The History Of Chuck E Cheese’s & Showbiz Pizza in Cincinnati Ohio

Here is the 1st installment of season 2 of my “History Of” series
In this video I go over the history of every single Chuck E. Cheese's & Showbiz Pizza in the City of Cincinnati Ohio!
This video idea goes back to late 2021 when I was trying to figure out what other CEC location I wanted to cover next, I knew I wanted something big like Louisville but all the other Kentucky locations didn't have as many locations as Louisville so I knew I had to branch out of Kentucky. I settled on Cincinnati Ohio because Louisville is only 2 hours away from Cincinnati and also the Bengals are going to the Super Bowl!
I just want to thank all the websites and people who helped me complete this movie!
NOTE: this channel is recommended for ages 13+ and NOT for kids. This channel may contain videos not suitable for children and have adult language or other things kids shouldn't be exposed to. While some of my videos may be ok for kids to watch I assure you the rest is sure as hell not!

[@jwilliams7554]

One of the most distinct things i remember about Showbiz is that the pizza smell filled the entire building and it smelled like REAL pizzaria pizza!! The whole dining experience was awesome. The pizza smelled fresh from the oven, and the drinks were in these fancy clear plastic pictures. Back when pizza was still a novelty dish especially for kids

[@bigboomer1013]

Last time I went to CEC, it smells like it's going out of business. Like I don't smell pizza, it's just cold. But I remember how it use to before and all the sounds. Oh man the sounds. They constantly be on and it's music to my ears. Back to the smell again, whenever I go to subway, I noticed how it ki da smells like chuck e cheese. So yeah, memories flooded my brain with the smell, even if it's a completely unrelated restorount

[@romarisrogers8005]

​@@bigboomer1013 the CEC pizza now lost it's distinctive smell and smells like your average pizza from your local supermarket..

[@lilypotter123]

I grew up with pizza time theater ❤

[@IrisThePrettyGirl]

​@@bigboomer10132 awe a.0

[@mattj9254]

Showbiz pizza in like 84 was way better than chuck e cheese I think. There's no way they could get by with having a gorilla named Fats Geronimo that sounds black though lol

[@TripleB780]

I know I waited a little too long to talk about this, but that video you made is awesome. Also, thank you so much for letting me help you out by sending you some pics for your research on social media. The Cincinnati Chuck E. Cheese (even Sharonville, on the other hand) was my biggest childhood hot spot. My family would always take me there, and I even attended a ton of birthday parties growing up. Colerain was the first CEC location that I had ever been to, and from then, I was nearly obsessed with the animatronic shows, the covers of music sung by talented artists and bands, the food, and the games. Their phase 3 remodel will always have a special place, in my heart. The place even helped me learn more about the music that they did covers for, the history of the restaurant and each location, etc. Although half of my friends that I went to high school with never went to Chuck E. Cheese in their lives, and they've never been interested in going to any of their locations, that's okay because not everybody has to be interested in it. Although most of us as CEC fans, including me and my relatives that once loved going to that place, we're lucky enough to experience its former glory. Sadly, my future kids will never understand how fantastic the place once was. Like how most of the CEC fans who were born between the late-80s and today never understood how fabulous both Showbiz Pizza Place and Pizza Time Theater were.

[@CharlieV99]

This is the chunk e cheese I go to on my birthday

[@fishyyystiks]

I just recently applied to my local Chuck E Cheese for nostalgias sake! And while doing some company research and stuff I found your channel and I absolutely adore your content! Thank you so much for making the videos you do! :)

[@DerrickDTHs]

Hey, I've seen some of that Colerain footage some where before... I appreciate you use some of my video footage of Colerain here. I wasn't even aware there where two PTTs and a third Showbiz in Cinciy. Also, I have three things to share about Colerain. 1. Chuck had his tux until the fall of 2002. I recall when the Sept 2002 showtape was playing one month Chuck still had the tux, but the next month they swaped over to the Cool Chuck outfit. 2. Pizzacam I think was actually removed around late 2002 or early 2003. It might have been around the same time Colerain got the Cool Chuck outfit actually. 3. Briefly, Colerain actually had the Phase 4 logo on their phase 3 exterior installed in late 2008 or early 2009, about a year or two before they got the phase 4 remodel. I have a picture of this short lived exterior on my Instagram.

[@NathanSpies]

Thanks for the Info!

