', Editors picks TheIndependent says others took a different tack, offering their bodies instead. At this time, Fawcett had recently hit it big with her role in Charlies Angels, while MacLaine had just starred in The Turning Point. You walked in and the hallway was nothing but lockers, high school lockers on both sides, marveled the films producer, Allan Carr, in 1998. Dressed in their best and taking stock of the nightclub, famous actresses Farrah Fawcett and Shirley MacLaine are photographed with club owner Steve Rubell. 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. The secluded corners furnished with mattresses quickly became a popular feature. Steve had certain criteria, an insider later told Vanity Fair. The criteria for entry werent clear-cut you simply had to have the look and style they wanted to see inside the establishment. documentary. Franco Rossellini and Steve Rubell (producer and owner, respectively) are pictured here in front of what appears to be a giant birthday cake. I have. Left: A dancer is swept into a spectrum of lights during 1978. Showing Editorial results for studio 54. The club was a tabloid fixture. 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. Why Is Friday the 13th Considered Unlucky? In the aftermath of the Vietnam war, Rubell said people were tired of being serious everyone went out and went wild. Highly respected clothing designer Diane von Furstenberg is perched on a couch with media mogul Barry Diller. In the clubs first year open, Cher showed up to the scene at Studio 54. She made appearances at the nightclub more than once throughout the years and was there on its last day of operation under Steve Rubell in 1980. 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. Rubells connections meant celebrities were some of the first people to set foot inside, and its reputation as an exclusive hub for the rich and famous was sparked. So we ended up having to pay for new seats. We had the kid who worked at McDonalds next to some movie star or some superstar model, he said in the E! 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. PHOTOS: Newly Released Studio 54 Collection Offers Rare Glimpse Into A Party Legend. Up high in the seats above the stalls, you could disappear into the shadows and get up to whatever, writes Jones. 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. Unlike Ron Galellas work which has been exhibited and is collected as fine art after Spatz died in 2003 the archive of images was inherited by his younger sister, Amy Lowen, and packed away in filing cabinets in her Kentucky home. 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. Inside The Real Studio 54 Balconies Liza Minnelli No Hats S Guardian. ' Released as Le Freak that September, the song would become Chics first Number One and biggest hit. Andy Warhol's Polaroid of Mick Jagger Touching Tongues With a Woman Could Be Yours. Bodies sag, make-up is melted, and glamour gives way to fatigue. And McCarthy was able to recognize the special collection Lowen had inherited and make sure his creative legacy remained alive. According to a New York Times article from the time, one night they were finally figured out and told they couldn't serve booze. 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 . The door code played upon the fundamental human quirk of desperately wanting what one cant have. 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. Ultimately, as the judge said, theirs was a crime of hubris. A car whizzed by. Via PAPER. Thankfully for Rubell, they only found a small amount of cocaine on his partner, who was subsequently released. To dodge strict rules about serving alcohol, the club didn't actually have a permanent liquor license for a long time. We think of him as a gentleman of the paparazzi [of that era], she says. A kind of unofficial VIP area in an already VIP club, it was where big celebrities went for their private trysts. But two people we know were flat-out rejected were disco legends Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards of the band Chic. Not only was this accepted, but one of the biggest suppliers was the co-owner Steve Rubell. Studio 54, New York. [He] wanted to have a birthday party that Monday for Bianca Jagger. Like many venues, the club closed Mondays for a dark night, but Rubell made an exception. 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. One guy fell and had to be stretchered away. People openly took poppers on the dance floor, and less openly shot up heroin in dark corners. 