Chuck E Cheese: Humans In Mouse Costumes

Chuck E. Cheese is an American entertainment restaurant chain with locations across the world. The chain's name is taken from its main character and mascot, a mouse (formerly a rat) called Chuck E. Cheese. The mascot is played by a rotating cast of store employees in costume. The costume has gone through several changes over the years, with the current one featuring long, green sleeves attached to the shirt to hide the performer's arms. Employees have reported that the suit is very hot and uncomfortable to wear. The company has a corporate policy of destroying the mascot's head when it is no longer needed or when the costume is updated, to prevent the character from being used outside of Chuck E. Cheese's and to avoid traumatising children.

The costume is rotated among employees

The Chuck E. Cheese costume is rotated among employees, with no single person hired to be in the costume full-time. Employees only get to be in the costume for about 15 minutes at a time to prevent overheating. The costume is hot, uncomfortable, and smelly, and employees are not allowed to talk while wearing it. They are also required to destroy Chuck E. Cheese's head when the costume is no longer needed or updated, to prevent it from being recognised and to maintain the innocent, kid-friendly image of the character.

Employees have shared their experiences of wearing the Chuck E. Cheese costume. One employee mentioned that it was difficult to smile while wearing the costume, while another stated that it depended on their mood. Some employees have also had negative experiences, such as getting kneed in the shins by children showing off their karate skills. Overall, the experience of wearing the Chuck E. Cheese costume varies among employees, with some finding it enjoyable at times and others finding it miserable.

It can be very hot inside

The experience of wearing the Chuck E. Cheese costume is described by some as "pretty miserable". One former employee said, "The job sucks away your ability to smile". Another employee who worked at Chuck E. Cheese in the 1980s said, "Nothing special ever happened while being the mouse".

The heat inside the costume can also depend on the mood of the person wearing it. One person who worked as a costume actor said, "Early in a shift I would definitely smile. Through the day you got tired and smiles came less frequently".

To combat the heat, Chuck E. Cheese costumes have long, green sleeves attached to the shirt to hide the performer's arms.

The costume has evolved over the years

Designed by Harold Goldbrandsen, the next iteration of the costume featured blush on Chuck E. Cheese's cheeks, and his name on his hat. The tail was sometimes strapped to the side to prevent yanking. The vest was originally a yellowish-orange checkerboard design with the words "Pizza Time Theatre" on the derby hat. After the company merged with Showbiz Pizza Place, the vest and derby hat were redesigned.

The 1981-1987 and 1989-1993 versions of the costume featured an articulated head with movable eyelids and mouth. This version was only used in commercials and did not appear in stores. The next version of the costume had larger ears, improved eye focus, and the blush was removed. The costume also featured various outfits, including a tuxedo with a red bow tie and black-and-gold (or black) tuxedo suit and pants. Another outfit included a black bow tie, a yellowish-green sports coat with "Chuck E." embroidered on it, red shorts, and red shoes.

In the early 1990s, a new and improved Chuck E. Cheese costume was introduced with changes to the eyes, mouth, ears, and eyebrows. The tail was also removed. During the first years of this costume, Chuck E. Cheese had bigger eye pupils, thicker eyebrows, and different eyelid colours.

In 2012, Chuck E. Cheese underwent a redesign, introducing the Avenger Chuck, which became the most iconic and beloved version of the character. This version of the costume included a purple and green cap with a yellow "C", a green, purple, and yellow shirt with a yellow "C", and green shorts.

The current Chuck E. Cheese costume resembles the character's updated design, with long, green sleeves attached to the shirt to hide the performer's arms.

Employees are required to destroy the costume head

Employees are required to destroy Chuck E. Cheese's head when it is no longer needed, such as when a location closes or the costume is updated. This is to prevent the mascot's head from being recognised and ensure it is not found in a dumpster, which could be traumatic for children.

The practice involves taking all the parts off the head, salvaging the nose, ears, and some other parts. The head is sliced in half or otherwise destroyed to ensure it is not identifiable. This process usually happens out of sight, but there was one instance where former employees of the Oak Lawn location went rogue and bashed Chuck's brains in with a sledgehammer in the parking lot. This was not standard practice and was not condoned by the company.

The destruction policy is in place to protect the company's intellectual property and prevent a secondary market from popping up, with people selling Chuck E. Cheese memorabilia. If the character is regularly seen outside of the restaurant, the company could lose the legal right to monopolise it.

The costume itself is not built for survival and gets a lot of use, so by the time a location closes, the costume is usually quite worn and matted. The destruction of the head also supports the company's stringent rules surrounding the character and its innocent, kid-friendly image. Employees are not allowed to talk while in costume, even if a child asks them a question.

The destruction of Chuck E. Cheese's head is a mysterious process to many, with some speculating that it is a type of sacrifice to prevent the grounds of Chuck E. Cheese from being haunted. However, the practice is simply a way to protect the company's interests and maintain the fantasy world of Chuck E. Cheese for children.

The costume is sometimes sold as merchandise

The Chuck E. Cheese costume has gone through several iterations over the years, with the company using numerous different costumes. The earliest costume was a large grey rat, which inspired Nolan Bushnell to shape the restaurant around a rat character. This costume was never used beyond the early Atari mascot. The first official Chuck E. Cheese costume featured a smaller head with a red and yellow derby hat, a vest with buttons and a bow tie, and occasionally a tail strapped to the side.

The costume has since gone through various changes, including different outfits, such as a tuxedo and sports clothing, and alterations to Chuck E. Cheese's physical features, such as the size of his eyes, teeth, and ears. The current Chuck E. Cheese costume features long, green sleeves attached to the shirt to hide the performer's arms.

While the costume is primarily worn by employees of Chuck E. Cheese, it is sometimes sold as merchandise. On eBay, for example, various components of the costume are available for purchase, including the head, hands, and fur suit bottoms. These items are described as "rare" and "vintage", indicating that they may be from older versions of the costume.

In addition to the official sales of costume components, there may be unofficial sales or rentals of the full Chuck E. Cheese costume. This is evident from a Reddit post where a user mentions working as the Easter Bunny for a mall and having to wear a bunny costume. While this user did not work as Chuck E. Cheese, their experience working in a similar role suggests that there could be a market for renting or selling full character costumes, including the Chuck E. Cheese one.

Selling the Chuck E. Cheese costume, or its components, allows fans of the character and collectors to own a piece of the brand's history. It also provides an opportunity for individuals or businesses to use the costume for entertainment or promotional purposes.

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