I grew up in Brighton Beach, and one place down there I knew quite well was the Brighton Beach Baths. The Baths are gone now, in its place a residential development which I’ve only seen from the outside. Thinking about this bit of my childhood which is now gone forever, I decided to do a little research and discover some things about the Baths I never knew before even as I splashed about in the kiddie pool, learned to swim in the shallow end of the giant, salt-water main pool, or learned to dive in the smaller, but much deeper (9 feet down) diving pool, complete with a 10-feet-high high-diving board (which I jumped off of once!)
From the paddle-ball courts in the north end, to the miniature golf course on the west, the Baths was my village every summer for about fifteen years.
The Brighton Beach Baths opened in 1907, and by the time I got there in the late 60’s to mid-70’s the combination beach club community gathering place could boast a membership surpassing 12,000 individuals. Aside from the handball-paddle courts and mini-golf that I already mentioned, there were also paddle-tennis courts, a large circular cafeteria, places to play mah-jongg, pinochle, chess and checkers, a playground with metal swings in the shape of horses, access to the beach, and amazingly, an outdoor theater that hosted famous entertainers of the comedic or singer varieties. I believe I saw Red Skelton and Buddy Hackett perform there, and perhaps even Sammy Davis Jr., if memory serves.
Despite lively protests against tearing down such a beloved landmark of Brighton Beach and Brooklyn history, in 1994 the Baths were closed down. In 2000 the Oceana Condominium and Club arose to take the place of the Baths, one of the first of many such ambitious projects which will forever change the look and feel of an amazing place called Brighton Beach.
The gathering place of my family every summer. Always called ‘”the baths” to its members[not a tub within its 15 acres] .Lived in Brooklyn not that hood lived near kingshighway then mill basin now in miami beach.
All my dads siblings and parents lived there.My grandparents never left.My grandma out lived my grandfather by about 15yrs “vent” to the boardwalk daily even in the “vinter” as long as she could. Never did I not have a pass to the baths. Even in the later years
The best place in the city to spend summers. The biggest cement salt water pool around pumped directly from the ocean. 3 pools kids big and diving.
Not a fancy place nobody had towel service or chairs carried out. You had a locker Cement wood door your own padlock big enough for1 person to change.We father and my brother had the same locker .For years we painted and arranged shleving chair and towel hooks owerselves. My mom and grandmother had lockers on womens side
Locker room was whole sub culture thats where steamroom and showers were.Older men some never left there is this picture in my head .Lot gambling and drinking many retired men vets cops fireman Jews Italians irish 1 chinese family that owned a local resturant .There was a section called The Solarium these older gents would hang there naked [still traumatized ] playing cards poker and on fold out table with20 guys watching making side bets. 100 men naked as long as daylight held Getting ripped wasted .More than a few fist fights would break out[ nuts] naked alta cakas duke in out.Generally these were great guys telling jokes talking sports stocks just chillin out with there buddies away from there wives for a few hours,My parents would buy guest passes I brought a friend 1 dayhe still talks about the lockers. The place was old and well kept. Not a country club or spa . GREAT PLACE
People came by subway cars and buses .As a kid and young adult .We competed in all those sports.Had leagues basketball volleyball.
We had fun with other families from different hoods Parents that grew with other Parents marriges children deaths
On sundays my dad came worked all week sometimes he came for a late day his shop was close.Grab a swim spend time with his family.
I remember Brighton Beach. The Oceana movie theater, Mrs. Stahl’s, and my summer home away from home, Brighton Beach Baths.
Does anyone remember all of the celebrities that would come out on the weekends, especially on Labor Day weekend?
Rodney Dangerfield, Frank Sinatra, Jr., Lainie Kazan (she was young, slim, & gorgeous), just to name a few.
Myfamily and I were members from the late 1950′s thru the early 1960′s and then I re-joined in the 1970′s along with my sister and her family. Had great times and met great people. Loved the entertainment and all there was to do.