[@jwilliams7554]

Yes!! I think I remember the 'magic cave'. I remember Showbiz having this dark room with flashing strobe lights and it was cool going in there as a child. Was probably removed early on due to the whole panic over seizures from flashing lights.

[@novalight7228]

hey there looney bird! HEY THERE BILLY BAAAWWWBBB!

[@animatronicsproductions1993]

Sorry I missed the premiere, but awesome video! I love these sort of history videos of CEC and RAE location's!

[@jwilliams7554]

This is awesome! Do you think you could do an extensive video about the Columbus Ohio locations, especially the Macsway location which lasted almost 40 years 1982-2020. That was my childhood showbiz and was fortunate enough to take my son there two years before it closed!

[@toteoma3034]

Glad I got to see the Eastgate Rocker Stage in-person. Got to love seeing those PTT characters at Jungle Jims to this day.

[@seabasscardsandcomics4264]

Thanks for sharing this. I remember going to the Cassinelli Square location as a kid. Good memories from there! Your video seems pretty much right on with how I remember it. Wish I had video from back then. May have some Polaroids, lol.

[@BobbiRakus]

This was the Chuck E. Cheese location I would go to all the time, until sadly it closed due to Covid… 🥺 Fun Fact, it actually used to be a ShowBiz Pizza Place before becoming a Chuck E. Cheese! 🤩 12:40

[@is-landmedia2360]

This just like all you’re videos was really well made! Keep up the good work

[@funguscakes]

duuudddee THESE VIDEOS ARE HELPING ME CONNECT WITH MY HYPERFIXATION AND ACTUALLY CONVINCE PEOPLE THAT IM NOT A MANIAC FOR HAVING CHUCK E. CHEESe AS A SPECIAL INTREST!!!!!!1!1!1 thanx bro

[@thecarwashesandmorechannel2892]

30:05 They're actually different, for example, Pasqually's goes Yellow Red Yellow Red Black from the center, while Dook's goes Yellow Red Yellow Black.

[@troydefrancescotheplotagon3245]

I’m so excited, I can’t hardly wait

[@ghettonepeta]

SAMEEE BROOOO

[@troydefrancescotheplotagon3245]

@@ghettonepeta you missed it

[@ghettonepeta]

@@troydefrancescotheplotagon3245 ty I’m bad an spelling lol

[@dianasorbara2136]

For what?

[@troydefrancescotheplotagon3245]

@@dianasorbara2136 it was before the video premire

[@darmay5]

I grew up going to the Showbiz Pizza Place on Kemper Rd in Cincinnati, Ohio. At the time, it was the closes store to me. I don't think I knew about the SPP on Colerain, Ave till the one on Kemper, Rd went out of business. (I always thought that location went out in 1984, but I'm not sure now). I've got pictures of the Kemper, Rd location, Colerain, Ave location, (which you have my pictures of in your video here at 19:13, 19:34, 26:44) and the one that use to be in Dayton, Ohio, across from the Dayton Mall. I also visited the Upper Valley Mall location, (but I don't have pictures of it).

[@PrimeStone]

CEC Is So Greedy. I miss Colerain 😢. By the way its kinda cool how the other location with the cappa kept the wooden wall panels from back in the day.

[@PTT_Cyberamic]

Congratulations on 10000 subs awesome job! 2/1/22

[@funecheeseofficial3576]

This was ambitious! The history of Showbiz Pizza and Chuck E. Cheese in Knoxville next?

[@Ruby_Razz]

I'm so glad you did this! I grew up with one of these locations!!!

[@Ruby_Razz]

Also I'd love to hear about the sharonville showbiz location

[@davidbutler9808]

The main thing I remember about Showbiz Pizza Time Theater was the sheer volume of noise. Kids running around everywhere yelling and screaming. I guess having fun. The most organized chaos I have ever seen.

[@ConnorJem]

Great video, I’m from the Cinci area so this was really enjoyable to watch. If you don’t mind me asking, what is the best way to get more knowledgeable about the Chuck E. Cheese franchise? Just a lot of reading and research?

