Unlike most businesses who are fiddling the books, Studio 54 kept detailed records of their illegality. Oh, I knew I should have counted it, wrote Warhols colleague Bob Colacello in his memoir. Why dont we go? 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. 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. Even a brief sampling of these parties is enough to scramble the senses. We had chickens in a pen, he says in The Last Party. The sex, drugs and disco on offer at Studio 54 served as the perfect release for a generation raised under the pressures of Watergate and the Vietnam War. 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. The flow of revelers grew from a trickle to a torrent after 11 oclock, and soon thousands swarmed the building. Steven Stills is playing the drum, and 300 other people are in attendance. In this picture, women pose on top of giant reflective pillows in the middle of the crowd. At times it got really hairy outside, he told Haden-Guest. 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. 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. It smelled like a cat had died. His body was discovered in black-tie attire. She wanted to interview us about recording her next album. All very un-PC. In fact, she sang that night with Liza Minnelli. If you came on a white horse, with almost no clothes on, you were guaranteed to get in. The gift caused some tension a year later, after the IRS raided Rubells office and seized his financial records, including a catalogue of gifts dolled out to celebrity friends and clients. It was relatively common for famous figures to throw their birthday parties inside Studio 54. And we were laughing, Rodgers described to Haden-Guest. There was even something above the rubber room, beyond secretive, up where the gods of the club could engage in their chosen vice high up above the relentless dancers. He said, Hey Nile, what youre playing sounds really good.'. We felt horrible., The men sulked back to Rodgers apartment just a few blocks away. We dived onto the ground. Many of the celebs who were there are still alive, so other than vague rumors, we don't know the worst of what went down. Not that they actually waited to get inside for the fun to start. Up high in the seats above the stalls, you could disappear into the shadows and get up to whatever, writes Jones. Still others would try to be sneaky. Studio 54 was crazy all year long, but things got especially wacky for Halloween. Asshole! I looked and there was a rifle pointed at me. Rubell liked to tell a story about a countess who took a fancy to one unnamed bartender and had him handcuff her to a pipe in the basement before having sex with her. According to him he actually took the trash out and swept up while his co-workers partied. Photographer Gene Spatz captured celebrities including John Lennon, Michael Jackson, Mick Jagger at the iconic New York City 1970s nightclub. Somebody yelled out, Hey! It was "madness.". The picture that forms is that you had to see it to believe it. Studio opened on a Tuesday. Hindsight is 20/20, but people who were there swear they knew they were part of something historic. Alcohol was not the main thing people were after. Left: A man dressed in nothing but a clear plastic sheet dances with a topless woman at a Studio 54 Halloween party in 1978. But if you were really famous, there was the basement. Robin Williams dancing with his then-wife Valerie in 1979. ', Editors picks Halston.It was 10:30 in the morning and the phone rang, club associate Renny Reynolds told Haden-Guest. The packed dance floor was the place to see and be seen, but not everything people got up to at Studio 54 was necessarily intended for an audience. Club employees were tasked with stripping nearby garbage cans of bottles and cans, lest these potential projectiles land in the hands of disgruntled guests. In this picture, Robin Williams is with his then-wife Valerie Velardi and Studio 54s own Santa Claus. Other people openly smoked illegal substances or snorted drugs such as cocaine. Cher, Margaux Hemingway and a young Brooke Shields made it inside, but Warren Beatty, Kate Jackson and Henry Winkler did not. She had not had a Studio 54 experience. What is now a Broadway theater used to be the emblematic hot spot of '70s disco nightlife. 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.. Aids later hit, of course. 29 Pictures That Show Just How Insane Studio 54 Really Was. New York Daily News Archive / Getty Images. They would tangle in the barbed wire and fall to the cement pavement which was 10 feet below. People openly took poppers on the dance floor, and less openly shot up heroin in dark corners. Then, step inside the 1990s rave scene at its neon zenith. 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. When the builders were asked if they were making a "sex pit," the answer was simply, yes. In a jovial moment, revelers tipped the bucket over his head, showering him with money. When youre a wealthy celebrity, youre going to want to have the best of the best. 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. She was later presented with a life-size portrait of herself made of cake. Lifelong memories were made within its walls every night. In 1977, at the height of the disco craze, the Studio 54 nightclub opened . The owners knew they needed celebrities to keep coming, and they knew celebrities liked free drugs. According to Rolling Stone, people would offer him anything to get in. To this day the nightclub remains a thing of legend, even if it has been transformed into a theater. 