PICS OR CEC ROCKFORD, IL--STILL USING 'ROCKER' STAGE

[TreyTX]

Hey all, as promised her are the pics from the Rockford, IL CEC store that still uses the 'rocker' stage. Everything looks as if nothing has changed with the stage except they have a complete new Helen bod and cosmetics and Jasper has been given the cheese guitar. Apparently someone there forgot to change CEC's costume as he is still (as of March 2006) wearing the old CEC costume. I did shoot some video on my cell phone but it's really not that impressive. The characters are programmed as if they were in the MMBB set up and the stage only utilizes spots on each character with the original background lighting from the old balcony stage...stage looks very vintage and not exciting at all...I would guess this location is very low volume...features older games that I have not seen in years at CEC, small square footage for the entire store and front cashier/salad bar area not up to date at all...the merch area was on a different wall all together almost like an original PTT location and because of the square footage of location there were no tables in the game room and only about 3 in the kiddie area...store had no hanging sky tubes but were attached to the floor. Hopefully someone on this site who controls the pics will be able to save these onto the pic section for future fans to check out.


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[cec080]

cool pics. did they have tv monitors. also what type of spots were they using? did the have the helicopter light? :D

[TreyTX]

yes they had TVs on each side of the stage but they were large flat screen projector tvs like everyone had in the 80s. the spots wer the same that the old rock afire had and no helicoptore light...just like the old days.

[Shiney Happy Jenn]

This is freaking awesome news Trey...thanks for sharing this info and taking the effort to shoot some pix for us!

Wow....this is a "genuine" Rocker too.....and to see Chuck still in his mid-80's red vest is GREAT!!!!

I assume this is a franchise location? I can't beleive for a minute this is a Corp Location.

Awesome find......now if we could JUST get the old showtapes from this era to play again on this Stage there...then we would REALLY have something! Ha ha ha!!

[MMBBfan327]

Nice pix!!! I would REALLY love to see that vid, too.

[TreyTX]

sorry guys, but this store is a corp location...I was so hoping that it was a franchise location.

[Shiney Happy Jenn]

:eek :eek :eek :eek

Holy Crud!! Are you serious??

Wow...i find that amazing.

I hope they don't find about it now and decided to 'update"! :x

[puppetmaster29]

Yeah believe it or not there are still some corporate owned CEC's out there with stages like this. I had a store call me about a month or so ago and asked about his flags and I was like wow your store has the flags. Well anyway that was my story. :D

[Shiney Happy Jenn]

Any chance you happen to remember what location that was?

Wow...incredible.....i did'nt think any Corp Stores still had the flag rigs operating. It would be nice to know WHERE these stores are so local fans can check em' out.

Great to hear these old shows are still going! Let's hope they keep on going! :D

[puppetmaster29]

Sorry Jenn, I do not recall what location it was that called me. You know another thing that is unfortunate is there doesn't seem to be an option to program the flags on my console. I plan on looking into that when I get the chance.

[CEC3066]

And (as far as I know Jenn) these stages are NOT on DVD (yet)

[ChuckEFranchize454]

-looks at the pictures and begins to droooooooooool:lol :lol :lol - man thats awsome man. i would love to work at that location...mike you gotta find out what store that was i would love to go visit it cuz the flags were the reason i went to CEC when i was younger. watch its all in Canada or sumthin like that:( :( :( that would suck

[yorkmiss]

What are there flags everyone is talking about? Sorry - Im an old showbiz gal!

Beth

[pizzacam]

sp-com.tripod.com/pizzacam/trey/trey63_corpus.jpg (http://sp-com.tripod.com/pizzacam/trey/trey63_corpus.jpg)

They used to line the walls in the showrooms at PTT/CEC and used to wave during the show. They were removed when stores got the upgrade to 2 stages or 1 stages.

[CEC3066]

fairfield still had theirs in 93 when the 2 stage arrived but the flags no longer worked there.

