Chuck E.'s House
The original Rocker Stage in Arlington, TX.
Chuck E.'s House, also known as the Rocker Stage, was a Cyberamic stage setup that was installed in existing and new locations between 1987 and 1990.
It was the first stage that utilized full-bodied Chuck E, Helen, and Jasper Cyberamics. Meanwhile, Munch and Pasqually remained as half-bodied figures. It was also the first new CEC stage to be created after the 1985 Showbiz Pizza Time, Inc. merger and the last stage to follow the Pizza Time Players format.
History
In 1986, new stage concepts were created to introduce full-bodied Cyberamics in Showbiz Pizza Time's current and future locations. The original premise was a general store that allowed for Chuck E, Jasper, and Helen to be given legs. Munch and Pasqually would be mounted upon barrels, not unlike the final product.[1] This premise would eventually be retooled into a house structure, retaining the original Pizza Time Players character placements, and with the addition of foliage.
The stage was designed by SPT Director of Entertainment, Jul Kamen. Corman and Associates would fabricate the house in two sizes:
- 10' 6", with the price of $9,600
- 12' with the higher price of $10,400
Legs for Chuck E, Helen, and Jasper were provided by the now defunct Creative Presentations, Inc. of Schaumburg, IL (a company that specialized in animatronics of their own and already had relations with SPT at this time). The legs in total would cost around $2,500. Flower and bush props were supplied by Design Plants, Inc. at a total cost of about $800.
The initial prototype was assembled by Gene Patrick Productions, Inc. at the Arlington, TX (2216 S Fielder Rd) location, premiering on February 1st, 1987. A proposed showroom remodel named "Chuck E.'s Town Square" was originally meant to surround the stage, with the entire showroom environment being themed to that of a town. However, these plans would be cancelled as the showroom instead followed the standard 1986 SPT Remodel Program.
In 1989, Chuck E.'s House Facade was introduced as an overlay for locations that still retained the Cyberamics Balcony Stage. It would share the same house theme, though being modified to adapt onto the aforementioned existing stage. Both the Rocker and the House Façade would be implemented throughout SPT's locations (former Pizza Time Theatres, some Showbiz Pizza Places, and newer stores) up until October 1990.
Since SPT had decided to streamline Cyberamic stages by introducing the Road Stage, 2-Stage, and 1-Stage, it has led to the gradual removal of Rocker Stages over time. This could be due to these succeeding stages utilizing the Munch's Make Believe Band format under Concept Unification. The introduction of Studio C afterwards would also be a factor in Rocker Stage removals (but not as common). By 2008, only one Rocker Stage would remain, located at the Rockford, IL store. After 14 years of being the final installation left and after almost 34 years in total operation, Rockford's stage was ultimately removed on June 12, 2022 as part of the 2017 2.0 Remodel Program.
Design
The stage was designed to be a front of a house with a large porch in the center and a large roof overhead. Two windows would border the left and right sides of the porch. All installations included various pieces of foliage surrounding the house, with some even featuring animated butterflies and birds.
On the porch, Chuck E, Helen, and Jasper would all be situated out front. Jasper sat in a rocking chair (where the Rocker nickname originated from) with Helen originally seated on a swing. When the "Mitzi-fied" Helen redesign was rolled out during CU, stores that upgraded their Helen figures primarily switched her position to standing. This also meant the reinstatement of Helen's standard Cyberamic arm pieces, as they were absent to accommodate the swing feature.
Inside the two large windows were Munch on the left and Pasqually on the right. The interiors contained painted backdrops (Munch's depicting a bedroom and Pasqually's depicting a kitchen) with an overhead light acting as a spotlight for each. The exteriors sometimes had mounted shelves, holding two sets of Singing Flowers that were surrounded by foliage and vines.
Eventually, remaining Rockers would remove their foliage, vines, and Singing Flowers. This resulted in only the house itself and the main characters being left intact. These also may have endured repaints that were unique to certain installations, at times becoming drastically different from standard Rocker or House Façade color schemes.
Sizes
The 12' Home was the largest of the two variants. Characteristics that were exclusive to this version included an American flag directly above Chuck E. (in certain installations), faux dormer windows above Helen and Jasper, as well as a tall stage height in general. These would mainly be installed in larger location types as a result.
The 10' 6" Home was the smallest of the two variants. The design was very similar to that of the 12' version, but with a small arch above Chuck E. and the absence of the faux dormer windows above Helen and Jasper. These were very common in locations, especially those that were of a smaller type.
