Bette Midler is Bathhouse Betty!
An entire two sets from Bette Midler’s legendary Bath house shows from1970. Five years earlier, she had moved to New York City, picked up jobs here and there as an actress—even getting a small role on Broadway in Fiddler On The Roof. But the bathhouse shows—with Barry Manilow accompanying on piano—were where she built her first audience. She’s the original downtown queen, the godmother of Lady Rizo, Bridget Everett, Justin Bond and so many others who followed in her footsteps.
This footage is rough and the sound sometimes warbles (although it is surprisingly good for the most part), but this is history and it’s beyond great.
This really is pretty amazing …