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{{Generic|image=Cappa.jpg|desc=Studio C Cappa “Version 2”}}
[[File:Bowling Green, KY in 2019.jpg|thumb|250x250px|[[Bowling Green, KY (2625 Scottsville Rd)|Bowling Green, KY]] Studio C Cappa in 2019 (Removed in July 2022)]]

The '''Studio C Cappa''' (Known by corporate as Studio C Smalltown) is a stage format that was installed in Chuck E. Cheese's locations between 2003 and 2006. It is the third revision of the Studio C concept downsized and redesigned for smaller locations that opened during that timeframe. A few existing locations would go on to replace their existing stages with Cappas, however this was an uncommon practice. Approximately 64 Cappas were installed and, as of October 2022, only 31 remain in operation.
'''''Studio C Cappa,''''' Internally known as '''Small-Town Studio C''' or '''Small Market Studio C''', is a stage type found at Chuck E. Cheese's locations which opened between 2003 to 2006 and was used as a replacement stage from 2003 to 2009.

A total of 63 shows were installed, and as of April 2024, 16 remain in operation, solely in the United States. 1 stage was installed in Canada, but the location ([[Kingston, Ontario, Canada (768 Gardiners Rd)]]) closed in 2015. The Studio C Cappa is the only Studio C stage to only have 16-movement animatronics designed by Garner Holt.


== History ==
== History ==
In 2002, Chuck E. Cheese's would begin testing a new store format known officially as "Small-Town CEC" stores at three locations: [[Waco, TX (5106 West Waco Dr)]], [[Lake Jackson, TX (100 West Hwy 332)]], and [[Dover, DE (1275 N DuPont Hwy)]]. These would feature a stage called the [[Small-Town Studio C Prototype]] which lacked the animatronic. This test was quickly dropped in favor of retaining an animatronic show.
In 2002, Chuck E. Cheese's opened three new locations testing a new store format known officially as "small-town stores". This was the beginning of an initiative by CEC Entertainment to expand into smaller, centralized markets such as inside shopping malls and low-density markets. The three stores as part of this test market were located in Waco, TX, Lake Jackson, TX and Dover, DE. Among changes to the standard Chuck E. Cheese's business model such as a buffet and an increased presence of the Chuck E. Cheese walk-around character was a bot-less Studio C esque show featuring three CRT monitors crudely placed atop a rectangular blue screen. Not much is known about this prototype stage concept however it would end up being the foundation for a new stage type that would debut shortly thereafter.

In 2003, a revised version of the ”Small-Town” store concept would debut at the [[Joplin, MO (101 N Range Line Rd)]] location, which opened its doors on July 22, 2003. The specific version of this stage would be installed at seven stores through September 30, 2003, when it was installed at [[Muskegon, MI (5600 Harvey St)]].

In November 2003, a second version of the stage was installed across thirty-three stores; the first store being [[Tuscaloosa, AL (1375 McFarland Blvd)]]. “Version 2” of the stage would be installed through early/mid 2005 when it was last installed at [[Evansville, IN (559 N Green River Rd)]].

In 2004 or 2005, the location in [[Lewisville, TX (2402 S Stemmons Fwy)]] was the first to receive a third version of the stage show that combined parts of the existing show with some fixtures of the [[Studio C Beta]]. This “Version 3” stage would be installed at twenty-two locations across various locations from until October 30, 2006 when the final show of this type was installed at the [[New Hartford, NY (4631 Commercial Dr)]] location.


After a hiatus, the final stage to be installed would be the [[Alexandria, LA (1725 Metro Dr)]] location in 2009.
Beginning in 2003, a revised version of the small-town store concept would debut with the Joplin, MO location, which opened its doors on July 22nd. <ref>https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-hyawyZq2UymJD00WwAm1Grw-o2jbDmvtPZXabfBaB4/edit#gid=0</ref> Most of the experimental aspects of the 2002 test locations were removed in favor of a scaled-down variant of the business model seen in existing Chuck E. Cheese's locations, however the stage concept evolved into what we know today as the Studio C Cappa. Known on official documents as Studio C Smalltown, this was, in essence, a Studio C Beta condensed into a smaller form factor. On the left side of the stage was a 16 movement Chuck E. Cheese animatronic identical to those installed with Betas since February 2003. He sat atop an angular, trapezoidal stage with no curtains or flood lights. Behind Chuck E. was a backdrop with rope lights strung about; three different variations were installed during the stage's 3-year run. Next to Chuck E. was a large platform which all of the elements of the Studio C Beta were condensed into; up top were three 24" rear projection monitors lined up evenly next to each other and below that was a small but wide blue screen with a trapezoidal carpet mat on the floor. Between the monitors and the blue screen was another set of light strips. The only additional lights on this stage were Chuck E.'s spotlight, a Gemini, and singular live flood, green flood and red flood lights. Absent on earlier Cappas were the On the Air and Applause signs standard to every Studio C stage up to that point, however later Cappas would have these re-implemented along with other Beta elements.


