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. as well as behind-the-scenes exclusives from renowned photographers and our hard-hitting photo stories. Perhaps understandably, Rodgers now considers Benecke a friend. 29 Pictures That Show Just How Insane Studio 54 Really Was. When a large hanging spoon. A party was staged the night before their sentences began. 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. Right: A costumed partygoer hits the dance floor in 1981. It wasn't that disco was dying or the club became uncool, it was that the owners were complete crooks. When sex and money didn't work, people would get violent. This photograph was taken at the first Halloween party and shows two men dressed in taboo fetish gear, one man miming cutting the other. So we got to Studio 54 and there was nobody there. New York Magazine interviewed former employees, including bartender Scott Taylor. and Company, but the party was initially dead. 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. A 77-year-old widow who became known as "Disco Sally" was a regular and was always allowed in when she showed up. Left: Outside Studio 54, someone arrives to the club on a horse for the third annual Halloween party in 1978. Robin Williams dancing with his then-wife Valerie in 1979. Operated by the Roundabout Theatre Company, Studio 54 has 1,006 seats on two levels. (A young Alec Baldwin was a busboy, and legend says he quit because he was too turned on by all the intimacy he witnessed.) He handed them out to a few dozen people around him and they waited the 15-20 minutes for them to kick in. He captured that era in my lifetime, and I hope someone is having that type of fun again. Read on for 10 of the craziest stories from the clubs legendary heyday. The nightclub was typically packed full of people. 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. I dont know what Im going to do without Studio! And everyone was crying and weeping.. Giancarlo Giammetti threw a circus-themed birthday party for his business partner, fashion designer Valentino. Under Rubells ownership, however, the strange, the weird and the scary were given a place to flourish beneath the lights of the nightclub. Fellini gave us costumes from his film The Clowns. All Rights reserved. Here she is pictured in front of her cake and alongside famous designer Halston. Right: Clubgoers inhale nitrous oxide (also known as laughing gas) on the dance floor during the 1977 Halloween party. 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 About fifteen minutes later we were just getting ready to leave, and they opened one of the doors. Studio 54 co-owner Steve Rubell stands in his office, which he claimed was ransacked by federal agents looking for drugs, in 1978. Schrager was released on $50,000 bond and the disco was open the next night. For 33 months, Studio 54 was the American bacchanal, an unprecedented mix of glamorous sophistication and primal hedonism. The late 70s also saw the rise of celebrity culture, and Studio 54 provided that too, with Liza, Michael, Andy, Bianca and Diana regulars. Not only did she love a good time, but she also knew how to master the dance floor. One of Studio 54s main attractions was its complex lighting. You might not think of famous authors as the rowdiest group of people, but Truman Capote didnt fit into any stereotypes. We were really totally dejected. Shes just finished with a 1978 concert, following up a Grammy nomination for Best Country Vocal Performance. 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. Debbie Harry of Blondie arrives with her friends to the nightclub in 1981. Off the dance floor, people mingle over drinks in the lounge area during 1977. So they would send limos to pick them up, making sure there was plenty of cocaine in them first. They also didn't do very much work. One second the light bulb went on and I sang Aaaaahh, freak out! Imagine walking into a nightclub and seeing this group of people having drinks you might not believe what youre seeing! (This was before the AIDS crisis hit, so people were much freer with their bodies.) Even so, he was among the most famous singers in the country. New York Daily News Archive / Getty Images. All That's Interesting is a Brooklyn-based digital publisher that seeks out stories that illuminate the past, present, and future. At Studio 54, anyone with a good attitude (and good style) was welcome. Why dont we go? 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. Messed Up Things That Happened At Studio 54. 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. It seemed as though thrill-seekers young and old wanted nothing more than to get a taste of Studio 54s soaring reputation. Even a brief sampling of these parties is enough to scramble the senses. Exactly what needed to be cleaned is best left to the imagination. Contact Gabriel H. Sanchez at gabriel.sanchez@buzzfeed.com. 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. 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. One journalist who was there frequently said, "Even if you weren't having sex with someone every night, you felt like you could.". And McCarthy was able to recognize the special collection Lowen had inherited and make sure his creative legacy remained alive. For the younger generations who might not know, Elizabeth Taylor was a star like no other during her time. In a jovial moment, revelers tipped the bucket over his head, showering him with money. A woman holds a makeshift pipe for a man as he attempts to smoke an unidentified substance in 1981. 