Continental Baths
The Continental Baths was a gay bathhouse in the basement of The Ansonia Hotel in New York City, which was operated from 1968-1976 by Steve Ostrow. It was advertised as reminiscent of "the glory of ancient Rome".It opened after Ostorow observed the crowds at Everard Baths and he wanted to improve on the Everard atmosphere of being "sleazy, secretive, unkempt, not to mention unfriendly." Ostorow said “from the first night, there were lines around the corner” Some patrons said they would have 150 sexual encounters in a single visit. Opened a year before the Stonewall riots the bath was raided by the police about 200 times, Ostorow said.While the baths utilized the Ansonia's lavish Gilded Age décor for a Roman style bath, it is probably best remembered as being an influential offbeat music venue. Ostrow (born September 16, 1932) was a singer for the New York City Opera. He installed a stage designed specifically for a DJ -- claimed to the first of its type in the world. Discs were spun by Frankie Knuckles and Larry Levan.He then began showcasing live acts which were the launching points for Bette Midler, Barry Manilow, Patti La Belle and Peter Allen. The act most associated with the bath was Midler who was accompanied by Manilow on the piano. Midler debuted her song Friends at the bath and later recorded an album entitled Bathhouse Betty. The performances were actually open to the public and not just bath patrons. The gay crowd dwindled because they didn't like the public in the bath and felt they were being gawked at. Ostorow cancelled the live performances in 1974 before closing the bath in 1976.It re-opened as the straight swingers venue Plato's Retreat in 1977.
Excerpt from the Wikipedia article Continental Baths (License: CC BY-SA 3.0, Authors).Continental Baths
Broadway, New York Manhattan
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Geographical coordinates (GPS)
Latitude | Longitude |
---|---|
N 40.7801 ° | E -73.982 ° |
Address
The Ansonia
Broadway 2109
10024 New York, Manhattan
New York, United States
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