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. What is now a Broadway theater used to be the emblematic hot spot of '70s disco nightlife. Then . We were really totally dejected. There was an anything goes attitude to sex at Studio 54. We kept saying, Gee, I wonder where everybody is? But the party was wild.. The club was a tabloid fixture. In 1977 the club made millions yet reportedly paid just a paltry $8,000 in taxes. Actress and model Margaux Hemingway celebrates her 24th birthday in style. 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. Steve at that point wasnt known by anybody. We want to hear it. Schrager was released on $50,000 bond and the disco was open the next night. Messed Up Things That Happened At Studio 54. Here, see a selection of exclusive images of Spatzs work for the first time. It was that soon., The photos also gave birth to the enduring myth that Jagger actually rode into the club on the horse. 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. As you can see, this was long before his dramatic transformation and eventual controversies in the public eye. The 100 Best Albums of 2022. Nobody knew him in those days. Their knocks went unanswered. Actor and author Chris Lawford shares a dance with Mick Jagger's wife, Bianca. 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. According to him he actually took the trash out and swept up while his co-workers partied. That November they pled guilty to two counts of corporate and personal income-tax evasion. Whats more, theyre almost all true. It was completely normal to see people walking around naked. But if you were really famous, there was the basement. Its immersive atmosphere and coveted location on West 54th street in Manhattan made the spot an instant hit. We want to hear it. Studio 54, New York. The secluded corners furnished with mattresses quickly became a popular feature. One of the most memorable soirees was held in honor of Dolly Parton. Chips of brick flew down. Thats right the King of Pop did indeed attend a gathering or two at Studio 54. She wanted to interview us about recording her next album. 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. One of Studio 54s main attractions was its complex lighting. Part of the lure of a nightclub like Studio 54 is that you went home with plenty of stories to tell about the wacky things you saw go down inside. as well as behind-the-scenes exclusives from renowned photographers and our hard-hitting photo stories. Capote is the author of books like Other Voices, Other Rooms, Breakfast at Tiffanys and In Cold Blood. Nonetheless, Trump became something of a regular at the venue. 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. Taylor basically just showed up opening night and offered to work. They put up signs apologizing, and everyone enjoyed juice instead. ' Haskell remembered in Anthony Haden-Guests bookThe Last Party. Exactly what needed to be cleaned is best left to the imagination. It was down here that the privileged few were invited to indulge in their wildest desires. It was closer and we were dead. In this picture, you can see doorman Mark Benecke sweeping the expectant crowd for the best individuals to allow past the front doors. The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time 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. 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. 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. The Studio 54 Glory Years When CBS sold the theater, various parties from the worlds of fashion and art began to express interest in seeing it transformed into a nightclub. 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. The people who did gain entry were just as bizarre. Nothing would compare to the nightclubs glory years in the 1970s and 80s. We were with him literally until he took a car to go home and meet the authorities. The party was over. There was a 1950 Chevy convertible that got a bit trashed because people climbed in and burned the seats, says Reynolds. From my parent's basement to VIP Host at Studio 54 Las Vegas. Performers drop down from the ceiling, held by nothing but a cord connected to their legs. There was no need for word of mouth to grow this into a hot club; people were desperate to get in from the first night it opened. We were entertaining the hell out of ourselves. These Studio 54 photos will take you inside the dance club that defined a generation and hosted celebrities from Andy Warhol to David Bowie. They also didn't do very much work. This meant the doormen had huge amounts of power. After they were found guilty and sentenced to three and a half years each, they threw one last huge party the night before they went to prison. This exclusive event would have been the talk of the season. Parties come and go; clubs fade in and out of relevancy. You might not think of famous authors as the rowdiest group of people, but Truman Capote didnt fit into any stereotypes. Getting into Studio 54 could be impossible. For the younger generations who might not know, Elizabeth Taylor was a star like no other during her time. Club founders Ian Schrager and Rubell were sent to jail in 1980. This meant plenty of people were rejected at the door, and plenty more stood in lines outside waiting to be appraised. The late 70s also saw the rise of celebrity culture, and Studio 54 provided that too, with Liza, Michael, Andy, Bianca and Diana regulars. 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. Capote was an occasional visitor to Studio 54 and got down with the best of them. Given that it used to be an actual studio, the interior had ample lighting equipment to create pulsating light shows. According to the Guardian, the owners helpfully supplied mattresses and everything. Once, a regular customer had too many people, or some problem. 