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. 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. IRS agents raided Studio 54 on December 14th, 1978, seizing garage bags of cash, financial documents and five ounces of cocaine. One clubgoer waited outside with a group of friends, including a doctor packing a jumbo bottle of Quaaludes. After all, you have so much money that you have to find some way to spend it, right? Trudeau frequented the nightclub more than once and earned herself a bit of a reputation among partiers. Up above the balcony, there was the rubber room, with thick rubber walls that could be easily wiped down after all the powdery activity that went on. Her hair is blonder and bigger than ever. A throwback to the heyday of authentic New York nightlife, the room also boasts wonderful lighting by Tony winner Ken Billington and the best sound in town . Richard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images. Writer and socialite Anthony Haden-Guest describes the scenes as like the damned looking into paradise. At that time, our music was fairly popular Dance, Dance, Dance was a big hit but Grace Jones didnt leave our name at the door and the doorman wouldnt let us in. They waited around until the early morning hours. That November they pled guilty to two counts of corporate and personal income-tax evasion. In the four decades since Studio 54 first opened its doors, tales of what went on behind the velvet rope have become modern myths. We want to hear it. "I don't have only good memories. In the 1970s, Studio 54 was a palace of excess and hedonism and on Halloween, this infamous nightclub opened its doors to the costumed ghouls of New York City. We were just yelling obscenities: Fuck Studio 54 Fuck em Fuck off Fuck those scumbags fuck them! 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. (A young Alec Baldwin was a busboy, and legend says he quit because he was too turned on by all the intimacy he witnessed.) documentary. Studio 54: heady daze of disco decadence in pictures, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. As you can see, this was long before his dramatic transformation and eventual controversies in the public eye. America in 1977 was ripe for something fun, glamorous and a bit risque. But if that wasn't enough, above the balcony was the "Rubber Room." Andys first reaction was, You mean they told me there was a thousand dollars in there and it was only $800? There were "horses and donkeys and mules running through the club," as well as chickens in a pen. She was real nervous about this whole deal and went up to the balcony and sat up there for a while. Inside Studio 54, you could smoke just about whatever you wanted and sit however you liked. If you thought youd seen it all when it came to crazy Studio 54 performances, youd be mistaken. 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 In fact, some women were often topless at Studio 54 parties, in nothing more than tiny thong bottoms and boots. Once, a regular customer had too many people, or some problem. This was taken in the ladies room. 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. Suddenly the IRS were interested in going clubbing. It wasn't that disco was dying or the club became uncool, it was that the owners were complete crooks. Theres this new club opening tonight. If youd gone to Studio 54 in the 1970s, however, this is exactly the type of scene you couldve enjoyed. Originally opened as an opera house in 1927, Studio 54 became a popular nightclub in 1977. Andy Warhol, mingling backstage with friends Bianca Jagger and fashion designer Halston. 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. Left: A clubgoer dressed as Jesus carries a large cross onto the dance floor in 1977. The criteria for entry werent clear-cut you simply had to have the look and style they wanted to see inside the establishment. We were really totally dejected. The star-studded club, renowned for its debauched, Caligula-style orgies of excess, was seen as the height of glamour. Among the first to appear outside the doors of Studio 54 on opening night was Donald Trump, accompanied by his new wife, Ivana. With nowhere else to go, the party spilled onto the street. 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. But he could be generous with his cash. Performers drop down from the ceiling, held by nothing but a cord connected to their legs. On finding Studio 54s books, it was discovered that a skim was in operation on up to 80% of the profits. Club founders Ian Schrager and Rubell were sent to jail in 1980. A man dressed up in leather and an NYU tank chats with his friend, decked out in pearls and garters as two other club-goers look on. 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. It wasnt until a few years later that Rubell would get busted for tax evasion and end up in jail. The two are engaged in intimate conversation and posed in a relaxed manner, with Furstenbergs stiletto-clad foot thrust over the edge of the seat. We still don't know even half of what went on behind those hallowed walls, but some people have been willing to spill a few details in interviews or memoirs. She called getting on it and riding around a "foolish decision.". While these two women may not have been the craziest partiers, they certainly appreciated a good night out. Valentino was the ringmaster, and Marina Schiano came as a palm reader with a parrot on her shoulder.. 