{"product_id":"mans-country-poster-new-york-and-chicago-gay-bathhouse-ad-from-70s-issue-of-michaels-thing","title":"Man's Country Poster (New York and Chicago Gay Bathhouse Ad From 70's Issue of Michael's Thing)","description":"\u003ch1 data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\"\u003eMan’s Country — New York City \/ Chicago 1970s Vintage Bathhouse Poster\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDuring the 1970s, \u003cstrong\u003eMan’s Country\u003c\/strong\u003e became one of the best-known names in gay bathhouse culture, with locations in both \u003cstrong\u003eNew York City\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eChicago\u003c\/strong\u003e serving men who were looking for a little relaxation, a little recreation, and very definitely not just a quiet evening in the sauna.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLet’s not kid ourselves.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eNew York location\u003c\/strong\u003e appears to have opened around \u003cstrong\u003e1972\u003c\/strong\u003e, originally operating out of \u003cstrong\u003e53–55 Pierrepont Street in Brooklyn Heights\u003c\/strong\u003e before later moving to \u003cstrong\u003e28 West 15th Street in Manhattan\u003c\/strong\u003e. The Manhattan location was famously advertised as \u003cstrong\u003e“ten floors of fantasy,”\u003c\/strong\u003e which is either the greatest slogan in bathhouse history or the filthiest piece of marketing copy ever written.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eChicago location\u003c\/strong\u003e opened on \u003cstrong\u003eSeptember 19, 1973\u003c\/strong\u003e, at \u003cstrong\u003e5015–5017 North Clark Street\u003c\/strong\u003e, and went on to become one of the city’s most legendary gay bathhouses. It was closely associated with \u003cstrong\u003eChuck Renslow\u003c\/strong\u003e, one of the towering figures of Chicago gay leather culture, whose influence extended far beyond bars and bathhouses into physique photography, publishing, and queer nightlife history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt Man’s Country, patrons found the usual bathhouse essentials—lockers, saunas, private rooms, and plenty of opportunities to make wonderfully questionable decisions—but the places also leaned hard into fantasy. The New York club reportedly featured themed spaces including a \u003cstrong\u003etruck stop\u003c\/strong\u003e, a \u003cstrong\u003ejail tank\u003c\/strong\u003e, a \u003cstrong\u003eJacuzzi\u003c\/strong\u003e, and even a restaurant called the \u003cstrong\u003eMeet Rack\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Printify","offers":[{"title":"16″ x 24″ \/ Matte","offer_id":68042683056286,"sku":"75792479742858073238","price":35.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"24″ x 36″ \/ Matte","offer_id":68042683089054,"sku":"22992265918084541541","price":50.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0660\/1893\/4942\/files\/2428508044879413667_2048.jpg?v=1794659595","url":"https:\/\/brankobrand.com\/products\/mans-country-poster-new-york-and-chicago-gay-bathhouse-ad-from-70s-issue-of-michaels-thing","provider":"Branko Brand","version":"1.0","type":"link"}