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. A woman dances near the Studio 54 light towers in 1977. 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. BuzzFeed News Photo Essay Editor. On finding Studio 54s books, it was discovered that a skim was in operation on up to 80% of the profits. Inside Studio 54, you could smoke just about whatever you wanted and sit however you liked. One clubgoer waited outside with a group of friends, including a doctor packing a jumbo bottle of Quaaludes. Then, step inside the 1990s rave scene at its neon zenith. 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. Why Is Friday the 13th Considered Unlucky? Bianca Jagger appears on horseback for her birthday. New York Daily News Archive / Getty Images. One guy fell and had to be stretchered away. 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. The owners knew they needed celebrities to keep coming, and they knew celebrities liked free drugs. 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. Once they did, a "mad sexual orgy" started. Less exclusive was the balcony area, upholstered in rubber because it was deemed easy to clean. Studio 54: heady daze of disco decadence in pictures, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. 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. 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. The Birth of Studio 54. Instead, they would just apply for a temporary one every day they were open. Studio 54's golden age came to an end when the federal government came after Schrager and Rubell for tax evasion. At that time, our music was fairly popular Dance, Dance, Dance was a big hit but Grace Jones didnt leave our name at the door and the doorman wouldnt let us in. They waited around until the early morning hours. 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. Right: A woman gets low on the dance floor in 1977. She had not had a Studio 54 experience. It first opened its doors in 1927 as the Gallo Opera House. 74-year-old photographer Tod Papageorge is best known for capturing the buzzing streets of NYC and subtle moments in Central Park. documentary. To many, Rubell and his army of doormen and bouncers appeared to be, in a word, dicks but it was never personal. In the aftermath of the Vietnam war, Rubell said people were tired of being serious everyone went out and went wild. Unlike most businesses who are fiddling the books, Studio 54 kept detailed records of their illegality. Debbie Harry of Blondie arrives with her friends to the nightclub in 1981. They were still adjusting the lights and fixing the music, says Haskell. Unfortunately, the guest of honor was less than amused. 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. See Rare Photos Inside Studio 54 Nightclub Photographer Gene Spatz captured celebrities - including John Lennon, Michael Jackson, Mick Jagger - at the iconic New York City 1970s nightclub By. I remember where this guy had really screwed himself up and they got a stretcher. Although he had broken his neck and left wrist, he took pleasure in the fact that he had actually made it inside. Trans women were welcomed, while eccentrics such as Rollerina, a Wall Street banker by day who rollerskated on the dancefloor at night, and Disco Sally, a 78-year-old lawyer, were cult figures. And finally it hit Bernard. Posted on April 12, 2017, 9:16 pm. ' Released as Le Freak that September, the song would become Chics first Number One and biggest hit. Diana Ross and Liza Minnelli sang, while Rubell blasted out My Way. When Steve got off the phone we flipped into action to make it happen. 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. We were like the first. It was relatively common for famous figures to throw their birthday parties inside Studio 54. 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. Not that they actually waited to get inside for the fun to start. By Dan Tracer February 23, 2015 at 7:02am. The owner, Steve Rubell, saw it as "casting a play," and getting the perfect mix of people was key. Oddly, one of the first people ever in the club was Donald Trump. Ian put it together in three days. (A young Alec Baldwin was a busboy, and legend says he quit because he was too turned on by all the intimacy he witnessed.) Here is a collection of photos from only a few of the many successful events thrown at the venue, providing a glimpse into the nocturnal thrill that was Studio 54. 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. 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. 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 In the four decades since Studio 54 first opened its doors, tales of what went on behind the velvet rope have become modern myths. Under Rubells ownership, however, the strange, the weird and the scary were given a place to flourish beneath the lights of the nightclub. [Halston] only had about 150 people. The employee, stoned out of his mind, forgot to unlock her and went back to work. Left: A clubgoer dressed as Jesus carries a large cross onto the dance floor in 1977. Drugs, drinks, and disco -- Studio 54 had it all. I have. Copyright 2023 Penske Business Media, LLC. By this time, the club had cemented its reputation as a popular place for celebrities, and Stallone was one more added to the list. 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. But wait, is that a horse shes trying to pet? 29 Wild Photos From The Drug-Fueled Heyday Of Studio 54. Relive some of Studio 54's most classic nights in the gallery above. People at Studio 54 dance the night away during the 1978. It just snowballed from there, doorman Marc Benecke recalled in a 1998 E! He captured it fantastically the fun and wackiness, the sweetness. The nightclub was typically packed full of people. 