The King

[captslappy]

We needed a new discussion on here and we hadn't done one on The King yet. The king was truly the king of the side shows (that sounded like a Jenn type comment) and he's the one that was by far the most popular. This is probably due to the fact largely that he was an Elvis impersonator. The sheer size of the character alone may have also been a factor. An 8 foot tall lion in dressed in gold with a huge red guitar is definately something to catch your eye! He had more show tapes than any other lounge or caberet act. Most had one or 2 show tapes. I think the Beagles came in second with only 3 tapes I know of. King had a total of 8 if you don't count the hideous King Kat retrofit where he was redone to be Michael Jackson. In the 80s the King reels were King 1-4 and a King Combo tape that was a best of show that compiled songs from the others. He's the only side show that I know of that did a birthday show and a holiday Christmas show. In the 90s they used a voice actor and did 2 more tapes. This time they didn't limit him to just Elvis songs as they did previously. They also released a 3rd "Still the King" reel which was a greatest hits compliation of the other 2 reels. One additional note on the 90s reels is originally the actual songs on the 80s shows used actual Elvis recordings where as these newer shows used a voice actor on the songs. I also believe the King was the longest surviving cab/side show. Some Beagles and Beach Bowzer shows may have lasted as long as he did but as near as anyone can tell Dolli, Artie and BB were all retired long before King was. I know some dining rooms still had him up until a few years ago and he would do a show when the MMBB went into intermission. As far as we know all the King and other remaining side show acts are now retired. I would be willing to bet more stores had the King than any other side show. Any thoughts?

[dheineCECfan]

Jungle Jim's in Ohio has a recycled CECPTT King show still going strong in the post CECPTT years.

[captslappy]

Yes several notes on that. First off the King there has a custom made green outfit. His guitar has been redone in white with gold lettering that says "Elvis". The background is designed to look like he's on a tropical beach. Also the original showtapes aren't used and I suspect that the computer is a custom one. All his songs are still original Elvis recordings but the spoken dialogue is done in a voice that has been slowed down so it sounds low. I suspect it is Jungle Jim's voice. The spoken intros and outros all make reference to Jungle Jim's grocery store. The lighting is a string of christmas lights that outlines the top of the stage and comes on when he is performing. The lights wink out the character shuts down for a brief second between the spoken intros and outros and when he is singing. The songs and intros are not "seamed together" very well but it's only a split second and not very noticeable. The other comment I had was the voice used for speaking doesn't at all match the Elvis singing voice which is a little odd but forgivable. CEC's King sounded like Elvis when he was talking so it meshed together a little better. I am glad to see that there is at least one King still functional in the world even if it's not completely original or quite in the context of him being at Pizza Time Theatre.

[dheineCECfan]

It's too bad CEC Entertainment (a/k/a originally ShowBiz Pizza Time) never donated a surviving leftover King show to the Graceland house/museum complex in Memphis, Tennessee (Elvis Presley's hometown).

[captslappy]

Yeah that would have been cool. I have to wonder though if it was ever authorized to begin with tho as far as the use of Elvis as "The King". The Presley estate does it's best to keep tight controls on the use of Elvis. One reason that The King robot was never given to the estate was possible copyright and trademark issues in the first place. I suspect such issues led to the change in the King shows in the 90s when they not only started using non-original recordings but the King went to doing songs that were not Elvis related such as Jonny B. Goode.

[dheineCECfan]

Even CEC Entertainment never donated to the Graceland complex the 2 late 1980's/early 1990's CEC parody movie posters with The King on them: "Gone With the Wing" and "Wizard of Cheeze".

[captslappy]

Probably for the same reasons as above.

[Lilredridinghood]

"The King," was one of my favorite things about Pizza Time Theatre. I liked him because he was HUGE. At my local resturant, they had him in his own room off to the side, right after you came in, so that was one of the first things I would see. I use to go into the King's room while my parents where ordering pizza and watch him. I think his size at the time both fasinated me and frightened me. (Plus it was so dark in that room.) It was probably the mid 80's when I last saw him, and he just became a blurry, distant memory. I think at one point I was even like, "What exactly was that huge singing lion they had at cec?" But then I met Jenn, :) and her photos really brought me back.