=== Nomenclature ===
The name "Studio C Cappa", like the names "Studio C Alpha" and "Studio C Beta", is not officially recognized by CEC Entertainment and was coined by early fandom members in the mid-to-late 2000s. While the specific origin of the term is unknown, it is thought to be derived from a derogatory nickname given to Studio C stage by CEC fans of the time: "Studio Crap" or "Studio Crappa". The latter term was associated with this stage type presumably due to its stripped-down effects being unpopular with fans, however the name stuck and eventually lost its meaning as a derogatory insult. It is believed that the alphabetical ordering of the fan-made names (Alpha, Beta and Cappa) combined with the coincidental order of release, caused this naming scheme to catch on with the rapidly evolving online community over the years. The early Studio C Cappas are also alternatively called "Studio C Gamma", considering the fact that Alpha, Beta, and Gamma are the first 3 letters of the Greek alphabet, and possibly since it has a completely different design (more specifically Waco).
Superficially, it may seem that this show goes by one name and one name only, "Studio C Cappa", a name was coined by either Jenn Waitt or Travis Schafer using a combination of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_alphabet Greek Alphabet] and a play on words with of word "Crap".<ref>https://www.showbizpizza.com/help/bulletin/05/bulletin_10-05.html</ref><ref>[[:File:StudioCFanNameCitation.png]]</ref> In reality this show went by two identifiers, Small-Town Studio 'C' and Small Market Studio 'C'.


Internally, CEC refers this stage as "Small Town Studio 'C'". In the Studio C manual, two pages mention a "Small Town" show. These pages have audio/video flow for a show with three 60-inch monitors and one additional monitor for the bluescreen area.<ref>https://www.showbizpizza.com/info/documents/cec/cec_studiocmanual.pdf</ref> This AV diagram is most definitely depicting "Studio C Cappa".
The peak year of the small-town store would be 2004. Of the 28 stores opened that year, 21 of them were small-town stores with Studio C Cappas. In 2005 however, CEC discontinued the opening of new small-town stores following the Leominster, MA locations. This could be because these smaller stores weren't doing well enough in sales to justify the opening of new ones or the markets selected hadn't caught on as well as they had hoped. Nonetheless, CEC began opening standard full-size locations with Studio C Cappa stages and eventually they would install stages that combined the platform of the Cappa with the stage layout of the Beta. These revised stages would be unofficially recognized as "Beta/Cappa Mixes" by some members of the online fandom. While not confirmed, this could have been an effort by CEC and manufacturer Garner-Holt Productions to install any and all unused Cappa props until they ran out of stock. The final new Studio C Cappa would open with the New Hartford, NY location on October 30th, 2006.


The earlier iteration of this stage-- only including the Bluescreen, lighting, and three monitors-- had specific shows created for it and also utilized the Small Town handle when identifying it.<ref>[[:File:Ststc.png]]</ref>
The Studio C Cappa would re-emerge in an unexpected way in 2012 with the installation of the last few Studio C Betas produced prior to the rollout of the Circles of Light concept. While recognized as Studio C Betas, these stages used a center platform identical to that seen on Cappas albeit with the blue screen replaced with a unique front cover. This was most likely another instance of using up remaining stock as quickly as possible. The first of these stages was installed at the Independence, MO location in May 2012 and the final was installed at the Concepcion, Chile location on August 18th, 2012.

Building plans, mainly coming from C.T. Chang, BWM, and Parkway Construction, used the "Small Market Studio 'C'" handle<ref>[[:File:Smsc2.png]]</ref>, while the [[Studio C Beta Prototype|1999 show concept developed for 6 locations]], were identified as "Small Town Studio C".<ref>[[:File:Stsc1.png]]</ref>


== Design ==
== Design ==
The first iteration of the Studio C Cappa reused parts of the buffet setup but also introduced a new stage design for Chuck E.. The new design would feature a mirror with three rope lights behind the [[Chuck E. Cheese 16m (Animatronic)]]. The animatronic sat atop an angular, trapezoidal stage with no curtains with the flood lights moved to the spotlight bar. Next to Chuck E. was a large platform which all of the elements of the Studio C Beta were condensed into; up top were three 60" rear projection monitors lined up evenly next to each other and below that was a small but wide blue screen with a trapezoidal carpet mat on the floor. For additional lighting the spotlight bar had the CEC Spot, three floods, Gemini, Warp, Strobe, Applause and On the Air.


