It
was a can’t-miss spot, both literally and figuratively. Located on
the big curve of Route 28 in West Dennis, Christine’s set the bar
high when it came to entertainment. Some famous names graced the
stage in the twenty-five years this landmark was in existence. The
three-hundred-seat Christine’s packed people in on a nightly basis.
It began in 1980, when Joe Jamiel, straight out of college, purchased
the property and originally called it Celebrities. It was a young
rock-and-roll bar back when the drinking age on Cape Cod was still
eighteen. When the drinking age was raised, Jamiel decided to change
with the times. The hopping nightclub atmosphere of Celebrities was
replaced with a function room for private parties, banquets and
family-style meals. The only thing left was choosing the new name.
Jamiel named the venue Christine’s
after his wife, and the new establishment opened in 1983.
Despite the changes, this spot did not lose its appeal; in fact, it
gained even more. The young rock-and-roll bar began incorporating all
sorts of musical tastes to increase its audience. Monday was jazz
night, and many legendary local musicians played there weekly.
Tuesdays were reserved for standup comedy, including a young Jay
Leno, who plied his trade on stage there before later becoming host
of the Tonight Show for many years.
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| A 1987 Ad for Christine's(Yarmouth Register) |
Shows started between 9:00 and 9:30 p.m. and never ceased to amaze
and enthrall customers. Jamiel credits having really good agents for
helping him book many talented acts. Christine’s was seen as the
little stepchild of the Melody Tent, a popular music venue that
opened in Hyannis in 1950 and is still running strong as of 2016.
This was due in part to the fact that several acts would play the
Tent and then Christine’s, or vice-versa.
It was a family-run restaurant, with Joe Jamiel booking the
entertainment, his brother Geoffrey working as the chef and his wife,
Christine, running the front of the house. His kids ran and played
throughout the restaurant, adding to the true family atmosphere that
they wanted to display.
Though it was known for tremendous entertainment, Christine’s could
hold its own with cuisine as well. It had the classic Cape Cod
seafood meals and award-winning clam chowder. It was also known for
its buffets on holidays such as Mother’s Day, Easter and
Thanksgiving. The talented staff could change the function room from
buffet setup to nightclub setup in thirty minutes, an impressive feat
for a three-hundred-seat establishment.
The entertainment is what made Christine’s a landmark. There are
legendary stories to attest to that fact.
There was the time that the rock band Steppenwolf came to
Christine’s. The Canadian American band had some major hit songs,
including “Born to Be Wild” and “Magic Carpet Ride,” and sold
more than twenty-five million albums worldwide. It also attracted a
large biker following, and on the night that they played, some
two-hundred-plus motorcycles packed the Christine’s parking lot to
hear the band play.
Sometimes Jamiel got lucky with the timing of the acts he booked,
like the time he had R&B singer Chubby Checker come and play in
1988. Not too long after booking him, it was
revealed that Checker was to play the halftime show of Super
Bowl XXII between the Denver Broncos and Washington Redskins. The
publicity for his appearance was off the charts.
Then there were times like when the Guess Who came and played. The
Canadian rock band had a string of massive hits in the 1960s,
including “No Time,” “American Woman” and “These Eyes.”
After playing a large arena show, the next stop for the band was
Christine’s. The band walked into the three-hundred-seat function
room thinking it was just a place where they were going to eat and
asked where the venue was, not knowing they were there already.
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| A 1990 Christine's Ad featuring some big name artists.(Yarmouth Register) |
Perhaps the most famous story is that of the time the band War
played. The California-based funk rock band had some substantial
hits, including “Low Rider” in 1975. However, when the band was
nearing the end of its show at Christine’s, the musicians played
another hit—“Why Can’t We Be Friends?.” It was during this
song about peace, love and friendship that a massive brawl erupted
between patrons right in front of the stage, completely contradicting
the message of the song.
There was also the time that Boston Red Sox first baseman Mo Vaughn
came to help promote the Dream Day on Cape Cod charitable event. He
had just been named American League Most Valuable Player in
1995. Again, the hype for this appearance was palpable, and it
included legendary Boston sportscaster Bob Lobel coming down to
interview Vaughn from Christine’s.
Not to be forgotten in the world of Christine’s entertainment was
the Italian wedding show dinner theater and music from the reggae,
folk and even disco genres. It was true that this spot had something
for everyone.
As the twenty-first century dawned, it started becoming harder to
book acts due to the rise of local casinos. Jamiel said that felt he
was “starting to get a little old for the nightclub scene.” It
was around this time that he opened the first Ardeo Mediterranean
Grill on Station Avenue in South Yarmouth. At one point, there were
five of these spots featuring Mediterranean cuisine. For a few years,
the Jamiel family ran both Ardeo and Christine’s, but the rapid
success of Ardeo—combined with the tragic loss of Joe’s brother
Geoffrey in 2006—made it easier to sell the legendary
establishment.
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| The former Christine's building in 2008.(Google Maps) |
It has been over a decade since Christine’s lights went out for the
last time, and people still reminisce about it. After sitting dormant
for many years, in 2015, a new complex opened on that famous curve in
West Dennis, anchored by a barbecue restaurant called Billygoats BBQ. The new restaurant did not last very long. In a fitting twist of irony though Ardeo, which had been closed for a few years, opened a new location in that very complex in 2019. This means that Joe Jamiel is operating his business on the grounds where Christine's once reigned supreme.
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