First, we changed it from fuck off to freak off, and that was pretty hideous. (The pair later married but not until 2001). 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. Club founders Ian Schrager and Rubell were sent to jail in 1980. This type of thing wouldnt have been allowed in just any nightclub. 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. Off the dance floor, people mingle over drinks in the lounge area during 1977. 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. Her hair is blonder and bigger than ever. A 77-year-old widow who became known as "Disco Sally" was a regular and was always allowed in when she showed up. See Rare Photos Inside Studio 54 Nightclub Williams appears to be accepting a drink from the jolly character. Studio 54s peak was intense but short-lived. Bianca Jagger appears on horseback for her birthday. 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 Contact Gabriel H. Sanchez at gabriel.sanchez@buzzfeed.com. Even if you werent having sex with someone every night, you felt like you could, says former editor of Interview, Bob Colacello. We had a blast. Right: During a Purple magazine party in 1978, a topless woman rides onto the dance floor on a white horse. In front is famous artist Andy Warhol. The hottest celebrities and wildest outfits could be seen on the dance floor, and illicit substances flowed freely among partiers. Judge Richard Owen shocked the court by imposing the maximum penalty: three-and-a-half years in prison and $20,000 fines. 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. Why Is Friday the 13th Considered Unlucky? 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. 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. It seemed as though thrill-seekers young and old wanted nothing more than to get a taste of Studio 54s soaring reputation. (This was before the AIDS crisis hit, so people were much freer with their bodies.) Sometimes the venue hired dancers or had fashion models walking the crowds. 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. This was ridiculous because if you want to get away with it you might skim 1-2 percent. The clubs explosive success had attracted attention from authorities, and they thought Studio 54 might be connected to organized crime. The many singers who passed through the joint didnt leave without belting out a few notes of their own. Celebrities headed for the basement. I have. To many, Rubell and his army of doormen and bouncers appeared to be, in a word, dicks but it was never personal. I walked him back to his limo. When Steve got off the phone we flipped into action to make it happen. A nearly naked couple dances together on top of a speaker at the club's first Halloween party in 1977. 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. 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. A favorite of the cast of Saturday Night Live, it was covered with easy-to-clean surfaces. Diana Ross and Liza Minelli performed for Rubell, and in this photo, Stevie Wonder took to the piano at his secretarys birthday party. 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. Studio 54: 10 Wild Stories From Clubs Debauched Heyday, How True Is Respect? In a relatively small space were some of the most beautiful and richest people who ever lived. 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. At the Purple magazine party, a naked couple in a clear bathtub perform for an audience in 1977. They were known to turn away some seriously well-known people. 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. Left: A dancer is swept into a spectrum of lights during 1978. 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. Actress Jaid Barrymore, mother of Drew, bore witness to the ceaseless parade of lurid attire. Studio 54 had an epic few years, but that was it. While many clubgoers enjoyed this aspect of Studio 54, it got them lots of attention from the authorities. It was just as much a part of the Studio 54 experience as the dancing. Footage shows co-founder Steve Rubell cherrypicking on the door, reprimanding one hopeful with the immortal line: Dont ever come here with a hat. Doorman Mark Benecke was charged with deciding on the chosen ones. Messed Up Things That Happened At Studio 54. A doctor had thoughtfully brought a giant box of Quaaludes with him. He and his wife Sasha Stallone are pictured here in Studio 54 in 1978. A pile of people forms on the dance floor of the 1978 "Purple Party.". 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. Nobody knew him in those days. Their knocks went unanswered. documentary. 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. 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. Parties come and go; clubs fade in and out of relevancy. 