By Mickey Skee
Does the world of live sex cams affect attendance at a good sex club? Not really. It seems that there's room enough for both, and they are actually developing an interesting sort of cross-pollination.
According to the Bathhouse Addict any good place for guys to get naked will also contain Internet access where they can see other guys stripping on Flirt4Free, watch amateurs jack off at Str8cam, or chat with horny college dudes. This computerized real-time interaction sometimes allows you to show off, too — and it's far more exciting than taking it in the ear. Via phone sex, that is. Whether it's luscious Latinos from Miami, guys with their own cams, straight guys who need money or angry young men, it's all there for you without ever leaving your laptop. Or in case you get tired of walking around in circles at the baths.
No matter how interactive future technology may get, there will always be room for a good bathhouse, just like a good newspaper or a classic movie theater. The tactile experience of real life is never going to be completely replaced, because there's more to sex than just force feedback.
I've experienced the baths in Paris, Amsterdam, Bangkok (Don't you love the name of that city?), Seoul, Honolulu, Buenos Aires, Manila, Hong Kong, Puerto Rico, Bali and many other corners of the world — all for research, of course — but we'll stick to North America since my space is limited. Whether you're an old hand at this or a virgin bath-bitch, you'll want to check out the Bathhouse Guide. It offers links to clubs from Rhode Island to Missouri, plus honest reports from the folks who frequent them. It also documents whether or not safe sex is usually encouraged there.
Public spas have been in use as places for male homosexual activity since the 15th Century AD, although baths themselves have been in use since the 6th century BC and there are many records of homosexual activity in ancient Greece. They are completely legal, although there are often restrictions concerning what neighborhoods they can do business in and whether or not they can serve alcohol. To make the clubs more community friendly, many also offer sexual counseling on-site, as well as non-sexual social events and free HIV testing.
If going to a bathhouse makes you feel like a fish out of water, can you imagine being a straight guy sucked into such a situation? You can watch a funny clip of this happening at RawTop (www.tinyurl.com/29hnwk) where a cute straight guy is counseled about what to expect and then let loose in one to explore.
One of the most intricately designed bathhouses I've ever seen was Man's Country in Chicago where I witnessed legendary director John Travis shooting In Man's Country starring Jake Andrews, Sonny Markham and some of the club’s sexy dancers. I've seen studs from Peter Dixon to Jeff Stryker performing on their stage, but the brick-lined waterfall in the basement is where most of the real action takes place.
If you're a size queen, the world's largest bathhouse is in Cleveland. It was created when a 1939 art deco bus depot was renovated into a 50,000-square-foot place for men to play. It boasts a full gym, giant steam room maze, Russian sauna, and movie lounge.
Toronto seems to have more sex clubs (nine) than any other major city. It's venues showcase a unique diversity, offering everything from Club Toronto with its homey, four-level Victorian to the four floors of themed rooms at Spa Excess. I was very disappointed to learn that Spa Excess had removed their motorcycle prop, since I remember strapping a cute guy to it as fake sirens blared.
Thanks to the Internet, it’s now fairly easy to find tricks. But back in the day, things weren’t so simple and we relied on bathhouses as a safe place to find sexual partners. Back in the 90s I once accompanied the Dutch soccer team to the East Side Club in Manhattan. That was just where gay men went to have a good time. Once I even took a high-profile celebrity to the Triple C Club in Denver after he had performed a gig. Can you imagine the headlines if we did that today?
Don't be afraid to work your way across the country, from the slings of Seattle's Club Z to the five floors of the remodeled Body Club in the city of Brotherly Love. You'll never be far away from a sex club, which is certainly safer than meeting a stranger at some isolated spot.
In some bathhouses, you can truly bring your fantasies to life. The Power Exchange in San Francisco has a hospital room, a video cave, a prison, and a mock campsite with a room full of variously size private tents and painted backdrops. Some days are gay-only, but the club also offers mixed nights where you can explore your bisexual side with some willing ladies.
But my all-time favorite bathhouse memory involves strutting down the lavish staircase at the Hollywood Spa with porn superstars Joey Stefano and Matt Gunther in tow — the most famous gay porn stars at the time — and seeing the stunned reactions of all the bathhouse patrons.
Mickey Skee has covered the adult entertainment industry for over 20 years and has written more than a dozen books.
