Sgt. Singer's Pizza Circus: Difference between revisions

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=== Sgt. Singer / Sgt. Striper ===
(Voiced by Mark Brink) A tiger on acoustic guitar who fearlessly, "leads his troops," in a menagerie of musical entertainment. The character's name was initially named after creator, Craig Singer, before being renamed Sgt. Striper for wide distribution.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_L3v3LnhPk</ref>
 
=== P.T. Bearum ===
The bear who is "tinkling on his keys" with his western piano. His name is a pun on that of American showman and politician, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P._T._Barnum '''P'''hineas '''T'''aylor Barnum], who was best known for founding the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ringling_Bros._and_Barnum_%26_Bailey_Circus Barnum & Bailey Circus].
The bear who is "tinkling on his keys" with his western piano.
 
=== Pounce D' Lion ===
Line 38:
 
=== Dolly Porker ===
(Voiced by Martha Webster) Similarly to Patty, Dolly is a picky piggy who can be very particular with her venue of performance. Her name is a pun on [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolly_Parton Dolly Parton], though doesn't resemble her namesake besides that. She has been said to have been placed on Stage Right. She has been said to have been placed on Stage Left. She would sing songs such as "9 to 5".<ref name=":1">https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-journal-animatronic-history/141365162/</ref>
 
== Stages ==
[[File:Sgt. Singer's Pizza Circus Right Stage cast.png|thumb|310x310px|Patty Pachyderm and Mortimer Mouse on stage left in Decatur, Georgia]]
Although stage documentation is obscure, it is confirmed that Sgt. Singer's used at least a 3-Stage configuration (similar to other animatronic shows at the time). Center Stage included [[P. T. Bearum (Animatronic)|P.T. Bearum]], [[Sgt. Singer (Animatronic)|Sgt. Singer]], and [[Pounce D' Lion (Animatronic)|Pounce D' Lion]]. Stage Right allegedly contained [[Dolly Porker (Animatronic)|Dolly Porker]] (though it is currently unconfirmed), while Stage Left included [[Patty Pachyderm (Animatronic)|Patty Pachyderm]] and [[Mortimer D. Mouse (Animatronic)|Mortimer D. Mouse]].
 
When Creative Presentations began to sell off the remaining Sgt. Singer's stock, the previous arrangement of characters was reduced to just the aforementioned three characters on Center Stage (Bearum, Singer, and Pounce). One Sgt. Singer figure was paired with Purrscilla Purr and Big Bear from [[Celebration Station's W.O.O.F. Radio]] for a show installation at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirapolis Mirapolis] (a defunct theme park in France).
== Stage Composition ==
There is not much info known about the stage setup specifics, however we do know that Sgt. Singer's generally used a '''3 stage setup''' similar to Showbiz Pizza. On
 
== Installations ==
the left stage was Dolly Porker, on center stage was P.T. Bearum, Sgt. Singer, and Pounce D' Lion, and on right stage was Patty Pachyderm and Mortimer Mouse. One known exception to this however is that in Idlewild Sgt. Striper's Touring Band was a one stage setup, having only the main cast of P.T. Bearum, Sgt. Striper, and Pounce D' Lion.
 
== Showtape Songs ==
Not much is currently known about the songs. However it is known that there was a showtape where Dolly Porker would sing ''"9 to 5"''<ref name=":1" /> and that the Sgt. Striper Touring Band had 4 or 5 songs in one showtape.<ref>https://www.facebook.com/groups/6759081733/posts/10159398422271734/?comment_id=10159398518821734&reply_comment_id=10159398762676734</ref>
 
== Installed Locations ==
 
=== Florida ===
 
* [[1601Sgt. BiscayneSinger's Boulevard,Kiddieland - [[Miami]] (Omni Mall), FL (As1601 Sgt.Biscayne Singer's KiddielandBoulevard)]]
 