[@StickminDude]

Congratulations On 10k Subs Remember This Was Commented On 2/1/22

[@maxkazlo3559]

Jungle Jim's had a Fatzs , Billy Bob and Chuck-E-Cheese retrofit in the late 1990s called the Nirobl TrIo

[@bluejeanz]

I actually frequent the Half Price Books on Colerain quite a lot! I had no idea it used to be a PTT, even as an avid fan. The Colerain CEC location was a favorite of mine as a kid. I didn't go very often, mainly due to being scared of the animatronics, but I remember it being a blast. Ironic how time changes things, huh? I never knew it was such a bad location near the end. Sad that I never got to visit before it closed, but it seemed to be for the best. At least my family loves driving up to Jungle Jim's every so often. Seeing Elvis is always a treat, especially now that they fixed him up! Thanks for the history lesson! - A Cinci local

[@CraigWuzHere]

I always eat pizza every time I watch this video.

[@StarPonyX3]

Wow, your videos are the best! Your awesome 👌. I know about this store but I never came here

[@skirby630]

Can you do a history of Chuck e Cheese in Perrysburg next? Idk why.

[@sjohnson9536]

I lived in Cincinnati as a kid and I’m about 90% certain that the Cassanelli Square CEC was right next to the Toys R Us but it wasn’t that back then. I’m pretty sure it was a Service Merchandise in the 80’s. The Colerain location actually became a Marshall’s and would eventually become a Kroger some years later. I can still remember what these location looked like after all these years considering I’m 46 now proves how memorable they were.

[@spongegenerator]

Thank you for uploading another Chuck E. Cheese history video it’s been so long since you’ve gone a Chuck E. Cheese history video do you plan on making the two point out rant

[@purpleguylovesfnaf9319]

This is awesome to know the history of the rock afire explosion and chuck e cheese

[@supermarioplushboi85]

You should do a history of Chuck E Cheese in Roanoke, VA. According to my mom, we also had a Showbiz Pizza in Lynchburg half a mile from a K-Mart which is now a Hobby Lobby. The building for Showbiz was demolished and there is a hotel there now

[@roncoolytalt256]

cant even have a chuck e cheese in ohio💀

[@javanquezlewis]

The Ohio meme has been dead dude

[@Enzo3112Gabriel]

I have a suggestion for a video, could you make a history video about the Visalia California CEC and Showbiz

[@jch2269]

Any chance on a video covering the Modesto CA location? Really interested in learning more about my location's history!

[@danilopezcava2477]

Can you do the story of Chuck E Cheese's Pizza Time Theatre in Phoenix Arizona (4310 W Thomas Rd)? Your videos are quite entertaining

[@realrtot9138]

Congratulations on reaching 10k subs! Happened 2/1/2022

[@BlueGuy98]

I would love it if you made videos about the Fairlawn and North Canton locations, as those were the ones I went to growing up!

[@thenightangel228]

Same! I was just gonna say that too!

[@MrPixieanimatronics]

Idk if he could do canton I've looked and I can barley find anything of canton before it got remodeled to phase 4

[@technerdbird]

every time i hear "endoskeletons" i lose 10 iq points

[@technerdbird]

also the organ front thing is incorrect. every 3-stage had that organ front and the "standard" front that all 3-stages have nowadays was first manufactured in 1995. charleston, sc was the last store to have it

[@apupper.9283]

Bro I feel the same way. It’s mechs or just say animatronics THIS ISNT A HORROR VIDEO GAME!

[@nightmarefreddle4174]

Could you do one on the CEC in Springfield OH?

[@EpicFurbynerd76YO]

Can't wait

[@AwesomeDrawer2017]

I think the road sign from Colerain’s phase 3 remodel was the 90’s cec pizza sign because of the squares on the bottom of the circle with chuck

[@troydefrancescotheplotagon3245]

LETS GO YOUR DOING ALABAMA MASCOT FOR MASCOT CONCEPTIONS

[@BenN64]

great video! but will you do any history of chuck e. cheeses in indiana?

[@NathanSpies]

Yes

[@Studio18sEntertainment]

The wall that the TVs are on is in fact different. Actually up until mid 2017 they still had the Cappa stripes on the side of the wall but shortly there after they moved the wall closer to the back wall

[@Ian-es3ec]

Yeah, let's go more chuck e cheese hype.

