NEW Member Introductions

[menutia]

This is a great time and place for our newest members to post a little about themselves. No need to post your social security numbers and address, but please give the rest of us an idea about your history with SPP-PTT-CEC and what part of the world you are in.

What are your favorite songs, stores, and characters.

You will be surprised how much you have in common with many of us.

~Menutia
AKA Michael in Chicago.

[raebigc]

I'm Charles Berman, known to the gaming community as "The Big C", "DDR BIG C", "The gaming Guru". I'm a HARDCORE Rock-Afire Explosion fan, ever since I was around 6 years old. I saw the Rock-Afire Explosion live at a former SPP where I went to a friend's b-day party, and I really loved their taste in music, from Oldies to the 80s smash hits. When I got older, I started to make a collection of their best songs with the original artist recordings. Now that I'm 19, I still listen to the original recordings and the RAE covers. I'm an oldies guru, thanks to the RAE and my family listening to the songs on WQSR, the radio station that played all the original versions. My favorite recording artist has to be The Monkees, Neil Young, Elvis Presley and many others. My favorite voice actor of the RAE are Shalisa James and Burt Wilson. there isn't a lot of RAE's still in operation, thats why I listen to Radio Showbiz for my RAE cover hits. I have the original recordings by the original artists and I have all the RAE versions on CD as well. I'm from Dundalk, MD and I've lived there for 5 years. My favorite RAE character is Fatz, because he is cool but rude. My favorite RAE song was "Swingin'" originally sung by John Anderson and covered by Billy Bob Brockali as part of the Country Night 1983 Showtape. I also like the cover of "Talkin' in your sleep" originally sung by The Romantics and covered by Mitzi as a part of Trivia Night. If anyone wants to ask me any info about the oldies that the RAE covered, just PM me

[menutia]

Awesome, welcome aboard!

~M

[Shiney Happy Jenn]

Super cool!

This is the place to find all you need related to the Rock-aFire!

Members here are more then welcome to help you find stuff, and get you what you are looking for....so don't feel shy in asking!

Welcome to our community!

[Brenton81]

My name is Brent (Brenton81). I currently live in Racine, Wisconsin. Milwaukee's Chase Avenue store was my stomping ground in the 80's, back when they still had the ball crawl, Cheese Factory and flags waving in the showroom. My interest in Chuck E. Cheese's was sparked when they built one here in town and I saw how much it had changed from what I remember. I had to find out "what happened".
I was never in a ShowBiz or saw the Rock-afire Explosion, but I've been checking out the videos on YouTube when I've got the time. I have to say, the music they play is really good!
There's so much great stuff here, I'm still trying to read through all of it.
If I had to pick... my favorite Chuck E. Cheese's character would be Jasper and my favorite ShowBiz character would be Beach Bear.

[MMBBfan327]

Sweet, great to see another Wisconsin member on the board! :) I've been to Chase numerous times, my first being around 1995. Brent, have you ever been to the West Allis location on Hwy. 100, or the now closed location that was in the Elmbrook Plaza on North Avenue in Brookfield?

[menutia]

Yes, Welcome from the Midwest chapter..

(Looks like we have the most members in our area. I am thinking of another idea for the web site....)

Michael

[Brenton81]

I was at the West Allis location only once for a friend's birthday. I remember it being a little disappointing since they had already gotten rid of the ball pits (or maybe they never had them?) and they didn't have "The Cheese Factory." Those two things seemed, to an eight year old at least, like the main reasons to go to the Chase Avenue Chuck E. Cheese's. It also seemed like it was a little smaller than the Chase Ave. store. I do remember they had one of those little one seat ferris wheels though. It was by the entrance to the showroom. I've never been to the Elmbrook Plaza location.
I heard there's a Chuck E. Cheese's in Madison as well. Is that an old ShowBiz?
I actually went back to the Chase Ave. store for the first time in over ten years last December with a friend of mine who had never been to a Chuck E. Cheese's in her life. It was a Monday afternoon, we had the entire place to ourselves and we took full advantage of it. She loved the stage show, and I took a picture of her with Pasqually because she "likes Italian men." Haha.

[pizzacam]

Awesome so there ARE Pasqually fans out there besides me... :lol :o

[menutia]

Yeah, the Madison Store is a former Showbiz Pizza location. It's a standalone store on the far west side of town.

~M

[MMBBfan327]

Awesome so there ARE Pasqually fans out there besides me...

