American Swing

October 21, 2009

American Swing

Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on October 2009 In the late ’70s, a nearly illiterate pussy hound named Steve Levinson opened Plato’s Retreat, a tacky nightclub for heterosexual swingers; a twisted extension of the free-love mindset of the era. Couples were encouraged to cast aside their inhibitions and, well, just screw (American Schwing?). Former patrons tell […]

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Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on October 2009

©2008 HDNet Films, LLC

©2008 HDNet Films, LLC

In the late ’70s, a nearly illiterate pussy hound named Steve Levinson opened Plato’s Retreat, a tacky nightclub for heterosexual swingers; a twisted extension of the free-love mindset of the era. Couples were encouraged to cast aside their inhibitions and, well, just screw (American Schwing?). Former patrons tell us how great the place was. But former patrons are rarely objective. (Thank God for Buck Henry and his wry observations of what this really was: major self-aggrandizement. With crappy food.) Eventually hookers, AIDS and the IRS brought the place down. I found the whole thing a little sad.