Here you can see her leaning back as she dances, seemingly overjoyed by the music and the ambiance of Studio 54. 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. Written by Jacqui Palumbo, CNNNew York. It would be decades before New York City's smoking ban forbade smoking in indoor spaces. 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. And on its last night under initial management, Diana Ross serenaded Rubell and Schrader -- of course surrounded by the likes of Jack Nicholson, Farrah Fawcett, and Sylvester Stallone, among others. See these 21 photos from Studio 54 that prove it was just as iconic as everyone says. 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. One of Warhols former workers discussed the artists love of the club, saying: When it came time to actually build the nightclub, the co-owners went outside the normal means of construction and enlisted people who wouldnt just give them the same ol same ol. A playful, intimate moment between a pair of partygoers, circa 1978. 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. Right: A woman gets low on the dance floor in 1977. A photograph of Yoko Ono and John Lennon by Gene Spatz (year unknown). Studio 54: heady daze of disco decadence in pictures, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. It wasnt just a place to get your rocks off and dance, it was free publicity. According to the 2019 documentary about Studio 54, the co-owners singular fashion sense was less informed by the club scene and more so by function. It was a mix of gay, straight, rich and poor . Doorman Marc Benecke told the BBC: According to people who were there, one of the biggest misnomers about the scene inside Studio 54 is that everyone was on drugs all the time. 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. According to Rolling Stone there were horses and donkeys and mules running through the club. Attendee Kevin Haley told Vanity Fair: Supposedly Parton wasnt as into it as the owners thought she should be and she just sat quietly for most of the night. In case you dont recognize her, thats Dolly Parton at an afterparty in Studio 54. 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. Not only was this accepted, but one of the biggest suppliers was the co-owner Steve Rubell. 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. Schraeger discussed the concept behind the theatrics with Architectural Digest: On the opening night of the club there was no way that someone could get in if they showed up late. Another thing it often had, as a result, was strange performances. breonna taylor protests black lives matter trump peaceful transfer of power. Steven Stills is playing the drum, and 300 other people are in attendance. Studio 54 produced many star-studded photo opportunities. This meant plenty of people were rejected at the door, and plenty more stood in lines outside waiting to be appraised. For that reason, his photos are not only fine art, they are history. It was, after all, her fun yet insightful personality that won over the hearts of her many fans. While that was a Monday night, the clubs one evening off, they made an exception for the actress and rock star wife. Originally opened as an opera house in 1927, Studio 54 became a popular nightclub in 1977. Cher dancing at Studio 54. Then Covid Trapped Them There. Suddenly the IRS were interested in going clubbing. Even though the club was considered a spooky place it could provide moments of levity. 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. 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 the time Jerry Hall was just getting used to being a celebrity and she had stars in her eyes. He may have been America's sweetheart, but at Studio 54 he could do whatever he wanted. 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. They told Vanity Fair. Franco Rossellini and Steve Rubell (producer and owner, respectively) are pictured here in front of what appears to be a giant birthday cake. The high ceiling of the building allowed for such displays, though they must have been quite careful not to step on anyones toes. Both famous celebrities and regular bystanders alike managed to have a rockin good time at Studio 54. After those three years, the experience of partying at Studio 54 just wasnt the same. 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. Select from premium Studio 54 Party of the highest quality. There was an anything goes attitude to sex at Studio 54. 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. She was an actress and human rights activist who was married to Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger at the time. The club also had doves and a snake present for visitors on different nights. 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. 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. Cold hard cash, baby, even professional provocateur Andy Warhol. It wasnt until he was gone, and I had brought everything home and put it in storage, that I began to open up these envelopes and discover his work.. . 