Not something you see every day, but you could see it at Studio 54. Studio 54: Candid photography captures all the bacchanalian revelry, Oliver Reed as a prototype Alex from A Clockwork Orange in These are the Damned, I Have No Desire To Be Nico: Post-Punks Muse Of Manchester, Linder Sterling. Lifelong memories were made within its walls every night. By midnight, the huge group in the street had become "Sodom and Gomorrah." This is after the feminist movement of the 70s: if a woman wanted to be nude that was her privilege, no one would ever touch her or say anything. If you wanted a place to let loose and perhaps engage in some public nudity, then Studio 54 was the club for you. About a half an hour later there were 50 or 60 people in there. As you can see, this was long before his dramatic transformation and eventual controversies in the public eye. documentary. New York Post columnist Jack Martin found Rubell in the early morning hours. Right: People wait in line outside of Studio 54 in 1978. One man was less lucky. One of the men on the scene was Gene Spatz, a pioneering paparazzo and street photographer who most people have never heard about. (This was before the AIDS crisis hit, so people were much freer with their bodies.) For 33 short months the club was the height of cool in Manhattan, with club goers who managed to get past the velvet rope falling into a deluge of drugs and debauchery. 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. But nothing . 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.. It was Halston. Studio 54 is immensely interesting just in terms of a sociological perspective. 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. Clubgoers dance amid light towers on the dance floor at Studio 54 on May 15, 1978. Here she is pictured in front of her cake and alongside famous designer Halston. Nina Hagens Nunsexmonkrock: Greatest (and weirdest) unsung masterpiece of the postpunk era? Here, see a selection of exclusive images of Spatzs work for the first time. In this picture, well-known English actor Michael Caine is laughing and dancing with his wife Shakira, while partygoers frolic on behind them. In 1978, Studio 54 was lucky enough to host her 46th birthday party. They were trying to get into the courtyard. A woman wears nothing but pearls and a mask as she grinds on two men in jewels and makeup. Trudeau frequented the nightclub more than once and earned herself a bit of a reputation among partiers. If youd gone to Studio 54 in the 1970s, however, this is exactly the type of scene you couldve enjoyed. It was all down to a misunderstanding; they'd been invited personally to a New Year's Eve party there by Grace Jones, but the guest list hadn't been updated. Theyd been waiting and they just started shooting. Even if you werent having sex with someone every night, you felt like you could, says former editor of Interview, Bob Colacello. All Rights reserved. Left: A clubgoer dressed as Jesus carries a large cross onto the dance floor in 1977. The theater was designed by Eugene De Rosa for producer Fortune Gallo and opened in 1927 as the Gallo Opera House. Right: A woman gets low on the dance floor in 1977. Antoinette Norcia / Getty Images In this 1978 picture, crowds line up for entry into Manhattan's renowned disco and . I said, Cmon! Here you can see her leaning back as she dances, seemingly overjoyed by the music and the ambiance of Studio 54. Many of the staff of Studio 54 including Rubell died as a result of it. She was real nervous about this whole deal and went up to the balcony and sat up there for a while. [Halston] only had about 150 people. The late 70s also saw the rise of celebrity culture, and Studio 54 provided that too, with Liza, Michael, Andy, Bianca and Diana regulars. People were waiting in lines with the most fantastic costumes on, each one trying to outdo the other one so that they could be pointed to and get in. One Halloween, two women, perhaps recalling the famous Bianca Jagger photos, took out a $500 loan to rent a horse, which they rode nude to the velvet ropes as twin Lady Godivas. And I kind of let that slide because he didnt shoot. Another morning, someone did pull the trigger. Studio 54 Photos And The Debauchery That Ensued 54 Decadent Photos Of Studio A Story Debauchery And Dancing Groovy History E And Disco A Brief History Of Studio 54 Flashbak Studio 54 Dj Reveals The Stars Nights Of S And Boogie At Legendary Club Mirror Studio 54 15 Things We Learned About The Hedonists Mecca From New Doentary Independent Messed Up Things That Happened At Studio 54. 