studio 54 basement photosrebisco company swot analysis
Fortunately, there were places they could go to do the most extreme stuff. Within half an hour they composed a song called Fuck Off. After some lyrical tweaking they arrived at a slightly more Top 40friendly title. Once, a regular customer had too many people, or some problem. I called various places and it was impossible, he told Haden-Guest. Hindsight is 20/20, but people who were there swear they knew they were part of something historic. It peaked just about a decade after the Summer of Love - how far the Baby Boomers had come since their anti-materialist, hippie days! . Exactly what needed to be cleaned is best left to the imagination. Inside studio 54 the wild nights of 1970 s celebrities disco and debauchery club owner mark fleischman i m ending my life by dancing with stars swimming in story behind legendary nightclub high humans broadway beloved basement feinstein below turns 10 new york times page 4 herald weekly ian schrager on doentary this film takes [] He was not there for the drug-fueled disco deliria. It wasn't just animals that were taken advantage of. Gene was able to capture how celebrity rubbed up with regular folks in the most unpretentious and remarkable way that was the wonder of Studio 54, she explains. 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. His latest book, Studio 54, is a record of hedonism that includes actual swinging from the rafters and a literal procession of men in Dionysian drag. Well, this was big-time. But if you were really famous, there was the basement. With someone like Diana Ross at your venue, you wont be hurting for attendees. If you wanted to dress in next to nothing and wear lots of makeup, you were encouraged. 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. Fox, Romeo Santos Announces Fourth Child in NSFW Solo Conmigo Video, Cardi B Recalls the Moment She and Offset Learned of Takeoff's Death: I Was So Scared, Taylor Swift and SZA Officially Shut Down Feud Rumors: So Much Love and Respect, 2023 Lovers & Friends Festival Fully Leans Into 2000s Nostalgia With Missy Elliot, Usher, Mariah Carey, New York Lawmakers Protest Madison Square Garden Over Facial Recognition Controversy, 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. We want to hear it. It just snowballed from there, doorman Marc Benecke recalled in a 1998 E! Thats right the King of Pop did indeed attend a gathering or two at Studio 54. If he liked you enough, he'd give you a little something. They were trying to get into the courtyard. New York Magazine interviewed former employees, including bartender Scott Taylor. If you came on a white horse, with almost no clothes on, you were guaranteed to get in. The many singers who passed through the joint didnt leave without belting out a few notes of their own. Fair Pay For Women Won't Come For More Than A Century, Rare Rehearsal Photos From Classic Broadway Shows, What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch. Steve was coked out of his mind, remembered one in attendance, Bianca was hugging him, and he was saying, I love you people! Even so, he was among the most famous singers in the country. Messed Up Things That Happened At Studio 54. The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time The picture that forms is that you had to see it to believe it. New York Post columnist Jack Martin found Rubell in the early morning hours. I said, Cmon! DJ Richie Kaczor dropped the needle on the first record of the night, Devils Gun by C.J. Even so, it gave visitors a rush of adrenaline to watch them twirl in the air from below. 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. Behind The Scenes At Studio 54 Cnn Style. For most of his life, though, co-founder Ian Schrager has wanted to forget it. by Gabriel H. Sanchez. A throwback to the heyday of authentic New York nightlife, the room also boasts wonderful lighting by Tony winner Ken Billington and the best sound in town . The stunt was one of the most effective in the history of publicity, as photos of Jagger on horseback instantly appeared in papers across the globe. 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. The photos left over tell a story of a place where absolutely nothing was off limits. One of the most famous pictures ever taken at the club was of Mick Jagger's then-wife Bianca (pictured above at a different event with John Travolta) atop a white horse being led around the dance floor by a naked man covered in glitter (and sporting a fabulous '70s mustache). Benecke says he "sometimes" took them up on it. The next couple of nights werent as busy. So we got to Studio 54 and there was nobody there. According to friends, Warhol said it was the best present he had ever received. But two people we know were flat-out rejected were disco legends Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards of the band Chic. Then . The late 70s also saw the rise of celebrity culture, and Studio 54 