Remember, at the time the cast of SNL were rock stars. Being a spouse to legendary partier Jagger, its no wonder she enjoyed a good get-together herself. Thats right the King of Pop did indeed attend a gathering or two at Studio 54. In 1978, Rubell told New York magazine that only the mafia does better than us. Giseles Summer Outfit Is The Epitome Of Rich Mom Energy, 7 Small Habits That Will Give Your Emotional Wellbeing A Serious Boost, According To An Expert, First The Princess Of Wales, Now The Roys Are Obsessed With This Stealth-Wealth Handbag Brand, 8 Things To Know About Tyrell Hampton, NYC Photographer & TikTok Star With Dua Lipa On Speed Dial. No other nightclub has been able to rival it in reputation and A-list guests since. On April 16, 1977, crowds of hip revelers . Unfortunately, the bartender was so out of his gourd on goofballs that he forgot to unlock the cuffs when the two were finished and left her in the basement before going back to work. The two went into the basement where she had the bartender handcuff her to a pipe for some extra naughty fun. June 1, 2017. Picture this: Elton John partying the night away with drag queen Divine on the instantly recognisable parquet dancefloor. In the 2018 documentary about Studio 54, footage of Rubell shows the co-owner discussing how one night he simply thought to place velvet ropes outside the club that revelers instinctively got in line. New York: Photo shows crowd waiting outside Studio 54, the popular New York City disco. Left: A dancer is swept into a spectrum of lights during 1978. After Lowen uploaded digital versions of the photographs to a secure vault, POBA staff helped crop and curate the material, highlighting the value of his artistic eye. Even if Bowie was in the normal person phase of his career, he was always looking for new sounds. 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. Known for its raucous parties and A-list guests, the first three years of Studio 54's existence were the most exclusive and enticing and that was by design. 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.. Diana Ross and Liza Minnelli sang, while Rubell blasted out My Way. Even if you werent having sex with someone every night, you felt like you could, says former editor of Interview, Bob Colacello. Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager opened Studio 54 40 years ago, and it soon became the . Warhols friend Bob Colacello wrote in his memoir: To create a club that lives up to the theatrical standards of the Rocketman himself, Rubell and Schrager did everything they could to turn the former theater into an experience. While many clubgoers enjoyed this aspect of Studio 54, it got them lots of attention from the authorities. The people in this photograph have costumes and makeup on, complete with pairs of tall stilts that helped them tower over the crowd. Aside from the dancing and debauchery, one thing that everyone remembers about Studio 54 is the clubs interior design. He began incorporating dance music and disco into his sound, and to find inspiration he went to the club and paid close attention. In 2018s Studio 54: The Documentary one doorman explains that the crowd was so intense that the people in the coat check couldnt handle the demand of the people. Not something you see every day, but you could see it at Studio 54. Regularly attended by celebrities such as Andy Warhol, Elizabeth Taylor, Mick Jagger, Bianca Jagger, Jerry Hall, Debbie Harry, Grace Jones, Michael Jackson . A woman dances near the Studio 54 light towers in 1977. Unlike Ron Galellas work which has been exhibited and is collected as fine art after Spatz died in 2003 the archive of images was inherited by his younger sister, Amy Lowen, and packed away in filing cabinets in her Kentucky home. It must have felt like a raw, unbridled energy was unleashed in Manhattan every Saturday night. This article originally appeared on Vogue US. And, who can forget the iconic image of Bianca Jagger riding a white horse through the clubs entrance? Ian Schrager is still proud about what he and co-owner Rubell did: What does everyone want for their birthday? Even when Claudia Cohen, a reporter from the New York Post, stopped by to check in on their progress she was shocked at how broken down everything was. It was a place of great exclusivity, but also a place where one went to be photographed. Actor and author Chris Lawford shares a dance with Mick Jagger's wife, Bianca. These two people, covered in silver, dance for onlookers inside Studio 54. Studio 54, both the interior and the street outside, allowed people to dance off their problems and be apart of something at the same time. Picture this: Elton John partying the night away with drag queen Divine on the instantly recognisable parquet dance floor. 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. Right: A costumed partygoer hits the dance floor in 1981. The son rose and set inside the club, literally. Even when the clubs co-owners were under a federal investigation they didnt let anything get in the way of the clubs success. A nearly naked couple dances together on top of a speaker at the club's first Halloween party in 1977. 