So there has been a lot of confusion in the fandom over what a Shelf is, so I hope to use this post as a way of explaining everything about The Shelf Stages.
Wall Explanation
Due to the coloration of Shelves and the dark Room’s, I might as well get this out of the way to explain the wall designs. The back of the wall was a Black Curtain, then in front are the characters and or portrait backdrops, then the Black outer Wall, then the portraits if added.
Name Origin
The Name ‘The Shelf’ was PTT’s official name for all Non-Balcony Stages (Though at this point The Stage meant Balcony and The Shelf meant Non-Balcony)
Though Later Shelves removed all Original Shelf exclusive features, they still shouldn’t be called Balcony’s as The Balcony Stage was specifically built from the ground up in stores, while Shelves like Simi’s & Lake Forest’s are built into the wall
Definition
A Shelf should be defined as ‘Any Cyberamic Show Built into the Top of a Store’s Walls‘. This definition includes all Shelves including Lake Forest’s, Concord’s, Surfer’s Paradise’s, and Hayward’s. This is why the name of “Portrait Stage” is not correct as not all locations categorized as Shelves had Portrait Facades.
This Definition also might be able to include Kooser’s, but Cannot include Winchester’s (At Least until they gained Cyberamics).
Variations
Standard (1979-1980)
- Ogden UT (1980-1991)
Technically calling them “Standard” is not correct but it’s the best term for it. These stages originally were just built into the wall with no color changes besides the Black Top
- Stockton CA (1979-Around 1981/1982)
But Later ones like Ogden’s had a white, tan, and brown color scheme but without changing the walls themselves for the most part.
Ogden was the last with this version, closing in 1991.
Standard (1980-1981)
- Simi Valley CA (1980-?) (Most likely changed to remove the Outer Wall after the 85’ Remodel)
These Versions ditched the Black Outer Wall (And yes it is an Outer wall not the actual Wall since store’s like Huntington removed it without changing the stage itself) and instead simply had all characters placed in one long shelf. Stores like Hayward and Simi got this version with the amount unknown. The Last full version is unknown, though it was most likely Concord’s Or Simi’s, both seemingly being one’s not originally installed in the Store (Though Simi’s may have been).
- Concord CA (1979-?;?-1994)
Other Variants
Lake Forest Had one that was painted to look like a house. note that the stage itself was only moved to one wall instead of on a stage, with everything else being built from the wall itself. It also makes you remember how actually short these stages are compared to Kooser and Winchester.
- Lake Forest (1981-1988/1989;?-2001)
- Surfer’s Paradise (1981-1982).
The Strangest One, this may look like a Balcony at First, but it’s actually a Shelf with a Cheese pattern Stage in front of the wall the characters are sitting on. Pasqually & Munch use the original Shelf mechs which makes this one of the last to have those installed. It’s also really short for some reason like the bot’s are touching the ceiling. Technically a Shelf due to it being in the wall but also similar to Balcony’s (At Least more technical similarities than Lake Forest is)