A pile of people forms on the dance floor of the 1978 "Purple Party.". DJ Richie Kaczor dropped the needle on the first record of the night, Devils Gun by C.J. (Quaaludes, a prescription sedative with hypnotic effects, were huge in the '70s and classily known as "panty droppers.") Like a booze and drug fueled fever dream, Persson's 'Studio 54' freezes a red-hot moment in disco-era history into 200-plus pages of spellbinding, head-spinning imagery. Fact-Checking the Aretha Franklin Biopic, Jeff Buckleys Grace: 10 Things You Didnt Know, Flashback: Back to the Future Has Everyone Wanting to Play Johnny B Goode Like Michael J. Part of the lure of a nightclub like Studio 54 is that you went home with plenty of stories to tell about the wacky things you saw go down inside. In a relatively small space were some of the most beautiful and richest people who ever lived. 1 120 VOTES Bianca Jagger's Birthday Party - Bianca Celebrating With Liza Minelli (May 2, 1978) Photo: Sonia Moskowitz/Getty Images 101 19 2 146 VOTES Gene was able to capture how celebrity rubbed up with regular folks in the most unpretentious and remarkable way that was the wonder of Studio 54, she explains. Apr 26, 2016 Getty Images / Getty Images The original Studio 54 nightclub, which opened on this date in 1977, was open for less than three years before owners Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager were. This wasnt a show for just any night at the club, however. You might not think of famous authors as the rowdiest group of people, but Truman Capote didnt fit into any stereotypes. In case you dont recognize her, thats Dolly Parton at an afterparty in Studio 54. He was supplied with drugs and given a regular paycheck. Showing Editorial results for studio 54. Studio 54, New York. A 77-year-old widow who became known as "Disco Sally" was a regular and was always allowed in when she showed up. Luckily for us, a handful of photographers captured the scene at Studio 54's height in the 1970s. For 33 short months the club was the height of cool in Manhattan, with club goers who managed to get past the velvet rope falling into a deluge of drugs and debauchery. The people who did gain entry were just as bizarre. Studio 54 is the one nightclub from the '70s everyone remembers. Left: A clubgoer dressed as Jesus carries a large cross onto the dance floor in 1977. Trudeau frequented the nightclub more than once and earned herself a bit of a reputation among partiers. 23,434 Studio 54 Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images CREATIVE EDITORIAL VIDEO All Sports Entertainment News Archival Browse 23,434 studio 54 stock photos and images available, or search for studio 54 moon or studio 54 1970s to find more great stock photos and pictures. Studio 54 has gone down in history as the ultimate nightclub, a place where everyone who was anyone went to get down, boogie, and be seen. Studio 54 was crazy all year long, but things got especially wacky for Halloween. New York Post columnist Jack Martin found Rubell in the early morning hours. The brainchild of Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager, the club opened in a onetime CBS soundstage on April 26th, 1977, and immediately became the epicenter of nightlife in New York City and the world. Having been used as a radio and television studio for CBS, the building was still full of TV sets and lighting equipment when Steve Rubell transformed it into a place for drinks, music and dancing. If you wanted to dress in next to nothing and wear lots of makeup, you were encouraged. Fans would say she had eyes the color of lavender, and her performances in films like Cleopatra and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof will forever go down in cinema history. In 1977, Ian Schrager and Steve Rubell began work converting the theater into the Studio 54 nightclub. With someone like Diana Ross at your venue, you wont be hurting for attendees. Not amused, Warhol scrambled to collect the singles. First, we changed it from fuck off to freak off, and that was pretty hideous. So we got to Studio 54 and there was nobody there. Despite spending only $400,000 on preparations for the nightclub, owner Rubell indicated Studio 54 made over $7 million in profits in the first year. ', Editors picks In the clubs first year open, Cher showed up to the scene at Studio 54. They didnt even know we were waiting out there., The atmosphere was hardly better inside, as the couples wandered through the empty disco. One club-goer talking to Vanity Fair remembered a Halloween party where the foyer was filled with booths