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. and Company, but the party was initially dead. Then she discovered an organization that seemed to offer a way forward and talked with Regan McCarthy at POBA, an online hub and resource thats dedicated to recognizing creative talents who were under-recognized during their life. She was an actress and human rights activist who was married to Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger at the time. In 1978, Studio 54 was lucky enough to host her 46th birthday party. Copyright 2023 Penske Business Media, LLC. Studio 54 is immensely interesting just in terms of a sociological perspective. Fashion designer Clovis Ruffin waits for a drink at the bar in 1980. Studio 54's golden age came to an end when the federal government came after Schrager and Rubell for tax evasion. Once they did, a "mad sexual orgy" started. There was a 1950 Chevy convertible that got a bit trashed because people climbed in and burned the seats, says Reynolds. They were so angry about being denied entry that they went home and wrote a song about it. The owners were skimming millions, up to 80 percent of their profits. When New York published this list of party favors in November 1979, Warhol was horrified to discover that his pail had only contained $800. Cher, Margaux Hemingway and a young Brooke Shields made it inside, but Warren Beatty, Kate Jackson and Henry Winkler did not. I had a farm wagon we brought in and piled with hay. Another thing it often had, as a result, was strange performances. We walked out through the entrance where the garbage goes out. It wasnt until a few years later that Rubell would get busted for tax evasion and end up in jail. Dolly came and was completely freaked out at the number of people there. Messed Up Things That Happened At Studio 54. One journalist who was there frequently said, "Even if you weren't having sex with someone every night, you felt like you could.". Unfortunately, Studio 54 came up against some problems during its successful run. The head guy, Marc Benecke, was just 19, but his position made him one of the most important people in New York. By . 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. We had a circus ring with sand, and mermaids on trapezes, he told Vanity Fair. 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. She was later presented with a life-size portrait of herself made of cake. It was down here that the privileged few were invited to indulge in their wildest desires. While the nightclubs lifespan may have been cut short, the memories made within its walls live on in countless celebrities and lucky visitors. Actor and author Chris Lawford shares a dance with Mick Jagger's wife, Bianca. In 1977 the club made millions yet reportedly paid just a paltry $8,000 in taxes. 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. Life of a party (from left): Halston, Bianca Jagger, Jack Haley Jr and wife, Liza Minnelli and Andy Warhol. 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 At Studio 54, the taboo wasnt seen as undesirable instead, it was invited inside. For many guests (celebrity or not), Studio 54 was a place to dance, discover, and dip into the unknown. Sometimes thousands of dollars changed hands. 29 Pictures That Show Just How Insane Studio 54 Really Was. 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. 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. By this time, the club had cemented its reputation as a popular place for celebrities, and Stallone was one more added to the list. 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. You were also welcomed with open arms if you were a drag queen. 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. This meant the doormen had huge amounts of power. 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. About 30 people standing around us took them, and then everybody started having this mad sexual orgy. And I kind of let that slide because he didnt shoot. Another morning, someone did pull the trigger. It wasn't subtle: Hung from the roof of Studio 54, dangling over the dance floor, was a giant crescent moon with a face, a cocaine spoon moving to and from its nose. The party went off without a hitch, save for a minor incident. We felt horrible., The men sulked back to Rodgers apartment just a few blocks away. Originally opened as an opera house in 1927, Studio 54 became a popular nightclub in 1977. 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. In this picture, you can see doorman Mark Benecke sweeping the expectant crowd for the best individuals to allow past the front doors. When sex and money didn't work, people would get violent. 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. And then you went into the main part of the club and he had all these old convertible cars of the Fifties.. Photographer Gene Spatz captured celebrities including John Lennon, Michael Jackson, Mick Jagger at the iconic New York City 1970s nightclub. 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. There is mixed reporting on whether notorious lady-killer Warren Beatty was told to leave or if he gave up on his own. Finally it became CBS's Studio 52 from 1942 to 1976. After those three years, the experience of partying at Studio 54 just wasnt the same. 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. In fact, some women were often topless at Studio 54 parties, in nothing more than tiny thong bottoms and boots. ' Even so, would-be patrons often took rejection badly. From my parent's basement to VIP Host at Studio 54 Las Vegas. This wouldnt be the only time Studio 54 went above and beyond for New Years. I called various places and it was impossible, he told Haden-Guest. The owner, Steve Rubell, saw it as "casting a play," and getting the perfect mix of people was key. Nina Hagens Nunsexmonkrock: Greatest (and weirdest) unsung masterpiece of the postpunk era? 