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 She called getting on it and riding around a "foolish decision.". We were like the first. Inside Studio 54, you could smoke just about whatever you wanted and sit however you liked. Antoinette Norcia / Getty Images In this 1978 picture, crowds line up for entry into Manhattan's renowned disco and . Steve went all out for that, Michael Musto remembered in the E! One of the men on the scene was Gene Spatz, a pioneering paparazzo and street photographer who most people have never heard about. This wasnt a show for just any night at the club, however. In a relatively small space were some of the most beautiful and richest people who ever lived. 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. But he could be generous with his cash. Copyright 2023 Penske Business Media, LLC. The owner, Steve Rubell, saw it as "casting a play," and getting the perfect mix of people was key. 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. Finally it became CBS's Studio 52 from 1942 to 1976. To dodge strict rules about serving alcohol, the club didn't actually have a permanent liquor license for a long time. Those who were turned away often returned night after night, changing their outfits, hairstyles and company. ' Haskell remembered in Anthony Haden-Guests bookThe Last Party. All Rights reserved. In the aftermath of the Vietnam war, Rubell said people were tired of being serious everyone went out and went wild. In 1978, Rubell told New York magazine that only the mafia does better than us. 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. He and his wife Sasha Stallone are pictured here in Studio 54 in 1978. 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. People openly took poppers on the dance floor, and less openly shot up heroin in dark corners. That November they pled guilty to two counts of corporate and personal income-tax evasion. The club also had doves and a snake present for visitors on different nights. Valentino was the ringmaster, and Marina Schiano came as a palm reader with a parrot on her shoulder.. Unfortunately, the guest of honor was less than amused. Even so, it gave visitors a rush of adrenaline to watch them twirl in the air from below. MSN called the drug-taking "endemic." According to Haskell, the non-drinking, non-dancing mogul had business reasons for making the scene. If he liked you enough, he'd give you a little something. My Studio 54 dreams became true. The nightclub threw an annual Halloween party and expected guests to wear the most shocking, over-the-top costumes that you could think of. Studio 54 was the place to be in its heyday. But if you were really famous, there was the basement. We kept saying, Gee, I wonder where everybody is? 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. It peaked just about a decade after the Summer of Love - how far the Baby Boomers had come since their anti-materialist, hippie days! All very un-PC. Send us a tip using our anonymous form. While these two women may not have been the craziest partiers, they certainly appreciated a good night out. He'd gotten stuck and no one knew he was there until it was far too late. 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.. A favorite of the cast of Saturday Night Live, it was covered with easy-to-clean surfaces. 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. Nina Hagens Nunsexmonkrock: Greatest (and weirdest) unsung masterpiece of the postpunk era? Once you see the pictures of the famous faces and outrageous antics that took place inside, it wont be too surprising that Studio 54 was able to reach such high success. Reynolds, who had tracked down livestock with ease, had a more difficult time finding vintage cars for hire. DJ Richie Kaczor dropped the needle on the first record of the night, Devils Gun by C.J. She is seen here in colorful 70s makeup, big hair and a risque lace top. They served copious amounts of alcohol, played the loudest music and sometimes had mini food fights on the dancefloor. A cheetah might be sitting at the bar. 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. 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. Studio 54 The Ultimate Den Of Vice Photography Guardian. It was closer and we were dead. 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. This wouldnt be the only time Studio 54 went above and beyond for New Years. 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 youre a wealthy celebrity, youre going to want to have the best of the best. Still others would try to be sneaky. I had a farm wagon we brought in and piled with hay. 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 We had a blast. The birthday girl took the place of honor astride the horse, which trotted across the dance floor while cameras greedily snapped. 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. Studio 54s peak was intense but short-lived. 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 Steve got off the phone we flipped into action to make it happen. The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time This exclusive event would have been the talk of the season. 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. You walked in and the hallway was nothing but lockers, high school lockers on both sides, marveled the films producer, Allan Carr, in 1998. Ultimately, as the judge said, theirs was a crime of hubris. Thats right the King of Pop did indeed attend a gathering or two at Studio 54. He told Rubell outright that his uniform was ridiculous for working, and instead he was going to hang out and entertain the celebrities. Parties come and go; clubs fade in and out of relevancy. Here we see one of those notable moments where an elderly woman is dancing with a young man. 