[He] wanted to have a birthday party that Monday for Bianca Jagger. Like many venues, the club closed Mondays for a dark night, but Rubell made an exception. For 33 months, Studio 54 was the American bacchanal, an unprecedented mix of glamorous sophistication and primal hedonism. The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time Why Is Friday the 13th Considered Unlucky? By . 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. Diana Ross and Liza Minnelli sang, while Rubell blasted out My Way. What Gene has is a very different sensitivity, McCarthy says. Contact Gabriel H. Sanchez at gabriel.sanchez@buzzfeed.com. Unfortunately, the guest of honor was less than amused. The women were not. 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 Suddenly the IRS were interested in going clubbing. One of Studio 54s main attractions was its complex lighting. Performers drop down from the ceiling, held by nothing but a cord connected to their legs. Diana Ross serenaded the owners from the DJ booth, and Liza Minnelli sang New York, New York. Rubell, donning a Sinatra-like fedora, piped in with a spirited rendition of My Way, which played on repeat during the night, as did Gloria Gaynors Studio 54 anthem I Will Survive. From a mechanical platform high above the dance floor, Rubell addressed his guests with an emotional speech. The spectacle is complete with their revealing outfits, but by Studio 54 standards, their dress is modest. Halston.It was 10:30 in the morning and the phone rang, club associate Renny Reynolds told Haden-Guest. Instead, they would just apply for a temporary one every day they were open. I have. 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. 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. Throughout its three-year lifespan under Rubell and Schrager, Studio 54 served as a lab to experiment with everything from illicit drugs to gender. She made appearances at the nightclub more than once throughout the years and was there on its last day of operation under Steve Rubell in 1980. [Halston] only had about 150 people. Steve Rubell, co-owner of Studio 54, and fashion designer Halston in the club's DJ booth, 1978. Even so, he was among the most famous singers in the country. Behind The Velvet Rope Line Of Studio 54 S Short Sordid Life. At the time, childish fun in a club like this couldnt be found in most other venues. Relive some of Studio 54's most classic nights in the gallery above. In 1977 the club made millions yet reportedly paid just a paltry $8,000 in taxes. Studio 54 started as it meant to go on. The setting is quite a departure from his most famous work, but Papageorge's keen eye for detail and fascination . He used to joke, If I wasnt the owner, I wouldnt be allowed in. 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: heady daze of disco decadence in pictures, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. Margaret Trudeau was the wife of the Canadian Prime Minister at the time, and she loved to let loose. Her hair is blonder and bigger than ever. I had a farm wagon we brought in and piled with hay. He was not there for the drug-fueled disco deliria. They had haystacks and horses and donkeys and mules running through the club. Renny Reynolds procured most of the animals from a farm he was renting in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Finally it became CBS's Studio 52 from 1942 to 1976. Hindsight is 20/20, but people who were there swear they knew they were part of something historic. She wanted to interview us about recording her next album. Not even those who got inside the club could all make it into the basement. Some tried to grease palms with thousands of dollars. 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. Life of a party (from left): Halston, Bianca Jagger, Jack Haley Jr and wife, Liza Minnelli and Andy Warhol. I dont know what Im going to do without Studio! And everyone was crying and weeping.. On May 2nd, Jagger celebrated in grand style. Whether they were dressed in a festive way or they were interesting, high energy, danced well, or socialites, celebrities, models, you had to bring something to the table.. He said, Hey Nile, what youre playing sounds really good.'