of little people doing different random things to entertain the guests, including a family eating a formal dinner. Many of the staff of Studio 54 including Rubell died as a result of it. Another thing it often had, as a result, was strange performances. A kind of unofficial VIP area in an already VIP club, it was where big celebrities went for their private trysts. He was a non-entity. When Steve got off the phone we flipped into action to make it happen. While many clubgoers enjoyed this aspect of Studio 54, it got them lots of attention from the authorities. Steve Rubell, co-owner of Studio 54, and fashion designer Halston in the club's DJ booth, 1978. His latest book, Studio 54, is a record of hedonism that includes actual swinging from the rafters and a literal procession of men in Dionysian drag. [Halston] only had about 150 people. When youre a wealthy celebrity, youre going to want to have the best of the best. For more New York drama, be sure to check out what the city looked like in the 1970s. To dodge strict rules about serving alcohol, the club didn't actually have a permanent liquor license for a long time. Getting into Studio 54 could be impossible. Here he is pictured alongside Liza Minnelli and Bianca Jagger at the New Years Eve party of 1977. Then . Getting high low-down, Grace Jones wrote in her 2016 memoir. We stood there as long as we could take it, until our feet were just finally way too cold. . On finding Studio 54s books, it was discovered that a skim was in operation on up to 80% of the profits. When the builders were asked if they were making a "sex pit," the answer was simply, yes. She was not a comfortable lady there., The July 1978 bash celebrating the release of Grease gave Dolly Partons pastoral party a run for its money when Rubell and Co. recreated the movies retro set. People at Studio 54 dance the night away during the 1978. This would not be the only time the nightclub had a horse on its premises, nor would it be the only animal ever invited inside. We were really totally dejected. Once they did, a "mad sexual orgy" started. She avoided the task of assessing what she had in her possession for nearly a decade until she began to unearth her brothers forgotten treasures. The IRS was not fooled. He told Rubell outright that his uniform was ridiculous for working, and instead he was going to hang out and entertain the celebrities. To this day the nightclub remains a thing of legend, even if it has been transformed into a theater. In 1977, at the height of the disco craze, the Studio 54 nightclub opened . Studio 54 is immensely interesting just in terms of a sociological perspective. PHOTOS: Newly Released Studio 54 Collection Offers Rare Glimpse Into A Party Legend. All That's Interesting is a Brooklyn-based digital publisher that seeks out stories that illuminate the past, present, and future. What is now a Broadway theater used to be the emblematic hot spot of '70s disco nightlife. The club was a tabloid fixture. I walked him back to his limo. Benecke often needed an escort back to his apartment. The secluded corners furnished with mattresses quickly became a popular feature. The Holiday Party At Studio 54 Got A Little Out Of Hand 29 Pictures That Show Just How Insane Studio 54 Really Was Messed Up Things That Happened At Studio 54 54 Studio Party New York Studio 54 15 Things We Learned About The Hedonists Mecca From New Doentary Independent Studio 54 Originally Gallo Opera House Nyc Lgbt Historic Sites Project For most of his life, though, co-founder Ian Schrager has wanted to forget it. There were few places in history crazier than Studio 54. Andys first reaction was, You mean they told me there was a thousand dollars in there and it was only $800? The criteria for entry werent clear-cut you simply had to have the look and style they wanted to see inside the establishment. Not looking at the Studio 54 photographs alone, the shot he took of Jackie and John Jr. at tennis match its breathtaking at how close he got to them and such an intimate moment. We were invited to meet with Grace Jones at Studio 54, Rodgers told Sound on Sound in 2005. Comparing yourself to organized crime is not the best idea if you have something to hide, which they did. Here, a woman twirls her hat and two men chat over drinks. For major actresses like these, visiting Studio 54 was a must while in New York City. His latest book, Studio 54, is a record of hedonism that includes actual swinging from the rafters and a literal procession of men in Dionysian drag. The nightclub was typically packed full of people. Inside studio 54 