BATHHOUSE BABYLON, A New Memoir of Life Working the Baths, By Jameson Farn

Well here's something some of you men might find interesting. Bathhouse Babylon is a new memoir by Jameson Farn detailing his work as a manager at several North American bathhouses. The good, the bad, and the ugly are revealed. Hopefully it's more like the humorous, the poignant, and the insightful.

"Originally from Canada, Jameson Farn resided for a number of years in the Cote d’Azur region close to the Principality of Monaco. For over the past decade, Jameson has contributed articles for several European and North American online magazines along with his blog, Gay French Riviera, aimed at those in the LGBTQ community that either lives (sic) in or are seeking to travel to this region in France."--From a recent expose on QueerForty.com.

Farn describes Bathhouse Babylon as "a true, in-depth account of my former work and life in the gay saunas of North America. I managed three gay bathhouses...over an extensive number of years. I wanted to tell a story that is more of a behind-the-scenes, insider’s scoop on the inner workings of the bathhouse industry."

Not having read an excerpt, your guess is as good as mine whether Farn's book is delightful or trash. My money is on delightful trash that will take some of us back down a fond memory road, and for others, a peek into a world they've never experienced. I think this will definitely go on my light summer fare reading list.

I always loved going to bathhouses back in the day, in Chicago and Detroit. Without giving any details, lemme just say...damn, ya know I really should be dead by now. How I had that much fun unscathed is beyond me. (Pours one out for those who came before me.)

And ya know Bette Midler and Barry Manilow started out playing The Continental Baths in NYC in the early seventies.

Check out a rare clip of her performing for the towel-clad fans here. Yes, that's a very young Manilow on the piano behind her.

For a pornier look at the baths, you can find any number of scenes filmed in them or about them, but my favorite is
Al Parker's TURNED ON.

And Farn's book is available now at Amazon.