The 1-Stage is a full character stage setup produced and installed in Chuck E. Cheese's restaurants from 1992-1998. It is the third and final Cyberamic show to feature Munch's Make Believe Band before the Studio C conversion.
History
Development
The 1-Stage was possibly conceptualized after the 2-Stage's debut as a smaller version of it to not take up too much of the showroom, as well as to be cheaper and faster to install in a lot of stores.
First Prototype/Mini Unit 1-Stage
The Prototype 1-Stage (more commonly known as the Mini Unit 1-Stage) debuted in 1992 at Waldorf, Maryland. As the name implies, the characters share 1 floor space to have the stage smaller. The rooftop setting and buildings are more vibrant compared to the 2 and 3-Stages, with more color and design than just grey and rectangles. Along with those, two brick walls were placed behind Chuck E. and Pasqually. Chuck's side has the fiber optic sign in black, and a red rope light replacing the 2-Stage star. Pasqually's side has the graffiti on the wall saying "Pasqually's Amateur Hour Live" instead of just "Pasqually's Amateur Hour". The "Munch's Make Believe Band Sign" which is Pink on this stage, hangs above Pasqually's brick wall. Interestingly, some locations had Munch in front of a TV with the showtape footage playing behind him instead of the MMBB sign, (although, some locations have the band sign there), and Jasper sitting on a unique amplifier. Finally, instead of a curtain valence, there is a wall piece. This design was later installed at the restaurants in Columbus, Ohio; and Lancaster, California (the former being gutted, and the latter now closed).
Second Prototype
Another 1-Stage prototype was installed in 1993 at Irving, Texas. It looks more like the final 1-Stage, however, with a few major differences. A Singing Flower was in-between Helen and Munch, Chuck E.'s tube next to his fiber optic sign was a red hanging light, and the band wore costumes and was nicknamed Munch's Party-time Band. Helen wore a roller-skating suit with yellow hair, Mr. Munch wore a tie, Jasper wore punk rock pants, and Pasqually wore a baseball suit.
The '1/2 Stage or the 1-Stage with 2-Stage props"
Before the finalized 1-Stage was created, a version was made using spare 2-Stage backgrounds, this has been dubbed by fans as the 1/2 Stage, as it was a 2-Stage without the fiber-optic sign and TV. The last location to featured this stage was Plaza Oeste, Chile (albeit with the star and Pasqually sign missing), though Plaza Oeste has since relocated with a lack of their animatronic show.
Finalized Version
When the finalized 1-Stage debuted, a few changes were made: Pasqually's "Amateur Hour Live" graffiti was removed after the San Diego (Sports Arena) stage was installed,[1] a curtain valence was installed, and the speaker Jasper sat on was redesigned. Shortly afterwards, a version only installed in stores during mid-1993 had the fiber optic sign changed to look more like the 2-Stage version; however CEC went back to the black one in late 1993. The 1-Stage also became the default stage at this point.
1994 saw the addition of lift curtains for the first time, and a turntable at some locations. The turntable was used to hide the animatronic Chuck E. when the walkaround Chuck E. would come out (either for a live show, birthday show, etc.) so kids wouldn't be confused due to Chuck not having his own curtains. It would start to be disabled in 2005 along with the curtains due to orders from CEC Entertainment to save money. The last location to have a working turntable was Pearl City, Hawaii, but around 2015/2016 the Chuck E. animatronic was permanently put towards the backstage room due to its poor condition. The turntable was also disabled and a flat screen TV was put onto the turntable wall. They also removed the rain curtain, and put the Chuck E. Cheese neon sign in between Jasper and Pasqually. As of August 2023, they still have their Turntable 1-Stage, although it's in very poor condition.
1-Stages would continue to be installed in new stores up until July 20, 1998 when the last 1-Stage store opened in Mentor, Ohio. However, one 1-Stage store opened in January 2011 in Santiago (Plaza Oeste), Chile, although theirs originally came from another show, Santiago (Mall Plaza Vespucio), Chile, that had a 2-Stage and had closed 11 years prior (Mall Plaza Vespucio opened in 1996 and closed in 2000 with a 2-Stage and converted their 2-Stage to a 1-Stage for Plaza Oeste's opening). Pico Rivera, California also converted their 2-Stage into a 1-Stage during the 2011 remodel, along with National City, California converting theirs in December 2012 during an expansion. Citrus Heights, California replaced their Road Stage with a 1-Stage from the Rohnert Park, California store, which in turn replaced their 1-Stage with a Circles of Light in 2015. Citrus Heights has since received 2.0 in 2024, while Rohnert Park still has their Circles of Light stage, though it lacks a Chuck E. bot.
