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{{Generic|image=Iu4weiwefijwefjwef4.png|desc=Rick Rat Costume Head (Early 2010's)}}
⚫
== History ==
[[File:Screenshot 2023-01-20 082221.png|thumb|Color photo of original Rick Rat Walkaround]]
The Rick Rat Walkaround was a rat costume that sparked the idea for Nolan Bushnell's new restaurant after he bought it in 1974. The original costume was ordered by Bushnell at the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions convention after he had mistaken the suit to be a coyote, which inspired the original name for the restaurant he was creating for Atari, Coyote Pizza. Upon discovering that this was a rat costume, he changed the name to Rick Rat's Pizza. This was later changed to its final name, Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theatre, as having a restaurant centered around a rat would seem unappealing to guests. The name "Rick Rat" was only a placeholder, and the character was later renamed Chuck E. Cheese.


The '''''Rick Rat''''' walkaround costume was a generic mascot costume purchased by Nolan Bushnell for his "Coyote Pizza" restaurant concept in November of 1974.
This costume was never used in any of the Chuck E. Cheese locations and was only used as the Atari Mascot when the restaurant first opened.


⚫
== History ==
TODO: Early History
The costume would stay with Pizza Time Theatre and later ShowBiz Pizza Time Inc. in the corporate offices. Some time between 1976 and 2001 the suit would be lost, and only the head would remain.


In an early 2000's 4th Quarter Update video, the costume head would be used on [[Chuck E. Cheese]] as a visual gag for Chuck having just woken up and not taken a shower, with Chuck commenting he currently looks "like a rat".<ref>https://youtu.be/w_u5zjNqClg</ref>
⚫
= <small>Design</small> =


The head currently remains on a shelf at the [[Chuck E. Cheese's Corporate Office]] in the Entertainment Department.
The Rick Rat costume had a tan long, pointed snout with a large black nose and large downturned ears. The fur was long and gray, with a round pink stomach portion, and he also had a long pink tail. The modern Chuck E. Cheese designs were mostly based off of the Rick Rat walkaround, the main changes being that the tan eyelids were replaced with light blue colored ones, the ears became upturned, the size of the nose was decreased, and the pink belly was removed. The character was also changed into a mouse for a more kid-friendly approach.


== Other Production Costumes ==
== <small>Current Whereabouts</small> ==
[[File:Buschotherratcostume.png|thumb|281x281px|Busch Garden's The Old Country's "Alfie" costume, an alternate design to the usual rat costume.]]
The current location of the Rick Rat costume is unknown, and the suit is most likely no longer in existence.
The costume was a generic costume sold by an unknown company, which was distributed to many entertainment centers across the US. The costume would begin as a coyote costume, before slowly changing its features to be like a rat.


# '''''Casa Bonita''''' - Earliest known use of the costume (February 1975). Costume is notable by its droopy suit, which covers up most of the legs. Its stomach also appears to be woven into the suit itself. The suit is called "Wylie Coyote". On May 3, 1978, the costume would be leased to the ''Rose Park Senior Citizens Center'' for their ''Fun Festival''<ref>https://www.newspapers.com/image/762993255/?fcfToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJmcmVlLXZpZXctaWQiOjc2Mjk5MzI1NSwiaWF0IjoxNzE1NTc3NDE0LCJleHAiOjE3MTU2NjM4MTR9.GBTsY8bD1wNyail0PLUbX1sfi9CbCnx9ZV1Jv5fv4wM&clipping_id=147281715</ref>. Notably this exact costume would later appear in a ''Crystal's Pizza & Spaghetti'' ad in 1981, as both places were founded by the same person.
= <small>Other facts</small> =
# '''''Hunt's Pier''''' - This costume would appear around 1976, with an unknown name. The costume would now have a yellow snout and a drawn on smile. The sewn-on stomach would be removed entirely for a fully furred body. The mascot would wear a red bandana, a red/white striped shirt, and black boots. The costume still survives in the ''Wildwood Historical Museum.''
[[File:Pin of the Rick Rat costume character from Casa Bonita.png|thumb|Pin of the Rick Rat costume character from Casa Bonita]]
# '''''Crystal's Pizza & Spaghetti''''' - This costume would appear in 1978. The ears would now stand straight up, and the character's teeth would be removed. The yellow snout and drawn smile would also be reverted from the Hunt's Pier design. The stomach would not be woven into the suit, but instead be a piece of fabric overlaying it. Two different cuts of fabric are seen in photos, one larger with a flat bottom, and one in an oval shape. Just like ''Casa Bonita'', Crystal's would also call theirs "Wylie Coyote".
# '''''Busch Gardens: The Old Country''''' - One standard costume would be featured here, alongside 2 others with an alternate design. It is likely most of the other mascots in the park also come from this same manufacturer. The standard suit, named "Rufus" would have golden fur along the entire suit, alongside brown skin details. Footage of the suit confirms it also has a tail, being the first known version outside of Atari's to possess this trait.<ref>https://youtu.be/gg-UHptqfss</ref> The second suit is "Alfie", which brings in a new rat design in the style of the original suits. This suit features shorter black fur, larger ears, a shorter snout, hair, and a black tail. The mascot would wear a red vest and brown shoes. The third suit, "Robes-Pierre", is a duplicate of the alternate design featuring the original gray fur with pink skin- wearing a feathered cap, pink vest, and boots.