Of course! There's me, for example. I was OBSESSED with him my first couple of visits to CEC in '94. I had to get all of his merchandise (only little has popped up), and I even spent quite some time building a look-alike Half-Bodied Pasqually (only as the MMBB version). I also have a couple pics of me and him on my myspace. So yes, there are more fans. Him and Jasper are my favorites. :D Anywho, to Brent--I believe West Allis had the Ball Crawl. Of course, it had to be done with for sanitary issues, and they are smaller than Chase. Do you remember playing Can-Alley at all? The game where you toss balls in garbage cans that have cats popping out of them? That and CEC's Memory Match were my bread n' butter! ;)

[pizzacam]

Do you remember playing Can-Alley at all? The game where you toss balls in garbage cans that have cats popping out of them?

LOL I remember in like '89 or '90 I had a party here at the Walzem Rd. store and like 8 of us were playing it at the same time so the trash cans were getting all clogged while the tickets just poored and poored out! :lol

[Brenton81]

Haha... Yeah I remember Can-Alley! I also remember a game that was a metal track with a hump in the middle and a bowling ball that rolled on it. You would try to give the bowling ball a hard enough shove to make it over the hump, but not TOO hard so that it wouldn't reach the end of the track and roll back over the hump again. It probably makes no sense the way I explained it, but someone else here has to know what I'm talking about. There was also a skee-ball game for little kids. It was full size in every way, except the lane was only about eight feet long. You could easily just walk up along the side and drop the balls in the high scoring rings. I don't remember the Memory Match Game though.
My favorites were the ball crawl and the Cheese Factory. The ball crawl was totally crazy when it was full of kids jumping around. It did suck in that you had to pay three or four tokens per turn and it only lasted a few minutes. The Cheese Factory also cost three or four tokens to get in but there was no employee at the entrance to collect from you, only a turn style. Everyone just jumped over it and went in. There were times it was packed so full of kids you couldn't move once you were inside.
Man, the memories are flooding back!

[cec080]

At the location i grew up with we had this hockey game called Slap shot by Data East that game was awesome! Another one of my favorites were Pro Pitch where you threw balls into the catchers mit and for like every pitch you got in the catchers glove you scored a point.. My location also had the bowling bll roll game as well as a shuffle board bowling game. I miss the 1990's don't you. Some of you may remember but the location i grew up with was #713 they also were a Showbiz. oh yeah another favorite game of mine was Jugglin Jasper! that game was cool. a local cec near me had Jugglin Jasper up to 2001...


here's a picture of the Roller Bowler..
www.pmamusements.com/images/bowler.jpg (http://www.pmamusements.com/images/bowler.jpg)

[pizzacam]

I also remember a game that was a metal track with a hump in the middle and a bowling ball that rolled on it.

Roller Bowler!! That was one of my faves. 8o

[MMBBfan327]

Hmm...Roller Bowler *kinda* sounds familiar, and the way you explained it seems familiar, except the game itself is a little fuzzy in my head right now. I also LOVED playing that game where it was two boats (or any object) on this long board, and when you and your competitor shot a target with a water gun, the object would go up. I remember Elmbrook had that with the Chuck in his red vest, derby, and pink tail with a multi-colored background on the backboard of the game. I've seen it a few times on this site, but have not seen the same background in person, but similar backgrounds. Oh, and how in the world could I forget my other favorites as a youngster? At Chase, they had the green CEC trolley that you could ride in. It had its own unique trolley number of 37. And also the blue train that was similar in the movement of the trolley. Boy, I REALLY miss the '90s. And there was the robot!!! Oh, I LOVED the robot!!!

[Brenton81]

Oh wow.. I completely forgot about the robot! That thing was around when I was little. The Racine Chuck E. Cheese's has one of those water games, except the characters ride on a jet ski.

So, here's a question.... Is there someone who does the walkaround character anymore? I remember Chuck E. being out and about a LOT when I was little. (I'm ashamed to say I was a typical bratty kid who helped torture the poor high schooler in the costume trying to make a few bucks.) Now, at least at the Racine store, Chuck E. comes out only for a song or two during a birthday. Whoever is in the costume tends to just stand around clapping their hands, then slinks off to the mysterious backroom. No enthusiasm, no walking through the game room greeting kids, nothing. I was there with my niece a few weeks ago and she was excited to see Chuck E., but he disappeared right after a party and wasn't out for the three other hours we were there. Is it like this everywhere else?

[MMBBfan327]

Well, Chuck sadly does not come out anymore except for B-Days at all 3 SE Wisconsin locations (Brookfield, West Allis, and Chase). I too remember him coming out a LOT back in the day. Man, what happened?

[menutia]

I too remember him coming out a LOT back in the day. Man, what happened?

