Studio 54 was the place to be in its heyday. We were with him literally until he took a car to go home and meet the authorities. The party was over. Parton ended up being less than amused and sat quietly most of the night. It was "madness.". Exactly what needed to be cleaned is best left to the imagination. Owner Steve Rubell is standing in his office in this photograph after, he claimed, federal police raided the area in search of drugs. 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. Shes just finished with a 1978 concert, following up a Grammy nomination for Best Country Vocal Performance. My Studio 54 dreams became true. 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. Diana Ross serenaded the owners from the DJ booth, and Liza Minnelli sang New York, New York. Rubell, donning a Sinatra-like fedora, piped in with a spirited rendition of My Way, which played on repeat during the night, as did Gloria Gaynors Studio 54 anthem I Will Survive. From a mechanical platform high above the dance floor, Rubell addressed his guests with an emotional speech. Copyright 2023 Penske Business Media, LLC. He handed them out to a few dozen people around him and they waited the 15-20 minutes for them to kick in. For Valentines Day, Studio 54 was transformed into a garden with flowerbeds, picket fencing and a group of harpists. She was an actress and human rights activist who was married to Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger at the time. She wanted to interview us about recording her next album. McCarthy, who happened to frequent Studio 54 on occasion, was amazed by his access to the notables in attendance. When a large hanging spoon. By . What is now a Broadway theater used to be the emblematic hot spot of '70s disco nightlife. He was there to be seen with the famous people, to network, to cut the deal; whilst everyone else cut the coke., Opening night at Studio 54 was an unqualified success, but the days that followed were comparatively slower. This photo shows a man dressed in drag with fake (and appropriately sequined) breasts on his chest. America in 1977 was ripe for something fun, glamorous and a bit risque. Studio 54 is the one nightclub from the '70s everyone remembers. 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. Nearby trash cans always had to be emptied of bottles and other things that could become dangerous projectiles. Elizabeth Taylors birthday featured a performance by the Rockettes, which the star viewed while perched on a float of gardenias. Ian put it together in three days. It wasnt until a few years later that Rubell would get busted for tax evasion and end up in jail. Skimming was standard practice in the cash-flush world of restaurants and nightclubs, but this was an order of magnitude greater than most offenders. In 1977, Ian Schrager and Steve Rubell began work converting the theater into the Studio 54 nightclub. Aids later hit, of course. A pile of people forms on the dance floor of the 1978 "Purple Party.". documentary. We use ads to keep our content free for you. Diana Ross and Liza Minnelli sang, while Rubell blasted out My Way. Frank Sinatra was stranded in his limousine, unable to get near. Behind The Scenes At Studio 54 Cnn Style. We walked out through the entrance where the garbage goes out. Studio 54s peak was intense but short-lived. Once you found yourself inside the hallowed grounds of Studio 54, the next place you wanted to go was the fabled basement; a cavernous, dingy, decidedly unglamorous space decorated with damaged banquets, pillars of rolled carpet and set pieces from past parties. Whats more, theyre almost all true. On finding Studio 54s books, it was discovered that a skim was in operation on up to 80% of the profits. One of Studio 54s main attractions was its complex lighting. Here she is pictured in front of her cake and alongside famous designer Halston. They were out of their minds on drugs and indulging in their dirtiest fantasies. Throughout its three-year lifespan under Rubell and Schrager, Studio 54 served as a lab to experiment with everything from illicit drugs to gender. The 100 Greatest TV Shows of All Time Now an animal rights advocate, Bianca told the Financial Times (via the Guardian) that she didn't show up on the horse. 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. Studio 54 Photos And The Debauchery That Ensued 54 Decadent Photos Of Studio A Story Debauchery And Dancing Groovy History E And Disco A Brief History Of Studio 54 Flashbak Studio 54 Dj Reveals The Stars Nights Of S And Boogie At Legendary Club Mirror Studio 54 15 Things We Learned About The Hedonists Mecca From New Doentary Independent Franco Rossellini and Steve Rubell (producer and owner, respectively) are pictured here in front of what appears to be a giant birthday cake. 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. I called everybody I knew in New York to come and blow up masses of white balloons and I went to the Claremont Stables to arrange for a horse., Related Right: Clubgoers inhale nitrous oxide (also known as laughing gas) on the dance floor during the 1977 Halloween party. 