Barry Manilow came out publicly earlier this month, and now he’s even discussing his humble beginnings as a pianist at New York City’s notorious Continental Baths back in 1971.
The fact that he was the accompanist to an as-yet undiscovered Bette Midler is the stuff of legend, but in truth it wasn’t a particularly long-lasting gig.
Related: Twitter response to Barry Manilow coming out is both hilarious and touching
“Those were just for a couple of weekends,” he gays of the performances that led to Midler being booked on The Tonight Show.
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“And people think we were there for years. It was two weekends.”
In 1968, The Continental Baths opened its basement doors at Ansonia Hotel, located on the Upper West Side.
Related: Rare Footage Captures Bette Midler’s 1971 Farewell Performance At NYC Gay Bathhouse
The 24-hour destination would serve about 1,000 men a day. Beyond the obligatory cabin-like rooms in any gay bathhouse, there was also a dance floor, saunas, a swimming pool, public bunk beds, and the cabaret lounge that hosted Midler and other entertainers.
“It was odd,” Manilow says. “You’ve got to admit…it was odd.”
“She’s performing in front of guys with towels on. She would sing The Star Spangled Banner and they would all get up and the towels would drop and she could check out the merchandise.”
Wish we were there.
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h/t: Gay Star News
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Bellerophon69
Aww, I was hoping he’d been visiting AFTER playing at the bath houses! Other than catching a glimpse of Raymond Burr and three towels tied around his ample waist at a Denver Bathhouse back in the early eighties, and turning the other way very quickly, I always had the secret wish to hook up with a celeb back in the days! Darn!
He BGB
I bought bettes first album the summer I came out in 1972. At seventeen. So that was just a year after the bathhouse weekends. I feel old. Then I bought albums by Barry, Melissa Manchester. I became obsessed with these people. Yesterday I realized the grandmother Ruby on Blackish was once a Harlet!
OzJosh
This anecdote about the bathhouse gigs is a) not very interesting, b) totally contradicts what Midler has said in countless interviews: that the towels stayed on and she never got so much as a glimpse during her time there (disappointingly). I wonder if Manilow might actually be trolling Midler here. In a very recent interview she revealed that Barry has not spoken to her for years after a dispute over their last recording together.
chuck
I must remember to sing the national anthem more often. I saw them both after a pride parade at a Washington square, where Midler remarked about drag queen venting onstage. It sounded like you were going to kill each other on me cab ride here.
Oh dear, these memories just prove I’m old…
Sluggo2007
This album is a heartfelt love letter to New York City by a seriously talented musician. He may be past his prime vocally, but he can still write a great song. Go, Barry!!!
Tobi
Odo. Deep Space Nine
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pe58fvyUYI
DMRX
LOL!
At least he got the ears right.