The Rock-afire Explosion movie screening in LA

shertz · 10-21-2009, 03:41 AM

I am going to be DJing at the screening of the documentary 'The Rock-afire Explosion' movie on Nov 5 @ the Cinefamily located at the Silent Movie Theater 611 N. Fairfax Ave in LA. I am also bringing a hand full of my arcade games from my collection to be played after the movie! Cinefamily will also be screening Thrash's Rock-afire music videos -- plus we'll be recreating Showbiz Pizza for one night only on our back patio, complete with a gallery of vintage arcade machines!

About the Rock-afire Explosion doc: In the early '80s, kids all over the country dragged their parents to Showbiz Pizza (created by Atari founder Nolan Bushnell) for the rides, games, and the animatronic rock band The Rock-afire Explosion. Created by 23-year-old prodigy Aaron Fechter, The Rock-afire Explosion amazed children and adults alike before being mysteriously pulled from showrooms and replaced by the now popular Chuck-E-Cheese in the early nineties. Still profoundly affected by his experience at Showbiz Pizza, small-town disc-jockey Chris Thrash sought out Fechter nearly twenty years later and purchased a full Rock-afire band of his own. After some clever modding on Thrash's part, the band was once again performing for millions, this time on YouTube, to the likes of Lil Wayne and MGMT! The Rock-afire Explosion reveals how Thrash revived this fallen robotic gem, alongside the heart-wrenching rise and fall of Fechter's former 300-employee, $20 million-per-year venture.

Click on the link below to buy tickets and for information.

http://www.cinefamily.org/calendar/thursday.html#rock

Hope to see you there!!!

norkusa · 10-21-2009, 05:07 AM

Heard about this movie a while ago. I really wish I could go to the screening. My brother and I both worked at Showbiz/CEC in the early 90's, and it's still a special place for us. We go back there with his kids now a 3-4 times a year but the whole 'Studio C' setup they have now is totally lame & depressing. Doesn't compare to the great Rocka-Fire Explosion.

At least the pizza hasn't changed though.

shertz · 11-03-2009, 01:51 PM

Sending out the last reminder about the screening of 'The Rock-afire Explosion' movie this Thursday at the Cinefamily in LA. I will also be there DJing before and after the movie. I will be bringing a few of my arcade games too that will be set up in the patio with pizza to eat. Fun starts at 7:30pm.

http://www.cinefamily.org/calendar/thursday.html#rock

In the early '80s, kids all over the country dragged their parents to Showbiz Pizza (created by Atari founder Nolan Bushnell) for the rides, games, and the animatronic rock band The Rock-afire Explosion. Created by 23-year-old prodigy Aaron Fechter, The Rock-afire Explosion amazed children and adults alike before being mysteriously pulled from showrooms and replaced by the now popular Chuck-E-Cheese in the early nineties. Still profoundly affected by his experience at Showbiz Pizza, small-town disc-jockey Chris Thrash sought out Fechter nearly twenty years later and purchased a full Rock-afire band of his own. After some clever modding on Thrash's part, the band was once again performing for millions, this time on YouTube, to the likes of Lil Wayne and MGMT! The Rock-afire Explosion reveals how Thrash revived this fallen robotic gem, alongside the heart-wrenching rise and fall of Fechter's former 300-employee, $20 million-per-year venture. After the film, we'll be screening Thrash's Rock-afire music videos -- plus we'll be recreating Showbiz Pizza for one night only on our back patio, complete with a gallery of vintage arcade consoles! As well, DJ Sysop (from KSPC's "The Retro Video Game Music Show") will be spinning both before and after the film! For more info on The Rock-Afire Explosion, visit the offical website!

See you there!!

InsaneDavid · 11-12-2009, 03:58 AM

Late to post here but the screening of the documentary at CAX 2009 was excellent. Great film, I hope that many here were able to attend the LA showing.

Thinking about it makes me want a Mountain Dew...

Flack · 12-12-2009, 01:56 PM

If you're not able to make it to one of the screenings, the Rock-afire documentary is also available on DVD from their website. I bought one of the first copies and when I got it the DVD skipped and sputtered halfway through the film. The creators are now replacing all of the DVDs with new ones, free of cost, and I just got my new one in the mail. Excellent film and excellent documentary.

Aussie2B · 12-12-2009, 06:14 PM

Yeah, The Rock-afire Explosion Explosion is a fantastic film, and I'd recommend it to anyone that is at all interested in animatronics (and if you're not, why the heck aren't you?

). I was following the film for around a year waiting for it to come out on DVD, and I was fortunate that my first print copy worked without a hitch.

