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Chuck. E. Cheese Beach Bowzers land new performance venue in Volo

Cynthia Wolf Posted on 2017-10-23

Recent news that Chuck E. Cheese restaurants across the country were bidding farewell to their animatronic bands struck a nostalgic chord with more than a few of the restaurant’s patrons.

After all, today’s parents have been enjoying the antics of these furry, robotic bandmates since their own childhoods. Even Conan O’Brien chimed in on the subject in an August episode of his TBS show. So, when Volo Auto Museum Director Brian Grams was tagged in a Fox News social media post about the availability of one of the bands on Craigslist, he was intrigued.

“These bands were hugely popular in the 1980s and 1990s. They date back to when Chuck E. Cheese was Pizza Time Theatre,” Grams said. “Yes, I bought it.”

Several versions of the band existed. Grams paid $5,000 for a Beach Bowzers set, including four large dogs originally programmed to sing Beach Boys songs.

“We estimate we’ll have a total investment of somewhere between $30,000 and $50,000 once it’s shipped and fully restored,” he said, adding he’s not new to the intricacies that will be involved. Grams and some hired technicians spent months restoring the pirate band animatronics show that now entertains visitors in the museum’s Pizza Place near the main entrance.

“We’ll be reassembling the dream team,” Grams said, referring to electronics, sound and movement technicians Terry Younce, John Banach and Frank Gaughan. Grams located the men — two of whom were original builders of the show when it was new — after some detective work in 2014 and early 2015.

“This museum is all about nostalgia and fun,” Grams added. “I know people will be pleased to learn that at least one of these bands will survive and will be brought back to its former state of glory. I’ve already had friends asking me about it.”

The band is set to arrive in Volo from California later this fall. Grams anticipates the Beach Bowzers will make their Volo Auto Museum debut in spring 2018.

The Volo Auto Museum is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily at 27582 Volo Village Road. It features roughly 400 classic, antique, muscle and Hollywood cars and more. Admission is $15 for adults, $9 for children ages 5 to 12 and free for children 4 and younger. For other information, call 815-385-3644 or find Volo Auto Museum on Facebook.