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. Andy Warhol, Jerry Hall, Debbie Harry, Truman Capote, and Paloma Picasso. Despite only being open for 33 months, the nightclub . The late 70s also saw the rise of celebrity culture, and Studio 54 provided that too, with Liza, Michael, Andy, Bianca and Diana regulars. Owner Steve Rubell is standing in his office in this photograph after, he claimed, federal police raided the area in search of drugs. In fact, she sang that night with Liza Minnelli. 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. One agent told CBS that the book had a skim column so that you had a daily record of everything that they took in and what they took out as skim and didn't report. Co-owner Schrager explained his dalliance as a part of the ridiculous intoxication, I suppose, we were suffering from, like, what were we thinking?". She wrote: Studio 54 wasnt just the most banging party in Manhattan because someone unlocked the doors and tossed on a mixtape. A guaranteed internet breaker, if it had been invented. If you wanted a place to let loose and perhaps engage in some public nudity, then Studio 54 was the club for you. When she wasnt whipping her legs through the air to the music, she was brushing shoulders with the countrys most famous celebrities. In this 1978 picture, crowds line up for entry into Manhattan's renowned disco and nightclub Studio 54, located at 254 West 54th Street. In the clubs first year open, Cher showed up to the scene at Studio 54. They served copious amounts of alcohol, played the loudest music and sometimes had mini food fights on the dancefloor. 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. (AP Photo/Quinto) Date: 02/04/1979. Its immersive atmosphere and coveted location on West 54th street in Manhattan made the spot an instant hit. According to Dustin Pittman, a photographer who was there, the sickening smell of the flowers couldnt cover the scent of all the nefarious activity that happened there throughout the years: With Studio 54 being the hottest ticket in town for 33 months there was an overwhelming amount of people who wanted to get in. Williams appears to be accepting a drink from the jolly character. Suddenly the IRS were interested in going clubbing. On finding Studio 54s books, it was discovered that a skim was in operation on up to 80% of the profits. The club also had doves and a snake present for visitors on different nights. A woman in a bustier and garters finds her partner the "punk" behind her, at Studio 54's 1977 Halloween party. In the liner notes of Sound and Vision Bowie explained why he was drawn to the club and dance music: There was a theatrical quality to Studio 54 that club goers had never seen before. Diana Ross, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Cher, Truman . Lifelong memories were made within its walls every night. All That's Interesting is a Brooklyn-based digital publisher that seeks out stories that illuminate the past, present, and future. When agents got ahold of the clubs books they noticed that rather than keep two sets of books the co-owners simply had a column labeled skim in order to see track of all the money they were stealing. This way they avoided the extreme fees that came with a liquor license while still being kind of legal. Needless to say, he made enough of a name for himself and enough connections to land a spot on the list at Studio 54 often. It wasnt just a place to get your rocks off and dance, it was free publicity. As Netflix's Halston reminds us, Studio 54 was a fever dream of excess. Even though it was a well planned business venture, Studio 54 was being constructed right up until the opening day. Elizabeth Taylor shimmering in a glamorous iridescent bodysuit while chatting to legendary fashion designer Halston. But Nicky's love affair with the infectious dance music pre-dates Studio 54. This type of thing wouldnt have been allowed in just any nightclub. A nearly naked couple dances together on top of a speaker at the club's first Halloween party in 1977. While he was working in the late Seventies, I had gotten married, moved to Louisville, Kentucky, and wasnt a part of Genes day-to-day life, Lowen tells Rolling Stone. To this day the nightclub remains a thing of legend, even if it has been transformed into a theater. Studio 54 furthers the nostalgia that people still have about '70s New York, as pointed out by Goldberger, a period of time that has been revisited recently, from Patti Smith's book Just Kids to . breonna taylor protests black lives matter trump peaceful transfer of power. Many of the staff of Studio 54 including Rubell died as a result of it. Not only was he keen on wearing loose fitting Hawaiian shirts, but his down coat was packed to the gills with money and drugs. Schrager said: The scene outside of the club could get nasty. Of course, playing it cool was a necessity when inside the club. Studio 54 is known for having been one of the world's most high-profile, exclusive discotheques during the late 1970s and early 1980s. All rights reserved. Left: A performer on stilts manages to bust a move in 1981. People spilled into the streets, they poured over the police barricades and they caused a traffic jam that was so bad that it supposedly kept Frank Sinatras limo from coming within walking distance from the club. 