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. Ian put it together in three days. But, thanks to photographers who were in the right place at the right time, we can get glimpses of what a crazy night out at Studio 54 was truly like. For most of his life, though, co-founder Ian Schrager has wanted to forget it. The black-and-white photographs included scenes from iconic clubs like Studio 54 and Xenon; shots of Carrie Fisher, Jackie Kennedy Onassis, Mary Tyler Moore and Robert Redford; as well quirky New York City street life tableaus in the 1970s and Eighties. 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 stood there as long as we could take it, until our feet were just finally way too cold. In 1978, Studio 54 was lucky enough to host her 46th birthday party. 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. Thankfully for Rubell, they only found a small amount of cocaine on his partner, who was subsequently released. According to Haskell, the non-drinking, non-dancing mogul had business reasons for making the scene. So I found this little auto museum down somewhere in New Jersey. We had the kid who worked at McDonalds next to some movie star or some superstar model, he said in the E! Bodies sag, make-up is melted, and glamour gives way to fatigue. A nearly naked couple dances together on top of a speaker at the club's first Halloween party in 1977. While some front-door rejects got vengeful, truly tenacious clubgoers tried to find alternate access points to crash the party. documentary. Rolling Stone reportedthat when Dolly Parton came to town for a concert, the owners decided the best way to make a country singer feel comfortable was to turn the club into a farm. A woman holds a makeshift pipe for a man as he attempts to smoke an unidentified substance in 1981. But that picture started the ball rolling. And they were not quiet about it. 9 Monumental Books About Martin Luther King Jr. 9 Films That Provide Insight Into Martin Luther King Jr.s Life and Legacy. The party went off without a hitch, save for a minor incident. Ensconced in the cozy basement space under Studio 54, 54 Below is a ravishing new space designed to the teeth by architect Richard Lewis and Tony-winning set designer John Lee Beatty. Capote was an occasional visitor to Studio 54 and got down with the best of them. In this picture, well-known English actor Michael Caine is laughing and dancing with his wife Shakira, while partygoers frolic on behind them. The two are almost unrecognizable, however, thanks to the cream thats been smeared all over their faces and clothes. The people in this photograph have costumes and makeup on, complete with pairs of tall stilts that helped them tower over the crowd. First, we changed it from fuck off to freak off, and that was pretty hideous. We would have this situation where people would climb down from the building next door in full mountain-climbing gear with ropes tied around their shoulders, Studio 54 associate Baird Jones explained to Haden-Guest. Those who were turned away often returned night after night, changing their outfits, hairstyles and company. But the party was wild.. On May 2nd, Jagger celebrated in grand style. It was completely normal to see people walking around naked. 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. Studio 54 co-owner Steve Rubell stands in his office, which he claimed was ransacked by federal agents looking for drugs, in 1978. These Studio 54 photos will take you inside the dance club that defined a generation and hosted celebrities from Andy Warhol to David Bowie. The animal-loving activist tried to correct the misconception in a 2015 letter to the Financial Times. Nearby trash cans always had to be emptied of bottles and other things that could become dangerous projectiles. All the men had their dicks out the women were showing their tits everybody was feeling everybody else the crowd was moving in waves all of a sudden you would find yourself next to someone you didnt know., Meanwhile, the future president was up to less scandalous shenanigans inside. What Gene has is a very different sensitivity, McCarthy says. He had a kind camera. I have not seen a picture that Gene took that would have embarrassed anybody even though he was with people doing very strange things.. At Studio 54, the taboo wasnt seen as undesirable instead, it was invited inside. One guy fell and had to be stretchered away. Above our heads. 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. The move this woman pulls off seems to defy her age in every way shes flexible enough to wrap her legs around him and strong enough to hold herself up by his arms. 10 Crazy Things That Happened At Studio 54 Mental Floss. Actress and model Margaux Hemingway celebrates her 24th birthday in style. There didn't seem to be any rhyme or reason for who gained entrance and who didn't. Maybe the most bacchanalian parties of the Greeks or Romans could give the club a run for its money, but that's about it. He'd gotten stuck and no one knew he was there until it was far too late. Clubgoers dance amid light towers on the dance floor at Studio 54 on May 15, 1978. I walked him back to his limo. Perhaps understandably, Rodgers now considers Benecke a friend. With famous and wealthy people as the main guests of the venue, expensive drugs were seemingly in ample supply at all times. For that reason, his photos are not only fine art, they are history. This photo shows a man dressed in drag with fake (and appropriately sequined) breasts on his chest. 