A SAD Day For The ROCK-AFIRE EXPLOSION Animatronics | SHOWBIZ 

Appreciate the honest review! This saves me the trip out there! I think this business type has just been struggling the past 10 years or so. My local Chuck E Cheese last year had a heavily advertised Xmas event that we went to. The location was half ready, didn’t follow must of the advertised events, and the guy seemed frustrated when we asked for the animatronic show. Really kills the experience when there’s just a lack of passion from the store.

Great to hear that David Arquette bought the rights to Bozos Circus. My Cousin was a camera person for WGN TV in Chicago, he often got my Mom tickets to the show when my brother sister and I were children. One of the times we went, the arrows landed on me to play The Grand Prize Game. With my Cousins help.

The Bridge!! That's the Bridge my dad built! Well he welded the steel at American Bridge in Ambridge PA it was in 1976 ad I well remember the drive from our house to the mill I learned how to drive on Route 65! I'm so Happy to have seen the Bridge and you drive over it! I'm sorry about the experience you had at Showbiz If you go back to the Bridge be sure to drive under it to All the shops and scenic beauty ! I miss it so much Thank you so much for the unexpected Beauty it fills my old heart with Joy! God protect you your girl and Jah and Family too Hugs from Tammy in PA

Hey there! Having a convention this weekend, Saturday the 29th, to showcase the fully restored show running together for the first time in years! Starts at 4 if you’re interested in making the trip

It's refreshing to see a vlogger go into a place that's seen better days and still say something positive about it. When the employee said the animatronics weren't working, most people would've just immediately left instead of trying to give them the benefit of the doubt.

Jordan I appreciate you taking all of us down memory lane I’m sorry they were not working usually they are i’m sorry about that. Have a wonderful blessed weekend.

I remember going to Show Biz as a kid..they had a mini ferris wheel inside that I loved to ride. I still remember the commercial.Show Biz Pizza where a kid can be a kid! 😀😆

That brought back Memories of My Childhood, I loved Birthday party’s at Show Biz Pizza! Sad it wasn’t up and going that day..Cool Video!

Thanks for taking us along Jordan , safe travels !!

Awesome Episode ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ You really bring back the best memories Keep up the great Work 💯

Omg we loved going to Showbiz Pizza Place as a kid Lol thanks Jordan!

Loved the excitement in your voice when you were telling us where we were going, and that it is somewhere very special to you. Living in Southern California, as a single Mom I would take my oldest son at least once a month to Chuckie Cheese's, I think pretty much like your Wonderland. He enjoyed the shows, loved the pizza & when he got a bit older he loved the arcade. Precious memories for me because he passed when he was 7 1/2, in '89. So I really felt your disappointment, so sorry it didn't work out and you traveled so far. Glad to know the pizza still taste good!!! Thank you, Jordan, you gave it a good chance to shine! P.S. I loved your little prayer, "please, oh please be working today"! Something like that... 🌼

Thanks for taking us along! Sorry that you weren't able to see the Showbiz shows. Love the old time everything! Yes, you can almost see all the family parties and the kids as the parents alike excited celebrating birthdays, or just a family day out! Love the tables and chairs!! Ty again for taking us inside to show us. Living in the Boston area we didn't have the pizza, but it looked good! We did have Bozo for years on tv here. Thanks for sharing the news about that as well! Thank you!

Thank you for sharing

I can imagine this place filled with kids having a great time on a Saturday afternoon! Sorry the animatronics weren't working, Jordan, but still fun to see a place you grew up with.

Keep on trucking, I enjoyed it.

Thanks for your effort, :)

Rolf and Earl and Billy-Bob are part of the Rock-afire, it's all one big show.

UPDATE: I went back on March 15, 2022 after a 5 hour drive, and they were not working again...

