Chuck E. Cheese: Difference between revisions
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| ⚫ | '''Chuck E. Cheese's''' is a chain of family entertainment centers. The concept centers around a basic sit-down pizza restaurant, complemented by arcade games, small rides, animatronic characters, and other popular diversions for young children such as climbing equipment, tubes, and giant slides. Its [[logo]] and [[mascot]], named '''Chuck E. Cheese''', is an [[anthropomorphism|anthropomorphic]] [[mouse]]. |
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'''Chuck E. Cheese's''' |
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The company's headquarters are located in [[Irving, Texas]], and as of November 2006, they operate over 524 restaurants<ref>According to a [http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=72589&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=930588&highlight= company press release]</ref> in the [[United States]] and other countries. Chuck E Cheese initially franchised their restaurants, but are currently not offering any new franchise opportunities, instead concentrating on adding new company-owned stores, as well as acquiring existing franchises. |
The company's headquarters are located in [[Irving, Texas]], and as of November 2006, they operate over 524 restaurants<ref>According to a [http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=72589&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=930588&highlight= company press release]</ref> in the [[United States]] and other countries. Chuck E Cheese initially franchised their restaurants, but are currently not offering any new franchise opportunities, instead concentrating on adding new company-owned stores, as well as acquiring existing franchises. |
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Revision as of 18:26, 19 March 2007
| Company type | Public company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Family entertainment centers |
| Founded | 1977 |
| Founder | Nolan Bushnell, Founder |
| Headquarters | Irving, Texas , USA |
| Products | Pizza, salad bar, kiddie rides, prizes, video games, birthday parties |
| Website | www.chuckecheese.com |
Chuck E. Cheese's is a chain of family entertainment centers. The concept centers around a basic sit-down pizza restaurant, complemented by arcade games, small rides, animatronic characters, and other popular diversions for young children such as climbing equipment, tubes, and giant slides. Its logo and mascot, named Chuck E. Cheese, is an anthropomorphic mouse.
The company's headquarters are located in Irving, Texas, and as of November 2006, they operate over 524 restaurants[1] in the United States and other countries. Chuck E Cheese initially franchised their restaurants, but are currently not offering any new franchise opportunities, instead concentrating on adding new company-owned stores, as well as acquiring existing franchises.
History
The company was founded in 1977 by Atari founder Nolan Bushnell as Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theatre,[2] with its first restaurant in the West Side of San Jose, California on Winchester Blvd with company headquarters in Sunnyvale, California.[3] The first location was no larger than a standard corner pizzeria. It contained several video games, and a dining room theatre that featured singing animatronic characters, which was a unique attraction at the time.
The company soon began to franchise and expanded very quickly, mostly in the Northeastern United States, as well as its home state of California. The fortunes of the company were so closely tied to the expanding video game market that, when the popularity of video games began to stall in the early 1980s, so did Chuck E. Cheese's popularity.
In 1984, Pizza Time Theatre, Inc, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and was purchased by competitor Showbiz Pizza Place, which also featured pizza, video games, and singing animatronic characters. The company then changed its name to Showbiz Pizza Time, Inc. It was also at this time that Richard M. Frank became the CEO and decided to change the target audience from the 10 to 17 years age group to the 0 to 12 years range they have today. Both the Chuck E. Cheese's and ShowBiz names continued to be used until 1992, when Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza became the name for all of the restaurants.
In the late 90's the company found new competition from Family Entertainment Centers such as Leaps and Bounds, and Discovery Zone. Other fast-food chains such as McDonald's had also began to expand their soft-play offerings. This shift in the market caused the company to slightly overhaul the concept to include similar play areas, such as "SkyTubes". In 1998, the company changed its name to CEC Entertainment, Inc. In 1999, they would purchase competitor, Discovery Zone. The company is currently known as CEC Entertainment Concepts, L.P.
