The History of Showbiz Pizza Place & Chuck E. Cheese in West Des Moines, Iowa

[@BeachKai]

I hate that this location got 2.0 out of seemingly nowhere. One of the worst remodels by far considering they just ripped the bots out of the ground. Horrible. Well done on the video as usual dude, and cool that you have Newspapers as well! I’m using it for future videos on my channel too. Keep up the great work man!

[@PrimeStone]

It was messed up what they did to those bots. They literally just left their legs on the stage. 🤨

[@PrimeStone]

I also heard that they received a cyberamic keyboard for Munch due to the original catching fire

[@thepuppetworld3955]

That was an actual thing..? I always went there when I was a kid, I never knew the original one caught fire, though it might’ve been before I was born

[@thepuppetworld3955]

Man, this place was my favorite arcade to ever go to, almost every birthday I had, it’d be here, even the old walk around Chuck was my fave… anytime I went by it, it made me smile… now seeing it in its 2.0 model… kinda makes me ignore it now… now that I’m 17 and “Too old for Chuck E. Cheese.” I just go to Dave and busters now haha.

[@sethhorst6158]

I definitely wondered what the story behind them having a cyberamic Munch keyboard was, I had no idea the old beta organ caught fire in the late 90's.

[@William_Afton_AFTONROBOTICS]

the reason why West De Moines had the unique Cool Chuck/Phase 3 mashup is because in that area the phase 4 signs were not available, and the best they had is the early phase 4 sign. yes that cool chuck phase 3 mashup was made in the 90's to make a early phase sign.

[@XanoxIk]

I am sad that I live close to this location and I never went to this location. I am surprised about this location for having the beta rockafires and being a showbiz pizza. I never knew that the closest Chuck-E-Cheese pizza is a historical location for being a showbiz, I wish I could have gone and seen one of it's last show. Love this video because it's Informational and something that I know.

[@abbymarie947]

I feel the same way I also live close and never went there. It’s sad that the historical significance has been stripped away.

[@ChuckAfireCEC]

Yeah i went to this location in april and they were in really good condition and were functioning really well. Some cool things i noticed is on the stage controls panel it still had the "pizza time theatre" logo on it and it had a 2 stage keyboard. I loved this location and i hate that it got the remodel. I have been dreading it for years and for it to finally happen is just sad. I hope we can save one of the 3 stages left

[@AnimatronicsProductions1.9.9.3]

Loved it, very informative! Can't wait for the next video about all the existing operating Rock-Afire's!

[@clownzinaround12]

my dad told me he used to go here during its showbiz days. pretty cool

[@PatrickBullock-l3i]

It may be too late to save the oldest three stage, but it’s not too late to save Pineville

[@ItzaRob]

Hopefully it can be saved.

[@PatrickBullock-l3i]

You are Right

[@jaspatjowls]

@@ItzaRobTHEY SAVED IT AND SPRINGFIELD

[@Mega3362_]

Bro they should save the 3 stages

[@bowino489]

I used to come here when I was younger, it was one of like 3 I would visit and was always my favorite because I got to see the other characters, Jasper was my favorite, sad to see my childhood location close, but cool to hear it was one of the oldest ones from the showbiz era

[@ItzaRob]

It didn't close, it just remodeled so they no longer have the animatronics.

[@bowino489]

@@ItzaRob oh, I didn’t realize, well, I’m one of the people against 2.0, so when a location loses the animatronics, I tend to see them as closing their doors, but thanks for clarifying

[@ItzaRob]

@@bowino489 I understand that as I'm not a fan of it either, but you'll confuse people with that if they don't know you and what you're talking about. Thanks for clarifying though.

[@bowino489]

@@ItzaRob of course

[@ElitePcManReal]

YESSSSSS!!!!

[@sergiopons5648]

Oh wow the Napaindian08 is my old KZbin account 😂 also another fun fact when we got the 2012 remodel we expanded and took over the H&R Block. Also the winking chuck e got accidentally removed during an early remodel in the 2000s and we never knew what happened to it. I been the GM of this location since 2018 and our guests really love the new look.

[@ItzaRob]

I didn't even notice that! Also very cool to hear that you not only work here but are the manager. I'm quite curious how many people have noticed the animatronics gone since you guys had some decent condition ones. Thanks for the info!

[@sergiopons5648]

⁠@@ItzaRob actually quite a lot lol It’s always the first thing they mentioned when they walk in thru kid check and start assuming we removed them because of FNAF 🤦🏽‍♂️🙃

[@V1_RETRO]

Lol i went to this place so much even and its just so crazy I literally went for the first time in 2 years 1 week before the remodeling. At least I got to see them one last time

[@MMBBARCHIVE]

I miss the old 3 stage

[@MMBBARCHIVE]

Great video 👌

[@Frozendragon1990]

There was a rumour that this location would be closing. Even Omaha NE

[@karlgt3656]

They did not close after 3 months

[@battlefornumbers]

3:57 Did The Atz Organ Catch On Fire During A Show Or Did It Damage Fatz?

