Studio C Alpha

Studio C Prototype — The Chuck E. Cheese animatronic used for Studio C Alpha.

Studio C Alpha (also known as Studio C 1997 or formally known as just "Studio C" by corporate) is an animatronic stage found at Chuck E. Cheese's. It was installed in restaurants from 1997 to 2000 and was the first stage widely produced to feature a single Chuck E. Cheese animatronic, as opposed to the five-character setup of past stages. Studio C Alpha was themed around a late-night TV studio and featured a news desk-inspired stage for Chuck E. Cheese, as well as a blue screen stage that kids could use to appear on the many video monitors in the showroom.

History[]

After the Awesome Adventure Machine was deemed too delicate and expensive to mass produce, CEC Entertainment came up with the much cheaper "Studio C" concept. It is a one character, one stage animatronic show. At this time in Chuck E. Cheese history, they wanted to phase out the rest of the characters, so the stage featured a Chuck E. Cheese animatronic, along with a parrot character simply known as "Bird", for Chuck E. to interact with during shows.

This stage was built by Garner Holt Productions, an animatronics company that builds figures for many major theme parks, such as Disney and Universal. They were contracted for the project after Creative Presentations, who worked on Chuck E. Cheese and Showbiz animatronics in the late 1980s-1990s, was struggling financially and not able to work on the new show. CEC Entertainment wanted this new figure to be friendlier looking than previous Chuck E. Cheese bots, to reflect his redesign from a rat to a younger, hipper mouse that occurred in the mid-1990s. To compensate for the loss of the other four animatronics, the new Chuck E. Cheese bot was also much more advanced than previous characters, being capable of 32 different movements.

In 1998, the Studio C showtapes were a huge departure from earlier and later shows. As opposed to the characters singing the songs, various music videos of oldies and pop hits would play on the monitors, and the characters would comment during the videos. These shows were very negatively received.

When Jeremy Blaido took over Department 18 as Director of Entertainment in August 1998, he started making shows with bigger roles for the other characters, so Bird and the late-night studio theme were quickly dropped. The other members of Munch's Make Believe Band would be portrayed as puppets appearing onscreen, whom the robotic Chuck E. Cheese would interact with. Additionally, the shows returned to their pre-1998 format of the characters singing songs, with dialogue and skits in between.

Over the years, Studio C Alpha has seen some downgrades from its original concept. Due to the late-night theme being dropped due to the change in show format, Chuck E.'s red and black tux (the late-night outfit) was eventually replaced by either his blue "Cool Chuck" look, or his purple "Avenger" outfit during the mid-2000s. The blue screen cameras were gradually removed starting in the early 2010s with the Ticket Blaster's debut. The Ticket Blaster's placement in front of the blue screen made it unusable. Around the same time, the interactive console between Chuck E. Cheese's stage and the blue screen was removed and replaced with bright red letters spelling "C.E.C.". The reason for the console's removal was due to its difficulty to repair, as well as it is providing a hinderance during Live shows. During the phase-out of CRTs at locations (around 2011), they would end up removing the small CRTs mounted near the ceiling and replace the larger ones that were installed either inside the wall, or in midair (like at Edina, Minnesota) with flat screens mounted on the wall. Another thing that was removed over the years was the projector. When the Studio C Alpha stages were first installed, they had a projector aimed at the wall with a wood border on the outside, along with some multicolored fiber-optic lighting. Starting in 2013, all stages eventually ditched the projector for a flat screen TV.

Studio C Alpha was discontinued in 2000 when it was replaced with the cheaper Studio C Beta.

As of August 2024, 7 Studio C Alphas still exist today, 6 in the United States and 1 in Canada, making it the least common Studio C stage.

The Stages[]

Studio C Alpha gave the showroom a movie-studio style looks with TVs, cameras, and lights. The stage itself had a "late night show" look, with a cityscape background behind the Chuck E. Cheese animatronic. There were colored lights scattered about the ceiling in the showroom. There is a big "Applause" sign and a big "On The Air" sign. The "live" video camera shoots people standing in front of the blue screen and displays them on the overhead TVs. In a few locations, a karaoke option was tested to go along with the blue screen area called Chuck E.'s Star Search, but the concept failed in 2000.

