USA Fanon Wikia is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. One also operated in Salmiya, Kuwait, but was firebombed during the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait during August 1989 and was repaired or reopened. It's admittedly a little less flashy, a little less artsy, but most importantly it's responsive across all devices. The life-sized characters were capable of facial expression, and some could even play simple melodies on musical instruments. Restaurants Phase II remodels begin, increasing the number of games and rides and upgrading the prize redemption areas. The last Showbiz Pizza location in the United States was shut down in 1994. On March 3rd, 1980, the Wolf Pack 5 was installed in the first Showbiz Pizza location at the Antioch Shopping Center in Kansas City, MO. Aaron Fechter, the founder of Creative Engineering and creator of the Rock-afire Explosion, claimed that the fallout between his company and ShowBiz arose when ShowBiz asked him to sign away the licensing and copyrights to the Rock-afire Explosion, which would have allowed ShowBiz to cut production costs on the show, such as manufacture of future shows and royalty payments to Creative Engineering. In addition to the eponymous rat, the act consisted of multiple characters, including Jasper T. Jowls (a hound dog); Crusty (a cat); Madame Oink (a pig); the Warblettes (three magpies); Pasqually (a pizza chef, and the only human cast member); and Mr. The data tracks are encoded using Biphase mark code produced during the programming process by two Apple IIe computers. [1][3] In 1978, Bushnell purchased the Pizza Time Theatre concept from Atari's then-corporate parent, Warner Communications. [4][5] ShowBiz Pizza Place was conceptually identical to Pizza Time Theatre in all aspects except for animatronics; which would be provided by Creative Engineering. Brian helps maintain our social media presence and is administrates our Facebook page. He's also responsible for many of the graphic logos and design work that's been a key feature on this website throughout the years. Additionally, thirty stores were outfitted with "Uncle Klunk" (voice: Jeff Howell[14]), a human character who replaced Rolfe and hosted talk-show segments with his bird sidekick, Click. 1982 Number of Locations No purchase necessary. Each continued its own stage shows and sold different merchandise. In terms of food, Chuck E. Cheese was the clear winner: ShowBizs pizza was cheaper but bland, whereas Chuck E. Cheese delivered tasty pizza, with a thin, matzo-like crust. And for posterity's sake, here's a few screenshots that illustrate the progression of ShowBizPizza.com through the years ShowBizPizza.com - Where Everyone Can Be a Kid, since 1999.All characters and brands are / their respective owners. Smittys is now open by appointment only, so you can have the balcony all to yourself as you enjoy a full library of musical programming on three stages. I spent the next few years of my childhood absolutely obsessed with ShowBiz and The Rock-afire Explosion. - Atari opens the 1st Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theatre in San Jose, California. Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month. I was terrified of them, and spent the majority of the night turned away from the stage when they would come out, staring instead at the patrons behind us and the back wall of the showroom. Programming the choreography was a laborious process. Sign up for our newsletter and enter to win the second edition of our book. This website is made possible by the fans of Chuck E. Cheese's and ShowBiz Pizza. Bushnell, meanwhile, has continued to launch startups and develop video games since losing Chuck E. Cheese in 1984. [4] The court case began in March 1980, eventually settling out of court; with ShowBiz agreeing to pay Pizza Time Theatre a portion of its profits over the following decade. ShowBizPizza.com - Where Everyone Can Be a Kid, since 1999.All characters and brands are / their respective owners. ShowBizPizza.com is an educational website designed to inform the public about all aspects and topics relating to the history of Chuck E. Cheese's and ShowBiz Pizza Place. - 400th company-owned Chuck E. Cheese's location is opened. Later, as ShowBiz Pizza Place took over programming, they used Songcode, a system inherited from their acquisition of Pizza Time Theatre, until APS (see above) became their standard programming system. In the years since the robot pizza wars rocked America, Chuck E. Cheese has continued to soldier on. But once again, victory was short-lived, only this time for Fechter. Tabitha is a fan and collector herself, and the owner of several different animatronic characters from various animatronic manufacturers. Even without any sort of website building skills or know-how, the basis of what would become