luvvyamy: Import from Cheese-E-Pedia revision 274f085c7132d784f81b7a4cbd96e7a0922db854

2026-10-03T07:33:26Z

Import from Cheese-E-Pedia revision 274f085c7132d784f81b7a4cbd96e7a0922db854

New page

{| class="wikitable cep-infobox" style="float:right; clear:right; margin:0 0 1em 1.5em; width:24em; max-width:100%;"
! colspan="2" | Source metadata
|-
! style="text-align:left; vertical-align:top; width:35%;" | Type
| Animatronic Control Systems
|-
! style="text-align:left; vertical-align:top; width:35%;" | Tags
| Pizza Time Theatre
|-
! style="text-align:left; vertical-align:top; width:35%;" | Contributors
| sudo-trans-pony, CEC Tinley, WalterB
|}

The ***Pizza Time Theatre Winchester Control System* was the system used to control the animatronics exclusively at the [[San Jose, CA (370 S Winchester Blvd)]] from May 1977 to sometime between 1980 and 1981.
The system was developed by the Cyan Engineering subdivision of Atari (also known as the ''Grass Valley Team''), headed by Larry Emmons and Gary Waters<ref name="cep1">[https://archive.org/details/atariincbusiness0000gold/page/328/mode/2up?q=theatre archive.org]</ref>**

== Hardware ==

=== TEAC 4-Track Tape Deck ===

An unnamed TEAC 4-Track tape deck would be used to play back audio and programming signals to the hardware. The Winchester 4-Track Reel would be the format used for data, where audio, programming signals, and a timecode track would be streamed in real time. These tapes would be generated on the separate (but still possibly interlinked) [[Winchester Hardware Setup]].
Due to the later [[Big C's Cyberamics Center]] using a TEAC A-2340 Tape Deck, which seemingly recorded only in the ''2-track stereo-mode,'' it is a possibility that this was a carryover from the Winchester store, giving this unnamed tape deck a likely model.

=== Unnamed Decoding Box ===

Currently no sources cite what hardware was used to decode the incoming audio signals into the programming data for the system. It is stated however that there was no central ''minicomputer'' controlling the system<ref name="cep2">[https://archive.org/details/atariincbusiness0000gold/page/330/mode/2up?q=theatre archive.org]</ref>, meaning the decoding device was only there for decoding and streaming.

=== 6502-Based Controllers ===

The main system was a set of identical boards with a CPU based off the MOS Technology 6502 Microprocessor. These boards would intercept the programming and timecode data, and process it for their individual outputs.
Each character would receive one of these boards, that being:

* [[Winchester Chuck E. Cheese V1 (Animatronic)]]
* [[Winchester Crusty the Cat V1 (Animatronic)]]
* [[Winchester Pasqually (Animatronic)]]
* [[Winchester Jasper T. Jowls (Animatronic)]]

Additional boards were used for the rest of the controllable lights, props, and side-characters, though it is unclear which were grouped together, or if each had their own board:

'' ''Lighting*
* [[Winchester Warblettes (Animatronic)]]
* [[Winchester Pizza Time Orchestra (Animatronic)]]
* [[Winchester Flag Wavers (Animatronic)]]

==== Clapper Board ====

The Winchester Clapper Board (Animatronic)|Winchester Clapper Board would be added some time shortly after opening. This addition would likely see the installation of another ''6502-Based Controller'' to the system, though the possibility of using unused slots

==== Guest Stars ====

Starting on August 12, 1977, [[Winchester Helen Henny (Animatronic)]] would be added to the lineup. This also has the possibility of another card being added, or more empty slots being taken up. The card would see additional characters hooked up to it over the years, being [[Winchester Foxy Colleen (Animatronic)]] and [[Winchester Madam Oink (Animatronic)]]

==== V2 Bots ====

At an unknown point between mid-1977 and 1978, Chuck E. Cheese and Crusty the Cat would be replaced with updated animatronics featuring more movements. It is unclear if any hardware was changed due to this.

== References ==
<references />

== Import provenance ==
Imported from [https://github.com/The64thGamer/cheeseepedia/tree/274f085c7132d784f81b7a4cbd96e7a0922db854 Cheese-E-Pedia] at source revision <code>274f085c7132d784f81b7a4cbd96e7a0922db854</code>. Source material is provided under [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ CC BY-SA 4.0].

Winchester Control System - Revision history

luvvyamy: Import from Cheese-E-Pedia revision 274f085c7132d784f81b7a4cbd96e7a0922db854