Unfortunately, the bartender was so out of his gourd on goofballs that he forgot to unlock the cuffs when the two were finished and left her in the basement before going back to work. If you thought youd seen it all when it came to crazy Studio 54 performances, youd be mistaken. No other nightclub has been able to rival it in reputation and A-list guests since. Here's why it became so famous. 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. Getty Images. Other people openly smoked illegal substances or snorted drugs such as cocaine. 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. The two are almost unrecognizable, however, thanks to the cream thats been smeared all over their faces and clothes. What Is Groundhog Day and Why Do We Care? And McCarthy was able to recognize the special collection Lowen had inherited and make sure his creative legacy remained alive. Williams and his wife went to the club often and they stayed late. 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. Many of the staff of Studio 54 including Rubell died as a result of it. As Netflix's Halston reminds us, Studio 54 was a fever dream of excess. Of course, playing it cool was a necessity when inside the club. She is seen here in colorful 70s makeup, big hair and a risque lace top. Despite spending only $400,000 on preparations for the nightclub, owner Rubell indicated Studio 54 made over $7 million in profits in the first year. People at Studio 54 dance the night away during the 1978. Diana Ross, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Cher, Truman . It was hard for some people to get into the club wearing normal club clothes - polyester shirts, gold chains, and the like - but at least one celebrity was able to forgo the normal dress code whenever he wanted, author and playwright Truman Capote. Off the dance floor, people mingle over drinks in the lounge area during 1977. 22 photos that show the grit and the glamour of Studio 54, New York City's most infamous club. Liza Minelli was a mainstay at Studio 54, so much so that it was as if she lived on the dance floor. Cohen told Vanity Fair: Truman Capote, the author behind In Cold Blood, was certainly irascible, but he wasnt a tough guy by any means. Come anytime you like, and youll get in. After the invitation she became an institution and showed up whenever she was free. There was no written rule about the dress code, it was left up to his subjective taste. One of the men on the scene was Gene Spatz, a pioneering paparazzo and street photographer who most people have never heard about. New York Daily News Archive / Getty Images. 22 photos that show the grit and the glamour of Studio 54, New York City's most infamous club. Left: A topless woman in a peacock feather headdress dances at Studio 54's Halloween party in 1977. 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. In an interview with The Guardian Blondie singer Debbie Harry tried to set the record straight about how often she went to Studio 54. If there was one person who loved going out to Studio 54, it was Bianca Jagger. 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. Here, Vogue presents the best looks from Studio 54. Imagine walking into a nightclub and seeing this group of people having drinks you might not believe what youre seeing! On April 26, 1977, Studio 54 opened its doors and introduced the world to a new era of nightlife. 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. Another thing it often had, as a result, was strange performances. (AP Photo/Quinto) Date: 02/04/1979. It turns out that she wasn't really into that kind of adulation. Given that it used to be an actual studio, the interior had ample lighting equipment to create pulsating light shows. The young entertainer captured outside the club. They served copious amounts of alcohol, played the loudest music and sometimes had mini food fights on the dancefloor. According to a 2018 documentary about Studio 54 Rubell and Scrager skipped out on getting their liquor license by applying for multiple one day licenses that were used by catering companies. It wasnt until a few years later that Rubell would get busted for tax evasion and end up in jail. Studio 54, arguably the most famous club in the world, was located in New York City on, you guessed it, 54th street. When youre a wealthy celebrity, youre going to want to have the best of the best. Thats right the King of Pop did indeed attend a gathering or two at Studio 54. 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 relatively common for famous figures to throw their birthday parties inside Studio 54. Being a spouse to legendary partier Jagger, its no wonder she enjoyed a good get-together herself. In the liner notes of Sound and Vision Bowie explained why he was drawn to the club and dance music: There was a theatrical quality to Studio 54 that club goers had never seen before. The son rose and set inside the club, literally. Who knows if that's really what Warhol meant to do? Left, male partygoers sport dresses. While speaking with Harper's Bazaar, Minelli explained that she didn't know and didn't care for the Studio's plans to spin her records while she danced for an audience of onlookers: Even though Andy Warhol and Bianca Jagger look quite chummy here this would be one of the last times that they were friendly. Once the show came to an end the cast had to have somewhere to go - and they went to the Studio. You cant blame the guy for wanting to be comfortable while staying on the dance floor all night. He and his wife Sasha Stallone are pictured here in Studio 54 in 1978. People would be upset about the cleanliness of the animal and whether or not something was wrong with the horse. It touched all your senses and left you wanting more. They Took a Third Date to Costa Rica. 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. If you came on a white horse, with almost no clothes on, you were guaranteed to get in. The entire night went off around midnight Bianca Jagger made her way through the club on the back of a white stallion. Send us a tip using our anonymous form. This was taken in the ladies room. More like this An Ultimate Guide To The Music Of . Vote up the Studio 54 snapshots that make you want to queue up and bribe a doorman. When she wasnt whipping her legs through the air to the music, she was brushing shoulders with the countrys most famous celebrities. Despite only being open for 33 months, the nightclub . 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. Its immersive atmosphere and coveted location on West 54th street in Manhattan made the spot an instant hit. Its disco days, though, were short lived and the club closed its doors in 1980these archival photos are a snapshot that only a lucky few had the pleasure of experiencing. 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. Tabs, Fri., Sept. 25, 2020. The photographic work of Dustin PIttman -- the focus of this feature . It wasnt just some other club - there was fog, wind, and snow. 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. 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. Liza Minnelli and Mikhail Baryshnikov. Throughout its three-year lifespan under Rubell and Schrager, Studio 54 served as a lab to experiment with everything from illicit drugs to gender. 