[Harmony Howlette rules]

The King was scary...
Seeing him this past summer sure was a treat, though!

[JyPsy]

Ahh the king. i loved that show, but i have stronger memories of the beach bowsers and the Beagles......maybe because i was more of a Beatles fan growing up than an elvis fan.

[dheineCECfan]

I haven't mentioned this yet in this thread: But Water Safari Enchanted Forest amusement park in upstate Western New York (the Syracuse, New York area?) has a Country Jamboree show in Klon**** Kate's which features recylced CECPTT robot characters in Western garb. One of them is The King! So there is another place that has a recycled/saved CECPTT King show besides Jungle Jim's.

[captslappy]

Darryl, on this show did they use the full sized king or just use the costmetics on a half body? Was it still doing Elvis songs? Was it just the King robot as a show by itself or was it performing with other characters now?

[dheineCECfan]

I never saw photos or footage of the Klon**** Kate's (Water Safari Enchanted Forest) Country Jamboree show with CECPTT robots as of yet, but I guess it uses the full size King robot.

[captslappy]

well I looked the place up. There are no pics of the show. However, I did find one on the birthday parties page. It is a group of kids eating pizza. In the corner of that pic you can distinctly see a MMBB 2 stage organ but that is all that is visible. Darryl is defiantely right, they do have a recycled CEC show of some type but sadly there are no pics of the characters.

[pizzacam]

wow!, that's freakin' awesome how there are still some King's out there!

[MMBBfan327]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't there a CEC related place that had a KING show? I think it was something like, "Jeepers." I don't remember >D

[chuckeman]

Mystery Fun House in Orlando Fl. also had one and a cec balcony show( with dif characters of course)

[pizzacam]

Well folks....another bit of info about his highness :lol It turns out that "Still The King '93" was NOT his last reel. "King 95" was the LAST reel which in my opinion sucks ass...It's nothing but CEC songs I think it was made to go along with Jan 95 of the CEC show cause it's the same guy who did munch at that time... some say it was Duncan. It sounds terrible and only consists 5 songs! He does Party Place, I Wo'nt Give Up, Baseball Diamond Dreams...Just really sucks that he had to go out this way...King Of Pizza...sigh :rolleyes :(

[dheineCECfan]

So 1995-1996 was the last years CEC locations still carrying the King show would carry the King show even though the last King show showtape was made in 1995.

[captslappy]

I'd be very curious to hear this last reel. It just goes to show how many more reels he had compared to other shows. I think Runner up would likely be the Beagles. I have seen no 90s Beagles reels but since the Beach Bowzers had at least 1 they probably did too. I think that this last reel of the King brings his count up to around 9.

[pizzacam]

Yeah, it's really weird how already at that time period, they were making everything about Chuck E. and the pizza :rolleyes

[captslappy]

Dolli mentions the pizza in her reels which were out as early as 81 or 82. The balcony always referenced it. I don't think it's unusual the King would mention it. After all, they were a pizza place. I never heard Artie or BB Bubbles, but I know none of the Bowzer or Beagle reels mention Pizza at all. Face it, King, Dolli and the Balcony were pushing their product and encouraging people to go order more food which was more $$$. That's really brilliant advertising when you think about it.

[pizzacam]

Well idk, but that last King reel...man why'd they have to make him go out like that? He might as well have keeled over on the toilet like the real one did. :lol :o

[captslappy]

The quality of all the material was really going down hill at the end.

[MMBBfan327]

Surprising how half locations got rid of him by '95 and yet they still bothered to make a reel for him...:eek

[ChuckEFranchize454]

ya our store got rid of him during i would say august of 95 i cried my little 7 year old eyes out

[MMBBfan327]

That sux, Franchize. I know how it feels to lose something like that, especially when Elmbrook closed.:( :o :| >:

I remember seeing his stage w/ no robot during our '94/95 remodel at the Elmbrook Plaza location.