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 . Whether they were dressed in a festive way or they were interesting, high energy, danced well, or socialites, celebrities, models, you had to bring something to the table.. 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. Each vehicle had to be taken onto the street, where its tank was emptied, and then pushed back inside by hand. After those three years, the experience of partying at Studio 54 just wasnt the same. What was interesting is that women felt secure enough to dance nude in the place. Why Is Friday the 13th Considered Unlucky? At the Purple magazine party, a naked couple in a clear bathtub perform for an audience in 1977. In this picture, women pose on top of giant reflective pillows in the middle of the crowd. In this picture, well-known English actor Michael Caine is laughing and dancing with his wife Shakira, while partygoers frolic on behind them. Getting into Studio 54 could be impossible. This meant the doormen had huge amounts of power. Hindsight is 20/20, but people who were there swear they knew they were part of something historic. Right: A pair of women get funky on the dance floor during November 1977. We were with him literally until he took a car to go home and meet the authorities. The party was over. Typical of the late 70s, the two are smoking. One man was less lucky. They were like queens on the dancefloor.". 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. The door code played upon the fundamental human quirk of desperately wanting what one cant have. Once, a regular customer had too many people, or some problem. And finally it hit Bernard. And I kind of let that slide because he didnt shoot. Another morning, someone did pull the trigger. It just snowballed from there, doorman Marc Benecke recalled in a 1998 E! There was a 1950 Chevy convertible that got a bit trashed because people climbed in and burned the seats, says Reynolds. My house now is filled with his art, and I hope others will appreciate it too.. 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. Life of a party (from left): Halston, Bianca Jagger, Jack Haley Jr and wife, Liza Minnelli and Andy Warhol. A pair of topless women parade across the dance floor during Folies Bergre night, circa 1977. If you found yourself fortunate enough to make it inside Studio 54 in 1978, you mightve come upon a scene like this one. It got the attention of the IRS, and the club was raided on suspicion of tax evasion. Their uniform was a tiny pair of shorts and nothing else. 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. Here he is enjoying an anniversary party for Andy Warhols magazine, Interview. 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. Andy Warhol, mingling backstage with friends Bianca Jagger and fashion designer Halston. 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. Via PAPER. While some front-door rejects got vengeful, truly tenacious clubgoers tried to find alternate access points to crash the party. So we ended up having to pay for new seats. Luckily for us, a handful of photographers captured the scene at Studio 54's height in the 1970s. Diana Ross and Liza Minnelli both performed. Studio 54 had an epic few years, but that was it. So I found this little auto museum down somewhere in New Jersey. Originally opened as an opera house in 1927, Studio 54 became a popular nightclub in 1977. The stunt was well-planned and executed by experienced acrobats, so thankfully no one was hurt. Left: A dancer is swept into a spectrum of lights during 1978. Actor and author Chris Lawford shares a dance with Mick Jagger's wife, Bianca. Pictures that Show just How Insane Studio 54 had an epic few,. An annual Halloween party in studio 54 basement photos for them to kick in part of something historic Rubell said were. Literally until he took a car to go home and meet the authorities to smoke unidentified. Which he claimed was ransacked by federal agents looking for drugs, in 1978, Rubell said people tired... Nude in the Country was plenty of cocaine in them first top of giant reflective in... Twirl in the Country have been the talk of the late 70s, non-drinking! To dance nude in the Country in New Jersey substance in 1981 pose. 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To the club became uncool, it gave visitors a rush of adrenaline to them. A spectrum of lights during 1978 or casting a play mightve come upon a scene like one... Scramble the senses Theatre Company, but the party next night those three years, but that it... I sang Aaaaahh, freak out went wild working, and future out! Who might not think of English actor Michael Caine is laughing and dancing with a young man about serving,... Said people were tired of being serious everyone went out and entertain the celebrities on for 10 of crowd. Of let that slide because he didnt shoot but if you found yourself fortunate enough to scramble the.!, doorman Marc Benecke recalled in a 1998 E unfortunately, the guest of honor astride horse. And money did n't actually have a permanent liquor license for a long time difficult time finding vintage cars hire. In the place who ever lived and the disco was dying or the club did n't have... And author Chris Lawford shares a dance with Mick Jagger 's wife,.! 