Chimpy's

[Rockafirefan]

Does anybody here know if Chimpy's is still open? I am asking this because there is a CEC down the road from it. I am worried.

[ChuckEZone]

the last I've heard, it's still open. however I guess they only play shows on the weekends.

[menutia]

They are still open, and as of last summer were playing shows when parties were scheduled. Last show tape was one of the "Hits" reels. YES REELS! None of that tevo-stuff.

~M

[Rockafirefan]

I was there the other day, and most of the robots were not moving. Only Fatz, Sun, Moon, and Dook worked. I think they need to get a Tivo system. Snap! Aaron! Chimpy's needs your help fixing their show again!

[menutia]

Sad news.

Too bad that they are too cheap to do any maintenence on the show. they just turn it on and off.

Oh, well.

~M

[VegaNova]

Does Chimpy's have a website? Sorry if I'm asking a dumb question because I haven't even tried looking yet. I've never looked much into it because I had heard they had a terrible show that wasn't worth seeing.

But I have had people e-mailing me asking where shows are - some of those people are around the Chicago area. Wasn't there a New Rock-afire out that way somewhere also? It's probably gone or not running, but if anyone has any info please post it. :)

-VegaNova

[dheineCECfan]

VegaNova: There's no Chimpy's web site to my knowledge. And in the Chicago area: Oddysey Fun World (2 locations?) has the new style danceatronics Rock-afire Explosion show.

[Rockafirefan]

Yes, Fun World has 2 locations. And both of them need Tivo systems.

[menutia]

Yes,

Chicago had a few more "New" shows but those locations have long since closed.

So when is the RAE-Vention coming to "Chi-town"?

~M

P.S. no, WE do not call it "Chi-town".

[Rockafirefan]

I do not know. Ask Aaron.

[ChuckEZone]

P.S. no, WE do not call it "Chi-town".

:lol

[CEC3066]

well then whatDO you call it

[menutia]

Ifs I tell ya' (in true Chicago style) den I gots to kill ya.

~M

[Rockafirefan]

What were some of the other RAE places in IL?

[captslappy]

Just curious, why does everyone favor the Tivo system so much? The system itself isn't bad but it doesn't seem to have many good classic songs in it. There is an awful lot of lip sync material on it that doesn't use original voices and an awful lot of the original cast stuff is songs like "I've Been Working on the Railroad" and stuff like that. They didn't use hardly any of the really good stuff from the Showbiz days. I don't mean skits. I'm just talking a lot of the really great songs from the old full-length show tapes.

[ChuckEZone]

yeah - that "lip sync" material completly kills it, the production value is hurt significantly.

[Mitzi Rocks]

I'm going to Chicago in July. :8) : I'd love to see animatronics! Does anybody know what is still there for sure? I'm not familiar with the city, it'll be my first time going there. Sounds like there are some possibilities to see a show, but what is really open? The Odyssey Fun World mentioned here sounds great! :hat Thanks......Clarke

[looneymagic]

Yeah there are a few things in chicago, but Chimpy's isn't looking too good. There used to be a Chimpy's in Niles but it closed down.

Odyssey Fun World has the "New RAE" full 3 stages with dook/beach bear, and has locations in Tinley Park and Naperville, and I think they're opening a new one somewhere soon.

Hope that helps a bit. take care.

[dheineCECfan]

Is the Oddysey Fun World Naperville, Illinois location on Rt. 59 and the East-West Tollway?

[looneymagic]

Not exactly sure, but here's the address...

Odyssey Fun World
3440 Odyssey Court
Naperville, IL 60563

phone: 630-416-2222,
Fax: 630-416-6222

never been to the naperville location, may have to go check it out!

[Rockafirefan]

Oh you will love it!

[Rockafirefan]

Does anyone here remember another RAE place in IL called Magic City? I know it is closed down. But has it relocated? There used to be a picture of their show on this website in the Misc. RAE section. I live in IL, and I want to know, What were the other RAE places there.

[looneymagic]

I don't know about Magic City relocating, that's a good question. I actually used to work there performing magic every Saturday.

I don't know of any other RAE restaurants :(

Any others who know info please post...

[dheineCECfan]

Where in Illinois was Magic City? I bet it wasn't in the Chicago area.

[menutia]

Are you talking about Houdini's Kitchen in Waukegan?
http://sp-com.tripod.com/pizzacam/animatronicpics/nrae06.jpg

Magic City comes up as(was) a skate center with a game room in Gurnee (next to Waukegan) Illinois.

