Studio 54 is a Broadway theater and a former disco nightclub at 254 West 54th Street in the Midtown Manhattan neighborhood of New York City. What is now a Broadway theater used to be the emblematic hot spot of '70s disco nightlife. We were invited to meet with Grace Jones at Studio 54, Rodgers told Sound on Sound in 2005. Left: A man dressed in nothing but a clear plastic sheet dances with a topless woman at a Studio 54 Halloween party in 1978. We had a blast. From my parent's basement to VIP Host at Studio 54 Las Vegas. 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. To many, Rubell and his army of doormen and bouncers appeared to be, in a word, dicks but it was never personal. For many guests (celebrity or not), Studio 54 was a place to dance, discover, and dip into the unknown. For 33 months, Studio 54 was the American bacchanal, an unprecedented mix of glamorous sophistication and primal hedonism. 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. A doctor had thoughtfully brought a giant box of Quaaludes with him. About 30 people standing around us took them, and then everybody started having this mad sexual orgy. 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. Copyright 2023 Penske Business Media, LLC. Ian Schrager may be writing the last word on Studio 54 with his coffee table tome for Rizzoli. Studio 54's golden age came to an end when the federal government came after Schrager and Rubell for tax evasion. Contact Gabriel H. Sanchez at gabriel.sanchez@buzzfeed.com. First, we changed it from fuck off to freak off, and that was pretty hideous. It peaked just about a decade after the Summer of Love - how far the Baby Boomers had come since their anti-materialist, hippie days! One guy fell and had to be stretchered away. She wanted to interview us about recording her next album. 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. Club employees were tasked with stripping nearby garbage cans of bottles and cans, lest these potential projectiles land in the hands of disgruntled guests. 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. Getting into Studio 54 could be impossible. 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. 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. Franco Rossellini and Steve Rubell (producer and owner, respectively) are pictured here in front of what appears to be a giant birthday cake. One of the most famous pictures ever taken at the club was of Mick Jagger's then-wife Bianca (pictured above at a different event with John Travolta) atop a white horse being led around the dance floor by a naked man covered in glitter (and sporting a fabulous '70s mustache). Another thing it often had, as a result, was strange performances. 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 Left: A clubgoer dressed as Jesus carries a large cross onto the dance floor in 1977. A glitter-covered go-go dancer sways in a G-string. At Studio 54, the taboo wasnt seen as undesirable instead, it was invited inside. 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. Fashion designer Clovis Ruffin waits for a drink at the bar in 1980. Nearby trash cans always had to be emptied of bottles and other things that could become dangerous projectiles. If you thought youd seen it all when it came to crazy Studio 54 performances, youd be mistaken. In this picture, Robin Williams is with his then-wife Valerie Velardi and Studio 54s own Santa Claus. In the clubs first year open, Cher showed up to the scene at Studio 54. It wasn't that disco was dying or the club became uncool, it was that the owners were complete crooks. Here she is pictured in front of her cake and alongside famous designer Halston. All very un-PC. A club-goer exposes a bare chest, garters (with keys attached to them), and a mask as a woman pops her gum and a man seduces the camera in his costume. Both famous celebrities and regular bystanders alike managed to have a rockin good time at Studio 54. A 77-year-old widow who became known as "Disco Sally" was a regular and was always allowed in when she showed up. This wouldnt be the only time Studio 54 went above and beyond for New Years. IRS agents raided Studio 54 on December 14th, 1978, seizing garage bags of cash, financial documents and five ounces of cocaine. This meant plenty of people were rejected at the door, and plenty more stood in lines outside waiting to be appraised. For Valentines Day, Studio 54 was transformed into a garden with flowerbeds, picket fencing and a group of harpists. 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. Mick Jagger and his then significant other Jerry Hall entering the club. All Rights reserved. I have. I called various places and it was impossible, he told Haden-Guest. While the club wanted to attract as many celebrities as possible, just being famous didn't necessarily guarantee you entrance. Nina Hagens Nunsexmonkrock: Greatest (and weirdest) unsung masterpiece of the postpunk era? To this day the nightclub remains a thing of legend, even if it has been transformed into a theater. 