!! OMG, WATCH: Archival footage of legend Bette Midler performing at NYC’s Continental Gay Baths in 1971 !!

The Continental Baths was a gay bathhouse in the basement of The Ansonia Hotel in New York City, which was operated from 1968 to 1976 by Steve Ostrow. It was advertised as reminiscent of “the glory of ancient Rome”.

Saturday evening performances attracted both an LGBTQ+ and straight audience with attendees fully dressed for a Saturday night adjacent to men clad in towels. Some attendees included Bob Fosse, Alfred Hitchcock, Mick Jagger, Rudolf Nureyev, Francesco Scavullo, Liz Smith, Valentino, and Andy Warhol.

Because of her memorable and adored performances at the baths, Bette Midler earned the nickname Bathhouse Betty! It was at the Continental, accompanied by pianist Barry Manilow, that she created her stage persona ‘The Divine Miss M’.

Now that we are living in the age of PrEP and Doxy, could we soon see a day when we return to wade in the pools free of stigma, socialize and see artists like Bette perform as they breakout?

Find her full set (and setlist) after the jump!

Setlist:
“Friends” (song credit Buzzy Linhart)
“Fat Stuff”
“Chattanooga Choo-Choo” (Andrews Sisters)
“Superstar”
“Empty Bed Blues” (Bessie Smith)
“Marahuana”
“For Free” (Joni Mitchell)
“Easier Said Than Done” (The Essex)
“Chapel Of Love” (The Dixie Cups)
“I Shall Be Released” (The Band)