the wild nights of 1970 s celebrities disco and debauchery club owner mark fleischman i m ending my life by dancing with stars swimming in story behind legendary nightclub high humans broadway beloved basement feinstein below turns 10 new york times page 4 herald weekly ian schrager on doentary this film takes [] The birthday girl took the place of honor astride the horse, which trotted across the dance floor while cameras greedily snapped. Theyd been waiting and they just started shooting. We use ads to keep our content free for you. Not even those who got inside the club could all make it into the basement. Originally opened as an opera house in 1927, Studio 54 became a popular nightclub in 1977. It was that soon., The photos also gave birth to the enduring myth that Jagger actually rode into the club on the horse. For the younger generations who might not know, Elizabeth Taylor was a star like no other during her time. They were so angry about being denied entry that they went home and wrote a song about it. Copyright 2023 Penske Business Media, LLC. We want to hear it. For that reason, his photos are not only fine art, they are history. Bianca Jagger appears on horseback for her birthday. The doormen regularly had to be escorted home at the end of the night for their safety. A party was staged the night before their sentences began. Margaret Trudeau was the wife of the Canadian Prime Minister at the time, and she loved to let loose. Frank Sinatra was stranded in his limousine, unable to get near. Not only was this accepted, but one of the biggest suppliers was the co-owner Steve Rubell. At Studio 54, the taboo wasnt seen as undesirable instead, it was invited inside. We were entertaining the hell out of ourselves. Actress and model Margaux Hemingway celebrates her 24th birthday in style. One journalist who was there frequently said, "Even if you weren't having sex with someone every night, you felt like you could.". If youd gone to Studio 54 in the 1970s, however, this is exactly the type of scene you couldve enjoyed. Horses on the dance floor, an orgy in the street, Andy Warhol and Donald Trump sightings, and other tales from NYC's most legendary nightspot. A nearly naked couple dances together on top of a speaker at the club's first Halloween party in 1977. Instead, they would just apply for a temporary one every day they were open. People partook in various questionable substances, and in this photo, theyre inhaling laughing gas in the middle of the dance floor. For 33 months, Studio 54 was the American bacchanal, an unprecedented mix of glamorous sophistication and primal hedonism. In 1978, Rubell told New York magazine that only the mafia does better than us. Finally it became CBS's Studio 52 from 1942 to 1976. Valentino was the ringmaster, and Marina Schiano came as a palm reader with a parrot on her shoulder.. The Daily Beast says that on opening night, 11-year-old Brooke Shields was not only very illegally admitted but taken to the DJ booth personally by the owner. There didn't seem to be any rhyme or reason for who gained entrance and who didn't. While it lasted, many photographers flocked to the bacchanal to capture the celebrities and other lucky denizens as they danced and snorted and frolicked under that iconic Man in the Moon with the coke spoon sculpture. I dont know what Im going to do without Studio! And everyone was crying and weeping.. According to Rolling Stone, people would offer him anything to get in. There is a famous picture of former first lady Betty Ford (who had quit drinking and prescription drugs just a year before) hanging out with the stars while her Secret Service detail stands behind her. But we can still try to piece together some of the most messed up stuff that ever happened at Studio 54. When a large hanging spoon. A man wears a gold costume, eyeliner, and a headdress while dancing. This type of thing wouldnt have been allowed in just any nightclub. In this 1978 picture, crowds line up for entry into Manhattan's renowned disco and nightclub Studio 54, located at 254 West 54th Street. The couple had been enjoying dinner a short time earlier with socialite Nikki Haskell and her date at the iconic Upper East Side eatery Elaines. Photographer Gene Spatz captured celebrities including John Lennon, Michael Jackson, Mick Jagger at the iconic New York City 1970s nightclub. Sometimes entertainment went further. Trans women were welcomed, while eccentrics such as Rollerina, a Wall Street banker by day who. It wasnt just the celebrities known to enjoy partying who indulged in a night out at Studio 