However even if you were a regular before walking onto the dance floor proper you had to pass through the coat check area where all of the sound funneled through. This is after the feminist movement of the 70s: if a woman wanted to be nude that was her privilege, no one would ever touch her or say anything. A playful, intimate moment between a pair of partygoers, circa 1978. Aside from the dancing and debauchery, one thing that everyone remembers about Studio 54 is the clubs interior design. Rebecca Schoenkopf. According to the 2019 documentary about Studio 54, the co-owners singular fashion sense was less informed by the club scene and more so by function. Date: 11/03/1979. 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. For more New York drama, be sure to check out what the city looked like in the 1970s. Prolonged war and a stagnant economy gave way to a massive national hangover in the 1970s. Elton John pulls his pants legs up to dance the night away. People at Studio 54 dance the night away during the 1978. The whole thing cost them $400,000 - thats $1,690,376.24 in 2019. It touched all your senses and left you wanting more. Ultimately, as the judge said, theirs was a crime of hubris. May 14, 2021. Then Covid Trapped Them There. The club was his concept of 15 minutes of fame to the extreme. 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. The people who crowded around the club every night came from all walks of life - from bankers to drag queens, but for the few hours that the sun was down they all just wanted to have a good time. When photos of the night appeared in the paper the next day everyone had to be at the club. Typical of the late 70s, the two are smoking. He had a kind camera. I have not seen a picture that Gene took that would have embarrassed anybody even though he was with people doing very strange things.. 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.Even after the original owners went to prison for skimming millions of dollars, the club . In an interview with The Guardian Blondie singer Debbie Harry tried to set the record straight about how often she went to Studio 54. Right: A costumed partygoer hits the dance floor in 1981. Sometimes the venue hired dancers or had fashion models walking the crowds. Richard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images. It wasnt just actors and singers who showed up to party at Studio 54 sometimes it was political figures. (AP Photo/Quinto) Date: 02/04/1979. Come anytime you like, and youll get in. After the invitation she became an institution and showed up whenever she was free. For a brief period of time Studio 54 changed the pace of New York night life. How cool would it be to head into Studio 54 and see Jamie Lee Curtis dancing with her mom, Janet Leigh, under the house lights? Actor and author Chris Lawford shares a dance with Mick Jagger's wife, Bianca. Studio 54 opened in NYC in 1977. People partook in various questionable substances, and in this photo, theyre inhaling laughing gas in the middle of the dance floor. It happens to the best of us. The thing he appreciated was someone being different. Robin Williams dancing with his then-wife Valerie in 1979. In 1977 the New York scene was such a sprawling organism of parties, dancing, and punk rockers, and Harry was one of the artists who was in the middle of it all. Drugs, drinks, and disco -- Studio 54 had it all. Sylvester Stallone and Sheryl Slocum, 1977. All rights reserved. Life of a party (from left): Halston, Bianca Jagger, Jack Haley Jr and wife, Liza Minnelli and Andy Warhol. There were no thoughts outside of "I want it, let's make it happen.". One of the many famous faces to grace the dance floor of Studio 54 was that of legendary singer Diana Ross. The photographic work of Dustin PIttman -- the focus of this feature . Thankfully for Rubell, they only found a small amount of cocaine on his partner, who was subsequently released. Off the dance floor, people mingle over drinks in the lounge area during 1977. One drag queen in the doc explains: For the most part there was a strict dress code applied to the revelers at the club. Simply by virtue of being outside the club someone like Streisand could paint themselves as a cool celebrity rather than a stodgy A-lister who sat in their penthouse reading Russian literature all not. When youre a wealthy celebrity, youre going to want to have the best of the best. In this 1978 picture, crowds line up for entry into Manhattan's renowned disco and nightclub Studio 54, located at 254 West 54th Street. The late 70s also saw the rise of celebrity culture, and Studio 54 provided that too, with Liza, Michael, Andy, Bianca and Diana regulars. In 1978, Studio 54 was lucky enough to host her 46th birthday party. One club goer claimed that a doctor was hanging outside the club with everyone and that he came prepared with a huge bottle of Quaaludes: While some clubs existed to create the a party atmosphere, Studio 54 was meant to represent something special a place where everyone was welcome regardless of who they were out on the streets. 