Technical Information[]

The showtapes for Studio C originally ran with laserdiscs. In 1999, these were upgraded to a DVD system. Each DVD contains the main show footage, puppets, live and birthday shows, diagnostics, blue screen interactive intermissions (2000-2002), karaoke (1999-2001), and on hold music (usually songs from different showtapes, such as Variety Show). To run a new show, the location is sent a software upgrade floppy disk along with the DVD, which includes the programming.

There is a touch screen panel where live shows, diagnostics, birthday shows, etc. can be programmed. When starting up Studio C in the morning, it asks the employee to type in birthday kids' names so during the birthday shows, the kids' names will flash on the screen. Diagnostics can be selected from the panel, and there is also a password feature. The cast member password allows programming of live shows, birthday breaks, and birthday shows.

In the early 2010s, various upgrades have been made to Studio C Alpha such as replacing the interactive console with a CEC panel and flashing lights, as well as upgrading showtapes from DVD and floppy disks to a single flash drive containing all show elements. In mid-2013, many Chuck E. Cheese locations removed the cameras from the blue screen for all types of Studio C setups. Many Studio C locations now have the Ticket Blaster standing in front of the blue screen. All Studio C Control Systems use Crown Com-Tech series amplifiers. The Studio C Control System manages all elements of the animatronic show at Chuck E. Cheese locations featuring the Studio C show type, in addition to controlling some ancillary equipment such as the Karaoke system (during the period in which it was being used).

This system is a major technological departure from the previous show control systems used by the chain, marking a move to using more standard hardware and protocols. It is also the first Chuck E. Cheese control system able to seek to arbitrary, frame-addressable locations on the accompanying video.

It is believed that this system is an evolution of a control system originally designed for the Awesome Adventure Machine show.

Some Studio C documentation includes references to the video system of the Studio C Interactive Console used at Studio C Alpha locations.

Laserdiscs were used for audio and video storage in the earliest deployments of this system. All deployments later moved to the DVD format. The term "VDP" will be used to refer to players of either of these formats interchangeably, as the type of media makes no significant difference to the architecture of the system.

Studio C Beta replaced Alpha in 2000, which caused the Alpha to be discontinued a year later.
There are four ways to test the character movements and lights: The Tech Term, the panel underneath Chuck E., the show diagnostics, and the touch screen panel.
The Studio C character and elements were created by Garner Holt Productions.

Current Total Remaining: 6

Location	Installed / Year Opened	Current Condition
Spartanburg, South Carolina, United States	March 1999	Oldest Studio C Alpha. Last Alpha in South Carolina.
Burbank, California, United States	December 1999	Second oldest Alpha. Second-most complete Studio C Alpha due to STUDIO letters above the blue screen being absent.
Redwood City, California, United States	December 1999
Spokane, Washington, United States	March 2000	Last Alpha in Washington. Missing lights, green Apple TV, and blue screen.
Mayfield Heights, Ohio, United States	April 2001	Last Studio C stage in Ohio. Most complete Studio C Alpha stage.
Whitby, Ontario, Canada	October 2001	Operational. Good condition. Currently wearing Avenger outfit. Only Studio C Alpha in Canada and only Studio C Alpha outside of the United States.

Due to the high number of Studio C Alphas, there were bound to be variations on the stage.

Circus Pizza[]

Before its closure in 2019, the Studio C Alpha in West St Paul, Minnesota, was a former 3-Stage Circus Pizza with The Rock-Afire Explosion. They installed the Alpha on Stage Left, and the blue screen on Stage Right, with Center Stage being gutted for the TVs. It was also the Second Studio C Alpha installed.
Before its closure in 2020, the Studio C Alpha in Edina, Minnesota (see photo in infobox at top of page), was also a former Circus Pizza that housed The New Rock-afire Explosion.

