Topeka Inn Management, Inc. Introduces... (1979)

The ***Topeka Inn Management, Inc. Introduces...*** brochure was published in 1979 as a way of informing the public of their recent business endeavor with Pizza Time Theatre Incorporated, which would later be abandoned once Robert Brock discovered the existence of Creative Engineering, Inc. The brochure would go on to state the history of Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theatre and inform readers on the future of the franchise deal.

## History

In June of 1979, Nolan K. Bushnell, Chairman of Pizza Time Theatre Incorporated, signed a co-development deal with Topeka Inn Management, a pioneer in the food catering and lodging industry headed by President Robert L. Brock. The co-development deal would put forward an agreement of the development of 285 Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theatre outlets across 16 states in the United States under the "Pizza Show Biz" sub-division of Topeka Inn Management, which was fully staffed of professionals in the hotel and catering industry. In October of 1979, writing of the brochure would commence, then presumably published shortly after throughout Pizza Time Theatre Incorporated and Topeka Inn Management. The brochure would slowly become obsolete as quarter 4 of 1979 pursued, Robert Brock was losing hope in Pizza Time Theatre, and once he attended the New Orleans IAAPA Expo in November 1979, he met Aaron Fechter of Creative Engineering, who was displaying the Wolf Pack 5, which would be one of 400 exhibits. Brock then realized the claims of "The Only Three-Dimensional Computer Animated Vaudeville Show Outside of Disneyland" were false and would be supported by the fact Nolan Bushnell of Pizza Time Theatre Incorporated knew of the existence of Aaron Fechter and Creative Engineering since the 1978 IAAPA and offered several times to collaborate with Creative Engineering after Creative Engineering denied a put forward buyout by Pizza Time Theatre Incorporated. The brochure would presumably stop being produced around November of 1979, a month before Robert Brock would sign a co-development with Aaron Fechter, with Pizza Time Theatre Incorporated pleading it was a breach of contract, which the legal battle would be fought over for several years.

## Design

The brochure is mostly printed on white paper as a base, with often use of a border consisting of a red and yellow color scheme, which would enclose several images in the brochure. The brochure makes often use of the artwork seen in the 1979 Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theatre "Great All American Pizza Show" franchise brochure, which shares a similar art style seen in the *Topeka Inn Management Introduces...* brochure.

## Pages

### Cover

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Topeka Inn Management Introduces...

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### Page 2: Pizza, Fun, And Electronic Showbiz...

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The first Pizza Time Theatre opened in San Jose, California, in May of 1977. The concept was conceived by Nolan K. Bushnell, a pioneer in the video games industry and founder of ATARI, Inc. For the first year of operation, Pizza Time Theatre was a division of ATARI. Then in June of 1978, Bushnell purchased the assets from ATARI and formed Pizza Time Theatre Inc., a California Corporation. Pizza Time Theatre, Inc., has vigorously pursued a policy of company store development in California. It has seven stores opened in California, and franchise development is underway in California, Arizona, Utah and Oregon. Pilot stores of 10,000 square feet are achieving (as this brochure is being printed*) weekly average revenues of approximately $20,000--or $1 million per year on an annualized basis. These remarkable volumes are double to quadruple the volume experienced by the average stores in the largest Pizza chains. *October, 1979.

**NOLAN K. BUSHNELL,** Chairman of the Board of Pizza Time Theatres, Inc. Nolan is widely known in the electronics and coin-operated games industries by virtue of the phenomenal success of ATARI, Inc., which he founded. ATARI was one of the pioneers in the video game industry, and within five years had established itself as one of the leaders in the field. ATARI is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Warner Communications, Inc.

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### Page 3: A Formula For Success

Several images of the 1371 Kooser Road location can be seen, including colorized shots of the Dolli Dimples Piano Bar, a shot of the main entrance of the Fantasy Forest Game Preserve, a shot of the Cheese Crawl and Skee-Ball, and an extended shot of the 370 South Winchester Boulevard showroom.

### Page 4: Topeka Inn Management, Inc., Is the Exclusive Developer of Pizza Time Theatres in 16 States

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In June of 1979 Topeka Inn Management, Inc., entered a co-development agreement with Pizza Time Theatres for exclusive development of Pizza Time Theatres in 16 states. Chairman Robert L. Brock said, "the major capital investment TIM is making obvious evidence of our confidence in the concept" "It is our intent to develop this concept with sound management techniques, adherence to quality standards, and long-term profitability." Total operation in the 16-state area will be under the direction of Pizza Show Biz, a separate and fully staffed division of TIM. Pizza Show Biz is actively developing sites in Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin. A company national training center has been established in Kansas City, Missouri.

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### Page 5: TIM... A National Leader in its Industry.

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Topeka Inn Management, Inc., is the nation's largest franchisee of Holiday Inns. The company is headed by Robert L. Brock, who has built the company from a single Holiday Inn in Topeka, Kansas, into one of the nation's largest and most successful food and lodging chains. Forty-nine percent of the outstanding stock in TIM is owned by Brock, and the balance by key TIM officers who have been active in the development of the company. The company plans a public stock offering in the Spring of 1980, although this offering is of course, subject to market conditions and change. Pizza Time Theatres is a natural extension of the company's high successful background in both food service and family entertainment. TIM was the first full-scale developer of the Holiday Inn Holidome concept-- a giant indoor family entertainment center. The concept has proven to be one of the most successful in the hotel industry, and TIM's role in its development has been nationally recognized. The company also ranks among the nation's largest in total food sales. Food sales continue to show a dramatic increase in 1979 with the installation of new theme restaurants throughout the TIM chain.

