I Return To The CEC In Des Moines, IA To See The Oldest 3 Stage Still In Existence!

[@ZeroSystem100]

They need to fully bring these back!

[@DaMeaun]

dude there getting rid of them there not gonna bring them back. it’ll be a 2.0 evantually

[@churlissh_7680]

@@DaMeaunWell they need to make a 3.0 and bring my childhood back 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫

[@DaMeaun]

@@churlissh_7680 there not gonna do that lol 😂

[@blueaxolotl_plays1710]

they might

[@DaMeaun]

@@blueaxolotl_plays1710 there getting rid of them they won’t be brought back

[@NightTheKittenn]

They actually don’t seem to be in too bad a condition, especially considering their age! I think thats the most I’ve seen Munch and Pasqually move.

[@BearOfTheBeach]

I'm seriously surprised this store is still up! I'm glad you got to see it again. I've been going to Tallahassee frequently since they're planned to remodel soon but I really want to try and get out to the last 7 or so 3-Stages still active before they too are all gone. Great Video Chris!

[@ILikeParties-mq3bl]

4:08 keyboard from the 1 stage

[@simplyretro9887]

Jasper actually received a new mask a few months back and that organ lacked the cei plate because it is meant to be on a 1-or 2 stage but I believe they swapped it because they had the early rockafire organ.

[@UnshornKeyboardist]

They had the rock-afire organ until the strobe light burned it in the 90s. That’s why they replaced it with a Cyberamic organ.

[@princesskristan]

I've been watching your videos for a long time, and I can't tell you how many times I've gotten waves of nostalgia seeing some of the SoCal Chuck E Cheeses I've been to. And I'm pretty sure I went to one that used to be a Showbiz when I was younger. I was super young, but I remember being scared of the Helen animatronic. It's the eyes lol

[@FREAKALOPE]

man i miss this. i used to come as a kid all of the time and I got into the whole animatronic "Fandom" back in june 2023. so sad I never went in to see them one final time before they were taken away a few months ago. Haven't seen them in at least 6 years I think. cool to know that was the 5th ever showbiz, and that its been there for that long. also that it was the oldest still operating. you live you learn! hopefully going to visit smitty's super service station this summer, gonna try and get a day set up. Great Video! and my friend works at Jays cd and hobby right next door, weird feeling knowing he might've been in there while you were filming this right next door. always cool when a youtuber does something super close to your area!

[@justaeditor9043]

Amazing video! Since I canceled my birthday trip to Billy Bobs Wonderland I like to imagine I’m right there watching these animatronics in person and your my go to because you are talking about the history. Hopefully when I go to Billy Bobs Wonderland and (when I am not busy with a sick dog) the animatronics will be in good condition. Keep up the good videos. ( I know this video doesn’t take place at Billy Bob’s but they used to be a rock afire explosion band so that reminded me lol)

[@justaeditor9043]

Also these guys are in amazing condition for how old they are.

[@HipsterianArchive]

Damn, this exact location is where I spent many of my birthdays growing up. I was always terrified growing up when my parents would put me on the spot to sit next to Chuck E. The store would turn all of the lights off except for the stage lights, and every year the animatronics were less than functional and terrifying - some years chuck e.'s mouth wouldn't open, one eye wouldn't blink, or literally just be completely non-functional. Seems they've changed a lot of things about the store since I was there - different carpet and much less dust, and the band has updated backdrops. I stopped going when I found out that a new arcade/family center called Pizza Palace had opened nearby. Even now, I drive past this exact CEC location every day and at most it has 1 or 2 cars in the parking lot. I'm surprised it's still open, honestly. I'll have to stop in again soon.

[@CECbots19]

I don't know if you realize but Munchs Piano is actually the 2 stage Piano

[@SetsStreetsEats]

Yeah I realized that after I was looking around it actually.

[@nathanbush6781]

I’ve noticed they’ve remodeled this CEC just after you posted it. I can take a few photos inside I’d you’d like! And yea, as a kid, I remember this being ShowBiz Pizza, and only ever went there once as CEC…I remember one of the older kids throwing balls at me and I went to tell my parents, and they basically told me to suck it up. Hard to do when you’re like 9 years old and take everything so personally, LOL.

[@SetsStreetsEats]

I've actually been back since the remodel and did a video there and posted a few weeks ago 🙂 And yeah those ball pits were filled with stories like that and part of the reason that they ended up facing them out lol

[@kandykornpumpkins]

I used to go to this exact cec all the time as a kid and I still pass by it on my daily commute

[@Rychotech]

I was at Jay's (next door) a couple days ago, and I saw the logo on the building was different. Took me by surprise but I assumed I just hadn't noticed. But this means it must have been within the last month or so.