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. The clubs explosive success had attracted attention from authorities, and they thought Studio 54 might be connected to organized crime. Ian put it together in three days. Not only did she love a good time, but she also knew how to master the dance floor. Off the dance floor, people mingle over drinks in the lounge area during 1977. Schrager was released on $50,000 bond and the disco was open the next night. 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. Steve Rubell, co-owner of Studio 54, and fashion designer Halston in the club's DJ booth, 1978. Four women in shimmery dresses sit in the club's lounge area. Their uniform was a tiny pair of shorts and nothing else. When a large hanging spoon. Shes just finished with a 1978 concert, following up a Grammy nomination for Best Country Vocal Performance. Diana Ross and Liza Minnelli sang, while Rubell blasted out My Way. It first opened its doors in 1927 as the Gallo Opera House. It was relatively common for famous figures to throw their birthday parties inside Studio 54. They were like queens on the dancefloor.". 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Enjoy these Studio 54 photos? Suddenly the IRS were interested in going clubbing. The Birth of Studio 54. The brainchild of Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager, the club opened in a onetime CBS soundstage on April 26th, 1977, and immediately became the epicenter of nightlife in New York City and the world. Sometimes thousands of dollars changed hands. According to the Independent, in 1978 co-owner Steve Rubell bragged openly in an interview about how well things were going, saying "only the Mafia made more money" the year before. While these two women may not have been the craziest partiers, they certainly appreciated a good night out. A couple relaxes next to a comatose man, 1978. Not even those who got inside the club could all make it into the basement. Margaret Trudeau was the wife of the Canadian Prime Minister at the time, and she loved to let loose. Her hair is blonder and bigger than ever. Life of a party (from left): Halston, Bianca Jagger, Jack Haley Jr and wife, Liza Minnelli and Andy Warhol. Then . And then you went into the main part of the club and he had all these old convertible cars of the Fifties.. When Steve got off the phone we flipped into action to make it happen. 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 Frank Sinatra was stranded in his limousine, unable to get near. He captured that era in my lifetime, and I hope someone is having that type of fun again. 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. It just snowballed from there, doorman Marc Benecke recalled in a 1998 E! But wait, is that a horse shes trying to pet? The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time Left: A topless woman in a peacock feather headdress dances at Studio 54's Halloween party in 1977. A man dangles a cigarette inside Studio 54, 1977. I dont know what Im going to do without Studio! And everyone was crying and weeping.. They also didn't do very much work. In 1977 the club made millions yet reportedly paid just a paltry $8,000 in taxes. Even a brief sampling of these parties is enough to scramble the senses. Now an animal rights advocate, Bianca told the Financial Times (via the Guardian) that she didn't show up on the horse. Steve was coked out of his mind, remembered one in attendance, Bianca was hugging him, and he was saying, I love you people! We walked out through the entrance where the garbage goes out. Up high in the seats above the stalls, you could disappear into the shadows and get up to whatever, writes Jones. It was down here that the privileged few were invited to indulge in their wildest desires. 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. Left: A dancer is swept into a spectrum of lights during 1978. Not only was this accepted, but one of the biggest suppliers was the co-owner Steve Rubell. Andy Warhol's Polaroid of Mick Jagger Touching Tongues With a Woman Could Be Yours. Another employee, "Lenny 54," was open about the fact he wasn't going to just serve drinks. One journalist who was there frequently said, "Even if you weren't having sex with someone every night, you felt like you could.". Each morning, massive portions of the previous nights take would be stuffed in garbage bags and hidden above ceiling panels, or smuggled home to Rubells apartment and concealed in a hidden compartment. Asshole! I looked and there was a rifle pointed at me. Those lucky enough to be in attendance are spotted in the background, watching with drinks in hand. Right: People wait in line outside of Studio 54 in 1978. 9 Monumental Books About Martin Luther King Jr. 9 Films That Provide Insight Into Martin Luther King Jr.s Life and Legacy. Studio 54 produced many star-studded photo opportunities. According to him he actually took the trash out and swept up while his co-workers partied. And, of course, disco music was blaring. 