[@WolfToonsYT]

I’ve lived in cincy my whole life nice video

[@johnsos9]

I’m from the area and went to both several times as a kid. The One across from Tri County mall had all the animatronics you mentioned and had typical early 80’s games (Pac-Man, Pole Position, Galaga, Joust etc. The rumor I always heard was that location closed after a fire and Jungle Jim’s ended up buying the Elvis and Dolli they had. The Northgate location was similar but didn’t have Elvis. It ended up closing in the mid 80’s after the video game crash back then. It was cool while it was open though. There wouldn’t be another CEC until the late 80’s when the Showbiz down the road was changed to Chuck E. Cheese.

[@NathanSpies]

Thanks for the info!

[@johnsos9]

@@NathanSpies No prob😊 nice vid. It brought back some good memories. My mom actually has several pics from birthdays etc from both locations floating around somewhere. I should try to find them sometime if I remember to ask her about them.

[@adamkowalski1226]

@@NathanSpies anyways, what happened to billybob after concept unification due to him not being change to a chuck e cheese character

[@NathanSpies]

@@adamkowalski1226 he was destroyed

[@adamkowalski1226]

@@NathanSpies oh

[@EpicFurbynerd76YO]

Yoooooooo it's starting

[@jonthegamerboy]

Nice video, although you accidentally said Cincinnati's metro population (which is the population of surrounding cities and towns within 30 miles or so) rather than the city's population. Otherwise, I loved this video!

[@rollrick7500]

Awesome

[@Mad_Odyssey]

Good Job

[@keepingitreal71]

I miss my 3 stage at Macsway Ave in Columbus Ohio....

[@G.P.M.07]

41:38 Correction: Probably the third to last location with a Rocker Stage, The Simi Valley location had a Rocker Stage until it closed in 2007

[@gwenmloveskpopandmore]

Omg!! Is that a CEC in a mall?! I’ve always wanted to visit one like that!

[@bobbysmagicmadhouse6727]

they use to be really popular in malls back in the 80s when they were pizza time theatres nowadays their a single building and its pretty rare to find one in a mall as only about maybe 20 or 30 exist in malls today

[@Lime_1509]

@@bobbysmagicmadhouse6727 one of them are international cec's like example Uae,Dubai they have a chuck e cheese in a outlet mall for example

[@user-ii3rv6uy4j]

Don't forget in nyc

[@gwenmloveskpopandmore]

@@user-ii3rv6uy4j yep

[@bigdaddyj452]

There's still one open in union township (Eastgate) probably 25 miles east of Cincinnati.

[@DilanCommunications]

Nice, Dude! The History Of California and Six Flags's Great America In Gurnee, Illinois And Santa Clara, Bay Area ,California Please?

[@michael-armenta]

The Half Price books isn't actually the former PTT location. The original building went through several renovations after the closure and was demolished in the 1990s.

[@ThePrescriber]

Chuck e Cheeses where a kid can be a kid 😎😎😎

[@random-goomba1888]

you should do agusta ga! its a really cool location that once had yogi bear! or you could do Omaha Nebraska , or Colorado Springs Colorado! they both had yogi bear too!

[@rjrball1227]

yes ofc

[@rjrball1227]

And Its Not Just Yogi Near It Has Boo Boo Too

[@Dumbrato]

Fun fact jungel jim Had ANOTHER animictrionic band and it was a retro fit fatz retro fir billy bob and duke but the thing about duke is that he had chuck head it was duke but chucks cosmetics in it they where romoved in the early 2000s

[@MrPixieanimatronics]

I went to jungle Jim's in July and Pedro was gone

[@owlfan2007]

And So Was The Warbellettes

[@MrPixieanimatronics]

@@owlfan2007 yes

[@Anna-hy4sb]

Finally,One In My State!

[@owlfan2007]

35:11 Yeah Me And My Dad Found The Location When We Were Going To The Barber Then We Came Back And Looked And Walked Around The Building Fun Fact:We Were Gonna Go Look Around An Abandeond Babies R Us But I Had Other Ideas And Decided To Look Around The Abandoned Chuck E Cheese

[@spunchbop47428]

Can you do a history on the CEC in Huntington Beach, California?

[@clashofazxvy689]

hey! could you please do the histoy of chuck e cheese in laurel md! i would love to see it because not only its my local cec its the only one that still has blue pizzacam! please respond if you will think about it thanks!

[@CheeseEChuck.]

Can you do the Rochester Minnesota store next?