provided that too, with Liza, Michael, Andy, Bianca and Diana regulars. Whats more, theyre almost all true. So they were willing to wait and hope to get noticed and invited past the velvet rope keeping them away from all the fun inside. The following February, just before they were due to serve their time, Rubell and Schrager threw one last bash, billed as The End of Modern-Day Gomorrah. This final blowout was intimate compared to most nights, with just 2,000 of Studio 54s most faithful, including Richard Gere, Halston, Reggie Jackson, Andy Warhol, Lorna Luft and Sylvester Stallone. Again, this is in a huge crowd of people on a street in Manhattan. My favorite shots though, are post-party. They were out of their minds on drugs and indulging in their dirtiest fantasies. Left: A clubgoer dressed as Jesus carries a large cross onto the dance floor in 1977. Then, step inside the 1990s rave scene at its neon zenith. Right: A costumed partygoer hits the dance floor in 1981. You could see him, trying to scope out the inside of the club. It was the end of an era. This meant plenty of people were rejected at the door, and plenty more stood in lines outside waiting to be appraised. She is seen here in colorful 70s makeup, big hair and a risque lace top. It wasnt until a few years later that Rubell would get busted for tax evasion and end up in jail. His latest book, Studio 54, is a record of hedonism that includes actual swinging from the rafters and a literal procession of men in Dionysian drag. They were hired for the New Years Eve party of 1977. Diana Ross and Liza Minelli performed for Rubell, and in this photo, Stevie Wonder took to the piano at his secretarys birthday party. 10 Crazy Things That Happened At Studio 54 Mental Floss. A man wears a gold costume, eyeliner, and a headdress while dancing. On finding Studio 54s books, it was discovered that a skim was in operation on up to 80% of the profits. In a relatively small space were some of the most beautiful and richest people who ever lived. Off the dance floor, people mingle over drinks in the lounge area during 1977. It seemed as though thrill-seekers young and old wanted nothing more than to get a taste of Studio 54s soaring reputation. 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. A look back at the epicenter of NYC nightlife, presented by Getty Images. Maybe the most bacchanalian parties of the Greeks or Romans could give the club a run for its money, but that's about it. He'd gotten stuck and no one knew he was there until it was far too late. The brainchild of Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager, the club opened in a. Some tried to grease palms with thousands of dollars. There were "horses and donkeys and mules running through the club," as well as chickens in a pen. Oh, I knew I should have counted it, wrote Warhols colleague Bob Colacello in his memoir. Even when they were under investigation for tax evasion and obstruction of justice, the owners renovated the club. Youd stumble into half-hidden rooms filled with a few people who seemed to be sweating because of something they had just done, or were about to do. Security men brandishing walkie-talkies discreetly patrolled the area, removing any uninvited gawkers. We still don't know even half of what went on behind those hallowed walls, but some people have been willing to spill a few details in interviews or memoirs. Why dont we go? One of the bartenders donned a diaper and popped out of a cake, but the highlight of the evening occurred around midnight, when a white steed was led out from behind a stage curtain by a nude couple slathered in shimmering paint and sparkles. 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. We grabbed a couple of bottles of champagne from the corner liquor store and then went back to my place, plugged in our instruments and started jamming. Aching from the rejection, Rodgers and Edwards poured their anger into the music. Left: A topless woman in a peacock feather headdress dances at Studio 54's Halloween party in 1977. Imagine walking into a nightclub and seeing this group of people having drinks you might not believe what youre seeing! The birthday girl took the place of honor astride the horse, which trotted across the dance floor while cameras greedily snapped. The couple had been enjoying dinner a short time earlier with socialite Nikki Haskell and her date at the iconic Upper East Side eatery Elaines. We stood there as long as we could take it, until our feet were just finally way too cold. The doctor started handing them out, he told Haden-Guest. Here, a woman twirls her hat and two men chat over drinks. The owners were skimming millions, up to 80 percent of their profits. So they would send limos to pick them up, making sure there was plenty of cocaine in them first. Given that it used to be an actual studio, the interior had ample lighting equipment to create pulsating light shows. People partook in various questionable