Waco received a unique set up instead of the blue screen it used the same material seen on the stage with the "CEC" letters put on top of it to the left and right it featured two sets of three rope lights.
=== Early Versions (Waco) ===
This design was the first to come out, with the stage design being different, having a mirror backdrop, and at the Waco location, a different panel without a Blue Screen, and CEC in the middle, the others got a Blue Screen panel like the second design. There were only 7 of this design installed, and only 4 are left.


=== Standard ===
=== Version 2 ===
This design was the second to come out, with some minor changes with the backdrop, it was changed from a mirror, to a spiral shape with lights in it that extends to the wall next to it on the right. The Blue Screen panel has a couple of lights in it also. There are no curtains on this stage as they may have been thinking of phasing them out at the time (they didn't phase them out until 2005, but Studio C's were allowed to reenable them in 2008). This design was used from late 2003- late 2004.
This design was the second to come out in November 2003, with some changes firstly being the backdrop, it was changed from a mirror to a spiral shape with lights in it that extends to the wall next to it on the right. The animatronic sat atop an angular, trapezoidal stage with no curtains with the flood lights moved to the spotlight bar. Next to Chuck E. was a large platform which all of the elements of the Studio C Beta were condensed into; up top were three 24" rear projection monitors lined up evenly next to each other and below that was a small but wide blue screen with a trapezoidal carpet mat on the floor. For additional lighting the spotlight bar had the spotlight for Chuck E., two floods, the Gemini, and strobe light.


=== Beta features ===
=== Version 3 ===
This design was the third, and final, design for the Cappa, this got rid of the old Cappa stage, and replaced it with a stage from a Studio C Beta, complete with lights and backdrop and curtains, but the old Blue Screen panel was kept. This design was used from late 2004 until production ended sometime in 2006.
The final design removed the trapezoidal stage and extended swirl pattern replacing them with what the Studio C Beta looked like. complete with lights and backdrop and working curtains until early 2006 when fake curtains began being installed. The Blue Screen design and lighting remained the same as it was in “Version 2”.


== Gallery ==
== Gallery ==
<gallery widths="210" heights="200">
<gallery>
File:Hagerstownmay132021pic1.png|V3, [[Hagerstown, MD (17618 Valley Mall Blvd)]], May 13, 2021
File:Cappav1.jpg|The Waco, Texas location's Studio C Cappa "Version 1".
File:Hagerstownmay132021pic2.png|V3, [[Hagerstown, MD (17618 Valley Mall Blvd)]], May 13, 2021
</gallery>
</gallery>