Um, have you smelled that costume recently? That might explain the reason he only comes out for B-Days.

~M

[Brenton81]

I'll have to plan a trip to Madison and check their Chuck E. Cheese's out. I'm kind of interested to see the show.

[MMBBfan327]

Brent have you ever been to the one in Brookfield on Bluemound Road?

[Brenton81]

Nope. I've been to the Racine one, Chase Ave., and the one in West Allis (a long time ago). If I understand correctly, the one in Rockford has a special kind of stage? I was through there a few weeks ago for work... if I'd have known, I would have stopped.

[MMBBfan327]

Yes, they have the Rocker stage, which is the stage that looks like a house. Only Chuck, Jasper, and Helen are full-bodied. Pasqually and Munch are still half-bodied, and behind windows. This stage is from the 80s, and most went out during the MMBB days in the early-mid '90s.

[Brenton81]

When did they get rid of the old stage at Chase Avenue?

[mmbbfan10972]

Hey Brenton Whos Your Favorite Chreacter?:) :D ;)

[Brenton81]

Jasper has always been my favorite Chuck E. Cheese's character.

Beach Bear would probably be my favorite from ShowBiz.

[MMBBfan327]

When did they get rid of the old stage at Chase Avenue?

It's hard to say for sure, but I have photographic evidence that the Balcony stage (the one with the maze under it) was gone by 1991 in favor of the C-Stage (just the balcony with a new look; like a porch outside a house). Then by 1995 or so Munch's Make-Believe Band was in the picture (also have photographic evidence). They recently remodled the exterior in Summer '05 to make it have a dome-like entrance, similar to Danvers' store, and with that some games went (such as Can-Alley, my personal favorite). Hope this helps, Brent. If you got anymore questions, just ask! ;)

[Brenton81]

I just watched that Concept Unification video on YouTube today. Right you are... Jasper is the Beach Bear bot! Kinda sad the way they said to just destroy all of the Rock-afire stuff and throw it out.

[mmbbfan10972]

I Haver 2 Items From A RAE Stage!:)

[Brenton81]

The Rock-afire sign would be cool to have.

[mmbbfan10972]

I Have A Mitzi Mask And Fatz Piano Plate!

[mmbbfan10972]

Is'nt That Cool'?

[Brenton81]

That is cool. The "Rock-afire Explosion" piano sign would be my second choice. Here's the stage at the Chase Ave. store in Milwaukee (last December.) It appears as though Pasually is dropping beats on Dook's Rock-afire drum set.
i50.photobucket.com/album...ChuckE.jpg (http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f306/Brenton81/ChuckE.jpg)

[MMBBfan327]

Well, I doubt it actually is Dook's drum, even though they look extremely similar. Idk though there was a SPP on 27th street that closed to be a Blockbuster Video, so maybe CEC did get some stuff with the merger, but I doubt it. To me it all seems like a coincidence.

[Brenton81]

I'm talking about the design on the drum. On the Concept Unification Video, that explosion design (or one pretty close to it) is present when the Rock-afire characters are on the stage. When they changed them over to Munch's Make Believe Band, they said to remove that part of the drum and replace it with a piece having a different pattern, some kind of swirl. (I've got a freaky knack for noticing details... I don't know why.) That's why I say it looks like a Rock-afire drum set.

Where exactly were there ShowBiz Pizza locations in Milwaukee, and when did they close? I have no recollection of them at all. I do remember ShowBiz commercials being played on TV around here along with almost identical ones for Chuck E. Cheese's.

[MMBBfan327]

Well there was a SPP like I said on 27th street where Blockbuster Video used to be (next to K-Mart and right when you get off the express way). Then there was one on 76th and Good Hope which was a CEC for a little while then closed. And then the two CEC's that were SPP in Madison and LaCrosse. And yes, you're right on them having similar commercials. They were the same thing except they'd change the logo/jingle words. Hope this helps!

[Brenton81]

That Blockbuster is closed now as well. I have no memory of that being ShowBiz. Did they close in the early 90's, or before that?

[MMBBfan327]

The SPP was gone around '92, as a majority of SPP closed by this point. Blockbuster then went it, and they moved out about a year ago.

[MMBBfan327]

BTW Brent is Pasqually still in poor condition? And also does Chase still use tokens or do they use the Arcade Cards?

[Brenton81]

The show actually didn't look bad at all to me, at least nothing noticably wrong. I don't really know all of the possible movements of the characters though. All the mouths moved in sync with the music and they turned their heads and blinked and everything. I always remember the show as being kind of "clunky." The characters never had real fluid movements, even with the old stage. I'm suprised everything was in as good of shape as it was, considering the type of crowd that Chase Avenue draws. Of course, Chuck E. did hire armed guards to watch his place, so...