[pizzacam]

Yeah the Military store had em in '97 when they finally go the 2 stage.

[Shiney Happy Jenn]

Hey there PuppetMaster...

Sorry to hear about you not having a control on your console to program the Flags. I am very sure that there IS a way...it's just a matter of having a open channel or re-assigning animation direction to the different channels of commands.

I am assuming this is possible ( re-assignment via the computer program to change where each assigned signal controls what animation..). Just assuming as i know many control systems from the past were able to do this. I suppose if it is possible, i'm sure it involves a lot of headaches with having to go into the programming systems' computer and re-assigning everything.

Good luck .....and let us know if you find anything out on your end.

[menutia]

Okay, so when are we going to Rock-ford? Or is this a CV4 (and more) thing for us to consider? It's about an hour NW of the "Odyssey Fun World" store. Hmm

Maybe the Chicagoland folks need to plan a regional get together. Folks? Brian? Thoughts? Andrew? Bueller?


~Menutia

[MMBBfan327]

Speaking of flags, does Rockford still have the flags or band board or clapper board?

[WickedWonder1]

I'd be up for a Chicagoland thing- I'm 3 hours away! (2 if my sister drives.) It'd be cool to hit a few things I wouldn't see normally up there.

[chuckrules]

WOW!:D

[dheineCECfan]

Trey: Thanx for the Rockford, IL PIX including the Rocker Stage with old school chuck and 1990's Helen. This is in an office building even though the set up for this CEC could have been in some enclosed shopping mall!

[cec080]

I'm up for that trip i live 5 hrs away and would love to see it. especially with them doing the summer show.. :D

[ChuckEZone]

(Late reply:eek ) I'm in;)

[MMBBfan327]

Pfft, I WISH I could go to this location. I live roughly an hour and a half away from it.

[menutia]

Okay, somebody pick a good date and time when we can go for dinner. Weeknight when it is less crowded? Weenend at the end of the day?

I'm sure there could be a way to carpool or pick people up at a train/bus station if necessary.
Discuss...

~M

[WickedWonder1]

weekends are better for me... If I get to Chi-town, how much farther do I need to get?

[MMBBfan327]

I think it's West. Not too sure.

[menutia]

hour and half northwest of the city.

~M

[MMBBfan327]

*BUMP!* I though that the pix in this thread were too cool to be located on the 11th page of threads, so I decided to bump this thread up. Also, if anyone has not yet seen my info on a recent trip to this location, I thought I could share a brief description...Munch and Helen have lazy eyes, Jasper and Pasqually's eyes are very beaten, Chuck's mic is a big cotton ball glued to his hand, new Skee-Ball lanes, new game adds and vintage game trashed, the cashier and salad bars are still very PTT like, as seen in Trey's pix, and also the Chuck, Jasper and Pasqually 3D Eyes Pics are still hanging, however towering 7-ft. games were placed right in front of them. Any other questions, please contact me.

[macrossmaster]

As everyone could guess by my posts (and avatar!) I'm a Showbiz guy at heart. But darn it all if that doesn't look sooo close to the PTT I went to as a kid! It's like stepping out of the 80's. I can almost envision my (future) kids opening vintage G.I. Joes or Robotech toys at those tables before running off to play video games.

Brings a tear to the eye! What a great set up - and awesome to see Chuck in his vintage outfit and not the hated Avenger getup!!

Anyone able to take more pics of the store as is? Tempted to see how far Rockford is from KC, MO....:)

[3stagelover]

I love that stage. I think that it's awsome to see some of the older stages again.

[3stagelover]

I lived in Washington D.C, and my mother use to take us to a pizza time theatre with the Modern rocker stage. I always would stand in front of it and study it.

[3stagelover]

Honostly I wish that they would just redue the older stages and with uptodate technology. Studio C any thing sucks.

[3stagelover]

I think that studio C takes away from the whole experience. I have been a loyal fan of Chucke Cheese all my life.

