Kamil Perry
Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theatre, the first family restaurant to integrate food with arcade games and animated entertainment, opened in San Jose, California, in 1977. The first Chuck E. Cheese animatronic was also created in 1977, and was a Joisey rat who smoked a cigar while hurling one-liners at the slower members of the band.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| When was the first Chuck E. Cheese animatronic made? | 1977 |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
- The first Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theatre opened in San Jose, California, in 1977
- The first location featured singing portraits of Chuck E. and the gang called The Pizza Players
- The character's first incarnation was a Joisey rat who smoked a cigar and cracked jokes
- The first Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theatre was the first restaurant to integrate fast food, a video arcade, and live entertainment
- The animatronics at the first location were produced fully in-house by PTT employees
The first Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theatre opened in San Jose, California, in 1977
The chain's name is taken from its main character and mascot, Chuck E. Cheese. The first location opened on May 17, 1977, and was the first family restaurant to integrate food with arcade games and animated entertainment. This made it one of the pioneers for the "family entertainment centre" concept.
The "Cyberamics" animatronics were produced fully in-house by PTT employees. The original idea was to create a big arcade with food as a support structure, almost as an ancillary service. The restaurant's president and chief operating officer was Gene Landrum, who resigned from Atari to take up the role.
The Milk Behind Swiss Cheese: A Dairy Exploration
You may want to see also
The first location featured singing portraits of Chuck E. and the gang called The Pizza Players
The first Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theatre opened in San Jose, California, in May 1977. It was the first family restaurant to integrate food with arcade games and animated entertainment, pioneering the 'family entertainment centre' concept. The first location featured singing portraits of Chuck E. and the gang called The Pizza Players, which would banter for the parents' entertainment while the kids played Atari games. The character's first incarnation was a "Joisey rat" who smoked a cigar while hurling one-liners at the "slower" members of the band. Chuck E. Cheese was the first of his kind, and the restaurant's name is taken from its main character and mascot. The restaurant's "Cyberamics" animatronics were produced fully in-house by PTT employees.
Wisconsin's Milk: How Much Becomes Cheese?
You may want to see also
The character's first incarnation was a Joisey rat who smoked a cigar and cracked jokes
The first Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theatre opened in San Jose, California, in 1977. The first animatronic was a "Joisey rat" who smoked a cigar and cracked jokes. The character was known for hurling one-liners at the "slower" members of the band, such as Jasper P. Jowls and Helen Henny. The animatronics were singing portraits of Chuck E. and the gang, called "The Pizza Players". They would banter for the parents' entertainment while the kids played Atari games. The character of Chuck E. Cheese was the first family restaurant mascot to integrate food with arcade games and animated entertainment, thus pioneering the "family entertainment centre" concept.
Philly Cheese Steak: Sliced Beef, Melty Cheese, and More!
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The first Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theatre was the first restaurant to integrate fast food, a video arcade, and live entertainment
The first Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theatre opened in San Jose, California, in May 1977. It was the first family restaurant to integrate fast food, a video arcade, and live entertainment. The animatronics at the first location were singing portraits of Chuck E. and the gang called "The Pizza Players", which would banter for the parents' entertainment while the kids played Atari games. By the end of December 1979, there were seven PTT locations, six in California and one in Nevada. Its "Cyberamics" animatronics were produced fully in-house by PTT employees.
The chain's name is taken from its main character and mascot, Chuck E. Cheese. The first location opened as Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theatre, and it was one of the pioneers for the "family entertainment centre" concept. Unlike the skateboarding Chuck E. Cheese we know and love today, the character's first incarnation was a "Joisey rat" who smoked a cigar while hurling one-liners at the "slower" members of the band.
The original idea was to create a big arcade with food as a support structure, almost as an ancillary service. This was the brainchild of Bushnell, who told *The Atlantic* in 2013: "The original genesis was to create a big arcade with food as a support structure, almost as an ancillary service." Bushnell purchased the rights to the concept and characters from Warner for $500,000 in 1978, and Gene Landrum was made the restaurants' president and chief operating officer.
The Milk Behind Halloumi Cheese: A Dairy Mystery Solved
You may want to see also
The animatronics at the first location were produced fully in-house by PTT employees
The animatronics at the first Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theatre location in San Jose, California, were produced fully in-house by PTT employees. The first location opened in May 1977 and was the first family restaurant to integrate food with arcade games and animated entertainment. The animatronics at the first location were singing portraits of Chuck E. and the gang called "The Pizza Players", which would banter for the parents' entertainment while the kids played Atari games. By the end of December 1979, there were seven PTT locations, six in California and one in Nevada.
The Magic of Truffle Cheese: Ingredients and Process
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The first Chuck E. Cheese animatronic was made in 1977.
The first Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theatre opened in San Jose, California, in 1977.
The first animatronics at the restaurant were singing portraits of Chuck E. and the gang called "The Pizza Players", which would banter for the parents' entertainment while the kids played Atari games.
The first Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theatre was the first restaurant to integrate food with arcade games and animated entertainment.