== Current Studio C Cappas ==
== Current Installations ==
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Location
!Location
!Version
!Version
!Year Installed
!Year Installed
!Condition / Notes
|-
|-
|Dothan, AL
|Jackson, TN
|V2
|V1
|2004
|
|-
|Yuma, AZ
|V2
|2004
|
|-
|Hemet,CA
|V2
|2003
|2003
|Last in California.
|-
|Dover, DE
|V3
|2005
|Only Cappa in Delaware. Formerly Studio C Buffet
|-
|-
| Janesville, WI
|Albany, GA
|V2
|V2
|2003
|2003
|Only in Georgia.
|-
|Kokomo, IN
|V2
|2004
|
|-
|Columbus, IN
|V2
|2004
|
|-
|-
|Muncie, IN
|Muncie, IN
|V2
|V2
|2003
|2003
|
|-
|-
|Salisbury, MD
|Kokomo, IN
|V2
|V2
|2004
|2004
|
|-
|Hagerstown, MD
|V3
|2005
|
|-
|Hattiesburg, MS*<ref name=":0">The Hattiesburg, Mississippi location originally had a "Version 2" Cappa, but then got the stage from a Studio C Beta, turning it into a "Version 3" Cappa</ref>
|V3
|2004
|Only is Mississippi
|-
|Joplin, MO
|V1
|2003
|First Store to open with Studio C Cappa, Either First or Second installed
|-
|Ellisville, MO
|V3
|2005
|
|-
|-
|Las Cruces, NM
| Las Cruces, NM
|V2
|V2
|2004
|2004
|
|-
|Goldsboro, NC
|V1
|2003
|
|-
|-
|Asheville, NC
|Asheville, NC
|V2
|V2
|2004
|2004
|
|-
|-
|Hattiesburg, MS*
|Rocky Mount, NC
|V2
|V2, V3
|2003
|
|-
|Wilkes-Barre Township, PA
|V2
|2004
|2004
|
|-
|Greensburg, PA
|V3
|2005
|
|-
|-
|Sumter, SC
|Sumter, SC
|V2
|V2
|2004
|2004
|
|-
|-
|Florence, SC
|Salisbury, MD
|V3
|2005
|Youngest Studio C Cappa (4 stores opened after, but are all closed)
|-
|Jackson, TN
|V1
|2003
|3rd oldest Studio C Cappa.
|-
|Johnson City, TN
|V2
|V2
|2004
|2005
|
|-
|Waco, TX
|V1
|2003
|First or Second Cappa installed
|-
|-
|Longview, TX
|Longview, TX
|V2
|V2
|2004
|2004
|
|-
|-
|Sherman, TX
|Dothan, AL
|V2
|V2
|2004
|2003
|
|-
|-
|College Station, TX
|College Station, TX
|V2
|V2
|2004
|2004
|
|-
|Abilene, TX
|V3
|2005
|
|-
|-
|Lake Jackson, TX
|Lake Jackson, TX
|V3
|V3
|2005/6
|2005/6
|
|-
|-
|Victoria, TX
|Victoria, TX
|V3
|V3
|2005
|2005
|
|-
|-
| Greensburg, PA
|Janesville, WI
|V2
|V3
|2005
|2003
|-
|Only in Wisconsin
|Abilene, TX
|V3
|2005
|}
|}


== Trivia And Other Info ==
== References ==

* As of October 2022, there are 31 Studio C Cappas
* Texas currently has the most Studio C Cappas with 7 Cappas.
* The 34th last Studio C Cappa was the [[Bowling Green, KY (2625 Scottsville Rd)|Bowling Green Kentucky (2625 Scottsville Rd)]] location
* The very first Cappa was either Joplin, Missouri, or Waco, Texas
* Waco, Texas, Lake Jackson, Texas, and Dover, Delaware, opened with no animatronic stage and a buffet, they all later received Studio C Cappas, Waco in 2003, Lake Jackson in either 2005 or 2006, and Dover in 2005.
* Some people call the "V3" Cappa a Studio C Beta/Cappa Mix, which is since the stage the Chuck E. animatronic stands on is from a Studio C Beta, even if the store never had a Studio C Beta.
* A few locations have converted to Studio C Betas, such as [[Cincinnati, OH (4394 Eastgate Square Dr)|Cincinnati (Eastgate), Ohio]], and Decatur, Alabama
* Some locations have removed the Blue Screen and replaced it with a mural of Avenger Chuck and the Avenger versions of MMBB.
* Others have removed the Blue Screen, like Dothan, Alabama, Albany, Georgia, and Johnson City, Tennessee.

Latest revision as of 15:51, 20 June 2024


Studio C Cappa “Version 2”



Studio C Cappa, Internally known as Small-Town Studio C or Small Market Studio C, is a stage type found at Chuck E. Cheese's locations which opened between 2003 to 2006 and was used as a replacement stage from 2003 to 2009.

A total of 63 shows were installed, and as of April 2024, 16 remain in operation, solely in the United States. 1 stage was installed in Canada, but the location (Kingston, Ontario, Canada (768 Gardiners Rd)) closed in 2015. The Studio C Cappa is the only Studio C stage to only have 16-movement animatronics designed by Garner Holt.

History

In 2002, Chuck E. Cheese's would begin testing a new store format known officially as "Small-Town CEC" stores at three locations: Waco, TX (5106 West Waco Dr), Lake Jackson, TX (100 West Hwy 332), and Dover, DE (1275 N DuPont Hwy). These would feature a stage called the Small-Town Studio C Prototype which lacked the animatronic. This test was quickly dropped in favor of retaining an animatronic show.

In 2003, a revised version of the ”Small-Town” store concept would debut at the Joplin, MO (101 N Range Line Rd) location, which opened its doors on July 22, 2003. The specific version of this stage would be installed at seven stores through September 30, 2003, when it was installed at Muskegon, MI (5600 Harvey St).

