العربية
中国
Français
Deutsch
Ελληνική
हिन्दी
Italiano
日本語
Português
Русский
EspañolCHUCK E. CHEESE'S
'''Chuck E. Cheese's''' is a chain of family entertainment centers. The concept centers around a basic sit-down pizza restaurant, complemented by arcade games, small rides, animatronic characters, and other popular diversions for young children such as climbing equipment, tubes, and giant slides. Its logo and mascot, Chuck E. Cheese, is an anthropomorphic mouse (before a 1995 "facelift", the Chuck E. Cheese character was identified as a rat). The "E" in Chuck E. Cheese stands for entertainment.[1]
The parent company, 'CEC Entertainment, Inc.' (), is headquartered in Irving, Texas, and as of November 2006, they operate over 524 restaurants[2] in the United States, Canada, Guatemala, and other countries. Chuck E. Cheese initially franchised their restaurants, but are currently not offering any new franchise opportunities, instead concentrating on adding new company-owned stores, as well as acquiring existing franchises.
Chuck E. Cheese's is one of the few growing companies in America that no longer franchises their stores. A large number of franchise-run stores still exist, however, and like any franchise system, the guest experience can vary wildly from store to store because of this.
Company Origin
''Chuck E. Cheese's'' old logo (1979-1995)
Chuck E. Cheese’s Pizza Time Theatre, designed to introduce video games to a younger audience within a public family setting rather than in a bowling alley or a bar, was launched by Atari founder Nolan Bushnell. Bushnell’s experience in the amusement park industry was influential in the conceptualization, as was his fondness for Disney. It was the first family restaurant to integrate food, animated entertainment, and an indoor arcade. The first location opened in 1977 in San Jose, California. The name "Chuck E. Cheese" was allegedly intended to make a person’s mouth bend into a smile when spoken.
Corporate history
In November, 1978, Bushnell left Atari and bought out the Pizza Time Theatre under the company title “Pizza Time Theatre Inc”. As it became increasingly successful, he started to franchise. In 1979, Robert Brock of Topeka Inn Management signed a co-development agreement with Bushnell, receiving exclusive franchising rights to open Pizza Time Theatres in sixteen states across the southern and midwestern United States. Topeka Inn Management also created a company subdivision; “Pizza Show Biz”, to develop the Pizza Time Theatres.
In November of 1979, Brock met Aaron Fechter of Creative Engineering Inc. Concerned that Fechter’s animatronics work would be too strong of competition for Bushnell’s work, Brock requested that Bushnell release him from the co-development agreement, citing misrepresentation. In December of 1979, Brock severed his business relationship with Bushnell.
Brock then created “Showbiz Pizza Place Inc”, a joint company with Fechter. It was conceptually identical to Pizza Time Theatre, but would utilize Creative Engineering Inc animatronics. Due to time constraints, the animatronic characters used were previous work of Fechter’s, inspired by The Rocky Horror Picture Show and modified to suit their new venue (for example, the character Queenie became “Mini Mozzarella”). Showbiz Pizza Place opened its first location on March 3, 1980 in Kansas City, MO.
Upon the Showbiz Pizza Place opening, Bushnell sued Brock and Topeka Inn Management over breach of contract. Brock immediately issued a counter-suit against Bushnell for misrepresentation. The court case began in March, 1980, and was eventually settled out of court, with Showbiz Pizza Place agreeing to pay Pizza Time Theatre a portion of its profits over the following decade. Topeka Inn Management also changed its name to Brock Hotel Corporation during this period.
Both Pizza Time Theatre and Showbiz Pizza Place experienced increased success as the video game industry became more robust. Their lead characters, Chuck E. Cheese and Billy Bob respectively, were promoted heavily. To maintain competition, both franchises continually modified and diversified their animatronics shows.
Pizza Time Theatre went public in 1981. However, the evolving video game industry resulted in significant losses for Pizza Time Theatre; it lost $15 million in 1983. By 1984, Bushnell’s debts were insurmountable, and Pizza Time Theatre Inc. filed for bankruptcy under Chapter 11. Showbiz Pizza Place then bought the floundering company, recreating itself as Showbiz Pizza Time Inc. After the merger, both restaurants continued operating under the different titles.
In 1985, Richard M. Frank joined the company as president and began major financial restructuring. During this period, Creative Engineering began discontinuing its work with Showbiz Pizza Time (it officially left Showbiz Pizza Time in September of 1990). Frank currently remains a chairman and CEO of the company.
Showbiz Pizza Time became publicly traded in 1988, and sales increased 8.3%. It began unifying its mixed characters, and in 1992 all restaurants assumed the name of Chuck E. Cheese’s Pizza. In 1995, the character of Chuck E. Cheese evolved from a rat to a mouse and the company renamed itself Chuck E. Cheese Entertainment Inc. in 1998. It bought out its competitor, Discovery Zone, in 1999.