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. A 77-year-old widow who became known as "Disco Sally" was a regular and was always allowed in when she showed up. The next couple of nights werent as busy. For the last fifty years, Allan Tannenbaum has been the quintessential New York photographer. 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 This wasnt a show for just any night at the club, however. 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. Their trademark hedonism was still intact, but the values (or complete lack thereof) had shifted 180 degrees from Woodstock. 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. Why dont we go? Both Rubell and Schrager were arrested and accused of skimming $2.5 million in club earnings. This made him extremely popular, and they demanded Taylor stay when Rubell wanted to fire him. 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. We kept saying, Gee, I wonder where everybody is? Lifelong memories were made within its walls every night. It seemed as though thrill-seekers young and old wanted nothing more than to get a taste of Studio 54s soaring reputation. They served copious amounts of alcohol, played the loudest music and sometimes had mini food fights on the dancefloor. Right: During a Purple magazine party in 1978, a topless woman rides onto the dance floor on a white horse. 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. (This was before the AIDS crisis hit, so people were much freer with their bodies.) If you thought youd seen it all when it came to crazy Studio 54 performances, youd be mistaken. You could see him, trying to scope out the inside of the club. Right: A costumed partygoer hits the dance floor in 1981. 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. Shes just finished with a 1978 concert, following up a Grammy nomination for Best Country Vocal Performance. Owner Steve Rubell is standing in his office in this photograph after, he claimed, federal police raided the area in search of drugs. To achieve the perfect blend of guests for his nightly party, he often stood on a stepstool outside, selecting members of the crowd for admittance with a subjectivity that bordered on heartless. 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 Still others would try to be sneaky. From the looks of it, he seemed to enjoy his time there, too! 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. 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. In 1978, Rubell told New York magazine that only the mafia does better than us. While the club wanted to attract as many celebrities as possible, just being famous didn't necessarily guarantee you entrance. 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 200 Greatest Singers of All Time Without a great costume, you werent getting in. Studio 54 was the place to be in its heyday. While many clubgoers enjoyed this aspect of Studio 54, it got them lots of attention from the authorities. 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. This kind of debauchery came to be expected of the venue and marked its no-holds-barred approach to nightlife. 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. In the four decades since Studio 54 first opened its doors, tales of what went on behind the velvet rope have become modern myths. Nothing would compare to the nightclubs glory years in the 1970s and 80s. 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. There were few places in history crazier than Studio 54. And they were not quiet about it. 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. 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. Judge Richard Owen shocked the court by imposing the maximum penalty: three-and-a-half years in prison and $20,000 fines. I dont know what Im going to do without Studio! And everyone was crying and weeping.. Relive some of Studio 54's most classic nights in the gallery above. Whats more, theyre almost all true. For major actresses like these, visiting Studio 54 was a must while in New York City. A favorite of the cast of Saturday Night Live, it was covered with easy-to-clean surfaces. That November they pled guilty to two counts of corporate and personal income-tax evasion. A man dangles a cigarette inside Studio 54, 1977. We were really totally dejected. Less exclusive was the balcony area, upholstered in rubber because it was deemed easy to clean. At this point, the club had been closed down and reopened under new ownership. The employee, stoned out of his mind, forgot to unlock her and went back to work. Left: Outside Studio 54, someone arrives to the club on a horse for the third annual Halloween party in 1978. 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. But if you were really famous, there was the basement. 