Charles Entertainment Cheese, or Chuck E. Cheese for short, is the mascot of CEC Entertainment Concepts L.P.'s Chuck E. Cheese chain of family entertainment centers (FECs)[1][2] From 1977 to 1992 he was an anthropomorphic rat, changing to a mouse in 1993.[3][4][5][6] In 2012, he was rebranded into a slimmer, Rockstar-themed version as a response to a decrease in sales during 2011.[7]
^Sheff, David (1999). Game Over: How Nintendo Conquered the World. GamePress. p. 115. ISBN978-0-9669617-0-6. Above the receptionist's desk was the smiling face of Chuck E. Cheese, the company's mascot—a rat.
^Taub, Stephen (November 30, 1983). "A Noisy Decline". Financial World. Vol. 152. pp. 40–43. The star of the show is a feisty-looking rat named Chuck E. Cheese, who Bushnell hopes will become as big a celebrity as Mickey Mouse.
^Kent, Steven L. (2000). The First Quarter: A 25-Year History of Video Games. BWD Press. p. 97. ISBN978-0-9704755-0-3. Bushnell called his new venture Pizza Time Theaters. He named his restaurants Chuck E. Cheese after the robotic rat mascot.