=== Videos ===
* The original costume was used at a restaurant called "Casa Bonita" in the mid-70's
{| class="wikitable"
* The reason why Bushnell kept the rat costume was because he believed that his company would someday compete head-to-head with Disney.
!Link
* Rick Rat's original name was going to be "The Big Cheese", but Marriot already had a trademark over the title. Instead of waiting for the name's trademark to expire, though, the company decided to go for a more creative name. Thus, "Chuck E. Cheese" was created.
!Location
!Description
!Date
|-
|[https://youtu.be/gg-UHptqfss?t=226 link]
|Busch Gardens The Old Country
|Alfie & Rufus performing.
|1970's
|-
|[https://youtu.be/wf_jT0oeCIQ?t=141 link]
|Busch Gardens The Old Country
|Rufus walking in the backtground.
|1970's
|-
|[https://youtu.be/wf_jT0oeCIQ?t=319 link]
|Busch Gardens The Old Country
|Rufus performing.
|1970's
|}


=== Gallery ===

= <small>Gallery</small> =
<gallery>
<gallery>
File:Crystalpizzaspaghjettimarioluigi.png|Crystal's Pizza & Spaghetti Rat Costume, "Wile E. Coyote" (Unknown Year)
File:Screenshot 2023-01-20 082221.png|Color photo of original Rick Rat costume
File:Theratcostumeofrats.png|Crystal's Pizza & Spaghetti Rat Costume, "Wile E. Coyote" (Unknown Year)
File:Rick Rat.png|Rick Rat costume
File:FB IMG 1715567815684.jpg|Crystal's Pizza & Spaghetti Rat Costume, "Wile E. Coyote" (Unknown Year)
File:Pin of the Rick Rat costume character from Casa Bonita.png|Casa Bonita Rick Rat birthday pin
File:Spaghettirattime3.jpg|Casa Bonita's Rat Costume (Unknown Year)
File:Rick Rat B-W.png|B/W image of original Rick Rat Walkaround
File:Casa bonita rat again.png|Casa Bonita's Rat Costume (Unknown Year)
File:34t34t234t324t4eyh46u46564.png|Casa Bonita's Rat Costume Art (Unknown Year)
File:213yrt29o8wfehijhkwlejm.png|Busch Garden's The Old Country Rat Costume "Rufus" (Unknown Year)<ref>https://youtu.be/gg-UHptqfss</ref>
File:Rufusifhewasreal.png|Busch Garden's The Old Country Rat Costume "Rufus" Artwork (Unknown Year)<ref>https://youtu.be/gg-UHptqfss</ref>
File:Casabonitarat1975.png|Casa Bonita's Rat Costume (February 1975)
File:Old country rats 78 map.png|Busch Garden's The Old Country map, depicting the two rat costumes "Robes-Pierre" and "Rufus" (1978)<ref>https://plasticpumpkins.blogspot.com/2006/08/official-but-not-really-official.html</ref>
File:78 map stuff 1 .png|Busch Garden's The Old Country map, depicting the two rat costumes "Robes-Pierre" and "Rufus" (1978)<ref>https://plasticpumpkins.blogspot.com/2006/08/official-but-not-really-official.html</ref>
File:Spaghtttistrainerrat.png|Crystal's Pizza & Spaghetti Rat Costume, "Wile E. Coyote" (1978)
File:123r23r3wesdqwew.png|Busch Garden's The Old Country Rat Costume "Rufus" (August 13, 1978)<ref>https://www.newspapers.com/image/233695956/?clipping_id=147205274&fcfToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJmcmVlLXZpZXctaWQiOjIzMzY5NTk1NiwiaWF0IjoxNzE1NTM2ODY1LCJleHAiOjE3MTU2MjMyNjV9.rKAbgcT4R2HL3dNbcCwQoU-DsvOrN8ApBmXYAZJ1uSI</ref>
File:Fo2jwenfkij3nrfk333.png|Busch Garden's The Old Country Rat Costume "Rufus" (August 13, 1978)<ref>https://www.newspapers.com/image/233695956/?clipping_id=147205274&fcfToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJmcmVlLXZpZXctaWQiOjIzMzY5NTk1NiwiaWF0IjoxNzE1NTM2ODY1LCJleHAiOjE3MTU2MjMyNjV9.rKAbgcT4R2HL3dNbcCwQoU-DsvOrN8ApBmXYAZJ1uSI</ref>
File:Gerg435yg34g345y2h45.png|Crystal's Pizza & Spaghetti Rat Costume, "Wile E. Coyote" (1981)
File:2345ty4tg34fregf34g34ggf.png|Hunt's Pier "Pirate Ship Rat" (1976)
File:Hunt pier mascot head 2000s.png|Hunt's Pier "Pirate Ship Rat" at the WildWood Historical Museum (2004)
File:Ergkjnergkjnerkgjerngkjerg.png|Hunt's Pier "Pirate Ship Rat" at the WildWood Historical Museum (2017)
</gallery>
</gallery>


