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37-682: Bette Midler's stage act grew out of her early 1970s performances at the Continental Baths , a gay bathhouse in Manhattan which offered entertainment on the weekends. With her powerful singing voice, her outrageous costumes and her biting wit, Midler became a favorite of the bathhouse crowd. Inspired in part by the Theatre of the Ridiculous , Midler's stage show evolved into a bawdy and flamboyant mixture of stand-up comedy, Vaudeville and burlesque . It

74-599: A contributor and performer in the 1977 NBC special documentary How the Beatles Changed the World . Manchester collaborated with Kenny Loggins to co-write Loggins' 1978 hit duet with Stevie Nicks , "Whenever I Call You 'Friend ' " . She would later record this for her 1979 Melissa Manchester album. She guest-starred on the CBS-TV daytime soap opera Search for Tomorrow to teach a main character (played by Michael Nouri), who played

111-659: A day. One gay guide from the 1970s described the Continental Baths as a place that "revolutionized the bath scene in New York City." Some features of the Continental Bathhouse included a warning system that tipped off patrons when police arrived. There was a weekly STD clinic , a supply of A200 (a lice-killing shampoo) in the showers, a mouthwash dispenser, and K-Y Jelly in the candy vending machine. The documentary film Continental by Malcolm Ingram covers

148-519: A few songs of her catalog. During one such performance in which she shared the stage with Michael Feinstein, Manchester was surprised by Feinstein and Songbook Foundation Executive Director Christopher Lewis with the Songbook Hall of Fame's New Standard Award. While presenting her with the award, Feinstein said, "Among the awards we present each year is the New Standard Award, which is presented to

185-593: A member of the Harlettes , the back-up singers for Midler , which she co-created with Manilow. Manchester made a brief speaking appearance as " Yoko Ono " on the 1972 album National Lampoon Radio Dinner , on the track titled "Magical Misery Tour", and as the singer in " Deteriorata ". Manchester's debut album, Home to Myself , was released in 1973; Manchester co-wrote many of its songs with Carole Bayer Sager . Two years later, her album Melissa produced her first top-ten hit, " Midnight Blue ", which enjoyed 17 weeks on

222-546: A singer-songwriter, the essentials of the craft. In 1979, Manchester reached #10 with her version of Peter Allen 's " Don't Cry Out Loud ", for which she received a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Female Vocal Performance. In 1979, she performed two nominated songs on the Academy Awards show: " I'll Never Say Goodbye " (from The Promise ) and " Through the Eyes of Love " (theme song from Ice Castles ). The winning song that year

259-554: A single performance, Midler and her Harlettes sing everything from wartime radio tunes such as " Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy ", Depression-era jazz songs such as " Big Noise From Winnetka ", " I Only Have Eyes for You ", and " Lullaby of Broadway ", to early girl group pop songs such as " Leader of the Pack ", " Chapel of Love ", and " Da Doo Ron Ron ", all while changing in and out of costumes as varied as pink waitress uniforms, sequined gowns and mermaid tails. Former Harlette Linda Hart

296-663: A solo by Keb' Mo' . The single was released on January 9, 2015, and premiered at #2 on the Smooth jazz charts. You Gotta Love the Life was released on February 10, 2015, and hit #17 on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart for the week of February 28, 2015. A second single, " Big Light ", featuring a duet with Al Jarreau , along with an accompanying music video, was released for radio on June 15, 2015. In 2017, more than 25 years after Manchester released Tribute , her 1989 album honoring

333-433: A songwriter or performer who continues to write and perform music that will stand the test of time and become the pop standards of tomorrow. I can't think of anyone who fits that description more than Melissa Manchester. Her music has touched the lives of so many people over the years. Her songs – many of which we heard tonight – have become standards and are part of the fabric of our lives." In 2023, she played Mrs. Brice in

370-816: A white towel), that she created her stage persona the Divine Miss M. Despite the way things turned out [with the AIDS crisis], 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. Despite Midler's constant complaints about "that goddamn waterfall," her poolside performances were so successful that she soon gained national attention, beginning with repeat performances on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson . The Continental Baths lost much of its gay clientele by 1974. The reason for

407-683: Is probably best remembered as being an influential offbeat music venue. Ostrow (born September 16, 1932) was a singer for the New York City Opera . He installed a stage designed specifically for a DJ, claimed to be the first of its type in the world. Discs were spun by Frankie Knuckles and Larry Levan . He then began showcasing live acts which were the launching points for Bette Midler , Barry Manilow , Melissa Manchester , Ellen Greene , Labelle , The Manhattan Transfer , Jane Olivor , Melba Moore , Liz Torres , Wayland Flowers , Nell Carter and Peter Allen . The act most associated with

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444-561: The 1991 World Series singing the U.S. National Anthem . Manchester composed and recorded the soundtrack to the direct-to-video Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure (2001). In 2004, Manchester returned with her first album in nine years, When I Look Down That Road . While touring to support the album, she was praised for her still "powerful voice" and for "reinventing [herself] while staying true to what made [her] popular." In April 2007, she returned to theater, starring in