**ROBERT L. BROCK,** President and Chairman of Topeka Inn Management Inc., maintains his active role in the business he started 30 years ago as University of Kansas law student.

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### Page 6: An Aggressive, Seasoned Management Team.

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Pizza Show Biz is a separate division of Topeka Inn Management, Inc., formed to implement an aggressive program of development operations, and marketing of the Pizza Time Theatre concept. The division is fully staffed and totally committed to the development of the Pizza Time Theatre chain in 16 states. The Pizza Show Biz management team combines the unique marketing site selection and operational abilities necessary for the rapid and profitable development of Pizza Time Theatres.

**Rolfe Kennard**
**Vice-President, Operations**
Prior to joining to Pizza Show Business management team, Kennard was Vice-President of Operations for Marriott's Great America. Kennard was instrumental in the development of Marriott's first fast-food concept, Junior Hot Shoppes, and he assisted in the development of Roy Rogers. His responsibilities at Marriot included planning, budgeting, controlling, and supervising the ride, show, food, and merchandise operations of 2 75-acre theme parks with sales exceeding $77 million. Early management experience included four years as Director of Operation for Mcdonald's Hamburger, Gee Gee Corporation.

**Jim Parrish**
**Vice-President, Real Estate & Finance: General Counsel**
Parrish holds a Juris Doctor degree from Washburn University Law School, where he was graduated cumtaude in 1973. He practiced at Topeka law firm prior to joining TIM's Pizza Show Biz Division. He has been a real estate investor and developer while practicing law.

**Mickey Powell**
Vice-President Franchise Sales and Site Analyst
With Holiday Inn, Inc., from 1970-1979, Powell supervised development and expansion activities, most recently as Regional Director of U. S. Development. His activities with Holiday Inns included the supervision of capital refurbishing, market research and analysis. Powell received his MA from Memphis State University in 1968.

**Andrew J. Whelan**
Senior Vice-President
Chief Financial Officer
TBD

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### Page 7

*The top 3 descriptions are mostly intelligible.*

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**Leonard Eudaley**
**Architect**
Before assuming responsibility for architectural development at Pizza Show Business, Eudaley was an Architect Consultant for the state of Kansas. He has over 20 years of professional experience and a Bachelor's Degree in Architecture from the University of Kansas.

**John Fulton**
Interior Designer
His involvement with Pizza Time Theatre is the creation of proper interior esthetics and environment for all public spaces. He has executed and promoted an exciting theme and unique decor for the family entertainment and dining areas of the restaurant. Mr. Fulton's past design experience includes association with St. Louis consulting firm specializing in restaurant design, and previously was a member of the design team for the nation's largest contract firm, Inn Keepers Supply.

**Doughlas J. Harper**
Director of Electronic Planning
An honor studen in electronic engineering at Northrop Institute of Technology, Harper has applied his electronic expertise to his own audio-visual business in Topeka since 1972. He has a BA in Economics and was graduated from the United States Navy Electronic Tech Schools. His clients have included banks, insurance companies, businesses, and local government.

**Harry Badford**
Field Operations
With 10 years' prior experience in the fast-food business, Hadford joined Mariott Corporation in 1969. He was vital in the creation of Marriott's theme parks, most recently as director of Food Services for Marriott's Great America. As director, he was responsible for $13 million in sales.

**Bill Ridgway**
Project- Coordinator, Southern Region
As Vice-President and Secretary for Columbian Properties Corporation, Ridgway was responsible for $20 million in property investments. He also has served in various management positions with Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co., First National Bank of Dodge City, Jack P. Deboer and Associates, Littlestone Co. of Chicago, Southwestern Bell and the Dodge City Chamber of Commerce.

**Jack Sargent**
Project Coordinator, Florida Region
As President of the Sargent Real Estate Construction Company, Sargent was actively involved for many years in construction and development of all types of properties. He also has an extensive background in appraisal work, having served as key executive with the Midwest Appraisal Company.

**Craige Chandler Sweeney**
Project Coordinator, Northern Region
A broad educational background, including an MBA and Juris Doctor from the University of Denver, Phi Beta Kappa honors and study abroad, led Sweeney to a position as Financial Analysis Officer in the Controller's Division of Seattle First National Bank. He has demonstrated knowledge of management techniques, organizational structures and budget administration.

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### Page 8

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Pizza Time Theatre, Inc., is committed to an aggressive program of national expansion and is actively seeking qualified applicants to participate in the franchise development program. Pizza Show Biz, a Division of Topeka Inn Management, has undertaken an expansion program similar in nature to that of Pizza Time Theatre's within Pizza Show Biz's sixteen (16) state exclusive development territory. For further information regarding franchise opportunities, contact the Franchise Development Department, Pizza Show Biz Division, Topeka Inn Management, 2209 West 29th Street, Topeka, Kansas 66611, or telephone (913) 266-7021.

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## Cited Sources

1. ↑ ptt\_pizzatimes-1979.pdf (showbizpizza.com)
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 History Overview | History of Chuck E. Cheese | ShowBizPizza.com
3. ↑ IAAPA 100 Centennial Issue | IAAPA
4. ↑ ptt\_78kooser.pdf (showbizpizza.com)
5. ↑ cei\_1977promo.pdf (showbizpizza.com)
6. ↑ joint\_82fortune.pdf (showbizpizza.com)
7. ↑ spp\_memos\_80.pdf (showbizpizza.com)