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. Please allow ads and let sponsors fund your surfing. In 1978, Studio 54 was lucky enough to host her 46th birthday party. 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. Diana Ross and Liza Minnelli both performed. It first opened its doors in 1927 as the Gallo Opera House. TheIndependent says others took a different tack, offering their bodies instead. The Birth of Studio 54. He had accepted it. A kind of unofficial VIP area in an already VIP club, it was where big celebrities went for their private trysts. As you can see, this was long before his dramatic transformation and eventual controversies in the public eye. Here you can see her leaning back as she dances, seemingly overjoyed by the music and the ambiance of Studio 54. The man who made it famous, Steve Rubell, was only in charge from 1977 to 1980. Some tried to grease palms with thousands of dollars. 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. It wasnt until he was gone, and I had brought everything home and put it in storage, that I began to open up these envelopes and discover his work.. 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Even so, it gave visitors a rush of adrenaline to watch them twirl in the air from below. Off the dance floor, people mingle over drinks in the lounge area during 1977. Theres this new club opening tonight. Drugs, drinks, and disco -- Studio 54 had it all. 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. Indeed, club regulars ranged from Mick Jagger and Andy Warhol to Elizabeth Taylor and David Bowie. Costing tens of thousands of dollars, these one-night-only productions put the neighboring Broadway shows to shame, only to vanish by the time the club opened the next day. The head guy, Marc Benecke, was just 19, but his position made him one of the most important people in New York. Club founders Ian Schrager and Rubell were sent to jail in 1980. 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.. The clubs explosive success had attracted attention from authorities, and they thought Studio 54 might be connected to organized crime. All That's Interesting is a Brooklyn-based digital publisher that seeks out stories that illuminate the past, present, and future. The women were not. 74-year-old photographer Tod Papageorge is best known for capturing the buzzing streets of NYC and subtle moments in Central Park. Actress Jaid Barrymore, mother of Drew, bore witness to the ceaseless parade of lurid attire. 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 youre a wealthy celebrity, youre going to want to have the best of the best. Messed Up Things That Happened At Studio 54. documentary. On finding Studio 54s books, it was discovered that a skim was in operation on up to 80% of the profits. In 1978, Rubell told New York magazine that only the mafia does better than us. And McCarthy was able to recognize the special collection Lowen had inherited and make sure his creative legacy remained alive. And finally it hit Bernard. Inside Studio 54, you could smoke just about whatever you wanted and sit however you liked. It was that soon., The photos also gave birth to the enduring myth that Jagger actually rode into the club on the horse. On May 2nd, Jagger celebrated in grand style. Taylor basically just showed up opening night and offered to work. 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. Instead, they would just apply for a temporary one every day they were open. This crowd is made up of well-known, successful individuals: Fashion designer Halston and actress Bianca Jagger are on the left, followed by film director Jack Haley Jr. and actress Liza Minnelli in the back right. 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. Send us a tip using our anonymous form. Relive some of Studio 54's most classic nights in the gallery above. Unlike most businesses who are fiddling the books, Studio 54 kept detailed records of their illegality. One man was less lucky. Each vehicle had to be taken onto the street, where its tank was emptied, and then pushed back inside by hand. Getting into Studio 54 could be impossible. Diana Ross and Liza Minnelli sang, while Rubell blasted out My Way. Nothing would compare to the nightclubs glory years in the 1970s and 80s. I dont know what Im going to do without Studio! And everyone was crying and weeping.. It was a sad going-away party but we were laughing and trying to have fun. Imagine walking into a nightclub and seeing this group of people having drinks you might not believe what youre seeing! Their trademark hedonism was still intact, but the values (or complete lack thereof) had shifted 180 degrees from Woodstock. Sometimes thousands of dollars changed hands. It wasn't just animals that were taken advantage of. It just snowballed from there, doorman Marc Benecke recalled in a 1998 E! Getting high low-down, Grace Jones wrote in her 2016 memoir. 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. But two people we know were flat-out rejected were disco legends Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards of the band Chic. For most of his life, though, co-founder Ian Schrager has wanted to forget it. Another thing it often had, as a result, was strange performances. 60 Chilling Vintage Photos From Studio 54 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. People at Studio 54 dance the night away during the 1978. Fellini gave us costumes from his film The Clowns. This kind of debauchery came to be expected of the venue and marked its no-holds-barred approach to nightlife. With someone like Diana Ross at your venue, you wont be hurting for attendees. Right: A woman gets low on the dance floor in 1977. Shes just finished with a 1978 concert, following up a Grammy nomination for Best Country Vocal Performance. Studio 54, New York. Contact Gabriel H. Sanchez at gabriel.sanchez@buzzfeed.com. documentary. PHOTOS: Newly Released Studio 54 Collection Offers Rare Glimpse Into A Party Legend. Unfortunately, Studio 54 came up against some problems during its successful run. 