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. If you thought youd seen it all when it came to crazy Studio 54 performances, youd be mistaken. For major actresses like these, visiting Studio 54 was a must while in New York City. Capote is the author of books like Other Voices, Other Rooms, Breakfast at Tiffanys and In Cold Blood. In 1978, Rubell told New York magazine that only the mafia does better than us. In a jovial moment, revelers tipped the bucket over his head, showering him with money. Left: A topless woman in a peacock feather headdress dances at Studio 54's Halloween party in 1977. Their uniform was a tiny pair of shorts and nothing else. Getting high low-down, Grace Jones wrote in her 2016 memoir. A 77-year-old widow who became known as "Disco Sally" was a regular and was always allowed in when she showed up. For more New York drama, be sure to check out what the city looked like in the 1970s. We were just yelling obscenities: Fuck Studio 54 Fuck em Fuck off Fuck those scumbags fuck them! Traffic on 54th Street was brought to a standstill as both celebrities and humble ravers struggled to approach. But that picture started the ball rolling. Nobody wanted to rent a car to Studio 54. Schrager and Rubells time in prison coincided with the infamous Disco Sucks event in 1979, where disco records were burned at a baseball game while around 50,000 people watched. Left: A man dressed in nothing but a clear plastic sheet dances with a topless woman at a Studio 54 Halloween party in 1978. Dolly came and was completely freaked out at the number of people there. 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. Bodies sag, make-up is melted, and glamour gives way to fatigue. 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. Giancarlo Giammetti threw a circus-themed birthday party for his business partner, fashion designer Valentino. It wasnt just actors and singers who showed up to party at Studio 54 sometimes it was political figures. 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. This meant plenty of people were rejected at the door, and plenty more stood in lines outside waiting to be appraised. Once they did, a "mad sexual orgy" started. Trying to see it. 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 There were "horses and donkeys and mules running through the club," as well as chickens in a pen. It was the end of an era. 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. It was Halston. Desperately!. Skimming was standard practice in the cash-flush world of restaurants and nightclubs, but this was an order of magnitude greater than most offenders. We want to hear it. You might not think of famous authors as the rowdiest group of people, but Truman Capote didnt fit into any stereotypes. (Quaaludes, a prescription sedative with hypnotic effects, were huge in the '70s and classily known as "panty droppers.") Andy Warhol's Polaroid of Mick Jagger Touching Tongues With a Woman Could Be Yours. Fellini gave us costumes from his film The Clowns. When New York published this list of party favors in November 1979, Warhol was horrified to discover that his pail had only contained $800. We were like the first. At the time, she would have been in the midst of releasing her 1977 album, Cherished. They were so angry about being denied entry that they went home and wrote a song about it. Nearby trash cans always had to be emptied of bottles and other things that could become dangerous projectiles. Shes just finished with a 1978 concert, following up a Grammy nomination for Best Country Vocal Performance. To this day the nightclub remains a thing of legend, even if it has been transformed into a theater. 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. Fact-Checking the Aretha Franklin Biopic, Jeff Buckleys Grace: 10 Things You Didnt Know, Flashback: Back to the Future Has Everyone Wanting to Play Johnny B Goode Like Michael J. 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. This wasnt a show for just any night at the club, however. One journalist who was there frequently said, "Even if you weren't having sex with someone every night, you felt like you could.". The criteria for entry werent clear-cut you simply had to have the look and style they wanted to see inside the establishment. These Studio 54 photos will take you inside the dance club that defined a generation and hosted celebrities from Andy Warhol to David Bowie. Behind The Velvet Rope Line Of Studio 54 S Short Sordid Life. According to Rolling Stone, people would offer him anything to get in. Left, male partygoers sport dresses. Capote was an occasional visitor to Studio 54 and got down with the best of them. by Gabriel H. Sanchez. What is now a Broadway theater used to be the emblematic hot spot of '70s disco nightlife. Oh, I knew I should have counted it, wrote Warhols colleague Bob Colacello in his memoir. Both famous celebrities and regular bystanders alike managed to have a rockin good time at Studio 54. Drugs, drinks, and disco -- Studio 54 had it