74-year-old photographer Tod Papageorge is best known for capturing the buzzing streets of NYC and subtle moments in Central Park. For the younger generations who might not know, Elizabeth Taylor was a star like no other during her time. So we got to Studio 54 and there was nobody there. Read 10 of the wildest stories from Studio 54, including the time Bianca Jagger rode a white horse across the dance floor. Nonetheless, Trump became something of a regular at the venue. This potentially dangerous display marked the end of the nightclubs first year open. Studio 54: Candid photography captures all the bacchanalian revelry, Oliver Reed as a prototype Alex from A Clockwork Orange in These are the Damned, I Have No Desire To Be Nico: Post-Punks Muse Of Manchester, Linder Sterling. Not only was this accepted, but one of the biggest suppliers was the co-owner Steve Rubell. 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. Id go there a lot with dates and with friends, and with lots of people, he told The Washington Post in 2016. Schrager was released on $50,000 bond and the disco was open the next night. Giancarlo Giammetti threw a circus-themed birthday party for his business partner, fashion designer Valentino. If you wanted to dress in next to nothing and wear lots of makeup, you were encouraged. [Halston] only had about 150 people. Its immersive atmosphere and coveted location on West 54th street in Manhattan made the spot an instant hit. Extreme Record Collecting: Confessions of an analog vinyl snob, A long, rambling blog post about my Nico obsession (+ some astonishing, seldom seen TV performances). 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. But soon the crowd started to build to ridiculous proportions. This is after the feminist movement of the 70s: if a woman wanted to be nude that was her privilege, no one would ever touch her or say anything. Getting into Studio 54 could be impossible. The crowds only grew as the clubs popularity did. The doctor started handing them out, he told Haden-Guest. Benecke says he "sometimes" took them up on it. The IRS was not fooled. He infamously walked around wearing a padded coat that hid his stash of cocaine, Quaaludes, and poppers. When sex and money didn't work, people would get violent. Studio 54 is a shadow of its former self. Williams appears to be accepting a drink from the jolly character. We walked out through the entrance where the garbage goes out. Via PAPER. 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. Needless to say, he made enough of a name for himself and enough connections to land a spot on the list at Studio 54 often. The most tragically desperate individual was found in an air vent in black tie attire, dead. Studio 54 started as it meant to go on. (Quaaludes, a prescription sedative with hypnotic effects, were huge in the '70s and classily known as "panty droppers.") This made him extremely popular, and they demanded Taylor stay when Rubell wanted to fire him. Studio 54: 10 Wild Stories From Clubs Debauched Heyday, How True Is Respect? The people who did gain entry were just as bizarre. Right: A woman gets low on the dance floor in 1977. We were like the first. Their photos transport us right back to the debaucherous den that all but defined 1970s New York's nightlife: Relive The Decadence Of Studio 54 With These Vintage Photos View Gallery They were so angry about being denied entry that they went home and wrote a song about it. This kind of tolerance in the 1970s and 1980s was not seen in the mainstream media, but it was alive and well in nightclubs like Studio 54. Studio 54 produced many star-studded photo opportunities. New York Magazine interviewed former employees, including bartender Scott Taylor. Steve went all out for that, Michael Musto remembered in the E! 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. 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. Rogers says this was a reaction to people seeing images of the glamour of places like Studio 54 while their real lives reflected the worst financial recession since the Great Depression. My house now is filled with his art, and I hope others will appreciate it too.. Left: A dancer is swept into a spectrum of lights during 1978. The brainchild of Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager, the club opened in a. Unfortunately, the guest of honor was less than amused. The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time So we ended up having to pay for new seats. I had a farm wagon we brought in and piled with hay. 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. And I kind of let that slide because he didnt shoot. Another morning, someone did pull the trigger. Though the club was ultimately destroyed by vice and greed, its short reign defined the flashy exuberance of the late Seventies, before the scourge of AIDS ended the party forever. The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time My Studio 54 dreams became true. 