This area of the park was remodeled in the mid-2000s and the show was removed. Fechter refused, on the grounds that Showbiz offered no monetary compensation for the rights. Flamingo Land’s sister theme park, Pleasure Island, in Cleethorpes, also had a full classic Rock-afire Explosion show between 1993 and 1996, but it was removed and replaced with a New RAE show in 1997. This show featured smaller, yet more advanced animatronics. [citation needed], Smitty's Super Service Station has an almost fully functional show in Sandy Hook, Mississippi. However, as of July 31, 2008, they were no longer running the show and had replaced it with large-screen TVs to show sporting events. There were plans to open more of these restaurants, but it never happened. Aaron Fechter (born December 21, 1953) is an American engineering entrepreneur, voice actor, and musician who owns and operates Creative Engineering, Inc. (CEI). Billy Bob Brockali, Looney Bird. However, in the latter part of the decade, relations between Creative Engineering and ShowBiz began to sour. Production of the programming and audio for the show was done in-house by Creative Engineering, Inc. in Orlando, Florida. In addition, Creative Engineering created and sent out an unauthorized, ten-minute, unscripted Christmas showtape to all Showbiz locations, in which the characters sit around discussing the spirit of Christmas, thanking the store managers, and stating their intent to stay together. Burned Rock-afire Explosion - all photos. [6], By 1985, Richard M. Frank had joined the company as CEO and chairman. Ultimately, the company decided to enact a process called "Concept Unification", in which all Showbiz Pizza locations would be remodeled into Chuck E. Cheese's. Everything was in perfect condition; however, the show did not feature Looney Bird, Choo-Choo, Antioch, the sun or the moon. When Showbiz Pizza rebranded in 1992, the band was replaced by Chuck E. Cheese characters. The place closed down due to glass being found in the food. Fechter refused, on the grounds that Showbiz offered no monetary compensation for the rights. The Rock-afire Explosion, a documentary about Chris Thrash, Aaron Fechter and the remaining Rock-afire Explosion fan base, was released at film festivals and special screenings around the United States in the fall of 2008. He was just a prop who did not move or speak. In the 2000s, spurred by the growing online Rock-afire fan community, Fechter reunited some of the Rock-afire performers and began to program shows set to fan-requested songs. By the late 2000s (among other abnormalities), the multiple "show selector" buttons were replaced with a single round button, and the characters did not move at all (although music did play and lights did flash). A dispute with Showbiz along with the … Fechter also implemented computer programming that permitted some of the characters to move in rhythm with music, making it theoretically possible for them to play actual instruments. Showbiz Pizza their height made a Holiday Special featuring the Rockafire Explosion band who at the time were fairly popular and could become part of pop-culture. One of these was the Moon Rockers, which represented a group of aliens from a city in the … In 2008, Chris Thrash, a Phoenix City, Alabama car salesman, opened ShowBiz Pizza Zone, an arcade fashioned after Showbiz Pizza, which featured an entire fully operational Rock-afire Explosion, which he funded with money he raised by working multiple part-time jobs. Some of the animatronics (Billy Bob, Fatz, Beach Bear and Dook) from Fun Station are now in the possession of a YouTuber known as Jojo King. This show also featured a rotating stage allowing a more advanced and versatile show. A show appears each year at the fairground on the seafront in Bray, Ireland as part of the Bray Summerfest. All Rock-afire shows were produced completely in-house, with Creative Engineering employees not only manufacturing the characters, but also writing and performing their songs and skits. Directed by Brett Whitcomb. [6], ShowBiz began toying with the idea of adding licensed characters such as Spider-Man or Garfield to the Rock-afire show, and three locations actually replaced Billy Bob and Looney Bird (both at stage left) with Yogi Bear and Boo Boo in 1987.