In November 2003, a second version of the stage was installed across thirty-three stores; the first store being Tuscaloosa, AL (1375 McFarland Blvd). “Version 2” of the stage would be installed through early/mid 2005 when it was last installed at Evansville, IN (559 N Green River Rd).

In 2004 or 2005, the location in Lewisville, TX (2402 S Stemmons Fwy) was the first to receive a third version of the stage show that combined parts of the existing show with some fixtures of the Studio C Beta. This “Version 3” stage would be installed at twenty-two locations across various locations from until October 30, 2006 when the final show of this type was installed at the New Hartford, NY (4631 Commercial Dr) location.

After a hiatus, the final stage to be installed would be the Alexandria, LA (1725 Metro Dr) location in 2009.

Nomenclature

Superficially, it may seem that this show goes by one name and one name only, "Studio C Cappa", a name was coined by either Jenn Waitt or Travis Schafer using a combination of the Greek Alphabet and a play on words with of word "Crap".[1][2] In reality this show went by two identifiers, Small-Town Studio 'C' and Small Market Studio 'C'.

Internally, CEC refers this stage as "Small Town Studio 'C'". In the Studio C manual, two pages mention a "Small Town" show. These pages have audio/video flow for a show with three 60-inch monitors and one additional monitor for the bluescreen area.[3] This AV diagram is most definitely depicting "Studio C Cappa".

The earlier iteration of this stage-- only including the Bluescreen, lighting, and three monitors-- had specific shows created for it and also utilized the Small Town handle when identifying it.[4]

Building plans, mainly coming from C.T. Chang, BWM, and Parkway Construction, used the "Small Market Studio 'C'" handle[5], while the 1999 show concept developed for 6 locations, were identified as "Small Town Studio C".[6]

Design

The first iteration of the Studio C Cappa reused parts of the buffet setup but also introduced a new stage design for Chuck E.. The new design would feature a mirror with three rope lights behind the Chuck E. Cheese 16m (Animatronic). The animatronic sat atop an angular, trapezoidal stage with no curtains with the flood lights moved to the spotlight bar. Next to Chuck E. was a large platform which all of the elements of the Studio C Beta were condensed into; up top were three 60" rear projection monitors lined up evenly next to each other and below that was a small but wide blue screen with a trapezoidal carpet mat on the floor. For additional lighting the spotlight bar had the CEC Spot, three floods, Gemini, Warp, Strobe, Applause and On the Air.

Waco received a unique set up instead of the blue screen it used the same material seen on the stage with the "CEC" letters put on top of it to the left and right it featured two sets of three rope lights.

Version 2

This design was the second to come out in November 2003, with some changes firstly being the backdrop, it was changed from a mirror to a spiral shape with lights in it that extends to the wall next to it on the right. The animatronic sat atop an angular, trapezoidal stage with no curtains with the flood lights moved to the spotlight bar. Next to Chuck E. was a large platform which all of the elements of the Studio C Beta were condensed into; up top were three 24" rear projection monitors lined up evenly next to each other and below that was a small but wide blue screen with a trapezoidal carpet mat on the floor. For additional lighting the spotlight bar had the spotlight for Chuck E., two floods, the Gemini, and strobe light.

Version 3

The final design removed the trapezoidal stage and extended swirl pattern replacing them with what the Studio C Beta looked like. complete with lights and backdrop and working curtains until early 2006 when fake curtains began being installed. The Blue Screen design and lighting remained the same as it was in “Version 2”.

Gallery

Current Installations

Location Version Year Installed
Jackson, TN V1 2003
Janesville, WI V2 2003
Muncie, IN V2 2003
Kokomo, IN V2 2004
Las Cruces, NM V2 2004
Asheville, NC V2 2004
Hattiesburg, MS* V2, V3 2004
Sumter, SC V2 2004
Salisbury, MD V2 2004
Longview, TX V2 2004
Dothan, AL V2 2004
College Station, TX V2 2004
Lake Jackson, TX V3 2005/6
Victoria, TX V3 2005
Greensburg, PA V3 2005
Abilene, TX V3 2005

References

  1. ↑ https://www.showbizpizza.com/help/bulletin/05/bulletin_10-05.html
  2. ↑ File:StudioCFanNameCitation.png
  3. ↑ https://www.showbizpizza.com/info/documents/cec/cec_studiocmanual.pdf
  4. ↑ File:Ststc.png
  5. ↑ File:Smsc2.png
  6. ↑ File:Stsc1.png
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