Here Is Everything You Need To Know About The Legendary Nightclub Called Studio 54
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you must know the song that goes, “You are the dancing queen!” However, we just do not know this song, as well as the folks of the ‘70s, did. Let us find out all there is to know about Studio 54. In one night, everyone forgot about the troubles that haunted America. There were lights, costumes, and even a barnyard animal at one point. We promise you that nothing is boring about these photos. Get ready to go on an adventure by going through them!
Studio 54 Held The Essence Of The Seventies
While it had only been open for a few years, Studio 54 was a major part of the 1970s. From the absolutely wild parties to all the celebs who showed up night after night, almost nothing was off-limits in the club. The ‘70s had been a wild era. It was a time of economic inflation, women’s rights, and the Vietnam war. Political turmoil aside, the decade was also a time of experimentation, wild parties, and self-expression!
One Of The Greatest Nightclubs In History
When it comes to these things, the place to go was a New York nightclub called Studio 54. It first opened in 1977 and closed its doors in 1980. In the three years that it was open, the establishment cemented its status as one of the greatest nightclubs ever.
One Of The Greatest Nightclubs In History
Here is Diana Ross manning the DJ booth in 1980! What an amazing view! What you will see from the DJ booth remained unhindered to let them see the crowd. Back then, people wore everything from strange getups to almost nothing at all.
Only The Most Famous Faces
Anyone who went to the nightclub had the chance to mingle with the biggest stars of the decade. Below is a photo of Calvin Klein, Steve Rubell, Andy Warhol, and 16-year-old Brooke Shields enjoying their night! In the 1980s, Brooke Shields made waves with provocative Calvin Klein ads.
Only The Most Famous Faces
Thus, it wasn’t out of the ordinary to see Klein and Shields hanging out back then. They apparently never stopped being pals. It’s been 37 years and Shields, now 52, is still doing sexy ads for Calvin Klein.
Bette Midler And The Temptations
A lot of celebs frequented the club almost every single night. For instance, best buds Cher and Liza Minnelli took on the dance floor at Studio 54 too. Cher still made it out that night, even though earlier that day she choked on a vitamin pill and was dragged to the hospital.
Bette Midler And The Temptations
Will you look at that… it is the Temptations and Bette Midler! They clearly know how to “Treat Her Like A Lady.” The clasped hands tell us that they were all about to “Get Ready” for a great night. At the time, Bette Midler was congratulating them for their signing with Atlantic Records!
Stevie Wonder Jams With Steven Stills
The club had a bouncer that carried a clipboard. He was the one who will let you know if you made the cut based on your clothes and attitude. You can also see Stevie Wonder and Steven Stills making music!
Stevie Wonder Jams With Steven Stills
Mr. Wonder and Mr. Stills playing for 300 guests at a birthday party. There was never a dull night at the club. Only the bright, famous, and the quirky were ever let in. The owners described the selection as a carefully prepared salad: the people created the atmosphere on the dancefloor.
David Bowie Was Almost Denied Entry
This one is going to be hard to believe. It sounds impossible that David Bowie was almost denied entry to the club. On one occasion, Mick Jagger and David Bowie were nearly refused entry because they did not have invitations.
David Bowie Was Almost Denied Entry
That is until a club owner rushed to the door in order to fix the error and take them inside! We get why he had this huge grin. Just imagine how the doorman must have felt when he realized his mistake!
What Paloma Picasso Told Debbie Harry
We want you to appreciate the loveliness of the three women in this photo. From the far left to the right, there is Jerry Hall, Debbie Harry, and Paloma Picasso. What an amazing photo! Not only are they beautiful, but we love the intrigue that it has.
What Paloma Picasso Told Debbie Harry
Three famous women hanging out together at the most famous club in New York City, whispering amongst themselves… What could Pablo Picasso’s daughter be whispering here? We guess we’ll never know.
Mick and Bianca Jagger Celebrate Her Birthday
This is also theperfect place to go if you wanted to celebrate your birthday with a showstopping bang! Bianca Jagger was not at all camera-shy and even looked fairly relaxed and laid-back during her 32nd birthday celebration all the way back in 1977.
Mick and Bianca Jagger Celebrate Her Birthday
She went all out for her party. What she didn’t know was that a white stallion would be brought to the club for her to ride! The venue earned quite a reputation because of a live horse behind its doors. She was later seen riding the horse around the nightclub.