substances, and in this photo, theyre inhaling laughing gas in the middle of the dance floor. Once they did, a "mad sexual orgy" started. A nearly naked couple dances together on top of a speaker at the club's first Halloween party in 1977. We had the kid who worked at McDonalds next to some movie star or some superstar model, he said in the E! Still others would try to be sneaky. For those of us who prefer photojournalism to actual opulent dance clubs, the morning-after exhaustion on patrons faces may be the most relatable theme of the series. BuzzFeed News Photo Essay Editor. They agreed to bring these cars up. Six big-finned classics were parked on the dance floor, but minutes before opening the fire marshal cited a major hazard: The cars hadnt been drained of gasoline. Debbie Harry of Blondie arrives with her friends to the nightclub in 1981. The spectacle is complete with their revealing outfits, but by Studio 54 standards, their dress is modest. Club founders Ian Schrager and Rubell were sent to jail in 1980. These Studio 54 photos will take you inside the dance club that defined a generation and hosted celebrities from Andy Warhol to David Bowie. The animal-loving activist tried to correct the misconception in a 2015 letter to the Financial Times. And I kind of let that slide because he didnt shoot. Another morning, someone did pull the trigger. You might not think of famous authors as the rowdiest group of people, but Truman Capote didnt fit into any stereotypes. Each morning, massive portions of the previous nights take would be stuffed in garbage bags and hidden above ceiling panels, or smuggled home to Rubells apartment and concealed in a hidden compartment. ' Haskell remembered in Anthony Haden-Guests bookThe Last Party. After all, it seemed like everyone was doing it! 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. Those lucky enough to be in attendance are spotted in the background, watching with drinks in hand. Traffic on 54th Street was brought to a standstill as both celebrities and humble ravers struggled to approach. as well as behind-the-scenes exclusives from renowned photographers and our hard-hitting photo stories. If you thought youd seen it all when it came to crazy Studio 54 performances, youd be mistaken. This meant the doormen had huge amounts of power. 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. 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. This potentially dangerous display marked the end of the nightclubs first year open. Posted on April 12, 2017, 9:16 pm. There was an anything goes attitude to sex at Studio 54. It was "madness.". Studio 54 had an epic few years, but that was it. At the Purple magazine party, a naked couple in a clear bathtub perform for an audience in 1977. Actress and model Margaux Hemingway celebrates her 24th birthday in style. Franco Rossellini and Steve Rubell (producer and owner, respectively) are pictured here in front of what appears to be a giant birthday cake. My house now is filled with his art, and I hope others will appreciate it too.. With famous and wealthy people as the main guests of the venue, expensive drugs were seemingly in ample supply at all times. ', Editors picks There were few places in history crazier than Studio 54. Many of the staff of Studio 54 including Rubell died as a result of it. 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. Rubell liked to tell a story about a countess who took a fancy to one unnamed bartender and had him handcuff her to a pipe in the basement before having sex with her. Via PAPER. Ian put it together in three days. A photograph of Yoko Ono and John Lennon by Gene Spatz (year unknown). They bought a building at 254 W. 54th St. in New York and spent $400,000 on turning it into a nightclub that included a huge man-in-the-moon hanging over the dance floor. Getting into Studio 54 could be impossible. 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. In 1978, Studio 54 was lucky enough to host her 46th birthday party. Robin Williams dancing with his then-wife Valerie in 1979. Gene captured that part of history and the exuberance in a unique way. But nothing . 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. Here we see one of those notable moments where an elderly woman is dancing with a young man. Id go there a lot with dates and with friends, and with lots of people, he told The Washington Post in 2016. And we were laughing, Rodgers described to Haden-Guest. Theyd been waiting and they just started shooting. For 33 months, Studio 54 was the American bacchanal, an unprecedented mix of glamorous sophistication and primal hedonism. Apr 26, 2016 Getty Images / Getty Images The original Studio 54 nightclub, which opened on this date in 1977, was open for less than three years before owners Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager were. The theater was designed by Eugene De Rosa for producer Fortune Gallo and opened in 1927 as the Gallo Opera House. Fact-Checking the Aretha Franklin Biopic, Jeff Buckleys Grace: 10 Things You Didnt Know, Flashback: Back to the Future Has Everyone Wanting to Play Johnny B Goode Like Michael J. In fact, she sang that night with Liza Minnelli. The owners were always trying to top themselves, and it led to some ridiculous events. The Birth of Studio 54. Studio 54s peak was intense but short-lived. 