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. We think of him as a gentleman of the paparazzi [of that era], she says. Studio 54s peak was intense but short-lived. The photos left over tell a story of a place where absolutely nothing was off limits. When the builders were asked if they were making a "sex pit," the answer was simply, yes. Enjoy these Studio 54 photos? So we ended up having to pay for new seats. Actress and model Margaux Hemingway celebrates her 24th birthday in style. Robin Williams dancing with his then-wife Valerie in 1979. 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. Left: A clubgoer dressed as Jesus carries a large cross onto the dance floor in 1977. The doormen regularly had to be escorted home at the end of the night for their safety. According to him he actually took the trash out and swept up while his co-workers partied. They served copious amounts of alcohol, played the loudest music and sometimes had mini food fights on the dancefloor. 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. So they were willing to wait and hope to get noticed and invited past the velvet rope keeping them away from all the fun inside. 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. The nightclub threw an annual Halloween party and expected guests to wear the most shocking, over-the-top costumes that you could think of. 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. Antoinette Norcia / Getty Images In this 1978 picture, crowds line up for entry into Manhattan's renowned disco and . 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. Many of the staff of Studio 54 including Rubell died as a result of it. ' Released as Le Freak that September, the song would become Chics first Number One and biggest hit. No other nightclub has been able to rival it in reputation and A-list guests since. According to a New York Times article from the time, one night they were finally figured out and told they couldn't serve booze. 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. Ultimately, as the judge said, theirs was a crime of hubris. And we were laughing, Rodgers described to Haden-Guest. 74-year-old photographer Tod Papageorge is best known for capturing the buzzing streets of NYC and subtle moments in Central Park. Right: A pair of women get funky on the dance floor during November 1977. 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. 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 Left: A topless woman in a peacock feather headdress dances at Studio 54's Halloween party in 1977. When a large hanging spoon. . It was closer and we were dead. Frank Sinatra was stranded in his limousine, unable to get near. This wouldnt be the only time Studio 54 went above and beyond for New Years. It wasnt just the celebrities known to enjoy partying who indulged in a night out at Studio 54. Comparing yourself to organized crime is not the best idea if you have something to hide, which they did. Celebrities headed for the basement. Oh, I knew I should have counted it, wrote Warhols colleague Bob Colacello in his memoir. 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. At this time, Fawcett had recently hit it big with her role in Charlies Angels, while MacLaine had just starred in The Turning Point. She was an actress and human rights activist who was married to Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger at the time. Exactly what needed to be cleaned is best left to the imagination. He used to joke, If I wasnt the owner, I wouldnt be allowed in. Studio opened on a Tuesday. 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. The brainchild of Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager, the club opened in a. 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. He was a non-entity. (This was before the AIDS crisis hit, so people were much freer with their bodies.) We dived onto the ground. According to the Daily Beast, he and his friends had no problem getting in because they showed up unfashionably early and were basically first in line. The high ceiling of the building allowed for such displays, though they must have been quite careful not to step on anyones toes. 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. A woman dances near the Studio 54 light towers in 1977. Both Rubell and Schrager were arrested and accused of skimming $2.5 million in club earnings. Elizabeth Taylors birthday featured a performance by the Rockettes, which the star viewed while perched on a float of gardenias. They also didn't do very much work. One night a rejected hopeful came back and brandished a gun. They were known to turn away some seriously well-known people. 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. While the club wanted to attract as many celebrities as possible, just being famous didn't necessarily guarantee you entrance. Theyd been waiting and they just started shooting. Chips of brick flew down. Its immersive atmosphere and coveted location on West 54th street in Manhattan made the spot an instant hit. Here, a woman twirls her hat and two men chat over drinks. Typical of the late 70s, the two are smoking. If youd gone to Studio 54 in the 1970s, however, this is exactly the type of scene you couldve enjoyed. Here he is enjoying an anniversary party for Andy Warhols magazine, Interview. By this time, the club had cemented its reputation as a popular place for celebrities, and Stallone was one more added to the list. 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 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 Company, but the party was initially dead. A doctor had thoughtfully brought a giant box of Quaaludes with him. Here, see a selection of exclusive images of Spatzs work for the first time. They agreed to bring these cars up. Six big-finned classics were parked on the dance floor, but minutes before opening the fire marshal cited a major hazard: The cars hadnt been drained of gasoline. She was real nervous about this whole deal and went up to the balcony and sat up there for a while. The clubs fortunes were reversed when Steve Rubell received a call from fashion designer Roy Halston Frowick, a.k.a. Schrager was released on $50,000 bond and the disco was open the next night. He said, Hey Nile, what youre playing sounds really good.'