Birthday Star '92
Media Duration: 2:41
- Scott Wilson: Voice of Chuck E. Cheese, Mr. Munch
- Karlissa Burleson: Voice of Helen Henny
- Bob West: Voice of Jasper T. Jowls, Pasqually the Chef
Birthday Star ‘92 was the first released version of Birthday Star, which was released in March 1992.
History
Released to stores alongside Physical Fitness, this is the first edition of Birthday Star, the long-running original birthday song performed at Chuck E. Cheese’s restaurants for over two decades. Originally released as a hidden birthday track on the same videocassette as its debut showtape and all subsequent showtapes, it was re-released in September 1992, on a separate VHS tape, much like other live shows of the time. Birthday Star ‘92 is an audio-only show and has no footage as it was intended to play during intermissions over the top of the show countdown. Like all birthday shows that came before it, Birthday Star was not produced to be a live show. All of the animatronic characters, including Chuck E. Cheese, were programmed to perform the song at birthday parties at the press of a button. As was standard practice since the brand’s inception, however, the Chuck E. Cheese walk-around character was present in the showroom, and stores found that the show lent itself well to live performances on account of it being a straightforward three-minute song with no character dialogue or skits. It was later reissued in 1993 without Chuck E.’s animatronic, light, and curtain signals. The show was succeeded by Birthday Star '95 in April 1995, though it could be played through other valid live shows that it was included on through 2002.
Summary
Birthday Star ‘92 is an upbeat and eclectic big band/swing number. The show opens with the band shouting ‘Happy birthday’ as they play their instruments. Chuck E. Cheese comes out and encourages the audience to get on their feet and clap their hands. Pasqually interjects, ‘It’s time for cake!’, with Mr. Munch following with, ‘And it’s time to celebrate a birthday Chuck E. Cheese style!’ From there, Chuck E. leads the audience in the first of an iconic call-and-response that would be reused in almost every birthday show to follow: ‘I say happy, you say birthday! Happy! (birthday) Happy! (birthday) Now clap your hands (clap, clap, clap) and stomp your feet! (Stomp stomp stomp) The band proceeds to sing the song’s chorus, followed by a repeat of the Happy Birthday chant. Helen and Jasper share a harmonized duet as they sing the bridge as Chuck E. leads into a reprise of the Happy Birthday chant. After that, Chuck E. quips ‘Alright, everybody, you all know this part. Sing along!’ and Chuck E. Cheese, the band, and the audience in the showroom sing the traditional ‘Happy Birthday’ song to a powerful trumpet-blasting instrumental. Once the song is sung, the band shouts, ‘Get ready to blow out your candles!’ The music builds to a climax as the candles are lit, and the birthday stars blow them out to thunderous applause from the band and the rest of the party, as the music decrescendos. The band performs a reprise of the chorus, joined now by the Chuck E. Kids, followed by another, this time in a higher key. One last time, Chuck E leads the showroom in the Happy Birthday chant. The number ends with Chuck E. shouting ‘This is Chuck E. Cheese, wishing you the very best!’ and joins the band and the Chuck E. Kids singing ‘Happy Birthday to You!’ With a few trumpet blasts, the song comes to an end, and the curtains close to the sound of thunderous applause.
Showtape Releases
Birthday Star was released in March 1992 alongside Physical Fitness. It was produced exclusively on SVHS tapes for the three supported stage types in stores at the time: 3-Stage, C&R (C-Stage and Rocker Stage), and R12 (Road Stage, 1-Stage, and 2-Stage).
Showtape Releases:
| Release Year | Showtape | Format |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Physical Fitness | C&R SVHS (Pre-93), R12 SVHS (Pre-93), 3-Stage SVHS (Pre-93) |
| 1992 | Environment '92 | C&R SVHS (Pre-93), R12 SVHS (Pre-93), 3-Stage SVHS (Pre-93) |
| 1992 | Children of America '92 | C&R SVHS (Pre-93), R12 SVHS (Pre-93), 3-Stage SVHS (Pre-93) |
| 1992 | Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | C&R SVHS (Pre-93), R12 SVHS (Pre-93), 3-Stage SVHS (Pre-93) |
| 1992 | Working For A Living | C&R SVHS (Pre-93), R12 SVHS (Pre-93), 3-Stage SVHS (Pre-93) |
| 1992 | Holiday Special 1992 | C&R SVHS (Pre-93), R12 SVHS (Pre-93), 3-Stage SVHS (Pre-93) |
| 1993 | January 1993 Show | C&R SVHS (Pre-93), R12 SVHS (Pre-93), 3-Stage SVHS (Pre-93) |
| 1993 | Spring Training | C&R SVHS (Pre-93), R12 SVHS (Pre-93), 3-Stage SVHS (Pre-93) |
| 1993 | Spring Training Revised | C&R SVHS (Pre-93), R12 SVHS (Pre-93), 3-Stage SVHS (Pre-93) |
| 1993 | Best of CEC TV 1993 | C&R SVHS (Post-93), R12 SVHS (Post-93), 3-Stage SVHS (Post-93) |
| 1993 | Patriotic 1993 Show | C&R SVHS (Post-93), R12 SVHS (Post-93), 3-Stage SVHS (Post-93) |
| 1993 | July 1993 Show | C&R SVHS (Post-93), R12 SVHS (Post-93), 3-Stage SVHS (Post-93) |
| 1993 | You're A Star | C&R SVHS (Post-93), R12 SVHS (Post-93), 3-Stage SVHS (Post-93) |
| 1993 | Chuck E. March | C&R SVHS (Post-93), R12 SVHS (Post-93), 3-Stage SVHS (Post-93) |
| 1994 | Let The Good Times Roll | C&R SVHS (Post-93), R12 SVHS (Post-93), 3-Stage SVHS (Post-93) |
| 1994 | Twist and Shout | C&R SVHS (Post-93), R12 SVHS (Post-93), 3-Stage SVHS (Post-93) |
| 1994 | CEC Shuffle / Bday Star | C&R SVHS (Post-93), R12 SVHS (Post-93), 3-Stage SVHS (Post-93) |
| 1994 | Patriotic Live | C&R SVHS (Post-93), R12 SVHS (Post-93), 3-Stage SVHS (Post-93) |
| 1994 | Celebration | C&R SVHS (Post-93), R12 SVHS (Post-93), 3-Stage SVHS (Post-93) |
| 1994 | YMCA | C&R SVHS (Post-93), R12 SVHS (Post-93), 3-Stage SVHS (Post-93) |
Floppy Disk Label
The floppy disk is labeled as “BIRTHDAY STAR 3ST-ROA-C&R” “File used in show tapes” “#91-27”.
APS Files
All three segments’ files were last updated between January 10, 1992, and January 20, 1992, being finalized over 2 months before it was released.
| File Name | Size (bytes) | Modified Date | Header Time | Header Title 1 | Header Title 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NEWSTAR.C&R | 184,832 | 01/10/1992 02:07:34 PM | 3:00 | BIRTHDAY STAR ROLL-OUT | “released to field 3-92” |
| NEWSTAR.ROA | 569,856 | 01/10/1992 04:16:02 PM | 3:00 | BIRTHDAY STAR ROLL-OUT | “released to field 3-92” |
| NEWSTAR.3ST | 200,192 | 12/06/1991 11:27:54 AM | 3:15 | “BIRTHDAY STAR ROLL-OUT” | RELEASED MARCH ‘92 |
References
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