Themed/Audio Animatronic Restaurants (Chuck E's, Rainforest, etc)

[Chunk]

Originally Posted by PragmaticIdealist

I used to really like the Bullwinkle's in Montclair, California. I would always insist that my mother stop there whenever we were on the 10 freeway. And, you are right. The showmanship in the establishment was infinitely better than that of Chuck E. Cheese's. It was almost on a par with Disney.

The Canadian motif of the place was actually really evocative, but I wasn't sure how Canadians felt about the design.

Actually the Bullwinkle's was located in Upland, I used to work there.

[Hilsbro]

it is borderline upland montclair the whol border ofr montclair and upland is weird.....lol.....and don't forget the wonderfully themed 7-11 next door....lol blended right in...lol


OMJ i just realised I was born in Upland...lol

[aimster]

I Remember In Staten Island An Indoor Amusement Park Called Showbiz Pizza Place. It Had An Animatronic Band Called the Rock-aFire Explosion. The Band Consisted of A Bear, a Mouse Cheerleader, A Gorilla Pianoplayer, A Bird In A Can, A Wolf, and The Puppet That The Wolf Holds.

Sadly I can still name all the Rock-A-Fire characters...

Billy-Bob - the hillbilly bear
Loony Bird - the bird in the oil barrel
Dook La Roo - drummer dog
Fats - creepy gorilla pianist
Mitzi - cheerleader mouse
Beach Bear - the other guitar-playing bear

I forget the wolf & puppet's name though. But the wolf and the main Rock-A-Fire characters (minus Billy-Bob) got their origins as a show called The Wolf Pack 5. Billy-Bob got his start as part of a show called The Hard Luck Bears, which was a total Country Bear Jamboree rip-off (I posted a link to pics earlier in this thread).

I loved going to Showbiz Pizza when I was a kid. I even had my 10th or 11th birthday party there (my mom still probably has pics). Looking at the characters now... they're intriguing, in a kind of creepy way. LOL!

I got to visit one of the original Chuck E Cheese Pizzatime Theatres way back in the day. We didn't have one in my town, but we came across one when we were in Lansing for something and I begged my dad to stop. The place was huge and besides the main room with the main show/characters, there were a few other smaller rooms that had shows of their own. One had a big lion AA called The King that did Elvis tunes and another had an all dog band called The Beagles that did Beatles stuff. I wish all that kitschy stuff was still around.

[EagleWings]

I'd be so happy if I could find a Bullwinkles in southern California, does anyone know of any? I grew up at those so it's kinda special to me.

[EricMontreal22]

Originally Posted by PragmaticIdealist

I used to really like the Bullwinkle's in Montclair, California. I would always insist that my mother stop there whenever we were on the 10 freeway. And, you are right. The showmanship in the establishment was infinitely better than that of Chuck E. Cheese's. It was almost on a par with Disney.

The Canadian motif of the place was actually really evocative, but I wasn't sure how Canadians felt about the design.

The one in Edmonton was themed the same way and I htink most Canadians (at least us) took it tongue in cheeck--we're not as a o****ry really known for being too angry at such depictions...

Anyoen else remember a snidely whiplash figure jailed in the lobby of thieurs?

[EricMontreal22]

Originally Posted by PragmaticIdealist

I used to really like the Bullwinkle's in Montclair, California. I would always insist that my mother stop there whenever we were on the 10 freeway. And, you are right. The showmanship in the establishment was infinitely better than that of Chuck E. Cheese's. It was almost on a par with Disney.

The Canadian motif of the place was actually really evocative, but I wasn't sure how Canadians felt about the design.

Originally Posted by Universal_Man

Here are the Links to Some Videos of Rock-aFire Explosion.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3VMQoeYAcQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nZHn...elated&search=

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-it6...elated&search=

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiBLm...elated&search=

These Videos Are Pretty Weird.

P.S. I Have Been To Chuck E. Cheese's, Rainforest, Showbiz, and I THINK Bullwinkle's

Edit: The Name of the Park Is Actually Fun Station USA. It's Rock-aFire Explosion Is Broken Down and Doesn't look Like Being Fixed.

Thanks for these--I wodner what some of the videos--liek the first one were created for?

[Hilsbro]

there may have been a snidley in the Montclair/Upland one......I remember something exactly like your describing

[Universal_Man]

Originally Posted by aimster

Sadly I can still name all the Rock-A-Fire characters...

Billy-Bob - the hillbilly bear
Loony Bird - the bird in the oil barrel
Dook La Roo - drummer dog
Fats - creepy gorilla pianist
Mitzi - cheerleader mouse
Beach Bear - the other guitar-playing bear

I forget the wolf & puppet's name though.

I Also Remember Them. I'm A Large Fan of The RAFE.

The Wolf's Name Is Rolf and the Puppet's Name is Earl.

[aimster]

Ok I just watched the link to the first video Universal Man posted. OMG... wrong on sooooooo many levels! WTF are they doing singing George Michael & Terrence Trent D'Arby?!

[Universal_Man]

Videos 1 and 4 Were The Cyberstar Videos, 2 Was A Video of A Broken Down RAFE, and 3 Was A Test On A Program To Program A RAFE Character.

[aimster]

I found some more interesting videos...

Billy-Bob interactive training:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSxSx7Ks5Is

Colander installation (?!):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFB9HD5f8To

The Wolf Pack 5 (who later went on to be the Rock-Afire Explosion):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HT6nozaDkfs

[EricMontreal22]

Those ROck a Fire things all have odd shakes about them when they "poerform"

[Universal_Man]

The Next 3 Videos Are The Most Depressing Things Ever.
Concept Unification

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXCrVNEwGxM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1do6KJVkkH0&NR

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fx8UZ5xyh34&NR

These Are So Depressing......

[Chunk]

Originally Posted by Hilsbro_Mclemington_III

there may have been a snidley in the Montclair/Upland one......I remember something exactly like your describing

Yes there was a Mr. Snidley in the lobby.

[aimster]

Found some videos of an old original Chuck E Cheese Pizzatime Theatre (they're titled Showbiz Pizza, but it's definitely Pizzatime Theatre):

Part1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTAGcEDq1fQ

Part2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=981EzzsWYkk

Part3:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hXz1-cxn8A

Part4:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90vnbaaV1pk

Part5:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6vUPLJTc8k