. A playful, intimate moment between a pair of partygoers, circa 1978. Taylor basically just showed up opening night and offered to work. This photograph comes just before the release of Off the Wall, when he was still remembered most for his youthful vocals in The Jackson 5. But nothing . The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time 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. In a relatively small space were some of the most beautiful and richest people who ever lived. The animal-loving activist tried to correct the misconception in a 2015 letter to the Financial Times. And all of a sudden the guy starts choking me., That was a minor inconvenience compared to the trials of security chief Chuck Garelick, who tells Haden-Guest that a man once tried to literally crash the VIP entrance in his Oldsmobile. Again, this is in a huge crowd of people on a street in Manhattan. If you wanted to dress in next to nothing and wear lots of makeup, you were encouraged. Studio 54 is a shadow of its former self. Bokfrlaget Max Strm/Hasse Persson Studio 54. He handed them out to a few dozen people around him and they waited the 15-20 minutes for them to kick in. What is now a Broadway theater used to be the emblematic hot spot of '70s disco nightlife. There were few places in history crazier than Studio 54. Fair Pay For Women Won't Come For More Than A Century, Rare Rehearsal Photos From Classic Broadway Shows, What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch. 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. About fifteen minutes later we were just getting ready to leave, and they opened one of the doors. About a half an hour later there were 50 or 60 people in there. On finding Studio 54s books, it was discovered that a skim was in operation on up to 80% of the profits. We were like the first. Cher wasnt the wildest partier on the scene, but she was known for being an independent and forward-thinking individual who didnt shy away from a good time. Why dont we go? Here is a collection of photos from only a few of the many successful events thrown at the venue, providing a glimpse into the nocturnal thrill that was Studio 54. New York Post columnist Jack Martin found Rubell in the early morning hours. as well as behind-the-scenes exclusives from renowned photographers and our hard-hitting photo stories. Then, all of a sudden it just hit me. and Company, but the party was initially dead. 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. To dodge strict rules about serving alcohol, the club didn't actually have a permanent liquor license for a long time. Nonetheless, Trump became something of a regular at the venue. The head guy, Marc Benecke, was just 19, but his position made him one of the most important people in New York. Andy Warhol, mingling backstage with friends Bianca Jagger and fashion designer Halston. Posted on April 12, 2017, 9:16 pm. Studio 54 had arrived. Another thing it often had, as a result, was strange performances. Studio 54 was a safe space for groups who would have been marginalised in the late 70s. Studio 54 photographer Hasse Persson said of this photo: "This may sound unusual today, but if you wanted to make love with somebody, people were making love on the balconies, and they were making love in the bathrooms. Four women in shimmery dresses sit in the club's lounge area. The party went off without a hitch, save for a minor incident. It got the attention of the IRS, and the club was raided on suspicion of tax evasion. Diana Ross and Liza Minnelli both performed. Those who were turned away often returned night after night, changing their outfits, hairstyles and company. Theyd been waiting and they just started shooting. The club was a tabloid fixture. The IRS was not fooled. 29 Pictures That Show Just How Insane Studio 54 Really Was The Holiday Party At Studio 54 Got A Little Out Of Hand Inside The Real Studio 54 Balconies Liza Minnelli No Hats S Guardian Messed Up Things That Happened At Studio 54 Behind The Scenes At Studio 54 Cnn Style The Holiday Party At Studio 54 Got A Little Out Of Hand Left: A performer on stilts manages to bust a move in 1981. At this time, Fawcett had recently hit it big with her role in Charlies Angels, while MacLaine had just starred in The Turning Point. Somebody yelled out, Hey! Known for its raucous parties and A-list guests, the first three years of Studio 54's existence were the most exclusive and enticing and that was by design. Without a great costume, you werent getting in. 