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Studio C Beta (formally known as Studio C 2000 by corporate) is a stage type at Chuck E. Cheese's.

History and Info[]

In 2000, Chuck E. Cheese’s first installed the first Studio C Beta (then known as Studio C 2000) in the Birmingham, Alabama location. It was followed by the Green Bay, Wisconsin location, then the Oceanside, California location.

The left side of the stage had a blue screen with a sign saying “STUDIO C” above it. In front of the the blue screen was a camera, which would put you on the showroom monitors. These cameras (or the whole blue screen) would be removed in the US and Canada locations in the 2010s. Later Betas would remove the blue screen altogether. Other places like Chile, Guatamala, and the Middle East still have blue screens.

The middle of the stage has 2 TVs with lights below them, and one TV with text saying “CEC” below it. On early betas, the text was silver, but the text became red on all other betas. Some betas only have one TV with the “CEC” text under it.

The right side is the main stage part. The stage has the 32 or 16 movement Chuck E. Cheese animatronic standing in front of a light-up background. On the background is many different swirly lights, along with the Pizza Time clock.

Currently as of March 2024, 49 Studio C Beta stages remain in operation. They are the third most common stage, after the Circles of Light and the Chuck E. Live Stage.

Differences between Alpha and Beta[]

  • The background on Chuck E.'s stage is completely different.
  • The Bird is absent.
  • The distance between the "Applause" and "On the Air" signs has been reduced.
  • The desk around the Chuck E. Cheese animatronic is absent.
  • The green/red apple shaped television is absent.

Trivia[]

  • Before Beta, it was rumored that there was going to be a five-character Studio C.
  • When the "Beta stage" first premiered, it was rumored that the 32 movement Chuck E. Cheese animatronic would be replaced with a cheaper 16 movement version. Brian Hagen later confirmed this rumor, and new locations with the Beta stages would now receive 16 movement animatronics. Thus, making the Studio C Beta the first stage to feature 16 movement animatronics.
    • In addition, this is the last Studio C stage to feature 32 movement animatronics.
    • The first 16 movement Studio C Beta was installed at the Cambridge, Ontario, Canada location in 2003.
  • The final Studio C Betas that were produced had a smaller center console that was also seen on the Studio C Cappas. The blue screen was also absent due to the ticket blaster being in every location by 2012.

Special Studio C Betas[]

Prototypes[]

  • The Studio C Betas in Oceanside, California, Green Bay, Wisconsin, and Birmingham, Alabama were the first locations to receive the stage, in 2000. Birmingham removed their Beta in 2016 for a Dance Floor. Later, Green Bay and Oceanside removed their stages for 2.0 in 2021. Birmingham got the Beta first, then Green Bay, and finally Oceanside.
  • The Studio C Beta in Dallas (Montfort), Texas was replaced by the Star Stage in 2010 and the first ever Circles of Lights in 2012 and the animatronic removed a few months later, and the animatronic was sent to Port Orange, Florida in 2013. It was destroyed by Hurricane Ian in 2022.

One TV[]

  • Before its closure in 2013, the Beta in Meriden, Connecticut had one TV and had working curtains until 2011. They removed their TV in late 2011. They removed their curtains in 2013 and replaced the camera with the Ticket Blaster. Its animatronic is currently in the Naples, Florida location. Meridien’s animatronic still has the Avenger outfit as of 2023.
  • The Studio C Beta in Bloomington, Illinois was the only Beta with one TV in the state and was the second to last 32 movement Beta in the state. This location has since removed their stage for 2.0 in 2019.
  • The Studio C Beta in Antioch, Tennessee had one TV. This location used to house a 3-Stage until 2001. Antioch’s Beta was also the only one in state to have had one TV. This location removed their stage for 2.0 in 2022.
  • Before its closure on October 29th, 2023, the Studio C Beta in Rockville, Maryland was the last Beta in the state and had one TV. They also had working curtains.

