San Jose, CA (370 S Winchester Blvd)

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 run of the original 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 were discontinued, Winchester would play the showtapes they already had on hand over until they got Cyberamics. 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. The Cyberamic Portrait Stage would close alongside the store in February 1985.


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. An unknown guest star would be put in December of 1977. 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 exact guest star wareabouts following the Cyberamic installation are unknown.

History

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 the Mood Box and a Theatre Program. The rest of the document documents budget estimates for aspects of the store. 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.

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. In September of 1977, a new menu and game-room carpets were added to the store. When Kooser opened in 1979, 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 building would remain vacant. 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. The former plot of land is now a shopping center.

Arcade Machines

1977

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

1979

Football - Atari
Touch-Me - Atari
Starship 1 - Atari
Fire Truck - Atari
Unknown Shooter
Circus - Exidy
Orbit - Atari
LeMans - Atari

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

Unknown Year
Winchester before being built, a single plot of grass in the entire town. (1960-1963)
In Store (B&W, Cropped), 1977
Satellite Imagery, 1993.
Only picture of the store reopened as "Ocean Harbor Chinese Seafood", 1998.
Satellite Imagery, 2000.
Satellite Imagery, 2002. After demolishing.

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
Winchester Jasper T. Jowls (Animatronic)	Unknown	Destroyed
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.

References

TBD