Billy Bob Control Booth specifics

[lildook]

Now I remember a little about this but never knew much. I was a youngster and I'm not even sure if I remember seeing it in action but I was wondering these couple things if anyone can help jog my brain:

When billy interacted with the audience, did someone in the booth use their voice for him?? Was thier voice disguised or did the controller have preset dialogs of billy?

Did they normally run the interactive show on a regular basis or just at the stores discretion?

[menutia]

The booth at my store was at the back of the sowroom. Teh operator would have to use his own voice, and operated the robot through a dual hand controller. There was a microphone placed near Bob so the operator could hear the kids he was talking to. As a kid, i was impressed, by everything except the voice. It sounded more like "Yogi Bear".

Hope this helps,

~M

[captslappy]

The voice really depended on the operator. There were no prerecorded phrases or anything. How good billy Bob sounded and how well he moved and interacted was solely based on the person working the controls. I remember the interactive Billy Bob at our Showbiz being pretty good. I'm sure there were a few stores out there where someone did a crappy job or didn't sound like the character.

[pizzacam]

Of course the operator was given time and expected to practice, so by Showbiz standards probably helped. Imagine an Interactive Billy bob or Chuck today, nobody would practice.. it would be awful. :x :lol

[VegaNova]

I have the training video for how this all works it shows step by step what buttons did what movement and how to cue different combinations together to make him wave, or do other complex movements.

I think the vid is from 1984 and was put out by ShowBiz. I should put the audio up on the Radio Station because it's interesting to just listen to. I also have a copy of the training manual... I need to get that added to the site one of these days.

Also some stores probably still have the booth where this all took place. Most were probably wiped out by remodels over the years, but I know one of the Billy Bob's out east still had their booth with one-way glass window in plain sight.

-VegaNova

[Just4all]

That device was fun:) I did skit improv lol may even have recording soimewhere :)

[YoungCaliHottie]

id love to see that training video

[CEC3066]

Hey Slappy wasn't your local ShowBiz the old Montford store?

[captslappy]

No. Only went to that one one time for a b-day party. My store was in a little shopping Center at the intersection of Beltline Rd and Josey Ln. I dont know if the Montfort Rd store had interactive Billy Bob or not. He was not used the day I went. I am pretty sure they were doing the Tune Machine show tape that day. They did not the cyberstar system.

[CEC3066]

yes Montfort did have it. That's where the training tape was filmed.

[captslappy]

I meant no Monfort was not "my Showbiz". I only went there once. I don't know if they had the BIlly Bob controller or not. I'll take your word on that. "My Showbiz" was at Beltline and Josey in Carrollton.

[andy91]

I put a youtube playlist for rockafire explosion for my son (3) and the part he loved the most was when they taught him how to " help billy bob move" lol, he liked the music and watched it for 3 hours but still wants to see that training vid over and over.