The phone number I have found on the internet is a cell phone (708 ) area code or a law office in the (847) area.
Anybody else care to do some research.

~M

[looneymagic]

Yeah well Houdini's Kitchen was the name of the dining room at Magic City. That's the place!

[dheineCECfan]

menutia: Nice photo of the RAE at Houdini's Kitchen (part of Magic City).

[menutia]

Cool.

Well, at least we have a photo of the show.

Thanks for answering the question I have always had... "Where the hell was this photo of?"

~M

[Rockafirefan]

Does anyone here have pictures of the Chimpy's in Niles? I did not get to go there.

[looneymagic]

i have video. i will actually have that online within a week or 2..I will keep you posted on it.

[Rockafirefan]

That sounds great! What is the address for the website for the videos? Also, Looneymagic, do you or anyone else here have pictures or video of the rest of Magic City?

[Rockafirefan]

It is ok to post here now. Paging LooneyMagic, Can you see my reply above?

[ChuckEZone]

I'm posting on behalf of Andrew (LooneyMagic), because he can't log on to the board for some reason. Here's what he has to say:


"Hey, my username is acting up and I'm unable to post...

I do have videos (most of my magic show on the karaoke stage, however not too much of the rest of magic city, but I can keep looking) If i'm still unable to post on here email me at looneymagic @gmail.com"

[ChuckEZone]

As long as we're on the topic of Chicago RAE joints, we stopped by Odyssey Fun World in Naperville about a week ago... bah! What a dump! I don't see how that place could pass a health inspection:eek

The food tasted generic, like something you'd get at a festival or local event. Not that it was completly bad, but we were pretty hungry.

The show was disgusting. Not only in the eyes of an avid RAE fan, but also to an average spectator. This was my first time to see a "New RAE" in person, so I expected to see something pretty cool. The only functioning characters were Looney Bird, Fatz, and Dook (decent)... Billy Bob and Mitzi didn't move at all, until we were on our way out... they only jerked around though. We didn't see Beach Bear at all (all of the skits selected were on Looney's stage.)

If Aaron comes across this thread, what was that high-pitched voice playing right as the monitor said something similar to "... and now for the show you've selected"? It was piercing ;) :eek

[looneybird78]

Let me guess. You didn't take ANY PICTURES! >:

[looneymagic2011]

Nope no pictures....However, we do have video! :)

It's not the greatest, but it's something:


ODYSSEY VIDEO:
looneymagic.am83.com/odysseyvideo1.wmv (http://looneymagic.am83.com/odysseyvideo1.wmv)

CHIMPY'S VIDEO:
looneymagic.am83.com/chim...st5-05.wmv (http://looneymagic.am83.com/chimpyslatest5-05.wmv)

[Rockafirefan]

What is the link for the Magic City ones? This way I can see them right away.

[looneymagic2011]

no magic city ones yet...give me a week or 2..

[CEC3066]

Ok I distinctly heard YMCA, Si why didn't Billy Bob come out for Live show? Whoops wrong place!

[VegaNova]

Hey thanks for posting that great video! Do show the other one when you get it all finished.

I'm surprised how busted the NRAE was... probably shouldn't even be running at all in that condition. Neat to see anyway though, as I've never watched one running in person.

The Chimpy's vid was neat to. I was told by a parent who had visited recently, that the show was running pretty good and the video looks like it. Alot of stuff wrong with it, but for the most part it ran as good if not better than some of the other ones I've been to in the past 5 years. Kinda surprised to see Dook and Fatz so naked though. :o

-VegaNova

[circuspizzafan]

It's nice to know someone appreciates my hard work. :D

[Rockafirefan]

Looneymagic, Was that the Chimpy's in Niles?

[circuspizzafan]

Just want to let people know....Chimpy's has closed for good.
It closed Father's Day. VegaNova, Dook is wearing a safari outfit, he's not really naked like Fatz! If you want to see a picture of Dook's Safari suit I can send you one.

[MatHat13]

Knew the place would close at some point.:eek

[dheineCECfan]

I didn't notice Chimpy's in Libertyville finally closed down for good as of last week.

[Rockafirefan]

:( We could turn it into a RAE Pizza. Aaron, what are your thoughts on this?

[looneymagic2011]

Glad you liked the videos! Now I guess that's all we have for memories of Chimpy's. I will get some more online shortly.

Just found this out when I called and the number was disconnected...The place was so dead the past few weeks anyway but it is a disappointment to see another RAE show go away :(

I do plan on stopping by there sometime I will post info if I get any.