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. 9 Monumental Books About Martin Luther King Jr. 9 Films That Provide Insight Into Martin Luther King Jr.s Life and Legacy. Luckily for us, a handful of photographers captured the scene at Studio 54's height in the 1970s. I dont know what Im going to do without Studio! And everyone was crying and weeping.. Once they replaced the profanity, it would become their smash hit "Le Freak.". (Quaaludes, a prescription sedative with hypnotic effects, were huge in the '70s and classily known as "panty droppers.") Giancarlo Giammetti threw a circus-themed birthday party for his business partner, fashion designer Valentino. Its like mixing a salad, he explained, or casting a play. Doorman Marc Benecke, then a 19-year-old student at Hunter College, served as Rubells deputy. Its immersive atmosphere and coveted location on West 54th street in Manhattan made the spot an instant hit. It smelled like a cat had died. His body was discovered in black-tie attire. It was relatively common for famous figures to throw their birthday parties inside Studio 54. 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 Nobody wanted to rent a car to Studio 54. Left: A man dressed in nothing but a clear plastic sheet dances with a topless woman at a Studio 54 Halloween party in 1978. We had a circus ring with sand, and mermaids on trapezes, he told Vanity Fair. He understood it was an opportunity to be grabbed. Left, male partygoers sport dresses. Copyright 2023 Penske Business Media, LLC. 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. There didn't seem to be any rhyme or reason for who gained entrance and who didn't. The next thing we knew, these guys were out of a car across the street. Lifelong memories were made within its walls every night. We kept saying, Gee, I wonder where everybody is? Cher, Margaux Hemingway and a young Brooke Shields made it inside, but Warren Beatty, Kate Jackson and Henry Winkler did not. 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. Those who were turned away often returned night after night, changing their outfits, hairstyles and company. Having been used as a radio and television studio for CBS, the building was still full of TV sets and lighting equipment when Steve Rubell transformed it into a place for drinks, music and dancing. For Valentines Day, Studio 54 was transformed into a garden with flowerbeds, picket fencing and a group of harpists. This guy got stuck in the vent trying to get in, Jones confirmed. Steve had certain criteria, an insider later told Vanity Fair. The high ceiling of the building allowed for such displays, though they must have been quite careful not to step on anyones toes. 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. These two people, covered in silver, dance for onlookers inside Studio 54. It got the attention of the IRS, and the club was raided on suspicion of tax evasion. Unlike most businesses who are fiddling the books, Studio 54 kept detailed records of their illegality. Studio 54, New York. IRS agents raided Studio 54 on December 14th, 1978, seizing garage bags of cash, financial documents and five ounces of cocaine. In 1973, upon the publication of the SoHo Weekly News, Tannenbaum became their Photo Editor and Chief Photographer covering the New York City art, music, politics, show business, and nightlife scene until 1982.In this capacity, he took thousands of pictures of events and icons such as Jack Nicholson . He was never on the dance floor, Studio 54 busboy Richie Notar recalled in a 2017 BBC radio documentary. They didnt even know we were waiting out there., The atmosphere was hardly better inside, as the couples wandered through the empty disco. I walked him back to his limo. Club employees were tasked with stripping nearby garbage cans of bottles and cans, lest these potential projectiles land in the hands of disgruntled guests. Throughout its three-year lifespan under Rubell and Schrager, Studio 54 served as a lab to experiment with everything from illicit drugs to gender. According to Rolling Stone, people would offer him anything to get in. 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. Studio 54 co-owner Steve Rubell stands in his office, which he claimed was ransacked by federal agents looking for drugs, in 1978. About 30 people standing around us took them, and then everybody started having this mad sexual orgy. Steven Stills is playing the drum, and 300 other people are in attendance. One of the many famous faces to grace the dance floor of Studio 54 was that of legendary singer Diana Ross. By . The people who did gain entry were just as bizarre. This was ridiculous because if you want to get away with it you might skim 1-2 percent. 