54. Cher, Margaux Hemingway and a young Brooke Shields made it inside, but Warren Beatty, Kate Jackson and Henry Winkler did not. Celebrities headed for the basement. At a wild place like Studio 54, there werent lots of rules about what to wear or who to be. Thats right the King of Pop did indeed attend a gathering or two at Studio 54. At Studio 54, anyone with a good attitude (and good style) was welcome. The doctor started handing them out, he told Haden-Guest. My house now is filled with his art, and I hope others will appreciate it too.. This photograph offers a glimpse into New Years Eve at Studio 54. Gene had a special eye for the beauty and the fun and sometimes even the weirdness of the situations. Desperately!. One of the most famous pictures ever taken at the club was of Mick Jagger's then-wife Bianca (pictured above at a different event with John Travolta) atop a white horse being led around the dance floor by a naked man covered in glitter (and sporting a fabulous '70s mustache). The hottest celebrities and wildest outfits could be seen on the dance floor, and illicit substances flowed freely among partiers. What was interesting is that women felt secure enough to dance nude in the place. documentary. But if that wasn't enough, above the balcony was the "Rubber Room." The star-studded club, renowned for its debauched, Caligula-style orgies of excess, was seen as the height of glamour. Rubell had gone to jail for tax evasion, and the new owners kept the good times going until 1994, by which time attendance had dropped off. If you came on a white horse, with almost no clothes on, you were guaranteed to get in. It was a place of secrets and secretions, the in-crowd and inhalations, sucking and snorting., Studio 54s fast and loose accounting would ultimately contribute to its downfall. It was completely normal to see people walking around naked. Once, a regular customer had too many people, or some problem. Diana Ross and Liza Minnelli both performed. This kind of debauchery came to be expected of the venue and marked its no-holds-barred approach to nightlife. Under Rubells ownership, however, the strange, the weird and the scary were given a place to flourish beneath the lights of the nightclub. Club founders Ian Schrager and Rubell were sent to jail in 1980. It was Halston. It smelled like a cat had died. His body was discovered in black-tie attire. Photo by UoGsjohns22 CC BY SA 3.0 The building located in 254 West 54th Street, today home to the Roundabout Theatre Company, has a vibrant history. For Valentines Day, Studio 54 was transformed into a garden with flowerbeds, picket fencing and a group of harpists. A doctor had thoughtfully brought a giant box of Quaaludes with him. Nothing would compare to the nightclubs glory years in the 1970s and 80s. The horse was granted entry. While these two women may not have been the craziest partiers, they certainly appreciated a good night out. Both famous celebrities and regular bystanders alike managed to have a rockin good time at Studio 54. We felt horrible., The men sulked back to Rodgers apartment just a few blocks away. A playful, intimate moment between a pair of partygoers, circa 1978. We grabbed a couple of bottles of champagne from the corner liquor store and then went back to my place, plugged in our instruments and started jamming. Aching from the rejection, Rodgers and Edwards poured their anger into the music. Studio 54 was a safe space for groups who would have been marginalised in the late 70s. A 77-year-old widow who became known as "Disco Sally" was a regular and was always allowed in when she showed up. Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager opened Studio 54 40 years ago, and it soon became the epicenter of New York Citys nightlife for nearly three years. The stunt was one of the most effective in the history of publicity, as photos of Jagger on horseback instantly appeared in papers across the globe. Messed Up Things That Happened At Studio 54. The club also had doves and a snake present for visitors on different nights. Nobody knew him in those days. Their knocks went unanswered. We knocked on the door. The next thing we knew, these guys were out of a car across the street. This was taken in the ladies room. In a jovial moment, revelers tipped the bucket over his head, showering him with money. Imagine walking into a nightclub and seeing this group of people having drinks you might not believe what youre seeing! Bokfrlaget Max Strm/Hasse Persson Studio 54. He captured that era in my lifetime, and I hope someone is having that type of fun again. Here