Thank you very much for what you do

We had a showbiz pizza in our hometown as a kid in late 80’s early 90,s until it became a Chuck E. Cheese I remember the cool prizes you could win and the wack a mole game I was absolutely scared to death of the animatronics still loved billy bob but wanted to stay atleast the whole building away from all of them lmbo definitely cool to see some are still around hopefully they can get them back to working probably awesome memories

💋Thanks Jordan for taking us along. ~Love&Light♥️Carli

Well this was an experience, loved the drive to Billy Bob's quite beautiful. You always make me laugh when you share your child pass this was no exception. Some of those animated animals can be quite scary to some children. Memories are for ever thanks for sharing yours Jordan, I had a blast .

Jordan, I’m from Eastern, Kentucky about 20 minutes from Barbersville. I remembered in the late 70s or early 80s going to either a Girl Scout or church party at that Showbiz location. Thank you for the memories

What a great video AS ALWAYS Jordan!!! You can always take something bad and turn it into something great!!! Seeing Billy Bob like that is going to give me nightmares!!! lol 😂 I have great memories of the Rock A Fire Explosion!!! We used to go to the one in Springfield Ohio for friends and cousins birthday parties…my brother and I never had a party there, my parents were too CHEAP!!! 😂 Thanks again Pal…you Rock!!!

That show is currently going under a full restoration. From videos that have been shown on Instagram, these guys are working better than they ever have.

I love Billy Bob’s wonderland and I love that you make this video because I like Billy Bob wonderland

Many businesses are struggling with staffing problems and the hit OMICRON has had the employees they do have makes it even worse. I'm sure they care, but these days it's just difficult. Thanks for taking the time to show us this place!

Oh yeah... I remember taking my kids to some of my little cousin's birthday party at Billy Bob's back in the 90's. They had one in Conyers GA. Not sure if it's still there or not? It's probably not busy because of Covid just like most places now days. Darn it...! I'm sorry you didn't get to see the show, but thank you Jordan for bringing back some good memories.

They're fully restored now, I think they did a pretty good job. You were just unlucky with when you went...

That was amazing and incredible when you show me around 😍👌👍🥰❤💖✨.

All the beautiful mountains and trees!

The ROCK-AFIRE EXPLOSION is still working in many places. The creator lives here in Orlando, and he fixes and is creating more.

I am 42 and i remember show biz pizza in my hometown. I loved it pizza was great. It's sad that my kids don't have things like this to go to.

If I owned this business I'd be deeply hurt that I can't get the animatronics to work

This reminds me of the shake machines at McDonald's. They advertise a special on shakes but the machine is always broken.

It's sad to see that, I loved Showbiz as a kid! Not only is it the animatronics always needing maintenance, but I'm sure it's partially due to to COVID. But I wonder if some of the reason for slow business is also because of parents letting their kids see movies like Nicholas Cage's Willy's Wonderland! I know if I had seen this movie as a kid under 10 years old, I would be terrified to go to a place like this...lol. Great video! I love the trips down memory lane.

Going there as a kid with my sisters at the peak of arcade games was an awesome time. The pizza was great and my dad would chill with the pizza and a pitcher of beer, shelling out tens at a time for more game time. Mine was in Houston at Little York and Antoine. When I pass it up I still see the building with the signage even only in my mind.

I love it 🥰

I remember going there too here in Tx. 😒 So sorry you didn't get to see the show.

I loved this place growing up!! Thank you for a trip down memory lane!!

I just had to Watch Again!

You do great videos bub keep it up bub.

“Getting worked on today” can’t tell you how many times I heard that.

I loved show biz as a kid!!

I have family in WV so on my next trip up there I’m gonna stop by. I’m a literal walking Encyclopedia of Chuck E Cheese/Billy Bobs Wonderland etc. I legit can’t wait to go up there haha

Good news, The rock a fire explosion is working flawlessly now and are working everyday without issues so go check them out again! That big fat zero would probably go back up to a 10 and they have more business now also

Yoo! They are having a convention Saturday and all the animatronics will be working

I had a Showbiz Pizza just a few minutes from my house as a kid. We used to go there when I got good grades on my report cards. I even still have the records that they sold there with some of their songs. I know that if you're down in Orlando that Aaron Fechter, the creator of the show, does tours of his warehouse, which includes a working Rock-afire show. I think he charges for it and I don't know if he's doing them right now, with COVID. But if you really want to relive your Showbiz memories, you might want to look into it.