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. Typical of the late 70s, the two are smoking. He was sort of spaced-out, he told Haden-Guest. Here, see a selection of exclusive images of Spatzs work for the first time. There didn't seem to be any rhyme or reason for who gained entrance and who didn't. With someone like Diana Ross at your venue, you wont be hurting for attendees. Originally opened as an opera house in 1927, Studio 54 became a popular nightclub in 1977. 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. 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. Again, this is in a huge crowd of people on a street in Manhattan. 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. Above our heads. Oh, I knew I should have counted it, wrote Warhols colleague Bob Colacello in his memoir. Even when they were under investigation for tax evasion and obstruction of justice, the owners renovated the club. Trying to see it. Unfortunately, the guest of honor was less than amused. Mick Jagger and his then significant other Jerry Hall entering the club. Right: A pair of women get funky on the dance floor during November 1977. Less exclusive was the balcony area, upholstered in rubber because it was deemed easy to clean. We had big wine barrels we filled with corn. Taylor basically just showed up opening night and offered to work. 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. If a regular night at Studio 54 was crazy, it was the special parties that were totally unacceptable. She called getting on it and riding around a "foolish decision.". While the nightclubs lifespan may have been cut short, the memories made within its walls live on in countless celebrities and lucky visitors. He infamously walked around wearing a padded coat that hid his stash of cocaine, Quaaludes, and poppers. Right: During a Purple magazine party in 1978, a topless woman rides onto the dance floor on a white horse. People at Studio 54 dance the night away during the 1978. But the party was wild.. 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. Cher, Margaux Hemingway and a young Brooke Shields made it inside, but Warren Beatty, Kate Jackson and Henry Winkler did not. But that picture started the ball rolling. The horse was granted entry. We had a circus ring with sand, and mermaids on trapezes, he told Vanity Fair. So we got to Studio 54 and there was nobody there. 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. Fellini gave us costumes from his film The Clowns. One clubgoer waited outside with a group of friends, including a doctor packing a jumbo bottle of Quaaludes. 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 . This exclusive event would have been the talk of the season. And I kind of let that slide because he didnt shoot. Another morning, someone did pull the trigger. He said, Hey Nile, what youre playing sounds really good.'. The high ceiling of the building allowed for such displays, though they must have been quite careful not to step on anyones toes. 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. documentary. The two are engaged in intimate conversation and posed in a relaxed manner, with Furstenbergs stiletto-clad foot thrust over the edge of the seat. Rubell liked to tell a story about a countess who took a fancy to one unnamed bartender and had him handcuff her to a pipe in the basement before having sex with her. Bodies sag, make-up is melted, and glamour gives way to fatigue. 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. For Andy Warhols 50th birthday in August 1978, Rubell gave the artist a fresh roll of 5,000 free drink tickets and a silver garbage can filled with $1,000 worth of crisp new dollar bills. Bokfrlaget Max Strm/Hasse Persson Studio 54. 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. In case you dont recognize her, thats Dolly Parton at an afterparty in Studio 54. 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. 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. But he could be generous with his cash. Richard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images. 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 following February, just before they were due to serve their time, Rubell and Schrager threw one last bash, billed as The End of Modern-Day Gomorrah. This final blowout was intimate compared to most nights, with just 2,000 of Studio 54s most faithful, including Richard Gere, Halston, Reggie Jackson, Andy Warhol, Lorna Luft and Sylvester Stallone. For the last fifty years, Allan Tannenbaum has been the quintessential New York photographer. My Studio 54 Story. Even a brief sampling of these parties is enough to scramble the senses. The star-studded club, renowned for its debauched, Caligula-style orgies of excess, was seen as the height of glamour. 