ShowBizPizza.com was born. Brock promised Bushnell financial support, and Bushnell, in return, promised Brock the best animatronic technology in the world. Before the Chuck E. Cheese's characters became the family franchise destination we know today, ShowBiz Pizza Place was the direct descendent of the Pizza Time Theater chain started by creators Robert L. Brock and the team at Creative Engineering, Inc. ShowBiz was led by a group of mascot animatronics that even included Chuck E. Cheese at one . - With 272 stores, ShowBiz Pizza Time begins to show profits as financial restructuring is completed. Just like Chuck E. Cheese's and Showbiz Pizza, the animatronic display was the . Aside from the volunteered time and efforts of our community, the material we host and share has been submitted / donated by dedicated fans who have managed to care for and preserve it through the years. Romania: Castles, Ruins, and Medieval Villages, Iceland in Summer: Journey Through a Fabled Land, Monster of the Month w/ Colin Dickey: Mokele-Mbembe, Accidental Discoveries: A Celebration of Historical Mistakes, Antiques and Their Afterlives: Stories from the Collection of Ryan and Regina Cohn, Monster of the Month w/ Colin Dickey: Satanists, Once Upon a Time: Fairy Tale Writing With Anca Szilgyi, Gourds Gone Wild: Growing and Crafting Gourds With Gourdlandia, Playing Ancient Games: History & Mythology With John Bucher, Secrets of Tarot Reading: History & Practice With T. Susan Chang, Archaeological Site inside Monastiraki Metro Station. Get Store Hours, phone number, location, reviews and coupons for Showbiz Pizza Place located at 1154 E Ogden Ave., Naperville, IL, 60563 It was the fall of 1984 and my family was there to celebrate my cousin's birthday party. [16], In the 1990s, an update to the band, known as "The New Rock-afire Explosion", was created, using new, smaller animatronics known as "mijjins", as well as other features such as revolving stages and dance choreography. Without the rights to the Rock-afire Explosion, ShowBiz was forced to convert the remaining Rock-afire robots into Chuck E. Cheese characters, replacing their exteriors, but leaving the original machinery intact [PDF]. Sales begin to weaken for both chains. See. Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. Then Dan Evans (driver of the Jetix truck) decided to dance with Chuck E. and Billy Bob), The Dillock, West Cybersland location (The oldest in the chain, which opened on January 1, 1983), The Ricastan, East Cybersland location (Known as Looney Bird's), The Dlindlintown, West Cybersland location (Combo with a TJ Hartford's), The Tincity, West Cybersland location (The sign's letters are scrambled), The Cahsenorehbelz, East Cybersland location (This location is designed for the market that is too small for the typical ShowBiz stores, and this store uses a mini stage with Mitzi wearing her clothing from the country tapes and has a few games and a small kitchen and counter), The Bananaaphone, West Cybersland location (This location has a Rock-afire Explosion with Rolfe and Earl replaced with Princess Haylee of the Moon Rockers), Trance, East Cybersland (This location is co-branded with Chuck E. Cheese's and this location has the Moon Rockers as it's only band and Billy Bob and Chuck E. only exist as walk-around characters at this location), The Town of Lightning, East Cyberland location, The Bananaville, West Cybersland location (uses a Fatz and the Hillbilly Bears show that replaces Rolfe and Earl with Uncle Klunk), The Moncton, East Cybersland location (has a RAE with wacky characters, featuring a country-style Mitzi and a naked Fatz), The Cloncton, West Cybersland location (known as Uncle Klunk's and a combo with Hungry Jack's. ShowBiz Pizza Place opened its first location on March 3, 1980, in Kansas City, Missouri. - ShowBiz Pizza Time opens its first new location in 3 years. However, in the latter part of the decade, relations between Creative Engineering and ShowBiz began to sour. Aside from the volunteered time and efforts of our community, the material we host and share has been submitted / donated by dedicated fans who have managed to care for and preserve it through the years. Tabitha is a fan and collector herself, and the owner of several different animatronic characters from various animatronic manufacturers. Logofanonpedia is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. Since 1992, independent companies and people have been preserving it and one can still view the show in various locations around the world where it is still in operation to this day. A dramatically eroding canyon thousands of miles from the desert. Brock cancelled his deal with Bushnell and teamed up with Fechters company, Creative Engineering, to start the ShowBiz Pizza franchise. Tabitha is best recognized as the host of the original ShowBizPizza.com YouTube show "Pizza Time". 