America is a mad place. Never heard of anything you were talking about, but it was fun to watch ...

That is my billy bobs. I remember it as a kid and had my kids parties there

I live in the Delaware Valley,but I've never seen West Virginia.Beautiful state.Maybe this spring.🤨

well that was so cool. not sure if related somehow , but Austin Texas had Billy Bob it'd closed down a good while back, but it was great the pizza was good. hope they do get it going. thanks Jordan

Bummer ! I think they are trying to get them back up and running as fast as they can. Jacob from Carpetbagger fame has talked to the dude that is working on them. I think it is taking longer due to money issues. Ole roadside attractions unfortunately are having troubles staying alive due to most folks not caring about such stuff anymore. 😕 It takes money to keep stuff going......

When you were here n Evansville Indiana we have chucky cheese which was a show biz pizza.

Show Biz was the bomb growing up! So much better than Chuck E Cheeze. I used to have a LP record that had two songs on it.

There is a place in Tennessee called Smitty’s Super Service station,the place has a working Rock afire and Vintage Chuck E Cheese animatronics from the 80s and it’s free to visit, but you have to book an appointment first.

The stage right now is 90% up and running, and it’s restored! you should come back in a couple weeks!

Showbiz was my favorite place.

You did a good job, in spite of it not working. That place needs leadership in a bad way!

Actually, Showbiz and Chuck E Cheese merged in the late 80s and the owner of the Rock - Afire didn't want his rights taken from the Rock - Afire. You can actually book tours to the place where the Rock Afire originated, with a fully working show just like from the 80s and you can get a tour of the whole facility. If you want to see a full working Rock - Afire Explosion show, you can book a tour with the creator of the Rock - Afire himself at Creative Engineering in Orlando Florida. He has a website so you can book on there. It's very cool!

Dang! Well, it was worth a try!

there’s a place a few minutes away from my house that has the showbiz pizza place stuff. it’s an old gas station in the middle of nowhere. also the animatronics work.

They all work now!!!!!

Used to take our kids to Show Biz Pizza. Was always a good time for kids of all ages.

Rock a fire lives on at billy bobs wonderland i just seen a video of them yesterday 🥲✨✨✨✨

What a bummer!!!

It was a toss-up between Shobiz Pizza and Chuck E Cheese when I was growing up. Weren't the characters all kind of owned by 1 company at one time? Can't remember. Now MY childhood is rolling back to me now. Great pizza, games, LOTS OF TICKETS AND TOKENS!! The animatronics kinda creeped me out, but it was fun. Sorry you got a big nothing burger from your trip. ( Or should I say pizza 🍕?)

This is a brand new billy bob's wonderland building. Was originally a showbiz pizza place concept. The old showbiz store is where the new outback steak house is. I found that out by the owner rex the father to jr rex who also owns billy bob's wonderland.😁

Your right they have them working

I used to take my kids to Chuck E Cheese. We played all the games, especially ski ball. Good memories. It's too bad that the animattonics weren't working. Oh well, you tried!

literally just now they fixed the show and its working better than ever

Man I have so many pictures📷🎥and memories of that place as a kid, all of the birthday🎉🎂🎁🍕parties, I still have a few tokens,🎟️ and a birthday 45record📀 put up!! someone put me on stage one time, you talk about freaking😱out omgawd I was just too close. the games were the bomb.💕💕💕💕💕👍🏿

Everyone remember to hit the👍👍For Jordan

Oh well..At least you got the word out that this place exists, hope it will pick up! I remember those ads "Showbiz pizza where a kid can be a kid." I wonder how David Arquette will swing the Bozo revival? Speaking of show biz, sorry to get off the subject: RIP Meatloaf and one all time favorite comedian Louie Anderson.

