Before Cape Cod became the family-friendly destination that it is today, the peninsula was a haven for rocking tunes, cheap drinks and a whole lot of fun.
Former TD Garden DJ turned film producer Dan McCarthy hopes to give audiences a peek into that world with his new documentary “Kings of Cape Cod,” which premieres Thursday night. The one-hour film will explore what it was like for partygoers on the Cape back in the ’70s and ’80s.
“We take viewers inside what it was like to be at a Cape Cod happy hour,” McCarthy says. “When I was college aged, the drinking age in Massachusetts was 18. For anybody that was 18 to 30, Cape Cod was the destination.”
Not only was the area famous for its 25-cent drafts and other happy hour specials, but it was also where many fan-favorite local performers cut their teeth. People like Dick Doherty, Jim Plunkett and The Shoes all made names for themselves with their unforgettable performances in the Cape.
While the shows were always a good time, McCarthy notes that things did get pretty rowdy back then.
“The Shoes, they were famous for the shoe shot,” he says. “They would take a person with the most disgusting shoe in the place, pour a drink in the shoe and the person would drink from the shoe.”
Although locals loved partying on the Cape, the fun eventually ended, in part due to the abolishing of happy hours in 1984. Now the area is a vacation destination that is much more quieter than it used to be.
McCarthy admits that people weren’t as responsible with their drinking habits back in the day.
“We’re a lot more responsible these days in terms of drinking and driving,” he says. “If Uber existed back then, maybe the happy hours would’ve lasted a little longer.”
Still, there’s a bit of nostalgia for how the Cape once was, which is why McCarthy hopes his film will help fans relive those memories.
In honor of the debut of “Kings of Cape Cod,” a special premiere will be held at the Dedham Showcase De Lux on Thursday night followed by a red carpet after-party at Kings Bowl. While many of the performers featured in the documentary are set to stop by the event, don’t expect any happy hour specials.Before Cape Cod became the family-friendly destination that it is today, the peninsula was a haven for rocking tunes, cheap drinks and a whole lot of fun.
Former TD Garden DJ turned film producer Dan McCarthy hopes to give audiences a peek into that world with his new documentary “Kings of Cape Cod,” which premieres in Dedham on Thursday night. The one-hour film will explore what it was like for party-goers on the Cape back in the ’70s and ’80s.
“We take viewers inside what it was like to be at a Cape Cod happy hour,” McCarthy says. “When I was college aged, the drinking age in Massachusetts was 18. For anybody that was 18 to 30, Cape Cod was the destination.”
Not only was the area famous for its 25-cent drafts and other happy hour specials, but it was also where many fan-favorite local performers cut their teeth. Names like Dick Doherty, Jim Plunkett and The Shoes all made names for themselves with their unforgettable performances in the Cape.