The Racine Chuck E. Cheese's draws about the same clientelle, but they have a Studio C and the animatronic Chuck E. is behind a little balcony type set up, so I don't think he's messed with too much.

Chase has the token cards now as well. I guess you can only use token cards at the store you get them at. I had one from Racine with a couple bucks on it, but when I swiped it I got a "Card Not Loaded" message on the reader.

Have you ever been to the Madison Chuck E. Cheese's, MMBBfan327?

[MMBBfan327]

No. I've only been to the Elmbrook Plaza, Chase, West Allis, and Bluemound. One thing cool I heard about Racine is that they still have the "Late Night Talk Show" wardrobe on Chuck. Very cool, and VERY rare.

[Brenton81]

I'll have to take a picture next time I'm there... most likely this Sunday.

[MMBBfan327]

True dat! That oufit's a true gem! :eek

[Brenton81]

Here's a couple pictures from the Racine Chuck E. Cheese's.


i50.photobucket.com/album...meroom.jpg ([url=http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f306/Brenton81/Gameroom.jpg)][img]i50.photobucket.com/album...owroom.jpg ([url=http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f306/Brenton81/Showroom.jpg)][img]
i50.photobucket.com/album...uckE-1.jpg ([url=http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f306/Brenton81/ChuckE-1.jpg)][img]

[MMBBfan327]

Now that's awesome! Man, I wish Brookfield still had that outfit...:(

[StylesFan619]

Hi My Name Is StylesFan619. My Brother Told Me Alot About Show Biz Pizza And I Got Intrested So I Decided To Join To Learn More About It. I Like Hip Hop Rap And Rock And Metal Music. I Like To Watch Reality Shows Such As The White Rapper Show. I Live In Bayonne, New Jersey

[MMBBfan327]

Hey, welcome to the boards!!

[Lively Star King]

Although it has been a month since I've joined this forum community, I did not realize that there was a topic devoted to new members introducing themselves. Now that I've found it, I want to do some insightful elaborating.

My name is Nicholas (I go by Nick). I have lived in Crestview, Florida my entire life to this day. I greatly enjoy music from the golden ages. I am a huge rock fan! My compact disc collection is quite massive! I also own a huge DVD assortment. My parents took me to Showbiz Pizza Place numerous times during my childhood. There used to be one in the Mary Esther part of the city of Fort Walton Beach. With each visit we paid to the store, my liking for the Rock-afire Explosion grew more and more. I've already stated that my favorite character is Mitzi Mozzarella. I like her because she's very sunny and friendly; not to mention the fact that she looks very cute. A few months ago, one of the managers at my retail job told me about a new restaurant that now stands where SPP/CEC used to be located. Following that conversation, I started to look back on all of the good times that I had with my family at Showbiz when I was a little kid. Also, I decided to do some internet research concerning the aspects that are linked with the restaurant chain. I found this site and my interest in the RAE has been fully revived! Some of you may have seen the topic I started on zodiac signs for the group's eight members. I really like astrology and I figured that others would be very amused by the arrangement that I put together when I started the post. I've written replies in other topics contained here too. Once again, however, I overlooked the subject for new members to introduce themselves. It's all good though right?

[Aaron]

Absolutely :)

Welcome aboard, Nick.

Aaron

[pizzacam]

There used to be one in the Mary Esther part of the city of Fort Walton Beach. With each visit we paid to the store, my liking for the Rock-afire Explosion grew more and more.

Here's that very Dook now... At least he's running better now
:(

http://sp-com.tripod.com/pizzacam/pizzacam/finishedpasq.BMP

[CECWorker478]

Hello everyone my name is Adam Kohn and I work at CEC #478 and I do everything in the store except manager, I train , I do all 5 areas, I do merch inventory, and I do PM's(Preventative maintenance) with our Tech, I'm just waiting for Coordinator. I am a huge CEC fanboy ever since I met our buddy MrMunch88 aka Jay.

I'm happy to be here.

[Lilredridinghood]

Hey there Adam! Thats cool you worked at #478-I did too years ago back when I lived in MA! One of the things I use to do was order and do merch inventory...if you go in the merch closet, I wrote: "Kerry loves Rolfe" on the wall years ago, it's probably still there!