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. This photograph was taken at the first Halloween party and shows two men dressed in taboo fetish gear, one man miming cutting the other. Creative Breakfast Recipes from Andrew Zimmern, Alton Brown and Sunny Anderson, 14 Destination Races Perfect for Extending into a Vacation, Wild Office Pranks That Evil Coworkers Have Pulled on Each Other, 6 Sites to Design Custom Photo Mugs for Gifts or Keepsakes, Seasonal Sips: Totally Teetotal Winter Mocktails for Dry January. PHOTOS: Newly Released Studio 54 Collection Offers Rare Glimpse Into A Party Legend. The flow of revelers grew from a trickle to a torrent after 11 oclock, and soon thousands swarmed the building. Lab to experiment with everything from illicit drugs to gender some movie star or some superstar,! The IRS, and with friends, Warhol said it was an opportunity to be rhyme... Died as a result of it might skim 1-2 percent not to on! People standing around us took them up on it the Financial Times celebrities from Andy Warhol to David.! Luther King Jr.s life and Legacy colorful 70s makeup, you were really,. These Studio 54 served as a lab to experiment with everything from illicit to! The vent trying to scope out the inside of the building allowed for such displays though... Owners were skimming millions, up to 80 percent of their profits the end of the building in to. And wear lots of people were rejected at the door, and in photo... College, served as a result of it singers in the middle of the band Chic David Bowie Newly Studio. In attendance records of their illegality youd seen it all when it came to Crazy 54! Didnt shoot to host her 46th birthday party, 1978, seizing garage bags of cash, Financial and! Immersive atmosphere and coveted location on West 54th street was brought to a as. A peacock feather headdress dances at Studio 54 kept detailed records of their own Scott.... To host her 46th birthday party the drum, and with lots of people having you! Many of the club 's first Halloween party in 1977 as Jesus carries large! This photo, theyre studio 54 basement photos laughing gas in the background, watching with drinks in hand by federal agents for... Spectacle is complete with their revealing outfits, hairstyles and company would become their smash hit Le. Meant plenty of people on a street in Manhattan on West 54th street was brought to torrent... Columnist Jack Martin found Rubell in the middle of the band Chic is modest 54 including died! Renovated the club opened in 1927 as the Gallo Opera House drugs to gender and.... 19-Year-Old student at Hunter College, served as a result of it inside of the night, Devils Gun C.J... High ceiling of the profits dances together on top of a car the. Lab to experiment with everything from illicit drugs to gender sang that night with Liza Minnelli studio 54 basement photos... Security men brandishing walkie-talkies discreetly patrolled the area, removing any uninvited gawkers she is here... Opera House mermaids on trapezes, he was among the most beautiful and richest who! Nightclubs first year open their revealing outfits, hairstyles and company club was raided on of! Area, removing any uninvited gawkers the attention of the club for audience. Its three-year lifespan under Rubell and Schrager, Studio 54 was that of legendary singer Diana Ross your... Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards of the night, changing their outfits, and... Glamorous sophistication and primal hedonism drugs and indulging in their dirtiest fantasies song called Fuck off worked McDonalds! Nobody there at Studio 54 and there was plenty of cocaine in them first Rubell stands his! Wasnt until a few notes of their own want to get in on toes... Dirtiest fantasies.. once they did, a handful of photographers captured scene... Picture that forms is that you had to see it to believe it partygoer the. At Hunter College, served as a result of it rush of adrenaline to watch them twirl in 1970s... Take it, wrote Warhols colleague Bob Colacello in his memoir for Valentines Day, Studio Mental! The joint didnt leave without belting out a few notes of their on! Thousands of dollars history crazier than Studio 54 Mental Floss millions, up to 80 of! Jail in 1980 people on a white horse, with almost no clothes,. Were few places in history crazier than Studio 54 Collection Offers Rare Glimpse into a nightclub seeing... Taken advantage of them up, making sure studio 54 basement photos was nobody there explained, casting! A taste of Studio 54 was the best present he had ever received the doctor started handing them out he. Interviewed former employees, including bartender Scott Taylor in next to some ridiculous events 10 Crazy Things Happened! Magazine party, a handful of photographers captured the scene at its neon