2023 Rolling Stone, LLC. In 1977, at the height of the disco craze, a club opened at 254 West 54th Street in New York City. She told Vanity Fair: While everyone else in the club was getting blasted and dancing the night away, the people worked the lights, the DJ, and the sound people were very serious about making sure everyone had a good time. For that reason, his photos are not only fine art, they are history. Left, male partygoers sport dresses.Bokfrlaget Max Strm/Hasse Persson Studio 54. 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. Studio 54 wasand, arguably, remainsthe world's most renowned and legendary disco. 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. Capote was an occasional visitor to Studio 54 and got down with the best of them. 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. Whether its Elton John partying with drag queen Divine or Bianca Jagger riding a white horsehere, Vogue shares the most glamorous and grittiest moments captured at the New York hotspot in the 1970s. 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. Lorna Luft, Jerry Hall, Debbie Harry, Truman Capote, and Paloma Picasso at Interview party at Studio 54 . If youd gone to Studio 54 in the 1970s, however, this is exactly the type of scene you couldve enjoyed. It's crazy to think that Studio 54 and Saturday Night Live were both happening in New York City at the same time. Here we see one of those notable moments where an elderly woman is dancing with a young man. Studio 54 had an intense door rule that made it hard for people to get in regardless of who you were. 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. Robin Williams dancing with his then-wife Valerie in 1979. Mick Jagger and his then significant other Jerry Hall entering the club. Described by some as Sodom and Gomorrah with a disco beat, New York City's delightfully depraved nightclub opened its doors in 1977. To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories, To revisit this article, select My Account, thenView saved stories. 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. They were like queens on the dancefloor.". Multiple people tried to purchase the theater - which was owned by CBS at the time - but it was Rubell and Schrager who won the bid. In the aftermath of the Vietnam war, Rubell said people were tired of being serious everyone went out and went wild. At Studio 54, the taboo wasnt seen as undesirable instead, it was invited inside. 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. Four women in shimmery dresses sit in the club's lounge area. 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. Studio 54 produced many star-studded photo opportunities. The opening night of Studio 54 was huge mess. Yet, Studio 54s sensibility of inclusion and freedom lives on through the books, films and fashion that it has inspired ever since. The streets were so packed with people that wanted to get into the Studio that attendees were literally being thrown inside. Neither the way he captured it nor the period is replaceable., Lowen says she hopes to exhibit the work at some point, to share it with a wider audience and expose his legacy. The club was a tabloid fixture. There were no thoughts outside of "I want it, let's make it happen.". What Gene has is a very different sensitivity, McCarthy says. 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. Her hair is blonder and bigger than ever. This photo shows a man dressed in drag with fake (and appropriately sequined) breasts on his chest. 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. For a brief period of time Studio 54 changed the pace of New York night life. 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. If you found yourself fortunate enough to make it inside Studio 54 in 1978, you mightve come upon a scene like this one. These two people, covered in silver, dance for onlookers inside Studio 54. Steven Stills is playing the drum, and 300 other people are in attendance. My house now is filled with his art, and I hope others will appreciate it too.. A look back at the epicenter of NYC nightlife, presented by Getty Images. Rolling Stone is a part of Penske Media Corporation. The spectacle is complete with their revealing outfits, but by Studio 54 standards, their dress is modest. By 11 pm there were thousands of people outside the club with no hope of getting in, so many of the revelers ended up having a sex-fueled party in the street. Diana Ross and Liza Minelli performed for Rubell, and in this photo, Stevie Wonder took to the piano at his secretarys birthday party. 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. A pile of people forms on the dance floor of the 1978 "Purple Party.". Clubs have been using this idea for years. No matter how wild the request the co-owners would make it happen. Its likely that the truth is somewhere between to the two claims. When a nightclub is as hot as Studio 54 the place is going to be crawling with celebrities. 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. But in the '70s it was just another night at Studio 54. Margaret Trudeau was the wife of the Canadian Prime Minister at the time, and she loved to let loose. In this picture, well-known English actor Michael Caine is laughing and dancing with his wife Shakira, while partygoers frolic on behind them. Indeed, club regulars ranged from Mick Jagger and Andy Warhol to Elizabeth Taylor and David Bowie. The man who made it famous, Steve Rubell, was only in charge from 1977 to 1980. Soul legend Curtis Mayfield makes an extravagant entrance outside the club with his wife and friend in their Rolls-Royce. While that was a Monday night, the clubs one evening off, they made an exception for the actress and rock star wife. Actress and model Margaux Hemingway celebrates her 24th birthday in style. . This article originally appeared on Vogue US. One of Studio 54s main attractions was its complex lighting. Dancers showcase a performance on metallic cushions amid a curious crowd at a New Years Eve party. For many guests (celebrity or not), Studio 54 was a place to dance, discover, and dip into the unknown. Ian Schrager, one of the co-owners and founders of Studio 54 explained his idea behind the design: Explosive mayhem is the perfect way to describe this scintillating night club. With famous and wealthy people as the main guests of the venue, expensive drugs were seemingly in ample supply at all times. Grace Jones wrote about it in her book, saying: Rick James of Super Freak fame was a legendary party monster throughout the 70s and 80. Maybe they worked at banks or law firms, but in the middle of the night in Manhattan - at the clubs - they could be whoever they wanted to be. Studio 54 and Saturday night Live were both happening in New York City & x27... It turns out that she was brushing shoulders with the Guardian Blondie Debbie. With celebrities group of people having drinks you might not believe what youre seeing mick Jagger Andy. Special collection Lowen had inherited and make sure his creative legacy remained alive wealthy celebrity, youre going be., it was relatively common for famous figures to throw their birthday inside... 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