San Jose, CA (370 S Winchester Blvd)

Winchester's Exterior, 1979

370 South Winchester Blvd. San Jose, CA was the first Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theatre that opened on May 17th 1977 as apart of Warner Communications Inc..

Winchester would feature the Winchester PTT Show and would close permanently in February 1985.

Stage

When Winchester originally opened in May, it featured the V1 Chuck E. Cheese and Crusty models alongside Pasqually, Jasper, the Warblettes, Clapper Board, Flag Wavers and The Pizza Time Orchestra. The guest star frame remained in the store, although blanked out at the time. The more advanced guest star bot would be delivered to the store on August 12, 1977, ending the original run of the premiere showtape. The guest star's frame differed slightly, having a protruding portrait frame to bring attention to the character. Around June of 1978, the V2 versions of Crusty and Chuck E. Cheese would be installed. When programming for Winchester/Kooser bots was discontinued, Winchester would play their already existing showtapes until they got Cyberramics. All of those showtapes would feature Crusty, as Munch wouldn't come to the store until the Cyberamic installation in 1980-1981. The portrait bots' condition during this brief time was described as being beaten up. Between 1980-1981, Winchester would replace all of their bots with the Cyberamic model, converting their existing show with the Cyberamic Portrait Stage. They would close with the Cyberamic Portrait Stage.

Stage	Installed	Removed
Winchester PTT Show	May 1977	1980-1981
Portrait Stage	1980-1981	February 1985

Guest Stars

Upon opening, the first showtape that premiered upon opening was the Pizza Time Theatre Showtape. It featured the regular cast of Pizza Time Players but but was absent of any Guest Star appearance. The first guest star premiered on August 12, 1977 starring Helen Henny and Crusty. After Helen, Madame Oink would be installed in the guest star portrait in February 1978. In August 1978, the spot would be filled up with Foxy Collen and a new showtape to boot. Helen Henny would once again return to the store in November 1978. Madame Oink would then come back yet again to wrap up the dedicated Portrait programming in May 1979. These shows would be played on loop until the store got their Cyberamics. Winchester's guest star wareabouts following the installation of the Cyberamic Portrait Stage is unknown.

History

A concept drawing of a potential first store layout.

Development of Winchester as a location dates back to 1976 under the name "The Big Cheese", "Pizza Game Center", etc. The venue was planned to be a 6,000 square foot venue with 2 arcades and a casino lounge. A total of 43,106 dollars (223,900 adjusting for inflation) worth of games and rides were purposed alongside a Mood Box and a Theatre Program. The 2nd location (Kooser) was also being planned alongside Winchester at the time. The spot chosen would be a 5,000 square foot building that Security Pacific Bank was moving out of. By January 18th, 1977, the plans for Winchester were sent to the County of Santa Clara and were approved with minor changes suggested by the county. On March 3rd, The Planning Commission gave the go-ahead to Warner Communications inc. to begin construction. Kooser was also being proposed around this time, having it's location being voted on by the Planning Commission of San Jose. Because the building was a former bank, tons of telephone wires were taken out.

Opening

An ad campaign was launched in local newspapers and radio stations weeks before opening to generate hype. Winchester would host a series of press preview parties days before the public opening where select members of the press and vip members were invited out to see Winchester early. On May 15th, 1977, Winchester opened to the public for the first time and became an instant hit amongst the local community. Working animatronics were never seen outside of Disneyland, creating a novelty that drew people in. Often on weekends, the place would be at max capacity with a line outside reaching around the sidewalk.

Post-Opening

As time moved on, Winchester would receive a large amount of guest visiting every weekend, having their facility at max capacity most of the weekends. However, when Kooser opened in 1978, a large majority of potential and current Pizza Time Theatre customers moved to the bigger and updated store. Although Winchester still had a sizable guest count and loyal patrons, new guests were few and far between.