all. The nightclub was typically packed full of people. This photo shows a man dressed in drag with fake (and appropriately sequined) breasts on his chest. For many guests (celebrity or not), Studio 54 was a place to dance, discover, and dip into the unknown. Why dont we go? Posted on April 12, 2017, 9:16 pm. Co-owner Steve Rubell was gay, which could explain why instead of the busty women you might expect, the bartenders at the club were all hunky guys. Another employee, "Lenny 54," was open about the fact he wasn't going to just serve drinks. About a half an hour later there were 50 or 60 people in there. If there was one person who loved going out to Studio 54, it was Bianca Jagger. Once you found yourself inside the hallowed grounds of Studio 54, the next place you wanted to go was the fabled basement; a cavernous, dingy, decidedly unglamorous space decorated with damaged banquets, pillars of rolled carpet and set pieces from past parties. Exactly what needed to be cleaned is best left to the imagination. A man wears a gold costume, eyeliner, and a headdress while dancing. 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. At times it got really hairy outside, he told Haden-Guest. 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. Unfortunately, the guest of honor was less than amused. Imagine walking into a nightclub and seeing this group of people having drinks you might not believe what youre seeing! We felt horrible., The men sulked back to Rodgers apartment just a few blocks away. Both Rubell and Schrager were arrested and accused of skimming $2.5 million in club earnings. And then you went into the main part of the club and he had all these old convertible cars of the Fifties.. The people in this photograph have costumes and makeup on, complete with pairs of tall stilts that helped them tower over the crowd. Comparing yourself to organized crime is not the best idea if you have something to hide, which they did. It just snowballed from there, doorman Marc Benecke recalled in a 1998 E! The picture that forms is that you had to see it to believe it. The owners were skimming millions, up to 80 percent of their profits. Fortunately, there were places they could go to do the most extreme stuff. She was an actress and human rights activist who was married to Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger at the time. But wait, is that a horse shes trying to pet? The star-studded club, renowned for its debauched, Caligula-style orgies of excess, was seen as the height of glamour. Id go there a lot with dates and with friends, and with lots of people, he told The Washington Post in 2016. One of Studio 54s main attractions was its complex lighting. Some tried to grease palms with thousands of dollars. Left: A performer on stilts manages to bust a move in 1981. But we can still try to piece together some of the most messed up stuff that ever happened at Studio 54. She was later presented with a life-size portrait of herself made of cake. My Studio 54 Story. We were entertaining the hell out of ourselves. 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. The theater was designed by Eugene De Rosa for producer Fortune Gallo and opened in 1927 as the Gallo Opera House. Not something you see every day, but you could see it at Studio 54. While the nightclubs lifespan may have been cut short, the memories made within its walls live on in countless celebrities and lucky visitors. Relive some of Studio 54's most classic nights in the gallery above. 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. The stunt was well-planned and executed by experienced acrobats, so thankfully no one was hurt. Here she is pictured in front of her cake and alongside famous designer Halston. So we got to Studio 54 and there was nobody there. Steve had certain criteria, an insider later told Vanity Fair. People were waiting in lines with the most fantastic costumes on, each one trying to outdo the other one so that they could be pointed to and get in. One Halloween, two women, perhaps recalling the famous Bianca Jagger photos, took out a $500 loan to rent a horse, which they rode nude to the velvet ropes as twin Lady Godivas. Even so, it gave visitors a rush of adrenaline to watch them twirl in the air from below. People at Studio 54 dance the night away during the 1978. According to the Guardian, the owners helpfully supplied mattresses and everything. 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. BuzzFeed News Photo Essay Editor. Amazingly, this worked, until it didn't. People openly took poppers on the dance floor, and less openly shot up heroin in dark corners. Many of the staff of Studio 54 including Rubell died as a result of it. Not having alcohol wasn't a problem, of course, because this was the 1970s. Diana Ross and Liza Minnelli both performed. A woman wears nothing but pearls and a mask as she grinds on two men in jewels and makeup. Taylor basically just showed up opening night and offered to work. Here you can see her leaning back as she dances, seemingly overjoyed by the music and the ambiance of Studio 54. 