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. New York: Photo shows crowd waiting outside Studio 54, the popular New York City disco. Cher dancing at Studio 54. When she wasnt whipping her legs through the air to the music, she was brushing shoulders with the countrys most famous celebrities. This crowd is made up of well-known, successful individuals: Fashion designer Halston and actress Bianca Jagger are on the left, followed by film director Jack Haley Jr. and actress Liza Minnelli in the back right. All of that pent up stress can make someone blow a valve, Studio 54 served as a way for people to escape; it was the perfect place for someone to cut loose as long as they could get through the door. Here he is enjoying an anniversary party for Andy Warhols magazine, Interview. The hottest celebrities and wildest outfits could be seen on the dance floor, and illicit substances flowed freely among partiers. At the age of 7 she regularly partied at Studio 54, opening her up to the debauchery and drugs that were available to every other guest. Author and party attendee Anthony Haden-Guest told Rolling Stone that there were only about 150 people at the party initially, but it grew into a wild event. He and his wife Sasha Stallone are pictured here in Studio 54 in 1978. Ian Schrager is still proud about what he and co-owner Rubell did: What does everyone want for their birthday? Maybe they worked at banks or law firms, but in the middle of the night in Manhattan - at the clubs - they could be whoever they wanted to be. What is now a Broadway theater used to be the emblematic hot spot of '70s disco nightlife. It would be decades before New York City's smoking ban forbade smoking in indoor spaces. He captured that era in my lifetime, and I hope someone is having that type of fun again. 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. People openly took poppers on the dance floor, and less openly shot up heroin in dark corners. Jupiter's exhibit, which opened last . Even though the club was considered a spooky place it could provide moments of levity. A party was staged the night before their sentences began. By 1977, Stallone had an Oscar on his mantle, but did that make him an NFU? At a wild place like Studio 54, there werent lots of rules about what to wear or who to be. The last thing she wanted was for her secret life to become known to the world. Not something you see every day, but you could see it at Studio 54. Franco Rossellini and Steve Rubell (producer and owner, respectively) are pictured here in front of what appears to be a giant birthday cake. 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. Model and musician Grace Jones shimmers in a sparkling bodysuit as she performs at a New Years Eve party. A couple relaxes next to a comatose man, 1978. Throughout its three-year lifespan under Rubell and Schrager, Studio 54 served as a lab to experiment with everything from illicit drugs to gender. This wouldnt be the only time Studio 54 went above and beyond for New Years. Right: During a Purple magazine party in 1978, a topless woman rides onto the dance floor on a white horse. A guaranteed internet breaker, if it had been invented. The rise and fall of Studio 54 happened as if an unseen force was holding down the fast forward button on the clubs success. This was taken in the ladies room. A guaranteed internet breaker, if it had been invented. 322166814/iacpl-test.www.ask.com/Ask_Desktop_Feed_Center1_728x90_Top, 322166814/iacpl-test.www.ask.com/Ask_Mobile_Feed_Center2_300x250, 322166814/iacpl-test.www.ask.com/Ask_Mobile_Feed_Center3_300x250, 322166814/iacpl-test.www.ask.com/Ask_Desktop_Feed_Center2_728x90, 322166814/iacpl-test.www.ask.com/Ask_Desktop_Feed_Center3_728x90, 322166814/iacpl-test.www.ask.com/Ask_Desktop_Feed_Center4_728x90, 322166814/iacpl-test.www.ask.com/Ask_Desktop_Feed_Center5_728x90, The Top Reasons to Get an Amazon Prime Video Subscription, Longtime Lovebirds: 14 Inspiring Hollywood Relationships. Studio 54 is a shadow of its former self. If you thought youd seen it all when it came to crazy Studio 54 performances, youd be mistaken. 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. . Even after the original owners went to prison for skimming millions of dollars, the club stayed open until 1990, although the magic of the first years never returned. Diane von Furstenberg lounging with her husband-to-be, media mogul Barry Diller. Suddenly the IRS were interested in going clubbing. Once the show came to an end the cast had to have somewhere to go - and they went to the Studio. Without a great costume, you werent getting in. This kind of debauchery came to be expected of the venue and marked its no-holds-barred approach to nightlife. Dressed in their best and taking stock of the nightclub, famous actresses Farrah Fawcett and Shirley MacLaine are photographed with club owner Steve Rubell. However, the notorious New York City nightclub encountered a fair share of obstacles while party-goers ravaged the dance floor . 