481-504: The Billboard Hot 100 charts. The song's peak position was #6 for the week of August 9, 1975. In 1974, she performed the songs "O Heaven" and "Home to Myself" on the pilot episode of Ms. magazine 's television show, Woman Alive! , a feminist program. She performed the song live on Burt Sugarman's television series Midnight Special in 1973. In 1976, Manchester released 'Come in From

518-552: The Manhattan School of Music , began singing commercial jingles at age 15, and became a staff writer at age 17 for Chappell Music while attending Manhattan's High School of Performing Arts . She studied songwriting at New York University with Paul Simon when she was 19. Manchester played the Manhattan club scene, where Barry Manilow , a friend and fellow singer of jingles, introduced her to Bette Midler . In 1971, she became

555-684: The Sherman Brothers and accompanied by the London Symphony Orchestra . In 1995, she released the album If My Heart Had Wings on Atlantic Records. She appeared as herself during a two-day guest appearance on the ABC-TV daytime drama General Hospital to sing the song for Robin Scorpio and her AIDS-afflicted boyfriend Stone Cates . Throughout the 1980s and 1990s Manchester alternated recording with acting, appearing with Bette Midler in

592-629: The Chicago production of HATS! The Musical , a show to which she and Sharon Vaughn contributed two songs. Also in 2007, she recorded a duet cover with Barry Manilow of the Carole King classic " You've Got a Friend " on Manilow's The Greatest Songs of the Seventies . In 2008, Manchester released a new single, "The Power of Ribbons", to digital retailers. Proceeds from othe single benefit breast cancer research. In 2011 an independent film named Dirty Girl

629-456: The Rain' on her 1976 Better Days & Happy Endings album. It has since been covered by several other artists including Captain & Tennille , Rosemary Clooney , Vic Damone , Eydie Gorme , Shirley Horn , Cleo Laine , Peggy Lee , Carmen McRae , Jane Olivor , Liza Minnelli , Barbara Cook , Mel Torme , and Diana Ross . Manchester appeared with Richie Havens, Melanie, and Frankie Valli as

666-597: The US national tour of the Broadway musical Funny Girl . On May 1, 1982, Manchester married Kevin De Remer, who had been serving as her tour coordinator. They have two children. Live albums 1998: I Sent a Letter to My Love , a musical recorded by L.A. Theatre Works Manchester appeared on the Blossom television series as Maddy Russo, from 1993 to 1995. She played Corrine in

703-612: The album Ma+hematics . Manchester continued to place singles on the Adult Contemporary charts throughout the 1980s. Another top-ten entry on the AC chart was a 1989 updating of Dionne Warwick 's " Walk on By ". The single was pulled from her Mika/Polygram album Tribute , which honored some of the singers that influenced her style. In 1992 she sang the title song for the animated musical Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland , written by

740-534: The album, 'For Me and My Gal', performed with Barry Manilow. During the pandemic of 2020, Manchester kept busy working on her 24th album, RE:VIEW, a re-envisioned and reworked compilation of several of her previous hits. She released just one song per month with its accompanying video, which addressed the political and social climates of the time. The complete album was planned for a Fall 2021 release via CD and streaming services. In 2021, she returned to playing club dates, though mainly telling stories and singing just

777-408: The album. In an interview with NPR, Manchester talks about the crowd-funding experience and relays the back-story behind the single "Feelin' for You". A drunk in a juke joint approached Manchester and asked if she was married, to which she replied, "Yes, very happily." The drunk replied, "Too bad, cause I got a feelin' for you." "Feelin' for You", written by Manchester and Sara Niemietz , includes

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814-435: The bathhouse was Midler who was accompanied by Manilow on the piano. Midler debuted her song Friends at the bathhouse and later recorded an album entitled Bathhouse Betty . The performances were actually open to the public and not just bath patrons. The gay crowd dwindled because they didn't like the public in the bathhouse and felt they were being gawked at. Ostrow cancelled the live performances in 1974 before closing

851-726: The baths coed. He even advertised on WBLS , but to no avail. In the end, Ostrow closed the Continental Baths for good. The facility was reopened in 1977 as a heterosexual swingers ' club called Plato's Retreat . Plato's Retreat relocated to W. 34th St. in 1980 then was shut down by the city of New York at the height of the AIDS epidemic. In February 1969, the New York City Police raided the Continental Baths. Twenty-two patrons, whom an undercover, towel-clad policeman identified as having offered to have sex with him or actually had sex with him, were arrested. This happened again in December of

888-428: The baths in 1976. It re-opened as the straight swingers venue Plato's Retreat in 1977. The features of this bathhouse included a small disco dance floor, a cabaret lounge with a baby grand piano (both only feet from a narrow "Olympia blue" swimming pool), sauna rooms, bunk beds in public areas, and tiny rooms as one would find in any gay bathhouse. The facility had the capacity to serve nearly 1,000 men, 24 hours

