Concept Unification Stage

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The CU 3-Stage in Laurel, MD. (Removed in June 2022.)

The Concept Unification Stage (also known as commonly as the 3-Stage), is a stage setup used in Showbiz Pizza Place locations that underwent Concept Unification.

History

After the failed execution of the Concept Unification Prototype Stage, Showbiz executives decided that the "band" format of The Rock-afire Explosion would be kept, instead using Chuck E. Cheese characters.

Cosmetics for the characters were provided by Diversified Designs, and props were produced by Corman & Associates[1].

The first 3-Stage was installed at Dallas, TX (13125 Montfort Dr) in November 1989. A recorded demo of the stage in action was provided to stores at the end of SPP Christmas- '89 / Wave Bday[2]. Concept Unification continued through the early 1990s, with many Classic Stage shows being converted. Stores were given the Concept Unification Installation Manual and guidance tape to undergo the conversion process[3].

3-Stage shows have been prime targets for removal since the mid-1990's. In August 1996, the Awesome Adventure Machine was installed at the Dallas Montfort location to be installed directly on top of a 3-Stage[4]. Studio C was tested in 1997, and officially rolled out in 1998. Between 1998 and 2000, about 50 3-Stages were removed and replaced with Studio C Alpha shows. The trend of replacing existing stages continued through the 2000's as shows were replaced with Studio C Beta, Small-town Studio C, and then eventually the Circles of Light and Chuck E. Live Stage (Dance Floor) in the 2010's and 2020's.

Although shows were on the mend to be replaced, plastic masks and cosmetics were made for the characters in the late 1990's and early 2000's to replace existing latex cosmetics[5][6]. Likewise, characters such as Pizza Cam and Munch Jr. were commonly removed from existing shows in the 2000's.

3-Stage shows still exist, although the number of stores with them are shrinking due to the CEC 2.0 Remodel initiative. As of February 2023, 9 stores still have the 3-Stage show.

Design

Stage Left

Stage Left features Pasqually on a raised pedestal with a drum set, with a flashing drum front. The original plexiglass replacement for the drum front was orange, with a swirl pattern and stars. However, this was varied upon installations. Behind Pasqually is a brick-wall backdrop which reads "Pasqually's Amateur Hour" and has top and bottom molding with a center keystone. Depending on a location's configuration, if the control room was located on Stage Left, a partial wall needed to be built to support the backdrop.

Next to Pasqually is Pizza Cam, who hides in a speaker box. Early installations also contained a CU Flower (Animatronic) which were later removed.

Pizza Cam was removed from many stages in the 2000's.

Center Stage

Center Stage features Helen Henny, Mr. Munch, and Jasper T. Jowls in front of a city backdrop, lined with flower boxes. More than one CU Flower (Animatronic) were placed on early installations, but later removed. At the center of the stage is the "Munch's Make Believe Band" sign which lights up in various configurations. Behind the building backdrop is a fiber-optic curtain which simulates a starry sky.

Helen is on the left of the stage. To her right is Munch Jr., who peeks out of a metal can. At the center of the stage is Mr. Munch who plays an organ, which lights up. Jasper is on the right of the stage and sits on a large metal can with his guitar.

Moon was kept from the Classic Stage and is located on the right of the stage behind the city buildings. Building is opposite the Moon on the left of the stage.

The center stage valence features the Wink, and a helicopter light was added to the spotlight bar.

The spotlight for Munch Jr. was reconfigured to become the "Gobo" light which reads "The Chuck E. Cheese Show."[7] Munch Jr. was removed from many stages in the 2000's; the last Munch Jr. was spotted in October 2020, although the character was re-added to the stage at the Charlotte, NC (7701 Pineville-Matthews Rd) location by the store's technician in 2022[8].

Stage Right

Stage Right features Chuck E. Cheese atop a black speckled triangular platform, in front of a star-shaped light and black rain curtain backdrop. To the right of the star, a red neon sign affixed to the backdrop flashes "Chuck E. Cheese" and is located above a 50" Pioneer monitor designed to look like a jukebox with a flashing top piece.

Many locations with the 3-Stage show have removed the triangular platform to be able to easily access the trap door underneath.

Gallery

  • Stage Left (Birmingham, AL)[9]

    Stage Left (Birmingham, AL)[9]

  • Center Stage (Helen and Munch Jr., Birmingham, AL)[10]

    Center Stage (Helen and Munch Jr., Birmingham, AL)[10]

  • Center Stage (Mr. Munch, Birmingham, AL)[11]

    Center Stage (Mr. Munch, Birmingham, AL)[11]

  • Center Stage (Jasper, Birmingham, AL)[12]

    Center Stage (Jasper, Birmingham, AL)[12]

  • Stage Left (Pasqually, Birmingham, AL)[13]

    Stage Left (Pasqually, Birmingham, AL)[13]

Current 3-Stages

References

  1. ↑ https://archive.org/details/concept-unification-installation-manual
  2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgHL-OZ8ybY
  3. ↑ https://archive.org/details/concept-unification
  4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zqMGkGV9xc
  5. ↑ https://archive.org/details/munch-mask-retro-document/
  6. ↑ https://archive.org/details/3-stage-mask-prototype-scans/
  7. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLgTbE6psxk
  8. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/shorts/zhSxUG5K118
  9. ↑ https://archive.org/details/cec-cu-vestavia-hills-al-005/
  10. ↑ https://archive.org/details/cec-cu-vestavia-hills-al-005/
  11. ↑ https://archive.org/details/cec-cu-vestavia-hills-al-005/
  12. ↑ https://archive.org/details/cec-cu-vestavia-hills-al-005/
  13. ↑ https://archive.org/details/cec-cu-vestavia-hills-al-005/
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