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. Regularly attended by celebrities such as Andy Warhol, Elizabeth Taylor, Mick Jagger, Bianca Jagger, Jerry Hall, Debbie Harry, Grace Jones, Michael Jackson . For that reason, his photos are not only fine art, they are history. Usually these special nights happened when someone wanted something specific for their birthday. Left: Outside Studio 54, someone arrives to the club on a horse for the third annual Halloween party in 1978. Williams and his wife went to the club often and they stayed late. However, even after the club had closed its doors the clean up crew would find party favors from the night before. Here we see one of those notable moments where an elderly woman is dancing with a young man. At Studio 54, the taboo wasnt seen as undesirable instead, it was invited inside. May 14, 2021. In 1978, Studio 54 was lucky enough to host her 46th birthday party. A-list celebrities were just one of the appeals of Studio 54, there were also cult celebrities who were the lifeblood of the underground party scene. This type of thing wouldnt have been allowed in just any nightclub. 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. Both Rubell and Schrager were arrested and charged with taking millions of dollars off the top of the clubs gross. 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. The rise and fall of Studio 54 happened as if an unseen force was holding down the fast forward button on the clubs success. Another thing it often had, as a result, was strange performances. A pair of clubgoers dressed in . Studio 54 opened in NYC in 1977. Left: A dancer is swept into a spectrum of lights during 1978. Soul legend Curtis Mayfield makes an extravagant entrance outside the club with his wife and friend in their Rolls-Royce. You might not think of famous authors as the rowdiest group of people, but Truman Capote didnt fit into any stereotypes. Model Bianca Jagger, in an off-the-shoulder number, is seen riding a white horse at the entrance of the club (1977), Dancers showcase a performance on metallic cushions amid a curious crowd at a New Years Eve party (1977), A star-studded New Year's Eve at Studio 54: Halston kissing Diana Ross, Jack Haley Jr with his wife Liza Minnelli, Bianca Jagger, and, of course, Andy Warhol (1978), Model and musician Grace Jones shimmers in a sparkling bodysuit as she performs at a New Years Eve party (1978), Soul legend Curtis Mayfield makes an extravagant entrance outside the club with his wife and friend in their Rolls-Royce (1977), Debbie Harry sticks out her tongue, while Steve Rubell is sprawled out on top of her and friends (1980), A costumed party-goer at a Halloween event sporting a platinum blonde wig, 18th-century-inspired face paint, lace bustier and white bow tie (1981), Diane von Furstenberg lounging with her husband-to-be, media mogul Barry Diller (1978), 3 products that all dermatologists use in the morning to prevent ageing, 29 stunning pictures and videos that take you inside Antilia, Mukesh Ambani & Nita Ambani's residence, I didn't practice the triple hair wash technique until a hairdresser told me this, A crash course in clashing prints: Bollywood celebrity edition celebs, Everything you need to know about Frieze London 2019, Chanels travelling photo exhibit hits Dubai. What made Studio 54 different, however, was that drugs were practically encouraged inside. 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. Studio 54 is a shadow of its former self. 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. In 1977, at the height of the disco craze, a club opened at 254 West 54th Street in New York City. Not something you see every day, but you could see it at Studio 54. But the real-life nightclubwith its glamorous VIP guests, plentiful drugs, and balcony sexwas somehow . Despite only being open for 33 months, the nightclub . People at Studio 54 dance the night away during the 1978. One of those celebs was Disco Sally an older woman who showed up to get down and she was so fun that she became a fixture at the club. Those lucky enough to be in attendance are spotted in the background, watching with drinks in hand. 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. This photograph offers a glimpse into New Years Eve at Studio 54. In 1978, Rubell told New York magazine that only the mafia does better than us. Right: Clubgoers inhale nitrous oxide (also known as laughing gas) on the dance floor during the 1977 Halloween party. Throughout its three-year lifespan under Rubell and Schrager, Studio 54 served as a lab to experiment with everything from illicit drugs to gender. At the time, childish fun in a club like this couldnt be found in most other venues. He told NY Mag: New Years Eve in New York City is a sacred night of partying that can take dancers on a journey, and one New Years Eve party at Studio 54 was the ultimate way to begin a new year. A man wears a gold costume, eyeliner, and a headdress while dancing. This article originally appeared on Vogue US. Cohen told Vanity Fair: Truman Capote, the author behind In Cold Blood, was certainly irascible, but he wasnt a tough guy by any means. Other people openly smoked illegal substances or snorted drugs such as cocaine. Getty Images. Williams appears to be accepting a drink from the jolly character. It was a mix of gay, straight, rich and poor . Jupiter's exhibit, which opened last . According to bartender Scott Taylor, there were only a few bartenders doing the work of an army. breonna taylor protests black lives matter trump peaceful transfer of power. Of course, playing it cool was a necessity when inside the club. 