=== France ===
 
* Mirapolis (Sgt. Singer Only) - 95800 Courdimanche, France
* [[95800 Courdimanche]] (Mirapolis)(As Sgt. Striper and His Band)
 
=== Georgia ===
 
* Sgt. Singer's Pizza Circus ([[The Animal Crackers]]) - [[Decatur, GA (4649 Memorial Dr, Decatur)]]
 
=== Pennsylvania ===
 
* [[2574 Lincoln Hwy, Ligonier]] (Idlewild Park) (As Sgt. Striper's Touring Band) - [[Ligonier, PA (2574 Lincoln Hwy)]]
 
=== Texas ===
 
* Sgt. Singer's Pizza Circus - [[Dallas, TX (11829 Abrams Road, Dallas)]]
* Sgt. Singer's Pizza Circus - [[Pasadena, TX (Room 201, 171 Pasadena Town Square, PasadenaMall)]] (Pasadena Town Square / Macroplaza Mall)
* Sgt. Singer's Pizza Circus - [[Houston (Galleria), TX (5015 Westheimer Rd)]]
* [[5015 Westheimer Rd, Houston]] (Houston Galleria)
 
== CurrentAnimatronic Whereabouts ==
Shortly after Creative Presentations began selling off Sgt. Singer's stock, Japanese-based Okamoto Amusements purchased 3 Sgt. Striper's (and one Ape-Ology's) shows to be leased by Japanese theme parks. Okamoto offered the Circus Band, Beach Bums, and Barnyard Band show variants.<ref name=":0" /> At least two of these shows had been rediscovered and were said to have been sold in 2023.<ref>https://www.instagram.com/p/Cy6jXxYJm_c/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==</ref>
Sometime between the 1990s and 2014 a japanese company called Okamotos Entertainment, a frequent IAAPA buyer, bought 3 sets of Sgt. Singer animatronics and put them into Ibaraki factory/warehouse to be held for sales, rebranding the band as Circus Band<ref name=":0" />. As of now they currently only have one set left, with the other two sets sold to a currently unknown client or clients.
 
== Gallery ==
 
<gallery>
There was also a Sgt. Singer animatronic that was part of a 3 player band in Mirapolis Park, but after the park closed it's specific whereabouts became unknown. Upon some research, reddit user DesteRat made three theories that the animatronic was either buried, was in a travelling show that went to multiple places, or was taken by park owner Anne Fourcade to be restored/put into a museum. As of now none of these theories have solid evidence however. <ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Animatronics/comments/18g3xvc/comment/kdatuc3/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3</ref>
File:431499568 122141541842144230 8822879044574813025 n.jpg|"Sgt. Singer's Pizza Circus is in Town" Advertisement (Decatur, GA)
File:431562369 122142239474144230 527381083644367875 n.jpg|"Three Rings of Fun & Value" Advertisement (Decatur, GA)
File:433971073 122141541698144230 4054573380044951187 n.jpg|Sgt. Singer T-Shirt Advertisement (Decatur, GA)
File:433857570 122141541716144230 3660640525345447482 n.jpg|Sgt. Singer's Kiddieland Advertisement (Miami, FL)
File:Latest.png|"Sgt. Singer's Circus Pizza Band" Advertisement (Pasadena, TX)
File:Screenshot 2024-03-31 004810.png|[[The Ape-Ology's]] at the Sgt. Singer's in Decatur, GA
File:Screenshot 2024-03-31 004748.png|Patty Pachyderm and Mortimer D. Mouse at the Sgt. Singer's in Decatur, GA
</gallery>
 
== Videos ==
Line 87 ⟶ 90:
|-
|[https://youtu.be/MFZUW8F_GHk?t=1663 Link]
|A Sgt. Singer figure performing with Purrscilla Purr and Big Bear at French theme park, Mirapolis.
|Video of a family going around Mirapolis Park, with Sgt. Singer showing up near the end
The band is ''<u>unofficially</u>'' named '''''Sgt. Striper and His Band''' by several people''
|July 22, 1990
|-
|[https://youtu.be/_c0NL1rtDJc?t=64 Link]
|Patty Pachyderm and Mortimer Mouse performing with the Jungle Jamboree
|Unknown
|}
 