Interactive Console[]

The Studio C Alpha in Bridgewater, New Jersey was the last Alpha in the world to have an interactive console. The location closed on April 6th, 2024
The Studio C Alpha in Manassas, Virginia was the second to last Alpha to still feature an interactive console, and they had the earliest version of the interactive console software. They removed the console in 2020 and this location remodeled to 2.0 in 2021.

LED Props[]

The Studio C Alpha in Berwyn, Pennsylvania had LED strips behind the buildings in the background of the stage. They also had a unique LED strip around the ticket blaster. This location closed in 2020.

Attire[]

The Studio C Alpha in Parma, Ohio was one of the last remaining Alpha stages to have the Cool Chuck Attire despite being Phase 5. The stage was removed on May 13th 2024 for 2.0
The Studio C Alpha in Salem, Oregon had a Rockstar shirt, no pants, and Chuck E.’s Avenger cap. This Alpha replaced a Rocker Stage. This location removed their stage for 2.0 in April 2021.
The Studio C Alpha in Manassas, Virginia had Chuck E. wearing his Cool Chuck outfit. They received 2.0 in March 2021 and removed the stage.
The Studio C Alpha in East Orlando, FL had the Rockstar outfit and the Avenger hat. The green apple TV was repainted to be red. This location had working curtains. The location also had its animatronic in a custom Tuxedo outfit to celebrate Chuck E. Cheese's 40th anniversary in 2017 and a Pizza Time Theater outfit during Chucktober in 2015. This location received 2.0 in 2023.
The Studio C Alpha in West Orlando, FL, briefly had Chuck E.'s late Night outfit in 2022. It also had working curtains. This location received 2.0 in 2023.
The Studio C Alpha in Warwick, Rhode Island had one of the last Late Night outfits in the U.S until 2011. This is the last Chuck E. Cheese in Rhode Island. Their stage was removed in July 2024 for 2.0.
The Studio C Alpha in Round Rock, Texas was the last Alpha to feature the Late Night outfit until 2013.
The Studio C Alpha in Miami (Kendall), FL had the Rockstar outfit before it got 2.0 in 2022.
The Studio C Alpha in Miami (Cutler Bay), FL had the Avenger outfit. It received 2.0 in 2022.

Animatronic Mods[]

The Studio C Alpha in Lake Mead, Nevada had no fur on Chuck E.’s eyebrows. This location removed their stage for 2.0 in 2022.
Before its closure in December 2020, the Studio C Alpha in Ann Arbor, Michigan replaced their 32-movement animatronic with a 16 movement from the Muskegon, Michigan location which closed in June 2020.
The Studio C Alpha in Vestal, New York had the late-night outfit to celebrate Chuck E. Cheese's 40th anniversary in 2017. In 2018, they got the bot from Syracuse, New York, which got 2.0 the same year but with the Cool Chuck shirt. In 2021, they got Chuck E.’s Rockstar shirt. The Pizza Phone was removed in 2019. This location has since removed their stage for 2.0 in 2022.
The Studio C Alpha in Garland (Centerville), Texas had the Cool Chuck outfit until 2020 when they got the Rockstar outfit. This location got 2.0 in 2022.
The Studio C Alpha in West Orlando, Florida had Chuck E.’s head on their animatronic from the Orlando (International Drive) location, which received 2.0 in 2021. This location received 2.0 in 2023.

Prototypes/Proto-Finalized[]

Brookfield, Wisconsin had the oldest remaining Studio C Alpha and was the first location to open with one. It was also the first to get a finalized Alpha. It was very unique, having props and set pieces like the desk and pizza phone being different from the finalized Studio C Alpha, and looked like a Proto-Finalized Alpha. It was installed when the location opened on December 17, 1997. The Apple TV was removed sometime in the 2000s. The stage was removed when the location got the 2.0 remodel on August 12, 2024.
The Studio C Alpha at the Entertainment Department in Dallas, Texas (formerly located in Irving) has a prototype Rockstar Shirt and has LED strips on the window behind Chuck E. Cheese.

No Curtains[]

The Studio C Alpha in Franklin, Tennessee was the only one in the state, and had no curtains. This location was remodeled in 2019.
The Studio C Alpha in Lakewood, California, had also removed their curtains.

