Opened in 1973 by gay pioneer Chuck Renslow, Man’s Country was more than a bathhouse—it was a sanctuary, a stage, and a sexual playground all in one. Located on Clark Street in Chicago’s Andersonville neighborhood, it combined steamy saunas with live entertainment, leather nights, dance floors, and drag shows. Everyone from Sylvester to Grace Jones to Bette Midler graced its stage, while countless men found connection, freedom, and joy within its walls. After over four decades of service to the community, Man’s Country closed in 2017. Its memory lives on as a cornerstone of queer resilience, liberation, and unapologetic pleasure.
