I'm watching a documentary about "Plato's Retreat"

[Archae]

Anyone here been to it?

Just curious, that place seemed to epitomize the "swingin' 70's."

[NYC_SKP]

1. Been to clubs but not that one.

San Francisco, mid-late seventies, "Club Baths" was one.

[In_The_Wind]

2. oops I didn't know they were filming the place.

I still have my membership card around here somewhere.

[Archae]

3. You were a member?

Far out.

Any particular memories?

[In_The_Wind]

4. The place was divided into rooms.

Several were small . . . they were the rooms for private moments.
The main attraction was the huge shallow pool.
There was a large room with wall to wall soft flooring . . . sorta like a big pillow.
I haven't thought about that place in ages.

I don't believe I still have the black tee with a large white outline of a heart on the front.

[Archae]

5. I saw all that you describe in the movie.

Looked like a fun place!

[In_The_Wind]

6. I would like to see the documentary.

Where can I find it?

[NYC_SKP]

7. "American Swing"

Is a possibility.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1058058/

Available at Amazon or Netflix.

[Archae]

8. Yeah, that's the one.

I saw it through my XBox Live.

[In_The_Wind]

10. The review has a link: Studio 54 of Kink ?

I was also at Studio 54.

I even think that I remember Larry.

Thanks for your link.

[NYC_SKP]

12. Studio 54 was a hoot.

The whole getting in part at the front was an interesting study in how to be nonchalant.

The crazy spinning lights and shit, and they'd drop these foam hearts and stars, the dazzle was endless.

One night it happened that Liza Minelli and Donna Summer were both there, a significant birthday, IIRC, they sang from the bridge thing that was across the dance floor from the mezannine/balcony space where one would go to get some relative privacy.

Those were the days!

[In_The_Wind]

17. Did you ever visit Le Club?

Last edited Wed Jan 23, 2013, 09:55 AM - Edit history (1)

I was there with the donald in 1972.

[NYC_SKP]

18. That was before my time, moved to the city in 77.

54 was on the way out, then the Paladium became popular and some other clubs...

Neon, scratch that, Xenon, may have been one. The SF scene was more exciting, but the NY scene had more celebs.

And the music was the best...

[Archae]

9. BTW, they found the building.

Filmed it.

It's now a parking garage.

[In_The_Wind]

11. You drive down into the garage?

Am I correct?

The original entry way was at street level but the establishment was down a few stairs.

[Archae]

13. Not sure.

But a couple lights and a ceiling fan are leftover from the old club.

Larry ended up driving a cab after AIDS shut down the club for good, and he died of a heart attack.

[In_The_Wind]

14. His tax problems were Larry's downfall.

There were other clubs similar to Plato's.
All of them had problems when PRG, herpes followed by AIDS made free love less attractive.

[TreasonousBastard]

20. Reunion!

[In_The_Wind]

21. lol

Those were the days.

Alas, I doubt that I'm up to playing PR after all these years. *sigh*

I love the wonderful memories, tho.

[WhoIsNumberNone]

15. I was way too young-

Although I do remember reading an article about it in one of my friend's dad's Playboys...

[ashling]

16. I've heard of Plato's Cave

seemed to epitomize the "swingin' 400s" . . . B.C., that is

[TreasonousBastard]

19. 'Tis but a vague memory of those years of debauchery long ago...

but I remember:

No drugs or booze-- they were constantly under the gun from the authorities. The San Francisco branch was raided at least once.

The huge hot tub with the water that changed from antiseptic green to white as the evening wore on. (If you have to ask...)

Women using the urinals in the unisex bathrooms.

Pizzas at midnight.

I should watch the documentary, if only to regret the Puritans we have become.