PHOTOS: During the past two decades, thousands of dancers, go-go boys, and effervescent shirtless men have passed through the doors of Splash. After 22 years of providing Manhattan with plenty of fun nights, some of which resulted in happy endings, we salute you.
In an interview yesterday, the bar’s owner Brian Landeche told Queerty “it was my hope Splash would be a nice, clean and safe place where you could go every day of the week to strike up a conversation with another gay guy and have a drink or a dance and fall in love. I think we provided that. I feel very privileged to have actually given the gay community something it embraced.”
We’ve had many late night adventures at 50 West 17th Street over the years and will be sad to see Splash close its doors August 10. The go-go boys and shirtless men will, of course, be fine. There are many other stages, cubes and parties throughout the city, but New York will definitely feel the loss of this iconic Chelsea bar.
Photography by Jeffrey James Keyes
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QJ201
So in a few years, no one will understand what a prize it was to say you’ve fucked a Splash bartender or go-go boy.
Pablito12ny
This is what our community is sentimental about? Shirtless go-go boys at a bar? I don’t get it. Is this what gay NYC culture has come to? Can someone please define what we’re really going to miss here? There has to be something substantial. I need to know what that is.
dwndckd
The more I am on this site, the less I understand the “gay” community….
Sunsimba
@Pablito12ny: Why can’t people be sentimental about a night club that over more than 2 decades provided a lot of fun, enjoyable memories for untold masses of people. It was arguably the 2nd most iconic gay nightlife spot, after the Stonewall Inn.
evdanker
Where are the cute ones?
RJ6040
I took my now husband on our first date to the Splash Bar 11 years ago, this coming September. We had a wonderful time and have held fond memories of our time there. We are from another state, so last year we came back to NYC to celebrate our 10 year anniversary and, of course, included a night out at Splash. The dancers were great entertainment but they are just a part of the total experience. Such wonderful memories, it’s to bad others will not have the opportunity to make their memories as well.
Ronbo
Some studs; but, mostly icky and gross. Those pics do NO justice to Splash. It’s like the photos of Pride that use to be published to represent GLBT as prancing, outrageous freaks. Less makeup and realistic bodies please.
balehead
All the “stickups” on here… It’s ok to have fun while being gay people…geez…
scotshot
@balehead: Agree!
Evilklown13
God. These guys need to eat something. Not at all attractive.
Bill463
@Pablito12ny: I agree with most here that the few choices of photos selected for this article do not do Splash justice. I just turned 50 and have been with my wonderful husband of 14 years but when I was single I loved Splash. So so many wonderful nights spent there dancing and meeting great men to date. I will miss it terribly and sort of feel sorry for the young guys today ( to a point – I don’t want to sound like an old fart). Today it seems one sees many young men by themselves with a cell phone in their hand. Grindr and match.com are cute I suppose – but there was nothing – NOTHINHG – like going to Splash on a wekend night when single.