[ChuckEFranchize454]

ya it was hard to see him gone cuz when i would go into the showroom that would be what i would run right to and i could also remember when he would start up........good times:D :rolleyes :( i miss the king.

[captslappy]

At this point the only known operational King is at Jungle Jim's in Ohio. He isn't quite the same as when he was in PTT but he's basically the same show. It was great getting to see a working King again last summer. That was the first time in years I have gotten to see him.

[MMBBfan327]

It COULD be the only one, unless that CEC in Cali does have a KING/Beagles show.

[Shiney Happy Jenn]

The Newington, NH location here still has the King's room and stage intact. It has of course been re-decorated and a huge tv monitor that plays show videos has replaced the original attractions ( sigh)...but the stage/ room still lives on!!

It's one of the many unusualy things about that location...they even still have the paradoy posters up in the front hall last i was there.

Nice place...very old PTT setup. Has a walkaround Cash/Merch area ( A definate sign of it's age) as well as a wide open Kitchen window ( where PTT guests had to get there own food!).

Very nostalgic. Shame they plan on trashing it soon with the upcoming, eventual remodels.

[dheineCECfan]

Besides the King, Jungle Jim's in Ohio also has recycled Warblettes and a recycled Pasqually dressed like a Mexican person.

[captslappy]

Yes the Pasqually is on a CEC or guest character frame (they were the same) and his nose was altered and the chef's hat was converted to a sombraro. At a distance you can still see it was a Chef's had. He is now called Pedro the Mariachi man and he's in the cultural food section near the mexican/hispanic food isle. The birds are in pet land and hang over the pet isles. As for King he's near the front of the store just past the frozen stuff. All characters are on a timer. King comes on every 5 minutes. Pedro and the birds are on the same computer. They alterate. As soon as the birds finish a show at one end of the store Pedro comes on and does one.

[Shiney Happy Jenn]

Wait a minute...from your description Captain, it sounds like Jungle Jim's is a grocery store !!! :lol

WHAT is it actually?? I always assumed it was another CEC knockoff.

[MMBBfan327]

Yeah, it's a VERY big grocery store close to Cincinatti, Ohio. Here's his website:

www.junglejims.com

There's a WHOLE bunch of other animatronics/amusements than just the CEC stuff.:D

[captslappy]

Yes it is a huge grocery store that is almost like an indoor amusement park. It doesn't have rides perse, but it does have several animatronic shows through out the store, a cooking school, little movie theatre, a tram (still under construction when I went) and all kinds of cool stuff. It isn't just a standard selection either in terms of groceries. It has many exotic foods and a huge sea food dept, cheese dept, candy dept, and all kinds of foreign foods divided up into their own sections. In short the place is freaking incredible. The King to me is the coolest thing in the whole store although he isn't the most prominent. Man I wish I thought this place up.

[MMBBfan327]

Hold up--I got a KING question:

Were any of his signs ever orange? Because I was looking at an old photo from the Chase store, and in the background, I see an oragne light with a G at the end, and an I in the middle, and the word "THE" on top. Also on the main stage in the background next to it is I believe Pasqually in the middle?!?!? lol

[captslappy]

The Beagles had a neon sign similiar to the King and I'm pretty sure it was orange. I bet that is what you are seeing.

[dheineCECfan]

I think the Beach Bowsers show had an orange neon sign as well. Did the Little Shavers show for CECPTT/CEC Ice Cream Emporium locations have their own neon sign too? Dolli, Artie, and B.B. never had their own neon signs.

[captslappy]

More than likely. You are correct. the Piano players didn't get neon signs for some reason.

[Shiney Happy Jenn]

The Shavers did'nt have any neon signage...at least not in Brandon Fl.

It would have been a bit of a eyesore in the Ice Cream Emporium..everything in there was themed to fit a olde-time theme and neon definately would'nt have fit in! ;)

[MMBBfan327]

Ok, I'll have to look at that pic again. Did I mention I see Pasqually in the middle of the MMBB one-stage?