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. They were known to turn away some seriously well-known people. The head guy, Marc Benecke, was just 19, but his position made him one of the most important people in New York. The next couple of nights werent as busy. 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. Gene captured that part of history and the exuberance in a unique way. TheIndependent says others took a different tack, offering their bodies instead. Drugs, drinks, and disco -- Studio 54 had it all. One second the light bulb went on and I sang Aaaaahh, freak out! The birthday girl took the place of honor astride the horse, which trotted across the dance floor while cameras greedily snapped. Actress and model Margaux Hemingway celebrates her 24th birthday in style. As you can see, this was long before his dramatic transformation and eventual controversies in the public eye. They were hired for the New Years Eve party of 1977. Crowded scenes of fabulous party animals have the most obvious appealthe fashion and the dancing just drip with the pursuit of pleasure and sensual self-indulgence. Originally opened as an opera house in 1927, Studio 54 became a popular nightclub in 1977. In this picture, you can see doorman Mark Benecke sweeping the expectant crowd for the best individuals to allow past the front doors. Unfortunately, the guest of honor was less than amused. So I found this little auto museum down somewhere in New Jersey. 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. Other people openly smoked illegal substances or snorted drugs such as cocaine. Traffic on 54th Street was brought to a standstill as both celebrities and humble ravers struggled to approach. It would be decades before New York City's smoking ban forbade smoking in indoor spaces. We knocked on the door. We had chickens in a pen, he says in The Last Party. Studio 54 was the place to be in its heyday. Relive some of Studio 54's most classic nights in the gallery above. It was that soon., The photos also gave birth to the enduring myth that Jagger actually rode into the club on the horse. Many of the staff of Studio 54 including Rubell died as a result of it. Thats why Sylvester Stallone decided he needed to pay a visit to the most famous disco in the United States. In the aftermath of the Vietnam war, Rubell said people were tired of being serious everyone went out and went wild. Messed Up Things That Happened At Studio 54. The theater was designed by Eugene De Rosa for producer Fortune Gallo and opened in 1927 as the Gallo Opera House. 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.. If he liked you enough, he'd give you a little something. To dodge strict rules about serving alcohol, the club didn't actually have a permanent liquor license for a long time. A pile of people forms on the dance floor of the 1978 "Purple Party.". But nothing . Debbie Harry of Blondie arrives with her friends to the nightclub in 1981. By . Not something you see every day, but you could see it at Studio 54. 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. When New York published this list of party favors in November 1979, Warhol was horrified to discover that his pail had only contained $800. 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. 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. Trudeau frequented the nightclub more than once and earned herself a bit of a reputation among partiers. There didn't seem to be any rhyme or reason for who gained entrance and who didn't. You can find instructions here as to how. Steve went all out for that, Michael Musto remembered in the E! In fact, she sang that night with Liza Minnelli. McCarthy, who happened to frequent Studio 54 on occasion, was amazed by his access to the notables in attendance. This photograph was taken at the first Halloween party and shows two men dressed in taboo fetish gear, one man miming cutting the other. Studio 54 The Ultimate Den Of Vice Photography Guardian. It was a place of secrets and secretions, the in-crowd and inhalations, sucking and snorting., Studio 54s fast and loose accounting would ultimately contribute to its downfall. Oddly, one of the first people ever in the club was Donald Trump. But that picture started the ball rolling. Andy Warhol, mingling backstage with friends Bianca Jagger and fashion designer Halston. Not that they actually waited to get inside for the fun to start. But if that wasn't enough, above the balcony was the "Rubber Room." While the nightclubs lifespan may have been cut short, the memories made within its walls live on in countless celebrities and lucky visitors. Diana Ross and Liza Minelli performed for Rubell, and in this photo, Stevie Wonder took to the piano at his secretarys birthday party. 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