro arcade bar", "MEET THE DUDE WHO PERFECTLY RECREATED AN '80S 'SHOWBIZ PIZZA' IN RURAL MISSISSIPPI", "Rock-Afire Explosion gets a makeover at Billy Bob's", "Some find it odd, others see re-creating mechanical band as a way to tap into happy childhood memories", https://where-to-see-the-rock-afire-explosion.jimdosite.com/, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Rock-afire_Explosion&oldid=1143703125, This page was last edited on 9 March 2023, at 11:03. Fechter, growing increasingly disillusioned with ShowBiz, began turning to other projects: In addition to building a series of new animatronics and high-tech Rock-afire toys, he started work on the Anti-Gravity Machine, a predecessor to email, which could send messages over telephone lines. Naperville, IL > Bushnell started thinking of ways to get into the arcade game, and came up with the idea for the Pizza Time Theatre. Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month. CALIFORNIA LOCATIONS. ShowBizPizza.com is an educational website designed to inform the public about all aspects and topics relating to the history of Chuck E. Cheese's and ShowBiz Pizza Place. As the internet has changed course over the past 20 years, so has this website. [7] However, the name was changed to Chuck E. Cheese's in 1994 during a redesigning of the concept. At the time, Bushnell was selling Atari consoles to arcades: though he made between $1500 to $2000 for each console sold, arcades were reaping in profits in the tens of thousands. As ShowBiz and Chuck E. Cheese were essentially glorified arcades, the crash had a serious impact on both businesses. Confirmed Showbiz locations have * by the city name. This betrayal launched the war between ShowBiz and Chuck E. Cheese: a war which, incidentally, Fechter and Bushnell would both end up losing. Showbiz Pizza Place is a restaurant/family entertainment center chain that has been popular since the 1980s. Fechter also implemented latex masks for the characters' faces, as opposed to the rubber and Styrofoam masks common in other animatronics. In terms of food, Chuck E. Cheese was the clear winner: ShowBizs pizza was cheaper but bland, whereas Chuck E. Cheese delivered tasty pizza, with a thin, matzo-like crust. If you've been here before, you probably notice some differences. Move over Chuck E. Cheese, The Rock-Afire Explosion is forever etched in the memories of every kid who entered the doors of the greatest pizza place ever! In 1981, Pizza Time Theatre went public; however, the evolving video game industry resulted in significant losses for Pizza Time Theatre; losing $15 million in 1983, and by 1984, Bushnell's debts were insurmountable, resulting in the filing of Chapter 11 bankruptcy for Pizza Time Theatre Inc. ShowBiz then bought the foundering company, recreating itself as ShowBiz Pizza Time Inc.[3], After the merger, both restaurants continued operating under the different titles, while major financial restructuring had begun,[3] eventually becoming publicly traded in 1989, with sales increasing by 8.3%. A child uses a microphone to speak with Billy Bob at the ShowBiz Pizza location in Fayetteville, Arkansas. - 500th Chuck E. Cheese's location is opened. 1987 - ShowBiz Pizza Time, Inc. changes its company name to Chuck E. Cheese Entertainment, Inc. [15], By 1985, Richard M. Frank had joined the company as CEO and chairman. Unsurprisingly, Bushnell sued Brock and ShowBiz Pizza in 1982, and Bushnell ended up getting a slice of ShowBiz's profits for the next 14 years. 1998 The Showbiz Pizza Forum arena in Del Uno, West Cybersland. [15], After ties between Creative Engineering and ShowBiz were completely severed, "Concept Unification" began in November 1989 and occurred sporadically at ShowBiz locations for the next two years, with the final Rock-afire being converted at the Memphis location in January 1993. Brock shot back with a countersuit, citing misrepresentation. - Chuck E. Cheese begins testing new "2.0" remodels, branded as Chuck E. Cheese Pizzeria & Games. Phase III remodels begin with a focus on enhanced games and rides, and all new Toddler Zone and Skytube improvements. The latex masks fit over movable parts on the characters' faces, permitting a range of facial expressions, including smiling and the raising of eyebrows. Shrouded in secrecy and rumor, the Mafia is a loose-knit group of fans who have dedicated themselves to keeping the spirit of this hobby alive. It was the first shot fired in a lengthy battle. As the internet has changed course over the past 20 years, so has this website. Chuck E Cheese After touring each restaurant, he concluded that ShowBiz, with its edgy rock-and-roll bears, seemed geared towards an older audience, while Chuck E. Cheese was more kid-friendly. - Apollo Global Management acquires Chuck E. Cheese Entertainment, Inc. and its 577 worldwide stores for approximately $950 million.