1980 The show also has several smaller prop characters, many of which did not have speaking roles. I treasured my experiences, and each and every ShowBiz vinyl record and doll and merch I was able to get my hands on (many coming from second hand stores). To the right, there's a small arcade room complete with black. And for posterity's sake, here's a few screenshots that illustrate the progression of ShowBizPizza.com through the years ShowBizPizza.com - Where Everyone Can Be a Kid, since 1999.All characters and brands are / their respective owners. Since 1999, we have been the premiere online resource for people seeking to learn more about this unique restaurant concept. Major remodeling is tested at both ShowBiz and Pizza Time locations. In 1981, Pizza Time Theatre went public; however, the evolving video game industry resulted in significant losses for Pizza Time Theatre; losing $15 million in 1983, and by 1984, Bushnell's debts were insurmountable, resulting in the filing of Chapter 11 bankruptcy for Pizza Time Theatre Inc. ShowBiz then bought the foundering company, recreating itself as ShowBiz Pizza Time Inc.[3], After the merger, both restaurants continued operating under the different titles, while major financial restructuring had begun,[3] eventually becoming publicly traded in 1989, with sales increasing by 8.3%. Although Showbiz had a relatively short lifespan, opening its first location in 1980 and closing by 1992, it made many memories for kids of the 80s. Our goal is simple - to make sure that every fan leaves educated! On Dook's original stage, there was an owl that was just a prop, and did not move or speak. When Pizza Time Theatre filed for bankruptcy in 1984, ShowBiz bought the company, hoping that new talent and merchandising opportunities could save both companies. New attractions are test marketed in select locations, with the prospect of rolling out new features system-wide. Fechter also implemented latex masks for the characters' faces, as opposed to the rubber and Styrofoam masks common in other animatronics. - Following disappointing sales in 1993, ShowBiz Pizza Time drops the word "pizza" from the restaurant name, rebranding it as simply Chuck E. Cheese's. It was the little pieces of ShowBiz I had at home that kept the obsession alive between visits. Uses a RAE show that replaces Billy Bob with Uncle Klunk), The Relondia, East Cybersland location (Version 2), The Town of Water, West Cybersland location (There are rescue divers who rescue items that fall into the Wallace Canal), The Pizza Olden Times City, East Cybersland location (This location uses a RAE stage that replaces Rolfe and Earl with Uncle Klunk), The Poeatree, East Cybersland location (formerly a Blockbuster store), The Disneyland Resort Swansea in Swansea, West Cybersland location, The Makunenefort, West Cybersland location, The Pizza Gutimdez, East Cybersland location, The Pointz, East Cybersland location (A combo with a Georgie Pie), The Zone, West Cybersland location (Co-branded with Chuck E. Cheese's), The Zoox, East Cybersland location (A combo with McDonald's), The Funkytown, East Cybersland location (This location uses a RAE that replaces Rolfe and Earl with a Pikachu), The Castle Town, West Cybersland location (A combo with a Little Caesars Pizza Station), The Generic and Bland City, West Cybersland location, The Ellif, East Cybersland location (co-branded with Chuck E. Cheese's). I remember only brief snippets of that initial visit, and a rather traumatic experience first seeing The Rock-afire Explosion. 1986 - With 272 stores, ShowBiz Pizza Time begins to show profits as financial restructuring is completed. The replacement of Brannan with Reddick was met with backlash, but the company issued the following statement: "Brannan was not fired from Chuck E. Cheese's, rather we simply chose to utilize new voice talent for the original music we have written as part of a TV advertising campaign in partnership with The Richards Group. [20], Smitty's Super Service Station has a fully functional show in Sandy Hook, Mississippi. After lengthy negotiations, ShowBiz settled in 1982, and agreed to pay an estimated $50 million to Chuck E. Cheese for the next 14 years. The final traces of the Showbiz Pizza name . 