[ChuckEFranchize454]

REALLY WOW:eek :eek :eek show us the pics if you can i wanna see that

[MMBBfan327]

Sometime when I can I'll send them to Vega to post on the site, and when he does, you'll need to look REAL closly. I could be wrong, it could be Munch, but the skin is white and there's a hat that looks red on him...

[ChuckEFranchize454]

can you email it to me please? i have real good eyes and i can see weather it pasqually or not heres my email franchizeent454@yahoo.com (franchizeent454@yahoo.com)

[MMBBfan327]

Sorry, no scanner:(

Don't worry though, eventually I'll give the pics to Vega to post in the Gallery.

[ChuckEFranchize454]

to take a quote from napolian dynamite "yesssssssssssssssssssss"

[pizzacam]

Ok well here's the perfect place for these King pics I have from Jul Kamen:

These first 2 are of Jul Kamen(On the ladder) and Kathy Hopp making the jump suit for the King prototype! The second one is of him again and sample scraps of the materials used! ;)

*Also notice the Mr. Munch & Jasper walkaround heads in the first pic and the Artie Antlers bot heads in the background of the second pic.*

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p89/pizzacam/TheKingprototype.jpg

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p89/pizzacam/Kingfabrics.jpg

[pizzacam]

This next one's a promotional photo that was used for articles and ads... :smokin:

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p89/pizzacam/TheKing.jpg

[pizzacam]

These last 2 are from Needle & Thread magazine with an interview of Jul Kamen! She wanted me to point out that the first concept drawing of the King in the article was actually by Kathy Hopp not her...

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p89/pizzacam/Kingarticlepg1.jpg
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p89/pizzacam/Kingarticlepg2.jpg

[dheineCECfan]

I like Jul's sketch for the CECPTT King! Was this a concept or rough prior to production?

[MMBBfan327]

Artie heads!!! Sweet!!

[pizzacam]

I like Jul's sketch for the CECPTT King! Was this a concept or rough prior to production?


It was actually Kathy Hopp's sketch as I posted... ;)

It was the original concept drawing.

I don't wanna confuse that as I may be getting in touch with her soon too! :smokin:

[Larry the Tech]

Dude you rock!!! Where are you finding this AWSOME! stuff?!!!

[dheineCECfan]

It was actually Kathy Hopp's sketch as I posted... ;)

It was the original concept drawing.

I don't wanna confuse that as I may be getting in touch with her soon too! :smokin:

Did animator Phil Mendez ("Kissyfur") also do concept drawings of Chuck E. Cheese sometime in the 1970's and/or 1980's? I remember seeing some on the wall of the CEC HQ location I toured in 2001.

[Rockerchick]

this is great..i wish we had ptt at my cec when i was growing up

[dheineCECfan]

This next one's a promotional photo that was used for articles and ads... :smokin:

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p89/pizzacam/TheKing.jpg

The CECPTT king had 2 front lions teeth at one point??

[Larry the Tech]

Also, notice the rat head CEC floor.

My mom told me that she remembered seeing the King at our Hampton store. Her niece grew up in those days, and used to call him the "Big Doggie"

Does anyone know if the King was in ALL Pizza Time Theatres in the 80's?

[pizzacam]

The CECPTT king had 2 front lions teeth at one point??


Yep! The King originally had teeth! ;)







Does anyone know if the King was in ALL Pizza Time Theatres in the 80's?

No, he wasn't in all PTT's each PTT had a different cabaret or Lounge character(s). Some PTTs had the King & The Beagles or Dolli Dimples and The King etc... ;)

[Larry the Tech]

Did he ever have his own room?

[dheineCECfan]

Yep! The King originally had teeth! ;)






No, he wasn't in all PTT's each PTT had a different cabaret or Lounge character(s). Some PTTs had the King & The Beagles or Dolli Dimples and The King etc... ;)


I been to 2 CECPTT's - Gaithersburg, Maryland and Milwaukee, Wisconsin - with a Beagles show and main Pizza Time Players show, but no King show!