[CECWorker478]

I'll look when I get to work today (since its 1:40)

[CEC3066]

Hey Adam seeing as how you do merch can you help me out w/ something. I keep hearing that the latest Limited Edition Chuck E. Doll that came out was a Biker Chuck yet I can't find this doll at any CEC i've been to and I have the ENTIRE set of LE dolls up to now. My buddy Jeff (CECKidCheck) says he saw the doll at his store in AZ but so far I have had no luck.

[Mr Munch88]

Hey Adam!! Welcome to the board, cool to finally see you here!

[CECWorker478]

"Hey Adam seeing as how you do merch can you help me out w/ something. I keep hearing that the latest Limited Edition Chuck E. Doll that came out was a Biker Chuck yet I can't find this doll at any CEC i've been to and I have the ENTIRE set of LE dolls up to now. My buddy Jeff (CECKidCheck) says he saw the doll at his store in AZ but so far I have had no luck."

I havent seen a biker chucke and right now with the new merch bins coming out my manager Giani made the order and I don't think were gonna get any orders becuase we forgot to use the Web order but anyway. I still have nutcracker chuck E's. I think i ordered some last week so give me till tuesday and I'll get back to you

[dook&jasper`s#1fan]

hey,
im new here & have liked the rae & cec since i was a little girl. i live in nyc. our store here is a stuido c. i dont own a cec or rae. i just like seeing & hereing about other peoples rae`s & cec`s!!! my name is melanie ann minks. my fave cec character is jasper & my fave rae character is dook. im 13 and glad to be abord !!!
bye melanie :D :)

[Aaron]

If you're thirteen, please adjust your birth date so it's accurate. We appreciate honesty here, and there's nothing to hide about your age.

Plus, the board sends e-mails on your birthday, so it would make no sense to send you one saying you're 22 now...

Thanks!

[Aaron]

Thanks ;) Just got this one cleared up.

Welcome!

[goodvibrations1985]

My name is James Bowen,and I am a classic gaming junkie. Seriously,I have all the systems,atari,NES,SNES,Genesis,all of them. I'm also an 80's fan,I have most of the movies on tape,cassette tape of old metal bands,as well as compilation CDs,and I search youtube for episodes of the shows from the 80's. I also loved the RAE which was way better than CEC,which is just kiddie crap now. Anywho,I hope to meet some new people like Aaron,Jenn,Capt.Slappy,ect.

[Pizzatimefun222]

Ok, but I refuse to use my name. Oh well. I'm Daniel (Not using my last name) I'm a video game freak. :bbwink:

[PaulKTF]

Hi. I'm Paul.. 26 years old from the midwest (USA). Big PTP/MMMB and RAE fan. I'm mostly found hanging out on the Animatronics World Yahoo Group but I decided to start posting here too.

If you want to know anything else feel free to shoot me an email 'cause I have PMs turned off. :)

[HisHelen89]

hi! i'm new... i'm thinking maybe i should keep my name to myself. there's at least one person in here who doesn't like me. but i have worked at store # 954 for a year and a half... and i joined because i have friends here... like franchize, Kait... and now Aaron... laters... :D

[pizzacam]

Welcome :) Where is #954?

BTW I'm Gabriel here in San Antonio, Tx...

I worked at #098 & #417 for about a year in '01-'02 :cecwink:

Check out the board for a while then disclose whatever info you want IF you want ;)

[HisHelen89]

hi Gabe... i know who you are through the Franchize... #954 is in Wilmington, Delaware... you get cookie if you know where that is! lol... decided who cares if the person who doesn't like me knows i'm here... i'm Erin... :-D

[CEC Kid Check]

Wilmington, Delaware... you get cookie if you know where that is! i'm Erin... :-D

Hi Erin and welcome to the board!;)

Now where is my cookie!:cec_thumbs:

[HisHelen89]

haha.... no fair... you cheated!

[Aaron]

nice work Jeff! how about I toss you a useless midget for a footrest instead? :laugh:

[kaittttt]

nice work Jeff! how about I toss you a useless midget for a footrest instead? :laugh:

OMG! HAHAHAAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAA!!!!

[CEC Kid Check]

nice work Jeff! how about I toss you a useless midget for a footrest instead? :laugh:

:laugh:!!!
Well, I would take that deal, but the problem is I don't want it moving around like random movements...;)

[Aaron]

ohhhhhh maaaaaaan I, I, totally don't get what you're talking about but somehow I knew it man! oh draaaaaaaaatssss.

[theradocaster]

Hi, I'm theradocaster (named after this guitar my dad found and named). I've been watching this forum for awhile and wanted to join the fun.

[HisHelen89]

hi and welcome! :-D

[ChuckECheese383]

Welcome theradocaster!!!:)