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. Getty Images. What Gene has is a very different sensitivity, McCarthy says. Browse 24,915 studio 54 photos and images available, or search for studio 54 moon or studio 54 1970s to find more great photos and pictures. By this time, the club had cemented its reputation as a popular place for celebrities, and Stallone was one more added to the list. Studio 54 was crazy all year long, but things got especially wacky for Halloween. One club goer claimed that a doctor was hanging outside the club with everyone and that he came prepared with a huge bottle of Quaaludes: While some clubs existed to create the a party atmosphere, Studio 54 was meant to represent something special a place where everyone was welcome regardless of who they were out on the streets. While these two women may not have been the craziest partiers, they certainly appreciated a good night out. 29. Her hair is blonder and bigger than ever. But wait, is that a horse shes trying to pet? Rubell was so excited by her presence on the dance floor that he invited to come any night, telling her, I like to see you here. But Nicky's love affair with the infectious dance music pre-dates Studio 54. No other nightclub has been able to rival it in reputation and A-list guests since. 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 was a place of great exclusivity, but also a place where one went to be photographed. Showing Editorial results for studio 54. First, you had to have the kind of bod that looked good in a pair of gym shorts and not much else, and second you had to have a willingness to show it off and a desire to be at the club every night. He explained: In her book, Ill Never Write My Memoirs, Grace Jones explained how the coked out decadence of Studio 54 was a microcosm of the rest of the country. A man dangles a cigarette inside Studio 54, 1977. Being a spouse to legendary partier Jagger, its no wonder she enjoyed a good get-together herself. 22 photos that show the grit and the glamour of Studio 54, New York City's most infamous club. These two people, covered in silver, dance for onlookers inside Studio 54. We want to hear it. A woman wears nothing but pearls and a mask as she grinds on two men in jewels and makeup. The pop artist, model, Blondie lead singer, writer, and fashion designer all bonding at Studio 54. They even put up a huge (4 feet) model of the game right over the dancing patrons. It was more than just a club, it was a place that gave magic to a city that desperately needed it in an era when gas prices were rising and people were losing their jobs. People partook in various questionable substances, and in this photo, theyre inhaling laughing gas in the middle of the dance floor. Capote is the author of books like Other Voices, Other Rooms, Breakfast at Tiffanys and In Cold Blood. 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. This wasnt a show for just any night at the club, however. 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. Disco influenced house music, techno and hip-hop and the performances of stars such as Madonna and Lady Gaga. 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. Pictures from Studio 54 show Bianca Jagger, the then-wife of Mick Jagger, straddling a stunning white beast in her . The two had funneled nearly $3 million in less than two years. If you came on a white horse, with almost no clothes on, you were guaranteed to get in. However, its likely that the club wouldnt have made the front page of the post if it werent for Cher. (The pair later married but not until 2001). But in the '70s it was just another night at Studio 54. 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. While most folks just stood outside and waited to be noticed, there were a few enterprising clubgoers who attempted to enter the party by more creative means. There was no written rule about the dress code, it was left up to his subjective taste. It wasnt until a few years later that Rubell would get busted for tax evasion and end up in jail. But where does someone keep piles of quaaludes and drink tickets? Onlookers say that he was always dressed up and ready to get down. Whether its Elton John partying with drag queen Divine, or Bianca Jagger riding a white horse here, Vogue shares the most glamorous and grittiest moments captured at the New York hotspot in the 70s. However, even after the club had closed its doors the clean up crew would find party favors from the night before. On finding Studio 54's books, it was discovered that a skim was in operation on up to 80% of the profits. You were also welcomed with open arms if you were a drag queen. Its disco days, though, were short-lived and the club closed its doors in 1980 these archival photos are a snapshot that only a lucky few had the pleasure of experiencing. Send us a tip using our anonymous form. In this 1978 picture, crowds line up for entry into Manhattan's renowned disco and nightclub Studio 54, located at 254 West 54th Street. Going to work day in and day out all week can grind a person down. People at Studio 54 dance the night away during the 1978. Not something you see every day, but you could see it at Studio 54. Here we see one of those notable moments where an elderly woman is dancing with a young man. 