925-423: The decline in patronage was, as one gay New Yorker was quoted, "We finally got fed up with those silly-assed, campy shows. All those straight people in our bathhouse made us feel like we were part of the décor and that we were there for their amusement." By the end of 1974, patronage was so low that Steve Ostrow had decided to discontinue the lounge acts. He focused, instead, on resurrecting his business by making

962-521: The female singers who influenced her, she released The Fellas , with covers of male influences including Tony Bennett , Dean Martin , Johnny Mathis , Frank Sinatra and Mel Torme . This was Manchester's second independently produced studio album, which featured accompaniment by the Blue Note Orchestra from Citrus College in Glendora, CA, where she is artist-in-residence. There was only one duet on

999-573: The film For the Boys , on the television series Blossom , and co-writing (with bookwriter-lyricist Jeffrey Sweet ) and starring in the musical I Sent a Letter to My Love based on the Bernice Rubens novel of the same name. In 1990, Manchester could be heard performing "I Wish I Knew", played over the opening credits of the CBS television drama The Trials of Rosie O'Neill . In addition, she opened Game 6 of

1036-454: The height of the club's popularity through the early 1970s. An attraction at the club was the entertainment provided by performers such as Barry Manilow and Bette Midler . Due to her performances at the baths, Bette Midler earned the nickname Bathhouse Betty. It was at the Continental, accompanied by house pianist Barry Manilow (who, like the bathhouse patrons, sometimes wore only

1073-481: The initials of the original members, Melissa, Gail and Merle), but eventually they settled on The Harlettes. With the support of her sultry Harlettes and the choreography of Toni Basil , Midler's performances became known for their exhausting singing and dance routines. In a 1973 review of one of her shows, Rolling Stone writer Ed McCormack stated: “Watching Bette and the girls work out, the raw awkward sexual energy of it all makes you think of Tina Turner .” During

1110-488: The same year, when police entered the Continental Baths and arrested three patrons and three employees, charging them with committing lewd and lascivious acts and criminal mischief, respectively. Melissa Manchester Melissa Manchester (born February 15, 1951) is an American singer , songwriter and actress . Since the 1970s, her songs have been played by adult contemporary radio stations. She has also appeared on television, in films, and on stage. Manchester

1147-611: Was "It Goes Like It Goes", from Norma Rae . In 1980, she appeared on The Muppet Show . In 1982, she released the smash " You Should Hear How She Talks About You ", which won the 1983 Grammy for Best Pop Female Vocal Performance, beating out Linda Ronstadt , Olivia Newton-John , Juice Newton , and Laura Branigan . The song itself reached #4 in Cash Box and #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart as well as #10 Adult Contemporary. In 1985, she signed with MCA Records and released

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1184-464: 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". It opened after Ostrow observed the crowds at Everard Baths and he wanted to improve on the Everard atmosphere of being "sleazy, secretive, unkempt, not to mention unfriendly." "Ostrow’s business plan in 1968

1221-543: Was born in the Bronx , a borough of New York City , into a musical family. Her father, David Manchester, was a bassoonist for the New York Metropolitan Opera for three decades. Her mother was one of the first women to design and found her own clothing firm, Ruth Manchester Ltd. The Manchesters are of Jewish origin. Manchester started a singing career at an early age. She learned the piano and harpsichord at

1258-486: Was during this time that Midler cultivated her stage persona, “The Divine Miss M”. "The more outrageous I was, the more they liked it," says Midler. "It loosened me up." With the assistance of long-time collaborator and friend Barry Manilow — who at the time was working as a pianist at the Continental Baths — Midler found herself a trio of backup singers, which included pop singer Melissa Manchester . Originally they were called The Red Light District, then M.G.M. (because of

1295-428: Was quoted in 2008 as saying that working as a Harlette was "like show business boot camp" and that she learned much from the experience. Midler was also quoted in 2007 as referring to her relationship to her Harlettes in this way: “We have a great relationship. They adore me and I pay them.” Group members are shown in chronological order by date of first appearance. Continental Baths The Continental Baths

1332-498: Was released with many of Manchester's songs used throughout the film, five of which made it onto the soundtrack. Manchester made a non-speaking cameo appearance as the pianist who accompanies the lead character's rendition of " Don't Cry Out Loud ". In 2013, Manchester announced that she was recording her 20th studio album, You Gotta Love the Life , her first since When I Look Down That Road . She subsequently launched an Indiegogo campaign to raise funds to independently release

1369-518: Was to create a gay fantasia, a palace devoted to hedonism." Ostrow said “from the first night, there were lines around the corner.” Some patrons said they would have 150 sexual encounters in a single visit. Opened a year before the Stonewall riots , the bathhouse was raided by the police about 200 times, Ostrow said. While the baths utilized the Ansonia's lavish Gilded Age décor for a Roman style bath, it

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