STEVE OSTROW, born on this date (d: 2024), was initially known for his talents as a singer for the New York City Opera. But he went on to find even greater renown as the owner and manager of the unconventional world of The Continental Baths, which he opened in 1968, a gay bathhouse in the basement of The Ansonia Hotel in New York City.

Mr. Ostrow’s business plan in 1968 was to create a gay fantasia, a palace devoted to hedonism. The Ansonia, built at the turn of the century by a copper heir named William Earl Dodge Stokes, was perfect for his venture.

Occupying a full block on Broadway, from 73rd Street to 74th Street, The Ansonia is a florid wedding cake of a building, with cupolas, balconies and gargoyles. When it opened, there were Turkish baths and an enormous pool in the basement, billed as the world’s largest; seals in the lobby fountains; and, on the roof, an urban farm with goats, chickens and a bear.

Dissatisfied with contemporary venues, Ostrow sought to create a space that departed from the prevailing sleazy, unfriendly atmosphere. The Baths quickly gained popularity, with lines forming around the corner from the first night. With its opulent Gilded Age decor and Roman-style ambience, the Baths became more than just a haven for intimate encounters. It was a safe haven where, as Larry Kramer said, “…the Continental Baths changed things more than Stonewall did. They were clean, and you could talk to people, and Bette Midler sang to you.”

Ostrow transformed it into an offbeat music venue, installing a stage specifically designed for a DJ – claimed to be the first of its kind in the world. This innovation paved the way for such legendary DJs as Frankie Knuckles and Larry Levan to spin discs, establishing the Baths as a hub for groundbreaking music experiences.

Ostrow’s influence extended beyond the realm of music. The Continental Baths launched numerous artists who would go on to achieve great fame.

Among those to find an early footing on the Continental Baths’ stage were in addition to Bette Midler and her accompanist, Barry Manilow, you might be entertained by Melissa Manchester, Ellen Greene, Labelle, The Manhattan Transfer, Jane Olivor, Melba Moore, Liz Torres, Wayland Flowers, Nell Carter and Peter Allen.

Midler, in particular, became synonymous with the Baths, debuting her song Friends at the venue and later recording the album Bathhouse Betty.

Live performances, open to the public, presented diverse talents and genres, though the gay crowd dwindled due to discomfort with the public presence; Ostrow agonized over this, cancelling live performances in 1974 and ultimately closing the Baths in 1976.

The basement of the Ansonia is now a parking garage. There are swaths of mosaic tile on the floor, ghostly artifacts among the cars and concrete.

Ostrow continued as a performer, performing in operas around the world for major companies, including the New York City Opera, the San Francisco Opera, the Stuttgart Opera and the Australian Opera. A passionate vocalist and teacher, he moved to Australia in the 1980s. As director of the Sydney Academy of Vocal Arts, he taught countless young Australian performers and continued working with students until he was nearly 90.

He appeared in films such as Superman Returns in 2006 and, on Australian TV, on A Country Practice, as well as commercials. 

In the 1990, he founded the MAG (Mature Age Gay) group, which provided support and care for older men who had faced stigma and were grieving the loss of their partners after the AIDS epidemic.

MAG continues to meet regularly providing support for its members. His published books include an autobiographical account of his time at The Continental Baths.

On the back cover of his book, Saturday Night at the Baths, he wrote: “The Continental was a phenomenon that came out of a pre-AIDS world that we will probably never experience again. But more than being just a bathhouse and show-place, the Baths were a place where people came out of their closets and found out who they were.

“It was the first gay establishment to treat gay people as equals and not exploit them. It was instrumental in having the laws against homosexuality rescinded and gave birth along with Stonewall, to a whole generation where gay was in. Beyond that it ushered in an era of sexual liberation and alternative lifestyles that, to this day, has never been equalled.”

“I will also try to explore and share the confusion and frustrations I have felt as a bisexual, not understood by the gay or the straight world.”

In 2022, Ostrow was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for services to the Community, in the General Division of the Order of Australia. He died at his retirement home in Sydney. He is survived by his two children and grandchildren in the United States.