Young Brooke Shields and Mariel Hemingway Laughing Together
We would honestly be shocked if you tell us that you do not know who Brooke Shields is. This gorgeous lady is a model and actress at the same time. She was only twelve years old but she could already go anywhere she wanted.
Young Brooke Shields and Mariel Hemingway Laughing Together
Beside her is Mariel Hemingway, grandchild of Ernest Hemingway! an actress and the granddaughter of the famous writer Ernest Hemingway! Yes, we are talking about one of the most famous writers the country has ever seen. Did you think that is gin and tonic in her hand? Nope, it’s soda, of course!
No One Expected To See The First Lady There
Many wanted to go to the nightclub, but there are certain people you would never expect to see there. This shows the First Lady, for one. These are three generations of women from diverse backgrounds.
No One Expected To See The First Lady There
From the left, there is performer Liza Minnelli, actress Elizabeth Taylor, and FLOTUS Betty Ford. While it’s a rather odd mix of people, that’s what Studio 54 was all about! Celebrating the diversity with the rich and famous.
The Hunks Of The ‘70s Walking Through The Club Doors
Look at this photo of John Travolta! That smoldering gaze is simply to die for. With the unbelievable jawline on Sylvester Stallone, we bet the ladies there were swooning all over the place that night in ’77.
The Hunks Of The ’70s Walking Through The Club Doors
We can only imagine what went on with these two once they arrived at the club! We’re sure the people inside were more than excited to party with them. The two studs were enjoying themselves with all the alcohol and eccentric people around them.
Prepping For A Visit From The Queen Of Country
After hearing that Dolly Parton was going to come, club owner Steve Rubell wanted her to feel at home and brought this white horse to the club. Not only that – he turned the whole club into a farm. There were chickens, donkeys, and mules as well.
Prepping For A Visit From The Queen Of Country
However, it turns out that Dolly Parton was rather uncomfortable with the whole ordeal. She ended up sitting quietly off to the side for the rest of the night. She thought it was rather over the top and unnecessary.
Regulars At Studio 54
This is one group of many that went to Studio 54 on the regular. Bianca Jagger has already appeared in many photos taken there! Over on her left is Michael Jackson, who seems rather content with his cold drink. How cool!
Regulars At Studio 54
‘I like the atmosphere of Studio 54,’ said an afro-haired young Michael Jackson, who often went to Studio 54 with his actress friend, Brooke Shields, who liked to hang out in the DJ booth. ‘It’s where you come when you want to escape. You just go wild.’
The Basement Or The Champagne Room
Without a doubt, you are interested to hear about some salacious things about the club. There are three levels in Studio 54. There are the two-story dance floor and the basement. According to Rolling Stone, lewd things happened inside.
The Basement Or The Champagne Room
Security guards guarded it to keep prying eyes away! To this day, people aren’t really sure of what went down in that room. All we can say is, use your imagination. Even then, you’ll probably have a hard time figuring out what happened there.
A Pensive Robin Williams Beside His Wife And Andy Warhol
Formerly a studio for CBS, the place was converted into a nightclub. It had a rather seedy reputation thanks to the rumors going around about owners Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager. Some said the place had drug-laced vents, nightly orgies, and underground tunnels.
A Pensive Robin Williams Beside His Wife And Andy Warhol
This photo just breaks our hearts! This is the man who brought many iconic characters to life and made so many people laugh throughout the years. On the couch, you can find his ex-wife Valerie Velardi and artist Andy Warhol. They are talking intimately while Williams seems lonely and sad on his own.
Grace Jones Strutting Her Stuff
Owner Steve Rubell wanted to ensure that the club would only be full of the best people. There was once when he personally picked who could go in. People even dressed wildly to try and catch his attention!
Grace Jones Strutting Her Stuff
People waiting in line trying to get in would do just about anything to get the doorman to let them inside. From bribes to much, much more. One thing was for sure: dressing wildly was very encouraged.
Robin Williams Showing Us How It Is Done
We will never forget about Robin Williams no matter what happens in Hollywood. Here is a photo of the actor in a Hawaiian shirt with his wife. He was holding his wife’s hand and the two busted out their moves.
