Top 10 Pizza of the 80's and 90's
In the 1980's and 1990's, one food more than any other grew into a cultural icon - pizza. From birthday parties to school cafeterias, pizza became a mainstay and top choice for many kids and get-togethers. By combining this broad-appeal food with various entertainment options, pizza went from italian pasta-alternative to All-American family dinner. Here is Mechalawyer's Top Ten Pizzas of the 80's and 90's:
10. ShowBiz Pizza Place
One of the first national chains to combine animatronic stage shows, arcade games, and pizza into a one-stop family outing, ShowBiz Pizza Place combined pizza with a mini theme park-like experience.
The stars of the animatronic show were the Rock-afire Explosion musical act. Led by the silverback gorilla Fatz Geronimo on keyboard, this band would entertain families while they had their pizza dinners. Here is the Rock-afire Explosion playing a Beatles medley in the 80's:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gXhYQBiUN8
9. Peter Piper Pizza
Based in southwest cities like Phoenix and Las Vegas, the more economic Peter Piper Pizza took the family fun concept in a more value-oriented direction by combining arcade games with pizza for entertainment and dinner without the animatronic stage show. Here is a retro commercial:
8. Chuck E. Cheese Pizza
Although ShowBiz Pizza disappeared by 1992, it lives on in a way through its re-branding by its main competitor and eventual conquerer - Chuck E. Cheese. The pizza mouse brought a similar stage show cabaret/arcade/pizza family fun concept that continues to this day. An overview of its 80's offerings is here:
7. Totino's Party Pizza
In the 1980's, pizza did not just go big at family entertainment centers like ShowBiz and Chuck E. Cheese, it also came directly to households without the shows and video games in the form of affordable do-it-youself toaster-oven pizza. One of the greatest examples of this that was served at teen centers or sports rinks was the Totino's Party Pizza. With a crisping crust and pepperoni cubes, it was one of the easiest ways for kids to make their own pizza on the cheap. Here's a typical commercial:
6. Domino's Pizza and the Noid
In the 1980's, three main pizza restaurant competitors were known for different things. Domino's was the king of delivery, Little Caesars was the king of take-out, and Pizza Hut was the king of dine-in pizza. As the king of delivery, Domino's centered its marketing campaign around the villainous Noid who was out to steal pizzas on delivery in television commercials. In a classic example of cross-marketing and pizza-based entertainment, the Noid was even featured in his own Nintendo video game entitled "Yo! Noid" in 1990. Not having the equivalent Domino's pizza presence in Japan at the time, this game was rebranded as "Kamen no Ninja Hanamaru" (or "Masked Ninja Hanamaru"). So yes, the Domino's Noid can also be considered a 1990's Ninja! A sampling of gameplay from the NES's Noid ninja is here:
5. Little Caesars Pizza Pizza and Crazy Bread
As the king of take-out, Little Caesars focused on great deals such as "Pizza Pizza" which was 2 pizzas for the price of 1 or for the even more cash-strapped, the super-affodable Crazy Bread breadsticks. In addition to these deals, Little Caesars would even cross-promote with Blockbuster video to bring the pizza and a show concept directly to family's living room:
4. Stouffer's French Bread Pizza
Another entrant into the do-it-yourself option, Stouffer's brought its take on pizza in the form of the french bread alternative. Emphasizing its quality, Stouffer's french bread pizza was another toaster-oven option that brought convenience and let kids be their own pizza chef. A typical 80's commercial is here:
3. CPK - California Pizza Kitchen
In the late 1980's and 1990's, pizza would also go high-end with very non-traditional toppings in the form of California Pizza Kitchen ("CPK"). Led by its all-conquering Barbecue Chicken pizza and offerings such as chinese chicken salad, CPK made pizza accessible to a whole new market segment of people who traditionally did not like pizza. With its high-end take, CPK also offered its pizza and other recipes through its 1996 cookbook. Here is a cross-promotional commercial with American Express:
2. Sbarro Pizza by the slice
In the 1980's and 1990's, pizza also invaded the premier teen and family weekend hangout - the shopping mall. By setting up in shopping mall food courts, Sbarro offered pizza by the slice which made it an affordable and special way to get pizza without ordering a whole pie. In addition to traditional pizza slices, Sbarro offered stuffed pizza and strombolis as special dishes to get only at the mall. An overview from that era is here:
1. Pizza Hut personal pan pizza and all-you-can-eat salad bar
The undisputed king of dine-in pizza in the 1980's and 1990's was Pizza Hut. With its iconic red-roofed restaurants, all-you-can-eat salad bar or pizza buffet, and sizzling pan pizza, Pizza Hut was a family dinner stop that was quite the event for kids. Add in pac-man video games and lunchtime personal pan pizzas, Pizza Hut was an innovator and icon of the pizza era. Here is a typical pan pizza commercial:
Comments
Post a Comment