Randy Chandler
Chuck E. Cheese is an American entertainment restaurant chain, with locations featuring arcade games, amusement rides, musical shows, and pizza. The chain's name is taken from its main character and mascot, Chuck E. Cheese, who was originally an anthropomorphic rat, but later changed to a mouse. The first location, Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theatre, opened in San Jose, California in 1977, and it was the first family restaurant to integrate food with arcade games and animated entertainment. The restaurant's concept was built on the idea of a carnival, creating an atmosphere that would allow families to gather and children to be introduced to video games. The chain has since expanded internationally, with locations in Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Puerto Rico, and has undergone several name changes and rebrandings over the years.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of Founding | 1977 |
| Founder | Nolan Bushnell |
| Headquarters | Irving, Texas |
| Food Offerings | Pizza, cold-cut sandwiches, buffalo wings, French fries, salad bars, desserts |
| Games and Rides | Arcade games, animatronic shows, amusement rides |
| Former Attractions | Ball pits, crawl tubes |
| Mascot | Chuck E. Cheese |
| Mascot Species | Rat (1977-1992), Mouse (1993 onwards) |
| Mascot Redesign | 1993, 1995, 2012 |
| Mascot Costume | Old-fashioned vest and bowler hat (original), T-shirt and baseball cap (1990s), Rockstar-themed (2012) |
| Soft Drinks | Coca-Cola (until 2011), Pepsi (2011 onwards) |
| International Franchises | Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Puerto Rico |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Chuck E. Cheese's pizza, games, and entertainment
Chuck E. Cheese is an American entertainment restaurant chain founded in May 1977. Each location features arcade games, amusement rides, musical shows, and pizza and other food items. The chain's name is taken from its main character and mascot, Chuck E. Cheese, an anthropomorphic rat that was changed to a mouse in 1993. The character was originally created as the mascot for a restaurant proposed by Nolan Bushnell, the founder of Atari, in 1977. Bushnell bought the costume that would become Chuck E. Cheese at a conference, intending to use it for his planned Coyote Pizza restaurant. The first location, Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theatre, opened in San Jose, California, in 1977 and was the first family restaurant to integrate food with arcade games and animated entertainment.
The pizza served at Chuck E. Cheese is made in the kitchen, located behind the ordering counter and accessed through a back door. The guests pick up their food at the ordering window. Chuck E. Cheese also offers cold-cut sandwiches, buffalo wings, French fries, salad bars, and desserts. In 2011, gluten-free menu items were introduced at over 500 locations in the US and Canada, including a personal-size cheese pizza and an individual chocolate cupcake. The arcade games at Chuck E. Cheese primarily consist of redemption games or video arcade games, with players rewarded with tickets that can be exchanged for prizes. The brass tokens issued by the company for use in their arcades are collected by exonumia enthusiasts. The other primary draw for the centers since their beginning has been their animatronic shows, which have been supplemented and, in some cases, replaced by costumed characters. There are two types of costumed shows: the LIVE! show and the Road show. The LIVE! show is performed at the front of the stage in the showroom when a child is celebrating a birthday, and includes a rendition of "Birthday Star" sung to the birthday child, with a costumed Chuck E. Cheese dancing and singing with the guests. The Road show is performed outside the normal showroom, with children gathered via the public announcement system to dance and win free tickets.
Who Invented Cheese Strings? Kraft's Stringy Snack Revolution
You may want to see also
The evolution of Chuck E. Cheese's character design
In the early years, Chuck E. Cheese was known for smoking cigars, holding a microphone, and singing. His voice had a New Jersey accent and was provided by John Widelock until 1983, when Scott Wilson took over. In 1984, the character became softer, and Wilson's vocals became permanent. Chuck E. Cheese's tail, originally pointing upward, was changed to point downward.
In the mid-1990s, the character underwent significant design changes to appeal to a younger audience. The old-fashioned vest and derby or bowler hat were replaced with a baseball cap, a casual shirt, and sneakers. This was also when Chuck E. Cheese started to be characterised as a skateboarder in commercials. The voice of Chuck E. Cheese also evolved, becoming smoother and funnier, with less of a New Jersey accent, when Duncan Brannan took over as the voice actor in 1993.
In 1998, the character's design was finalised, and in 2004, the new look was implemented in restaurants. In 2011, Chuck E. Cheese was rebranded into a slimmer, rockstar-themed version, playing a guitar, and with a new voice actor, Jaret Reddick.
Edam Cheese: A Traditional Dutch Dairy Delight
You may want to see also
The history of Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theatre
Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theatre, now known as Chuck E. Cheese, is an American entertainment restaurant chain. The first location opened in San Jose, California, in May 1977 and was the first family restaurant to integrate food with arcade games and animated entertainment. The chain's name is taken from its mascot, Chuck E. Cheese, a rat with a New Jersey accent, who was later changed to a mouse in 1993. The restaurant's founder, Nolan Bushnell, sought to expand video-game arcades beyond adult-only locations and into family-friendly venues. Bushnell drew inspiration from his experience in the amusement park industry and his fondness for Disneyland's Country Bear Jamboree and Enchanted Tiki Room.
The original Chuck E. Cheese was an old-fashioned rat, with a vest, bowler hat, and a cigar, and was an instant hit with children. The character's first voice actor, John Widelock, portrayed him as a rat through and through, who made fun of other characters and cared deeply for his friends onstage. In 1980, Chuck ditched the cigar during the Great American Smokeout. In 1983, Widelock was replaced by Scott Wilson, who provided the vocals for a softer version of the character. In 1986, Scott was briefly replaced by Lonny Wilder, but due to complaints about Lonny's portrayal, Scott was brought back.
