studio 54 basement photos

documentary. The clubs explosive success had attracted attention from authorities, and they thought Studio 54 might be connected to organized crime. A glitter-covered go-go dancer sways in a G-string. For more New York drama, be sure to check out what the city looked like in the 1970s. Sometimes the venue hired dancers or had fashion models walking the crowds. 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. 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. Finally it became CBS's Studio 52 from 1942 to 1976. And McCarthy was able to recognize the special collection Lowen had inherited and make sure his creative legacy remained alive. Not that they actually waited to get inside for the fun to start. 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.. One of the many famous faces to grace the dance floor of Studio 54 was that of legendary singer Diana Ross. Without a great costume, you werent getting in. The criteria for entry werent clear-cut you simply had to have the look and style they wanted to see inside the establishment. We had a blast. The owners were always trying to top themselves, and it led to some ridiculous events. Life of a party (from left): Halston, Bianca Jagger, Jack Haley Jr and wife, Liza Minnelli and Andy Warhol. It got the attention of the IRS, and the club was raided on suspicion of tax evasion. A cheetah might be sitting at the bar. In front is famous artist Andy Warhol. It was, after all, her fun yet insightful personality that won over the hearts of her many fans. The man who made it famous, Steve Rubell, was only in charge from 1977 to 1980. Left: A topless woman in a peacock feather headdress dances at Studio 54's Halloween party in 1977. 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. Now an animal rights advocate, Bianca told the Financial Times (via the Guardian) that she didn't show up on the horse. 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. The setting is quite a departure from his most famous work, but Papageorges keen eye for detail and fascination with his subjects is consistently engaginghe just makes everyone look gorgeous. Getting into Studio 54 could be impossible. Parton ended up being less than amused and sat quietly most of the night. When the builders were asked if they were making a "sex pit," the answer was simply, yes. This made him extremely popular, and they demanded Taylor stay when Rubell wanted to fire him. 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. According to the Daily Beast, he and his friends had no problem getting in because they showed up unfashionably early and were basically first in line. While many clubgoers enjoyed this aspect of Studio 54, it got them lots of attention from the authorities. 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. Trying to see it. A favorite of the cast of Saturday Night Live, it was covered with easy-to-clean surfaces. One clubgoer waited outside with a group of friends, including a doctor packing a jumbo bottle of Quaaludes. Studio 54: 10 Wild Stories From Clubs Debauched Heyday, How True Is Respect? 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. With nowhere else to go, the party spilled onto the street. It was "madness.". Left: A clubgoer dressed as Jesus carries a large cross onto the dance floor in 1977. They were like queens on the dancefloor.". 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 was the place to be in its heyday. Their trademark hedonism was still intact, but the values (or complete lack thereof) had shifted 180 degrees from Woodstock. Schrager and Rubells time in prison coincided with the infamous Disco Sucks event in 1979, where disco records were burned at a baseball game while around 50,000 people watched. The move this woman pulls off seems to defy her age in every way shes flexible enough to wrap her legs around him and strong enough to hold herself up by his arms. So we ended up having to pay for new seats. The picture that forms is that you had to see it to believe it. Andy Warhol's Polaroid of Mick Jagger Touching Tongues With a Woman Could Be Yours. People came back time and again during the life of Studio 54 for this openness and acceptance. 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. But the party was wild.. Even so, he was among the most famous singers in the country. It wasn't subtle: Hung from the roof of Studio 54, dangling over the dance floor, was a giant crescent moon with a face, a cocaine spoon moving to and from its nose. It wasn't that disco was dying or the club became uncool, it was that the owners were complete crooks. We were just yelling obscenities: Fuck Studio 54 Fuck em Fuck off Fuck those scumbags fuck them! Not something you see every day, but you could see it at Studio 54. Send us a tip using our anonymous form. One of Studio 54s main attractions was its complex lighting. Left: A performer on stilts manages to bust a move in 1981. The black-and-white photographs included scenes from iconic clubs like Studio 54 and Xenon; shots of Carrie Fisher, Jackie Kennedy Onassis, Mary Tyler Moore and Robert Redford; as well quirky New York City street life tableaus in the 1970s and Eighties. 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. It was a sad going-away party but we were laughing and trying to have fun. Aids later hit, of course. And then you went into the main part of the club and he had all these old convertible cars of the Fifties.. Rolling Stone reportedthat when Dolly Parton came to town for a concert, the owners decided the best way to make a country singer feel comfortable was to turn the club into a farm. 