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MERICAN

703

AKAX

DE MERT

STONE AMERICAN MO

"SMILE"

THEATRE

AN AMERICAN DREAM,

PEACHES AND CREAM...

maybe she'll go all the way

DAVID V. PICKER presents A MICHAEL RITCHIE Film starring

BRUCE DERN

and the 33 Young American Misses Written by JERRY BELSON Produced and Directed by MICHAEL RITCHIE Executive Producers DAVID V. PICKER and MARION DOUGHERTY United Artists PG

The movie SMILE, a sharp and funny look at a small town phenomenon stars Bruce Dern

and features Barbara Feidon.

beauty pageant, will be preand the 33 Young American sented at the Heights Art Theatre on Sunday October 17th Misses! Don't you miss this truly at 3:00 p.m. This one funny film!! time showing is a benefit for What She Wants, Cleveland's Women's Newspaper. Admission is $3.00

Hollis Alpert of Saturday Review says 'for genuine comic relief I recommend Smile'. This

satiric view of an American

The Heights Art Theatre is located at 2781 Euclid Hts. Blvd., at Coventry Road. Join us and help benefit What She Wants

Sunday October 17th at 3:00 p.m. at the Heights Art Theatre showing of Smile.

WHAT SHE

Send check to: "What She Wants" c/o WomenSpace 3201 Euclid Avenue. Cleveland, Ohio.

44115

CLEVELAND'S MONTHLY WOMEN'S PAPER Yearly subscription rates Regular $6.00 Contributing $15.00 Sustaining $25.00 Institutional $15.00

WANTS

HIGH GEAR

OCTOBER 1976

GEARING AROUND

WITH AARON ROSS

Aaron Ross

Is there such a thing as one gay type? Likewise, can one gay life-style suffice for all gays? The answer to both questions is obviously NO! When I came out in New York I thought the gay world revolved around the gay bars. I got this impression from the few gay publications I happened to find in the sleazy little porno book stores around 42nd St. in Manhattan. Being a typical closet case, in those early days, 1 only had one opportunity to touch base with other gays, and that was to furtively sneak into a centrallylocated bar and even one's mother would know about because of its notorious reputation. As I look back to those times I can recall my first visits to Julius in Greenwich Village, a hustler's hangout called "Hollywood" on 45th Street off Times Square, the Pink Elephant in Houston, Texas, Finochios (or something like that) in San Francisco, and the Cadillac on 9th Street here in Cleveland. This was my one and only introduction to the gay scene when I arrived here in the late 60s. Then I discovered Jacks on Euclid and 105th, the Kings Room on Taylor Road, and the Orchid on Prospect and 14th st. And they were my only links to the gay society of this area for several of those early years until I made peace with my "guilt" and discovered that you can live a very full social life as a gay outside of the bars.

So, for all you out there entering this "world" right now, or for those who'd like to be reminded about the obvious now

SHAKER CLUB at

SHAKER

no cover

SQUARE

no minimum open every night

and then, here is a recap of the variety of gay "scenes" available to all gays always.

body level, and the setting was so tawdry, so sleazy, so unesthetic. Weren't gays supposed to be lovers of beauty, art, delicacy and sensitivity? Do gays have to debase themselves in such a way to make "contact" with their fellow gays? How naive and tender I was in those days. How far I have progressed (or should I say "regressed) since that time.

And how far today's baths have improved in atmosphere, if not in function. In every major city in the world Baths are one of the staples in the Gay lifestyle. New York City alone has at least 5 the Continental, Man's Country, The Club, The Eberhard, St. Marks, and one in Wall Street. Which isn't much when you consider that Cleveland's much smaller population can make three baths profitable. Yes we have more baths now than Chicago, Toronto, Montreal all larger cities than ours. How and why did this come about? Here are some surmisings: When I came to Cleveland in the late 60s there was (to my knowledge) only one on 9th Street. Then I discovered the Club on 32nd street. It was a welcome change from my N. Y. bath experience. Everyone was friendly. TV and fried chicken and pizza and conversation were served up in the "TV Room" regularly. Though the main idea about the baths is impersonality (look, gesture, touch, feel, do without talking) I was pleased to have made many a nice acquaintance and have quite a few interesting verbal sessions during the years I visited the Club on 32nd street.

The Bath Scene: My first acquaintance with the Baths was in New York City in a place called the Eberhard (I still call it Ever Hard) on West 28th or 29th. It's a 5 story building located smack in the middle of New York's garment district and at one time it must have served the European Jewery as a "Mikvah" (ceremonial religious bath house where jewish men and women must go to cleanse themselves every month) and as a "turkish bath" similar to the many that are still around for the straight men who want a "svitch" (a sweat). When I' discovered this place it was before the Continental and before gay baths became the "in" place for entertainers like Midler and gawkers from "society". In rooms, cubicals and swimming pools that must. have seen millions of immigrants from the turn of the century until the 40s, I ventured timidly around dressed in a white faded urine spotted nightgown provided by the management, bumping into similarly dressed men in the murky darkness of its cavernous depths. It was large, it was eerie, it was the most unforgettable experience I ever had up to then in this mysterious gay world that I had just entered. After groping hands, and moist lips, and a standing encounter with an enthusiastic and aggressive fat middle-aged man, I ran from the place in shame and disgust. How animal it all was, I thought, no verbal contact, no communication on anything, but a

That there is a need for "baths" in gay life goes without saying, in my estimation. It serves a need for locals and transients alike to "get their rocks off" in as safe and pleasant a manner as possible, when other conditions are not available. It's not a substitute for a meaningful relationship but it's necessary for those who are attracted to the fantasies of being intimate with a stranger in a non-committing and non-complicated liason. And it's a healthy way to let off steam (while getting it), having a "place" to visit when you're a stranger in town, and also (surprisingly) to meet lasting friends and more lasting encounters. For there is the difference between my first bath experience and these. Like many other things in gay life, we've gotten more confident, more demanding in the gay "entertainments" offered us. No more sneaking in and accepting anything given us just because it's gay. Like the "straight places" we want and demand quality, comfort, and understanding. The baths in Cleveland reflect this. May they all continue to prosper. (Next issue the Bar Scene)