Cyberamics Road Stage
The Road Stage was the first ever Cyberamic setup for Munch's Make Believe Band. This stage type was placed in both in existing stores and all new stores from the years 1990 to 1992. It would be one out of three Cyberamic stages to revolve around MMBB (other two being 2-Stage and 1-Stage) and one of four stages to revolve around MMBB overall (counting the 3-Stage).
History
After the creation of the Concept Unification 3-Stage in 1989, Showbiz Pizza Time, Inc. wanted a Cyberamic setup for Munch's Make Believe Band to create synergy and unity between Chuck E. Cheese's shows after having been producing Rocker Stages and Chuck E.'s House Facades (C-Stages) based around the rapidly changing Pizza Time Players. The Road Stage was created as a solution to this, designed by Director of Entertainment at the time Jul Kamen.[1]
The premise of the Road Stage was not too far off from the idea of the 3-Stage in theme. However, the execution would be drastically different in comparison. The following information describes the original design intended for this first incarnation.
Originally, Chuck E.'s star was taken directly from the 3-Stage, making it look much larger. His neon sign was of custom design and was placed inside a set of buildings located between himself and Helen. Mr. Munch would have a large Jukebox TV behind him, playing the video feed of Cyberstar/CEC TV from up behind. Helen and Jasper would be positioned on "buildings" according to the 1990 CEC Stage diagnostics[2] (which wouldn't change past the prototypes), and initially didn't have city backdrops behind them. Finally, Pasqually had a unique abstract backdrop implied to be his pizzeria, "Pasqually's." There would be a lack of a valance or wink in this early version, but would feature a road going around the stage (hence the name).
The first Road Stage debuted on November 20th, 1990, at the Jonesboro, Georgia location; it was then followed by Springfield, PA, on December 4th, 1990. Then, it was installed at the West Palm Beach, FL, location, on December 18th, 1990. These three locations had the prototype Road Stage as described above and all would eventually receive a more finalized design within a few years of installation. Also in December 1990, the Topeka, KS location would open with a Road Stage, being the first to receive said finalized design, but keeping the road from the prototype (which stores afterward would leave out).[3]
This second incarnation had a smaller star for Chuck E. compared to the 3-Stage stars, and his neon sign was taken from the 3-Stage itself. The Jukebox TV was relocated to be in between Chuck E. and Helen, and was recolored pink and gold, having originally been green and red. Helen and Jasper would receive their own city building backdrops while Pasqually would lose his unique backdrop in favor of expanding the cityscape. The buildings that originally held the neon sign were relocated behind Mr. Munch and were repurposed to hold the Munch's Make Believe Band logo within the spot. The valance and wink would finally be added here and, as explained above, the namesake road would be removed entirely, opting for a simple stage base instead.
Curtains were not originally a part of this stage's design, but several installations (primarily those in 1991 and 1992) would include them, making them one of, if not the first, Cyberamic stages to have curtains be utilized just like the 3-Stages would (except being Austrian lift instead of side-to-side).
Also not originally part of the Road Stage, Mr. Munch and Pasqually figures would retain their armatures from the Pizza Time Theatre era in a majority of initial installations. When the 2-Stage was rolled out in 1992, Road Stages were given the opportunity to replace these armatures with new, appropriate arms by Kinetix so both Munch and Pasqually could play the organ and drums properly respectively.
This stage would be the final time Mr. Munch and Pasqually Cyberamics would be allowed to have body turns along with their head turns, as since the creation of the 2-Stage and 1-Stage, it was instructed to secure the body turn mechanism down by removing the shoulder stops and bolting a 1 1/2* "L" bracket to the front of their base supports. This meant only their heads could turn freely, while their bodies could not, so they could play their instruments without the possible risk of wear or damage from their restricted surroundings on those stages.[4]
Current Road Stages
| Store | Address | Installed | Current Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mississauga, Ontario, Canada | 4141 Dixie Rd | Spring 1991 | Operational, poor condition. Chuck E. & Helen have PTT arm swings. Munch has rare PTT mask & Jasper has PTT banjo. Oldest operating Road Stage & Last Road Stage outside the United States. |
| Placentia, California, United States | 2300 N Rose Dr | September 1991 | Operational, almost perfect, good condition. Chuck E. & Pasqually have PTT arm movements. Second oldest Road Stage |
| Norwalk, CA | 10949 Firestone Blvd | October 1991 | |
| Charlotte, NC | 5612 Albemarle Rd | November 1991 | Decent, Chuck has 3 Stage eyebrows, Jasper has a Lyon guitar, and all characters minus Chuck have masks from the 1990's. Only in state. |
| La Mirada, California, United States | 15100 Rosecrans Ave | February 1992 | Operational, very poor condition. |
| Wanye, New Jersey, United States | 1639 Rt 23 | April 1992 | Last in New Jersey |
| Corona, California, United States | 191 N McKinley St | May 1992 | |
| West Hills, California, United States | 22940 Van Owen St | June 1992 | |
| Sun Valley, CA | 8375 Laurel Canyon Blvd | July-August 1992 | Last store to open with Road Stage. |