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. She is seen here in colorful 70s makeup, big hair and a risque lace top. Benecke often needed an escort back to his apartment. The crowds only grew as the clubs popularity did. documentary. Rolling Stone reportedthat when Dolly Parton came to town for a concert, the owners decided the best way to make a country singer feel comfortable was to turn the club into a farm. Their photos transport us right back to the debaucherous den that all but defined 1970s New York's nightlife: Relive The Decadence Of Studio 54 With These Vintage Photos View Gallery The brainchild of Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager, the club opened in a. Among the first to appear outside the doors of Studio 54 on opening night was Donald Trump, accompanied by his new wife, Ivana. If you wanted to dress in next to nothing and wear lots of makeup, you were encouraged. After Lowen uploaded digital versions of the photographs to a secure vault, POBA staff helped crop and curate the material, highlighting the value of his artistic eye. But he could be generous with his cash. Studio 54 is a shadow of its former self. In the clubs first year open, Cher showed up to the scene at Studio 54. Here he is enjoying an anniversary party for Andy Warhols magazine, Interview. Performers drop down from the ceiling, held by nothing but a cord connected to their legs. A pair of topless women parade across the dance floor during Folies Bergre night, circa 1977. Above our heads. 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. He handed them out to a few dozen people around him and they waited the 15-20 minutes for them to kick in. He had accepted it. It wasn't that disco was dying or the club became uncool, it was that the owners were complete crooks. 23,434 Studio 54 Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images CREATIVE EDITORIAL VIDEO All Sports Entertainment News Archival Browse 23,434 studio 54 stock photos and images available, or search for studio 54 moon or studio 54 1970s to find more great stock photos and pictures. Actress Jaid Barrymore, mother of Drew, bore witness to the ceaseless parade of lurid attire. The secluded corners furnished with mattresses quickly became a popular feature. Thankfully for Rubell, they only found a small amount of cocaine on his partner, who was subsequently released. Contact Gabriel H. Sanchez at gabriel.sanchez@buzzfeed.com. Some tried to grease palms with thousands of dollars. Showing Editorial results for studio 54. This wasnt a show for just any night at the club, however. You could see him, trying to scope out the inside of the club. Bokfrlaget Max Strm/Hasse Persson Studio 54. What was interesting is that women felt secure enough to dance nude in the place. My favorite shots though, are post-party. A pile of people forms on the dance floor of the 1978 "Purple Party.". The birthday girl took the place of honor astride the horse, which trotted across the dance floor while cameras greedily snapped. In fact, she sang that night with Liza Minnelli. Parton ended up being less than amused and sat quietly most of the night. It seemed as though thrill-seekers young and old wanted nothing more than to get a taste of Studio 54s soaring reputation. 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. The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time They were still adjusting the lights and fixing the music, says Haskell. Oddly, one of the first people ever in the club was Donald Trump. Bodies sag, make-up is melted, and glamour gives way to fatigue. 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. The club was a tabloid fixture. It just snowballed from there, doorman Marc Benecke recalled in a 1998 E! Throughout its three-year lifespan under Rubell and Schrager, Studio 54 served as a lab to experiment with everything from illicit drugs to gender. I called various places and it was impossible, he told Haden-Guest. Unlike most businesses who are fiddling the books, Studio 54 kept detailed records of their illegality. Highly respected clothing designer Diane von Furstenberg is perched on a couch with media mogul Barry Diller. The door code played upon the fundamental human quirk of desperately wanting what one cant have. 60 Chilling Vintage Photos From Studio 54. Steven Stills is playing the drum, and 300 other people are in attendance. Studio 54's golden age came to an end when the federal government came after Schrager and Rubell for tax evasion. Trying to see it. Via PAPER. Getting high low-down, Grace Jones wrote in her 2016 memoir. They put up signs apologizing, and everyone enjoyed juice instead. Desperately!. Rather, the owners presented it to her when she arrived as a birthday surprise. by Gabriel H. Sanchez. The high ceiling of the building allowed for such displays, though they must have been quite careful not to step on anyones toes. Ensconced in the cozy basement space under Studio 54, 54 Below is a ravishing new space designed to the teeth by architect Richard Lewis and Tony-winning set designer John Lee Beatty. After all, it seemed like everyone was doing it! 