Bette Midler Reflects on the Continental Baths and Fire Island on 'Watch What Happens Live'

Bette Midler appeared on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen on October 17, 2025, where she engaged in a candid discussion about her legendary performances at the Continental Baths, the New York City gay bathhouse that served as the launching pad for her illustrious career .

During the After Show segment, Cohen introduced Midler to a contemporary Fire Island tradition that celebrates her legacy."You know there's a party in Fire Island I've been to a few times called Bath House Bette where they have put everyone in towels and they have cabaret singers come in and sing in tribute to you," Cohen told the entertainer .

Midler's response revealed she had previously encountered similar celebrations but hadn't fully embraced them."I didn't go too often because I had gone and it was exactly like the baths and I thought, well, I did that," she explained, noting the authenticity of the tribute parties .

When asked about the duration of her Continental Baths performances, Midler provided clarification about a formative period in her career that has become the stuff of legend."I think I was there on and off for maybe two or three years, on and off though because I had I used to go on the road," she recalled .

The performer emphasized that her time at the venue was relatively brief, correcting common misconceptions about the timeline."It wasn't long before I was there and then I got an agent and a manager and they started sending me and Barry on the road," Midler said, referring to her longtime collaborator, pianist Barry Manilow .

Midler also clarified the specific years of her performances, stating emphatically that they occurred in the late 1960s rather than the 1970s."It wasn't in the 70s. It was in the 60s. It was in the late 60s. It was like 68, 69 and maybe a couple of appearances in 70. So I was on my way by 72," she explained .

Despite the relatively short timeframe, Midler characterized the period fondly."It's a little bit of a blur but those were really fun fun fun days," she said .

The conversation took an intriguing turn when virtual fan Nicole from Minnesota asked about famous personalities who attended her Continental Baths performances. Cohen asked directly,"Did people come to watch you at the baths?" .

"Yes they did. After the word got out, people came down. People came. They were mesmerized not just by me but," Midler began, though the search results do not capture her complete response about which celebrities left her most starstruck .

The Fire Island parties that Cohen mentioned represent a continuation of the LGBTQ+ nightlife tradition that gave Midler her start. Cohen noted that singer Amber Martin has performed at these events, and that cabaret singers regularly appear in towels to honor Midler's legacy .

Midler's response to learning about these tribute parties was characteristically gracious."How fabulous," she exclaimed, before adding with humor,"I mean, nobody ever told me" .

The October 17, 2025 episode featured Midler taking questions from both in-studio and virtual fans during the After Show segment. Beyond the Continental Baths discussion, she also recalled her favorite party at Studio 54 and shared whether she plans to return to Broadway .

The episode also included other highlights, with Midler discussing her friendship with the late Diane Keaton, revealing she has seen the script for Hocus Pocus 3, and reflecting on her iconic fashion moments .

The Continental Baths holds an important place in both Midler's career trajectory and LGBTQ+ cultural history. The venue, located in the basement of the Ansonia Hotel on Manhattan's Upper West Side, served as an unlikely launching pad for one of entertainment's most enduring careers. Midler's performances there, accompanied by then-unknown pianist Barry Manilow, became legendary for their energy, irreverence, and the unique connection she forged with the predominantly gay male audience.

The bathhouse performances represented a pivotal moment when underground gay culture intersected with mainstream entertainment, ultimately propelling Midler to stardom while also bringing visibility to LGBTQ+ spaces and communities. Her willingness to perform in such venues at a time when homosexuality remained heavily stigmatized demonstrated an early alliance with the LGBTQ+ community that has characterized her career.

The Fire Island Bath House Bette parties that Cohen described represent how Midler's legacy continues to resonate within LGBTQ+ communities more than five decades later. These contemporary celebrations recreate the atmosphere of the original Continental Baths performances, complete with towels and cabaret singers, demonstrating the enduring cultural impact of that brief but significant period in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Fire Island, a longtime haven for LGBTQ+ people, particularly during the summer months, has maintained strong traditions of cabaret and theatrical performance. The Bath House Bette parties fit within this broader cultural context, honoring both Midler's contributions and the historic role of gay bathhouses as cultural spaces before the AIDS crisis dramatically altered their place in LGBTQ+ life.