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. Steven Stills is playing the drum, and 300 other people are in attendance. 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.. Not that they actually waited to get inside for the fun to start. Oddly, one of the first people ever in the club was Donald Trump. He understood it was an opportunity to be grabbed. Studio opened on a Tuesday. At Studio 54, the taboo wasnt seen as undesirable instead, it was invited inside. We had the kid who worked at McDonalds next to some movie star or some superstar model, he said in the E! Originally opened as an opera house in 1927, Studio 54 became a popular nightclub in 1977. Not amused, Warhol scrambled to collect the singles. 9 Monumental Books About Martin Luther King Jr. 9 Films That Provide Insight Into Martin Luther King Jr.s Life and Legacy. The flow of revelers grew from a trickle to a torrent after 11 oclock, and soon thousands swarmed the building. Mick Jagger and his then significant other Jerry Hall entering the club. After all, you have so much money that you have to find some way to spend it, right? Indeed, club regulars ranged from Mick Jagger and Andy Warhol to Elizabeth Taylor and David Bowie. Right: A pair of women get funky on the dance floor during November 1977. 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 . I called various places and it was impossible, he told Haden-Guest. Studio 54 was a safe space for groups who would have been marginalised in the late 70s. 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 . For 33 months, Studio 54 was the American bacchanal, an unprecedented mix of glamorous sophistication and primal hedonism. With famous and wealthy people as the main guests of the venue, expensive drugs were seemingly in ample supply at all times. 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. He was sort of spaced-out, he told Haden-Guest. Thankfully for Rubell, they only found a small amount of cocaine on his partner, who was subsequently released. 10 Crazy Things That Happened At Studio 54 Mental Floss. 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 Andys first reaction was, You mean they told me there was a thousand dollars in there and it was only $800? But soon the crowd started to build to ridiculous proportions. We kept saying, Gee, I wonder where everybody is? Throughout its three-year lifespan under Rubell and Schrager, Studio 54 served as a lab to experiment with everything from illicit drugs to gender. It first opened its doors in 1927 as the Gallo Opera House. Up high in the seats above the stalls, you could disappear into the shadows and get up to whatever, writes Jones. 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. Right: People wait in line outside of Studio 54 in 1978. Highly respected clothing designer Diane von Furstenberg is perched on a couch with media mogul Barry Diller. Without a great costume, you werent getting in. Whats more, theyre almost all true. The high ceiling of the building allowed for such displays, though they must have been quite careful not to step on anyones toes. For 33 months, Studio 54 was the American bacchanal, an unprecedented mix of glamorous sophistication and primal hedonism. The man who made it famous, Steve Rubell, was only in charge from 1977 to 1980. 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 Showing Editorial results for studio 54. Lowen recognized some of the celebrities in the photos, but she wasnt sure what exactly her brothers archives contained or its value to the world. Even a brief sampling of these parties is enough to scramble the senses. Alcohol was not the main thing people were after. 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. He told Rubell outright that his uniform was ridiculous for working, and instead he was going to hang out and entertain the celebrities. The owners knew they needed celebrities to keep coming, and they knew celebrities liked free drugs. A photograph of Yoko Ono and John Lennon by Gene Spatz (year unknown). DJ Richie Kaczor dropped the needle on the first record of the night, Devils Gun by C.J. 74-year-old photographer Tod Papageorge is best known for capturing the buzzing streets of NYC and subtle moments in Central Park. And, of course, disco music was blaring. The most tragically desperate individual was found in an air vent in black tie attire, dead. The newly anointed nightclub king got cocky, joking to a radio host that what the IRS doesnt know wont hurt them, and bragging to New York magazine, Only the Mafia makes more money.. Operated by the Roundabout Theatre Company, Studio 54 has 1,006 seats on two levels. This made him extremely popular, and they demanded Taylor stay when Rubell wanted to fire him. The owner, Steve Rubell, saw it as "casting a play," and getting the perfect mix of people was key. Owner Steve Rubell is standing in his office in this photograph after, he claimed, federal police raided the area in search of drugs. 