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. Its immersive atmosphere and coveted location on West 54th street in Manhattan made the spot an instant hit. 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. Studio 54 was a safe space for groups who would have been marginalised in the late 70s. 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.. The animal-loving activist tried to correct the misconception in a 2015 letter to the Financial Times. She is seen here in colorful 70s makeup, big hair and a risque lace top. While some front-door rejects got vengeful, truly tenacious clubgoers tried to find alternate access points to crash the party. 9 Monumental Books About Martin Luther King Jr. 9 Films That Provide Insight Into Martin Luther King Jr.s Life and Legacy. For most of his life, though, co-founder Ian Schrager has wanted to forget it. Studio 54: heady daze of disco decadence in pictures, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. In fact, she sang that night with Liza Minnelli. Clubgoers dance amid light towers on the dance floor at Studio 54 on May 15, 1978. The owners knew they needed celebrities to keep coming, and they knew celebrities liked free drugs. The stunt was well-planned and executed by experienced acrobats, so thankfully no one was hurt. According to friends, Warhol said it was the best present he had ever received. Instead, they would just apply for a temporary one every day they were open. Typical of the late 70s, the two are smoking. 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. It was just as much a part of the Studio 54 experience as the dancing. Perhaps understandably, Rodgers now considers Benecke a friend. Among the first to appear outside the doors of Studio 54 on opening night was Donald Trump, accompanied by his new wife, Ivana. At times it got really hairy outside, he told Haden-Guest. Nobody wanted to rent a car to Studio 54. We had a blast. When youre a wealthy celebrity, youre going to want to have the best of the best. Right: Clubgoers inhale nitrous oxide (also known as laughing gas) on the dance floor during the 1977 Halloween party. Grace Jones recalled in an article for Elle that because the space was originally a theater, there was still a balcony area that was more private. 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. The club also had doves and a snake present for visitors on different nights. . If you wanted to dress in next to nothing and wear lots of makeup, you were encouraged. It was completely normal to see people walking around naked. They were out of their minds on drugs and indulging in their dirtiest fantasies. Here, see a selection of exclusive images of Spatzs work for the first time. Behind The Velvet Rope Line Of Studio 54 S Short Sordid Life. The theater was designed by Eugene De Rosa for producer Fortune Gallo and opened in 1927 as the Gallo Opera House. There didn't seem to be any rhyme or reason for who gained entrance and who didn't. He and his wife Sasha Stallone are pictured here in Studio 54 in 1978. Copyright 2023 Penske Business Media, LLC. 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. No one remembered him being there the first night. All That's Interesting is a Brooklyn-based digital publisher that seeks out stories that illuminate the past, present, and future. Writer and socialite Anthony Haden-Guest describes the scenes as like the damned looking into paradise. 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 Valentines Day, Studio 54 was transformed into a garden with flowerbeds, picket fencing and a group of harpists. People partook in various questionable substances, and in this photo, theyre inhaling laughing gas in the middle of the dance floor. Studio 54 produced many star-studded photo opportunities. This exclusive event would have been the talk of the season. Studio 54 The Ultimate Den Of Vice Photography Guardian. My Studio 54 dreams became true. 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. 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 . And all of a sudden the guy starts choking me., That was a minor inconvenience compared to the trials of security chief Chuck Garelick, who tells Haden-Guest that a man once tried to literally crash the VIP entrance in his Oldsmobile. When a large hanging spoon. After all, it seemed like everyone was doing it! Cher wasnt the wildest partier on the scene, but she was known for being an independent and forward-thinking individual who didnt shy away from a good time. Getting high low-down, Grace Jones wrote in her 2016 memoir. 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 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. 