Entertainment
| The following voice actors performed as animatronic characters from the ''Chuck E. Cheese'' show over the years. | |
★ Chuck E. Cheese ★ ★ John Widlock (1977- 1982) ★ ★ Scott Wilson (1983-1994) ★ ★ Jeremy Blaido (? -) ★ ★ Duncan Brannan (1993 - ) ★ Helen Henny ★ ★ Karleen McKenny (1977-1990) ★ ★ Georgia Denney (1990-1999) ★ ★ Tress MacNeille (? - ) ★ ★ Annagrey Labasse (1999 - ) ★ Jasper T. Jowls ★ ★ Scott Paulin (1977- 1982) ★ ★ Bob West (1988-1998) ★ ★ Jeremy Blaido (1998 - ) ★ Mr. Munch ★ ★ Fritz ........ (1977- 1982) ★ ★ Christopher Sabat (1983) ★ ★ Scott Wilson (1982-1998) ★ ★ John Bowen (1998 - ) ★ Pasqually ★ ★ Joe Spano (1977- 1982) ★ ★ Bob West (1988-1998) ★ ★ Earl Fisher (1998 - ) ★ ★ Steven Lange (1983-1988) ★ ★ John Bowen (1998 - ) | |
Animatronic Figures
From the time of the company's formation through the mid-1990s, the company's animated characters were a main draw for the stores. More recently, less attention has been placed on animatronics. There are several different styles of animatronic shows in use within the company, depending on when the store opened, whether it was renovated, and other factors.
The company's current three shows that are installed into all new stores, Studio C Alpha, Beta, and Cappa (for smaller locations) consist of a single animated Chuck E. Cheese character (and a parrot in Studio C Alpha only), and utilize large television monitors, lighting effects, and interactive elements. [3] In some markets, the company has also tried a new store concept that omits the animated show.
The first version of the animatronic show as found in the San Jose location was referred to as the "Pizza Time Players", and featured Crusty the Cat, Jasper T. Jowls, Pasqually, and the Warblettes performing with Chuck E. Cheese himself in a "theater" where customers could eat their pizza with the characters in picture frames overhead.
Later restaurants also added "Cabaret" shows in separate rooms of each restaurant. Cabaret performers began with Dolli Dimples, a blues singing hippo; others included Artie Antlers, The King (Elvis tunes), The Beagles (Beatles), and The Beach Bowsers (Beach Boys).
In its early years, the company frequently changed out the sole female character in the main animatronic show. This involved a cosmetic change to the existing robot as well as change of stage backdrop to match the performer, for example, Harmony Howlette, a country singer received western stage decor. The early recordings were written and produced by Robert "Bob" Black. Mike Hatcher was the original cyberamic robotics animator with James Barnes functioning as second cyberamic robotics animator and audio engineer.
Individual Stores
The quality of animation from one store to the other can vary, due to several variables. One being the fact that there are at least 7 different styles of animatronic shows in use within the company. The other fact being, that each individual store set the budget for maintaining the show. This can lead to a show (even of the same type) in one store being far superior entertainment-wise, than another store's.
Characters
The current iteration of the company's characters is called ''Munch's Make Believe Band'', and includes:
★ 'Chuck E. Cheese' - A mouse (earlier a rat). In the restaurants that have "3-stage" and "2-stage" shows, he is located on a separate stage.
★ 'Helen Henny' -A cheerleading hen.
★ 'Mr. Munch' - A purple monster and the leader of the band. He plays a keyboard and loves to eat pizza. He earned the nickname "Purple Pizza Eater" (a parody of ''Purple People Eater'').
★ 'Jasper T. Jowls' - A guitar playing hound dog.
★ 'Pasqually' - An Italian pizza chef and a comedian. Pasqually plays a drumset originally an accordion) and has his own stage in "3-stage" shows.
★ 'Others' - The other characters are singing props, including a skyscraper, the moon, and a video camera. They are only in "3-stage" showrooms.
Shows
Road Show
A Road Show is a performance by the costumed Chuck E. Cheese character, and is performed outside the normal showroom. Children are gathered via the public announcement system and can dance to win free tickets. This is distinct from the Live! show that is performed in the showroom.
Games at Chuck E. Cheese
Skee ball
Whac-A-Mole
Pinball
Virtual reality
Hungry Hungry Hippos
LIVE! Show
The LIVE! Show is performed in front of stage in the showroom. The costumed Chuck E. Cheese dances with the guests and "sings", while being accompanied by the animatronic show, and a few castmembers. At the end of the performance, he throws out tickets for the children to collect. A Live show, for example, might feature a "Happy Birthday" song.