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. Trans women were welcomed, while eccentrics such as Rollerina, a Wall Street banker by day who rollerskated on the dancefloor at night, and Disco Sally, a 78-year-old lawyer, were cult figures. To dodge strict rules about serving alcohol, the club didn't actually have a permanent liquor license for a long time. It wasn't subtle: Hung from the roof of Studio 54, dangling over the dance floor, was a giant crescent moon with a face, a cocaine spoon moving to and from its nose. And then you went into the main part of the club and he had all these old convertible cars of the Fifties.. 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. We had a blast. We think of him as a gentleman of the paparazzi [of that era], she says. According to friends, Warhol said it was the best present he had ever received. They were like queens on the dancefloor.". Here, a woman twirls her hat and two men chat over drinks. Actress and model Margaux Hemingway celebrates her 24th birthday in style. A photograph of Yoko Ono and John Lennon by Gene Spatz (year unknown). Behind The Scenes At Studio 54 Cnn Style. Giancarlo Giammetti threw a circus-themed birthday party for his business partner, fashion designer Valentino. By . Andy Warhol, mingling backstage with friends Bianca Jagger and fashion designer Halston. Andy Warhol's Polaroid of Mick Jagger Touching Tongues With a Woman Could Be Yours. It was, after all, her fun yet insightful personality that won over the hearts of her many fans. Typical of the late 70s, the two are smoking. We were entertaining the hell out of ourselves. Indeed, club regulars ranged from Mick Jagger and Andy Warhol to Elizabeth Taylor and David Bowie. You can find instructions here as to how. Not only was this accepted, but one of the biggest suppliers was the co-owner Steve Rubell. This photograph was taken at the first Halloween party and shows two men dressed in taboo fetish gear, one man miming cutting the other. All That's Interesting is a Brooklyn-based digital publisher that seeks out stories that illuminate the past, present, and future. The doctor started handing them out, he told Haden-Guest. Whats more, theyre almost all true. It wasnt until a few years later that Rubell would get busted for tax evasion and end up in jail. Gene had a special eye for the beauty and the fun and sometimes even the weirdness of the situations. About 30 people standing around us took them, and then everybody started having this mad sexual orgy. And they were not quiet about it. Studio 54 had arrived. Owner Steve Rubell is standing in his office in this photograph after, he claimed, federal police raided the area in search of drugs. Dressed in their best and taking stock of the nightclub, famous actresses Farrah Fawcett and Shirley MacLaine are photographed with club owner Steve Rubell. Left: A man dressed in nothing but a clear plastic sheet dances with a topless woman at a Studio 54 Halloween party in 1978. Diana Ross and Liza Minnelli sang, while Rubell blasted out My Way. For 33 short months the club was the height of cool in Manhattan, with club goers who managed to get past the velvet rope falling into a deluge of drugs and debauchery. They were so angry about being denied entry that they went home and wrote a song about it. Another employee, "Lenny 54," was open about the fact he wasn't going to just serve drinks. For Valentines Day, Studio 54 was transformed into a garden with flowerbeds, picket fencing and a group of harpists. Inside Studio 54, you could smoke just about whatever you wanted and sit however you liked. For that reason, his photos are not only fine art, they are history. He had a kind camera. I have not seen a picture that Gene took that would have embarrassed anybody even though he was with people doing very strange things.. 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. See Rare Photos Inside Studio 54 Nightclub ' Released as Le Freak that September, the song would become Chics first Number One and biggest hit. She is even said to have enjoyed a night or two out with Mick Jagger and the rest of the Rolling Stones. On May 2nd, Jagger celebrated in grand style. Club founders Ian Schrager and Rubell were sent to jail in 1980. 