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. He had . At this time, Fawcett had recently hit it big with her role in Charlies Angels, while MacLaine had just starred in The Turning Point. Both Rubell and Schrager were arrested and charged with taking millions of dollars off the top of the clubs gross. McCarthy, who happened to frequent Studio 54 on occasion, was amazed by his access to the notables in attendance. And, who can forget the iconic image of Bianca Jagger riding a white horse through the clubs entrance? Studio 54 opened in NYC in 1977. Schrager was released on $50,000 bond and the disco was open the next night. A glitter-covered go-go dancer sways in a G-string. Sure . New York: Photo shows crowd waiting outside Studio 54, the popular New York City disco. He captured that era in my lifetime, and I hope someone is having that type of fun again. Liza Minelli was a mainstay at Studio 54, so much so that it was as if she lived on the dance floor. Here, Vogue presents the best looks from Studio 54. This photograph was taken at the first Halloween party and shows two men dressed in taboo fetish gear, one man miming cutting the other. Model Bianca Jagger holds doves at a party thrown by fashion designer Halston in 1977. They finally just started throwing coats on the floor and no one got them back. They seized garbage bags full of cash from hidden areas and discovered multiple sets of financial books in the ceiling panels. 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. Right: A costumed partygoer hits the dance floor in 1981. The son rose and set inside the club, literally. Once inside people were allowed to be whoever they wanted to be, cutting loose and grooving with everyone, it was the place to go when someone needed to escape. The clubs explosive success had attracted attention from authorities, and they thought Studio 54 might be connected to organized crime. 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. 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. On finding Studio 54s books, it was discovered that a skim was in operation on up to 80% of the profits. They had lights rigged so there was a sunrise and a sunset. In the aftermath of the Vietnam war, Rubell said people were tired of being serious everyone went out and went wild. This wouldnt be the only time Studio 54 went above and beyond for New Years. From the moment it opened its doors in 1977, the era-defining club was, says writer Bob Colacello in Rizzoli's Studio 54, "a sociological phenomenon and a historical event." Lorna Luft, Jerry Hall, Debbie Harry, Truman Capote, and Paloma Picasso at Interview party at Studio 54 . Left: Outside Studio 54, someone arrives to the club on a horse for the third annual Halloween party in 1978. They ransacked the place, went through the offices, and the clubs safe. 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. Schrager explained the concept to Vanity Fair: In order to keep things fresh inside the club, the co-owners often put together a series of theme nights. Giancarlo Giammetti told Vanity Fair that it only took a few days for the crew to get everything ready for a circus themed party: When Studio 54 first opened it was a way for the people of Manhattan to cut loose and do whatever they wanted. Groove on! 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. During the third annual Halloween party at Studio 54, costumed women laugh atop the shoulders of their male companions, New York, New York, October 31, 1978. What is now a Broadway theater used to be the emblematic hot spot of '70s disco nightlife. Ian Schrager is still proud about what he and co-owner Rubell did: What does everyone want for their birthday? Studio 54, arguably the most famous club in the world, was located in New York City on, you guessed it, 54th street. Bokfrlaget Max Strm/Hasse Persson Studio 54. It was relatively common for famous figures to throw their birthday parties inside Studio 54. All one had to do to make sure they wound up in the gossip pages or the New York Post was to simply show up and bypass the line. 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 worldwhich says a lot, coming from a doyenne of the New York Fashion Week schedule. Vote up the Studio 54 snapshots that make you want to queue up and bribe a doorman. Yet, Studio 54s sensibility of inclusion and freedom lives on through the books, films and fashion that it has inspired ever since. 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. Today there's no way that someone would just be able to ride through a club on a horse. Imagine walking into a nightclub and seeing this group of people having drinks you might not believe what youre seeing! Shes just finished with a 1978 concert, following up a Grammy nomination for Best Country Vocal Performance. Even after the original owners went to prison for skimming millions of dollars, the club stayed open until 1990, although the magic of the first years never returned. Studio 54 is remembered as the first non-judgmental, queer-friendly mainstream nightclub, which was not unlike an adult amusement park. Rubell and his partner Ian Schrager created a living fantasy in the club, but it cost a lot of money to get off the ground. Club founders Ian Schrager and Rubell were sent to jail in 1980. Aids later hit, of course. Left: A dancer is swept into a spectrum of lights during 1978. Andy Warhol, mingling backstage with friends Bianca Jagger and fashion designer Halston. On April 26, 1977, Studio 54 opened its doors and introduced the world to a new era of nightlife. It took owners Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager just six weeks to . A lot of people had to work together to make the night a success, from DJs to lightning technicians to the people who designed the sound system. The club was his concept of 15 minutes of fame to the extreme. 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. 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. When photos of the night appeared in the paper the next day everyone had to be at the club. 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