CEC Entertainment The first incarnation of the Chuck E. Cheese animatronic house band debuted when the chain’s very first location opened in San José, California, in 1977. Inspired by ...

But first, some backstory: Founded in 1977, Chuck E. Cheese had animatronics at its very first location in San Jose. Founder Nolan Bushnell — who also co-founded groundbreaking video game ...