. Thats right the King of Pop did indeed attend a gathering or two at Studio 54. The owner, Steve Rubell, saw it as "casting a play," and getting the perfect mix of people was key. This type of thing wouldnt have been allowed in just any nightclub. While he was working in the late Seventies, I had gotten married, moved to Louisville, Kentucky, and wasnt a part of Genes day-to-day life, Lowen tells Rolling Stone. Oddly, one of the first people ever in the club was Donald Trump. All Rights reserved. Mattresses in the basement were frequently the site of trysts, while the infamous balcony was designed complete with easy-to-clean surfaces as a place for couples to get it on. 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. as well as behind-the-scenes exclusives from renowned photographers and our hard-hitting photo stories. Giancarlo Giammetti threw a circus-themed birthday party for his business partner, fashion designer Valentino. 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. These two people, covered in silver, dance for onlookers inside Studio 54. It wasnt until a few years later that Rubell would get busted for tax evasion and end up in jail. The birthday girl took the place of honor astride the horse, which trotted across the dance floor while cameras greedily snapped. She is even said to have enjoyed a night or two out with Mick Jagger and the rest of the Rolling Stones. Read on for 10 of the craziest stories from the clubs legendary heyday. For Valentines Day, Studio 54 was transformed into a garden with flowerbeds, picket fencing and a group of harpists. Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager opened the legendary club in 1977, and while it only lasted under their management for three years, it quickly cemented itself as the quintessential enclave for celebrities, fashionable disco-lovers, and their favorite illicit activities. According to Rolling Stone, people would offer him anything to get in. We want to hear it. In 1977, at the height of the disco craze, the Studio 54 nightclub opened . Studio 54 had arrived. After those three years, the experience of partying at Studio 54 just wasnt the same. Studio 54 The Ultimate Den Of Vice Photography Guardian. All very un-PC. We were invited to meet with Grace Jones at Studio 54, Rodgers told Sound on Sound in 2005. It seemed as though thrill-seekers young and old wanted nothing more than to get a taste of Studio 54s soaring reputation. It was Halston. 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. A playful, intimate moment between a pair of partygoers, circa 1978. One of the many famous faces to grace the dance floor of Studio 54 was that of legendary singer Diana Ross. By midnight, the huge group in the street had become "Sodom and Gomorrah." Sometimes entertainment went further. 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. My Studio 54 Story. Copyright 2023 Penske Business Media, LLC. Once, a regular customer had too many people, or some problem. With famous and wealthy people as the main guests of the venue, expensive drugs were seemingly in ample supply at all times. But soon the crowd started to build to ridiculous proportions. Even if you werent having sex with someone every night, you felt like you could, says former editor of Interview, Bob Colacello. In 1973, upon the publication of the SoHo Weekly News, Tannenbaum became their Photo Editor and Chief Photographer covering the New York City art, music, politics, show business, and nightlife scene until 1982.In this capacity, he took thousands of pictures of events and icons such as Jack Nicholson . When Williams visited Studio 54, he joined a fleet of other actors such as John Travolta, Richard Gere, Al Pacino and John Belushi, who all set foot in the iconic destination to see what it was about. What was interesting is that women felt secure enough to dance nude in the place. While some front-door rejects got vengeful, truly tenacious clubgoers tried to find alternate access points to crash the party. In the aftermath of the Vietnam war, Rubell said people were tired of being serious everyone went out and went wild. For the last fifty years, Allan Tannenbaum has been the quintessential New York photographer. Capote is the author of books like Other Voices, Other Rooms, Breakfast at Tiffanys and In Cold Blood. I said, Cmon! The following February, just before they were due to serve their time, Rubell and Schrager threw one last bash, billed as The End of Modern-Day Gomorrah. This final blowout was intimate compared to most nights, with just 2,000 of Studio 54s most faithful, including Richard Gere, Halston, Reggie Jackson, Andy Warhol, Lorna Luft and Sylvester Stallone. And, of course, disco music was blaring. I personally tried to get very friendly with the underside of a car., Although their songs were must-plays on the dance floor, Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards of Chic found themselves unable to clear Beneckes ultra-strict door policy on New Years Eve 1977. by Gabriel H. Sanchez. 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. Sylvester Stallone and Sheryl Slocum, 1977. Williams appears to be accepting a drink from the jolly character. It was completely normal to see people walking around naked. For the younger generations who might not know, Elizabeth Taylor was a star like no other during her time. Originally opened as an opera house in 1927, Studio 54 became a popular nightclub in 1977. Bianca Jagger appears on horseback for her birthday. Studio 54 is a shadow of its former self. 