Line 102 ⟶ 100:
 
== References ==
<references />
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_L3v3LnhPk
 
https://youtu.be/8m4XzRgz71g<references />

Revision as of 05:31, 31 March 2024

Image of the main cast from Sgt. Singer's as Sgt. Striper's Touring Band at The Wild Horse Saloon.
Sgt. Striper's Review at The Wild Horse Saloon in Idlewild Park (Pennsylvania).

Sgt. Singer's Pizza Circus (styled as Sgt. Singer's Spectacular Star Studded Circus Pizza Show) was a chain of family entertainment centers that were best known for their animatronic bands manufactured by Creative Presentations and their massive arcade selections.

History

Sgt. Striper's Circus Band, as distributed by Okamoto Amusements of Japan.

Nickels and Dimes Incorporated

Nickels and Dimes Incorporated (NDI) is an entertainment company founded by Craig Singer sometime around 1972 in Carrollton, Texas.[1] NDI was best known as the operator of Tilt arcades and Gold Mine arcades throughout the 1970's and 1980's.

Sgt. Singer's Spectacular Star Studded Circus Pizza Show

Taking a page from the recent successes of Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theatre and ShowBiz Pizza Place, Craig Singer established Sgt. Singer's Spectacular Star Studded Circus Pizza Show in Pasadena, Texas by 1982.[2] Although unconfirmed, newspapers mark early operations of the chain to be around March 1, 1982. Likewise to competitors, the establishment offered pizza, beer, arcade games, and animatronic shows as the main attraction. Animatronics for Sgt. Singer's were manufactured by Creative Presentations, Inc. of Schaumburg, Illinois.

Sgt. Striper's and the Closure of Sgt. Singer's Pizza Circus

Despite its moderate success as a small regional chain, NDI ultimately shifted its focus back to standard arcades. This meant Sgt. Singer's was now an afterthought to the company, leading to the discontinuation of new locations. Creative Presentations, left with an abundant stock of unused shows, retained all rights to the characters and began selling their stock to other clients. The band, now rebranded as Sgt. Striper's Review, was sold to be versatile in theme. These various themes included:

By this point in time, the Sgt. Singer's Pizza Circus chain had officially been defunct, with the final store's speculated closure to be August 7, 1991.

Characters

Sgt. Singer / Sgt. Striper

(Voiced by Mark Brink) A tiger on acoustic guitar who fearlessly, "leads his troops," in a menagerie of musical entertainment. The character's name was initially named after creator, Craig Singer, before being renamed Sgt. Striper for wide distribution.[4]

P.T. Bearum

The bear who is "tinkling on his keys" with his western piano. His name is a pun on that of American showman and politician, Phineas Taylor Barnum, who was best known for founding the Barnum & Bailey Circus.

Pounce D' Lion

A pun on the name of Spanish conquistador, Juan Ponce de León's, Pounce is a lion who jams on an electric guitar.

Patty the Piano-Playing Pachyderm

(Voiced by Martha Webster) A prissy and proper elephant, Patty performs on a grand piano for the audience's enjoyment (despite her laments as heard in the song "Mamas, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Singers,") on a stylish Stage Left.

Mortimer D. Mouse

Mortimer is a cheeky and sarcastic rodent who performs with Patty Pachyderm on Stage Right. Despite irritating Patty with his remarks, Mortimer's singing has always been welcomed by the others (as long as the mouse behaves himself).

Dolly Porker

(Voiced by Martha Webster) Similarly to Patty, Dolly is a picky piggy who can be very particular with her venue of performance. Her name is a pun on Dolly Parton, though doesn't resemble her namesake besides that. She has been said to have been placed on Stage Right.