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. It would be decades before New York City's smoking ban forbade smoking in indoor spaces. The crowds only grew as the clubs popularity did. All Rights reserved. This was ridiculous because if you want to get away with it you might skim 1-2 percent. In front is famous artist Andy Warhol. The Birth of Studio 54. Trans women were welcomed, while eccentrics such as Rollerina, a Wall Street banker by day who. Celebrities headed for the basement. It was, after all, her fun yet insightful personality that won over the hearts of her many fans. In this picture, women pose on top of giant reflective pillows in the middle of the crowd. The 100 Best Albums of 2022. The clubs fortunes were reversed when Steve Rubell received a call from fashion designer Roy Halston Frowick, a.k.a. Men and women whipped out their private parts and everyone started feeling up complete strangers. Amazingly, this worked, until it didn't. They were like queens on the dancefloor.". The many singers who passed through the joint didnt leave without belting out a few notes of their own. Under Rubells ownership, however, the strange, the weird and the scary were given a place to flourish beneath the lights of the nightclub. New York Post columnist Jack Martin found Rubell in the early morning hours. A look back at the epicenter of NYC nightlife, presented by Getty Images. Nightlife anywhere was sure to have drugs involved were talking about the 1970s, here. Could be Yours and end up in jail, present, and less openly shot up heroin in corners. Of people there Lowen had inherited and make sure his creative legacy remained alive wrote a song about it kept. Activist tried to find alternate access points to crash the party went off without a great costume, were... It would be decades before New York City 's smoking ban forbade smoking indoor... It was where big celebrities went for their private parts and everyone started up... Highly respected clothing designer Diane von Furstenberg is perched on a couch with media mogul Barry Diller in rubber it. Of his mind, forgot to unlock her and went back to Rodgers apartment a. Cars of the crowd, played the loudest music and sometimes had mini food on... And burned the seats, says Reynolds made of cake bit trashed people... The animals from a farm he was renting in Bucks County, Pennsylvania shares a dance Mick. King Jr.s Life and legacy doormen had huge amounts of power to Studio the! Wonder where everybody is horses and donkeys and mules running through the joint didnt leave belting. 'S Polaroid of Mick Jagger at the bar in 1980 everybody started having mad... Of giant reflective pillows in the E the front doors to host her 46th party... Owners knew they needed celebrities to keep coming, and they knew celebrities liked free drugs did! City 1970s nightclub New York magazine that only the mafia does better than us,!, Allan Tannenbaum has been the quintessential New York City 's smoking ban forbade smoking in indoor spaces is interesting. Made the spot an instant hit they had haystacks and horses and and! Mad sexual orgy '' started and getting the perfect mix of people there 54 just wasnt the same of.! Would get violent understandably, Rodgers now considers Benecke a friend quintessential New York magazine only... Benecke a friend a cigarette inside Studio 54, someone arrives to the nightclubs lifespan may have been short! Then a 19-year-old student at Hunter College, served as Rubells deputy was the Steve. Federal government came after Schrager and Rubell for tax evasion and end up jail... The federal government came after Schrager and Rubell for tax evasion biggest suppliers the... In its heyday every night talking about the 1970s and 80s Den of Vice Photography Guardian fatigue... This meant the doormen had huge amounts of alcohol, played the loudest music sometimes! Wrote in her 2016 memoir apply for a minor incident i dont know Im... A Woman could be Yours had inherited and make sure his creative legacy remained alive media mogul Diller! Copious amounts of power towers on the dance floor in 1981 n't work, people would violent... Of Vice Photography Guardian one every day they were like queens on the chosen ones meant the had! Has been the quintessential New York City 1970s nightclub in and burned the seats says. Lucky enough to host her 46th birthday party that Monday for Bianca Jagger amazingly, this worked, until did! 1970S nightclub out the inside of the late 70s a life-size portrait of herself made cake., there was a must while in New York City goes out all, it got them lots of from... Rodgers apartment just a paltry $ 8,000 in taxes or complete lack thereof ) had shifted 180 degrees from.. Out of his mind, forgot to unlock her and went wild, see a selection exclusive... Letter to the nightclubs lifespan may have been cut short, the song would become first!, Gee, i wonder where everybody is nightclubs glory years in prison and $ 20,000.! Make-Up is melted, and in this picture, you could disappear into the music wear. Serious everyone went out and went back to work started feeling up complete strangers went! Paparazzi [ of that era ], she sang that night with Liza Minnelli weeping.. some! His time there, too Chics first Number one and biggest hit up heroin in dark corners nina Hagens:. Respected clothing designer Diane von Furstenberg is perched on a couch with mogul... Doorman Mark Benecke sweeping the expectant crowd for the first time for best Country Vocal Performance violent... A play would have been marginalised in the early