In the 1980s, video games rose in popularity, becoming an $8 billion industry. By 1984, however, Pizza Time Theatre was facing financial struggles and filed for bankruptcy. The company was then bought by its rival, ShowBiz Pizza, and in 1985, Bushnell resigned as chairman and CEO. ShowBiz Pizza Time, Inc. began unifying the two brands in 1990, renaming every location Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza. The character Chuck E. Cheese also began to see significant design changes in the 1990s, adopting a baseball cap, casual shirt, and sneakers to appeal to a younger audience. In 1993, Duncan Brannan was hired as the new voice of the mascot, with the task of transforming him from a rat to a mouse. The company went through a major rebrand in the 1990s, dropping "Pizza Time Theatre" from its name and introducing a redesigned, child-friendly version of the character with a slimmer physique.
In 1998, ShowBiz Pizza Time became CEC Entertainment, Inc. and moved its stock to the NYSE. The company continued to acquire additional family restaurant properties, including locations of Peter Piper Pizza in 2014. In 2012, the mascot was again redesigned, this time with a rockstar theme, in response to a decrease in sales.
Ragstone Cheese: A Taste of Kent's Heritage
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Chuck E. Cheese's food and drink options
Chuck E. Cheese, the American entertainment restaurant chain, offers a variety of food and drink options to its customers. The restaurant, founded in 1977, initially focused on pizza, and the name "Pizza Time Theatre" was part of its original name. Over the years, the food options have expanded, and today, Chuck E. Cheese continues to offer a diverse range of dining choices.
Pizza remains a staple at Chuck E. Cheese, and it is a key component of their menu. The pizza options cater to different dietary needs, including gluten-free options introduced in 2012. In addition to pizza, the restaurant serves cold-cut sandwiches, buffalo wings, French fries, and salad bars. Those with a sweet tooth can indulge in desserts, such as an individual chocolate cupcake.
The drink options at Chuck E. Cheese have also evolved. They initially served Coca-Cola products but switched to Pepsi in 2011, offering a variety of soft drinks to accompany the meals. Unlimited soft drinks are included in some of their deals, such as their birthday party package, which also includes gameplay and food discounts.
Chuck E. Cheese is known for its unique combination of dining and entertainment, with arcade games, amusement rides, and musical shows. The restaurant has continuously adapted its offerings to stay competitive, ensuring that there is always something new and exciting for its customers.
The Making of Cheese: A TV Show Documentary
You may want to see also
Animatronics and arcade games
Chuck E. Cheese, the mascot, was originally an anthropomorphic rat, but became a mouse in 1993. The character was created by Nolan Bushnell, the founder of Atari and Chuck E. Cheese. Bushnell drew inspiration from his experience in the amusement park industry and his fondness for the Enchanted Tiki Room and the Country Bear Jamboree at Disneyland. The name "Chuck E. Cheese" was chosen for its alliteration with Disney's Mickey Mouse and because it forced people to smile when they said it. The character's original costume included an old-fashioned vest and bowler hat, but this was later changed to a baseball cap, casual shirt, and sneakers to appeal to a younger audience.
The arcade games at Chuck E. Cheese primarily consist of redemption games or video arcade games. These games reward players with tickets that can be exchanged for prizes. The brass tokens issued by the company for use in their arcades are collected by exonumia enthusiasts. In addition to arcade games, Chuck E. Cheese also offers animatronic shows. There have been several different styles of animatronic shows used by the company, depending on factors such as the location's opening date, available room for animatronic stages, and renovation status. The original show was the Pizza Time Players, featuring Crusty the Cat (who was later replaced by Mr. Munch). Over time, these animatronic shows have been supplemented and, in some cases, completely replaced by costumed characters. There are two types of costumed shows: the LIVE! show and the Road show. The LIVE! show is performed in the showroom when a child is celebrating a birthday and includes a rendition of "Birthday Star" sung to the birthday child, with a costumed Chuck E. Cheese dancing and singing alongside cast members. The Road show is a performance by a costumed Chuck E. Cheese character outside the normal showroom, where children are gathered via public announcement to dance and win free tickets.
The Ancient Art of Yak Cheese Making
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Chuck E. Cheese is an American entertainment restaurant chain founded in May 1977. The first location, formerly known as Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theatre, opened in San Jose, California, and was the first family restaurant to integrate food with arcade games and animated entertainment. The chain's name is taken from its mascot, Chuck E. Cheese, who was originally an anthropomorphic rat but changed to a mouse in 1993. The restaurant has since gone through several rebrandings and makeovers, and the character Chuck E. Cheese has also seen significant design changes.
Chuck E. Cheese primarily serves pizza, but also offers other food items such as cold-cut sandwiches, buffalo wings, French fries, salad bars, and desserts. They also offer soft drinks, having previously served Coca-Cola products before switching to Pepsi in 2011. Gluten-free options are also available at many locations.
Chuck E. Cheese features arcade games, amusement rides, and musical shows. They also have various costumed shows, such as the LIVE! show and the Road show, which are performed by a costumed Chuck E. Cheese character. The restaurants previously featured animatronic shows, ball pits, crawl tubes, and other attractions.