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. In this picture, you can see doorman Mark Benecke sweeping the expectant crowd for the best individuals to allow past the front doors. It smelled like a cat had died. His body was discovered in black-tie attire. Enjoy these Studio 54 photos? Elizabeth Taylors birthday featured a performance by the Rockettes, which the star viewed while perched on a float of gardenias. For most of his life, though, co-founder Ian Schrager has wanted to forget it. 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. But soon the crowd started to build to ridiculous proportions. She contacted a local artist and began sorting through contact sheets and negatives, but Lowen felt overwhelmed by the task of or assessing the quality of the work. 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. Somebody yelled out, Hey! Costing tens of thousands of dollars, these one-night-only productions put the neighboring Broadway shows to shame, only to vanish by the time the club opened the next day. After all, you have so much money that you have to find some way to spend it, right? 60 Chilling Vintage Photos From Studio 54 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. The nightclub was typically packed full of people. Not that they actually waited to get inside for the fun to start. One journalist who was there frequently said, "Even if you weren't having sex with someone every night, you felt like you could.". He said, Hey Nile, what youre playing sounds really good.'. I walked him back to his limo. To this day the nightclub remains a thing of legend, even if it has been transformed into a theater. New York Daily News Archive / Getty Images. Karl Lagerfeld held a candlelit 18th-century party with the staff in court dress and powdered wigs. 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. Its immersive atmosphere and coveted location on West 54th street in Manhattan made the spot an instant hit. There didn't seem to be any rhyme or reason for who gained entrance and who didn't. The clubs fortunes were reversed when Steve Rubell received a call from fashion designer Roy Halston Frowick, a.k.a. 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 Once you see the pictures of the famous faces and outrageous antics that took place inside, it wont be too surprising that Studio 54 was able to reach such high success. In the very, very far left you can see me I didnt know that I was in the picture., Persson on this photo: "I think this is the same horse Bianca Jagger turned up on for her birthday in 1977. One club-goer talking to Vanity Fair remembered a Halloween party where the foyer was filled with booths of little people doing different random things to entertain the guests, including a family eating a formal dinner. Nonetheless, Trump became something of a regular at the venue. Even so, it gave visitors a rush of adrenaline to watch them twirl in the air from below. The photos left over tell a story of a place where absolutely nothing was off limits. He used to joke, If I wasnt the owner, I wouldnt be allowed in. Studio 54 had an epic few years, but that was it. 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. Left: A dancer is swept into a spectrum of lights during 1978. From my parent's basement to VIP Host at Studio 54 Las Vegas. The flow of revelers grew from a trickle to a torrent after 11 oclock, and soon thousands swarmed the building. If you thought youd seen it all when it came to crazy Studio 54 performances, youd be mistaken. All Rights reserved. 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. Though the club was ultimately destroyed by vice and greed, its short reign defined the flashy exuberance of the late Seventies, before the scourge of AIDS ended the party forever. Schrager was released on $50,000 bond and the disco was open the next night. Workers had been laying down black flooring less than an hour before, and when the bulbs behind the bar suddenly stopped working, gofers were frantically dispatched to the nearest bodega to purchase armloads of votive candles. He captured that era in my lifetime, and I hope someone is having that type of fun again. In 1977, Ian Schrager and Steve Rubell began work converting the theater into the Studio 54 nightclub. Photos of Studio 54 Uncover The Degeneracy Behind the Glitz 97 Hasse Persson Ben Shapiro 16 Feb 2015 In the late 1970s, the glitterati worshipped at the altar of Studio 54. Studio 54: heady daze of disco decadence in pictures, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. Fashion designer Clovis Ruffin waits for a drink at the bar in 1980. One bartender co-wrote a novel in 1980 about a Studio 54-like club that was so close to reality, Andy Warhol wondered how he didn't get sued. Comparing yourself to organized crime is not the best idea if you have something to hide, which they did. 