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. Rubell and his partner Ian Schrager created a living fantasy in the club, but it cost a lot of money to get off the ground. To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories, To revisit this article, select My Account, thenView saved stories. Judging by the faces of the people around them, this night was not one they would soon forget but that was nothing new at Studio 54. When Williams visited Studio 54, he joined a fleet of other actors such as John Travolta, Richard Gere, Al Pacino and John Belushi, who all set foot in the iconic destination to see what it was about. 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. The pop artist, model, Blondie lead singer, writer, and fashion designer all bonding at Studio 54. All one had to do to make sure they wound up in the gossip pages or the New York Post was to simply show up and bypass the line. Studio 54 co-owner Steve Rubell stands in his office, which he claimed was ransacked by federal agents looking for drugs, in 1978. She explained that they were shoving their party in everyones face because America needed to have their own excesses reflected back at them. This foyer amped up the anticipation, and according to Myra Scheer, Ian and Steves assistant who went onto work in a perch in the lobby said it was a special part of the night: Even though it sounds like a line, once you were in Studio 54 it was a sign that you had a special energy that appreciated by the club owners. Browse 24,915 studio 54 photos and images available, or search for studio 54 moon or studio 54 1970s to find more great photos and pictures. 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. What was interesting is that women felt secure enough to dance nude in the place. As Netflix's Halston reminds us, Studio 54 was a fever dream of excess. When Studio 54 closed two years later, on Feb. 4, 1980, Diana Ross was there to serenade owners Rubell and Schrager with one final song. Andy Warhol, Jerry Hall, Debbie Harry, Truman Capote, and Paloma Picasso. A look back at the epicenter of NYC nightlife, presented by Getty Images. Instead, they used architects who designed popular restaurants, lighting people who worked on Broadway shows, and for sound they used people who were used to more underground clubs. Doormen didnt let just anyone inside, but if you were lucky, you could get into the club without having connections in high places. Trudeau frequented the nightclub more than once and earned herself a bit of a reputation among partiers. This potentially dangerous display marked the end of the nightclubs first year open. Co-owner Ian Schrager told Variety: To work at Studio 54 a few things were required. Christopher had sold Miramax on a Boogie Nights-type story about a clueless New Jersey kid named Shane (Ryan Phillippe) who was drawn to the flame that was Studio 54 in the late 1970s, when good . The club also had doves and a snake present for visitors on different nights. Aids later hit, of course. Studio 54 produced many star-studded photo opportunities. In this picture, well-known English actor Michael Caine is laughing and dancing with his wife Shakira, while partygoers frolic on behind them. Studio 54 had an intense door rule that made it hard for people to get in regardless of who you were. Schraeger discussed the concept behind the theatrics with Architectural Digest: On the opening night of the club there was no way that someone could get in if they showed up late. After all, you have so much money that you have to find some way to spend it, right? Diana Ross and Liza Minnelli sang, while Rubell blasted out My Way. This exclusive event would have been the talk of the season. In this picture, you can see doorman Mark Benecke sweeping the expectant crowd for the best individuals to allow past the front doors. McCarthy, who happened to frequent Studio 54 on occasion, was amazed by his access to the notables in attendance. If you found yourself fortunate enough to make it inside Studio 54 in 1978, you mightve come upon a scene like this one. He had . In this picture, Robin Williams is with his then-wife Valerie Velardi and Studio 54s own Santa Claus. According to the guy who took over Studio 54 after the original co-owners went to prison, James nearly killed himself while at the club. Years after this photo was taken, the diaries of Andy Warhol were released and they didn't paint Bianca in a kind light. While that was a Monday night, the clubs one evening off, they made an exception for the actress and rock star wife. There was an anything goes attitude to sex at Studio 54. 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. Studio 54's golden age came to an end when the federal government came after Schrager and Rubell for tax evasion. Williams appears to be accepting a drink from the jolly character. MSN called the drug-taking "endemic." It was just as much a part of the Studio 54 experience as the dancing. 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