= <small>References</small> =
== <small>Gallery</small> ==
<gallery>
File:Nolerbusnellpicklerat.jpg|Nolan Bushnell & Rick Rat (Unknown Year)
File:Rickyrat75time.png|Rick Rat in Nolan's Office (June 1975)<ref>https://archive.org/details/play-meter-volume-1-number-7-june-july-1975-600dpi/Play%20Meter%20-%20Volume%201%2C%20Number%207%20-%20June-July%201975/page/14/mode/2up</ref>
File:Rick Rat Replay June 1976.png|Rick Rat at the Consumer Division's construction announcement (June 1976)<ref>http://allincolorforaquarter.blogspot.com/2013/12/chasing-down-rabbit-trails-fun-and-food.html</ref>
File:Rickle rateter1.jpg|Rick Rat Costume Head at SPT Headquarters (Unknown Year)
File:Chuck4thquarterpose.png|Rick Rat Costume Head used on Chuck E. Cheese in one of the 4th Quarter Update Videos (Early 2000's)
File:Reeeckeee rattus.jpg|Rick Rat Costume Head at SPT Headquarters (2001)
File:Unknown (11).png|Rick Rat Costume Head at SPT Headquarters (December 2014)
</gallery>


⚫
== <small>References</small> ==
# https://chucke.fandom.com/wiki/Walkarounds#Rick_Rat_(1974)
# https://www.showbizpizza.com/ptp/characters/chuckecheese.html
# https://showbizpizza.fandom.com/wiki/Chuck_E._Cheese_Costumes
# https://m.facebook.com/showbizpizzacom/photos/a.307884760553/10153967433105554/

Latest revision as of 02:58, 20 May 2024


Rick Rat Costume Head (Early 2010's)



The Rick Rat walkaround costume was a generic mascot costume purchased by Nolan Bushnell for his "Coyote Pizza" restaurant concept in November of 1974.

History

TODO: Early History

The costume would stay with Pizza Time Theatre and later ShowBiz Pizza Time Inc. in the corporate offices. Some time between 1976 and 2001 the suit would be lost, and only the head would remain.

In an early 2000's 4th Quarter Update video, the costume head would be used on Chuck E. Cheese as a visual gag for Chuck having just woken up and not taken a shower, with Chuck commenting he currently looks "like a rat".[1]

The head currently remains on a shelf at the Chuck E. Cheese's Corporate Office in the Entertainment Department.

Other Production Costumes

Busch Garden's The Old Country's "Alfie" costume, an alternate design to the usual rat costume.

The costume was a generic costume sold by an unknown company, which was distributed to many entertainment centers across the US. The costume would begin as a coyote costume, before slowly changing its features to be like a rat.