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. Co-owners Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager were arrested for skimming more than $2 million from the club. It turns out that she wasn't really into that kind of adulation. Capote is the author of books like Other Voices, Other Rooms, Breakfast at Tiffanys and In Cold Blood. 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. 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. Not only did she love a good time, but she also knew how to master the dance floor. 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. Vote up the Studio 54 snapshots that make you want to queue up and bribe a doorman. Find Studio 54 Party stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. 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. Park Avenue hostess Nan Kempner said that Capote punched her in the face one night, nearly starting a brawl. Photographer Gene Spatz captured celebrities including John Lennon, Michael Jackson, Mick Jagger at the iconic New York City 1970s nightclub. Schrager was released on $50,000 bond and the disco was open the next night. 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. Off the dance floor, people mingle over drinks in the lounge area during 1977. Contact Gabriel H. Sanchez at gabriel.sanchez@buzzfeed.com. Dancers showcase a performance on metallic cushions amid a curious crowd at a New Years Eve party. The two went into the basement where she had the bartender handcuff her to a pipe for some extra naughty fun. 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. Under Rubells ownership, however, the strange, the weird and the scary were given a place to flourish beneath the lights of the nightclub. The two had funneled nearly $3 million in less than two years. A club-goer exposes a bare chest, garters (with keys attached to them), and a mask as a woman pops her gum and a man seduces the camera in his costume. 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. It wasnt just the celebrities known to enjoy partying who indulged in a night out at Studio 54. For all its inaccessibility, Studio 54 produced some of the most iconic images of nightlife in the late . Studio 54 was the place to be in its heyday. 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. It could be intoxicating to get into Studio 54 after standing outside for days, or maybe even weeks. Elizabeth Taylor shimmering in a glamorous iridescent bodysuit while chatting to legendary fashion designer Halston. Here she is pictured in front of her cake and alongside famous designer Halston. If you wanted to dress in next to nothing and wear lots of makeup, you were encouraged. From all the stories about the club it sounds like everything was dusted in a fresh layer of cocaine. Going to work day in and day out all week can grind a person down. While Capote is pictured here in a very nice tailored suit, it wasnt out of the question for the author to show up to the club in a bathrobe and a pair of slippers. Showing Editorial results for studio 54. In the photo are Olympic athlete-Bruce Jenner, the King of Pop-Michael Jackson, actress and model-Valerie Perrine and Jane Fonda. Trudeau frequented the nightclub more than once and earned herself a bit of a reputation among partiers. Studio 54's golden age came to an end when the federal government came after Schrager and Rubell for tax evasion. As the main party starter at Studio 54 it was up to Steve Rubell to keep everyone happy. Schrager said: The scene outside of the club could get nasty. On finding Studio 54s books, it was discovered that a skim was in operation on up to 80% of the profits. Former busboy Scott Bitterman wrote about his experience working at the club and how he knew he had to work there from the moment he stepped foot inside: Rubell was open about the fact that he didnt want normal or schlubby looking people inside his club. The spectacle is complete with their revealing outfits, but by Studio 54 standards, their dress is modest. A woman in a bustier and garters finds her partner the "punk" behind her, at Studio 54's 1977 Halloween party. 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. 29 Pictures That Show Just How Insane Studio 54 Really Was. He captured it fantastically the fun and wackiness, the sweetness. Christopher had sold Miramax on a Boogie Nights-type story about a clueless New Jersey kid named Shane (Ryan Phillippe) who was drawn to the flame that was Studio 54 in the late 1970s, when good . 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. 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. Grace Jones. One of the craziest and at least quasi-illegal things that happened in Saudi 54 came from their basement policy. This exclusive event would have been the talk of the season. 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. Performers drop down from the ceiling, held by nothing but a cord connected to their legs. 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