Rub-a-dub-dub, 20 people in a tub

Press, 21 July 1980, Page 6

Rub-a-dub-dub, 20 people in a tub

By

RONALD CLARKE

of

Reuter, through NZPA

Los Angeles A strolling violinist played romantic music and a butler poured drinks. A caricaturist sketched the guests. ' The only difference with this party was the gues.ts were in a bath. >■ The latest fad to hit Cali- \ fornia is the rented hot tub room.''' ; Party-givers, couples, families and people > just wanting to be alone book tub rooms to have fun, sooth tired muscles or simply relax. . At an estabiismment - in Los Angeles called “Hot Tub Fever,” where a woman brought the butler for a party, people pay between SUSIO and SUS2O am '

hour a person to hire a tub room. - In the most expensive room, known, as the V.I.P. room, up to 20 people can join in the fun behind closed doors sitting iri the sunken bath under' dimmed lights, sweating in the adjoining sauna room or shivering under a cold shower. There are floating sets of backgammon to be played in the bath and a wood fire 1 crackles in the redwoodpanelled room-dotted with potted plants to help ‘ give. a relaxing, atmosphere.. ’ There is colour television people can .bring their own movies Ito have shown and there is a stereo radio. People can supply their own food or have it delivered there is a refrigerator for drinks and, after the bath, there is a couch to relax on. , ; A spokesman for’ the

SUSSOO,OOO “Hot Tub Fe.veri*’<. Nathan Zasier, said people.’ could wear swimin the baths if they wished., , “But*; I .would say most go in without a swimsuit. “If you are close to a person I don’t think there is any big deal in taking off your clothes. “Maybe people outside California think people here are loose, and sexy. But that is not the case,”he said. Askedif all the couples who booked rooms were married, Mr Zasier said: “we don’t check.” At least 10 bath houses with private rooms have opened in California, with names such as “Jumping Frog,” the “Hourglass,” “Grand Central Hot Baths’ and the “Hot Tub Store.” The" tub room idea could become one of the biggest

things since Californians decided the way to get an even suntan was to stay indoors. Salons have sprung up where people can get suntans under ultra-violet lights instead of having to spend hours on the Californian beaches. Baths at “Hot Tub Fever,” made of heavy plastic, range in size from two to three metres and are about a metre deep. They can comfortably seat four to 10 people. If the occupants wish, the water, which remains at a temperature of 39 deg can be swished round the bath at speed to help relax muscles. “Intsead of going to a cinema or to a restaurant people come here because it is a lot mor© relaxing,” Mr Zasier said. “This is an escape, a '• chance to get away from

the world. We present this as a health-oriented place. “Bosses secretaries and people with an hour or so to spare come on their, own during the day to relax. Most couples come at night. “We have a mixed clientele, but most of the people are in the age range of mid-twenties to late thirties. “We also have plenty of families because children under 12 are allowed in free,”.Mr Zasier said. “Most families keep on their swimsuits.” In this city of film, television and record celebrities, two of the rooms have private back doors so people can slip in and out unnoticed by other customers. , Most people stay in the rooms, for about 90 minutes at a time. The V.I.P. room

at “Hot Tub Fever”'can be hired for a party of 20 for two hours for SUS3OO. ; The water, in most of the bath houses is changed every day, but ’health checks are made each time a room is booked and chlorine and other chemicals are added whenever necessary. For the hardy, there is an environmental room at “Hot Tub Fever.” It has an open skylight and, if it rains a touch of nature is added because the rai« pours into the bath. J People/ have given surprise parties in hot tub establishments arid a group of couples who went on a.mytery tour found themslves in hot water, after they had put on their; swimsuits. ; ■ >/ One thing banned in many of the baths is ‘soap. It clouds the bath water.