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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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Chuck E. Cheese's (Partially lost showtape recordings for animatronic theater; 1977-Present)}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE:Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theatre (Partially lost showtape recordings for animatronic theater; 1977-Pr)}}
{{InfoboxLost
{{InfoboxLost
|title=<center>Pizza Time Theater Showtapes</center>
|title=<center>Pizza Time Theater Showtapes</center>
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''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.  
''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 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 (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.  
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.  
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|November 1979
|November 1979
|<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span>
|<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span>
|<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span>
|F
|-
|-
| Unknown
| Unknown
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<references />
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Revision as of 22:11, 23 October 2021


Shelf-reel.jpg

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 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.

References

  1. ↑ https://www.dropbox.com/sh/nh1v3sotagq65k7/AABD9NPgeF15BEUD9pi39BDwa/Non-Showtape%20Audio/PTT%20Diagnostic%20Reel?dl=0&subfolder_nav_tracking=1
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