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. Dolly came and was completely freaked out at the number of people there. One of the most memorable soirees was held in honor of Dolly Parton. Sometimes entertainment went further. Benecke says he "sometimes" took them up on it. Behind The Scenes At Studio 54 Cnn Style. Inside The Real Studio 54 Balconies Liza Minnelli No Hats S Guardian. He and his wife Sasha Stallone are pictured here in Studio 54 in 1978. One guy fell and had to be stretchered away. I dont know what Im going to do without Studio! And everyone was crying and weeping.. Read on for 10 of the craziest stories from the clubs legendary heyday. The high ceiling of the building allowed for such displays, though they must have been quite careful not to step on anyones toes. Imagine walking into a nightclub and seeing this group of people having drinks you might not believe what youre seeing! According to him he actually took the trash out and swept up while his co-workers partied. One of the men on the scene was Gene Spatz, a pioneering paparazzo and street photographer who most people have never heard about. I have. If you wanted a place to let loose and perhaps engage in some public nudity, then Studio 54 was the club for you. A doctor had thoughtfully brought a giant box of Quaaludes with him. Halston.It was 10:30 in the morning and the phone rang, club associate Renny Reynolds told Haden-Guest. She called getting on it and riding around a "foolish decision.". The nightclub was typically packed full of people. 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. Then . 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. Studio 54 had an epic few years, but that was it. A look back at the epicenter of NYC nightlife, presented by Getty Images. After all, it seemed like everyone was doing it! Franco Rossellini and Steve Rubell (producer and owner, respectively) are pictured here in front of what appears to be a giant birthday cake. At times it got really hairy outside, he told Haden-Guest. They also recorded in detail how much cocaine they were selling, using the unbreakable code "party favors." Behind The Velvet Rope Line Of Studio 54 S Short Sordid Life. Right: A woman gets low on the dance floor in 1977. But that picture started the ball rolling. I personally tried to get very friendly with the underside of a car., Although their songs were must-plays on the dance floor, Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards of Chic found themselves unable to clear Beneckes ultra-strict door policy on New Years Eve 1977. As you can see, this was long before his dramatic transformation and eventual controversies in the public eye. 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. Nonetheless, Trump became something of a regular at the venue. 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. Traffic on 54th Street was brought to a standstill as both celebrities and humble ravers struggled to approach. One journalist who was there frequently said, "Even if you weren't having sex with someone every night, you felt like you could.". For the last fifty years, Allan Tannenbaum has been the quintessential New York photographer. Shes just finished with a 1978 concert, following up a Grammy nomination for Best Country Vocal Performance. The two are almost unrecognizable, however, thanks to the cream thats been smeared all over their faces and clothes. ', Editors picks In a jovial moment, revelers tipped the bucket over his head, showering him with money. 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. In the aftermath of the Vietnam war, Rubell said people were tired of being serious everyone went out and went wild. Many of the celebs who were there are still alive, so other than vague rumors, we don't know the worst of what went down. 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. And I kind of let that slide because he didnt shoot. Another morning, someone did pull the trigger. Studio 54's golden age came to an end when the federal government came after Schrager and Rubell for tax evasion. The many singers who passed through the joint didnt leave without belting out a few notes of their own. She was later presented with a life-size portrait of herself made of cake. 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. This couple wears scant Halloween costumes resembling a mermaid and some kind of sea creature, and their choice of style was not out of the ordinary at Studio 54. Studio 54 had arrived. Once they replaced the profanity, it would become their smash hit "Le Freak.". He captured it fantastically the fun and wackiness, the sweetness. The nightclub threw an annual Halloween party and expected guests to wear the most shocking, over-the-top costumes that you could think of. Performers drop down from the ceiling, held by nothing but a cord connected to their legs. Then, step inside the 1990s rave scene at its neon zenith. Off the dance floor, people mingle over drinks in the lounge area during 1977. It smelled like a cat had died. His body was discovered in black-tie attire. It was Halston. 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. New York Post columnist Jack Martin found Rubell in the early morning hours. 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 In this picture, Robin Williams is with his then-wife Valerie Velardi and Studio 54s own Santa Claus. Theyd been waiting and they just started shooting. Trudeau frequented the nightclub more than once and earned herself a bit of a reputation among partiers. It would be decades before New York City's smoking ban forbade smoking in indoor spaces. This wasnt a show for just any night at the club, however. My Studio 54 dreams became true. Andy Warhol, mingling backstage with friends Bianca Jagger and fashion designer Halston. 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. Donald hadnt built Trump tower. Drugs, drinks, and disco -- Studio 54 had it all. If there was one person who loved going out to Studio 54, it was Bianca Jagger. According to Rolling Stone, people would offer him anything to get in. 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. The head guy, Marc Benecke, was just 19, but his position made him one of the most important people in New York. Even when they were under investigation for tax evasion and obstruction of justice, the owners renovated the club. But wait, is that a horse shes trying to pet? You can find instructions here as to how. For the younger generations who might not know, Elizabeth Taylor was a star like no other during her time. Bianca Jagger appears on horseback for her birthday. First, we changed it from fuck off to freak off, and that was pretty hideous. Henry Winkler, who had been playing the Fonz on smash hit Happy Days for years at that point, was summarily rejected one night. The IRS was not fooled. It was closer and we were dead. These two people, covered in silver, dance for onlookers inside Studio 54. As an environmentalist and an animal rights defender I find the insinuation that I would ride a horse into a nightclub offensive., The key of the success of Studio 54 is that its a dictatorship at the door and a democracy on the dance floor, club regular Andy Warhol once observed, and Steve Rubell ruled the velvet ropes with an iron fist. Bokfrlaget Max Strm/Hasse Persson Studio 54. All That's Interesting is a Brooklyn-based digital publisher that seeks out stories that illuminate the past, present, and future. The party went off without a hitch, save for a minor incident. According to the Independent, in 1978 co-owner Steve Rubell bragged openly in an interview about how well things were going, saying "only the Mafia made more money" the year before. 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. For major actresses like these, visiting Studio 54 was a must while in New York City. The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time She was an actress and human rights activist who was married to Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger at the time. The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time If youd gone to Studio 54 in the 1970s, however, this is exactly the type of scene you couldve enjoyed. While these two women may not have been the craziest partiers, they certainly appreciated a good night out. We knocked on the door. The doormen regularly had to be escorted home at the end of the night for their safety. They didnt even know we were waiting out there., The atmosphere was hardly better inside, as the couples wandered through the empty disco. Highly respected clothing designer Diane von Furstenberg is perched on a couch with media mogul Barry Diller. It was just as much a part of the Studio 54 experience as the dancing. It wasnt until a few years later that Rubell would get busted for tax evasion and end up in jail. There, "you could disappear into the shadows and get up to whatever." It was that soon., The photos also gave birth to the enduring myth that Jagger actually rode into the club on the horse. Operated by the Roundabout Theatre Company, Studio 54 has 1,006 seats on two levels. We want to hear it. We dived onto the ground. Under Rubells ownership, however, the strange, the weird and the scary were given a place to flourish beneath the lights of the nightclub. 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. See Rare Photos Inside Studio 54 Nightclub, RS Recommends: Rad Powers E-Bike Offers a New (and Better) Way to Commute, How Vaccines and Masks Are Making Broadway Safe Again, See Nanci Griffith Cover the Rolling Stones No Expectations, Brian Walshe to Be Charged with Murder of His Missing Wife, Ron Jeremy Found Not Competent to Stand Trial in Serial Rape Case, The Genetic Mutation That Makes Kraken Covid So Contagious, The Boy Just Aint Smart': How Stephen A. Smith Overcame a Learning Disability to Become the Most Passionate Voice in Sports, Andrew Callaghan Apologizes: I've Always Taken No for an Answer as Far as Consent, 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. For 33 months, Studio 54 was the American bacchanal, an unprecedented mix of glamorous sophistication and primal hedonism. She made appearances at the nightclub more than once throughout the years and was there on its last day of operation under Steve Rubell in 1980. A man dangles a cigarette inside Studio 54, 1977. 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. Trans women were welcomed, while eccentrics such as Rollerina, a Wall Street banker by day who. If you wanted to dress in next to nothing and wear lots of makeup, you were encouraged. We walked out through the entrance where the garbage goes out. What was interesting is that women felt secure enough to dance nude in the place. A man dressed up in leather and an NYU tank chats with his friend, decked out in pearls and garters as two other club-goers look on. 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. Judge Richard Owen shocked the court by imposing the maximum penalty: three-and-a-half years in prison and $20,000 fines. All very un-PC. Perhaps understandably, Rodgers now considers Benecke a friend. Amazingly, this worked, until it didn't. The animal-loving activist tried to correct the misconception in a 2015 letter to the Financial Times. One night a rejected hopeful came back and brandished a gun. Diana Ross and Liza Minnelli sang, while Rubell blasted out My Way. By this time, the club had cemented its reputation as a popular place for celebrities, and Stallone was one more added to the list. A 77-year-old widow who became known as "Disco Sally" was a regular and was always allowed in when she showed up. At the Purple magazine party, a naked couple in a clear bathtub perform for an audience in 1977. documentary. 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 Their uniform was a tiny pair of shorts and nothing else. Antoinette Norcia / Getty Images In this 1978 picture, crowds line up for entry into Manhattan's renowned disco and . When she wasnt whipping her legs through the air to the music, she was brushing shoulders with the countrys most famous celebrities. But nothing . After all, you have so much money that you have to find some way to spend it, right? 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. Studio 54 was a safe space for groups who would have been marginalised in the late 70s. The spectacle is complete with their revealing outfits, but by Studio 54 standards, their dress is modest. 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.

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