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. He may have been America's sweetheart, but at Studio 54 he could do whatever he wanted. On April 26, 1977, Studio 54 opened its doors and introduced the world to a new era of nightlife. Both Rubell and Schrager were arrested and charged with taking millions of dollars off the top of the clubs gross. Getty Images. When sone of the party people poured the trash can over his head he freaked out and grabbed al the cash to make sure he got it all. 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. This wouldnt be the only time Studio 54 went above and beyond for New Years. Her hair is blonder and bigger than ever. A glitter-covered go-go dancer sways in a G-string. The crowds only grew as the clubs popularity did. A photograph of Yoko Ono and John Lennon by Gene Spatz (year unknown). As a mood-boosting tonic, and at a time when our festive calendars have been curtailed by social-distancing measures, Vogue delves into Studio 54s world of excess and extravagance. Once the show came to an end the cast had to have somewhere to go - and they went to the Studio. While the nightclubs lifespan may have been cut short, the memories made within its walls live on in countless celebrities and lucky visitors. 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. After the tragedy of the Vietnam War and the distrust of the Nixon administration people just wanted to go out and forget about their troubles. They Took a Third Date to Costa Rica. Sometimes the venue hired dancers or had fashion models walking the crowds. Yet, Studio 54s sensibility of inclusion and freedom lives on through the books, films and fashion that it has inspired ever since. But the real-life nightclubwith its glamorous VIP guests, plentiful drugs, and balcony sexwas somehow . A couple relaxes next to a comatose man, 1978. A man wears a gold costume, eyeliner, and a headdress while dancing. After those three years, the experience of partying at Studio 54 just wasnt the same. Right: People wait in line outside of Studio 54 in 1978. Capote is the author of books like Other Voices, Other Rooms, Breakfast at Tiffanys and In Cold Blood. Left: A man dressed in nothing but a clear plastic sheet dances with a topless woman at a Studio 54 Halloween party in 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. Studio 54 produced many star-studded photo opportunities. The duo partied often at Studio 54, but Bianca had no idea that Warhol was taking notes the entire time they were hanging out. She once said, I didnt dance for 50 years because my husband didnt like it, she said. Prolonged war and a stagnant economy gave way to a massive national hangover in the 1970s. Performers drop down from the ceiling, held by nothing but a cord connected to their legs. She was such an important part of the club for its first year that they tried to make a part of their one year anniversary celebration. Co-owner Ian Schrager said it was like standing on stardust, and one club goer said: Joanne Horowitz was the clubs publicist and she played a major part at getting celebrities through the door. 29 Pictures That Show Just How Insane Studio 54 Really Was. Studio 54 is remembered as the first non-judgmental, queer-friendly mainstream nightclub, which was not unlike an adult amusement park. Doormen didnt let just anyone inside, but if you were lucky, you could get into the club without having connections in high places. Rather than hand out the clothing at the door of raffling them off, the club owners just tossed the clothing items off the balcony which allowed for anyone who wanted one of the expensive pieces to simply reach out and grab it. It turns out that she wasn't really into that kind of adulation. . Dressed in their best and taking stock of the nightclub, famous actresses Farrah Fawcett and Shirley MacLaine are photographed with club owner Steve Rubell. While speaking with Harper's Bazaar, Minelli explained that she didn't know and didn't care for the Studio's plans to spin her records while she danced for an audience of onlookers: Even though Andy Warhol and Bianca Jagger look quite chummy here this would be one of the last times that they were friendly. 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. On that special evening the party goers were treated to snowdrifts made of glitter that nearly suffocated the dancers with its sparkling lusciousness. When Dolly shows up to your club youve got to do whatever it takes to make her feel at home, so when the queen of country dropped into Studio 54 the club was transformed into a farm complete with horses and hay. Studio 54 opened in NYC in 1977. The photographic work of Dustin PIttman -- the focus of this feature . Franco Rossellini and Steve Rubell (producer and owner, respectively) are pictured here in front of what appears to be a giant birthday cake. Diana Ross and Liza Minelli performed for Rubell, and in this photo, Stevie Wonder took to the piano at his secretarys birthday party. A costumed party-goer at a Halloween event sporting a platinum blonde wig, 18th-century-inspired face paint, lace bustier, and white bow tie. Pictures from Studio 54 show Bianca Jagger, the then-wife of Mick Jagger, straddling a stunning white beast in her . Enjoy these Studio 54 photos? Left: Outside Studio 54, someone arrives to the club on a horse for the third annual Halloween party in 1978. 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