Difference between revisions of "Continental Baths"
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| − | Opened in 1968 by Steve Ostrow, the Continental Baths were the first NYC gay bathhouse to offer a clean and safe place for gay men to have sex. Despite several raids during the early years the owner managed to make the baths a huge success. In 1969 the Continental started offering live entertainment and really put itself on the map as becoming the place that launched Bette Midler's | + | by: Jeff Auer |
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| + | Opened in 1968 by Steve Ostrow, the Continental Baths were the first NYC gay bathhouse to offer a clean and safe place for gay men to have sex. Despite several raids during the early years the owner managed to make the baths a huge success. In 1969 the Continental started offering live entertainment and really put itself on the map as becoming the place that launched Bette Midler and Barry Manilow's careers in the summer of 1970. By 1971 women were allowed to come in for the live shows. Gay men felt the place had become overun with hype and straight people and started departing by 1974. In 1975 the baths went co-ed and finally closed early the following year. It was sold and reopened ast the straight swingers club Plato's Retreat in 1976. | ||
<gallery> | <gallery> | ||
| + | Image:1969 AD.jpg|[[1969 AD]] | ||
| + | Image:6-69 Mattachine Ad.jpg|[[6-69 Mattachine Ad]] | ||
Image:Winter 69 AD.jpg|[[Winter 69 AD]] | Image:Winter 69 AD.jpg|[[Winter 69 AD]] | ||
Image:1969 Cont Food Area.jpg|[[1969 Cont Food Area]] | Image:1969 Cont Food Area.jpg|[[1969 Cont Food Area]] | ||
Image:1969 Cont Sun Deck.jpg|[[1969 Cont Sun Deck]] | Image:1969 Cont Sun Deck.jpg|[[1969 Cont Sun Deck]] | ||
Image:1969 Continental Pool Area.jpg|[[1969 Continental Pool Area]] | Image:1969 Continental Pool Area.jpg|[[1969 Continental Pool Area]] | ||
| + | Image:69 Continental Library.jpg|[[69 Continental Library]] | ||
Image:Spring 70 QQ.jpg|[[Spring 70 QQ]] | Image:Spring 70 QQ.jpg|[[Spring 70 QQ]] | ||
Image:1970.jpg|[[1970]] | Image:1970.jpg|[[1970]] | ||
| − | Image: | + | Image:Cont Bats ChattanoogaChoo.jpg|[[Cont Bats ChattanoogaChoo]] |
| − | Image: | + | Image:Cont Baths 1-71.jpg|[[Cont Baths 1-71]] |
| − | Image: | + | Image:1971Cont.jpg|[[1971Cont]] |
| − | Image: | + | Image:Cont1972.jpg|[[Cont1972]] |
| − | Image: | + | Image:73Cont.jpg|[[73Cont]] |
| + | Image:ContBaths1974.jpg|[[ContBaths1974]] | ||
| + | Image:Mandate_9-75.jpg|[[Mandate_9-75]] | ||
| + | Image:6-75 Mandate.jpg|[[6-75 Mandate]] | ||
| + | Image:Contbaths12-75.jpg|[[Contbaths12-75]] | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
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| + | =See also: [[Gay Bathhouses]]= | ||
Latest revision as of 22:07, 13 July 2012
by: Jeff Auer
Opened in 1968 by Steve Ostrow, the Continental Baths were the first NYC gay bathhouse to offer a clean and safe place for gay men to have sex. Despite several raids during the early years the owner managed to make the baths a huge success. In 1969 the Continental started offering live entertainment and really put itself on the map as becoming the place that launched Bette Midler and Barry Manilow's careers in the summer of 1970. By 1971 women were allowed to come in for the live shows. Gay men felt the place had become overun with hype and straight people and started departing by 1974. In 1975 the baths went co-ed and finally closed early the following year. It was sold and reopened ast the straight swingers club Plato's Retreat in 1976.