Robin Williams Showing Us How It Is Done
They probably wanted to show the other people at the club how it’s done. Or, they just wanted to let loose and have some fun on a night out. Either way, this photo is a truly great one!
Elton John Looks A Lot Different
Yes, this is Elton John sporting sideburns and a baseball cap. You can also see Alana Hamilton wearing a leopard print dress with Rod Stewart. They were clearly itching to dance as much as they possibly could!
Elton John Looks A Lot Different
While there were many things going on at the club each night, one of the main reasons people came in was, in fact, to dance. The party-goers just wanted to let their hair down and dance the night away.
More To Offer Than Celebrity Guests
Celebrities and secrets aside, there were a couple of other things that made people form a queue for the club. The entertainment was top notch! No one knew how to throw an awesome party like they did.
More To Offer Than Celebrity Guests
Studio 54 celebrated its first anniversary in style with an “East Meets West” entertainment/fashion show. A lot of times there were entertainers on the dancefloor to make things more interesting for the guests.
Never A Lack Of Wild Events
If the dancers did not impress you, maybe acrobats and live bands will. There were colored balloons and topless women for entertainment! The balcony featured even lewder acts! Apart from the basement, there was also the rubber room on the balcony.
Never A Lack Of Wild Events
Initially, the balcony was built to allow people to cross the dancefloor more easily, but later on, it was covered in rubber since it was “easier to clean”. From that point on, people took full advantage of it for all kinds of things.
Dirty Dancing
The freedom from external pressures explains the behavior of so many guests who visited the hottest New York disco club. This woman danced with two men without a single care in the world. Good for her!
Dirty Dancing
Inside the walls of the nightclub, people felt like they could just about anything they wanted to. It was a major part of the club itself, and the owners did well in accomplishing that feat.
New Year’s Eve
New Year’s Eve was the best time of the year to drop by Studio 54. This shot is all the proof you need to learn this. The party was attended by Halston, Warhol, Liza Minnelli, Bianca Jagger, and Jack Haley, Jr.
New Year’s Eve
Warhol, the godfather of pop art, made regular appearances at Studio 54. Whereas other artists made the stage their performance space, Warhol made his whole life a performance space. That said, he was not on the roster of performers for Studio 54.
Disco Sally Living Her Best Life
You were wrong if you thought nightclubs were only for the youth! Take a look at Sally “Disco Sally” Lippman. While there were many young people in Studio 54, she swore to do anything she wanted after the death of her husband.
Disco Sally Living Her Best Life
She was a real star! A friend told her to go there “just to see what it’s all about.” She had a blast and was adored by the manager who let her come in whenever she wanted. She explained, “I didn’t dance for 50 years because my husband didn’t like it.” Good for her!
All Seemed Well Until One Fateful Day
Sadly, the end soon came for the club. The IRS paid the club a visit and asked to see the owners and all their financial records. In December 1978, Rubell told CBS that it was “…probably the worst, one of the worst days of my life.” Agents found the club’s financial records, which included “payouts” for drugs and, as prosecutor Peter Sudler recalls, one column that was labeled “skim.”
All Seemed Well Until One Fateful Day
“So that you had a daily record of everything that they took in and what they took out as skim and didn’t report,” Sudler said. It totaled some $2.5 million. “It was part of the ridiculous intoxication, I suppose, we were suffering from, like, what were we thinking?” Schrager said.
Not Their First Time
When Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager opened Studio 54 in 1977, they had no idea it was going to be an overnight hit. They bought an old CBS studio and turned it into a musical light venue by using old lighting and painting the ceilings black.
Not Their First Time
However, where were they going to get alcohol? Liquor licenses can be hard to obtain. However, they thought of a great loophole they were able to use to their advantage. The biggest surprise was that it actually worked – for a while.
One-Day Catering Permits
They decided to go for catering permits instead of a liquor license instead. They needed booze, and this was a loophole that they took advantage of. They founded a company called “Broadway Catering Corp”, which explains how they got alcohol for the guests.
One-Day Catering Permits
Eventually, the Liquor State Authorities got suspicious and asked them why they needed the catering permits. That’s when the nightclub finally got raided. This spelled bad news for the owners.