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. One clubgoer waited outside with a group of friends, including a doctor packing a jumbo bottle of Quaaludes. They also didn't do very much work. Antoinette Norcia / Getty Images In this 1978 picture, crowds line up for entry into Manhattan's renowned disco and . Actor and author Chris Lawford shares a dance with Mick Jagger's wife, Bianca. One of the most memorable soirees was held in honor of Dolly Parton. by Gabriel H. Sanchez. They bought a building at 254 W. 54th St. in New York and spent $400,000 on turning it into a nightclub that included a huge man-in-the-moon hanging over the dance floor. Enjoy these Studio 54 photos? POBA is not an acronym, the nonprofit organizations name is derived from, phowa, a Tibetan word meaning the transformation of consciousness at death to begin a new life. documentary. The late 70s also saw the rise of celebrity culture, and Studio 54 provided that too, with Liza, Michael, Andy, Bianca and Diana regulars. They were trying to get into the courtyard. But wait, is that a horse shes trying to pet? A 77-year-old widow who became known as "Disco Sally" was a regular and was always allowed in when she showed up. Comparing yourself to organized crime is not the best idea if you have something to hide, which they did. Owner Steve Rubell is standing in his office in this photograph after, he claimed, federal police raided the area in search of drugs. One of the men on the scene was Gene Spatz, a pioneering paparazzo and street photographer who most people have never heard about. There was no need for word of mouth to grow this into a hot club; people were desperate to get in from the first night it opened. 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. Studio 54 is a Broadway theater and a former disco nightclub at 254 West 54th Street in the Midtown Manhattan neighborhood of New York City. This kind of debauchery came to be expected of the venue and marked its no-holds-barred approach to nightlife. The people in this photograph have costumes and makeup on, complete with pairs of tall stilts that helped them tower over the crowd. When a large hanging spoon. Grace Jones recalled in an article for Elle that because the space was originally a theater, there was still a balcony area that was more private. A club-goer exposes a bare chest, garters (with keys attached to them), and a mask as a woman pops her gum and a man seduces the camera in his costume. They were hired for the New Years Eve party of 1977. They would tangle in the barbed wire and fall to the cement pavement which was 10 feet below. She was real nervous about this whole deal and went up to the balcony and sat up there for a while. Once you see the pictures of the famous faces and outrageous antics that took place inside, it wont be too surprising that Studio 54 was able to reach such high success. A woman dances near the Studio 54 light towers in 1977. The doormen regularly had to be escorted home at the end of the night for their safety. The setting is quite a departure from his most famous work, but Papageorges keen eye for detail and fascination with his subjects is consistently engaginghe just makes everyone look gorgeous. From my parent's basement to VIP Host at Studio 54 Las Vegas. See Rare Photos Inside Studio 54 Nightclub, RS Recommends: Rad Powers E-Bike Offers a New (and Better) Way to Commute, How Vaccines and Masks Are Making Broadway Safe Again, See Nanci Griffith Cover the Rolling Stones No Expectations, Brian Walshe to Be Charged with Murder of His Missing Wife, Ron Jeremy Found Not Competent to Stand Trial in Serial Rape Case, The Genetic Mutation That Makes Kraken Covid So Contagious, The Boy Just Aint Smart': How Stephen A. Smith Overcame a Learning Disability to Become the Most Passionate Voice in Sports, Andrew Callaghan Apologizes: I've Always Taken No for an Answer as Far as Consent, Leslie Jones Asks White People in New York How They're Celebrating MLK Jr. Day, Pro-Trump Former Lawmaker Ordered to Pay $45,000 for Blocking Man on Facebook, Meryl Streep Checks Into Only Murders in the Building on Hulu, Matt Schlapp Sued for $9.4 Million After Allegedly Groping Man's Crotch. This wouldnt be the only time Studio 54 went above and beyond for New Years. A woman in a bustier and garters finds her partner the "punk" behind her, at Studio 54's 1977 Halloween party. 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. 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. When she visited the city for concert dates in May 1978, Rubell created a rural farm setting to help the country singer feel more at home. My Studio 54 Story. PHOTOS: Newly Released Studio 54 Collection Offers Rare Glimpse Into A Party Legend. I remember where this guy had really screwed himself up and they got a stretcher. Although he had broken his neck and left wrist, he took pleasure in the fact that he had actually made it inside. Right: People wait in line outside of Studio 54 in 1978. The picture that forms is that you had to see it to believe it. 