Those grand yesteryears days of Showbiz pizza, Pistol Pete's Pizza, and Peter Piper Pizza

You should try and do a vlog with Aaron Fechter the man behind the Rockafire explosion and tour his workshop

Yep all my birthday parties were there also as a child in Arizona. I got so excited when you posted this and I feel so bad for you now! I also remember the pizza being really good! Thanks for trying for us Jordan! 😥

Aww man, sorry that they were not working at the moment, they are now. Because the air commpresser broke at the time, it is fixed now.

We have Chucky Cheese up here and they used to have the animatronics just like that. The animatronics are long gone, but the games and pizza remain.

The show is working now!

so sorry about that man that you went and they were not working at the time you went is when the tech fully restored rolfe and earl and is starting to work on billy bob and looney bird. As of 1/22/22 everybody except for beach bear is almost fully functional.

If it is empty like that alot, how do they stay in business? This is sad. I would have been bummed too!

That place is really empty and it's too bad that the animations were not working. That Bozo show game wad cool. I always wanted to go on that show even though I wasn't anywhere near. It's good to hear of it making a comeback. I didn't know that.

If you haven’t, come back now, they’ve been fully restored and major progress has been made in making sure they stay that way

When my kids were little it was Chucky Cheeses that had all that stuff also a couple of my grandkids. Sorry it wasn't working. The drive was pretty. West Virginia is a pretty state. Are you game to bungie jump off the bridge😁?

Glad you at least had good pizza remember taking my kids there

If you ever wanna see small towns come on down to south east oklahoma lol.. we could go check out robbers cave where the outlaws hid out back In the day we had Chuckie cheese around here it's sad how things have changed...

I totally have NEVER heard of any of this stuff!! Never heard of or eaten Show Biz Pizza 🍕 I’m 62 years old and grew up in New England. I can tell you are really excited about going there. I hope you at least got a t-shirt🙋🏽‍♀️💕

I'm not familiar with this though it does remind me of Chuckie Cheese. Looking at their FB page, it seems like their openings are hit and miss. Your disappointment was so sad. I hope you give it another try when you are in the area again. The drive in the beginning was lovely. Wishing you happier travels.

Well that sucks... Sorry you had to drive that, only to be disappointed. It sounds like it's more of an issue with then being able to get the repair guys to actually fix and work on the animatronics, than them not wanting to get them up and running/playing, but I totally get it. Just disappointing all the way around. I will admit though, that pizza looked really really good, lol. Very cheesy, and that's what I love. Anyway, thank you for sharing this trip with us, Jordan... even though it didn't go how you would have liked. Still a good time "hanging out" with you! Take care and stay safe!

Pretty country roads with sparse houses it reminds me of Oregon.

I agree a Great Place to be at and enjoy. A waste of a fantastic opportunity!

It’s sad that the rock a fire explosion is 80 ‘s kids childhood and mine too idk they don’t seem to care it’s sad more me to see my child hood to be like that

Well at least they sold two pieces of pizza. Lol. Probably the electric bill alone in that place alone is a few grand a month. Covid changed everything. They may even be fibbing about that repair man. He's just another bill to pay. They need to sell a lot of slices of pizza to keep that place afloat . That place is Huge!! That's the biggest Show Biz I've ever seen!

OMG! This is awesome. I used to love Showbiz Pizza. I do have one of the Rockafire records in my possession. Do you have a Instagram? I would love to share a picture of it with you.

I remember taking my 40 something daughter there. I had 6 kids and they probably all had a Showbiz party. The first party she had there she got scared of Fatz. They turned ours into a Chuck E. Cheese. I don't know how it's doing now. My oldest had his seventh birthday at Happy Joe's. Remember those. Are they still around?

I remember after Hoosier Boo's video there in 2019 a bunch of people in the comments insisted they had been restored. I guess they lied.

I used to LOVE going to Show-biz! The gorilla always scared me half to death though. Lol Good times…

We tune into your channel from Scotland (where we all live within 100 miles of a coastline), we really enjoy when you start filming in the car as it gives us a sense of the vastness of your continent - and the beauty. Many thanks for all your hard work and all the distances you travel to bring us these great videos.