The IRS Was Closing In On Them
Rubell and Schrager were arrested for non-licensed alcohol selling! The club was closed until further notice. Luckily, they had a great lawyer called Roy Cohn. He got them out of prison and obtained a liquor license for the club.
The IRS Was Closing In On Them
He was the lawyer of Sen. McCarthy and even Pres. Trump in the past. The two men felt invincible after this, but there were more problems. This time, it was the IRS that came after them.
Cher And Howard Himelstein Bust A Move
It took two dozen agents to look into the club’s finances. They heard that the owners were skimming money and keeping drugs. In the end, these claims were verified. They saw a vault with drugs and unreported cash.
Cher And Howard Himelstein Bust A Move
There was $2.5 million that went unreported! They went to prison for fraud. When Studio 54 closed down, it also marked the end of disco. When the owners got out of jail, they landed on their feet again. Before they said goodbye, they held one final party in February 1980.
Rod Stewart And Steve Rubell Enjoying Themselves
Steve Rubell had some words of wisdom to impart. He once said, “The key to a good party is filling a room with guests more interesting than you.” It looks like this was a method that worked well for them!
Rod Stewart And Steve Rubell Enjoying Themselves
To keep the momentum of the club going, the owners made sure the celebs kept coming back. They would send them limos to be picked up and taken to the club. On top of that, they would ensure photos of celebrities in the club would be in the papers the next morning. Here is Steve Rubell with superstar Rod Stewart.
Robin Williams At The Robin Williams Opening Party, April 11, 1979
April 1979 had been a wonderful time for Robin Williams, who was 27 years old at the time. He had just finished a Mork & Mindy season finale and then appeared on the Time magazine cover.
Robin Williams At The Robin Williams Opening Party, April 11, 1979
Here he was as he arrived at a Robin Williams Opening Party! Studio 54 became the place that celebrities frequented. Some of them were totally at home in this club. The venue started to feel less like a public area for them!
Doorman Marc Benecke Deciding Who Gets In
As the doorman there, 19-year-old Marc Benecke had a lot of responsibilities. He was the one to make the call on who gets into this nightclub full of celebrities. He later went into real estate and opened bars.
Doorman Mark Benecke Deciding Who Gets In
Before Ian Schrager and Steve Rubell turned the site into Studio 54, it was a theater. When this was taken, people were busy trying to wear bizarre getups to get the attention of the higherups.
Fleur Thiemeyer And Elton John
What would you have done to get entry into the ‘Grease’ premiere party? Here is a photo of Elton John and Fleur Thiemeyer at the party on June 13, 1978. The film was a huge hit that people love to this day.
Fleur Thiemeyer And Elton John
Other regulars on the celebrity guest list included Elizabeth Taylor, Michael Jackson, Mick Jagger, David Bowie, Elton John, Sylvester Stallone, John Travolta, Rod Stewart, Ryan O’Neal, Cary Grant, Jackie Onassis, Rudolf Nureyev, Salvador Dali, Farah Fawcett — and Donald Trump.
The Owners
We really doubt that these wide smiles can be faked. Rubell is on the right, while Schrager is on the left. They look gleeful as they stood next to each other at a balcony inside their club during its early days.
The Owners
Recently, in an interview, Schrager said, “I don’t have only good memories. I have bittersweet memories. It was an embarrassment to me. It still is”. Studio 54 was the hottest party spot in the entire world. It defined the disco era in all its ecstasy and excess.
Dancing The Night Away
Like we said, Studio 54 caught the attention of all sorts of people. It was not only celebs and socialites who went there on the regular. The nightclub was all about vibe, energy, freedom, and looseness!
Dancing The Night Away
It was truly tragic that they had to shut it down. However, eventually, the club was raided and its owners both went to jail. During their prison sentence, the owners of the iconic club ended up selling it.
Bizarre Outfits
Anyone who thought that they were wearing the most outrageous getup at Studio 54 is probably wrong. People wore headpieces, put on colorful makeup, donned ridiculous accessories, and even cross-dressed! People watching was already fun enough even without all the musical acts and stunts.
Bizarre Outfits
While there were many other nightclubs all over New York City, they did not come close to Studio 54. Something about it stood out to everyone back then. Many were sad when it closed in February 1980. You didn’t need to be a celebrity to go inside, but it did make things easier. Others said to simply be interesting and have something that will make you stand out from the crowd.