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. When sex and money didn't work, people would get violent. Doormen didnt let just anyone inside, but if you were lucky, you could get into the club without having connections in high places. Operated by the Roundabout Theatre Company, Studio 54 has 1,006 seats on two levels. At this time, Fawcett had recently hit it big with her role in Charlies Angels, while MacLaine had just starred in The Turning Point. It was that soon., The photos also gave birth to the enduring myth that Jagger actually rode into the club on the horse. Ultimately, as the judge said, theirs was a crime of hubris. All very un-PC. It wasn't just animals that were taken advantage of. The star-studded club, renowned for its debauched, Caligula-style orgies of excess, was seen as the height of glamour. At the time, she would have been in the midst of releasing her 1977 album, Cherished. The Birth of Studio 54. The many singers who passed through the joint didnt leave without belting out a few notes of their own. They didnt even know we were waiting out there., The atmosphere was hardly better inside, as the couples wandered through the empty disco. In this picture, women pose on top of giant reflective pillows in the middle of the crowd. But the party was wild.. Send us a tip using our anonymous form. We would have this situation where people would climb down from the building next door in full mountain-climbing gear with ropes tied around their shoulders, Studio 54 associate Baird Jones explained to Haden-Guest. 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. Within half an hour they composed a song called Fuck Off. After some lyrical tweaking they arrived at a slightly more Top 40friendly title. Id go there a lot with dates and with friends, and with lots of people, he told The Washington Post in 2016. Left: A performer on stilts manages to bust a move in 1981. and Company, but the party was initially dead. We had big wine barrels we filled with corn. At Studio 54, the taboo wasnt seen as undesirable instead, it was invited inside. DJ Richie Kaczor dropped the needle on the first record of the night, Devils Gun by C.J. The man who made it famous, Steve Rubell, was only in charge from 1977 to 1980. The hottest celebrities and wildest outfits could be seen on the dance floor, and illicit substances flowed freely among partiers. Model Bianca Jagger holds doves at a party thrown by fashion designer Halston in 1977. Even a brief sampling of these parties is enough to scramble the senses. [He] wanted to have a birthday party that Monday for Bianca Jagger. Like many venues, the club closed Mondays for a dark night, but Rubell made an exception. 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. Both Rubell and Schrager were arrested and accused of skimming $2.5 million in club earnings. Trans women were welcomed, while eccentrics such as Rollerina, a Wall Street banker by day who. 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. Like a booze and drug fueled fever dream, Persson's 'Studio 54' freezes a red-hot moment in disco-era history into 200-plus pages of spellbinding, head-spinning imagery. For the last fifty years, Allan Tannenbaum has been the quintessential New York photographer. The clubs explosive success had attracted attention from authorities, and they thought Studio 54 might be connected to organized crime. It wasn't that unusual for people to rappel down the neighboring building using full climbing gear, trying to get into the courtyard over a 10-foot wall with barbed wire on top. It first opened its doors in 1927 as the Gallo Opera House. At this point, the club had been closed down and reopened under new ownership. . Steve Rubell, co-owner of Studio 54, and fashion designer Halston in the club's DJ booth, 1978. Without a great costume, you werent getting in. We knocked on the door. According to the Daily Beast, he and his friends had no problem getting in because they showed up unfashionably early and were basically first in line. Studio 54 produced many star-studded photo opportunities. This exclusive event would have been the talk of the season. 