I always thought the animatronics were pretty creepy even not stripped down. That was just part of the entertainment value :). I'm pretty sure I have a couple of photos from that birthday party around somewhere...

The death of arcades was sad. I'm afraid the death of movie theaters might be next. I remember for a time there were two arcades in the mall near me. Aladdin's Castle and Pocket Change. The fighting craze, starting with Street Fighter II, was really the last big hurrah for arcades. I keep hoping they'll make a come back one day but it seems unlikely. I still want to build or otherwise acquire a MAME cabinet one of these days...