When did Studio 54 in New York open and close?
While disco reigned supreme on the pop charts, Studio 54 reigned supreme among discotheques, enjoying a golden era that lasted from its opening on this day in 1977 to its closing-night party on February 4, 1980—a party called, appropriately enough, “The End of Modern-day Gomorrah.”
When did Studio 54 open?
It was in midtown Manhattan where the Brooklyn-born entrepreneurs turned a former TV studio and opera house into the hottest nightclub of the 20th century, from 1977 to 1980.
When did Studio 54 reopen in the 80s?
Schrager and Rubell took over the venue in 1976, retaining much of the former theatrical and broadcasting equipment while turning it into a nightclub. The club opened on April 26, 1977, at the peak of the disco dancing and music trend and quickly became popular....Studio 54.Coordinates40°45′51.7″N 73°59′01.6″WConstruction13 more rows
How many months was Studio 54 open?
33 monthsAndy Warhol and Liza Minelli in 1979 Despite having been open for only a total of 33 months, Studio 54 has become one of the most famous nightclubs of all time. This status is owed in large part to the myriad of celebrities who could be found on the club's dance floor on any given night.
What was the most famous NY nightclub in the 1970s?
Studio 54. Located on West 54th Street, Studio 54 opened its doors in 1977, quickly becoming one of the most notable disco nightclubs in Manhattan. The club was notorious for its elitism, by allowing mainly celebrities and public figures inside.
Who owned Studio 54 in New York?
Steve RubellSteve Rubell (December 2, 1943 – July 25, 1989) was an American entrepreneur and co-owner of the New York City disco Studio 54....Steve RubellAlma materSyracuse UniversityOccupationEntrepreneur, nightclub owner3 more rows
How much did it cost to get into Studio 54?
The $20 entrance fee to enter Studio 54 would be more than a band of four or five people would likely make to split between them from a gig at CBGB's. Prior to being a nightclub, Studio 54 was a CBS television and radio studio.
What went on in the basement of Studio 54?
It was sexy times a go-go There was an “anything goes” attitude to sex at Studio 54. 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.
What happened to Studio 54 in New York?
The club closed in 1986 and became a venue for rock concerts until it eventually closed completely in the late 1980s. The space remained vacant until 1998, when Roundabout moved its landmark production of Cabaret into the neglected theatre-turned-studio-turned-nightclub.
Who hung out at Studio 54?
7 of the Most Famous People Who Frequented Studio 54Liza Minnelli. Yes, the Emmy, Oscar, Tony, and Grammy winner frequented Studio 54. ... Debbie Harry. Debbie Harry – Blondie's lead singer — also frequented the club. ... Elizabeth Taylor. ... Cher. ... Michael Jackson. ... Freddie Mercury. ... Salvador Dali.
What do I wear to a Studio 54 party?
Dresses with a high slit and an open back, very low cut tops, jumpsuits, velvet anything, fur coats, glittery tiny dresses. Stilettos, and thigh high boots, and bare legs or fishnets – all are party details meant to give a bit of racy retro vibes to today;s night glamour.
How many years was Studio 54 open for?
33 months“The phenomenon is very different from perception — which is sex, drugs, disco, mountains of cocaine, Liza Minnelli, period. “For me, this is really an operatic, tragic story of the years ending the sexual revolution. The timing is haunting — Studio was open for 33 months, from April 1977 to January 1980.
When did Studio 54 close its doors?
Located in New York City, the venue was where everyone wanted to be, but not everyone could get in. However, Diana Ross never had a problem dancing the night away at the bar. In Feb. 1980, Studio 54 closed its doors.
Who owned Studio 54 in the 1970s?
Studio 54 is the one nightclub from the '70s everyone remembers. For most of his life, though, co-founder Ian Schrager has wanted to forget it.
How much did it cost to get into Studio 54?
The $20 entrance fee to enter Studio 54 would be more than a band of four or five people would likely make to split between them from a gig at CBGB's. Prior to being a nightclub, Studio 54 was a CBS television and radio studio.
When was Studio 54 most popular?
From the years of 1977 to 1980, Studio 54 became a nightclub that welcomed the world's hottest stars. Club co-founder Ian Schrager explains some of its impact on popular culture: “It was the beginning of the age of celebrity. Now, 40 years later, the idea of celebrity has become a parody of itself.
Where is Studio 54?
Studio 54 opens in New York City. The crowd outside 254 West 54th Street in New York City on this day in 1927 would have been waiting for the curtain of a Puccini opera.
What was Studio 54 known for?
From a musical standpoint, Studio 54 did not seek to break new ground, but rather to feed its patrons a familiar diet of dance hits. Artists like Grace Jones, Donna Summer and Gloria Gaynor all made live appearances there, but Studio 54 belonged to the DJs and to the free entertainment provided by the club’s flamboyant staff and clientele. While disco reigned supreme on the pop charts, Studio 54 reigned supreme among discotheques, enjoying a golden era that lasted from its opening on this day in 1977 to its closing-night party on February 4, 1980—a party called, appropriately enough, “The End of Modern-day Gomorrah.”
Who was the woman who opened Studio 54?
The woman who deserves the lion’s share of the credit for making 54 into the celebrity playground that it became was Carmen D’Alessio, a public-relations entrepreneur in the fashion industry, whose Rolodex included names like Bianca Jagger, Liza Minnelli, Andy Warhol and Truman Capote. Her buzz-building turned the grand opening into a major item in the New York gossip columns, and her later efforts—like having Bianca Jagger pose atop a white horse at her 30th birthday party—stoked the public’s fascination with Studio 54 even further. Not just the usual celebrity suspects—actors, models, musicians and athletes—but also political figures like Margaret Trudeau, Jackie Onassis and, infamously, White House Chief of Staff Hamilton Jordan came out to be seen during the club’s brief heyday.