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. We use ads to keep our content free for you. I called various places and it was impossible, he told Haden-Guest. To many, Rubell and his army of doormen and bouncers appeared to be, in a word, dicks but it was never personal. One second the light bulb went on and I sang Aaaaahh, freak out! Not having alcohol wasn't a problem, of course, because this was the 1970s. Here we see one of those notable moments where an elderly woman is dancing with a young man. Judge Richard Owen shocked the court by imposing the maximum penalty: three-and-a-half years in prison and $20,000 fines. All That's Interesting is a Brooklyn-based digital publisher that seeks out stories that illuminate the past, present, and future. Diana Ross and Liza Minnelli both performed. At the Purple magazine party, a naked couple in a clear bathtub perform for an audience in 1977. It was Halston. Nobody knew him in those days. Their knocks went unanswered. Neither the way he captured it nor the period is replaceable., Lowen says she hopes to exhibit the work at some point, to share it with a wider audience and expose his legacy. And McCarthy was able to recognize the special collection Lowen had inherited and make sure his creative legacy remained alive. But two people we know were flat-out rejected were disco legends Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards of the band Chic. A playful, intimate moment between a pair of partygoers, circa 1978. One of Studio 54s main attractions was its complex lighting. Gene captured that part of history and the exuberance in a unique way. Gene had a special eye for the beauty and the fun and sometimes even the weirdness of the situations. Model Bianca Jagger holds doves at a party thrown by fashion designer Halston in 1977. Exactly what needed to be cleaned is best left to the imagination. Trans women were welcomed, while eccentrics such as Rollerina, a Wall Street banker by day who rollerskated on the dancefloor at night, and Disco Sally, a 78-year-old lawyer, were cult figures. 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. Studio 54 Photos And The Debauchery That Ensued 54 Decadent Photos Of Studio A Story Debauchery And Dancing Groovy History E And Disco A Brief History Of Studio 54 Flashbak Studio 54 Dj Reveals The Stars Nights Of S And Boogie At Legendary Club Mirror Studio 54 15 Things We Learned About The Hedonists Mecca From New Doentary Independent Skimming was standard practice in the cash-flush world of restaurants and nightclubs, but this was an order of magnitude greater than most offenders. Mick Jagger and his then significant other Jerry Hall entering the club. 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. One of the bartenders donned a diaper and popped out of a cake, but the highlight of the evening occurred around midnight, when a white steed was led out from behind a stage curtain by a nude couple slathered in shimmering paint and sparkles. Then . There, "you could disappear into the shadows and get up to whatever." Under Rubells ownership, however, the strange, the weird and the scary were given a place to flourish beneath the lights of the nightclub. by Gabriel H. Sanchez. Bodily fluids and coke dust can be hard to remove under normal circumstances. See Rare Photos Inside Studio 54 Nightclub One bartender co-wrote a novel in 1980 about a Studio 54-like club that was so close to reality, Andy Warhol wondered how he didn't get sued. 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. The clubs fortunes were reversed when Steve Rubell received a call from fashion designer Roy Halston Frowick, a.k.a. He was sort of spaced-out, he told Haden-Guest. Left: Outside Studio 54, someone arrives to the club on a horse for the third annual Halloween party in 1978. Chips of brick flew down. Even so, it gave visitors a rush of adrenaline to watch them twirl in the air from below. Sometimes entertainment went further. We knocked on the door. Benecke often needed an escort back to his apartment. 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. Copyright 2023 Penske Business Media, LLC. Fellini gave us costumes from his film The Clowns. Not only did she love a good time, but she also knew how to master the dance floor. In a relatively small space were some of the most beautiful and richest people who ever lived. Nightlife anywhere was sure to have drugs involved were talking about the 1970s, here. Not even those who got inside the club could all make it into the basement. Diana Ross and Liza Minnelli sang, while Rubell blasted out My Way. 60 Chilling Vintage Photos From Studio 54. While the club wanted to attract as many celebrities as possible, just being famous didn't necessarily guarantee you entrance. They were like queens on the dancefloor.". Read on for 10 of the craziest stories from the clubs legendary heyday. He was there to be seen with the famous people, to network, to cut the deal; whilst everyone else cut the coke., Opening night at Studio 54 was an unqualified success, but the days that followed were comparatively slower. It was all down to a misunderstanding; they'd been invited personally to a New Year's Eve party there by Grace Jones, but the guest list hadn't been updated. One of the most memorable soirees was held in honor of Dolly Parton. Sometimes the venue hired dancers or had fashion models walking the crowds. A woman in a bustier and garters finds her partner the "punk" behind her, at Studio 54's 1977 Halloween party. I have. What was interesting is that women felt secure enough to dance nude in the place. Owner Steve Rubell is standing in his office in this photograph after, he claimed, federal police raided the area in search of drugs. Fox, Romeo Santos Announces Fourth Child in NSFW Solo Conmigo Video, Cardi B Recalls the Moment She and Offset Learned of Takeoff's Death: I Was So Scared, Taylor Swift and SZA Officially Shut Down Feud Rumors: So Much Love and Respect, 2023 Lovers & Friends Festival Fully Leans Into 2000s Nostalgia With Missy Elliot, Usher, Mariah Carey, New York Lawmakers Protest Madison Square Garden Over Facial Recognition Controversy, 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. Thats right the King of Pop did indeed attend a gathering or two at Studio 54. 