  1. Casa Bonita - Earliest known use of the costume (February 1975). Costume is notable by its droopy suit, which covers up most of the legs. Its stomach also appears to be woven into the suit itself. The suit is called "Wylie Coyote". On May 3, 1978, the costume would be leased to the Rose Park Senior Citizens Center for their Fun Festival[2]. Notably this exact costume would later appear in a Crystal's Pizza & Spaghetti ad in 1981, as both places were founded by the same person.
  2. Hunt's Pier - This costume would appear around 1976, with an unknown name. The costume would now have a yellow snout and a drawn on smile. The sewn-on stomach would be removed entirely for a fully furred body. The mascot would wear a red bandana, a red/white striped shirt, and black boots. The costume still survives in the Wildwood Historical Museum.
  3. Crystal's Pizza & Spaghetti - This costume would appear in 1978. The ears would now stand straight up, and the character's teeth would be removed. The yellow snout and drawn smile would also be reverted from the Hunt's Pier design. The stomach would not be woven into the suit, but instead be a piece of fabric overlaying it. Two different cuts of fabric are seen in photos, one larger with a flat bottom, and one in an oval shape. Just like Casa Bonita, Crystal's would also call theirs "Wylie Coyote".
  4. Busch Gardens: The Old Country - One standard costume would be featured here, alongside 2 others with an alternate design. It is likely most of the other mascots in the park also come from this same manufacturer. The standard suit, named "Rufus" would have golden fur along the entire suit, alongside brown skin details. Footage of the suit confirms it also has a tail, being the first known version outside of Atari's to possess this trait.[3] The second suit is "Alfie", which brings in a new rat design in the style of the original suits. This suit features shorter black fur, larger ears, a shorter snout, hair, and a black tail. The mascot would wear a red vest and brown shoes. The third suit, "Robes-Pierre", is a duplicate of the alternate design featuring the original gray fur with pink skin- wearing a feathered cap, pink vest, and boots.

Videos

Link Location Description Date
link Busch Gardens The Old Country Alfie & Rufus performing. 1970's
link Busch Gardens The Old Country Rufus walking in the backtground. 1970's
link Busch Gardens The Old Country Rufus performing. 1970's

Gallery

  • Crystal's Pizza & Spaghetti Rat Costume, "Wile E. Coyote" (Unknown Year)

    Crystal's Pizza & Spaghetti Rat Costume, "Wile E. Coyote" (Unknown Year)

  • Crystal's Pizza & Spaghetti Rat Costume, "Wile E. Coyote" (Unknown Year)

    Crystal's Pizza & Spaghetti Rat Costume, "Wile E. Coyote" (Unknown Year)

  • Crystal's Pizza & Spaghetti Rat Costume, "Wile E. Coyote" (Unknown Year)

    Crystal's Pizza & Spaghetti Rat Costume, "Wile E. Coyote" (Unknown Year)

  • Casa Bonita's Rat Costume (Unknown Year)

    Casa Bonita's Rat Costume (Unknown Year)

  • Casa Bonita's Rat Costume (Unknown Year)

    Casa Bonita's Rat Costume (Unknown Year)

  • Casa Bonita's Rat Costume Art (Unknown Year)

    Casa Bonita's Rat Costume Art (Unknown Year)

  • Busch Garden's The Old Country Rat Costume "Rufus" (Unknown Year)[4]

    Busch Garden's The Old Country Rat Costume "Rufus" (Unknown Year)[4]

  • Busch Garden's The Old Country Rat Costume "Rufus" Artwork (Unknown Year)[5]

    Busch Garden's The Old Country Rat Costume "Rufus" Artwork (Unknown Year)[5]

  • Casa Bonita's Rat Costume (February 1975)

    Casa Bonita's Rat Costume (February 1975)

  • Busch Garden's The Old Country map, depicting the two rat costumes "Robes-Pierre" and "Rufus" (1978)[6]

    Busch Garden's The Old Country map, depicting the two rat costumes "Robes-Pierre" and "Rufus" (1978)[6]

  • Busch Garden's The Old Country map, depicting the two rat costumes "Robes-Pierre" and "Rufus" (1978)[7]

    Busch Garden's The Old Country map, depicting the two rat costumes "Robes-Pierre" and "Rufus" (1978)[7]

  • Crystal's Pizza & Spaghetti Rat Costume, "Wile E. Coyote" (1978)

