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. It was, after all, her fun yet insightful personality that won over the hearts of her many fans. 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. In front is famous artist Andy Warhol. Gene Spatz/POBA.org. Unfortunately, Studio 54 came up against some problems during its successful run. 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. Here he is enjoying an anniversary party for Andy Warhols magazine, Interview. Doormen didnt let just anyone inside, but if you were lucky, you could get into the club without having connections in high places. The best way to keep being invited inside was to act as if you belonged. Performers drop down from the ceiling, held by nothing but a cord connected to their legs. It wasnt until a few years later that Rubell would get busted for tax evasion and end up in jail. For all its inaccessibility, Studio 54 produced some of the most iconic images of nightlife in the late . 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. 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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. The club was a tabloid fixture. And, who can forget the iconic image of Bianca Jagger riding a white horse through the clubs entrance? While speaking with Harper's Bazaar, Hall admitted that she was incredibly overwhelmed with the level of celebrity in the dance club: Things came to a halt for the original incarnation of Studio 54 on December 14, 1978, when the IRS sent dozens of agents to the club. This exclusive event would have been the talk of the season. This kind of debauchery came to be expected of the venue and marked its no-holds-barred approach to nightlife. That all changed when Bianca Jagger - Mick Jaggers wife at the time - decided to have her birthday party at the club on May 2, 1977. In 1977, at the height of the disco craze, a club opened at 254 West 54th Street in New York City. One night when the club didnt have anything specific planned they used some free pieces of clothing that they were given from one of the local brands. Clubgoers dance amid light towers on the dance floor at Studio 54 on May 15, 1978. In the clubs first year open, Cher showed up to the scene at Studio 54. While these two women may not have been the craziest partiers, they certainly appreciated a good night out. Yet, Studio 54s sensibility of inclusion and freedom lives on through the books, films and fashion that it has inspired ever since. Studio 54 is known for having been one of the world's most high-profile, exclusive discotheques during the late 1970s and early 1980s. This meant plenty of people were rejected at the door, and plenty more stood in lines outside waiting to be appraised. Debbie Harry, dressed in a black turtleneck and black glasses, sticking her tongue out for a photo; a tuxedo-clad Sterling Saint Jacques swinging around Shirley Bassey. She wrote: Studio 54 wasnt just the most banging party in Manhattan because someone unlocked the doors and tossed on a mixtape. In fact, some women were often topless at Studio 54 parties, in nothing more than tiny thong bottoms and boots. Richard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images. From the moment it opened its doors in 1977, the era-defining club was, says writer Bob Colacello in Rizzolis Studio 54, a sociological phenomenon and a historical event. In a 1996 interview with Vanity Fair, Diane von Furstenberg concurred: I had more fun at Studio 54 than in any other nightclub in the world which says a lot, coming from a doyenne of the New York Fashion Week schedule. Co-owner Ian Schrager explained: While the club had been a major success after its first night, it still wasnt the wild success that the owners wanted it to be. A photograph of Yoko Ono and John Lennon by Gene Spatz (year unknown). If you Google Judi, one of the top results is a photo of her with Andy Warhol ("he used people," she told me) at Studio 54, taken by her friend Meryl Meisler. Regardless of the fact that Jagger just took the horse for a spin whether it was just once around the Studio or all the way down the block, it's telling that there was a horse in the club. The duo partied often at Studio 54, but Bianca had no idea that Warhol was taking notes the entire time they were hanging out. Actor and author Chris Lawford shares a dance with Mick Jagger's wife, Bianca. 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. A star-studded New Years Eve at Studio 54: Halston kissing Diana Ross, Jack Haley Jr with his wife Liza Minnelli, Bianca Jagger, and, of course, Andy Warhol. A pair of clubgoers dressed in . This wouldnt be the only time Studio 54 went above and beyond for New Years. However, the notorious New York City nightclub encountered a fair share of obstacles while party-goers ravaged the dance floor . Suddenly the IRS were interested in going clubbing. What made Studio 54 different, however, was that drugs were practically encouraged inside. Thankfully for Rubell, they only found a small amount of cocaine on his partner, who was subsequently released. Disco influenced house music, techno and hip-hop and the performances of stars such as Madonna and Lady Gaga. Her hair is blonder and bigger than ever. By 1977, Stallone had an Oscar on his mantle, but did that make him an NFU? When the Guardian asked Harry which club she liked hanging out at the most she was honest about her allegiance to CBGBs in spite of brilliant outfit in this photo, she explained: It didnt matter if you were famous, straight, gay, or trans, you were welcome in Studio 54. At the time, childish fun in a club like this couldnt be found in most other venues. In fact, she sang that night with Liza Minnelli. They had lights rigged so there was a sunrise and a sunset. Harry was at 54, she was the Mudd Club, and she was at CBGBs. In this picture, women pose on top of giant reflective pillows in the middle of the crowd. Contemporary Black Writers Whose Must-Read Works Are Shaping Todays Literary Landscape, Hello, Im Johnny Cash: Facts About the Man In Black, Wild Office Pranks That Evil Coworkers Have Pulled on Each Other, 6 Sites to Design Custom Photo Mugs for Gifts or Keepsakes, Discover the Best BT TV Packages for Your Home Entertainment Needs. With the help of their financial backer the two were able to hire enough people to rebuild the inside of the theater, add the lights and designs, and paint the entire thing within six weeks. And, who can forget the iconic image of Bianca Jagger riding a white horse through the clubs entrance? Picture this: Elton John partying the night away with drag queen Divine on the instantly recognisable parquet dance floor. 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. The thing he appreciated was someone being different. 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. According to bartender Scott Taylor, there were only a few bartenders doing the work of an army. The photographic work of Dustin PIttman -- the focus of this feature . 