10-21-2009, 03:41 AM	#1
shertz Cherry (Level 1) Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Claremont, CA Posts: 200	The Rock-afire Explosion movie screening in LA I am going to be DJing at the screening of the documentary 'The Rock-afire Explosion' movie on Nov 5 @ the Cinefamily located at the Silent Movie Theater 611 N. Fairfax Ave in LA. I am also bringing a hand full of my arcade games from my collection to be played after the movie! Cinefamily will also be screening Thrash's Rock-afire music videos -- plus we'll be recreating Showbiz Pizza for one night only on our back patio, complete with a gallery of vintage arcade machines! About the Rock-afire Explosion doc: In the early '80s, kids all over the country dragged their parents to Showbiz Pizza (created by Atari founder Nolan Bushnell) for the rides, games, and the animatronic rock band The Rock-afire Explosion. Created by 23-year-old prodigy Aaron Fechter, The Rock-afire Explosion amazed children and adults alike before being mysteriously pulled from showrooms and replaced by the now popular Chuck-E-Cheese in the early nineties. Still profoundly affected by his experience at Showbiz Pizza, small-town disc-jockey Chris Thrash sought out Fechter nearly twenty years later and purchased a full Rock-afire band of his own. After some clever modding on Thrash's part, the band was once again performing for millions, this time on YouTube, to the likes of Lil Wayne and MGMT! The Rock-afire Explosion reveals how Thrash revived this fallen robotic gem, alongside the heart-wrenching rise and fall of Fechter's former 300-employee, $20 million-per-year venture. Click on the link below to buy tickets and for information. http://www.cinefamily.org/calendar/thursday.html#rock Hope to see you there!!! __________________ Pics - http://community.webshots.com/user/shertz43 My Arcade Collection - http://www.ggdb.com/Collectors/ViewMember.aspx?mid=394 MySpace page - http://www.myspace.com/46041870 Southern California Classic Collectors (SC3) - http://www.sc3videogames.com/ Last edited by shertz : 10-21-2009 at 05:46 AM.

10-21-2009, 05:07 AM	#2
norkusa Pac-Man (Level 10) Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 5,509	Heard about this movie a while ago. I really wish I could go to the screening. My brother and I both worked at Showbiz/CEC in the early 90's, and it's still a special place for us. We go back there with his kids now a 3-4 times a year but the whole 'Studio C' setup they have now is totally lame & depressing. Doesn't compare to the great Rocka-Fire Explosion. At least the pizza hasn't changed though. __________________ Last edited by norkusa : 10-21-2009 at 03:57 PM.

11-03-2009, 01:51 PM	#3
shertz Cherry (Level 1) Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Claremont, CA Posts: 200	Sending out the last reminder about the screening of 'The Rock-afire Explosion' movie this Thursday at the Cinefamily in LA. I will also be there DJing before and after the movie. I will be bringing a few of my arcade games too that will be set up in the patio with pizza to eat. Fun starts at 7:30pm. http://www.cinefamily.org/calendar/thursday.html#rock In the early '80s, kids all over the country dragged their parents to Showbiz Pizza (created by Atari founder Nolan Bushnell) for the rides, games, and the animatronic rock band The Rock-afire Explosion. Created by 23-year-old prodigy Aaron Fechter, The Rock-afire Explosion amazed children and adults alike before being mysteriously pulled from showrooms and replaced by the now popular Chuck-E-Cheese in the early nineties. Still profoundly affected by his experience at Showbiz Pizza, small-town disc-jockey Chris Thrash sought out Fechter nearly twenty years later and purchased a full Rock-afire band of his own. After some clever modding on Thrash's part, the band was once again performing for millions, this time on YouTube, to the likes of Lil Wayne and MGMT! The Rock-afire Explosion reveals how Thrash revived this fallen robotic gem, alongside the heart-wrenching rise and fall of Fechter's former 300-employee, $20 million-per-year venture. After the film, we'll be screening Thrash's Rock-afire music videos -- plus we'll be recreating Showbiz Pizza for one night only on our back patio, complete with a gallery of vintage arcade consoles! As well, DJ Sysop (from KSPC's "The Retro Video Game Music Show") will be spinning both before and after the film! For more info on The Rock-Afire Explosion, visit the offical website! See you there!! __________________ Pics - http://community.webshots.com/user/shertz43 My Arcade Collection - http://www.ggdb.com/Collectors/ViewMember.aspx?mid=394 MySpace page - http://www.myspace.com/46041870 Southern California Classic Collectors (SC3) - http://www.sc3videogames.com/

11-12-2009, 03:58 AM	#4
InsaneDavid Jessica's Knight Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Silicon Valley, USA Posts: 5,624	Late to post here but the screening of the documentary at CAX 2009 was excellent. Great film, I hope that many here were able to attend the LA showing. Thinking about it makes me want a Mountain Dew... __________________ Contributing writer, Retrogaming Times Monthly

12-12-2009, 01:56 PM	#5
Flack Flawless Rawkality Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: OKC, OK Posts: 13,082	If you're not able to make it to one of the screenings, the Rock-afire documentary is also available on DVD from their website. I bought one of the first copies and when I got it the DVD skipped and sputtered halfway through the film. The creators are now replacing all of the DVDs with new ones, free of cost, and I just got my new one in the mail. Excellent film and excellent documentary. __________________ Flack WWW \| Twitter \| Commodork \| Invading Spaces


Meet the gamers with a decidedly retro edge. Remember Burgertime, Paperboy, Gunstar Heroes, Streets of Rage and Radiant Silvergun but have no problem wreaking havoc in Halo? Well then... welcome home.

12-12-2009, 06:14 PM	#6
Aussie2B The one and only tri-Ace Super Fan Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: USA Posts: 4,755	Yeah, The Rock-afire Explosion Explosion is a fantastic film, and I'd recommend it to anyone that is at all interested in animatronics (and if you're not, why the heck aren't you? ). I was following the film for around a year waiting for it to come out on DVD, and I was fortunate that my first print copy worked without a hitch.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode