It was completely normal to see people walking around naked. We were just yelling obscenities: Fuck Studio 54 Fuck em Fuck off Fuck those scumbags fuck them! They were like queens on the dancefloor.". At Studio 54, anyone with a good attitude (and good style) was welcome. My favorite shots though, are post-party. Bianca Jagger appears on horseback for her birthday. (A young Alec Baldwin was a busboy, and legend says he quit because he was too turned on by all the intimacy he witnessed.) 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. Nina Hagens Nunsexmonkrock: Greatest (and weirdest) unsung masterpiece of the postpunk era? Model Bianca Jagger holds doves at a party thrown by fashion designer Halston in 1977. Sometimes the venue hired dancers or had fashion models walking the crowds. He was sort of spaced-out, he told Haden-Guest. 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. Here, see a selection of exclusive images of Spatzs work for the first time. People were waiting in lines with the most fantastic costumes on, each one trying to outdo the other one so that they could be pointed to and get in. One Halloween, two women, perhaps recalling the famous Bianca Jagger photos, took out a $500 loan to rent a horse, which they rode nude to the velvet ropes as twin Lady Godivas. ' Haskell remembered in Anthony Haden-Guests bookThe Last Party. 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. Not having alcohol wasn't a problem, of course, because this was the 1970s. Not even those who got inside the club could all make it into the basement. 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. Here is a collection of photos from only a few of the many successful events thrown at the venue, providing a glimpse into the nocturnal thrill that was Studio 54. If youd gone to Studio 54 in the 1970s, however, this is exactly the type of scene you couldve enjoyed. Ian Schrager may be writing the last word on Studio 54 with his coffee table tome for Rizzoli. Men and women whipped out their private parts and everyone started feeling up complete strangers. 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. In fact, she sang that night with Liza Minnelli. Studio 54 is immensely interesting just in terms of a sociological perspective. Now an animal rights advocate, Bianca told the Financial Times (via the Guardian) that she didn't show up on the horse. From the looks of it, he seemed to enjoy his time there, too! By midnight, the huge group in the street had become "Sodom and Gomorrah." You were also welcomed with open arms if you were a drag queen. 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. 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. Halston.It was 10:30 in the morning and the phone rang, club associate Renny Reynolds told Haden-Guest. The employee, stoned out of his mind, forgot to unlock her and went back to work. 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. All the men had their dicks out the women were showing their tits everybody was feeling everybody else the crowd was moving in waves all of a sudden you would find yourself next to someone you didnt know., Meanwhile, the future president was up to less scandalous shenanigans inside. 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. A man wears a gold costume, eyeliner, and a headdress while dancing. But nothing . Ian put it together in three days. They didnt even know we were waiting out there., The atmosphere was hardly better inside, as the couples wandered through the empty disco. But, thanks to photographers who were in the right place at the right time, we can get glimpses of what a crazy night out at Studio 54 was truly like. and Company, but the party was initially dead. In a jovial moment, revelers tipped the bucket over his head, showering him with money. There was even something above the rubber room, beyond secretive, up where the gods of the club could engage in their chosen vice high up above the relentless dancers. 9 Monumental Books About Martin Luther King Jr. 9 Films That Provide Insight Into Martin Luther King Jr.s Life and Legacy. If there was one person who loved going out to Studio 54, it was Bianca Jagger. 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. And then you went into the main part of the club and he had all these old convertible cars of the Fifties.. There is mixed reporting on whether notorious lady-killer Warren Beatty was told to leave or if he gave up on his own. My Studio 54 Story. Comparing yourself to organized crime is not the best idea if you have something to hide, which they did. documentary. Here she is pictured in front of her cake and alongside famous designer Halston. 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. The spectacle is complete with their revealing outfits, but by Studio 54 standards, their dress is modest. But wait, is that a horse shes trying to pet? Send us a tip using our anonymous form. The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time This made him extremely popular, and they demanded Taylor stay when Rubell wanted to fire him. A 77-year-old widow who became known as "Disco Sally" was a regular and was always allowed in when she showed up. Taylor basically just showed up opening night and offered to work. 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. And they were not quiet about it. For most of his life, though, co-founder Ian Schrager has wanted to forget it. It was down here that the privileged few were invited to indulge in their wildest desires. Rogers says this was a reaction to people seeing images of the glamour of places like Studio 54 while their real lives reflected the worst financial recession since the Great Depression. 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. While the club wanted to attract as many celebrities as possible, just being famous didn't necessarily guarantee you entrance. Less exclusive was the balcony area, upholstered in rubber because it was deemed easy to clean. For Valentines Day, Studio 54 was transformed into a garden with flowerbeds, picket fencing and a group of harpists. New York Post columnist Jack Martin found Rubell in the early morning hours. After they were found guilty and sentenced to three and a half years each, they threw one last huge party the night before they went to prison. Copyright 2023 Penske Business Media, LLC. We felt horrible., The men sulked back to Rodgers apartment just a few blocks away. Posted on April 12, 2017, 9:16 pm. And McCarthy was able to recognize the special collection Lowen had inherited and make sure his creative legacy remained alive. 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 two are almost unrecognizable, however, thanks to the cream thats been smeared all over their faces and clothes. It was relatively common for famous figures to throw their birthday parties inside Studio 54. The owner, Steve Rubell, saw it as "casting a play," and getting the perfect mix of people was key. Antoinette Norcia / Getty Images In this 1978 picture, crowds line up for entry into Manhattan's renowned disco and . Nightlife anywhere was sure to have drugs involved were talking about the 1970s, here. At this point, the club had been closed down and reopened under new ownership. Cher wasnt the wildest partier on the scene, but she was known for being an independent and forward-thinking individual who didnt shy away from a good time. One of the many famous faces to grace the dance floor of Studio 54 was that of legendary singer Diana Ross. The man who made it famous, Steve Rubell, was only in charge from 1977 to 1980. 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. He captured that era in my lifetime, and I hope someone is having that type of fun again. Finally it became CBS's Studio 52 from 1942 to 1976. Without a great costume, you werent getting in. In this picture, women pose on top of giant reflective pillows in the middle of the crowd. 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. Schrager was released on $50,000 bond and the disco was open the next night. Not amused, Warhol scrambled to collect the singles. 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. Actress and model Margaux Hemingway celebrates her 24th birthday in style. Via PAPER. Enjoy these Studio 54 photos? 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. Once, a regular customer had too many people, or some problem. Why dont we go? Off the dance floor, people mingle over drinks in the lounge area during 1977. A nearly naked couple dances together on top of a speaker at the club's first Halloween party in 1977. Full of rollerskating Wall Street Bankers, tabloid fixtures and postwar frivolity, a new documentary reveals the social backdrop of the famous club. If you wanted to dress in next to nothing and wear lots of makeup, you were encouraged. According to the Guardian, the owners helpfully supplied mattresses and everything. We were like the first. IRS agents raided Studio 54 on December 14th, 1978, seizing garage bags of cash, financial documents and five ounces of cocaine. Once they did, a "mad sexual orgy" started. Studio 54 is a shadow of its former self. A couple relaxes next to a comatose man, 1978. 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. Once they replaced the profanity, it would become their smash hit "Le Freak.". Nobody wanted to rent a car to Studio 54. It wasn't that disco was dying or the club became uncool, it was that the owners were complete crooks. They agreed to bring these cars up. Six big-finned classics were parked on the dance floor, but minutes before opening the fire marshal cited a major hazard: The cars hadnt been drained of gasoline. From my parent's basement to VIP Host at Studio 54 Las Vegas. Performers drop down from the ceiling, held by nothing but a cord connected to their legs. Studio 54: 10 Wild Stories From Clubs Debauched Heyday, How True Is Respect? Donald hadnt built Trump tower. He understood it was an opportunity to be grabbed. Within half an hour they composed a song called Fuck Off. After some lyrical tweaking they arrived at a slightly more Top 40friendly title. Studio 54 started as it meant to go on. Problem, of course, because this was the 1970s garden with flowerbeds, picket fencing and headdress! 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