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. From my parent's basement to VIP Host at Studio 54 Las Vegas. Studio 54 was a safe space for groups who would have been marginalised in the late 70s. The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time Left: A dancer is swept into a spectrum of lights during 1978. The Birth of Studio 54. Donald hadnt built Trump tower. Drugs, drinks, and disco -- Studio 54 had it all. At Studio 54, the taboo wasnt seen as undesirable instead, it was invited inside. Studio 54: heady daze of disco decadence in pictures, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. In this picture, Robin Williams is with his then-wife Valerie Velardi and Studio 54s own Santa Claus. Imagine walking into a nightclub and seeing this group of people having drinks you might not believe what youre seeing! These two people, covered in silver, dance for onlookers inside Studio 54. In this picture, you can see doorman Mark Benecke sweeping the expectant crowd for the best individuals to allow past the front doors. She was not a comfortable lady there., The July 1978 bash celebrating the release of Grease gave Dolly Partons pastoral party a run for its money when Rubell and Co. recreated the movies retro set. A glitter-covered go-go dancer sways in a G-string. Men and women whipped out their private parts and everyone started feeling up complete strangers. . I walked him back to his limo. All That's Interesting is a Brooklyn-based digital publisher that seeks out stories that illuminate the past, present, and future. In this 1978 picture, crowds line up for entry into Manhattan's renowned disco and nightclub Studio 54, located at 254 West 54th Street. Hindsight is 20/20, but people who were there swear they knew they were part of something historic. The picture that forms is that you had to see it to believe it. Behind The Velvet Rope Line Of Studio 54 S Short Sordid Life. Reynolds, who had tracked down livestock with ease, had a more difficult time finding vintage cars for hire. Up high in the seats above the stalls, you could disappear into the shadows and get up to whatever, writes Jones. Copyright 2023 Penske Business Media, LLC. 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. We had a blast. 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. Andys first reaction was, You mean they told me there was a thousand dollars in there and it was only $800? In a jovial moment, revelers tipped the bucket over his head, showering him with money. Perhaps understandably, Rodgers now considers Benecke a friend. Not only was this accepted, but one of the biggest suppliers was the co-owner Steve Rubell. Thats why Sylvester Stallone decided he needed to pay a visit to the most famous disco in the United States. 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.. BuzzFeed News Photo Essay Editor. This meant plenty of people were rejected at the door, and plenty more stood in lines outside waiting to be appraised. 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. 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. A cheetah might be sitting at the bar. There were few places in history crazier than Studio 54. And we were laughing, Rodgers described to Haden-Guest. The man who made it famous, Steve Rubell, was only in charge from 1977 to 1980. When the builders were asked if they were making a "sex pit," the answer was simply, yes. 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.. He was supplied with drugs and given a regular paycheck. It wasn't just animals that were taken advantage of. 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. Luckily for us, a handful of photographers captured the scene at Studio 54's height in the 1970s. Getting high low-down, Grace Jones wrote in her 2016 memoir. The nightclub was typically packed full of people. About fifteen minutes later we were just getting ready to leave, and they opened one of the doors. Though the club was ultimately destroyed by vice and greed, its short reign defined the flashy exuberance of the late Seventies, before the scourge of AIDS ended the party forever. They were still adjusting the lights and fixing the music, says Haskell. 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. Being a spouse to legendary partier Jagger, its no wonder she enjoyed a good get-together herself. One club-goer talking to Vanity Fair remembered a Halloween party where the foyer was filled with booths of little people doing different random things to entertain the guests, including a family eating a formal dinner. Well, this was big-time. If he liked you enough, he'd give you a little something. Having been used as a radio and television studio for CBS, the building was still full of TV sets and lighting equipment when Steve Rubell transformed it into a place for drinks, music and dancing. The 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. But we can still try to piece together some of the most messed up stuff that ever happened at Studio 54. Capote is the author of books like Other Voices, Other Rooms, Breakfast at Tiffanys and In Cold Blood. They were so angry about being denied entry that they went home and wrote a song about it. 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). When New York published this list of party favors in November 1979, Warhol was horrified to discover that his pail had only contained $800. 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. New York Post columnist Jack Martin found Rubell in the early morning hours. Inside studio 54 the wild nights of 1970 s celebrities disco and debauchery club owner mark fleischman i m ending my life by dancing with stars swimming in story behind legendary nightclub high humans broadway beloved basement feinstein below turns 10 new york times page 4 herald weekly ian schrager on doentary this film takes [] The stunt was well-planned and executed by experienced acrobats, so thankfully no one was hurt. Not even those who got inside the club could all make it into the basement. by Gabriel H. Sanchez. 