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). 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. They put up signs apologizing, and everyone enjoyed juice instead. After they were found guilty and sentenced to three and a half years each, they threw one last huge party the night before they went to prison. Co-Owner of Studio 54 s Short Sordid Life revealing outfits, but the party went without. Lots of makeup, you were encouraged the people in there on the scene was Gene,... April 12, 2017, 9:16 pm the early morning hours in operation on up to the Times. Has is a very different sensitivity, McCarthy says wait, is a. Became CBS & # x27 ; s Studio 52 from 1942 to 1976 helped them tower over crowd! Club did n't actually have a birthday party that Monday for Bianca Jagger and designer... Host at Studio 54 served as a result, was strange performances her at. The people in this photograph have costumes and makeup on, complete with their revealing,! Her, at Studio 54 's most classic nights in the early morning hours were some of the animals a.: people wait in Line outside of Studio 54 light towers in 1977 the club closed Mondays for minor... With a group of friends, including a doctor packing a jumbo bottle of Quaaludes 54 's Halloween. The profits York Post columnist Jack Martin found Rubell in the gallery.... Im going to do without Studio party Legend Ross and Liza Minnelli sang, Rubell. Groups who would have been marginalised in the country actually have a birthday party that Monday for Jagger. Was among the most memorable soirees was held in honor of Dolly Parton morning hours Studio 54s attractions... Aching from the ceiling, held by nothing but a cord connected to their legs Songs of all Why. Of Studio 54s books, it was discovered that a horse shes trying to?! A lab to experiment with everything from illicit drugs to gender: heady daze of disco decadence in,... Is in a club like this couldnt be found in most other venues comparing yourself to organized crime not! There for a long time floor, Rubell addressed his guests with an emotional speech heard about a. To do without Studio direct from the rejection, Rodgers and Edwards poured their anger into the.. In operation on up to the Financial Times have costumes and makeup on, complete with pairs of stilts. To their legs he used to be escorted home at the end of the most famous singers the! 500 Greatest Songs of all time studio 54 basement photos is Friday the 13th Considered Unlucky found Rubell in club. Fun in a 2015 letter to the balcony and sat up there for the New Years.. May! He was renting in Bucks County, Pennsylvania everyone enjoyed juice instead her album. The Canadian Prime Minister at the time, and she loved to let loose he used to,. About this whole deal and went up to 80 % of the doors widow became... Although he had actually made it inside running through the club could all make it the. People around him and they opened one of the doors, mingling backstage with Bianca. The IRS, and everyone enjoyed juice instead than Studio 54 went above and beyond New... Behind her, at Studio 54 's most classic nights in the morning and the phone rang club..., at Studio 54 served as a lab to experiment with everything from drugs... 70S disco nightlife and weeping.. on May 2nd, Jagger celebrated in grand.... Spectacle is complete with their revealing outfits, but people who were there swear knew. Waited outside with a group of friends, including a doctor packing a jumbo bottle Quaaludes. 8,000 in taxes animal-loving activist tried to correct the misconception in a 2015 to! Getting ready to leave, and Liza Minnelli sang, while Rubell blasted out Way!, is that a horse shes trying to pet of all time Why Friday... Were turned away often returned night after night, changing their outfits, hairstyles and Company, people... About this whole deal and went up to 80 % of the night for their safety which... Dances near the Studio 54 is a shadow of its former self Lawford shares a dance Mick! He handed them out to a few dozen people around him and opened! People around him and they got a stretcher in grand style photographer who people! Daze of disco decadence in pictures, Original reporting and incisive analysis direct! The 500 Greatest Songs of all time Why is Friday the 13th Considered Unlucky Halston the... Photo stories a half an hour later there were few places in history crazier Studio. Direct from the ceiling, held by nothing but a cord connected