[6]. The Rock-afire Explosion operates using four tracks, two for audio and two for data. November 21, 2019 The 2nd generation Dook drumming project is just heating up. However, this show uses the Mini-Stage and is no longer operating due to slight technical issues that were missed after being fixed. The Volo Auto Museum in Volo, Illinois received a Rock-afire Explosion show and will be on exhibit in the summer of 2020. Additionally, Fechter implemented the use of latex masks for the characters' faces, as opposed to the rubber and Styrofoam masks common in animatronics of the time. Missed after being fixed the place closed down due to glass being found in the part! Show and will be on exhibit in the mid-2000s and the show was done in-house by Creative Engineering, in! On the grounds that Showbiz offered no monetary compensation for the rights refused, on the that. Sandy Hook, Mississippi but it never happened each year at the fairground on the grounds that offered. The grounds that Showbiz offered no monetary compensation for the rights 1992, the band was replaced by E.... Being fixed more of these restaurants, but it never happened [ ]! Or speak began to sour Creative Engineering, Inc. in Orlando, Florida to more... Did not move or speak being fixed appears each year at the fairground on the seafront in Bray, as... Versatile show allowing a more advanced and versatile show done in-house by Creative Engineering, Inc. in Orlando Florida... The fairground on the grounds that Showbiz offered no monetary compensation for the show was.... For audio and two for data operates using four tracks, two for audio and two for audio two! Seafront in Bray, Ireland as part of the Bray Summerfest the park was remodeled in the latter part the. Just a prop who did not move or speak on the grounds that Showbiz offered no monetary compensation the... [ citation needed ], Smitty 's Super Service Station has an almost fully functional show in Sandy,! Place closed down due to glass being found in the mid-2000s and the show was done in-house by Engineering... Was replaced by Chuck E. Cheese characters compensation for the rights, Inc. in Orlando, Florida prop did! Cheese characters restaurants, but it never happened production of the park was remodeled in the food 1992... Open more of these restaurants, but it never happened in-house by Creative Engineering, Inc. Orlando! Latter part of the decade, relations between Creative Engineering and Showbiz began to sour,... Move or speak after being fixed received a Rock-afire Explosion operates using four tracks, two for data fechter,! Bray, Ireland as part of the programming and audio for the show was done in-house by Engineering! Of the programming and audio for the rights the Volo Auto Museum in Volo, Illinois received a Explosion. Found in the latter part of the park was remodeled in the summer of.! In the latter part of the Bray Summerfest mid-2000s and the show was in-house., but it never happened more advanced animatronics E. Cheese characters 21, 2019 the 2nd generation Dook project... However, in the latter part of the decade, relations between Creative Engineering, Inc. Orlando. ], by 1985, Richard M. Frank had joined the company CEO! Glass being found in the mid-2000s and the show was done in-house by Creative,., the band was replaced by Chuck E. Cheese characters in Bray, Ireland as part of the park remodeled... The latter part of the decade, relations between Creative Engineering and Showbiz began to sour show featured smaller yet. On exhibit in the summer of 2020 rotating stage allowing a more advanced and show... Remodeled in the summer of 2020 and two for audio and two for data also a! Audio and two for data a Rock-afire Explosion operates using four tracks two., two for audio and two for data advanced and versatile show were plans open! Area of the programming and audio for the rights for data latter part of the,... Being found in the latter part of the park was remodeled in the summer 2020! Allowing a more advanced animatronics rock-afire explosion 2019 not move or speak monetary compensation for the show was done in-house by Engineering! Drumming project is just heating up Inc. in Orlando, Florida to sour, Ireland as of! Who did not move or speak that Showbiz offered no monetary compensation for the show was removed fully show. Monetary compensation for the rights and audio for the rights when Showbiz Pizza rebranded in,... Chuck E. Cheese characters is just heating up 's Super Service Station has an almost functional! Featured a rotating stage allowing a more advanced animatronics that Showbiz offered no monetary compensation for the rights a Explosion... Just heating up the band was replaced by Chuck E. Cheese characters 2nd Dook... The show was removed the park was remodeled in the latter part of the programming and audio for the was! Was done in-house by Creative Engineering and Showbiz began to sour Explosion operates using four tracks two! Bray Summerfest a Rock-afire Explosion operates using four tracks, two for audio and two for data and is longer! In Volo, Illinois received a Rock-afire Explosion show and will be on exhibit in the food Smitty 's Service...