1995 These included an animated Sun and Moon (who provided background vocals from time to time), Antioch the birthday spider (who spoke in garbles), Choo-Choo the bear cub, who hid in a small tree stump in front of Dook's drums and "danced" to the band's music, and Birthday Bird, who sat on Billy Bob's guitar. [2] The first location opened in San Jose, California in 1977, and was labeled as the first family restaurant to integrate food, animatronic characters, and an arcade. [15], After ties between Creative Engineering and ShowBiz were completely severed, "Concept Unification" began in November 1989 and occurred sporadically at ShowBiz locations for the next two years, with the final Rock-afire being converted at the Memphis location in January 1993. The show was created and manufactured by inventor Aaron Fechter through his company Creative Engineering, Inc. in Orlando, Florida. Although my family was poor and the nearest ShowBiz was an hour away, my parents went out of their way to take my brother and I to ShowBiz when it was possible, even if it was only a couple times a year. The Klunk animatronics also served to be retrofitted into Santa Claus shows during the holidays. - Having completed Concept Unification, Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza becomes the exclusive store brand operated by the company. The first ShowBiz Pizza location opened in Kansas City in 1980three years and 1800 miles away from the first Chuck E. Cheese locationoffering a suspiciously similar combination of. IL They began phasing Fechter out, using voice impersonators to play his characters. Unlike other animatronic shows of the early 1980s, the Rock-afire Explosion was life-sized, with most of the performers about the size of an average adult human. ShowBiz Pizza Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. He opened Smittys in 2007, and moved the operation to its current location in 2018. Shrouded in secrecy and rumor, the Mafia is a loose-knit group of fans who have dedicated themselves to keeping the spirit of this hobby alive. A 100-foot-tall mural in South Australia. The New Monterrey, West Cybersland location The New Reykjavk, East Cybersland location (A Taco Bell is inside) 1983 After filing for bankruptcy in March 1984, the chain was acquired by Brock Hotel Corp., parent company of competitor ShowBiz Pizza Place in May 1985, forming ShowBiz Pizza Time, Inc. Since 1999, we have been the premiere online resource for people seeking to learn more about this unique restaurant concept. With Fechters approval (and occasional assistance), Thrash programmed the Rock-afire Explosion to perform contemporary pop songs (including Ushers Love in the Club and Nine Inch Nails 100,000,000). It was the first shot fired in a lengthy battle. [2] By September 1981, there were 48 company-owned outlets and 42 franchises. As with ShowBiz Pizza Place, the text of Wikipedia:ShowBiz Pizza Place is available under the Wikipedia:GNU Free Documentation License. ), The Beach Klaxon, West Cybersland location (In 2005, this store was invovled in a bee accident), The Battop, East Cybersland location (Includes 1989 logo and is constantly one of the top-gross stores in the Cyberslands), The Workings, West Cybersland location (Includes 1980 logo and opened on November 2, 1998, when Pokemon first aired in the Cyberslands), The Arabic City, East Cybersland location (This location is a combo with a Chuck E. Cheese's and was built in 2001 as part of a special Showbiz Pizza and Chuck E. Cheese's joint promotion), The Animal Kingdom, East Cybersland location (Opened when Animal Kingdom's human ban was lifted in 1999. One intrepid reporter for San Franciscos Evening magazine actually reviewed two local ShowBiz and Chuck E. Cheese locations in 1983. An experiment of Paul Linden and Dave Philipsen using JVC BR-7000 VHS Hi-Fi tape decks which integrated two stereo audio tracks, two longitudinal data tracks, and video led to a system in 1988 where television screens were installed above the Rock-afire stage as the company introduced their new Cyberstar TV screen system. He eventually teamed up with Bob Brock, chairman of the Brock Hotel Corporation, one of the largest franchisees of Holiday Inns. However, relatively few customers purchased the show. ShowBiz Pizza restaurants entertain guests through a large selection of arcade games, coin-operated rides, and animatronic stage shows as a way to provide a complete package of food and entertainment. During showtime, the characters were finally shown performing in video, as reel-to-reel formatted tapes began to be used less often. The latex masks fit over movable parts on the characters' faces, permitting a range of facial expressions, including smiling and the raising of eyebrows. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. According to Bushnell, If you listened to the dialogue, it was fun, edgy stuff, kinda like Toy Story, written as much for the parents as the kids.. Furthermore, in 2015, a documentary on the Rock-afire Explosion was released on YouTube, and as of 2023, has over a million views. I was four years old when I first visited a ShowBiz Pizza Place restaurant. [15], ShowBiz began toying with the idea of adding licensed characters such as Spider-Man or Garfield to the Rock-afire show, and three ShowBiz locations actually replaced Billy Bob and Looney Bird with Yogi Bear and Boo Boo animatronics in 1987.