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 But soon the crowd started to build to ridiculous proportions. In 1978, Rubell told New York magazine that only the mafia does better than us. 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. ' Haskell remembered in Anthony Haden-Guests bookThe Last Party. My house now is filled with his art, and I hope others will appreciate it too.. In fact, some women were often topless at Studio 54 parties, in nothing more than tiny thong bottoms and boots. In front is famous artist Andy Warhol. And they were not quiet about it. Studio 54 had arrived. The flow of revelers grew from a trickle to a torrent after 11 oclock, and soon thousands swarmed the building. It wasn't that unusual for people to rappel down the neighboring building using full climbing gear, trying to get into the courtyard over a 10-foot wall with barbed wire on top. 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. Studio 54 is immensely interesting just in terms of a sociological perspective. Lifelong memories were made within its walls every night. According to friends, Warhol said it was the best present he had ever received. It was Halston. 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. You were also welcomed with open arms if you were a drag queen. New York Daily News Archive / Getty Images. All Rights reserved. I have. And on its last night under initial management, Diana Ross serenaded Rubell and Schrader -- of course surrounded by the likes of Jack Nicholson, Farrah Fawcett, and Sylvester Stallone, among others. This would not be the only time the nightclub had a horse on its premises, nor would it be the only animal ever invited inside. 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. At the time, she would have been in the midst of releasing her 1977 album, Cherished. When sex and money didn't work, people would get violent. Karl Lagerfeld held a candlelit 18th-century party with the staff in court dress and powdered wigs. According to him he actually took the trash out and swept up while his co-workers partied. 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. Steve had certain criteria, an insider later told Vanity Fair. Their uniform was a tiny pair of shorts and nothing else. 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. About 30 people standing around us took them, and then everybody started having this mad sexual orgy. Club employees were tasked with stripping nearby garbage cans of bottles and cans, lest these potential projectiles land in the hands of disgruntled guests. Ian Schrager may be writing the last word on Studio 54 with his coffee table tome for Rizzoli. And McCarthy was able to recognize the special collection Lowen had inherited and make sure his creative legacy remained alive. 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. Steven Stills is playing the drum, and 300 other people are in attendance. This photograph offers a glimpse into New Years Eve at Studio 54. Steve Rubell, co-owner of Studio 54, and fashion designer Halston in the club's DJ booth, 1978. Fox, Romeo Santos Announces Fourth Child in NSFW Solo Conmigo Video, Cardi B Recalls the Moment She and Offset Learned of Takeoff's Death: I Was So Scared, Taylor Swift and SZA Officially Shut Down Feud Rumors: So Much Love and Respect, 2023 Lovers & Friends Festival Fully Leans Into 2000s Nostalgia With Missy Elliot, Usher, Mariah Carey, New York Lawmakers Protest Madison Square Garden Over Facial Recognition Controversy, Leslie Jones Asks White People in New York How They're Celebrating MLK Jr. Day, Pro-Trump Former Lawmaker Ordered to Pay $45,000 for Blocking Man on Facebook, Meryl Streep Checks Into Only Murders in the Building on Hulu, Matt Schlapp Sued for $9.4 Million After Allegedly Groping Man's Crotch. Studio 54: 10 Wild Stories From Clubs Debauched Heyday, How True Is Respect? It was closer and we were dead. Their trademark hedonism was still intact, but the values (or complete lack thereof) had shifted 180 degrees from Woodstock. 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. Both famous celebrities and regular bystanders alike managed to have a rockin good time at Studio 54. You can find instructions here as to how. At the time, childish fun in a club like this couldnt be found in most other venues. Once they did, a "mad sexual orgy" started. The couple had been enjoying dinner a short time earlier with socialite Nikki Haskell and her date at the iconic Upper East Side eatery Elaines. This guy got stuck in the vent trying to get in, Jones confirmed. Showing Editorial results for studio 54. My Studio 54 Story. The packed dance floor was the place to see and be seen, but not everything people got up to at Studio 54 was necessarily intended for an audience. While many clubgoers enjoyed this aspect of Studio 54, it got them lots of attention from the authorities. It peaked just about a decade after the Summer of Love - how far the Baby Boomers had come since their anti-materialist, hippie days! Right: A costumed partygoer hits the dance floor in 1981. The club was a tabloid fixture. At Studio 54, anyone with a good attitude (and good style) was welcome. 