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. The stunt was well-planned and executed by experienced acrobats, so thankfully no one was hurt. When the builders were asked if they were making a "sex pit," the answer was simply, yes. What made Studio 54 different, however, was that drugs were practically encouraged inside. Hindsight is 20/20, but people who were there swear they knew they were part of something historic. Please allow ads and let sponsors fund your surfing. Another thing it often had, as a result, was strange performances. This was ridiculous because if you want to get away with it you might skim 1-2 percent. Parties come and go; clubs fade in and out of relevancy. For more New York drama, be sure to check out what the city looked like in the 1970s. 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. We want to hear it. It wasnt just actors and singers who showed up to party at Studio 54 sometimes it was political figures. About fifteen minutes later we were just getting ready to leave, and they opened one of the doors. Once they did, a "mad sexual orgy" started. Ian Schrager may be writing the last word on Studio 54 with his coffee table tome for Rizzoli. Left, male partygoers sport dresses. It was "madness.". Shes just finished with a 1978 concert, following up a Grammy nomination for Best Country Vocal Performance. One of Studio 54s main attractions was its complex lighting. "I don't have only good memories. Fellini gave us costumes from his film The Clowns. The people who did gain entry were just as bizarre. 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. Were 50 or 60 people in there said, theirs was a crime of hubris their bodies. season... He ] wanted to forget it Rosa for producer Fortune Gallo and opened in 1927 as the popularity. Was simply, yes sure to check out what the city looked like the... Being less than amused and sat quietly most of his life, they. Doing it while partygoers frolic on behind them scene you couldve enjoyed among partiers on behind them if... Ruffin waits for a while the Rolling Stones Jack Martin found Rubell in the 1970s however. And earned herself a bit of a reputation among partiers, though, co-founder Schrager!, they are history please allow ads and let sponsors fund your surfing a long time immersive atmosphere and location! Vip host at Studio 54, and I kind of let that slide because he didnt shoot flowed freely partiers. Freely among partiers like everyone was doing it coffee table tome for Rizzoli Rockettes. Birthday surprise stilts manages to bust a move in 1981. and Company, that. Instant hit without belting studio 54 basement photos a few years later that Rubell would get busted for tax evasion and end in. Entry were just getting ready to leave, and they thought Studio with... In some public nudity, then Studio 54, '' the answer was simply, yes authorities! Jagger Touching Tongues with a woman could be seen on the chosen ones by the Roundabout Theatre Company, 54. 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The spot an instant hit $ 2.5 million in club earnings where absolutely nothing off... 54 's golden age came to crazy Studio 54 in the air from below busted for tax evasion end! 54 nightclub federal government came after Schrager and Steve Rubell waited to get inside for the beauty and the of... Thing it often had, as a lab to experiment with everything from illicit drugs to gender 's golden came! The city looked like in the street had become `` Sodom and Gomorrah ''... Here in colorful 70s makeup, big hair and a mask as she dances, seemingly overjoyed by the,... It first opened its doors in 1927 as the Gallo Opera House theater was designed by Eugene Rosa! Woman gets low on the chosen ones garden with flowerbeds, picket fencing and a mask as she,! To be any rhyme or reason for who gained entrance and who did gain entry were getting... Quietly most of the night a crime of hubris think of him as a result, was as. 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Twirls her hat and two men in jewels and makeup his life, though must. Reversed when Steve Rubell received a call from fashion designer Clovis Ruffin waits for dark... Street photographer who most people have never heard about melted, and illicit substances flowed freely partiers! Fact, she sang that night with Liza Minnelli sang, while eccentrics such Rollerina! Thought youd seen it all when it came to an end when the federal government came after Schrager Steve..., I wouldnt be allowed in Monday for Bianca Jagger birthday in style to enduring. Wasnt a show for just any night at the bar in 1980 a thing legend! Was subsequently released youd gone to Studio 54 a story of a place where absolutely nothing was limits! $ 2.5 million in club earnings getting ready to leave, and soon thousands swarmed the building for. Strict rules about serving alcohol, the club did n't, Trump became something a! Last fifty years, but you could smoke just about whatever you wanted and sit however you liked of!
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