Last in the State[]

  • The Studio C Beta in Orange, Connecticut was the last one in the state and had the Studio C sign above the three TVs. It housed a 2-Stage from late 1992-Summer 2006. This location removed their stage for 2.0 in 2021.
  • The Studio C Beta in Joilet, Illinois was the last Studio C Beta in state with the Studio C Carpet. Their Chuck E. Cheese animatronic had loose body turns, which means Chuck E. used to side bend when he did a body turn, although he had 16 movements. This location removed its stage for 2.0 in 2019 and was relocated to the Darien Illinois location. Darien would receive 2.0 in June 2023.
  • The Studio C Beta in Vernon Hills, Illinois was the last Phase 3 in the state. This location got 2.0 in 2019 and closed in 2020.
  • The Studio C Beta in Villa Park, Illinois had no curtains and was the last 32 movement Beta in the state. This location got 2.0 in May 2022.
  • The Beta in Hempstead, New York had no curtains and was the last 32 movement Beta in New York. This location received 2.0 in 2023.
  • Before its closure in 2020, the Studio C Beta in Lima, Ohio was the last Beta in the U.S. to feature a blue screen. They also had the Chuck E. Cheese from the Downingtown, Pennsylvania location, which closed on July 15th, 2018.
  • The Studio C Beta in San Antonio (Bandera), Texas is the only Studio C Beta to have a helicopter light and is the last San Antonio location to still have an animatronic.
  • The Studio C Beta in Hampton, Virginia, was the last 32 movement Beta in the state. This location received 2.0 in December 2022.
  • The Studio C Beta in Fayetteville, Arkansas is the last Animatronic location in the state.
  • The Studio C Beta in Nanuet, New York is the last one in the state. It has the Studio C signs above the TVs and no blue screen.

Hybrid Stages[]

  • The Studio C Beta in Darien, Illinois used to be a 3-Stage and had the old stage base and valence. Chuck E. was on center stage along with the backdrop and sides of the TVs. The fiber optic curtain from the 3-Stage was kept as well. Curtains were added to former stage left and right upon completion. The Beta came from the Joliet store, which got 2.0 in 2019. This stage is also referred as "Studio C Darien", "Studio 3", and "Beta 16M 3-Stage". This location received the 2.0 remodel in late 2022.
  • The Studio C Beta in Chicago (Kedzie), Illinois also used to be a 3-Stage. At first the stage was very basic, but around 2021-2022 more Studio C Beta elements, TVs, and Phase 5 light-up posters were added. The animatronic was from the Lafayette, Indiana Studio C Cappa (now closed).

Replacements[]

  • The Studio C Beta in Lexington, Kentucky was the only one in state, and replaced a 3-Stage in 2006. This location has since been remodeled to 2.0.
  • The Studio C Beta in Walker, MI opened in September 2002, replacing a 3-Stage. This location got 2.0 in 2018.

Disrepair[]

  • The Studio C Beta in Danbury, Connecticut was in a severe state of disrepair by 2012, just two years after it opened. This location closed a year later in 2013.
  • The Studio C Beta in Alpharetta, Georgia was in a state of disrepair at one point, with Chuck E. having broken eyes. This location removed their stage and got 2.0 in 2022.

Stage Right Props[]

  • The Studio C Beta in Clearwater, Florida replaced a Road Stage in 2000. This location had a CEC Hollywood blue screen, which was unique to this location. It has since been removed. The stage was removed for 2.0 in June 2023.
  • The Studio C Beta in Albuquerque, New Mexico had a unique Studio C sign in the blue screen area. The stage was removed for 2.0 in 2021.
  • The Studio C Beta in Patchogue, New York was on the left near the entrance and had no blue screen. The stage was removed for 2.0 in 2023.