[@bluethefox259]

People that love this stage and want this store to be a hybrid 👇

[@MrBigMac9647]

It was sadly removed summer of 2023.

[@wpcsray]

It would be cool to see the control panels for these / where the show tapes are played for them

[@burgundy_animations22]

Every year until I was about 11 my dad would throw a big birthday party for me at this exact location, and it was one of my favorite traditions ever until we passed it on to my little sister. Oh the memories!

[@nevinleaser1444]

Those are definitely creative engineering Rock-afire Explosion bots.

[@Casiano375]

I love when jasper started looking at the camera 😂 6:21

[@blainemayo1552]

Jeeeeesussss, that’s crazy.

[@cmartin68137]

I think the Reason Munch's organ doesnt have the CEI Plate is because it is a 1 and 2 stage organ. Because instead of having 3 big lights (Like Fatz's organ) it has the 5 Lights that are usually on the 1, 2, and road stages. so that actually could mean they were swapped out.

[@Treyriffic]

This was my local location.... i got to see them in person for the last time ever in april of this year... I dont know why they would get rid of the stage. It was working so well...

[@zsomborgo4563]

Hi crish , this video its so good .

[@stephenjones3767]

There is actually something I’ve wondered about the 3-stages. When and why did they stop closing the curtains?

[@WhoDidWhat17]

they stopped utilizing the curtains on all stage types (3-Stage, Cyberamics, and Studio C stages) originally in 2005, and the reason being that it is very hard to maintain the curtains. Studio C stores were allowed to re-enable their curtains starting in 2008 iirc and currently there are very few stores that actually use the curtains considering none of the MMBB stages use theirs and a large majority of Studio C stores have re-disabled their curtains in recent years.

[@jbingbong]

The giant screen renovations are so soulless. I know kids aren't interested in the animatronic entertainment anymore (and there's not enough adults into it for it to become a successful nostalgia restaurant,) but I wish there was a solution that would keep them alive forever

[@FreeSpiritPaulette]

Actually that’s not true kids are very invested in animatronics. Maybe not all of them, but the animatronics at Disney world are always extremely admired and popular with kids and adults as well, not to mention the mass success and popularity of fnaf and the hype the fnaf movie will ensue even more with animatronics. Cec is really shooting themselves in the foot with this one, they have no idea what they’re doing and are ridiculously out of touch. Dance floors are way less timeless and way MORE out dated than animatronics are, and it’s not even that much cheaper to do the whole store remodel, tearing down of the bots and installation of the dance floors and maintenance of those than it is to maintain the animatronics a bit and keep THEM in decent shape. I actually don’t know the economics and facts of that statement but from what I’ve heard, it’s actually MORE expensive to do all the 2.0 $hit than it would be to just keep them, so I just can’t imagine it being a smart investment.

[@jbingbong]

@@FreeSpiritPaulette It could also be a slow way to ease into bankruptcy again, so that way when they close their stores there's less to do

[@SynonymForAura]

I am I like the animatronics way more than dance floors

[@markreno2252]

I had a Showbiz Pizza Place in my hometown but only remember going there once as a kid. Specifically I remember missing the animatronics show because I was too busy playing to sit down and eat the food. Once I was all grown-up and had a son, we took him to this CEC in WDM all the time. This was before he was old enough for school and we'd have the place to ourselves right after it opened for the day. Most of the time this meant you could hit the lower high scores on games and get the bonus too. Of course I was probably living vicariously through him. After learning more about the history of Showbiz and CEC, I began to recognize elements that carried over from the Showbiz days at this location. Just recently, I learned that it was one of the remaining 3-stage shows in the country and just how long this location had been around. Unfortunately I believe it's going through a remodel now, but I'm not sure what that means for the animatronics. Maybe when I finish this video, I'll have a better idea! Sadly, kids grow up and now it's been years since we visited last, but I miss the friendly employees and the atmosphere.

[@themiamichuck7598]

What I find interesting about this 3 stage is that Chuck E. has blue eyelids.

[@cHuK_CezZ]

I enjoy your cec content

[@alphacharge000]

i live over here and went to the jays cd and hobby and had no clue about it being a 3 stage!

[@Ramsfan555]

Go back to pineville please

[@BlazesYoutube]

@SetsStreetsEats the reason why there is not a CEI plate on the organ is because that's the 1-2 stage organ and not the 3 stage organ.

