Bette Midler and The Continental Baths

In 1968, Steve Ostrown opened a gay bathhouse in the basement of The Ansonia Hotel in New York City, which became extremely popular very quickly. The Continental Bathhouse, once credited for having "revolutionized the bath scene in New York City," also featured a small disco dance floor, a cabaret lounge, a swimming pool, an STD clinic, and K-Y Jelly in the candy vending machine.

Needless to say that The Continental Bathhouse was very popular among gay men, but it also attracted straight people curious about the luxurious environment and the special cabaret shows. One of the main attractions was a young Bette Midler, followed by the house pianist Barry Manilow. 

Bette would perform to a crowd full of gay men that sometimes would only wear a white towel. That's where her stage person Divine Miss M. was born, as well as her nickname Bathhouse Betty. 

"I'm still proud of those days [when I got my start singing at the gay bathhouses]. I feel like I was at the forefront of the gay liberation movement, and I hope I did my part to help it move forward. So, I kind of wear the label of 'Bathhouse Betty' with pride," she said once to the Huston Voice.

Thanks to her performances at The Continental Baths, Bette gained national attention. She then performed at The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, and got a deal with Atlantic Records to release her first album. 

Tribute Show

To pay tribute to Bette Midler, the multidisciplinary artist Zachary Clause will be recreating one of Bette's final shows at The Continental Baths during an exceptional performance at Good Judy, in Brooklyn, on December 6. 

"Zachary Clause playfully summons the ghosts from a mythical moment in queer history in his recreation of one of Bette's final performances at The Baths. Bring your own towel because things might get steamy as we try to answer the age-old question: What becomes a superstar most?" 

Reed Whitney directs the show, and musical direction by Mark Hartman. Tickets are on sale for $20. 

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