Closure

Around February 1985, Winchester would close permanently for unknown reasons, however it can be attributed towards the slow decline of guests over the years. The fate of the Cyberamics and any non-merchandise is unknown. The building would remain vacant although still in good care. On May 8th, 1985 a new Chinese restaurant named "Ocean Harbor Chinese Seafood" was proposed to go on the site of the former PTT. It would take several years of development with the renovation (including the interior and exterior) beginning construction on April 13, 1987. It would remain open during the 90's, closing at an unknown date. In 2002, the building was demolished alongside the rest of Town and Country Village.

Arcade Machines

1977

• Bally - Night Rider (Pinball)
• Midway - Sea Wolf
• Bally - Capt. Fantastic (Pinball)
• Brunswick - Air Hockey 8'
• American - Junkyard
• Midway - Boot Hill (Pinball)
• Bally - Freedom
• Gottlieb - Solar City (Pinball)
• Williams - Grand Prix (Pinball)
• Sega - Shooting Trainer
• Pong Double-Kits - Atari (Pizza Game Booth)
• Breakout - Atari (Pizza Game Booth)
• Dominoes - Atari (Pizza Game Booth)
• Tank - Atari
• Stunt Cycle - Atari
• Sprint II - Atari
• Night Driver - Atari
• Indy 4 - Atari
• Atarians - Atari (Pinball)
• Witch Hunt - Atari
• Foosball - Unknown
• F-1 - Atari
• Biorhythm - Unknown
• Puppy Pong - Atari (Lounge)
• Cheese Crawl & Ball Pit - Unknown

1979

• Football - Atari
• Touch-Me - Atari
• Starship 1 - Atari
• Fire Truck - Atari
• Super Bug - Atari
• Unknown Shooter
• Circus - Exidy
• Orbit - Atari
• Sea Wolf 2 - Midway
• Unknown Racer

Videos

Link	Description	Filming Date
http://www.showbizpizza.com/videos/index.html	A news report from Four Corners. Shows a good amount of the theatre, show, arcade rooms and the kitchen.	Late 1979

Gallery

• 

  Satellite Imagery, 1993

• 

  Only picture of the store reopened as "Ocean Harbor Chinese Seafood", 1998.

• 

  Satellite Imagery, 2000.

• 

  Satellite Imagery, 2002. After demolishing.

• 

  Mayor Janet and Nolan Bushnell, May-June 1977.

• 

  Atari Employees at Winchester, Unknown Date.

Animatronics

Animatronic	Manufacturing Date	Whereabouts
Winchester Chuck E. Cheese V1 (Animatronic)	Unknown	Unknown exactly. Was saved by corp, wareabouts following the relocation of corp unknown.
Winchester Chuck E. Cheese V2 (Animatronic)	Unknown	Owned by a private collector.
Winchester Crusty the Cat V1 (Animatronic)	Unknown	Unknown exactly. Could have been saved alongside Chuck.
Winchester Crusty the Cat V2 (Animatronic)	Unknown	Owned by a private collector.
Winchester Pasqually (Animatronic)	Unknown	Destroyed by Corporate in their headquarters, 2004.
Winchester Jasper T. Jowls (Animatronic)	Unknown	Destroyed by Corporate in their headquarters, 2004.
Winchester Guest Star (Animatronic)	Unknown	Unknown.
Winchester Warblettes (Animatronic)	Unknown	Unknown.
Winchester Pizza TIme Orchestra (Animatronic)	Unknown	Unknown.
Winchester Flag Wavers (Animatronic)	Unknown	Unknown.
Winchester Clapper Board (Animatronic)	Unknown	Unknown.
Chuck E. Cheese (Cyberamic)	Unknown	Unknown.
Jasper T Jowls (Cyberamic)	Unknown	Unknown.
Munch (Cyberamic)	Unknown	Unknown.
Pasqually (Cyberamic)	Unknown	Unknown.
Guest Star (Cyberamic)	Unknown	Unknown.
Warblettes (Cyberamic)	Unknown	Unknown.