JWLJN
10-19-2007, 01:16 AM
Hi,
Long time lurker here. Can't say I've ever worked for any of these companies, but I have fond memories of them, especially from the '80s and my childhood. We had what I would think was one of the coolest Chuck E. Cheese locations, as it was in an old one screen theater! This was the original Monroeville, PA location. You went in and Dolly Dimples was to your right in the main entrance area. I remember sitting at her piano while the adults would make the arrangements. There was a cool spiral staircase beyond Dolly which led upstairs to the restrooms. Beyond that was a small room to eat in that had the cabaret acts. I remember various ones throughout the years, and remember being upset when they finally took the act out, and it became very plain.
The game room was split in two, with the main aisleway to the main theater room splitting it. On the left were the little rides, skeeball, and the ball pit. On the other side were the arcade games and the redemption area. I still have a few tokens and some of the PVC figures.
Finally, you got to the main theater room. I always remember the main few and the Warblettes. I saw in one thread discussions of the voice actors. In the video I have (which I'll get to in a minute), the Warblettes have always sounded like Tress MacNeille to me, knowing her from many other things. Any chance it was? It wasn't until I came upon some threads that I remember the flags moving and the feet and hands. Then it all came back.
We went there for my birthday in December of '87. It wasn't a full blown party (although I attended a few at this location), but rather just my family and some friends. I have short video of me and my friend playing the games, and maybe a minute or so of the gang performing the 12 Days of Christmas. Someday I'll figure out how to put that up on YouTube.
I was also at the Rochester, NY location sometime in '85 or '86. A few times, I believe. What I remember most about that one is the tunnel underneath the stage...that may have been the coolest thing I'd ever discovered in life up until that point. I also remember that it seemed quite similar to the one shown in that cool video someone put on YouTube of the tour of the early '80s CEC before it opened. I know it's not the same location, but for some reason it reminded me of it.
I'd really like to revisit CEC for some pizza and to check out what types of shows the local locations have now. The Monroeville location described above moved across the street into an old restaurant building. I believe they have a show, but I'm not sure what kind. There's a newer one in a mall about 45 minutes away that I believe doesn't even have a show, and I'm trying to find out if the West Mifflin, PA location still exists. I do not believe it does, but I never remember to check if I'm over that way. If I recall, that one had a pretty cool layout as well.
Kinda longwinded, but I figure this is what this part of the board is for. I'll leave you with a picture I have on MySpace, to show my eternal love for Dolly...
http://a509.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/41/l_47693764eaf57472daecc8efffb22e54.jpg
This a friend and I (on the right) at the Monroeville location sometime in the '80s, with Dolly in all her glory!
-J\/\/
Long time lurker here. Can't say I've ever worked for any of these companies, but I have fond memories of them, especially from the '80s and my childhood. We had what I would think was one of the coolest Chuck E. Cheese locations, as it was in an old one screen theater! This was the original Monroeville, PA location. You went in and Dolly Dimples was to your right in the main entrance area. I remember sitting at her piano while the adults would make the arrangements. There was a cool spiral staircase beyond Dolly which led upstairs to the restrooms. Beyond that was a small room to eat in that had the cabaret acts. I remember various ones throughout the years, and remember being upset when they finally took the act out, and it became very plain.
The game room was split in two, with the main aisleway to the main theater room splitting it. On the left were the little rides, skeeball, and the ball pit. On the other side were the arcade games and the redemption area. I still have a few tokens and some of the PVC figures.
Finally, you got to the main theater room. I always remember the main few and the Warblettes. I saw in one thread discussions of the voice actors. In the video I have (which I'll get to in a minute), the Warblettes have always sounded like Tress MacNeille to me, knowing her from many other things. Any chance it was? It wasn't until I came upon some threads that I remember the flags moving and the feet and hands. Then it all came back.
We went there for my birthday in December of '87. It wasn't a full blown party (although I attended a few at this location), but rather just my family and some friends. I have short video of me and my friend playing the games, and maybe a minute or so of the gang performing the 12 Days of Christmas. Someday I'll figure out how to put that up on YouTube.
I was also at the Rochester, NY location sometime in '85 or '86. A few times, I believe. What I remember most about that one is the tunnel underneath the stage...that may have been the coolest thing I'd ever discovered in life up until that point. I also remember that it seemed quite similar to the one shown in that cool video someone put on YouTube of the tour of the early '80s CEC before it opened. I know it's not the same location, but for some reason it reminded me of it.
I'd really like to revisit CEC for some pizza and to check out what types of shows the local locations have now. The Monroeville location described above moved across the street into an old restaurant building. I believe they have a show, but I'm not sure what kind. There's a newer one in a mall about 45 minutes away that I believe doesn't even have a show, and I'm trying to find out if the West Mifflin, PA location still exists. I do not believe it does, but I never remember to check if I'm over that way. If I recall, that one had a pretty cool layout as well.
Kinda longwinded, but I figure this is what this part of the board is for. I'll leave you with a picture I have on MySpace, to show my eternal love for Dolly...
http://a509.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/41/l_47693764eaf57472daecc8efffb22e54.jpg
This a friend and I (on the right) at the Monroeville location sometime in the '80s, with Dolly in all her glory!
-J\/\/