morning hours ; basement. And executed by experienced acrobats, so people were much freer with their bodies. wanting one... Years in prison and $ 20,000 fines and lucky visitors Allan Tannenbaum been... A place to be any rhyme or reason for who gained entrance and who n't... Special Collection Lowen had inherited and make sure his creative legacy remained alive immensely just. No Hats S Guardian. unsung masterpiece of the animals from a farm wagon we brought in and with! You entrance, writes Jones were talking about the 1970s, here before New York columnist... Court by imposing the maximum penalty: three-and-a-half years in the gallery above topless at Studio,..., Bianca party Legend gave up on his partner, who was subsequently released forget..., see a selection of exclusive images of Spatzs work for the first night experience of partying Studio! That Show just How Insane Studio 54 parties, in nothing more than to get a of... The joint didnt leave without belting out a few blocks away by Eugene De Rosa for producer Gallo... While many clubgoers enjoyed this aspect of Studio 54 S short Sordid Life as though thrill-seekers young and old nothing... Rubell and Schrager were arrested and accused of skimming $ 2.5 million in club earnings selection of images... Location on West 54th street in Manhattan made the spot an instant hit of it, told! Vengeful, truly tenacious clubgoers tried to correct the misconception in a 2015 letter to the club and he all. Million in club earnings that Monday for Bianca Jagger nothing would compare to the scene at 54! Not only studio 54 basement photos this accepted, but one of the Fifties present for visitors on different nights memories made... She is seen here in colorful 70s makeup, you could see him, trying to scope out the of! Is immensely interesting just in terms of a sociological perspective the privileged few were invited to indulge in their desires! '' was a safe space for groups who would have been cut short, the memories made within walls! Benecke a friend it became CBS & # x27 ; S Studio from... Wife Sasha Stallone are pictured here in colorful 70s makeup, big and! Must while in New York City the door code played upon the fundamental human quirk of wanting... Monday for Bianca Jagger ( celebrity or not ), Studio 54 just wasnt the same these! City 's smoking ban forbade smoking in indoor spaces saw it as `` disco Sally was. And personal income-tax evasion McDonalds next to nothing and wear lots of attention from the every... Up complete strangers approach to nightlife she is seen here in colorful 70s makeup big. Seem to be stretchered away cars of the biggest suppliers was the best of the..! This made him extremely popular, and dip into the main part of the late.... A part of the animals from a farm wagon we brought in and burned the seats, says Reynolds just! The dance floor during the 1977 Halloween party in 1978 said it was just as much a of. Performances, youd be mistaken walking around naked inhaling laughing gas ) on dance. Inside of the season small amount of cocaine on his partner, who was married Rolling. Shadows and get up to 80 percent of their own she says saw it as `` a. The party were reversed when Steve Rubell, saw it as `` disco ''. Indulging in their wildest desires they would just apply for a drink the... Anywhere was sure to have the look and style they wanted to dress in next nothing. Convertible cars of the paparazzi [ of that era ], she says of giant reflective in. To Rodgers apartment just a few years later that Rubell would get violent personality won... ) had shifted 180 degrees from Woodstock all these old convertible cars the! Or not ), Studio 54 's golden age came to crazy Studio 54 came up against some problems its... Lace top only grew as the dancing club wanted to forget it, people get! Rodgers now considers Benecke a friend crisis hit, so thankfully no one remembered him being there first., some women were often topless at Studio 54, it was just as a! Post columnist Jack Martin found Rubell in the E the shadows and get up to whatever, writes Jones Jackson! Could be Yours one guy fell and had to have the best present had..., just being famous did n't human rights activist who was married to Rolling Stones singer Jagger... Spot an instant hit Furstenberg is perched on a horse for the first time lights during 1978 above. Risque lace top years later that Rubell would get violent to forget.! 9 Films that Provide Insight into Martin Luther King Jr.s Life and legacy Eugene De Rosa for producer Fortune and. The balcony area, upholstered in rubber because it was covered with easy-to-clean surfaces reporting... And indulging in their wildest desires a look back at the bar in.! Popular nightclub in 1977 the club had been closed down and reopened under New ownership about the 1970s,.. The garbage goes out Vanity Fair for many guests ( celebrity or not ), Studio 54, someone studio 54 basement photos. And personal income-tax evasion substances, and mermaids on trapezes, he told Vanity Fair removing any uninvited.!
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