ShowBiz Pizza Place Tape 1

A Classic Stage at an unknown location.

Release: Jan. 12, 1980 - ?

Released On:

• CEI 4-Track Reel

ShowBiz Pizza Place Tape 1 was the first ever showtape produced for ShowBiz Pizza Place’s hosting the Rock-afire Explosion. Despite the tape’s manufacture date being January 12, 1980, it wouldn’t debut at a ShowBiz Pizza Place store until July of that year.^[1]

Summary

This tape would be the introduction of the Rock-afire Explosion to first time ShowBiz Pizza customers and staff at the opening of the first stores. Each segment focuses on a main character and sets up their archetype and situation on stage. Heartaches sets up Dook’s emotional singing, but doesn’t include any dialogue. Roast Beef Sandwich introduces Billy Bob and Looney Bird running Smitty’s Super Service Station and their solution to the 1979 Oil Crisis^[2] with Gas-O-Hol. This scenario presents Billy Bob’s caring personality, and shows Looney Bird’s drunken craziness through his use of drinking the Gas-O-Hol. Catch-A-Wave introduces Beach Bear’s surfing personality and his goofy voice. Hit the Cymbal shows off Rolfe and Earl’s dynamic of insulting eachother- with Rolfe’s egotistical showman attitude, and Earl’s uncaring sarcastic outlook. Throughout their comedy act, it seems like they’re at odds, but it resolves with the reveal they’re doing what they can to entertain the audience together. School Days oddly doesn’t show much for Fatz, and is rather a section for the center stage to speak with eachother. Sun and Moon also speak with the band despite rarely appearing later on. Mitzi makes zero appearances in this tape outside backup singing, making a proper introduction for her not come till much later.

Segment List

Notably this tape essentially loops its main segments twice, with every other loop containing a Rolfe & Earl skit.

1. Segment 1
   1. Heartaches
2. Segment 2
   1. Roast Beef Sandwich
3. Segment 3
   1. Catch-a-Wave
4. Segment 4
   1. Rolfe and Earl #1 - Hit the Cymbal
5. Segment 5
   1. School Days
6. Segment 6
   1. Heartaches
7. Segment 7
   1. Roast Beef Sandwich
8. Segment 8
   1. Catch-a-Wave
9. Segment 9
   1. School Days