[bzier]

Yep...some Kings had their own Cabaret Lounges. I remember seeing the King at the West Allis Wisconsin store in his own room in the back of the store. I only went in there once or twice. I was terrified of him!

[Shiney Happy Jenn]

Indeed....

In PTT's heyday, there were TWO specific rooms set aside for these "side shows"....

One room was called "The Caberet" and here you would find the paino playing characters like Dolli, Artie, and later B.B. Bubbles.

The other room was called "The Lounge" and this had the other acts..usually the bands. The Lounge held The Beagles, then The King, followed by The Beach Bowzers and finally King Katson.

Most "side shows" are known as "Caberet shows" even though in truth only half of them ever appeared in 'The Caberet"!

;)

[dheineCECfan]

What about CECPTT's Ice Cream Emporium's Little Shavers? Does it count as cabaret show?

[Apparently I'm a Relic]

So, every now and then I Google myself - just to see what pops up . . . Imagine my surprise when it turned up this site . . . with . . . a photo of me (about a million years ago) . . . and my sketch (which by the way is in my basement with a whole stack of other concept sketches) of none other than the King! Wow - such memories of those wonderful, wild and creative years at Pizza Time Theatre with Jul Kamen & Nolan Bushnell. I am so happy to see that out of our years of creating Characters, a little fan club seems to have immerged. Who would have thought?

[pizzacam]

Awesome! Jul mentioned you were glad to know about the "fan club" I uploaded several of the pictures she scanned for us on here... I'm guessing that's why the king picture came up with your name on google! :laugh: Welcome to the board, By the way I sent you a private message... You can check it out on the main screen of the message board at the top right hand side.

[raebigc]

Welcome Kathy!

[CECGirl365]

Hi there! welcome! it's so funny how you searched yourself and it came up to the website! do you know where I can find the picture and sketch of the king? I would really like to see it!!

[pizzacam]

They're on this thread, I posted them about 2 maybe 3 pages back! ;)

[CECGirl365]

These last 2 are from Needle & Thread magazine with an interview of Jul Kamen! She wanted me to point out that the first concept drawing of the King in the article was actually by Kathy Hopp not her...

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p89/pizzacam/Kingarticlepg1.jpg
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p89/pizzacam/Kingarticlepg2.jpg
Is this it? It looks awsome!!:cecwink:

[Rockerchick]

i love thoes pics....i wish i could have seen him when i was a kid

[Apparently I'm a Relic]

Most of the original King sketch is posted on this thread (which I guess is how my googled name brought me here). I have the original and it also has his feet. One of these days I will photograph some of those old drawings (I have quite a few) and send them to you so that you can share them online if anyone is interested. Jul & I seldom got to keep our sketches when the characters went into production (not sure how I managed to end up with the King?) I still have my original concept sketch of the "new-colorful" Warblettes as well. Most of my sketches that I still have are of ideas that never made it out of our design room. Which actually, makes them kind of interesting I think . . . ;-) Can you envision Bunny Holly? A variety of girl friends for Chuck E.? with the theme song "Chuck E.'s in Love".

[ChuckEFranchize454]

Haha wow! Im sure alot of us Pizza Timers out there would love to see some of your stuff!

[menutia]

I would be very curious to have dates for these things. When were the new Warbleettes introduced? When did King Kat make his Debut? (Years would be great to know, not necessarily the day of the week.)

[dheineCECfan]

I would be very curious to have dates for these things. When were the new Warbleettes introduced? When did King Kat make his Debut? (Years would be great to know, not necessarily the day of the week.)

1983-1984?

[Larry the Tech]

Man, I'd love to see those drawings!