[pasqually82]

I'm not a big fan of Studio C either. It really doesn't do much for me at all. I guess it's because I'm from the generation of Pizza Time Theatre and the balcony stage/ C stage era. Lucky that I live right down the street from the CEC in Rockford - I could walk there in like 10 minutes! Stepping in that place does bring back memories of when I was a kid. Let's hope they never touch that stage

[MMBBfan327]

Hey Pasqually82 did Rockford ever have any Cabaret or Lounge shows?

[pasqually82]

I really wouldn't know if this location had a cabaret or lounge show. I moved to Rockford about two years ago. From the way the store looks set up, I wouldn't doubt it. I would have to ask a Rockford native who might have attended this store back in the day. As you know, it's kind of hard to find someone who would even care.

Anyway, some info on my visit to this CEC this past Friday night. I was dishearted to what I saw. The show is in terrible shape. Chuck's and munch's left eye is broken so all you see is the white of the eye. Chuck does not move and just stands there while the mouth only moves. Pasqually's mustach is hanging by a thread (being over dramatic). and Helen still has her lazy eye. The bots have just been totally abandon. The management seems to not care that this stage is in the condition that it is in. I couldn'e even enjoy the April 07 show because of the shock I was in to see the condition of stage. They moved very slow and didn't even seem to be in synch with the show.

Not only that, the employees acted like they hated their job and seemed so unprofessional. A girl employee was hugging all over her boyfriend in the kitchen are. The manager was having an agrument with the girl behind the prize counter about her cash drawer being short. And many other little things that just angered me. No real friendly welcome at all.

I fear that the time is near for this stage to be next to be ripped out.

By the way. One awesome thing happend to me. I found a Pizza Time Theatre Token from 1982! What makes it more special is that was the year that I was born. I was so excited when I found this because I have just started my token collection. Wow. To see the "In Pizza We Trust" brought me back. It felt so awesome to hold a piece of PTT history in my hands.

[RAFE CEC Guy]

I think we should set up a fund/team so once the stage goes(Since it's in disrepair), we can quickly nab it. It's sad that such a grand location has turned into crap. I can only hope that once the stage is removed, it can be placed in the hands of a person/people that can take good care of it and give it some TLC.

[pizzacam]

LOL nab it just like that huh? Ok so you're like what 13 so if that were even POSSIBLE we can count you out... Cause the show would cost about 2 or 3 grand especially if they tie in the compressor(which they usually do)

Second, buying the show could only happen if they were auctioning off the store.....IF it closed...so let's not jump the gun until the thing closes. :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[pizzacam]

Not only that, the employees acted like they hated their job and seemed so unprofessional. A girl employee was hugging all over her boyfriend in the kitchen are. The manager was having an agrument with the girl behind the prize counter about her cash drawer being short. And many other little things that just angered me. No real friendly welcome at all.

Sadly that's at most CEC's today...employees texting their friends etc...I can't really say I blame the employees though...

I busted my ass for that place cause I LIKE it, but if I didn't and was making peanuts...I'd screw off too! :laugh:

[MMBBfan327]

LOL nab it just like that huh? Ok so you're like what 13 so if that were even POSSIBLE we can count you out... Cause the show would cost about 2 or 3 grand especially if they tie in the compressor(which they usually do)

Second, buying the show could only happen if they were auctioning off the store.....IF it closed...so let's not jump the gun until the thing closes.

Plus, even if we did get the show, they would most likely not include the masks/cosmetics for copyright issues.

[bzier]

Yeah, good luck getting that one! Corporate would never sell us that show! They'd trash it, just like any other! I've tried with them before...when our old store was closing, I offered them money to take the bots from our 1-stage, but they lied to me and told me they were sold to some store in California. The next day I find them in pieces in the dumpster.

As for kids not caring about their jobs? Practically none do. I understand, when they're young and foolish, and get paid garbage money, but I too try my hardest to keep things running well and keep the kids busy. It seems to get worse and worse every year.

