Performers drop down from the ceiling, held by nothing but a cord connected to their legs. When youre a wealthy celebrity, youre going to want to have the best of the best. In fact, she sang that night with Liza Minnelli. Even when Claudia Cohen, a reporter from the New York Post, stopped by to check in on their progress she was shocked at how broken down everything was. In front is famous artist Andy Warhol. In 1977, at the height of the disco craze, a club opened at 254 West 54th Street in New York City. In this picture, women pose on top of giant reflective pillows in the middle of the crowd. If you found yourself fortunate enough to make it inside Studio 54 in 1978, you mightve come upon a scene like this one. 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. From the moment it opened its doors in 1977, the era-defining club was, says writer Bob Colacello in Rizzoli's Studio 54, "a sociological phenomenon and a historical event." The two went into the basement where she had the bartender handcuff her to a pipe for some extra naughty fun. If you came on a white horse, with almost no clothes on, you were guaranteed to get in. 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. A look back at the epicenter of NYC nightlife, presented by Getty Images. The young entertainer captured outside the club. Onlookers say that he was always dressed up and ready to get down. 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. Studio 54 wasand, arguably, remainsthe world's most renowned and legendary disco. With someone like Diana Ross at your venue, you wont be hurting for attendees. From the looks of it, he seemed to enjoy his time there, too! A pair of clubgoers dressed in . What Is Groundhog Day and Why Do We Care? Frontman for Sly and the Family Stone in a flashy ensemble. Not that theres anything wrong with that. Dressed in their best and taking stock of the nightclub, famous actresses Farrah Fawcett and Shirley MacLaine are photographed with club owner Steve Rubell. It wasnt just some other club - there was fog, wind, and snow. The man who made it famous, Steve Rubell, was only in charge from 1977 to 1980. They were hired for the New Years Eve party of 1977. Andy Warhol once said "It's a dictatorship at the door and a democracy on the dance floor." The best way to keep being invited inside was to act as if you belonged. 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The move this woman pulls off seems to defy her age in every way shes flexible enough to wrap her legs around him and strong enough to hold herself up by his arms. Groove on! Schrager was released on $50,000 bond and the disco was open the next night. Grace Jones. We think of him as a gentleman of the paparazzi [of that era], she says. One of the many famous faces to grace the dance floor of Studio 54 was that of legendary singer Diana Ross. A look back at the epicenter of NYC nightlife, presented by Getty Images. Vote up the Studio 54 snapshots that make you want to queue up and bribe a doorman. Getty Images. They both wanted the club to be the most exciting place in the world and while Schrager handled the behind the scenes work Rubell was happy to wine and dine celebrities. Toosii Brings Roses and Your 'Favorite Song' to Tonight Show, Justin Bieber Shares Heartfelt Message to Frank Ocean After Coachella Set. Cohen told Vanity Fair: Truman Capote, the author behind In Cold Blood, was certainly irascible, but he wasnt a tough guy by any means. Right: People wait in line outside of Studio 54 in 1978. The nightclub threw an annual Halloween party and expected guests to wear the most shocking, over-the-top costumes that you could think of. Giancarlo Giammetti told Vanity Fair that it only took a few days for the crew to get everything ready for a circus themed party: When Studio 54 first opened it was a way for the people of Manhattan to cut loose and do whatever they wanted. And, who can forget the iconic image of Bianca Jagger riding a white horse through the clubs entrance? Studio 54's golden age came to an end when the federal government came after Schrager and Rubell for tax evasion. She is seen here in colorful 70s makeup, big hair and a risque lace top. In its first year alone, it managed to pull in approximately $7 million dollars! Cher dancing at Studio 54. At a wild place like Studio 54, there werent lots of rules about what to wear or who to be. Before the co-owners went to jail they threw a party to end all parties called The End of Modern-Day Gomorrah. They only invited a small crowd of about 2,000 revelers many of them A-list celebrities. Here she is pictured in front of her cake and alongside famous designer Halston. 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. Throughout its three-year lifespan under Rubell and Schrager, Studio 54 served as a lab to experiment with everything from illicit drugs to gender. CREATIVE. After all, it seemed like everyone was doing it! Studio 54s peak was intense but short-lived. Right: A woman gets low on the dance floor in 1977. You cant blame the guy for wanting to be comfortable while staying on the dance floor all night. Left, male partygoers sport dresses.Bokfrlaget Max Strm/Hasse Persson Studio 54. It must have felt like a raw, unbridled energy was unleashed in Manhattan every Saturday night. Studio 54 is known for having been one of the world's most high-profile, exclusive discotheques during the late 1970s and early 1980s. The whole thing cost them $400,000 - thats $1,690,376.24 in 2019. Here, gazing adoringly at her husband here is . Being a spouse to legendary partier Jagger, its no wonder she enjoyed a good get-together herself. This crowd is made up of well-known, successful individuals: Fashion designer Halston and actress Bianca Jagger are on the left, followed by film director Jack Haley Jr. and actress Liza Minnelli in the back right. The club was a tabloid fixture. Four women in shimmery dresses sit in the club's lounge area. Thats why Sylvester Stallone decided he needed to pay a visit to the most famous disco in the United States. . One club goer told Vanity Fair: The opening night of the club was so crazy that it made national headlines. On April 26, 1977, Studio 54 opened its doors and introduced the world to a new era of nightlife. Even the celebrities at Studio 54 were known to get star struck from time to time. Going to work day in and day out all week can grind a person down. According to the guy who took over Studio 54 after the original co-owners went to prison, James nearly killed himself while at the club. It wasnt just a place to get your rocks off and dance, it was free publicity. Both famous celebrities and regular bystanders alike managed to have a rockin good time at Studio 54. 