Lake Forest, CA (24416 Muirlands Blvd)

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Lake Forest's exterior months before closure.



24416 Muirlands Blvd was a franchise owned Pizza Time Theatre that opened in June 1981 with a Shelf Stage and closed in Fall 2001.

This location became widely known as "The Final Pizza Time Theatre" for having various elements from the 1980s still present inside the restaurant, most notably the Shelf Stage.

Stages

This location, opening in 1981, became one of the last Pizza Time Theaters to debut with a shelf show.

During the 1980s SPT remodels process, the characters were moved closer together and given custom-made staging. This created a stage that resembles a hybrid between the existing shelf show and C-Stage. Shortly after the changeover, the final cosmetic change documented would be the changing of Helen's red sequin dress to the black and purple standard dress. This store would also end up being the final occasion a Bandstand vest or Applause Board would be utilized in store.

During the 1990s the showroom became increasingly more decorated, receiving large screen CRTs, custom-made lighting props, merry-go-round horse statues on display, and colorful flags over the retired Flag Wavers' mechanisms.

Lounge Acts

During its time as a Pizza Time Theatre, Lake Forest would have three lounge acts in rotation, The King, The Beagles, and The Beach Bowsers. The only videotaped character in the array of lounge acts would be The King, whose last documented appearance would be in June 1990 before being removed shortly after.[1]

History

The Lake Forest, California Pizza Time Theatre opened in June 1981 under the FEC, Inc. franchise[2] and featured a large variety of video-based games as opposed to more physical games. The location would be considered a success by its employees throughout the location's 20-year history.

The location would remodel only once during the 1986 SPT Remodel Program, when both PTT and SPP became one company and would standardize every location under one unified design, although little would change for Lake Forest other than the edition of painted walls. The store kept the general layout of the location until its closure and kept original advertisements relating to Pizza Time Theatre along with its accompanying artwork including a custom-made drawing of Chuck E. Cheese and his friends celebrating a party among various other pieces.

Although the location hadn't received major updates, the franchise was still successful, having received multiple awards for its sales growth. This may also be a direct cause for a local Toyota dealership to sponsor the location.[3]

The only updated aspect of the store would be the games package, appearing to have never received Phase I, but a condensed Phase II package. Lake Forest would only receive new games later on as opposed to new attractions; most likely due to the size of the location. This small remodel would also change the exterior sign around 1997-1998.

2001 Footage

In 2001 Robert Gotcher and Jeremy Blaido visited this location and interviewed two cast members of the location. The video would be featured in a 25th-anniversary video created for CEC associates.

On April 29, 2023 a research group known as "The Beans" premiered the video for all to see on Youtube.[4]

Closure

In 2001 the location would permanently close and relocate to Laguna Hills, CA. Unlike most relocations, the franchisee chose to not reuse any old assets from the original location. The former Pizza Time Theatre has since been remodeled and now has little to no remnants of Chuck E. Cheese's existence besides the presence of the former "Now Appearing" boxes outside, and the repainted doors intact.

The location's building would be repurposed into several different restaurants over time, the most recent being Bombay Grill, Bar, and Banquet.

Arcade Machines

Identified 2001 Machines.

Videos

Link Description Filming Date
https://youtu.be/WH6MDJumlcE Footage of the entire showroom, alongside the Kids segments of the CEC Kids / American Pride showtape playing. April 28, 1990
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXc_jxsrm3I Footage of The King, and a bit of the Lounge Room. June 1990
https://youtu.be/qfQwbI0xNuY Short clip of the animatronics performing. September 19, 1993
https://youtu.be/aV3iIc4ite0 Footage of the kiddie and games area. September 24, 1998
https://youtu.be/XZJBBjy8VNk Video of Robert Gotcher and Jeremy Blaido visiting the location and interviewing their employees. Summer 2001

Gallery

  • 1990's

    1990's

  • 2001

    2001

  • 2001

    2001

  • 2001

    2001

  • 2001

    2001

  • 2001

    2001

  • 2001

    2001

  • Exterior without signage

    Exterior without signage

Animatronics

Animatronic Manufacturing Date Whereabouts
Mr. Munch (Cyberamic) 1980 Unknown
Jasper T. Jowls (Cyberamic) 1980 Unknown
Chuck E Cheese (Cyberamic) 1980 Unknown
Guest Star / Helen Henny (Cyberamic) 1980 Unknown
Pasqually (Cyberamic) 1980 Unknown
Warblettes (Cyberamic) 1980 Unknown
Applause Board (Cyberamic) 1980 Unknown
Drum Board (Cyberamic) 1980 Unknown
Flag Wavers (Cyberamic) 1980 Unknown
The Beagles / Beach Bowzers (Lounge) Unknown Unknown
The King / King Kat (Lounge) Unknown Privately owned by the location's final technician.

References

  1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXc_jxsrm3I
  2. ↑ https://www.showbizpizza.com/info/documents/ptt/ptt_pizzatimes1-1.pdf
  3. ↑ File:GameroomLakeForest.png
  4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZJBBjy8VNk
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