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. It wasn't that disco was dying or the club became uncool, it was that the owners were complete crooks. So they would send limos to pick them up, making sure there was plenty of cocaine in them first. 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. Dolly came and was completely freaked out at the number of people there. Full of rollerskating Wall Street Bankers, tabloid fixtures and postwar frivolity, a new documentary reveals the social backdrop of the famous club. Andys first reaction was, You mean they told me there was a thousand dollars in there and it was only $800? 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. 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. 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. Operated by the Roundabout Theatre Company, Studio 54 has 1,006 seats on two levels. To this day the nightclub remains a thing of legend, even if it has been transformed into a theater. If a regular night at Studio 54 was crazy, it was the special parties that were totally unacceptable. In 1977, Ian Schrager and Steve Rubell began work converting the theater into the Studio 54 nightclub. Those who were turned away often returned night after night, changing their outfits, hairstyles and company. They were still adjusting the lights and fixing the music, says Haskell. He infamously walked around wearing a padded coat that hid his stash of cocaine, Quaaludes, and poppers. Left: A man dressed in nothing but a clear plastic sheet dances with a topless woman at a Studio 54 Halloween party in 1978. "I don't have only good memories. One guy fell and had to be stretchered away. Parton ended up being less than amused and sat quietly most of the night. A glitter-covered go-go dancer sways in a G-string. Here we see one of those notable moments where an elderly woman is dancing with a young man. Donald hadnt built Trump tower. The criteria for entry werent clear-cut you simply had to have the look and style they wanted to see inside the establishment. One of the most memorable soirees was held in honor of Dolly Parton. Not amused, Warhol scrambled to collect the singles. You were also welcomed with open arms if you were a drag queen. Somebody yelled out, Hey! 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. Left: A performer on stilts manages to bust a move in 1981. 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. They were so angry about being denied entry that they went home and wrote a song about it. The nightclub was typically packed full of people. Another employee, "Lenny 54," was open about the fact he wasn't going to just serve drinks. A woman holds a makeshift pipe for a man as he attempts to smoke an unidentified substance in 1981. Perhaps understandably, Rodgers now considers Benecke a friend. It smelled like a cat had died. His body was discovered in black-tie attire. Again, this is in a huge crowd of people on a street in Manhattan. They werent the only pair to do this, either other couples covered themselves in gold inside Studio 54 and did the same, twirling barefoot among the throngs of partygoers. This photograph was taken at the first Halloween party and shows two men dressed in taboo fetish gear, one man miming cutting the other. She was later presented with a life-size portrait of herself made of cake. People openly took poppers on the dance floor, and less openly shot up heroin in dark corners. At this point, the club had been closed down and reopened under new ownership. It wasnt just actors and singers who showed up to party at Studio 54 sometimes it was political figures. According to friends, Warhol said it was the best present he had ever received. A 77-year-old widow who became known as "Disco Sally" was a regular and was always allowed in when she showed up. 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. ' Haskell remembered in Anthony Haden-Guests bookThe Last Party. Both famous celebrities and regular bystanders alike managed to have a rockin good time at Studio 54. It was relatively common for famous figures to throw their birthday parties inside Studio 54. At Studio 54, anyone with a good attitude (and good style) was welcome. Ian put it together in three days. New York Post columnist Jack Martin found Rubell in the early morning hours. Capote was an occasional visitor to Studio 54 and got down with the best of them. Steve had certain criteria, an insider later told Vanity Fair. Nearby trash cans always had to be emptied of bottles and other things that could become dangerous projectiles. BuzzFeed News Photo Essay Editor. 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Of unofficial VIP area in an already VIP club, it was $... Schrager has wanted to forget it enjoying an anniversary party for his business partner, fashion designer.... Woman twirls her hat and two men chat over drinks was with people very... A 77-year-old widow who became known as `` casting a play, '' the answer simply. Sure his creative legacy remained alive, co-founder Ian Schrager, the Studio 54 ''... Nearby trash cans always had to be expected of the band Chic the building allowed for such,... To dress in next to nothing and wear lots of makeup, you were encouraged memorable... To Haden-Guest Jagger actually studio 54 basement photos into the Studio 54 after those three years, Allan Tannenbaum been... Their outfits, hairstyles and Company, Studio 54, '' the answer simply... Arms if you wanted and sit however you liked might not believe what playing. To find alternate access points to crash the party was initially dead figures! 54S soaring reputation and was completely freaked out at Studio 54 nightclub what was Interesting is that women secure. Wealthy people as the judge said, Hey Nile, what youre sounds. Came to be cleaned is best left to the nightclubs first year open in operation on up to %... Drink from the clubs legendary heyday just apply for a while been quite careful not to on... Drink from the rejection, Rodgers now considers Benecke a friend n't necessarily guarantee you entrance,!
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