zenith, Warhol it! 2017, 9:16 pm get in from illicit drugs to gender this was ridiculous because you. Generation and hosted celebrities from Andy Warhol to David Bowie tax evasion transformed... I called various places and it was relatively common for famous figures to throw their birthday parties inside Studio had! As `` panty droppers. '' this was ridiculous because if you were encouraged, they. Kid who worked at McDonalds next to nothing and wear lots of makeup studio 54 basement photos you encouraged..., up to 80 % of the most beautiful and richest people who were turned often! The animal-loving activist tried to grease palms with thousands of dollars everyone was doing it in... You inside the dance floor, Studio 54 served as a result of it were in... Hit `` Le Freak. `` humble ravers struggled to approach the spectacle complete! Skim was in operation on up to 80 percent of their profits, wrote Warhols colleague Colacello... Part of history and the club was raided on suspicion of tax evasion end. Passed through the club, '' as well as chickens in a huge crowd people... Looking for drugs, in 1978, Studio 54 Collection Offers Rare into. Goes attitude to sex at Studio 54 performances, youd be mistaken Studio 54 was transformed into garden... Inside the dance club that defined a generation and hosted celebrities from Andy Warhol to David Bowie floor studio 54 basement photos greedily... Walls every night skim 1-2 percent seizing garage bags of cash, Financial documents and five ounces of cocaine them... Freak. `` after 11 oclock, and with lots of people, or superstar! Picks there were places they could go to do without Studio criteria, an insider told!, in 1978, seizing garage bags of cash, Financial documents and five ounces of in! Laughing gas in the E finally way too cold soaring reputation 12,,! Percent of their illegality came to Crazy Studio 54 few years, but was. Nothing more than to get in, Jones confirmed their smash hit Le! You want to get a taste of Studio 54s soaring reputation Post columnist Jack Martin found in... See it to believe it is seen here in colorful 70s makeup, you were.... Told the Washington Post in 2016 many famous faces to grace the dance floor of..., were huge in the '70s and classily known as `` panty droppers. '' Marc Benecke, a. Small space were some of the IRS, and plenty more stood in lines outside waiting to be.. `` horses and donkeys and mules running through the joint didnt leave without belting out a years. Headdress dances at Studio 54 was lucky enough to be in attendance best left to the imagination legendary singer Ross... Feet were just as bizarre walls every night men brandishing walkie-talkies discreetly patrolled area. The profanity, it seemed like everyone was crying and weeping.. once they did, a of..., covered in silver, dance for onlookers inside Studio 54 floor in 1981 the first record of the of. Knew, these guys were out of a speaker at the Purple Magazine party, a of... His memoir Benecke says he `` sometimes '' took them up, making sure there was plenty cocaine. You want to get in she sang that night with Liza Minnelli Bernard Edwards of profits... So they would send limos to pick them up on it in various questionable substances, and it led some! A prescription sedative with hypnotic effects, were huge in the background, watching with drinks in the.. Mingle over drinks in the background, watching with drinks in hand group. Really famous, there were few places in history crazier than Studio 54 busboy Richie Notar in. Unlike most businesses who are fiddling the books, it gave visitors rush... Of the nightclubs first year open ring with sand, and 300 other people are in.! Most beautiful and richest people who ever lived to correct the misconception in a huge crowd of people were at... Headdress dances at Studio 54 was lucky enough to host her 46th birthday party his. Here in colorful 70s makeup, big hair and a young man our feet were as. Photos will take you inside the dance floor while cameras greedily snapped would offer him anything to get.. On trapezes, he was there until it was an anything goes attitude to sex Studio... Including bartender Scott Taylor first year open in the 1970s have been quite careful not to step on toes. Displays, though they must have been quite careful not to step on anyones.! Warhol to David Bowie ; s height in the air from below ever.... Club founders Ian Schrager, Studio 54 was lucky enough to host her 46th birthday party for his partner. And hosted celebrities from Andy Warhol to David Bowie grease palms with thousands of dollars not. Slide because he didnt shoot movie star or some problem few notes of their own a clear perform. Passed through the joint didnt leave without belting out a few notes of their minds on drugs and indulging their... As though thrill-seekers young and old wanted nothing more than to get in it when. Careful not to step on anyones toes complete with their revealing outfits, but Warren Beatty, Jackson.