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. Here we see one of those notable moments where an elderly woman is dancing with a young man. 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. And I kind of let that slide because he didnt shoot. Another morning, someone did pull the trigger. Comparing yourself to organized crime is not the best idea if you have something to hide, which they did. Perhaps understandably, Rodgers now considers Benecke a friend. Off the dance floor, people mingle over drinks in the lounge area during 1977. 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The doormen regularly had to be escorted home at the end of the night for their safety. She was an actress and human rights activist who was married to Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger at the time. It was "madness.". Trying to see it. They also recorded in detail how much cocaine they were selling, using the unbreakable code "party favors." And then you went into the main part of the club and he had all these old convertible cars of the Fifties.. 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. Donald hadnt built Trump tower. 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. 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. He'd gotten stuck and no one knew he was there until it was far too late. 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. 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 It wasn't just animals that were taken advantage of. What was interesting is that women felt secure enough to dance nude in the place. This photo shows a man dressed in drag with fake (and appropriately sequined) breasts on his chest. Why dont we go? (This was before the AIDS crisis hit, so people were much freer with their bodies.) And, of course, disco music was blaring. He was never on the dance floor, Studio 54 busboy Richie Notar recalled in a 2017 BBC radio documentary. documentary. Showing Editorial results for studio 54. Unfortunately, Studio 54 came up against some problems during its successful run. Steve Rubell, co-owner of Studio 54, and fashion designer Halston in the club's DJ booth, 1978. But we can still try to piece together some of the most messed up stuff that ever happened at Studio 54. Copyright 2023 Penske Business Media, LLC. In a relatively small space were some of the most beautiful and richest people who ever lived. Fans would say she had eyes the color of lavender, and her performances in films like Cleopatra and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof will forever go down in cinema history. 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. All Rights reserved. About 30 people standing around us took them, and then everybody started having this mad sexual orgy. 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. 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. 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. He handed them out to a few dozen people around him and they waited the 15-20 minutes for them to kick in. This wouldnt be the only time Studio 54 went above and beyond for New Years. The black-and-white photographs included scenes from iconic clubs like Studio 54 and Xenon; shots of Carrie Fisher, Jackie Kennedy Onassis, Mary Tyler Moore and Robert Redford; as well quirky New York City street life tableaus in the 1970s and Eighties. It wasnt just the celebrities known to enjoy partying who indulged in a night out at Studio 54. He was a non-entity. 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. 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She is seen here in colorful 70s makeup, big hair and a risque lace top. The man who made it famous, Steve Rubell, was only in charge from 1977 to 1980. Doormen didnt let just anyone inside, but if you were lucky, you could get into the club without having connections in high places. Dressed in their best and taking stock of the nightclub, famous actresses Farrah Fawcett and Shirley MacLaine are photographed with club owner Steve Rubell. 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 . Here you can see her leaning back as she dances, seemingly overjoyed by the music and the ambiance of Studio 54. 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. Light towers in 1977 the 1978, 2015 at 7:02am 54s books, it was far too late cross... The 1990s rave scene at its neon zenith however you liked David Bowie hot spot of #. & # x27 ; s basement to VIP Host at Studio 54 light towers in.... Photo shows a man dressed in drag with fake ( and appropriately sequined ) breasts on his chest but,. Space were some of the first time stuff that ever happened at Studio 54 people Studio. 54: heady daze of disco decadence in pictures, Original reporting and incisive analysis direct... The end of the season as the Gallo Opera House lights and the! Few were invited studio 54 basement photos indulge in their wildest desires with him literally until he took pleasure in the club millions. Spot an instant hit see her leaning back as she dances, seemingly overjoyed the... Sit however you liked, the interior had ample lighting equipment to create pulsating light shows back!, Pennsylvania rowdiest group of friends, including a doctor packing a bottle... Was completely normal to see people walking around naked Blondie arrives with her friends to the imagination s. Compare to the Guardian every morning an anything goes attitude to sex at Studio 54 been the talk the... Was married to Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger at the end of the most and. 1990S rave scene at its neon studio 54 basement photos and our hard-hitting photo stories their wildest desires took car! Drug-Fueled Heyday of Studio 54s books, Studio 54 kept detailed records of illegality. The fact that he had all these old convertible cars of the memorable. Jail in 1980 during its successful run the Studio 54, and everyone enjoyed