[@ItzaRob]

We're unsure. There's not much detail to it.

[@MMBBARCHIVE]

New sub

[@kidmagineer]

My second request besides HB is the Lake Forest and Laguna Hills location.

[@ItzaRob]

I’m not taking anymore history video requests right now.

[@kidmagineer]

Ok@@ItzaRob

[@PrimeStone]

Cool video. I want to let you know that I am also an animator and I have an animation channel where I make cartoons and I also do art

[@ItzaRob]

I'm aware, I'll be sure to check it out.

[@PrimeStone]

@@ItzaRob thanks also keep up good work 👍

[@ItzaRob]

@@PrimeStone You're welcome.

[@karlgt3656]

Lets go

[@rabbits_everyday860]

New video I see

[@code2519]

Hey you should do a video on yogi bear show or Statue of Liberty

[@ItzaRob]

Maybe in the future, though what could I really add on to that topic other people haven't?

[@code2519]

@@ItzaRob you could talk about where there location was or if they are in preservation who knows they could be in a shed somewhere

[@ItzaRob]

@@code2519 Both were Rolfe mechs, so there’s not that much special to talk about in regards to that. I’m sure the cosmetics would’ve been destroyed after they were used. MAYBE a set of Statue of Liberty cosmetics survived but I’ve never heard of any resurfacing.

[@HaydenAndConnor]

Rob can u do the history of Chuck E. Cheese fm 1960 or memorial drive

[@ItzaRob]

I’m sorry, but I’m not taking anymore history video requests for now.

[@HaydenAndConnor]

@@ItzaRobok np

[@simonsays365]

sad i cant watch it bc im picking up some studio c letters and a bot

[@ChuckMaythem]

🤨Cool

[@AnimatronicsProductions1.9.9.3]

@@ChuckMaythem That does sound cool, doesn't it!

[@simonsays365]

ikr@@AnimatronicsProductions1.9.9.3

[@karlgt3656]

There's a problem in the video they were still beta bots because sets street and eats said they were still beta bots and someone found tags on the animatronics and they were still the same it said it was the fourth or third rock afire produced

[@ShowbizMidwest]

The tags saying “0003” are from before CEI established a standard format for serial numbers, so the bots at Des Moines are actually 0003 of the 4-81 batch. My friend Jack (animatronicswarehouse) actually talked to the guy who replaced the show, and there is written documentation from 1981 that it was replaced

[@ItzaRob]

This is false and @showbizmidwest is right. There was a batch of six (I believe it was) beta bots that were sent out to the first Showbiz Pizza Place stores (except for Antioch that had the Wolf Pack 5) which were then sent back in 1981 in which they would be destroyed for parts. The only surviving bots would be the ones from the Topeka Kansas location which kept their set of beta bots until 1986 when the location closed, and the Fatz, Looney Bird, and Mitzi from the location were saved.

[@4k_chase576]

⁠@@ShowbizMidwestis there any link to the document I believe u I’ve just been trying to find when and where the original 6 stores bots went

[@funecheeseofficial3576]

When fort walton?

[@ItzaRob]

It's not been requested, and I'm not taking anymore history video requests right now.

[@UnshornKeyboardist]

They had the 3rd RAE bots until 2.0

[@ItzaRob]

I can assure you they didn't. The only location that kept their beta bots past 1981 were Topeka, Kansas until 1986, and only three from that store have survived to our knowledge. You can go through KarlGT's responses to his comment to see the explanation of the confirmation on that fact.

[@UnshornKeyboardist]

They did. I saw all their serial plates myself. They all said “0003”. I can send you evidence if you don’t believe me!

[@ItzaRob]

@@UnshornKeyboardist I'll just copy the comment that @showbizmidwest made: "The tags saying “0003” are from before CEI established a standard format for serial numbers, so the bots at Des Moines are actually 0003 of the 4-81 batch. My friend Jack (animatronicswarehouse) actually talked to the guy who replaced the show, and there is written documentation from 1981 that it was replaced"

[@Cars_editshunts]

Look at of how they massacred him he’s been burned to ashes 😔

[@RopeyLoadsOnYou]

Itzarob is my brother

[@HaydenAndConnor]

Is he really

[@ItzaRob]

The only brother I have can’t even write yet so this is clearly not true lol.

[@HaydenAndConnor]

Lol

[@SlushysSecret]

Alright bud