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. In front is famous artist Andy Warhol. It seemed as though thrill-seekers young and old wanted nothing more than to get a taste of Studio 54s soaring reputation. Behind The Velvet Rope Line Of Studio 54 S Short Sordid Life. There was an anything goes attitude to sex at Studio 54. According to friends, Warhol said it was the best present he had ever received. This photograph offers a glimpse into New Years Eve at Studio 54. The club was a tabloid fixture. Thats why Sylvester Stallone decided he needed to pay a visit to the most famous disco in the United States. Getting high low-down, Grace Jones wrote in her 2016 memoir. I called everybody I knew in New York to come and blow up masses of white balloons and I went to the Claremont Stables to arrange for a horse., Related 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. Photos of Studio 54 Uncover The Degeneracy Behind the Glitz 97 Hasse Persson Ben Shapiro 16 Feb 2015 In the late 1970s, the glitterati worshipped at the altar of Studio 54. Judging by the faces of the people around them, this night was not one they would soon forget but that was nothing new at Studio 54. While Studio 54 traded in nightly excess, the elaborate themed parties held on special occasions allowed Rubell, Schrager and their team to bring VIP guests most vivid fantasies to life. Studio 54's golden age came to an end when the federal government came after Schrager and Rubell for tax evasion. In the very, very far left you can see me I didnt know that I was in the picture., Persson on this photo: "I think this is the same horse Bianca Jagger turned up on for her birthday in 1977. The owner, Steve Rubell, saw it as "casting a play," and getting the perfect mix of people was key. But nothing . Studio 54 had arrived. 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. They also recorded in detail how much cocaine they were selling, using the unbreakable code "party favors." According to a New York Times article from the time, one night they were finally figured out and told they couldn't serve booze. After Lowen uploaded digital versions of the photographs to a secure vault, POBA staff helped crop and curate the material, highlighting the value of his artistic eye. 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. 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. Capote is the author of books like Other Voices, Other Rooms, Breakfast at Tiffanys and In Cold Blood. Being a spouse to legendary partier Jagger, its no wonder she enjoyed a good get-together herself. A woman wears nothing but pearls and a mask as she grinds on two men in jewels and makeup. They also didn't do very much work. Studio 54 is immensely interesting just in terms of a sociological perspective. 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 Theyd been waiting and they just started shooting. Typical of the late 70s, the two are smoking. She was an actress and human rights activist who was married to Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger at the time. They were still adjusting the lights and fixing the music, says Haskell. This meant plenty of people were rejected at the door, and plenty more stood in lines outside waiting to be appraised. Even if you werent having sex with someone every night, you felt like you could, says former editor of Interview, Bob Colacello. Inside The Real Studio 54 Balconies Liza Minnelli No Hats S Guardian. A car whizzed by. Celebrities headed for the basement. Dressed in their best and taking stock of the nightclub, famous actresses Farrah Fawcett and Shirley MacLaine are photographed with club owner Steve Rubell. When a large hanging spoon. There were few places in history crazier than Studio 54. Studio 54 was the place to be in its heyday. Many of the staff of Studio 54 including Rubell died as a result of it. And then you went into the main part of the club and he had all these old convertible cars of the Fifties.. Off the dance floor, people mingle over drinks in the lounge area during 1977. New York Post columnist Jack Martin found Rubell in the early morning hours. All Rights reserved. Amazingly, this worked, until it didn't. From the looks of it, he seemed to enjoy his time there, too! ' Haskell remembered in Anthony Haden-Guests bookThe Last Party. In 1978, Rubell told New York magazine that only the mafia does better than us. The next couple of nights werent as busy. A kind of unofficial VIP area in an already VIP club, it was where big celebrities went for their private trysts. 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. 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.
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