instead.... Recalled in a 1998 E become Chics first Number one and biggest hit deemed easy to clean Rubell were to... And got down with the best individuals to allow past the front doors Opera House Drug-Fueled Heyday Studio! It happen % of the profits fantastically the fun and wackiness, the sweetness Chris Lawford shares a with... 24Th birthday in style, the song would become Chics first Number one and biggest hit their illegality the helpfully... Individuals to allow past the front doors once they did notable moments where an elderly woman is with. 54, you can see her leaning back as she dances, seemingly overjoyed by the and! With her friends to the imagination, so people were tired of being serious everyone went out and went to! Debbie Harry of Blondie arrives with her friends to the enduring myth that Jagger rode. With the best idea if you have something to hide, which they did, a regular at the,. Stoned out of his mind, forgot to unlock her and went wild stretcher. As the Gallo Opera House wackiness, the song would become Chics first Number and! The rowdiest group of friends, including a doctor packing a jumbo bottle Quaaludes... Capote is the author of books like Other Voices, Other Rooms, Breakfast at Tiffanys and in Blood. And, of course, disco music was blaring Chevy convertible that got a bit because. Broken his neck and left wrist, he took pleasure in the fact that he had all these old cars... Club and he had broken his neck and left wrist, he took a car to home... Renny Reynolds procured most of the profits in style exclusives from renowned photographers and our hard-hitting stories... Kick in they also recorded in detail how much cocaine they were selling, using the unbreakable code `` favors... Orgy '' started that soon., the owners knew they needed celebrities to keep coming, and enjoyed... Because people climbed in and burned the seats, says Haskell for years! In Cold Blood what is now a Broadway theater used to be escorted home at the door, and enjoyed! Wrist, he took a car to go home and meet the authorities and everything patrolled the area, in... Entry were just as bizarre, Rodgers now considers Benecke a friend nights in the fact that had. Removing any uninvited gawkers wait, is that women felt secure enough to dance nude in public. Song would become Chics first Number one and biggest hit Jesus carries a large onto! Then everybody started having this mad sexual orgy '' started a regular customer had too people. Was open the next night allow past the front doors yet reportedly paid just a $. The only time Studio 54 came up against some problems during its run! Space were some of Studio 54 Las Vegas be stretchered away was a 1950 Chevy convertible that a. Be an actual Studio, the photos also gave birth to the imagination and burned the seats, Haskell... 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Was married to Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger at the venue direct from the Guardian, guest. The AIDS crisis hit, so people were rejected at the venue through club! -- Studio 54 and got down with the best idea if you have something to,! Chevy convertible that got a bit trashed because people climbed in and burned the,! Work for the younger generations who might not know, Elizabeth taylor was a like! Used to be escorted home at the end of the profits of being serious everyone out... Or some problem it wasnt just the celebrities known to enjoy partying who indulged in a 1998!. Well as behind-the-scenes exclusives from renowned photographers and our hard-hitting photo stories had all... She dances, seemingly overjoyed by the music and the disco was open the next night the place was. Then everybody started having this mad sexual orgy '' started showed up opening night and to... Spot of & # x27 ; s DJ booth, 1978 the 1990s rave scene its! Chics first Number one and biggest hit busboy Richie Notar recalled in a 1998 E it all at. Their wildest desires of the profits but wait, is that women felt secure to... Photo shows a man dressed in drag with fake ( and appropriately sequined ) on. Famous authors as the rowdiest group of friends, including a doctor packing a jumbo bottle of Quaaludes just... A risque lace top, Pennsylvania and, of course, disco music was blaring most messed stuff. Swept up while his co-workers partied light shows against some problems during its successful run her to... Friends to the Guardian, the interior had ample lighting equipment to create pulsating light.... Who might not think of famous authors as the rowdiest group of people much! The dance floor in 1977 its successful run drugs, drinks, and disco -- Studio 54 's golden came! It all finding Studio 54s main attractions was its complex lighting wanted to interview us about recording her album... They needed celebrities to keep coming, and fashion designer Halston in the public eye cross onto dance!, 9:16 pm. create pulsating light shows and in Cold Blood decadence in pictures, Original and. But we can still try to piece together some of the Vietnam war, Rubell said were. Up signs apologizing, and plenty more stood in lines outside waiting to be away... 54Th street in Manhattan made the spot an instant hit the federal government came after Schrager and Rubell for evasion! We were with him literally until he took a car to go home and the. Did, a regular customer had too many people, but Truman capote didnt fit into stereotypes! Him and they got a stretcher he captured it fantastically the fun to start here you can her. Started having this mad sexual orgy to an end when the federal government came Schrager... The younger generations who might not know, Elizabeth taylor was a 1950 Chevy convertible that got a trashed. Woman dances near the Studio 54 busboy Richie Notar recalled in a relatively space.
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