Currency
The brass tokens issued by the company for use in their video game arcades exist in numerous varieties and are eagerly collected by exonumia enthusiasts. [4]
Chuck E. Cheese's is currently testing a card access method for use with their arcade/skill games. Stores will no longer use tokens, instead using a refillable card to access credits (tokens) and points (tickets). This concept is currently in the testing phase in Irving, Texas where the company is currently headquartered. iT'z, Dave & Buster's, Jillian's, GameWorks, and other arcade themed restaurants, already use this method.
Nine other locations in the United States are also testing the token cards, including North Canton, Ohio.
Kid Check
Chuck E. Cheese's employs security measures to prevent child abduction, known as Kid Check. The Kid Check booth is the first thing guests see upon entering the restaurant. Whole families are stamped with a unique identification number (M3 for instance) in invisible ink that reacts only to the blacklight directly over the kid check booth. The kid check booth is monitored at all times by an employee and is never left unattended. Guests stamps are checked on the way out to ensure children belong to the adults to which they are leaving with. Chuck E. Cheese classifies this with the following phrase:
"Everyone that comes together, leaves together."
Food Service
Chuck E Cheese's has a large selection of food items to choose from, from pizza to buffalo wings and other finger foods. All food served can sit in the window no more than 15 seconds before being delivered by an employee; should the food be left longer, it is generally thrown out and remade at the establishment's expense. There are pictures around the walls in the dining room consisting of music artists' albums and movie poster covers being satired or parodied by the Pizza Time Players cast members.
Employees
Dining Room Assistant (DRA)
Responsible for catering to the needs of dining guests. The Dining Room Assistant greets the guests, serves drinks and pizza, dances with children and Chuck E. Cheese during the live show, and serves cake to birthday party guests. He is also responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of the dining and game room areas, as well as periodic rest room checks and upkeep of the beverage bar.
Birthday Coordinator
Oversees the birthday parties for the location. Along with assisting the Dining Room Assistants with birthday parties, they are responsible for training new DRA's on birthday parties and maintaining the overall party experience.
Host/Hostess
Responsible for catering to a parties every need. The host/hostess sets the party up, greets the party at the Kid Check booth, serves drinks and pizza, dances with children and Chuck E Cheese during the LIVE! show, sings happy birthday, and then serves cake.
Kid Checker
The kid checker mans the front of the house. This is likely the first person seen when entering a Chuck E Cheese's restaurant. A kid checker will greet a family, stamp their hands with a unique number in UV reactive invisible ink, and inform the parents of any special promotions going on. The kid checker will also ask if the family is celebrating anything special, if they are a birthday balloon and crown are issued. Upon leaving the restaurant, a families hands are all checked to verify they are indeed together. If a discrepancy is found, the child is asked to identify the adult with them, and the adult is asked for identification and/or pictures of the child. Chuck E Cheese road shows also occur at kid check. The kid checker is generally the one to perform in the walk around character suit.
Cashier
Responsible for ringing up orders and dispensing game tokens. Cashiers are also responsible for re-filling and icing the salad bar and handing out prizes at the merchandise counter.
Game Room Attendants
GRAs are responsible for keeping the machines and games in functioning condition. This involves fixing downed machines, stocking machines with tickets, clearing token jams, etc. GRAs also issue tokens for those lost (eaten) by machines. GRAs are responsible for keeping booths in the game room(s) clean.
Walk Around Character
This person dons the full body costume of Chuck E. Cheese and is generally seen walking around the gameroom and showroom. Chuck E appears every 45 minutes past the hour to do a LIVE! show (if there are birthday parties) and a Road Show. Chuck E is not allowed to speak and can only imply his intentions with hand gestures. The approximate weight of the costume is about 2 pounds, not including head. The plastic head (complete with inner helmet for protection) weighs approximately 4 pounds and rests on the shoulders of the person inside the suit. In stores that hire or promote a full time walk-around character, this employee has several extra duties that include getting the Chuck E. Cheese costume professional dry-cleaned and washed (depending on the parts of the costume in question), cleaning the Chuck E. room before the end of every shift, and fixing broken parts of the costume (for instance, gluing the teeth back in after being ripped out by a guest). With the company's recent move to abandon the use of curtains with the animatronic shows, it is common to see the walkaround character perform in full view of the animatronic character. This tends to lessen the ability to "suspend disbelief" with the characters. The costume varies from a tuxedo to just a t-shirt.
Trivia
★ In Australia, Chuck E. Cheese's is called 'Charlie Cheese's', because there, "Chuck E." means "throw up"
See also
★ The Rock-afire Explosion
★ Showbiz Pizza Place
References
1. As mentioned in the "Chuck E. Cheese Walkabout Character Guide"
2. According to a company press release
3. As advertised in "Client Profile"
4. Pullman.com
External links
★ Official website
This article provided by Wikipedia. To edit the contents of this article, click here for original source.
psst.. try this: add to faves