we see one of those notable moments where an elderly woman is dancing with a young man. Highly respected clothing designer Diane von Furstenberg is perched on a couch with media mogul Barry Diller. The Birth of Studio 54. She contacted a local artist and began sorting through contact sheets and negatives, but Lowen felt overwhelmed by the task of or assessing the quality of the work. But he could be generous with his cash. 60 Chilling Vintage Photos From Studio 54. One of the many famous faces to grace the dance floor of Studio 54 was that of legendary singer Diana Ross. 9 Monumental Books About Martin Luther King Jr. 9 Films That Provide Insight Into Martin Luther King Jr.s Life and Legacy. Youd stumble into half-hidden rooms filled with a few people who seemed to be sweating because of something they had just done, or were about to do. Security men brandishing walkie-talkies discreetly patrolled the area, removing any uninvited gawkers. Relive some of Studio 54's most classic nights in the gallery above. Creative Breakfast Recipes from Andrew Zimmern, Alton Brown and Sunny Anderson, 14 Destination Races Perfect for Extending into a Vacation, Wild Office Pranks That Evil Coworkers Have Pulled on Each Other, 6 Sites to Design Custom Photo Mugs for Gifts or Keepsakes, Seasonal Sips: Totally Teetotal Winter Mocktails for Dry January. Here you can see her leaning back as she dances, seemingly overjoyed by the music and the ambiance of Studio 54. Those who were turned away often returned night after night, changing their outfits, hairstyles and company. Antoinette Norcia / Getty Images In this 1978 picture, crowds line up for entry into Manhattan's renowned disco and . Nonetheless, Trump became something of a regular at the venue. Fortunately, there were places they could go to do the most extreme stuff. It wasn't subtle: Hung from the roof of Studio 54, dangling over the dance floor, was a giant crescent moon with a face, a cocaine spoon moving to and from its nose. As an environmentalist and an animal rights defender I find the insinuation that I would ride a horse into a nightclub offensive., The key of the success of Studio 54 is that its a dictatorship at the door and a democracy on the dance floor, club regular Andy Warhol once observed, and Steve Rubell ruled the velvet ropes with an iron fist. The newly anointed nightclub king got cocky, joking to a radio host that what the IRS doesnt know wont hurt them, and bragging to New York magazine, Only the Mafia makes more money.. Asshole! I looked and there was a rifle pointed at me. For Andy Warhols 50th birthday in August 1978, Rubell gave the artist a fresh roll of 5,000 free drink tickets and a silver garbage can filled with $1,000 worth of crisp new dollar bills. Franco Rossellini and Steve Rubell (producer and owner, respectively) are pictured here in front of what appears to be a giant birthday cake. Left: A topless woman in a peacock feather headdress dances at Studio 54's Halloween party in 1977. The agents entered the office seeking links to organized crime and arrested his partner Ian Schrager after reportedly finding cocaine among some papers he was carrying. If he liked you enough, he'd give you a little something. The head guy, Marc Benecke, was just 19, but his position made him one of the most important people in New York. Not only did she love a good time, but she also knew how to master the dance floor. One of the men on the scene was Gene Spatz, a pioneering paparazzo and street photographer who most people have never heard about. Diana Ross and Liza Minnelli sang, while Rubell blasted out My Way. My Studio 54 Story. Judge Richard Owen shocked the court by imposing the maximum penalty: three-and-a-half years in prison and $20,000 fines. Another employee, "Lenny 54," was open about the fact he wasn't going to just serve drinks. For the last fifty years, Allan Tannenbaum has been the quintessential New York photographer. The 100 Best Albums of 2022. We want to hear it. For those of us who prefer photojournalism to actual opulent dance clubs, the morning-after exhaustion on patrons faces may be the most relatable theme of the series. Unlike Ron Galellas work which has been exhibited and is collected as fine art after Spatz died in 2003 the archive of images was inherited by his younger sister, Amy Lowen, and packed away in filing cabinets in her Kentucky home. For who gained entrance and who did n't seem to be escorted home at the height of.... ; s Studio 52 from 1942 to 1976 booth, 1978 columnist Jack Martin found in! 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