Stages

Although stage documentation is obscure, it is confirmed that Sgt. Singer's used at least a 3-Stage configuration (similar to other animatronic shows at the time). Center Stage included P.T. Bearum, Sgt. Singer, and Pounce D' Lion. Stage Right allegedly contained Dolly Porker (though it is currently unconfirmed), while Stage Left included Patty Pachyderm and Mortimer D. Mouse.

When Creative Presentations began to sell off the remaining Sgt. Singer's stock, the previous arrangement of characters was reduced to just the aforementioned three characters on Center Stage (Bearum, Singer, and Pounce). One Sgt. Singer figure was paired with Purrscilla Purr and Big Bear from Celebration Station's W.O.O.F. Radio for a show installation at Mirapolis (a defunct theme park in France).

Installations

Florida

France

  • Mirapolis (Sgt. Singer Only) - 95800 Courdimanche, France

Georgia

Pennsylvania

Texas

Animatronic Whereabouts

Shortly after Creative Presentations began selling off Sgt. Singer's stock, Japanese-based Okamoto Amusements purchased 3 Sgt. Striper's (and one Ape-Ology's) shows to be leased by Japanese theme parks. Okamoto offered the Circus Band, Beach Bums, and Barnyard Band show variants.[3] At least two of these shows had been rediscovered and were said to have been sold in 2023.[5]

Gallery

  • "Sgt. Singer's Pizza Circus is in Town" Advertisement (Decatur, GA)

    "Sgt. Singer's Pizza Circus is in Town" Advertisement (Decatur, GA)

  • "Three Rings of Fun & Value" Advertisement (Decatur, GA)

    "Three Rings of Fun & Value" Advertisement (Decatur, GA)

  • Sgt. Singer T-Shirt Advertisement (Decatur, GA)

    Sgt. Singer T-Shirt Advertisement (Decatur, GA)

  • Sgt. Singer's Kiddieland Advertisement (Miami, FL)

    Sgt. Singer's Kiddieland Advertisement (Miami, FL)

  • "Sgt. Singer's Circus Pizza Band" Advertisement (Pasadena, TX)

    "Sgt. Singer's Circus Pizza Band" Advertisement (Pasadena, TX)

  • The Ape-Ology's at the Sgt. Singer's in Decatur, GA

    The Ape-Ology's at the Sgt. Singer's in Decatur, GA

  • Patty Pachyderm and Mortimer D. Mouse at the Sgt. Singer's in Decatur, GA

    Patty Pachyderm and Mortimer D. Mouse at the Sgt. Singer's in Decatur, GA

Videos

Link Description Filming Date
Link A Sgt. Singer figure performing with Purrscilla Purr and Big Bear at French theme park, Mirapolis. July 22, 1990

Trivia

  • The Sgt. Singer's store in Decatur, Georgia actually featured The Animal Crackers (with Sheriff Bob Wire and the Ape-Ology's) instead of the standard show. It's unknown why this was the case, though rumors suggest it was due to the previous figures requiring off-stage maintenance.[6]
  • During Concept Unification, Creative Presentations proposed replacing the Rock-afire Explosion with four retrofit options to Showbiz Pizza Time. Sgt. Singer was one of many CPI characters included in these concepts, along with the Ape-Ologys.[7]

References

  1. ↑ https://arcadepreservation.fandom.com/wiki/Nickels_and_Dimes_Incorporated
  2. ↑ http://allincolorforaquarter.blogspot.com/2013/06/brides-of-chuck-e-pizza-time-theatres.html
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 https://web.archive.org/web/20110524063531/http://www.okamotos.co.jp/cotarog/sonota.pdf
  4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_L3v3LnhPk
  5. ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/Cy6jXxYJm_c/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
  6. ↑ https://arcadepreservation.fandom.com/wiki/Sgt._Singer%27s_Pizza_Circus#Creative_Presentations_Inc
  7. ↑ https://www.showbizpizza.com/info/documents/spt/spt_adp-binder.pdf
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