From around 60 1-Stages during 2015; currently, 3 1-Stages remain in operation in the U.S. and 1 in Chile, having 4 1-Stages altogether.[2]
Last 1-Stages in the State
State | City | Opening | Installed | Notes | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Arizona | Tucson | 1995 | 1995 | Only 1-Stage in Arizona, good condition, Jasper had PTT shirt, Chuck had a turntable. | Closed in October 2014. |
California | La Mesa | 1993 | 1993 | Very poor condition, Chuck had Rockstar jeans, last location to be under the "Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza" name. | Closed in December 2024. |
Connecticut | Newington | 1991 | 1995 | Good condition, Chuck had Rockstar shirt and jeans, last MMBB in Connecticut, as well as the last animatronic show in the state. | Received 2.0 in September 2022. |
Florida | Lakeland | 1993 | 1993 | Only 1-Stage in Florida, good condition, featured 2-Stage backdrops. | Closed in 2006. |
Georgia | Jonesboro | 1990 | 1994/1995 | One of two 1-Stages in Georgia. | Replaced by Studio C in 2000. |
Hawaii | Pearl City | 1994 | 1994 | Only 1-Stage in Hawaii, poor condition. Stage lacks a Chuck E. animatronic, with a flat-screen TV, and the formerly used turntable instead occupying most of the space. The location is planned to close on August 10th, 2025. | Still in Operation. |
Illinois | Chicago (Fullerton) | 1993 | 1993 | Good condition, last 1-Stage to have side to side curtains, Pasqually had white drumfront. | Received 2.0 in 2022. |
Massachusetts | North Dartmouth | 1994 | 1994 | Good condition, Chuck had latex feet, last MMBB in Massachusetts. | Received 2.0 in 2023. |
Maryland | Bel Air | 1993 | 1993 | Good condition, had 2-Stage backdrops, Pasqually had CU drumfront. | Received 2.0 in 2019. |
Michigan | Pontiac | 1993 | 1993 | Only 1-Stage in Michigan. | Closed in 2008. |
Missouri | Springfield | 1994 | 1994 | Decent condition, Pasqually had white drumfront, Chuck had rare Cool Chuck outfit. | Received 2.0 in 2023. |
North Carolina | Durham | 1994 | 1994 | Poor condition, last Cyberamic stage in North Carolina. | Received 2.0 in 2025. |
New York | Hicksville | 1994 | 1994 | Good condition, will stay permanently as a legacy location. Chuck E. has Rockstar jeans and Cool Chuck shirt. Last MMBB in New York. | Still in Operation. |
New Jersey | Middletown | 1994 | 1994 | Good condition, Chuck had Turntable, Pasqually had plain white drumfront. | Received 2.0 in 2024. |
Nevada | Reno | 1992 | 1993/1994 | Only MMBB in Nevada, poor condition. Chuck had Rockstar shirt, stage had 2-Stage backdrops, Pasqually had white drumfront. | Received 2.0 in 2022. |
Ohio | Toledo (Airport HWY) | 1993 | 1993 | Good condition, Chuck has Rockstar shirt, has off-brand Gemini lights. Last Cyberamic and MMBB stage in Ohio. | Received 2.0 in 2025. |
Pennsylvania | Levittown | 1990 | 1993-1994 | Good condition, Chuck E. had Rockstar jeans, Munch has sunrise Key Board | Closed in 2020. |
Rhode Island | Warwick | 1990 | Early-mid 1994 | One of several Chuck E. Cheese locations in Rhode Island. | Closed in November 1994. |
Tennessee | Knoxville | 1998 | 1998 | Only 1-Stage in Tennessee, good condition. Last MMBB stage in Tennessee. | Received 2.0 in 2022. |
Texas | Amarillo | 1994 | 1994 | Good condition, Chuck had rare Cool Chuck outfit, last MMBB in Texas. | Closed in April 2025. |
Utah | Sandy | 1996 | 1996 | Only 1-Stage installed in Utah, good condition. | Closed in 2014. |
Wisconsin | Milwaukee | 1983 | 1994 | Decent condition, Chuck E. had turntable and rare Cool Chuck outfit. | Received 2.0 in 2024. |
Washington | Bellevue | 1996 | 1996 | Only 1-Stage in Washington. Pasqually had CU drumfront, Chuck had turntable. Last MMBB In Washington. | Closed in April 2025. |
International Locations
Country | City | Opening | Installed | Notes | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chile | Las Condes | 1994 | 1994 | Good condition, Chuck has Avenger cap, Pasqually has a rare drumfront with Tuxedo Chuck. | Still in operation. |
Canada | Winnipeg, Manitoba | 1990 | Mid 90s | Only 1-Stage in Canada. | Closed in 2001. |
- This was the last stage to feature two things:
- The last new stage to feature five characters, until the Cyberamic 3-Stage and CU 1-Stage.
- The last new stage to date to feature Cyberamics.
- Due to its simple and small design, it is currently the most common MMBB stage.
- One of the buildings at the former Waldorf, Maryland 1-Stage featured the Coca-Cola logo.
- The 1-Stage appeared in the Nintendo DS version of Chuck E. Cheese's Party Games, as part of the "Rhythm Revue" minigame.
- A unique 1-Stage was present at the Staten Island, NY location. It had a very different background and stage design, among other things.