[LionHeart]

We needed a new discussion on here and we hadn't done one on The King yet. The king was truly the king of the side shows (that sounded like a Jenn type comment) and he's the one that was by far the most popular. This is probably due to the fact largely that he was an Elvis impersonator. The sheer size of the character alone may have also been a factor. An 8 foot tall lion in dressed in gold with a huge red guitar is definately something to catch your eye! He had more show tapes than any other lounge or caberet act. Most had one or 2 show tapes. I think the Beagles came in second with only 3 tapes I know of. King had a total of 8 if you don't count the hideous King Kat retrofit where he was redone to be Michael Jackson. In the 80s the King reels were King 1-4 and a King Combo tape that was a best of show that compiled songs from the others. He's the only side show that I know of that did a birthday show and a holiday Christmas show. In the 90s they used a voice actor and did 2 more tapes. This time they didn't limit him to just Elvis songs as they did previously. They also released a 3rd "Still the King" reel which was a greatest hits compliation of the other 2 reels. One additional note on the 90s reels is originally the actual songs on the 80s shows used actual Elvis recordings where as these newer shows used a voice actor on the songs. I also believe the King was the longest surviving cab/side show. Some Beagles and Beach Bowzer shows may have lasted as long as he did but as near as anyone can tell Dolli, Artie and BB were all retired long before King was. I know some dining rooms still had him up until a few years ago and he would do a show when the MMBB went into intermission. As far as we know all the King and other remaining side show acts are now retired. I would be willing to bet more stores had the King than any other side show. Any thoughts?

I remember reading something about the King (for the store) being a Lion. Is this the same one we're talking about?

[dheineCECfan]

I remember reading something about the King (for the store) being a Lion. Is this the same one we're talking about?

Yes, the King is a lion!

[Apparently I'm a Relic]

well, I will just have to try to make some time to dig thru my basement and see what I can come up with. Glad I hung onto all of that old stuff . . . Has anyone seen the Leroy Neiman painting of Chuck E.?

[ChuckEFranchize454]

well, I will just have to try to make some time to dig thru my basement and see what I can come up with. Glad I hung onto all of that old stuff . . . Has anyone seen the Leroy Neiman painting of Chuck E.?

did you mean this one?

[IggyPop1990]

It's too bad CEC Entertainment (a/k/a originally ShowBiz Pizza Time) never donated a surviving leftover King show to the Graceland house/museum complex in Memphis, Tennessee (Elvis Presley's hometown).

>:)Oh you Know what..American Dragon: Jake Long is a ****!!

[Harmony Howlette]

>:)Oh you Know what..American Dragon: Jake Long is a ****!!
...what...?

[pizzacam]

...what...?

LOL, I knew someone else would ask WTH this was about... :)) :-/

[dheineCECfan]

>:)Oh you Know what..American Dragon: Jake Long is a ****!!

This is not CEC/PTT and/or KING related!

[Isabella Price]

The King is new to me. But, being a die-hard Elvis fan, I really really like him! :)

[Fatz Geronimo]

The king was something of a mystery to me back in my PTT days in the '80s, though the room he was in was very dark and rather intimidating looking (least to a childs perspective) I was always fascinated by that talking and singing lion. There's was hardly anyone ever in that room, and I never got to really eat there or do antyhing since we'd always spend our time with the CEC balcony show or in the game room. Part of me wanted to see him but the other part was a little frightened...I mean, while the CEC characters were placed high on the balcony, out of 'frightening' range, the king could be approached up close and I just never had the courage for it.

Hope to heaven I can see him in person one day though, he really is a wonder.

[IggyPop1990]

This next one's a promotional photo that was used for articles and ads... :smokin:

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p89/pizzacam/TheKing.jpg
--------------------------------------------
:DWow That's Amazing!
Can You Upload those photos of The KING's Armature?

[dheineCECfan]

This next one's a promotional photo that was used for articles and ads... :smokin:

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p89/pizzacam/TheKing.jpg
--------------------------------------------
:DWow That's Amazing!
Can You Upload those photos of The KING's Armature?

What's a ARMATURE?

[IggyPop1990]

An Armature is a figure:
Animatronic Armatures,
Stop-Motion Armatures,
& Many Kinds of Armatures