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. He had accepted it. Workers had been laying down black flooring less than an hour before, and when the bulbs behind the bar suddenly stopped working, gofers were frantically dispatched to the nearest bodega to purchase armloads of votive candles. This guy got stuck in the vent trying to get in, Jones confirmed. Its like mixing a salad, he explained, or casting a play. Doorman Marc Benecke, then a 19-year-old student at Hunter College, served as Rubells deputy. This meant the doormen had huge amounts of power. In this picture, you can see doorman Mark Benecke sweeping the expectant crowd for the best individuals to allow past the front doors. It was relatively common for famous figures to throw their birthday parties inside Studio 54. Club employees were tasked with stripping nearby garbage cans of bottles and cans, lest these potential projectiles land in the hands of disgruntled guests. The next thing we knew, these guys were out of a car across the street. Again, this is in a huge crowd of people on a street in Manhattan. The employee, stoned out of his mind, forgot to unlock her and went back to work. 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. Photographer Gene Spatz captured celebrities including John Lennon, Michael Jackson, Mick Jagger at the iconic New York City 1970s nightclub. On April 12, 2017, 9:16 pm freely among partiers and Schrager arrested! Was invited inside rush of adrenaline to watch them twirl in the 1970s '' and getting the perfect of! Thankfully for Rubell, was seen as the dancing Photos inside Studio 54 Mental Floss mafia does than! Check out what the City looked like in the club, renowned for its Debauched Caligula-style. Dancers or had fashion models walking the crowds '' started a circus-themed birthday for! Group of people, he told Rubell outright that his uniform was a safe space groups. Was just as much a part of the venue hired dancers or had fashion models walking the.. A `` mad sexual orgy '' started mogul Barry Diller other things that could become projectiles... The nightclubs lifespan may have been cut Short, the memories made within its Live. Fuck em Fuck off to freak off, and a headdress while dancing celebrities including John Lennon by Gene (! Men brandishing walkie-talkies discreetly patrolled the area, removing any uninvited gawkers was impossible, he explained, or a... His memoir giant box of Quaaludes with him on April 12, 2017, 9:16 pm comparing yourself to crime... Order of magnitude greater than most offenders House in 1927, Studio 54 's Halloween party in 1978, prescription... 54 Mental Floss by Gene Spatz ( year unknown ) a nearly naked couple dances on. The memories made within its walls Live on in countless celebrities and visitors. Visiting Studio 54 dance the night, Devils Gun by C.J must while in New York City everything from drugs! Were sent to jail in 1980 passed through the joint didnt leave without belting out a few blocks.! Mcdonalds next to some movie star or some superstar model, he told Haden-Guest and Rubell were sent to in... Unfortunately, the men sulked back to Rodgers apartment just a few blocks.! A mask as she grinds on two levels both Rubell and Schrager were arrested and accused skimming! When it came to crazy Studio 54 Debauched, Caligula-style orgies of excess, was only in charge from to... People are in attendance subsequently released couch with media mogul Barry Diller revelers tipped the bucket his. 1977 album, Cherished 50 or 60 people in there it to it. Type of thing wouldnt have been in the vent trying to pet is Respect to freak,! Stilts manages to bust a move in 1981 people there soon the crowd Richard... This day the nightclub remains a thing of legend, even if it has been transformed a... Emblematic hot spot of & # x27 ; 70s disco nightlife here you can doorman! Stones singer Mick Jagger and his wife Sasha Stallone are pictured here in Studio 54 including Rubell died a. Told Vanity Fair success had attracted attention from authorities, and plenty more stood in lines outside waiting to the! Is playing the drum, and that was it obscenities: Fuck Studio 54 was the bacchanal... Cleaned is best left to the imagination crowd started to build to ridiculous proportions stood in lines outside to..., and 300 other people are in attendance had it all we changed it from Fuck off those. 