[looneymagic2011]

I took some pics of the empty Chimpy's building, will post soon.

[circuspizzafan]

Here are some pics i took of the show.

Center stage
img.photobucket.com/album...0_0075.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v401/arcadefan17/Chimpys/100_0075.jpg)

Rolfes
img.photobucket.com/album...0_0076.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v401/arcadefan17/Chimpys/100_0076.jpg)

Billy Bobs
img.photobucket.com/album...0_0077.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v401/arcadefan17/Chimpys/100_0077.jpg)

I also have pictures as I took apart the show and packed it on the truck.:D

[Rockafirefan]

Does anyone here know what caused Chimpy's and/or Magic City to close?

[menutia]

I would assume that they were not making any profit.

As for Chimpy's...

There is a nice CEC just down the road, near the large shopping area, that probably was another reason for the demise.

I would also assume that their customer base nearly disappears during the summer months, when there are many more activities for parents to take their kids to.

Their operating costs must have been high, even though I never saw more than 3 employees there when I visited, there is the rent on that large space and the electric costs for all of those games.

The show.... Eeh, I've seen worse. (Seen a lot better too!)
The show was a recycled SPP installation. (the characters have holes for colanders on their skulls.) The show was installed with the least amount of stage props possible, and then it wasn't maintained. Fatz was neat because his cosmetics were "jungle" themed. His chest was like the "Bubba" character. It showed his 6 pack abs and chest.

I have the "Select-A-Show" panel from this place. Nice piece of memorabilia.

~M

(Michael from Chicago - for Aaron's benefit)

[dheineCECfan]

Nice pics, circuspizzafan, although I notice Looney Bird with a safari hat and Birthday Bird sitting on Looney Bird's safari hat and not Billy Bob's guitar.

[Snap]

Yeah I stuffed Birthday Bird in his hat when I went and sold them a control system. He was laying on the floor behind Billy Bob and did not have the correct piece to fit back on his guitar. This was about 2 years ago. I went to work on the show twice.

[Harmony Howlette]

I do like Mitzi's outfit though...she looks like Bettie Page...! :lol

[Rockafirefan]

I have been to the CEC not far from Chimpy's.

[dheineCECfan]

When Mitzi was dressed in a leopard skin dress rather than a cheerleader outfit for Chimpy's, was she meant to be portraying a Jane or Sheena style queen of the jungle since Chimpy's was a jungle theme?

[looneymagic2011]

I believe her name was Jane wasnt it? At least at chimpys...But not exactly sure though...

[menutia]

No, she was Mitzi. They used the standard RAE Valance and tapes for the show.

~M

[looneymagic2011]

K nevermind then....I thought they mentioned "Jane" or Jungle Jane once....maybe not.

Thanks for the clear-up Menutia...

[dheineCECfan]

looneymagic and menutia: If you have listened to the RAE's version of Ray Stevens' "Guitarzan", you'll notice "Jungle Jane" is mentioned.

[Rockafirefan]

There was one robot that did not work at all at Chimpy's when I was there, the spider.

[MMBBfan327]

Did Chimpy's have a walkaround character, or any modified games (such as "Chuck E. Cheese's Memory Match?") How about the merch.? What was that like?

[dheineCECfan]

Chimpy's had a walkaround monkey character who wore a safari hat, I guess.

[RockafireGuy]

Anybody know what kind of shape the show was in?

[MatHat13]

Well I heard many times before that the show really sucked...i'm sure you could take a clue.;)

[looneymagic2011]

yeah it wasn't good shape at all...I posted a link on the previous pages of the video....disappointment.

[Rockafirefan]

Was the show in bad shape when Chimpy's first opened?

[Rockafirefan]

I was at Fun World in Naperville last weekend, And their show is getting a passageway with 2 steps at the bottom of their stages. A TV is up close to the spotlight bar. With another T.V. at stage right. Looneymagic, Do you know anything about this?

[circuspizzafan]

That is all part of there karaoke system.

[Rockafirefan]

Too cool! I have always wanted to see one of them! When will it be ready? Also, Looneymagic, I was on the video page of this topic, and I can't find the new links for the new videos. Can you or anyone else help me?

[circuspizzafan]

It works and it is not part of the show.

[Rockafirefan]

What do you mean by it being "not part of the show?"

[Rockafirefan]

Circuspizzafan, how is the show at Fun World coming?

[circuspizzafan]

The show was not that bad it just needs to have some adjustments done on it. Like how some of them just look at the floor.