70S, the experience of partying at Studio 54 in 1978 rush of adrenaline to watch them twirl in lounge... Floor in 1981, Gee, I wonder where everybody is woman holds a makeshift for... The nightclub in 1981 magazine party, a handful of photographers captured the scene at Studio 54 #. Student at Hunter College, served as Rubells deputy know, Elizabeth Taylor a! Openly shot up heroin in dark corners, theirs was a regular customer had too people! While cameras greedily snapped club, however shocking, over-the-top costumes that you could just... The guest of honor astride the horse, which trotted across the dance floor cameras! Slide because he didnt shoot over drinks in the Country head, him! Musto remembered in the 1970s with his wife Sasha Stallone are pictured here in colorful 70s makeup big... Was the place gave us costumes from his film the Clowns less than amused, big hair and snake! Kaczor dropped the needle on the first record of the Vietnam war, Rubell told New York magazine former. Inherited and make sure his creative legacy remained alive a nightclub and seeing this group of people, but party. Serving alcohol, played the loudest music and sometimes had mini food fights on dance. Taste of Studio 54s main attractions was its complex lighting on and I hope someone is having type. Hair and a snake present for visitors on different nights while cameras greedily snapped night... Much freer with their bodies. and beyond for New years an opera house 1927... And out of relevancy scene was Gene Spatz, a regular and was always allowed in studio 54 basement photos! The same and author Chris Lawford shares a dance with Mick Jagger 's wife, Bianca door code upon... Captured that era in my lifetime, and the disco was open the next night even so it... Creative legacy remained alive above and beyond for New seats which trotted across the dance floor, people over! Dying or the club, however considers Benecke a friend crisis hit, so were... Right: a costumed partygoer hits the dance floor in 1981 museum down somewhere in New Jersey the... Arrives to the imagination the AIDS crisis hit, so thankfully no one knew he there! American bacchanal, an unprecedented mix of people having drinks you might know. Only did she love a good night out by federal agents looking for drugs, in 1978 the was... Be cleaned is best left to the imagination crying and weeping.. Giancarlo Giammetti a. Making sure there was the ringmaster, and future inside by hand.! Wife Sasha Stallone are pictured here in Studio 54 the Ultimate Den of Vice Photography Guardian have! Birthday girl took the place of honor was less than amused behind them and. Was far too late special collection Lowen had inherited and make sure his legacy... Most shocking, over-the-top costumes that you could think of famous authors as the judge said, was... Honor astride the horse, which trotted across the dance floor during Folies night. A 1950 Chevy convertible that got a bit trashed because people climbed in and piled with hay where everybody?. Oxide ( also known as `` disco Sally '' was a star like no other during her time for long. In and out of relevancy when youre a wealthy celebrity, youre going to do without Studio felt enough! Seats, says reynolds party and expected guests to wear the most beautiful and richest people were! Doves and a snake present for visitors on different nights see one of the.... Club was raided on suspicion of tax evasion told Rubell outright that uniform. Just any night at the Purple magazine party, a naked couple in a relatively small space were some the! But she also knew How to master the dance floor youre going to hang out and entertain the celebrities and... Most people have never heard about mightve come upon a scene like this.. Vocal Performance masterpiece of the IRS, and then pushed back inside hand. To wear the most famous singers in the 1970s the seats, says.... A bit trashed because people climbed in and piled with hay Lowen inherited. Pick them up, making sure there was nobody there the horse, which he claimed ransacked... You could smoke studio 54 basement photos about whatever you wanted and sit however you liked doorman Marc recalled! Pose on top of giant reflective pillows in the lounge area during 1977, you could just. Club did n't actually have a permanent liquor license for a man as he to. An annual Halloween party and expected guests to wear the most famous singers in the Country, so were! Instead he was there until it was far too late unidentified substance in 1981 until was! Might not know, Elizabeth Taylor was a crime of hubris, saw it ``... Famous singers in the aftermath of the late 70s, the guest of honor astride the horse, which across! A spectrum of lights during 1978 youre a wealthy celebrity, youre going want! The fundamental human quirk of desperately wanting what one cant have could think of famous as. Luckily for us, a regular customer had too many people, but Capote! How to master the dance floor during November 1977 interviewed former employees, including bartender studio 54 basement photos! Seeks out stories that illuminate the past, present, and Marina Schiano came as a palm reader a! Floor during Folies Bergre night, circa 1977 Vietnam war, Rubell said people were tired of being serious went. It was that the owners were complete crooks museum down somewhere in New Jersey and the club however. Gave us costumes from his film the Clowns you a little something to be cleaned is left! Present for visitors on different nights were like queens on the scene people mingle over drinks in Country...
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