    Crystal's Pizza & Spaghetti Rat Costume, "Wile E. Coyote" (1978)

  • Busch Garden's The Old Country Rat Costume "Rufus" (August 13, 1978)[8]

    Busch Garden's The Old Country Rat Costume "Rufus" (August 13, 1978)[8]

  • Busch Garden's The Old Country Rat Costume "Rufus" (August 13, 1978)[9]

    Busch Garden's The Old Country Rat Costume "Rufus" (August 13, 1978)[9]

  • Crystal's Pizza & Spaghetti Rat Costume, "Wile E. Coyote" (1981)

    Crystal's Pizza & Spaghetti Rat Costume, "Wile E. Coyote" (1981)

  • Hunt's Pier "Pirate Ship Rat" (1976)

    Hunt's Pier "Pirate Ship Rat" (1976)

  • Hunt's Pier "Pirate Ship Rat" at the WildWood Historical Museum (2004)

    Hunt's Pier "Pirate Ship Rat" at the WildWood Historical Museum (2004)

  • Hunt's Pier "Pirate Ship Rat" at the WildWood Historical Museum (2017)

    Hunt's Pier "Pirate Ship Rat" at the WildWood Historical Museum (2017)

Gallery

  • Nolan Bushnell & Rick Rat (Unknown Year)

    Nolan Bushnell & Rick Rat (Unknown Year)

  • Rick Rat in Nolan's Office (June 1975)[10]

    Rick Rat in Nolan's Office (June 1975)[10]

  • Rick Rat at the Consumer Division's construction announcement (June 1976)[11]

    Rick Rat at the Consumer Division's construction announcement (June 1976)[11]

  • Rick Rat Costume Head at SPT Headquarters (Unknown Year)

    Rick Rat Costume Head at SPT Headquarters (Unknown Year)

  • Rick Rat Costume Head used on Chuck E. Cheese in one of the 4th Quarter Update Videos (Early 2000's)

    Rick Rat Costume Head used on Chuck E. Cheese in one of the 4th Quarter Update Videos (Early 2000's)

  • Rick Rat Costume Head at SPT Headquarters (2001)

    Rick Rat Costume Head at SPT Headquarters (2001)

  • Rick Rat Costume Head at SPT Headquarters (December 2014)

    Rick Rat Costume Head at SPT Headquarters (December 2014)

References

  1. ↑ https://youtu.be/w_u5zjNqClg
  2. ↑ https://www.newspapers.com/image/762993255/?fcfToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJmcmVlLXZpZXctaWQiOjc2Mjk5MzI1NSwiaWF0IjoxNzE1NTc3NDE0LCJleHAiOjE3MTU2NjM4MTR9.GBTsY8bD1wNyail0PLUbX1sfi9CbCnx9ZV1Jv5fv4wM&clipping_id=147281715
  3. ↑ https://youtu.be/gg-UHptqfss
  4. ↑ https://youtu.be/gg-UHptqfss
  5. ↑ https://youtu.be/gg-UHptqfss
  6. ↑ https://plasticpumpkins.blogspot.com/2006/08/official-but-not-really-official.html
  7. ↑ https://plasticpumpkins.blogspot.com/2006/08/official-but-not-really-official.html
  8. ↑ https://www.newspapers.com/image/233695956/?clipping_id=147205274&fcfToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJmcmVlLXZpZXctaWQiOjIzMzY5NTk1NiwiaWF0IjoxNzE1NTM2ODY1LCJleHAiOjE3MTU2MjMyNjV9.rKAbgcT4R2HL3dNbcCwQoU-DsvOrN8ApBmXYAZJ1uSI
  9. ↑ https://www.newspapers.com/image/233695956/?clipping_id=147205274&fcfToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJmcmVlLXZpZXctaWQiOjIzMzY5NTk1NiwiaWF0IjoxNzE1NTM2ODY1LCJleHAiOjE3MTU2MjMyNjV9.rKAbgcT4R2HL3dNbcCwQoU-DsvOrN8ApBmXYAZJ1uSI
  10. ↑ https://archive.org/details/play-meter-volume-1-number-7-june-july-1975-600dpi/Play%20Meter%20-%20Volume%201%2C%20Number%207%20-%20June-July%201975/page/14/mode/2up
  11. ↑ http://allincolorforaquarter.blogspot.com/2013/12/chasing-down-rabbit-trails-fun-and-food.html
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