Studio C Alpha

Studio "C" in Plano, TX (1999/2000)

Studio C (1997), also known as "Studio C Alpha" by fans, is a stage format that was installed in Chuck E. Cheese's locations from 1997-2002, 2012 and 2015. it was the first widely installed stage to have just 1 main animatronic character, having Chuck E. Cheese by himself, with some extra moving things by him. It was also the very first stage to have the "Studio C" name, even though this is the only "studio" themed stage. The Studio C Alpha is currently the second least common Studio C stage, with 32 left as of August 2023.

History

Corman & Associates

Corman & Associates' one of many concepts presented the concept as a "Talent Show", with Chuck E. getting a suit and glasses. The rest of the band were strictly on screens, as CEC wanted to move the audience's attention away from a show with multiple characters, to a show with a more interactive experience. As the concept became revised, Corman settled on a Late-Night talk show i.e., Tonight show, David Letterman. This concept kept features like the Chroma Key and lighting.

Prototyping

The first prototype was created by Corman & Associates for the Showbiz Pizza Time's Entertainment Department in 1997. The prototype had an acute difference in appearance to the standard stage, with an entirely different cityscape, desk, chroma key area, and Interactive console area.

Chuck E.'s area had two additional shelves with books, statues, artifacts; and curtains over the window leading to the cityscape. The desk lights were all solid colors instead of a gradient and the desk itself was all one color.

The main monitor opted for individual bulbs as opposed to tube lighting. Directly under it was the Interactive Console, which when it made it to the first 5 initial locations, had Fred Flintstones Memory Match before getting its own dedicated software. Next to the monitor area was the chroma key stage, which initially a stage with a larger camera, and a green screen.

Finalization

The first prototype stage began construction at Corman in 1997 and was installed in Showbiz Pizza Time's Entertainment Department shortly after, being revealed to a select few of managers on October 3, 1997. The first locations to have Studio "C" were the Dallas, TX (13125 Montfort Dr) and Brookfield, WI (19125 W Blue Mound Rd) locations, Brookfield being the first to open with the show in December 1997, and the North Dallas, TX store being the first to have replaced an existing show.

Even after the concept was finalized minor improvements were done to keep Studio "C" a low maintenance attraction. This included but not limited to bluescreen revisions, Interactive console revisions, and the removal of effects.

Design

Overview

As the previous stage concept introduced a single animatronic, Studio C would follow in its footsteps. Chuck E. is featured as a Late-Night talk show host and again, his friends are put onto monitors around the showroom. In Chuck E.'s area, he's seen with a new partner, Bird, he is used to interact with Chuck E. directly and to announce shows, later on he would also take up backup vocals during songs.

Features

The stage is designed to be as interactive as possible, having a live Chroma Key and various animated props such as a Pizza Phone, Clock, and Boom-Mic.

Front and center of the stage show was the Interactive Console, a computer with various elements and activities such as Spy-Cams, sound effect buttons, and a computer running windows with special software created for CEC.

For a select few locations, there was a coin operated Karaoke system with kiddie songs called "Chuck E.'s Star Search" located in the Bluescreen area. This was a short lived feature as it was only available from 1999 to 2000, and ended support in July 2001.

Gallery

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  Desk lighting (1997 Prototype)

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  Monitor and Interactive Console (1997 Prototype)

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  Chuck E.'s Stage (1997 Prototype)

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  Chroma Key (1997 Prototype)

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  Full view (1997 Prototype)

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  1997 Concept Art

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  Unused Studio C Concept

Animatronics Used

• Chuck E. Cheese 32M (Studio C)
• Bird (Animatronic)
• Pizza Phone (Animatronic)

Current Studio C Alphas

Current Total Remaining: 32

Store	Address	Installed / Year Opened	Current Condition
Brookfield, Wisconsin, United States	19125 W Bluemound Rd	December 1997	Operational. Good Condition. Currently wearing Rockstar outfit. Last Alpha in Wisconsin, Oldest Studio C location as of 2022. First ever Studio C location to open-opening in December 1997.
Thousand Oaks, California, United States		May 1998	Second oldest Studio C Alpha. 3rd Studio C Alpha store opened.
Kent, Washington, United States		1998 (month unknown)	First Alpha in Washington State. 3rd Oldest Alpha.
Canton, Ohio, United States		July 1998
Salinas, California, United States		September 1998
Fayetteville, North Carolina, United States	511 North McPherson Church Rd	November 1998	Former Showbiz Pizza Place. Reopened in 1998 as a Chuck E. Cheese's. Franchised location. First Studio C in the Carolinas, one of two Studio C Alphas installed in North Carolina (One of four installed in the Carolinas).
West Islip, New York, United States		December 1998
Palm Desert, California, United States		January 1999
Spartanburg, South Carolina, United States		March 1999	Last Alpha in South Carolina
Richmond, Virginia, United States		March 1999	Last in Virginia.
Parma, Ohio, United States	7601 W Ridgewood Rd	November 1999	Operational. Decent condition. Currently wearing Cool Chuck outfit. Final 32 movement to have full Cool Chuck. Opened November 1999.
Dickson City, Pennsylvania, United States		December 1999
Burbank, California, United States		December 1999
Redwood City, California, United States		December 1999
Louisville, Kentucky, United States	2030 S Hurstbourne Pkwy	January 2000	Operational. Good Condition. Currently wearing the Rockstar outfit. Only Alpha in Kentucky, and also last animatronic stage in Kentucky. Opened in January 2000.
Lakewood, California, United States		1999 / 2000	Replaced a 3-Stage. Opened in 1983 as a Showbiz Pizza Place
Costa Mesa, California, United States		2000	Replaced a 2-Stage. Opened in 1993 as a Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza
Fresno, California, United States		1999-2000	Replaced a 3-Stage. Opened in 1983 as a Showbiz Pizza Place
Metairie, Louisiana, United States		1999-2000	Replaced a 3-Stage. Opened in 1981 as a Showbiz Pizza Place. Last Alpha in Louisiana.
Sterling Heights, Michigan, United States		February 2000
Bridgewater, New Jersey, United States		February 2000	Last Interactive Console in the world. One of last two Studio C Alphas in New Jersey.
Warwick, Rhode Island, United States	650 Bald Hill Rd	March 2000	Only CEC in Rhode Island.
Spokane, Washington, United States		March 2000
Maple Grove, Minnesota, United States		June 2000	Last Alpha in Minnesota
Methuen, Massachusetts, United States	90 Pleasant Valley St	August 2000	Operational. Decent condition. Currently wearing Avenger outfit. Only Alpha in Massachusetts.
Crystal Lake, Illinois, United States		October 2000	Last Alpha in Illinois.
Wyomissing / Reading, Pennsylvania, United States		December 2000
Mayfield Heights, Ohio, United States		April 2001
Whitby, Ontario, Canada	75 Consumers Dr Bldg. J	October 2001	Operational. Good condition. Currently wearing Avenger outfit. Only Studio C Alpha in Canada and only outside of the United States.
Princeton, New Jersey, United States	520 Nassau Park Blvd	October 2001	Second last new Studio C Alpha store opened. One of last two Studio C Alphas in New Jersey.
Waldorf, Maryland, United States		June 2012	Opened in 2012, relocated and brought Alpha to the new store.
Dearborn, Michigan, United States		May 2015	Replaced 3-Stage in 2015. Alpha came from Plano, Texas, which got the Chuck E. Live Stage (Dance Floor) in May 2015. Last Alpha installed as of July 2023.