Studio C Alpha

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

The Studio C (1997) stage (also known as Studio C Alpha by fans⁽¹⁾) is a stage format that was installed in Chuck E. Cheese's locations from 1997-2002, 2012 and 2015, and is still around to this day. It was the first widely installed stage to have just 1 main animatronic character, being Chuck E. Cheese himself.

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.

Nomenclature

The community refers to the show as 'Studio C Alpha' -- the origin of the community name was coined by Jenn Waitt using the Greek 'Alpha' to insinuate 'the first'. What one of the designers from Corman and Associates who has done work creating a majority of the Studio 'C' stages has said in response to the question on whether Studio 'C' Stages had names or not has been a point of debate.

'To my knowledge there were no specific names assigned to each revision. Once 'Studio C' name was established, we used it for the duration and each revision was mainly identified by date of revision. Even after production began there were revisions based on function, cost, etc.'⁽¹⁾

It's theorized that Corman may have been more closely related in in the planning states than exacted, as 'Stage 2002', an internal name used on the installation documents for this show made it on to the building plans for the stage much after it was out of the testing phase.

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. Another feature was displaying the birthday star's name and age on the TVs, lasting until around early 2009.

Animatronics Used

Current Studio C Alphas

Current Total Remaining: 7

Location	Installed	Current Condition
Spartanburg, SC (660 Spartan Blvd Suite 250)	March 1999	Last Alpha in South Carolina. Second oldest Studio C location as of 2024
Burbank, CA (930 N San Fernando Blvd)	December 1999	One of the Last 2 Alphas in California.
Redwood City, CA (2541-43 El Camino Real)	December 1999	One of the Last 2 Alphas in California.
Spokane, WA (10007 N Nevada St)	March 2000	Last Alpha in Washington.
Mayfield Heights, OH (1615 Golden Gate Plaza)	April 2001	Last Studio C Alpha in Ohio
Whitby, Ontario, Canada (75 Consumers Dr)	October 2001	Operational. Good condition. Currently wearing Rockstar outfit with Shoes. Only Studio C Alpha in Canada and only outside of the United States.
Chuck E. Cheese's Corporate Office	July 2015	Oldest Studio C within the company as of August 2024. First installed in 1997 at the Showbiz Pizza Time Corporate Office. Was formerly used to program Studio C shows at the Showbiz Pizza Time Corporate Office from 1997 until July 2015 and later at Chuck E. Cheese's Corporate Office from July 2015 until September 2022.