[@Kitch35]

50:30 Guitarzan my favorite Rock afire Explosions show tape

[@MrPixieanimatronics]

if you ever need a history of video idea you could do the 3 locations in san jose ca

[@gator_boialex]

Video idea: The History of the Chuck E Cheese/Showbiz Pizza in Dallas Westmoreland RedBird Texas

[@KingWaluigi07]

Can’t even-never mind I’m not going to make a lame Ohio joke.

[@candyjack839]

They actually fixed Pedro. I was at Jungle Jim's last year and he was moving about and singing a Mexican tune.

[@JamboreeBlackberry]

Can you do the one in Peoria Il.

[@CEC-Illinois]

Could you make a video about CEC Vernon IL?

[@basonm0]

Video idea do a history video on Chuck E. Cheese in Prairie Ave, Torrance CA if it’s possible

[@coreyrobertson7858]

can you do a vid on the history of showbiz and cec in northern colorado i know that a guy in a town called johnstown has old showbiz bots a bot of a cat and a cigar smoking chuck in his basment

[@beccahobbs663]

I’m curious why the Sharonville location wasn’t discussed in more detail? I remember going to the Eastgate location when I was younger and possibly the Colerain and Sharonville ones too, this was very interesting and brought back a lot of great Chuck E Cheese memories!

[@NathanSpies]

Sharonville isn’t in this because it’s getting its own video in 2024

[@gamezandhislife8966]

@@NathanSpies hi dude

[@gamezandhislife8966]

I’m a KZbinr

[@kingnoob9413]

Can you do the history of Chuck E. Cheese in Long Island NY?

[@christhejedimaster1885]

I think the one in Cincinnati May have had Madame Oink and Harmony Howlette at least

[@CraigWuzHere]

That game dig dug you mentioned Nathan, was made by the same company who made PacMan, aka Bandai namco

[@theextraterrestrailstoner217]

We need a video on the dance floor CEC

[@xavierperez7984]

Ohio memes in the chat

[@Arandomspongebobguy]

Nathan, the animatronics in Jungle Jim's came from Princeton Pike's Pizza Time Theater.

[@Aerazar]

There is a picture on the r/animatronics subreddit that has a picture of the Cincinatti's Chuck e Cheese's Elvis animatronic, thought you might want to check it out

[@supermarioplushboi85]

You forgot to mention that Looney Bird became Pizzacam

[@llllllllllllllllllllllllllll8]

What's good

[@spongegenerator]

Do another episode of update history put on the Geoffrey the giraffe video about the Toys “R” Us came back for Christmas

[@NathanSpies]

I kind of already mentioned that in the Geoffrey video

[@memethyst]

apparently jungle jims also had a retrofitted billy bob fatz and dook at one point, there's photos of it on instagram

[@preston8872]

Could u a chuck e cheese in Indiana next?

[@Dakaraimoore1203]

Can make one about Knoxville TN chuck e cheese

[@90sKidFan]

Can you do a history of Hickory NC,

[@squirrele.1266]

40:08 "Chuck, please can i have a break"

[@nolanryantroyaikman101]

I think I have a pic of where Jungle Jims Dollie Dimples today (or whenever the pic was took)

[@BRAIN_R0T87]

Could you do cec New Mexico

[@TheVarietyChannel2008]

Can you do Moble,Alabama

[@familiaramirez82]

I Hope You Do A History Video Of Chuck E Cheese In Danvers Ma

[@NathanSpies]

I will but it won’t be for a while

[@rjrball1227]

Do A History Vid On Chuck E Cheese Arlington Texas They Have The Portrait Stage When It Opened Not A Balcony One

[@rjrball1227]

Also San Jose CA OG Chuck E Cheese

[@sonicsonic2022]

Arlington did have the balcony stage when it opened

[@Looney-Toons119]

You know, I think that the animatronics taken apart and laying down on the floor after colerain cec closed makes me think about fnaf Because that's a reference to the second game where the old animatronics we're taken apart and laying on the floor in the parts and service room at Freddy's

[@nolanryantroyaikman101]

41:40 Actually the 3rd. Because Simi Valley kept theres until closure in 2008

[@gooeater1544]

I'm honestly not sure why people dislike the eastgate CEC so much. It's not my favourite, but it's not bad, especially considering other CECs I've been to. Only thing I could really critique is that the workers tend to... avoid people a lot. Even before The World Thing happened. Also the drink machines are broken half the time so that's a bit annoying 😭😭😭