[pasqually82]

Well, I will be keeping a close eye on that store everyday. I'll being doing some dumpster diving and scavage whatever I can.

I'll keep you posted on how the show is working. I really hope they decide to do some major repairs to this stage. Most likely not since CEC now does not seem to have a lot of focus on their stages/shows. I really can't understand why CEC would allow any of their stages to slowly fall apart like this. Does CEC not care what kind of image this has on them as a company? This just adds to the list of negative talk that the general public thinks about CEC. I must say though, I defend CEC when it comes to people talking negative about the food, the crowding, the kids running around the place unattended and the employees. But when it comes to defending them about the shows - I just can't do it. When CEC allows my beloved characters to fall apart to disrepair, it just disheartens and angers me.

[bzier]

Well, when this kind of talk gets back to corporate, it's things like that that get them to decide to rip out a stage show for Studio C.

The thing that kills me is that no matter what kind of show you have, it will eventually fall into disrepair. I've seen some Studio C alphas in terrible condition, because the tech focuses solely on the games.

The CEC in Bradenton Florida is an example. Lights burned out, 4 tv's not working, CEC's apple tv not on/working, phone no longer swings out, Chuck's left ear was hanging off, nose movement not working, wrist turns not working, left arm ON THE FLOOR-disconnected from the rest of his body, foot tap broken, front lean not working...it was terrible. Sad thing is I've seen other ones like this too.

I know that the tech in Tampa/Carrollwood (MMBB 2-stage) NEVER works on their show either. The guy is lazy in my opinion. Our assistant tech worked over there for a month while that guy was on vacation, and he told me that the sound/video stack room was filthy, covered in cobwebs. He called the tech and asked him when he last worked on the show, and the guy laughed and said, "not for probably about a year!" And it really showed. If I mentioned everything broken on that show, you guys would think it should be burned to the ground. Good news is, our assistant tech took a whole week and half of that store's monthly budget (which is actually pretty high being a bigger store) and spent it on fixing up the show. It looked great after he fixed it up. That was a month ago. I'm planning on going there today or tomorrow to see how it's looking now.

The company wants their shows to look great. The entertainment and parts department do a great job continually encouraging the techs to keep the show looking great! It all comes down to monthly budgets being spent wisely, techs ACTUALLY doing daily preventive maintenence on the show, and assistant techs lending a hand when the techs have their hands full with games. I know it can be done! I've seen it at my old store!

So for you techs that do a good job keeping up the show, GREAT JOB! Keep it up!

[mitzirocks]

COOL!:cec_smile:




COSMIC MAN!:alien: WE GOTTA KEEP HIS LITTLE FROGGY SELF AWAY FROM THIS HOPPER DUDE!:rolfe: :earl:

[pasqually82]

Just thought that I would give an update on the Rocker Stage in Rockford.
They fixed Chuck's and Munch's eye. Wahoo! Although, Chuck still just stands there until he has a singing or talking part, then he moves okay. Pasqually's mustach is fixed. Helen's lazy eye looks a lot better!

The sound volume of the show was perfect, especially for the April 2007 show. The music was at a nice medium to loud volume range and they were moving a lot better since the last time I posted about the show's condition.

Also - found a another little gem of a token there. This time I found a ShowBiz Pizza Place token. This location has provided me with a lot of luck in finding the rare PTT/SPP tokens.

[Toonygirl]

Why do they use that rocker stage? And this topic is year old.

[chuckrules]

wow what a neat store setup. has sort of an old/new CEC look to it which is awesome! Oh Mike why aren't all center front top green flood lights never programed for any of the three stage front green center stage show? That's always has bugged the heck out of me and still does to this day yet. And will three stage curtains ever be back to working ever again? And will Helen Henny eventually have a different outfit for the stage bot look? Her current outfit is very cute.:P But i was hoping for her to have something different on her eventually soon? like a purple cheerleader outfit?!

[bzier]

Maybe we'll see a new outfit on Helen in the coming years, especially if the existing stages are gonna be staying around for a while.