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. Richard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images. 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. Left: A performer on stilts manages to bust a move in 1981. When the Guardian asked Harry which club she liked hanging out at the most she was honest about her allegiance to CBGBs in spite of brilliant outfit in this photo, she explained: It didnt matter if you were famous, straight, gay, or trans, you were welcome in Studio 54. But Nicky's love affair with the infectious dance music pre-dates Studio 54. Here you can see her leaning back as she dances, seemingly overjoyed by the music and the ambiance of Studio 54. Co-owner Ian Schrager explained: While the club had been a major success after its first night, it still wasnt the wild success that the owners wanted it to be. Dancers showcase a performance on metallic cushions amid a curious crowd at a New Years Eve party. This couple wears scant Halloween costumes resembling a mermaid and some kind of sea creature, and their choice of style was not out of the ordinary at Studio 54. Of course, playing it cool was a necessity when inside the club. 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. 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. 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. New York: Photo shows crowd waiting outside Studio 54, the popular New York City disco. Browse 24,915 studio 54 photos and images available, or search for studio 54 moon or studio 54 1970s to find more great photos and pictures. Whether it's 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. Looking back on her childhood Barrymore said: There were other dance clubs in New York City, but none of them shared the you had to be there power of Studio 54. The photographic work of Dustin PIttman -- the focus of this feature . Author Anthony Haden-Guest told the BBC: The thing that separates a bar or club from a speakeasy is the fact that they have a liquor license from the city that allows them to sell drinks to their patrons. Its disco days, though, were short-lived and the club closed its doors in 1980 these archival photos are a snapshot that only a lucky few had the pleasure of experiencing. He began incorporating dance music and disco into his sound, and to find inspiration he went to the club and paid close attention. It turns out that she wasn't really into that kind of adulation. 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. She explained that they were shoving their party in everyones face because America needed to have their own excesses reflected back at them. For major actresses like these, visiting Studio 54 was a must while in New York City. Even so, it gave visitors a rush of adrenaline to watch them twirl in the air from below. Diana Ross, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Cher, Truman Capote, and Andy Warhol were all among its regulars, but Studio 54 was more than a celebrity hotspot and beacon of New York nightlife. These photos show what really happened at Studio 54, with celebrities like Mick Jagger, Grace Jones, and Andy Warhol leading the way. First, you had to have the kind of bod that looked good in a pair of gym shorts and not much else, and second you had to have a willingness to show it off and a desire to be at the club every night. Under Rubells ownership, however, the strange, the weird and the scary were given a place to flourish beneath the lights of the nightclub. These two people, covered in silver, dance for onlookers inside Studio 54. He and his wife Sasha Stallone are pictured here in Studio 54 in 1978. People partook in various questionable substances, and in this photo, theyre inhaling laughing gas in the middle of the dance floor. Model Bianca Jagger holds doves at a party thrown by fashion designer Halston in 1977. The entire night went off around midnight Bianca Jagger made her way through the club on the back of a white stallion. Studio 54 furthers the nostalgia that people still have about '70s New York, as pointed out by Goldberger, a period of time that has been revisited recently, from Patti Smith's book Just Kids to . However, its likely that the club wouldnt have made the front page of the post if it werent for Cher. A star-studded New Years Eve at Studio 54: Halston kissing Diana Ross, Jack Haley Jr with his wife Liza Minnelli, Bianca Jagger, and, of course, Andy Warhol. This wasnt a show for just any night at the club, however. Club founders Ian Schrager and Rubell were sent to jail in 1980. Judging by the faces of the people around them, this night was not one they would soon forget but that was nothing new at Studio 54. Model Bianca Jagger, in an off-the-shoulder number, is seen riding a white horse at the entrance of the club. Clubgoers dance amid light towers on the dance floor at Studio 54 on May 15, 1978. There was an anything goes attitude to sex at Studio 54. My house now is filled with his art, and I hope others will appreciate it too.. This kind of debauchery came to be expected of the venue and marked its no-holds-barred approach to nightlife. Cold hard cash, baby, even professional provocateur Andy Warhol. Regardless of how hot and sweaty it got in the club he wore the coat around in case he needed to hand out a party favor.. Typical of the late 70s, the two are smoking. Getty Images. Those lucky enough to be in attendance are spotted in the background, watching with drinks in hand. Liza Minelli was a mainstay at Studio 54, so much so that it was as if she lived on the dance floor. Studio 54 produced many star-studded photo opportunities. Thats right the King of Pop did indeed attend a gathering or two at Studio 54. Highly respected clothing designer Diane von Furstenberg is perched on a couch with media mogul Barry Diller. The two are almost unrecognizable, however, thanks to the cream thats been smeared all over their faces and clothes. 30. Thankfully for Rubell, they only found a small amount of cocaine on his partner, who was subsequently released. As the main party starter at Studio 54 it was up to Steve Rubell to keep everyone happy. When photos of the night appeared in the paper the next day everyone had to be at the club. 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