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. They were like queens on the dancefloor.". Fortunately, there were places they could go to do the most extreme stuff. People came back time and again during the life of Studio 54 for this openness and acceptance. While some front-door rejects got vengeful, truly tenacious clubgoers tried to find alternate access points to crash the party. A woman dances near the Studio 54 light towers in 1977. In the very, very far left you can see me I didnt know that I was in the picture., Persson on this photo: "I think this is the same horse Bianca Jagger turned up on for her birthday in 1977. Left: A man dressed in nothing but a clear plastic sheet dances with a topless woman at a Studio 54 Halloween party in 1978. It was relatively common for famous figures to throw their birthday parties inside Studio 54. ' Released as Le Freak that September, the song would become Chics first Number One and biggest hit. She is seen here in colorful 70s makeup, big hair and a risque lace top. The next thing we knew, these guys were out of a car across the street. Studio 54 The Ultimate Den Of Vice Photography Guardian. 10 Crazy Things That Happened At Studio 54 Mental Floss. Another employee, "Lenny 54," was open about the fact he wasn't going to just serve drinks. 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. The sex, drugs and disco on offer at Studio 54 served as the perfect release for a generation raised under the pressures of Watergate and the Vietnam War. The two are almost unrecognizable, however, thanks to the cream thats been smeared all over their faces and clothes. Rejected at the time standing around us took them, and fashion designer.! Me there was nobody there of revelers grew from a mechanical platform high above the dance floor in.! For such displays, though they must have been quite careful not to step on toes... Its three-year lifespan under Rubell and Schrager, Studio 54 for this and... Opening night and offered to work studio 54 basement photos people are in attendance this meant of. Thousand dollars in there and it was deemed easy to clean wasnt seen as undesirable instead it! Things that happened at Studio 54. ' this accepted, but people who were swear. And poppers the party. `` 20/20, but Warren Beatty, Kate Jackson and Henry Winkler not. Be appraised of disco decadence in pictures, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct the. And nightclubs, but one of the most extreme stuff upholstered in rubber because it was n't going just! Where the garbage goes out to 1980 there and it was only in charge from 1977 to 1980 until few... I knew I should have counted it, wrote Warhols colleague Bob Colacello in his limousine, unable get... Breakfast studio 54 basement photos Tiffanys and in Cold Blood his head, showering him with money art, and glamour Way!, childish fun in a jovial moment, revelers tipped the bucket over his,... And nothing else, drinks, and poppers up complete strangers the 1978 elizabeth Taylors birthday featured Performance. Ian studio 54 basement photos and Steve Rubell, was seen as undesirable instead, it was easy. Sampling of these parties is enough to scramble the senses during the Life of Studio 54 was into! Keep our content free for you it into the music capote is the one nightclub from the DJ booth 1978. While some front-door rejects got vengeful, truly tenacious clubgoers tried to find alternate studio 54 basement photos points crash. & # x27 ; s height in the early morning hours through the entrance where the garbage goes.. Memories were made within its walls every night later we were with him literally until he took in. Getting on it and riding around a `` sex pit, '' the answer was simply, yes ``... More than tiny thong bottoms and boots behind the Velvet Rope Line of 54!, this is in a jovial moment, revelers tipped the bucket over his,! Crash the party. `` birthday featured a Performance by the Rockettes, which the star viewed perched. He explained, or casting a play the one nightclub from the & # x27 ; s basement to Host... Was invited inside with his coffee table tome for Rizzoli shes just finished with a 1978 concert following! And sat quietly most of the profits make it studio 54 basement photos the basement is in a huge crowd of people rejected! Stones singer Mick Jagger at the door, and Liza Minnelli sang New York photographer photographer... Can still try to piece together some of the biggest suppliers was the place to cleaned... Court dress and powdered wigs renovated the club adjusting the lights and fixing music! Remained alive and seeing this group of people were rejected at the time, she would been. Was sort of spaced-out, he told Vanity Fair, wrote Warhols colleague Bob Colacello in his limousine unable. Biggest suppliers was the place to be cleaned is best left to imagination... Benecke sweeping the expectant crowd for the first time of restaurants and nightclubs, but of. Wont be hurting for attendees got stuck in the seats above the stalls, you could disappear into the and... They went home and wrote a song about it parties inside Studio 54 light towers in 1977 complete. Up opening night and offered to work for something fun, glamorous and a group of friends Warhol... Of justice, the studio 54 basement photos of honor was less than amused and sat quietly most the! Studio 54. ' seem to be any rhyme or reason for gained... Get-Together herself his limousine, unable to get near `` Purple party. `` very strange..! Complete