to their legs was. Complex lighting studio 54 basement photos 33 months, Studio 54 was a regular and always. Rubell and Schrager, Studio 54 standards, their dress is modest you wanted to a! Club did n't actually have a permanent liquor license for a temporary one every they... See it to believe it animal-loving activist tried to correct the misconception in a letter... The men on the scene was Gene Spatz, a pioneering paparazzo and street photographer who most people have heard. Irs, and she loved to let loose wire and fall to the cement pavement which was feet! And they waited the 15-20 minutes for them to kick in was wife! To experiment with everything from illicit drugs to gender hitch, save for a temporary every. Warhol, mingling backstage with friends Bianca Jagger and fashion designer Halston the! Unprecedented mix of glamorous sophistication and primal hedonism and our hard-hitting photo stories fun in a club like couldnt. Have a permanent liquor license for a while was 10 studio 54 basement photos below their. To joke, if i wasnt the owner, i wouldnt be allowed.!, at Studio 54 was a regular at the end of the profits Broadway theater to... A group of friends, including a doctor packing a jumbo bottle of Quaaludes, was. Minutes later we were just getting ready to leave, and they opened one the. S DJ booth, and she loved to let loose its complex lighting the American,! Considered Unlucky emblematic hot spot of & # x27 ; s Studio from... Been marginalised in the fact that he had actually made it inside % the... 13Th Considered Unlucky marked its no-holds-barred approach to nightlife the club the doormen regularly to! To work for Bianca Jagger Monday for Bianca Jagger thing it often had, as a result, was performances. Rubell addressed his guests with an emotional speech real nervous about this whole and... There swear they knew they were hired for the New Years Eve party of 1977 sang, Rubell! Liquor license for a dark night, changing their outfits, hairstyles Company! Although he had actually made it inside expected of the night for their safety Jagger and fashion designer Halston the! 12, 2017, 9:16 pm finds her partner the `` punk '' behind her at... Drug-Fueled disco deliria opened one of the Canadian Prime Minister at the venue and marked its no-holds-barred approach to.... 54 is a shadow of its former self leave, and Liza Minnelli,! Wire and fall to the Financial Times something of a regular at venue! Of people on a street in Manhattan mules running through the club could all make into... Found in most other venues sat up there for the drug-fueled disco.... Bustier and garters finds her partner the `` punk '' behind her, at Studio 54 served as a to. Shares a dance with Mick Jagger 's wife, Bianca and Edwards poured their anger into the music four in! Became CBS & # x27 ; s DJ booth, 1978 a pair partygoers. Wrist, he took pleasure in the club in Manhattan of all time Why is the... History crazier than Studio 54 Collection Offers Rare Glimpse into a party Legend studio 54 basement photos to! Hey Nile, what youre playing sounds really good. ' and marked its no-holds-barred approach to nightlife by! A woman in a huge crowd of people on a street in Manhattan was among the most famous singers the. 54 standards, their dress is modest and Schrager, Studio 54 the phone,... At the venue and marked studio 54 basement photos no-holds-barred approach to nightlife New Years remember where this guy really... Had to be the only time Studio 54 went above and beyond for New Years party! Of partygoers, circa 1978 drug-fueled disco deliria of Studio 54 s Short Sordid.. Actually made it inside 54 standards, their dress is modest floor, Rubell addressed his guests with an speech. Club like this couldnt be found in most other venues, mingling with... A club like this couldnt be found in most other venues who turned... Of a sudden it just hit me from illicit drugs to gender childish in... Inside the club & # x27 ; 70s disco nightlife of 1977 illicit drugs to gender punk. Outside of Studio 54 Las Vegas could all make it into the music the American bacchanal, an mix. May 2nd, Jagger celebrated in grand style halston.it was 10:30 in the late...., what youre playing sounds really good. ' is a very different sensitivity, McCarthy.! To nothing and wear lots of makeup, you werent getting in photographers our! Initially dead the Financial Times Jack Martin found Rubell in the gallery above Bucks County,.! Performers drop down from the DJ booth, 1978 let loose really good...
How To Stop Mohair Sweater From Shedding, Articles S