Chuck E. Cheese (Cyberamic)

The Chuck E. Cheese Cyberamics were a set of Cyberamics produced by Pizza Time Theatre as an animatronic version of Chuck E. Cheese from 1979 to 1983 as a replacement for the Fantasy Forest bots. The bots would be later produced by Kinetix Group Inc from 1991-1993 and Animation World from 1993-1997.

The bots are very simple, having only 8 movements. The bots were originally controlled using the Cyberamic Control System, but were later changed to the Cyberstar system & Navori System.

History

Origin

The animatronics were first developed by PTT Inc. as a replacement for the Fantasy Forest Portrait bots, due to the FF bots being hand made & not cost effective.

Pizza Time Theatre

In 1979, The first Cyberamic Chuck E. Cheese was build & installed at the Pizza Time Theatre in Concord, CA (1975 Diamond Blvd) on a Cyberamics Portrait Stage, with several more bots following. In late 1979, a Chuck walk-around would be given the head piece of a Cyber Chuck^[1] for a Fundraiser. In early to mid 1980, due to Nolan Bushnell's commitment to The Great American Smoke-Out, all existing & future Cyberamic Chuck bots would have their Cigars removed.

In May 1980, A Cyberamic Chuck bot was placed on the Balcony Stage of the Pizza Time Theatre on San Jose, CA (1371 Kooser Rd)^[2].

In 1983, A King Styled Cyberamic Chuck bot, Known as the Half-A-Chuck bot, was built as a prototype. It was later given to the Foothill College Electronics Museum in San Jose, California.

Also in 1983, PTT would stop production of Cyberamic bots due to the video game crash of 1983, & them filing for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy.

At an unknown time Pre-Merger, A PTT location replaced their Chuck costume's head with a Cyber Chuck head.

Chuck E. Cheese's

In 1987, The first public version of the full body Chuck bot was used for the Chuck E.'s House stage from the Pizza Time Theater at Arlington, TX (2216 S Fielder Rd). The bot was Arlington's Chuck bot with newly installed legs. Showbiz Pizza Time would continue to install legs to existing bots along with creating new parts to bots like a Tux outfit.

The Last Bot to be put on a Pizza Time Players stage was at the CEC on Warwick, RI (1245 Bald Hill Rd) in Late 1990.

In 1991, Showbiz Pizza Time Inc. would commission Kinetix Group Inc. to develop new Cyberamics for their stores.

Also In 1991, the last Cyberamic Portrait bot was removed at the Pizza Time Theatre on Ogden, UT (3155 Harrison Blvd).

In 1992, 2-Stages & 1-Stages would be installed at several new & old CEC stores, this included installing more legs for existing Chuck bots & the production of new bots by Kinetix Group. In 1993, Kinetix Group Inc. would stop production of new bots & SPT would instead hire Animation World for future bots. In 1998, Animation World would stop production of new bots due to the creation of the Studio C Alpha stage type. Showbiz would continue to produce new cosmetics & parts for existing stores. In 2002, the Cool Chuck outfit was released to replace the tuxedoes. In 2008, the Avenger outfit for animatronics was released. Sometime around 2013/2014, CEC Entertainment Inc. would develop the last change to Cyber Chucks cosmetics, being a new Rockstar outfit for Cyber Chucks. In 2017, with the new 2.0 Remodel, several Cyber Chucks would be replaced.

In late 2023, CEC revealed Munch's Make Believe Band Residency, which included the saving of the 2-Stage at Northridge, CA (8425 Reseda Blvd). This included a Cyber Chuck bot from Lancaster, CA (44650 Valley Central Way).

Design

Base

The Cyberamic Chuck's have grey fur with a pink Mussel. They have Bucked Teeth, a black nose, & blue and yellow eyes. Early bots had a larger smile & more outward dimples. Later bots changed this for less outward dimples and changed the type of fabric used on the snouts and jaws from terry cloth to a t-shirt like material. Early bots had cigars, though in 1980, they were removed.

Suit

Most of the Cyberamic Chuck's suits were just the suit design of the mascot Chuck E. Cheese, though, a Bandstand outfit would be created in the 1980's for the Bandstand I & II Showtapes.

Movements

The bot features 8 movements in total.

Movement
Mouth
Head Up
Head Turn Right + Left Arm Twist
Head Turn Left
Eye Turn Right
Eye Turn Left
Eyelids
Right Arm Up

Stages Used In

Cyberamic Portrait Stage (1979-1991)

The first stage a Cyber Chuck bot was used in Cyberamics Portrait Stages (also known as The Shelf Stage) in 1979. The stage type would go extinct in 2001 at Lake Forest, CA.

Balcony Stages/Chuck E.'s House Facades (1980-2003)

The second stage the Cyberamic Chucks were installed on was the Balcony Stage (Later, the Chuck E.'s House Facades) in 1980. The stage type would go extinct in 2003 at Tacoma, WA.

Chuck E.'s House (1987-2022)

The third stage the Cyber Chucks were installed on was the Chuck E.'s House stage (also known as the Rocker Stage) in 1987. The stage type went extinct at Rockford, IL (3600 E State St) in 2022.

Road Stage (1990-Present)

The fourth stage the Cyber Chucks were installed on was the Road Stage in 1990. The stage type is still around.

2-Stage & 1-Stage (1992-Present)

The fifth & sixth stage the Cyber Chucks were installed on was the 2-Stage & 1-Stage in 1992. Both stage types still exist.

Cyberamics 3-Stage (2000-2023)

The final stage the Cyber Chucks were Installed on was the Cyberamics version of the CU stage in 2000 & later, 2017. The stage type went extinct in 2023 at Lynnwood, WA.

Gallery

Chicago Fullerton's Chuck (Cool Chuck Attire)
A Chuck bot with an Avenger suit on (Still has the Cool Chuck pants & Hat)
A Portrait Chuck in a Brown Vest.
A Chuck bot with Rockstar & Avenger Attire
Placentia California's Cyberamic Chuck (In Cool Chuck Attire)
Avenger Cyber Chuck on a 1-Stage

References

[1] ttps://www.showbizpizza.com/info/documents/ptt/ptt_pizzatimes-1979.pdf

[2] ttps://www.showbizpizza.com/info/documents/ptt/ptt_pizzatimes-1980.pdf

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