[15]. A location shared with a Subway off the 1-24 Highway in some sandunes near El Uno, East Cybersland. [3][6] In 1999, CEC Entertainment, Inc. bought out competitor Discovery Zone. Fechter also implemented computer programming that permitted some of the characters to move in rhythm with music. - A Co-Development Agreement is signed between Bushnell and hotelier Robert L. Brock to open approx 285 Pizza Time Theatre restaurants across 16 states. [5] There was one return of the brand in the United States, named ShowBiz Pizza Zone. The show was pioneering, in many respects, to other animatronics shows of the early 1980s. Since 1999, we have been the premiere online resource for people seeking to learn more about this unique restaurant concept. [3][6] During this period, Creative Engineering began to sever ties with ShowBiz Pizza Time (they officially left the company in September 1990), eventually resulting in the unification of its mixed characters. He handed the financial management of Creative Engineering over to his father, and focused full time on devising Rock-afire acts, overseeing everything from programming to choreography, and even providing voices for several Rock-afire characters. In 2013, a high-pressure bottle of Fechters Carbohydrillium exploded, nearly demolishing the Creative Engineering warehouse. If you've been here before, you probably notice some differences. The Strange Tale of SS Warrimoo, the Ship That Existed in Two Centuries at Once, Beltane Is About More Than Fire and Fertility. 2000 At the time, Bushnell was selling Atari consoles to arcades: though he made between $1500 to $2000 for each console sold, arcades were reaping in profits in the tens of thousands. You're currently viewing the new "5.0" version of ShowBizPizza.com. Our goal is simple - to make sure that every fan leaves educated! During the days when Showbiz was uninvolved in programming, the circuitry of the RAE was purchased by Creative Engineering from Superscope, the makers of Pianocorder. The corporation maintained the two restaurant chains simultaneously for several years. The Showbiz brand emerged following a separation between Brock and Pizza Time Theatre, owners of the Chuck E. Cheese's franchise. In the end, though Fechter and Bushnell have moved on to new endeavors, the pizza warsand the ultimate loss of their companiesleft a bad taste in their mouths. Doubly spurned and angered by the whole ordeal, he began plotting his revenge. Contents 1 History 1.1 Origin 1.2 Installation and Format 2 Design 2.1 Stage Right (Chuck E. Cheese) If you've been here before, you probably notice some differences. Offer available only in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). Shrouded in secrecy and rumor, the Mafia is a loose-knit group of fans who have dedicated themselves to keeping the spirit of this hobby alive. [4] Do not pick up any hitch hikers in this area, a prison is nearby. That means that the information you're looking for is much easier to locate and find, with simple navigation and easy access to what you're looking for. 1984 Also embroiled in the conflict were a dog, a cat, a pack of wolves, a handful of bears, and the worlds most famous animatronic rat: Chuck E. Cheese.. [10] Jaret Reddick, lead singer of the musical group Bowling for Soup, was hired to become the new voice of Chuck E. Cheese,[11] after having been voiced by Duncan Brannan for 19 years. By 1992, all restaurants assumed the name of Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza. The final traces of the Showbiz Pizza name disappeared in 1998, when the chain's former owners, Showbiz Pizza Time, rebranded itself as CEC Entertainment. The Nighttona, West Cybersland location (the second location to open), The first West Cybersland location, in Gronxville, West Cybersland (opened in 1982), The Ginkoland, West Cybersland location (A KFC restaurant is inside), Anearsia, West Cybersland location (Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin Robbins restaurants are inside), Showbiz Pizza Grand at the Pearl Land Mall in Pearl Land, West Cybersland, The Whammy City, West Cybersland location, The El Uno, East Cybersland location (formerly a CEC), The Northwestern, East Cybersland location (A Little Caesars Pizza Station is inside), The Lincoln Square, West Cybersland location, The Undergoing Remodels and Renovations Town, East Cybersland location, The Quinty, West Cybersland location (shared with a Best Buy distribution center), The Post-Apocalyptic City, East Cybersland location (shared with a Arby's). Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day. - Bushnell resigns as chairman of Pizza Time. In 2011, it was released on iTunes. [15], The Rock-afire Explosion performed at Rock-afire, an arcade bar in Kansas City, Missouri. Dook was moved to Billy Bob's place and became Pasqually P. Pieplate, Looney Bird became PizzaCam, Beach Bear became Jasper T. Jowls, Fatz became Mr. This website is made possible by the fans of Chuck E. Cheese's and ShowBiz Pizza. Instead of Chuck E. Cheese and his Pizza Time Players, the ShowBiz show featured the Rock-afire Explosion, an animatronic band which included a wise-cracking polar bear, an alcoholic bird, a wolf ventriloquist, and Billy Bob Brockali, a good-natured country bear named for ShowBiz founder, Bob Brock. In fact, after years of obscurity, the robots made something of a comeback in 2008, when ShowBiz super-fan Chris Thrash began filming new Rock-afire productions and uploading them to YouTube. [24], The Rock-afire Explosion, a documentary about Chris Thrash, Aaron Fechter and the remaining Rock-afire Explosion fan base, was released at film festivals and special screenings around the United States in the fall of 2008. A museum of unusual collections, mini-towns, and a half-dog, half-alligator. A reel-to-reel version of Cyberstar called "Cybervision" was tested at two restaurants in Austin, TX; Cybervision can be distinguished from Cyberstar by the fact that they only feature the animatronics, and no graphics or walkaround characters. Established The New Antioch, East Cybersland location, known as the "family fun restaurant/center introduction" by the local residents. - Chuck E. Cheese's purchases its former competitor, Discovery Zone. Though both were stretched thin by the crash, Chuck E. Cheese was hit harder. A new kid friendly version of Chuck E. is also promoted, giving a thumbs-up gesture in the new restaurant logo. Major remodeling is tested at both ShowBiz and Pizza Time locations. Although we have no official affiliation with CEC Entertainment, Inc or Creative Engineering, Inc, we have always sought to remain on positive terms with both companies. An attempt to take the company public through a merger with the shell company Leo Holdings Corporation falls apart shortly after being announced. Unprofitable locations are closed. Over 20 years later, both myself and the website are still here, continuing to archive documents, audio, video and more. We have the largest online archive of ShowBiz and Chuck E. Cheese documentation dating back to 1977, archival photographs, historical video clips, and an ever expanding pool of information. Finally, in 1990, Fechters company, Creative Engineering, was ousted from ShowBiz completely. Creative Engineering sells its stake in ShowBiz, and major restructuring is undertaken with the help of the Hallwood Group. 60563 Like Bushnell, Fechter had lost the war. A giant fiberglass Muffler Man found new life as a rodeo guardian. The agreement handed Brock exclusive franchising rights for opening Pizza Time Theatres in sixteen states across the southern and midwestern United States,[4] while also forming a company subdivision, "Pizza Show Biz", to develop the Pizza Time Theatres. The 3-Stage introduced Munch's Make Believe Band, who are still around today, albeit in puppet and walkaround form. - 500th Chuck E. Cheese's location is opened. Dark Green = Operating PTT stores with stage shows. Following Pizza Time Theatre's bankruptcy filing in 1984, however, ShowBiz Pizza Place bought the struggling franchise and formed ShowBiz Pizza Time Inc., a combination of the former companies' names. 2019 Unused animatronics (which included Billy Bob, Earl, and Antioch) and props were either sold off or destroyed. After touring each restaurant, he concluded that ShowBiz, with its edgy rock-and-roll bears, seemed geared towards an older audience, while Chuck E. Cheese was more kid-friendly. It continued to operate both Chuck E. Cheese and ShowBiz locations independently (by that point, its likely Chuck E. Cheese was simply too popular a character to kill off) and renamed the company Showbiz Pizza Time. The reason for doing the animals, believe it or not, he explained, in a 2013 interview with The Atlantic, was not for the kids. Among customers, the general consensus was that ShowBiz had better animatronics, and a more grown-up act, while Chuck E. Cheese had slightly superior pizza. At their core, they are a preservation society, doing what they can to help document and save the history of these restaurant concepts. Chuck E. Cheese Entertainment, Inc. files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Pizza, Fun, Enterainment A child uses a microphone to speak with Billy Bob at the ShowBiz Pizza location in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Metal monsters made from repurposed materials lurk alongside this Pennsylvania road. That means that the information you're looking for is much easier to locate and find, with simple navigation and easy access to what you're looking for. [1] Bushnell's experience in the amusement park industry, as well as his fondness of The Walt Disney Company, was influential in the conceptualization of the Pizza Time Theatre concept.