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. 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. Diana Ross, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Cher, Truman Capote and Andy Warhol were all among its regulars, but Studio 54 was more than a celebrity hotspot and beacon of New York nightlife. At Studio 54, the taboo wasnt seen as undesirable instead, it was invited inside. Well the co-owners of Studio 54 didnt really get around to getting a liquor license for close to a year, instead they put together a plan that allowed them to legally sell drinks even if it was a little iffy. She was an actress and human rights activist who was married to Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger at the time. People partook in various questionable substances, and in this photo, theyre inhaling laughing gas in the middle of the dance floor. People at Studio 54 dance the night away during the 1978. Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager opened Studio 54 40 years ago, and it soon became the epicenter of New York Citys nightlife for nearly three years. Studio 54 wasand, arguably, remainsthe world's most renowned and legendary disco. Once the show came to an end the cast had to have somewhere to go - and they went to the Studio. What was interesting is that women felt secure enough to dance nude in the place. A look back at the epicenter of NYC nightlife, presented by Getty Images. 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. A woman dances near the Studio 54 light towers in 1977. Here she is pictured in front of her cake and alongside famous designer Halston. 22 photos that show the grit and the glamour of Studio 54, New York City's most infamous 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. Then Covid Trapped Them There. This potentially dangerous display marked the end of the nightclubs first year open. What is now a Broadway theater used to be the emblematic hot spot of '70s disco nightlife. Ultimately, as the judge said, theirs was a crime of hubris. Contact Gabriel H. Sanchez at gabriel.sanchez@buzzfeed.com. Studio 54 co-owner Steve Rubell stands in his office, which he claimed was ransacked by federal agents looking for drugs, in 1978. But the real-life nightclubwith its glamorous VIP guests, plentiful drugs, and balcony sexwas somehow . She explained: There was always something crazy happening at Studio 54, whether it was snowing, or there was a bridge for dancers to use so they could groove in the air, it was. For a brief period of time Studio 54 changed the pace of New York night life. 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 had an intense door rule that made it hard for people to get in regardless of who you were. On April 26, 1977, Studio 54 opened its doors and introduced the world to a new era of nightlife. 29 Wild Photos From The Drug-Fueled Heyday Of 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. But at Studio 54, the party was just getting started. On finding Studio 54s books, it was discovered that a skim was in operation on up to 80% of the profits. He captured it fantastically the fun and wackiness, the sweetness. Right: People wait in line outside of Studio 54 in 1978. This photograph was taken at the first Halloween party and shows two men dressed in taboo fetish gear, one man miming cutting the other. Select from premium Studio 54 Party of the highest quality. 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. 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. Getty Images. 30. 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. According to one of the doormen in a documentary about the club, they made sure that the club at least have 20% gay men, 10% lesbians and trans people, and the rest of the crowd could be whoever. The stunt was well-planned and executed by experienced acrobats, so thankfully no one was hurt. Regularly attended by celebrities such as Andy Warhol, Elizabeth Taylor, Mick Jagger, Bianca Jagger, Jerry Hall, Debbie Harry, Grace Jones, Michael Jackson . They werent the only pair to do this, either other couples covered themselves in gold inside Studio 54 and did the same, twirling barefoot among the throngs of partygoers. 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. Cold hard cash, baby, even professional provocateur Andy Warhol. Send us a tip using our anonymous form. With famous and wealthy people as the main guests of the venue, expensive drugs were seemingly in ample supply at all times. Co-owner Ian Schrager said: When working at a place thats known for excess, its not out of the ordinary for the low people on the totem pole to end up in the same situations as the A-listers who theyre serving. It was a place of great exclusivity, but also a place where one went to be photographed. A pair of topless women parade across the dance floor during Folies Bergre night, circa 1977. Model Bianca Jagger, in an off-the-shoulder number, is seen riding a white horse at the entrance of 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. The people who worked at Studio 54 were so ill equipped for the craziness on opening night that they broke down under the stress of the crowd. 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. These two people, covered in silver, dance for onlookers inside Studio 54. While the nightclubs lifespan may have been cut short, the memories made within its walls live on in countless celebrities and lucky visitors. Important for the co-owners to make the evening special. Michael Overinton, the General Manager of the club made sure that the trains ran on time from the moment he worked his way up to the GM spot from his job as a janitor. The agents entered the office seeking links to organized crime and arrested his partner Ian Schrager after reportedly finding cocaine among some papers he was carrying. Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager opened Studio 54 40 years ago, and it soon became the . When a nightclub is as hot as Studio 54 the place is going to be crawling with celebrities. They Took a Third Date to Costa Rica. Even though these two co-owners couldnt be any more different - Schrager was a straight lawyer and Rubell was an out gay restaurant owner - they were the perfect pair to run Studio 54. More like this An Ultimate Guide To The Music Of . It took owners Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager just six weeks to . Under the helm of owners Ian Schrager and Steve Rubell, Studio 54 became globally renowned as a cultural institution for its lavish, over-the-top spectacles and sartorial displays. 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. Thankfully for Rubell, they certainly appreciated a good night out showed to! Waiting to be photographed one was hurt amid light towers on the instantly recognisable dance. 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