[@Deadacount1983]

Also a little heads up,Visalia has the Cool Chuck outfit too.

[@makimakimatsuoka]

Question! Are you going to go to any of the CEC live concert roadshows?

[@DeedeeandtheBeebee]

My town!!!! Were going there next week!!!

[@CYBERSTARSTUDIOS]

Well, the stage won’t be there

[@RyeRye29]

​@@CYBERSTARSTUDIOS it will

[@CYBERSTARSTUDIOS]

@@RyeRye29 no I was removed today you told me that

[@elvisbrod9206]

Where did you get that to shirt, it's gorgeous! Can anybody find that shirt for me?

[@SetsStreetsEats]

You can find it right here on this site, just search Chuck E. Cheese in the search bar and pick a color! 80stees.com?

[@elvisbrod9206]

oh ok thank you very much!@@SetsStreetsEats

[@destinyberry3518]

I under what happen to the pizza time theater sign

[@patitauiliili1221]

There's actually a retrofit Rock afire explosion band in Matlock bath Derbyshire. That would be in the UK. They are in an amusement park called Gulliver's kingdom. The name of the retrofit band is the hard luck bears. Here's the video of them performing: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bnvJpKGMateljc0

[@xandewaegemaker2712]

Hey i fixed that show!🤯🤯🤯🤯🤓 kzbin.info/www/bejne/g6OQeGZtds-lZ6c

[@Footballer007-lz8pg]

Genuinely makes me sad seeing how long ago some of these were posted signifying the stage may no longer be around while I'm currently watching. For being as old as this stage is, the animatronics look in great condition. Just glad to see they still have life until the end. Sad to see these keep disappearing 😢

[@Bromon655]

I’m curious, why does this 3 stage have a lot more random movements than the other ones such as Pineville? Not only are the bots looking around but they’re also raising their arms, leaning forward, etc.

[@CactusBuddy88OP]

YES MINE MY CEC!

[@LiterallyCouchCusion]

When they were performing you could hear the animatronics squeaking

[@chuckecheese9261]

Nice video

[@sunkenchannel]

well here we are...... 1 mounth sice this was posted , in july of 2023 west des moline is getting 2.0

[@SetsStreetsEats]

Yeah sadly I hear it's already been torn out 😞

[@teniaalise]

I wish these still existed where I stay I’m on 15 and the last time I seen them I can’t even remember I just have a childhood picture. Memphis got rid of it quick I went June 7th,2014 I think and I haven’t seen them since.

[@King_Kitsune]

Where'd you pick up the Pizza Time Theatre shirt you have on in this video if you don't mind me asking?

[@jmay349]

I’ll be damned! I thought they renovated that a long time ago! (Also didn’t know they’re one of the last remaining Rock-a-Fire animatronics left in current operation!) I’ve lived in DSM my whole life (been there a time or two), and I’ve wanted to go in there just for fun to see what it looks like! That, and my Favorite store is literally right next door! Lol

[@mr.unfunny8315]

I live in Norwalk and haven’t gone inside there in a while but a couple weeks ago I saw them changing the logo outside to the new one so I think they may have gone to 2.0 sadly

[@jmay349]

Yeah, I noticed the sign change about a week or two ago myself on the building while making a stop at Jay’s, and the sign that’s by the interstate as well.

[@papachillothezappey4050]

5:21 5 of the first the first 7 Showbiz Pizza stores removed and switched out the RAE bots (known to most fans as the Beta RAE bots) in mid-late 1981 as the first 6 RAE Shows used weaker material like hollow aluminum bars and fiberglass eyelids. The only 2 that didn't switch their RAE show out were the Topeka, KS store and Kasas City, MO as the Kasas City store had The Wolf Pack 5 until 1981. Topeka, KS sold most of the show when the store closed around 1985 or 86. Only Mitzi and Beach Bear for the Topeka, KS and Looney Bird and Fatz from from one of the other 5 stores (most likely from the Jacksonville, FL store) is still exist as CEI dismantled and destroyed all the other 5 shows that were sent back and the other Beta bots from the Topeka, KS store (other then the Sun who has been confirmed to as being mostly destroyed before being sold other then his mask) whereabouts are still unknown.