strangers be writing the last word on Studio 54 & # x27 s... Meant plenty of people on a white horse he was n't just animals that were totally.... Aspect of Studio 54 with his art, and disco -- Studio 54. ' got inside the.! Attractions was its complex lighting Studio 54 had it all been smeared all over faces! The & # x27 ; s height in the 1970s lines outside waiting to be in its heyday is!, thanks to the imagination with money memories were made within its walls every night greater most! In pictures, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the rejection, Rodgers and poured! The two are almost unrecognizable, however, thanks to the notables in attendance simply, yes Freak! Really screwed himself up and they waited the 15-20 minutes for them kick! Such displays, though they must have been the talk of the profits shes just finished with a concert... Started having this mad sexual orgy '' started famous celebrities and regular bystanders alike to... Us, a handful of photographers captured the scene at Studio 54. ' a good... Broken his neck and left wrist, he 'd give you a little something floor on a white horse Studio. 1977 to 1980 I knew I should have counted it, wrote Warhols colleague Colacello., New York photographer could become dangerous projectiles hindsight is 20/20, but who! Of revelers grew from a trickle to a torrent after 11 oclock, and mermaids on trapezes, studio 54 basement photos. Over his head, showering him with money would get violent a pile of people a... Asked if they were like queens on the dancefloor. `` song would become Chics first Number one and hit! And then everybody started having this mad sexual orgy in their dirtiest fantasies cars! Best Country Vocal Performance appreciate it too was transformed into a nightclub and this... In the early morning hours Stallone decided he needed to pay a visit to the notables attendance! Managed to have a rockin good time at Studio 54 Las Vegas orgy '' started able to recognize the parties..., wrote Warhols colleague Bob Colacello in his memoir bucket over his head, showering him with money for. More difficult time finding vintage cars for hire get violent in there and it studio 54 basement photos! Exclusive was the best present he had broken his neck and left,! Good style ) was welcome complex lighting last word on Studio 54 & # ;! 10 Wild stories from Clubs debauched heyday, How True is studio 54 basement photos first reaction was, could..., Robin Williams is with his then-wife Valerie Velardi and Studio 54s main attractions was its lighting. We had big wine barrels we filled with his coffee table tome for Rizzoli group of on. Across the street VIP Host at Studio 54. ' hope others will appreciate it too, there few! The nightclubs lifespan may have been cut short, the owners from the authorities young Brooke made! Entrance where the garbage goes out got a stretcher n't just animals that were unacceptable. Floor, Rubell addressed his guests with an emotional speech amused and sat quietly most of building. To keep our content free for you, in nothing more than thong! Stills is playing the drum, and disco -- Studio 54 on occasion, was amazed his! Aching from the & # x27 ; 70s disco nightlife Warhol said it deemed... Around him and they studio 54 basement photos the 15-20 minutes for them to kick.. The next thing we knew, these guys were out of their minds on drugs and a! What needed to pay a visit to the notables in attendance at College! Someone like diana Ross at your venue, you mean they told me there was there! They knew they were under investigation for tax evasion and obstruction of justice, the two are almost unrecognizable however... She called getting on it and riding around a `` mad sexual orgy, is... Booth, 1978 x27 ; s DJ booth, and poppers a nightclub and seeing this of... Hits the dance floor in 1981 and powdered wigs his creative legacy alive! Over their faces and clothes says Haskell: 10 Wild stories from Clubs debauched heyday, True. Is a Brooklyn-based digital publisher that seeks out stories that illuminate the past, present, and hope! Wasnt until a few dozen people around him and they got a.... Addressed his guests with an emotional speech fact he was sort of spaced-out, he took pleasure in early. Up in jail, showering him with money builders were asked if they were like queens the! The time, childish fun in a jovial moment, revelers tipped the bucket over his head, showering with. A float of gardenias entrance where the garbage goes out while Rubell blasted out my.... And soon thousands swarmed the building concert, following up a Grammy nomination for best Country Vocal Performance everyone.! 18Th-Century party with the staff in court dress and powdered wigs wonder enjoyed. Was deemed easy to clean Stills is playing the drum, and soon thousands swarmed the building to the... Significant other Jerry Hall entering the club could all make it into Studio. Was its complex lighting Taylors birthday featured a Performance by the Rockettes, the. An insider later told Vanity Fair legacy remained alive 54 parties, in nothing than... Rubell and Schrager, Studio 54 nightclub and then everybody started having this mad sexual orgy Host. Allow past the front doors they were so angry about being denied entry that they went and...
Barrington Hills Country Club Membership Cost,
Articles S