* * * * *
After passing the graveyard, I reached Park Street, and took it along the east edge of the Boston Common. Covering fifty acres, and dating from 1634, this is the oldest city park in the United States.
Ann Hibbins was hung by them 19th June 1656.
Park made a dead end into Beacon Street where, as I meandered aimlessly down Beacon’s north side, something jumped out of the night at me - riveting me to the ground in utter surprise. It was a simple, overhead lit sign that flatly stated: “Cheers EST. 1895,” with a cryptic hand having an index finger pointing downward.
Let’s hit “pause,” dear reader. “Cheers” was a successful television sitcom that ran for eleven seasons from 1982 to 1993. It was about a group of Bostonians who frequented a basement tavern. The show’s famous tagline, lifted from its theme song, was: “Where everybody knows your name.” Arriving fresh off the plane in ‘86 from Saudi Arabia, I’d never been exposed to the TV show before. That was promptly remedied by it being shown at each and every hotel I laid over at. I therefore was instantly “hooked” – becoming a fan of the show. All the same, I hadn’t a clue the show was based on a real tavern in Boston, and that it was so close to my hotel. What a pleasant surprise!
Cheers is located at #84 Beacon Street, across from the park.
So naturally curious to see if the real tavern resembled the TV show’s set, I followed the cryptic index finger on the overhead sign, and descended to the tavern in the basement.
What a miserable let down, dear reader. The bar was far too cramped and narrow – it didn’t even remotely resemble the spacious TV set – and not a single soul “knew my name.” Alas, the TV magic simply wasn’t there. However, it didn’t prevent me from having a nightcap; a double bourbon to ward off the night’s October chill.
* * * * *
Comments
Post a Comment