Major Oddities[]

  • The Studio C Beta in Roseville, California has the last Avenger cap on a Studio C Chuck E. Cheese animatronic. Chuck E. also has the full Rockstar Outfit.
  • Before its closure in November 2020, the Studio C Beta in Tamuning, Guam didn't have an animatronic, as it was removed in 2019.
  • Before its closure on December 16th, 2012, the Studio C Beta in South Portland, Maine was the only Studio C and location in the state. The animatronic was sent to West Palm Beach, Florida in 2013.
  • The Studio C Beta in San Agustín, Mexico lacks an animatronic. The left and right stages have been replaced with the 2.0 posters of Pasqually and Chuck E. Cheese.
  • The Studio C Beta in Las Vegas, Nevada (Serene) had a Chuck E. Cheese animatronic with gray eyes instead of blue eyes, and this particular Chuck E. didn't appear to have anybody turns. This location got 2.0 in late 2018.
  • The Studio C Beta in Mays Landing, New Jersey has a Chuck E. Cheese animatronic with gray eyes.
  • The Studio C Betas in Harlem, New York, Brooklyn, New York and Bronx (Gun Hill), New York have railings that are on Circles of Lights stages with animatronics. Harlem closed in 2020 and Brooklyn got 2.0 in 2023.
  • The Studio C Beta at Riyadh (Olaya), Saudi Arabia removed the animatronic in January 2021. But in April of 2021, the animatronic was reinstalled.
  • The Studio C Beta in Cordova, TN was missing tubes on the background of the stage, and featured walkaround rockstar shoes on the animatronic. This location removed their stage for 2.0 in 2021.
  • The Studio C Beta in Mississauga (Argentina) ON has unique LED shape lights above the TVs. This location received 2.0 in April 2023 and is the first Canadian location to get 2.0.
  • The Studio C Beta in Pittsburgh, PA has a 32 movement Chuck E. Cheese animatronic with a 16 movement head.
  • The Studio C Betas in Jackson, MS, Tupelo, MS, and Monroe, LA removed their animatronics in 2023.

Late Night/Cool Chuck Outfits remaining[]

  • The Studio C Beta in Redding, California had Chuck E.'s red cap, which stayed until they got 2.0 in 2022.
  • The Beta in Viña Del Mar, Chile, has Chuck E.'s Cool Chuck outfit, including the cap. Chuck E. has a custom railing around him, and the stage’s tech Room is in between the three Monitors and the blue screen, making its beta unique.
  • The Studio C Beta in Guatemala City, (Zona 7) Guatemala originally had the normal black background but has recently replaced it with a plain white background and is the last location in Central America to feature a blue screen and camera. Chuck E. also has the Cool Chuck cap and outfit. As of 2022, they no longer have the red cap.

Full Rockstar outfits[]

  • The Studio C Beta in Concord, California received the Rockstar outfit around late 2015 to early 2016. As of March 2016, it is in a state of disrepair. Chuck E. also has no eyebrows.
  • The Studio C Beta in Everett, Massachusetts had Phase 3 until November 2014 when they remodeled to Phase 5. They now have the Rockstar Outfit.
  • The Studio C Beta in Greece, New York had the full Rockstar outfit. This location got 2.0 in 2018 and the Chuck E. Cheese animatronic was sent to Leominster, Massachusetts. Leominster closed in 2020.
  • The Studio C Beta in Gastonia, North Carolina has the full Rockstar outfit, including the shoes.
  • The Studio C Beta in Miamisburg, Ohio had the full Rockstar outfit, and like Warren, lacked the blue screen, although it had the "Studio C" sign present. This stage has since been removed for 2.0.
  • The Studio C Beta in Warren, Ohio was the first 32m beta to be installed in a brand-new location (previous betas would replace existing stages). This would also make Warren the 7th beta to be built. It has one TV screen instead of three and lacks the blue screen and "Studio C" sign behind the Ticket Blaster. Its Chuck E. Cheese animatronic has the Rockstar shirt and jeans.
  • The Studio C Beta in Gurnee, Illinois was one of the first 16 movement Betas installed and is the last regular Beta in the state. Chuck E. has the full Rockstar outfit. They have no blue screen.

Gallery[]

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