Factual Information[]

The Studio C Alpha in St. Louis, Missouri was used to train techs from the 2000’s, until 2016. This location has since removed their stage for 2.0 in 2019.
The Studio C Alpha in Brookfield, Wisconsin was the oldest Alpha and first Studio C stage to be installed in a new location. This location has since disabled their stage due to this location possibly installing the Navori System in November 2023. The stage was removed for 2.0 in August 2024.
Before its closure in 2001, the Studio C Alpha in Dallas (Montfort) Texas was the first Studio C Alpha to be installed and the first replace a stage replacing the first and only Awesome Adventure Machine.
The Studio C Alpha in Richmond "Broad", Virginia had a brink background behind the Ticket Blaster. This location was the last Studio C Alpha in the state. In 2023, the location received the 2.0 remodel.
The Studio C Alpha in Whitby, Ontario, Canada is currently the only Studio C Alpha outside the U.S. and the last 32-movement animatronic outside the U.S since Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, with the Studio C Prototype closed in 2019.
The Studio C Alpha in St. Charles, Missouri had Avenger or Rockstar outfit with Cool Chuck pants. This stage has been removed for 2.0 in 2022. It was the last Studio C Alpha in Missouri.

Disrepair[]

The Studio C Alpha in Plano, Texas was in a state of disrepair in 2015 and was fixed. They received the very first Chuck E. Live Stage in May 2015 and sent their Studio C Alpha to the location in Dearborn, Michigan, which was formerly a 3-Stage. The stage was removed for 2.0 in August 2023.
Since November 2023, the Studio C Alpha in Parma, Ohio had been using their curtains again to cover up their poor conditioned animatronic. The stage was removed on May 13th, 2024.

TV Props/Bird Props[]

The Studio C Alpha in Dearborn, Michigan was the Alpha from Plano, Texas, and had a red Apple TV. It used to have a 3-Stage since the Showbiz days and went through CU in 1990 or 1991. The 3-Stage lasted until it was replaced in 2015. The location now has the 2.0 remodel.
The Studio C Alpha in Fort Wayne, Indiana (among others like Dearborn, Michigan, Sterling Heights, Michigan, Wyomissing, PA and East Orlando FL.) had a unique Apple TV that was painted red. Fort Wayne was the last Studio C Alpha in Indiana and received 2.0 in November 2022.
The Studio C Alpha in Wyomissing, PA was the last location in the world to have the unique red Apple TV. The location closed on September 15, 2024.
The Studio C Alpha in North Richland Hills, Texas does not have Bird and has a unique TV that replaced the old Apple TV.
Before their remodel in 2019 and closure in 2020, the Grand Chute, Wisconsin location did not have an Apple TV on their stage, but instead had a flat screen TV.
The Studio C in Fresno, California (Shaw Ave) is the last to have the small TV screens located on the ceiling near the room flood lights.
The Studio C Alphas in Garland (Centerville), North Richland Hills and Fort Worth (Hulen), Texas both have no bird.
The Studio C Alpha in Crystal Lake, Illinois did not have an Apple TV, as it was removed sometime after 2012.^[1]^[2] This location is received 2.0 on August 25, 2024.

Ticket Blaster Background[]

The Studio C Alpha in Louisville, Kentucky has the Ticket Blaster Background with the light-up sign.
The Studio C Alpha in Warwick, Rhode Island received their Ticket Blaster Background during the remodel in September 2012.
The Studio C Alpha in Miami (Kendall , Florida received their Ticket Blaster Background somewhere in between 2012-2013. They have since received 2.0.
The Studio C Alpha in Long Island City, New York received their Ticket Blaster Background somewhere around December 2012 or January 2013.
The Studio C Alpha in Orlando, Florida (International Drive) received their Ticket Blaster Background around the mid-2010s. This location has since removed their stage for 2.0.

References[]

^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhZiyCx_X8U
^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZirCdbhHGk - A video from 2012 of Crystal Lake with the Apple TV in it.

[1] ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhZiyCx_X8U

[2] ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZirCdbhHGk - A video from 2012 of Crystal Lake with the Apple TV in it.

[1]

[2]