Three cheers for The Divine Miss M, on her birthday today...... probably my first gay icon I truly ever loved, when I was a younger gayling, her music and adored her in movies. She began singing in the Continental Baths, a gay bathhouse in the Ansonia Hotel, in the summer of 1970. During this time, she became close to her piano accompanist, Barry Manilow, who produced her first album in 1972, The Divine Miss M. It was during her time at the Continental Baths that she built up a core following. In the late 1990s, during the release of her album Bathhouse Betty, Midler commented on her time performing there, "Despite the way things turned out with the AIDS crisis, I'm still proud of those days. I feel like I was at the forefront of the gay liberation movement, and I hope I did my part to help it move forward. So, I kind of wear the label of 'Bathhouse Betty' with pride. And she has been much loved since.
"Cherish forever what makes you unique, 'cuz you're really a yawn if it goes."
"They found water on Mars?Big whoop. Call me when they find gin."
"After thirty, a body has a mind of its own"
"I'd make a wonderful Lady Macbeth. I'll wear a pair of platform shoes or something."
"I wouldn't say I invented tacky, but I definitely brought it to its present high popularity"
"My idea of superwoman is someone who scrubs her own floors."
Many more happy returns to the Divine Miss M!!!!!!!!!
And she's still got a great voice! I bought her last album "It's the Girls" and she still sounds fabulous -- pipes like a teenager fer gawds sake.
ReplyDeleteI truly divine lady!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY BETTY.
ReplyDeleteMet her several times through a friend. What a FANTASTIC lady. And timeless really.
ReplyDeletehow nice......Bette you have stories to tell.
DeleteShe is truly divine. I loved her when she was Janis Joplin in The Rose. Now someone has to make a movie of Miss Divine M, and "Bathouse Betty" would be the perfect title for it.
ReplyDeleteShe is one of the greats! And, in my studied opinion, she should be an Academy Award winner - her performance in The Rose was stunning. The guys in the military loved her from the get-go! (What does that say about the guys in the military? )
ReplyDeleteOh, btw, pic #1 yesterday was my way of saying, "Fuck the turkey; I'll have the lobster!" and we did, too. Have lobster, I mean,,,
Truly divine.
ReplyDeleteHAPPY BIRTHDAY BATHHOUSE BETTY! A very smart, witty and funny lady.
ReplyDeleteWhat charm and humor she has too. I live watching her in interviews.
ReplyDeleteI've always loved Bette - - - heck, all of us Sagittarians are divine.
ReplyDeleteHard to believe she's now 70.
Sagittarius? Oh , we would get along swimmingly!
DeleteDivine, indeed! Jx
ReplyDeleteyes indeed!
DeleteWhat a broad! Happy Birthday!
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorites......and one of the few with true star quality.
ReplyDeleteI never knew Better Midler was a gay icon, but I like the movies she acted in. Is she a lesbian? Don't tell me she used to be a man!
ReplyDeleteHow come Barry Manilow took so long to come out? I admire him for not having a nose job.
Believe it or not, Manilow had a slight modification on the bridge of his nose when he had surgery for a deviated septum. He also had a facelift, eye surgery, and Botox.
Delete(I lived in Hollywood for years and knew some great sources who dished the dirt)
Gay icon yes! She is very popular among us gays. No she was not a man, is married and has a beautiful daughter. And the above Jon, British, would tell you she is indeed a Patron Saint.
Deletebetter midler....it has a nice ring to it.
DeleteLONG LIVE THE QUEEN ! I am not mad that the girl's still doing her thing. One of the more genuine ladies our time as well as their time.
ReplyDeleteGreat post.
Mark
The Male Casting Couch
ever see this?
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing that gem from the Desmond archives. What a treat!
Deletegod fucking damned auto-correct.....
Deletethank you maddie darling for giving me the reason.
Bette is so fun and engaging...she never disappoints!
ReplyDeleteOne of the many highlights of my travels over the years was seeing her live in Vegas at Ceasars Palace. She is a true talent through and through who thoroughly loves and appreciates her audience. Delores Delago made an appearance that night. My little gay boy dreams really did come true that night as Delores asked 'the question before us is ...where's her clit-orous?" I think I wet my seat.
ReplyDelete