Entertainment
| The following voice actors performed as animatronic characters from the Chuck E. Cheese show over the years. | |
| |
From the time of the company's formation through the mid-1990s, the company's animated characters were a main draw for the stores. More recently, less attention has been placed on that part of the company's concept. There are several different styles of animatronic shows in use within the company, depending on when the store opened, whether it was renovated, whether it was an original ShowBiz Pizza property, and other factors. The company's current show that is installed into all new stores, "Studio C", consists of a single animated Chuck E. Cheese character, and utilizes large television monitors, lighting effects, and interactive elements. In some markets, the company has also tried a new store concept that does not use any animated show. The stores also offer a wide array of video games and traditional mechanical games including Skee Ball. A large number of the games offer prize tickets as premiums which can be used in trade for prizes or treats.
Characters
The first version of the animatronic show as found in the San Jose location was referred to as the "Pizza Time Players", and featured Crusty the Cat, Jasper T. Jowls, Pasqually, and the Warblettes performing with Chuck E. Cheese himself in a "theater" where customers could eat their pizza with the characters in picture frames overhead. Later restaurants also added "Cabaret" shows in separate rooms of each restaurant. Cabaret performers began with Dolli Dimples, a blues singing hippo, others included Artie Antlers, The King (Elvis tunes), The Beagles (Beatles) and The Beach Bowsers (Beach Boys.) In its early years, the company frequently changed out the sole female character in the main animatronic show. This involved a cosmetic change to the existing robot as well as change of stage backdrop to match the performer, for example, Harmony Howlette, a country singer received western stage decor.The early recordings were written and produced by Robert "Bob" Black. Mike Hatcher was the orignial cyberamic robotics animator with James Barnes functioning as second animator and audio engineer. The current iteration of the company's characters is called "Munch's Make Believe Band", and includes Chuck E. Cheese, Helen Henny, Mr. Munch, Jasper T. Jowls, and Pasqually.
Road Show
A Road Show is a performance by the costumed Chuck E. Cheese character, that is done outside of the normal showroom area. While usually performed at the Kid Check stand or Skee Ball area, it can be done anywhere that has room for Chuck E. and a few kids to dance. Children are gathered via the PA system and told to come dance with Chuck E. to win free tickets. After the dance, Chuck E. and other cast members throw large amounts of tickets into the air for children to collect. This is not the same as the Live! show that is performed in the showroom..
Live Show
The Live Show is performed in front of stage in the showroom. A costumed Chuck E. dances with the guests and "sings", while being accompanied by the animatronic show, and a few castmembers. At the end of the performance, Chuck E. throws out tickets for the children to collect. A Live show can be a "Happy Birthday" song, after which Chuck E. will help the host/hostess cut the cake for the birthday guests, or just an non-birthday sing-along which can be done at anytime.
Tokens
The brass tokens issued by the company for use in their video game arcades exist in numerous varieties and are eagerly collected by exonumia enthusiasts. [1]
Chuck E. Cheese's is currently testing a card access method for use with their arcade/skill games. Stores will no longer use tokens, instead using a refillable card to access credits (tokens) and points (tickets). This concept is currently in the testing phase in Irving, Texas where the company is currently headquartered. Dave & Buster's, another arcade themed restaurant, already uses this method.
Nine other locations in the United States are also testing the token cards, including North Canton Ohio.
Trivia
Houston, Texas has the most Chuck E. Cheese's in the United States.
The "E" in Chuck E. Cheese stands for Entertainment.
Before a 1995 facelift, the Chuck E. Cheese character was identified as a rat.
Logos
-
The current logo for Chuck E. Cheese Pizza
See also
References
- ^ According to a company press release
- ^ Funding Universe Company History
- ^ This is according to the narrator of a staff training video, the "Chuck E. Cheese Walkabout Character Guide".
External links
- Official website
- Tokens site with collector information concerning variety and value of Chuck E. Cheese's game tokens.
- ShowBiz Pizza Website
- Companies established in 1977
- Advertising characters
- Companies based in Texas
- Companies based in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex
- Fictional mice and rats
- Fast-food franchises
- Pizza chains of Canada
- Food companies of the United States
- Fast-food chains of Canada
- Fast-food chains of the United States
- Pizza chains of the United States
- Pizza franchises
- Video arcades
- Pizzerias