[@LVNGFRk]

The reason there's no creative engineering plate on the organ is because it's a 1 or 2 stage organ. You can tell based on the number of lights on the organ. The creative engineering organ has three large lights on the legs the 1/ 2 stage ones made my chuck e cheese have 5 lights on the legs

[@nicholaskania9106]

I was just there on Sunday 😂

[@cec_oregon]

munch and jasper at 6:20

[@bandithalo8697]

Chuck e cheese's in Hicksville, chuck e cheese has his cool chuck shirt, its the 1 stage store

[@thepuppetworld3955]

Hey uhhhh Chuck… your ear’s startin to come off…

[@MonkeLeader69]

WHEN THIS COMES OUT IT WILL BE MY BIRTHDAY

[@headsdownharry]

@Jeffery And oreo show”boithday”

[@oldcrankman6164]

​@Heads down Harry Who's the boithday boy. Chuck e in 1988.

[@jasburger]

Happy birthday

[@Beetle-y2k]

happy bday!

[@MonkeLeader69]

@Jeffery And oreo show ty

[@Bobbleplayz]

I hate how they taking all the stages down and we won’t see them again and this is my local when I was younger too

[@nevinleaser1444]

That has the newer tune machine.

[@pizzatimemedia]

The reason theirs no plate on the organ is due to it being a cyberamic organ. It got switched out in the 2010s? I think and yes that means their the third set of bots ever made. Great video!

[@centrale.cheese]

❤❤

[@MIKEYPOOHBEARJACKSON]

Whenever I see the three stage videos. I picture RAE. And I hear Rolfe and Earls show theme song

[@headsdownharry]

Are they still there or 2.0

[@SetsStreetsEats]

Sadly they are now 2.0 😞

[@noobethgamingtonthethird]

@@SetsStreetsEatsyeah they're gone

[@BLOODYDOMAIN]

They need to bring them back i never seen munches make believe band in robot form i only seen the Cec stage and that’s it i need them back

[@sunkenchannel]

oh cool im 4th now!

[@TheofficialJay_CECandgames]

Update: the location has officially started 2.0

[@jeffrinks6449]

It's sad that they are basically getting erase from history, but I get it... it's all about play games, eating pizza, drinking your favorite pop or whatever kind of drink you like to drink and so on!!! My CEC moved from it's old location in 2000 and when it opened up at it's new location across the street... only Chuck E returned, but as for the other 4... they never returned and I know I hear that Chuck E is also gone!!! I was watching a video that someone posted and I couldn't stop laughing... because they were singing a song and it came at one that Helen was going to sing a line from the song all by herself, and you can hear Helen's voice... but Helen's mouth wasn't moving, but the guy that was recording it turned to look at Chuck E and Chuck E mouth was moving like he was sing it!!! Indeed... something went haywire!!!

[@Official_Anonymous]

Rolfe finally got his wish several decades ago of being the center of attention, well... there's just one problem. He's Chuck E. now, and it's doesn't look like it will last very much longer...

[@yackary1234]

You couldn't find the CEI tag on the organ because I don't think that is a CEI organ! It has way more lights on it! CEI organ only has 3 lights on the legs that's a munch organ for sure!

[@tori5315]

it’s actually crazy seeing these guys dance and perform omg. cuz all the other 3 stage videos ive watched have been so pathetic lmao no one can even open their mouth

[@ShowbizPizzaTimeInc-1977]

I noticed this while watching the video, the reason you didnt find a CEI plate on the organ is because i think it is actually a cyberamic organ

[@nevinleaser1444]

Update dooks drum set.

[@nevinleaser1444]

Rolfe/chuck e cheese has the blue eyelids.

[@CECGuy_]

Why does it look like they have Pensacola’s head

[@VideoGamePhilosopher]

And I am partly a kid🎉

[@westonsfamilyfunfactory617]

GOOD CONDITION. only problem is that Munch's neck skin is ripped

[@simonsays365]

that is not a cei organ at west des moines that is a 2 stage organ

[@VideoGamePhilosopher]

Don’t listen to the other car comment because I like the animatronics 😅😅😅

[@VideoGamePhilosopher]

Do you like the 80s

[@SetsStreetsEats]

Yes it's what most my channel is about lol

[@craigpreston4373]

The West Des Moines’s Iowa location got 2.0😢

[@SetsStreetsEats]

Yeah I went to see it and my video and my video will be posting this Sunday

[@abbysadd2854]

This location has been remodeled

[@porterfan4837]

The reason the organ didnt have one was because its not a cei organ its a repro cyberamic organ

[@NoshiCore]

munch's organ at this location isnt the 3 stage organ.

[@Nayhernandez-wz2it]

Yay l can wilting

[@jillybean2681]

Durn copy right the new puppets need blinking eyes

[@vikingshelm]

Creepy condition...man...they screwed up by removing these