Come For The Pizza... Stay For The Fun

Ever have one of those conversations about "going back in time" with someone?

Those moments of:

"Remember when we were 11?"
"What was the name of that song we liked?"
"Who was our 5th grade teacher?"
"What were we wearing?"

Well I put on my time traveling shoes last weekend.
And went straight back to 1983. Or somewhere close to that...

Hello Showbiz Pizza!

Remember me?

In case you're confused... This is NOT Chuck E Cheese. I repeat. This is NOT Chuck E Cheese.

Showbiz Pizza Place was here on Earth first. Chuck and his big mouse self came later. And brought despair and eye-twitches to the world that we knew as pizza, games, and a show.

Do you sense any resentment?

When my brother and I were kids, we had the awesome privilege of dining at the local Showbiz Pizza Place. There was pizza, salad, beer for the grown-ups, video games, skee ball, and a show with singing animals.

I know, I know... It sounds like Chuck E Cheese.
Again... this was NOT Chuck E Cheese.

There is a long and twisted tale of bankruptcy and dueling characters... the two places were actually owned by one company. But alas, in the late 80's (early 90's?), the Showbiz characters went away and Chuck was made the main focus of the company.

The Showbiz characters were very different. Not only were there more of them, they sang current and past hits (hello Beatles!), and they did little comedy routines. I remember the adults even laughing. (Something that does not happen at Chuck's. Adults only cry and beg for mercy at Chuck's place.)

So... On with the story.

My brother somehow found out about a guy in Alabama who purchased and refurbished a set of long-forgotten Showbiz characters. (Apparently my brother has WAY too much time on his hands.) Anywho... It was a lifelong dream of this guy to own and operate a Showbiz. He, too, had loved it as a child.

Well, this guy made his dream come true. And my brother, knowing we would be close while visiting the Wild Animal Safari, made plans for us to go.

Yes. We KNOW how to have a good time.

We dusted off our booties from the safari and drove a few extra minutes and found ourselves at a real-life (resurrected) Showbiz Pizza.
All the gang was there...

Fatz and Dook and Beach Bear and Mitzi... The "Rockafire Explosion" (or as we like to call them... "The Band")



Then there's Billy Bob and Loony Bird...



And don't forget Rolfe and Earl (in his stylin' Pepsi hat)...



We had such a fun time...











My brother and the boy even got a "backstage" tour from the owner. More good times.

As a child growing up, I adored Showbiz Pizza. But, to be fair, I've spent more than my share of time in the other place. I can't even begin to count how many afternoons and evenings I've wasted away in Chuck's place over the last 10.5 years. Enough times to need medication.

So I can be an honest and unbiased judge.
And...
My heart will always belong to Billy Bob. And 1983.