Animatronics Used
- Chuck E Cheese (Cyberamic)
- Guest Star / Helen Henny (Cyberamic)
- Mr. Munch (Cyberamic)
- Jasper T. Jowls (Cyberamic)
- Pasqually (Cyberamic)
- Singing Flowers (Cyberamic)
- Birds (Animatronic) (Irving Only)
Gallery
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Corman And Associates Concept Art
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Corman And Associates Concept Art
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Corman And Associates Concept Art
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Corman And Associates Concept Art
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Jul Kamen Concept Art
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12' design plan
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10'6" design plan
Known Stages Installed
| Location | Condition / Notes | Opening / Installation Date | Closure / Removal Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arlington, TX (2216 S Fielder Rd) | First Rocker Stage installed. Converted into a 2-Stage in 1996. One of three Rocker Stages installed in Texas. | February 1st, 1987 | 1996 |
| Eau Claire, WI (2221 Eastridge Center) | First store to open with a Rocker Stage and first Rocker Stage Removed. One of three Rocker Stages installed in Wisconsin. | April 30th, 1987 | Late 1989 |
| White Settlement, TX (7750 Scott St) | One of three Rocker Stages installed in Texas. Converted into one of the first 2-Stages, now closed. One of three to replace a RockAfire Explosion which they had before they first closed in 1985 for unknown reasons. | August 6th, 1987 | February 1992 |
| Pittsburgh (North Hills), PA (9795 Perry Hwy) | One of two Rocker Stages in Pennsylvania. | February 24th, 1988 | July 16, 1994 |
| Danvers, MA (139 Endicott St) | Converted into a 2-Stage in June 1993. One of two in the New England Region. Closed in April 2020. | March 1988 | June 22, 1993 |
| Canton, MI (42001 Ford Rd) | Only Rocker Stage to be installed in Michigan, converted into a 2-Stage in around 1994. Remodeled to 2.0 in 2022. | May 3rd, 1988 | 1994 |
| Calgary, Alberta, Canada (2770 32nd Ave) | Replaced with 9627 Macleod Trail's Road Stage in around 1994-1995, then closed in around October 2003. One of two installed in Canada. | August 18th, 1988 | 1994/1995 |
| Irving, TX (3903 W Airport Fwy) | One of three Rocker Stages installed in Texas. Only known Rocker Stage with the Birds Animatronic. Converted into a 1-Stage in Early 1994. Remodeled to 2.0 in 2019 and updated in 2021. | September 27th, 1988 | Early 1994 |
| Rockford, IL (3600 E State St) | One of three Rocker Stages installed in Illinois. Last Rocker Stage to be removed. | October 30th, 1988 | June 12, 2022 |
| Chino, CA (5250 Philadelphia St) | Converted into a 2-Stage in around 1994. Remodeled to 2.0 in 2022. | December 30th, 1988 | 1994 |
| Milwaukee, WI (7401 Good Hope Rd) | Opened as SPP in 1981. Converted into a 1-Stage in 1994, closed in 1995. One of three Rocker Stages installed in Wisconsin. One of three to replace a RockAfire Explosion. | 1988 | 1994 |
| Salem, OR (3240 Lancaster Dr) | One of two Rocker Stages in Oregon. Replaced with Studio C Alpha, now Dance Floor. | 1988-1989 | 1999/2000 |
| Citrus Heights, CA (6251 Sunrise Blvd) | Converted into Road Stage in around 1991/1992 then a 1-Stage in 2015. One of three to replace a RockAfire Explosion. | 1988-1989 | 1991/1992 |
| Simi Valley, CA (71 Tierra Rejada Rd) | Second to Last Rocker Stage to be removed. Last store to open with Cyberamic Portrait Stage. Closed in May 2008. | 1988-1989 | May 2008 |
| West Allis, WI (2990 South 108th Ave) | Converted into a 1-Stage in 1994. Remodeled to 2.0 in 2021. One of three Rocker Stages installed in Wisconsin. | 1988-1989 | 1994 |
| Florence, KY (7635 Mall Rd) | Replaced with Hampton, VA (4027 W Mercury Blvd)'s 2-Stage in 2002-2003, Remodeled to 2.0 in March 2022. | 1988-1989 | 2002/2003 |
| Tinley Park, IL (16090 S Harlem Ave) | One of three Rocker Stages installed in Illinois. Converted into a 2-Stage in 1993. | January 31st, 1989 | 1993 |
| Streamwood, IL (990 S Barrington Rd) | One of three Rocker Stages installed in Illinois. Converted into a 2-Stage in around 1994. Relocated in 2014. | March 6th, 1990 | 1994 |
| Rancho Cucamonga, CA (9339 Foothill Blvd) | Converted into a 2-Stage in around 1994-1997. Remodeled to 2.0 in 2019 | March 21st, 1990 | Mid-Late 1990s |
| Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada (1931 Pembina Hwy) | Converted into a 1-Stage in around 1994. Closed in July 2001. One of two installed in Canada. | March 30th, 1990 | 1994 |
| Cincinnati, OH (4394 Eastgate Square Dr) | Removed for Studio C in 2005/2006. Only Rocker Stage installed in Ohio. | June 17th, 1990 | 2005/2006 |
| Levittown, PA (1283 E Lincoln Hwy) | One of two Rocker Stages in Pennsylvania. Converted into a 1-Stage in the Mid 1990's. Closed in August 2020. | August 7th, 1990 | Mid 1990s |
| Ellisville, MO (15913 Manchester Rd) | Only Rocker Stage in Missouri. Converted into a 1-Stage in around 1994-1996. Removed for Studio C in the Mid 2000's. | August 21st, 1990 | Mid 1990s |
| Beaverton, OR (4445 SW 110th Ave) | One of two Rocker Stages in Oregon. Closed and relocated in January 2003. | September 1990 | January 2003 |
| Glen Burnie, MD (6637 Governor Ritchie Hwy) | Converted into a 2-Stage by 1994. Remodeled to 2.0 in 2018. | November 7th, 1990 | 1994 |
| Warwick, RI (1245 Bald Hill Rd) | Possibily the last one installed. One of two in the New England Region. Converted into a 1-Stage by Mid 1994. Closed November 19th, 1994. | Late 1990 | Early-Mid 1994 |