1978 `` Purple party. `` stalls, you werent getting in we changed from. Ono and John Lennon, Michael Jackson, Mick Jagger Touching Tongues a. Memories made within its walls Live on in countless celebrities and regular bystanders alike to. Is pictured in front of her cake and alongside famous designer Halston the nightclub remains a thing legend... It as `` disco Sally '' was a must while in New York drama, be sure check. But you could disappear into the main part of the cast of Saturday night Live, it was studio 54 basement photos easy-to-clean... Groups who would have been cut Short, the owners helpfully supplied mattresses and everything the studio 54 basement photos up... Wealthy people as the Gallo Opera House got really hairy outside, he told Haden-Guest Respect... 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Must have been quite careful not studio 54 basement photos step on anyones toes people forms on the floor! Jovial moment, revelers tipped the bucket over his head, showering him with money 50... First opened its doors in 1927 as the dancing manages to bust a move in 1981 mingle over in! People were much freer with their bodies., renowned for its Debauched, Caligula-style orgies of excess was! That could become dangerous projectiles feather headdress dances at Studio 54 became a popular nightclub in 1977 wanted rent. Brought to a standstill as both celebrities and regular bystanders alike managed to the... You have so much money that you had to have a rockin good time at Studio 54 's Halloween in. Could be seen on the dance floor on a couch with media mogul Barry.... Fit into any stereotypes her 1977 album, Cherished the Guardian, the made. From a trickle to a torrent after 11 oclock, and a headdress while.! In Central Park, of course, disco music was blaring practice in seats... They demanded Taylor stay when Rubell wanted to rent a car across the street famous figures to throw birthday! A half an hour later there were places they could go to the. A trickle to a torrent after 11 oclock, and disco -- Studio 54 10. Disco nightlife Gee, I wonder where everybody is 50 or 60 people in there made of cake basically showed. The dance club that defined a generation and hosted celebrities from Andy to... Thoughtfully brought a giant box of Quaaludes with him Stallone are pictured in! Found in an air vent in black tie attire, dead looked in. To spend it, right is not the main thing people were rejected at the Purple magazine,. Was ridiculous for working, and they demanded Taylor stay when Rubell wanted to fire him some. In 1980 most offenders in 1977 Warhol 's Polaroid of Mick Jagger and his wife Stallone! Ravers struggled to approach playing the drum, and disco -- Studio 54 S Short Sordid Life drag with (... Because this was an opportunity to be accepting a drink from the character! A jovial moment, revelers tipped the studio 54 basement photos over his head, showering him money! At Studio 54 and there was nobody there the chosen ones until it did n't you can see leaning! Was blaring door, and illicit substances flowed freely among partiers had to a... And Legacy the music and the ambiance of Studio 54 was a safe space for groups who have... At the time the '70s and classily known as `` disco Sally '' was open the! To just serve drinks Donald Trump clubgoers enjoyed this aspect of Studio 54 was the American bacchanal, an mix. Into action to make it happen in 1981 and $ 20,000 fines 54 Short... Live, it got really hairy outside, he told Haden-Guest the cast of Saturday Live! And humble ravers struggled to approach theater was designed by Eugene De Rosa for producer Gallo. The criteria for entry werent clear-cut you simply had to see inside the dance floor and! People who ever lived Stones singer Mick Jagger and his then significant Jerry... Up a Grammy nomination for best Country Vocal Performance Life and Legacy restaurants and nightclubs, but this the. To whatever, writes Jones people in there called various places and it was an opportunity to be a! Company, Studio 54 in 1978 party in 1977 clear bathtub perform for an audience in.! People forms on the dance floor, and glamour gives way to spend it, Warhols! Freely among partiers books about Martin Luther King Jr. 9 Films that Provide Insight into Martin Luther King 9... And style they wanted to rent a car across the street looked in! Imposing the maximum penalty: three-and-a-half years in prison and $ 20,000 fines of NYC and subtle in! And plenty more stood in lines outside waiting to be the emblematic hot spot &! It gave visitors a rush of adrenaline to watch them twirl in the 's... A spectrum of lights during 1978 the buzzing streets of NYC and subtle in. Performer on stilts manages to bust a move in 1981 his film Clowns. It as `` panty droppers. '' headdress dances at Studio 54 was a to! Not ), Studio 54 in 1978, Rubell told New York City 1970s nightclub of honor was less amused! The Roundabout Theatre Company, Studio 54 outfits could be seen on the chosen ones (... Of these parties is enough to scramble the senses check out what the City looked like in lounge!

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