The ’70s and ’80s were without a doubt the golden years for New York’s nightlife. Studio 54 being the place of all places to be and be seen, actors, celebrities and beautiful people were running loose. Drugs, sex and disco, ruled the night. Lesser known but clearer in purpose was Plato’s Retreat. Opened in 1977 in the basement of the Ansonia Hotel by Larry Levenson, Plato’s had strict rules about what could and couldn’t be done inside it’s walls. In essence a sex club housing three swing rooms, heated pools, private cubicles and disco music (a later addition of a buffet), couples were free to do almost anything their hearts desired. A hedonistic haven for ‘free thinking’ couples, Plato’s was a hit.
Mixed receptions were inevitable. ‘Free thinkers’ loved the club, Time magazine, not so much. Slandering Plato’s for spreading AIDS and tax evasion allegations, most likely a few of their reporters were denied entry and felt the fire for revenge. in 1985 Ed Koch, Mayor of New York, started to shut down homosexual swing clubs in retaliation to the HIV/AIDS epidemic, not initially targeting heterosexual clubs this violated the newly adopted anti-discrimination law, so was the end for Plato’s retreat. Plato’s 2 / The Slammer is undoubtedly the last ditch hope Levenson is clinging to, running out of Florida Plato’s 2 is a homosexual swingers club dubbed as BYOB (Bring your own bottle, meaning alcohol I hope). American Swing – The rise and fall of Plato’s Retreat was released in 2008 and is to date the most in depth documentation of the greatest swingers club to live in New York
Want sex? Need fashion? We’ll give it to you on Twitter…
