Fatz Geronimo
09-22-2008, 12:47 PM
Well I’ll warn you guys from the get go, this’ll probably be an overly LONG introduction, and I hope you’ll forgive me as I’m just so excited about rediscovering childhood memories, as well as a place that actually pays homage to them!
For starters, my name is Kenny, and I found this place through YouTube, looking up CEC videos on a whim that they might actually have some. I was amazed at what I found, and what those vids made me remember about CEC that I’d completely forgotten about until seeing those things again. When I was a kid, I had 2 or 3 birthday parties at CEC, I can’t remember for sure, but I do remember always having an amazing time. I remember distinctly my last time, I was feeling ‘too old’ for the place and rather embarrassed about going, it had to be the early nineties as I remember vividly playing a Simpsons arcade game there with a bunch of other kids, and having a blast.
It closed down shortly after that, and a ‘new’ updated version was constructed in the plazas parking lot in front of the ‘old’ building where the original used to be several years later.
While I haven’t stepped foot in one for nearly 15 years about, my memories stayed with me, but ashamed as I am to admit it, I found that after awhile…they frightened me! For whatever reason I remember the ‘clapping board’ most of all, it was in the farthest corner of the eating area, several feet from the animatronics performers as if in a world of their own. Badly lighted at the time, they were so scary looking, and I kind of remembered them that way…strangely the majority of folks must agree with me, because the only pic I found was a decrepit one in the photos gallery here, nobody has pics of ones in working order! I thought the puppets as well disturbed me after awhile, but after seeing them in action again, just the way they were before, I fell in love…they’re not at all frightening.
Ugh, already rambling away, forgive me folks really, just so charged about this place, seeing all those old photos and vids from way back reminded of such a simpler, more innocent time.
But what excited me the most was not so much CEC, but discovering the Rock-afire explosion, I’ve never, EVER heard of them before, nor have I ever seen them in action, even as a child! I didn’t know of all the problems CEC had, and how showbiz pizza helped them out…only to take away what made them ‘unique’. That kind of saddened me, reading about how when they merged they took away the RAE, because I’m just so…enthralled with ‘em right now.
I can’t wait to read more about them, I’ve already watched nearly every video I can find, and desperately wish I could still see them in person. I imagine some are still running somewhere, but not anywhere close by to me! I feel somewhat silly getting frenzied over something like this, but they’re so cool! They totally blow the CEC guys away for me, and I grew up with them for cryin’ put loud.
Probably Fatz Geronimo’s fault, I have a soft spot for gorillas, and he’s wicked awesome.
Gaw, well, lemme wrap this up, I hope to get to know you all a little better as well, and submit some artwork! I saw the thread for it and I’ve been drawing for nearly two decades here, so I’m hoping to share something of interest featuring these guys.
Finally, thanks to those who’ve so kindly taken the time to assemble this wonderful site, and all the wonderful information recorded upon it. You’ve got one more loyal visitor, as well as a fan!
-Kenny
For starters, my name is Kenny, and I found this place through YouTube, looking up CEC videos on a whim that they might actually have some. I was amazed at what I found, and what those vids made me remember about CEC that I’d completely forgotten about until seeing those things again. When I was a kid, I had 2 or 3 birthday parties at CEC, I can’t remember for sure, but I do remember always having an amazing time. I remember distinctly my last time, I was feeling ‘too old’ for the place and rather embarrassed about going, it had to be the early nineties as I remember vividly playing a Simpsons arcade game there with a bunch of other kids, and having a blast.
It closed down shortly after that, and a ‘new’ updated version was constructed in the plazas parking lot in front of the ‘old’ building where the original used to be several years later.
While I haven’t stepped foot in one for nearly 15 years about, my memories stayed with me, but ashamed as I am to admit it, I found that after awhile…they frightened me! For whatever reason I remember the ‘clapping board’ most of all, it was in the farthest corner of the eating area, several feet from the animatronics performers as if in a world of their own. Badly lighted at the time, they were so scary looking, and I kind of remembered them that way…strangely the majority of folks must agree with me, because the only pic I found was a decrepit one in the photos gallery here, nobody has pics of ones in working order! I thought the puppets as well disturbed me after awhile, but after seeing them in action again, just the way they were before, I fell in love…they’re not at all frightening.
Ugh, already rambling away, forgive me folks really, just so charged about this place, seeing all those old photos and vids from way back reminded of such a simpler, more innocent time.
But what excited me the most was not so much CEC, but discovering the Rock-afire explosion, I’ve never, EVER heard of them before, nor have I ever seen them in action, even as a child! I didn’t know of all the problems CEC had, and how showbiz pizza helped them out…only to take away what made them ‘unique’. That kind of saddened me, reading about how when they merged they took away the RAE, because I’m just so…enthralled with ‘em right now.
I can’t wait to read more about them, I’ve already watched nearly every video I can find, and desperately wish I could still see them in person. I imagine some are still running somewhere, but not anywhere close by to me! I feel somewhat silly getting frenzied over something like this, but they’re so cool! They totally blow the CEC guys away for me, and I grew up with them for cryin’ put loud.
Probably Fatz Geronimo’s fault, I have a soft spot for gorillas, and he’s wicked awesome.
Gaw, well, lemme wrap this up, I hope to get to know you all a little better as well, and submit some artwork! I saw the thread for it and I’ve been drawing for nearly two decades here, so I’m hoping to share something of interest featuring these guys.
Finally, thanks to those who’ve so kindly taken the time to assemble this wonderful site, and all the wonderful information recorded upon it. You’ve got one more loyal visitor, as well as a fan!
-Kenny