When did Studio 54 open?
From its opening night on April 26, 1977 to the farewell party for owners Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager on February 4, 1980, Studio 54 was the site of a non-stop Bacchanalia that admitted up to 2,000 revelers but catered especially to the stars and other beautiful people.
Who bought Studio 54?
Veteran entrepreneur Mark Fleischmann bought Studio 54 from Schrager and Rubell in 1981, while they were inside. Fleischmann ran it through April 1986. It had three different incarnations in the next decade, closing for good in March 1995.
Who was the designer of Studio 54?
The problem-solving Schrager was the visionary behind Studio 54’s design and senses-assaulting ambiance, from the state-of-the-art theatrical lighting to the pulsating sound; he supervised the space’s complete reconstruction in six weeks. Rubell was the club’s public face, the man who courted the celebrities and personally manned the door. It was Rubell who decided who among the public had the right to enter Studio 54 on any given night. Though there was no discrimination in terms of race, ethnicity, age, or sexual orientation – the more diverse the better – there was inevitably a classist factor in Rubell’s cherrypicking. Unshaven hopefuls who came via “bridge and tunnel” to Studio 54 were wasting their time.
Is Studio 54 a club?
Studio 54 is a well-heeled Broadway theater now; ticket owners there can try to summon a ghostly pageant of its glory days as a club. Viewers of the film may find themselves speculating if they would have been summoned inside the velvet rope by Rubell or left to fume on the sidewalk, as those of us without style, fame, cachet, or beauty would have been. (Even Frank Sinatra and Jack Nicholson were allegedly turned away at different times.) Studio 54 may have been an exemplar of sexual egalitarianism, but there’s little doubt its “us and them” elitism ruined many a New Yorker’s (or New Jerseyite’s) night.
Who was the guy who sat on the velvet rope in Studio 54?
”It was a dictatorship at the door and democracy on the floor,” said Andy Warhol, who, with Bianca Jagger, Liza Minnelli, and Halston, made up the club’s ”Four Horsemen of Fame.”.
What club did Andy Warhol and Bianca Jagger hang out in?
Studio 54 closes its door -- The famous club, where Andy Warhol and Bianca Jagger hung out, had its share of troubles
Did Rubell say only the Mafia does better than Studio 54?
Rubell once bragged that ”only the Mafia does better” than Studio 54 — not the most prudent statement, since he and Schrager paid only $8,000 in taxes in 1977. And in a raid on Dec. 14, 1978, federal agents reportedly found $600,000 in garbage bags stuffed into the club’s basement ceiling.
How long has Studio 54 been around?
The salacious 40-year history of Studio 54. On a frigid night in February 1978, I had my first illicit taste of the creepy magic that made Studio 54 the world’s most celebrated, most notorious nightlife venue. The colossal disco at 254 W. 54th St. was so hard to penetrate for those neither boldfaced nor “connected” that I had little confidence ...
What is Studio 54?
Today’s Studio 54, now a Broadway theater with many appendages closed off, gives only a hint of what it was like.
What is the significance of the Studio 54?
It’s worth celebrating this on its 40th anniversary: “Studio” (the “54” was mainly used by tourists and Tony Manero-wannabes from Bensonhurst) gave the city a tonic of glamour and excitement when it sorely needed it.
What was the secret of Studio 54?
The secret of Studio 54 was that the doormen let in just about anyone who was gay, while male-female couples and women alone faced tough scrutiny at the velvet rope. In the pre-AIDS era, the gay club scene accounted for no small part of Studio 54’s clientele.
When did Studio 54 go to prison?
It was unique to its terrible time — one of the worst chapters in New York City’s history. After Rubell and Schrager lost Studio 54 in 1980 and went to prison, it limped on under several different owners until 1991, shorn of its sinister allure that only a hell-bound city could love.
When was disco Granny at Studio 54?
Enlarge Image. "Disco Granny" at Studio 54 in 1978 Getty Images. On a frigid night in February 1978, I had my first illicit taste of the creepy magic that made Studio 54 the world’s most celebrated, most notorious nightlife venue. The colossal disco at 254 W. 54th St. was so hard to penetrate for those neither boldfaced nor “connected” ...
Did you need coke to get high on Studio 54?
Studio 54 — which celebrates its 40th anniversary this Wedneday — had that effect on people. You didn’t need coke or furtive sex to get high on its singular allure of depravity and decadence, although many denizens merrily and regularly doped themselves up and indulged in high-risk amorous encounters.
When was Studio 54 reopened?
Studio 54 was reopened in September 1981 and continued as a club until the '90s, when it was turned into a theater company. AP/G. Paul Burnett. Read more: Ian Schrager, the cofounder of Studio 54, says the legendary NYC nightclub could be recreated today — but it would be different in 3 key ways.
What was Studio 54 known for?
The space would later be adapted into a theater, but Studio 54's party scene in the '70s and early '80s will forever be remembered for its wild nights, high-profile guests, and massive crowds.
Who is the designer at Studio 54?
"I had more fun at Studio 54 than in any other nightclub in the world," Furstenberg once said in an interview with Vanity Fair. Designer Roy Halston Frowick ( or just Halston), Andy Warhol, and Liza Minelli were often seen together at Studio 54.
Who was Andy Warhol's designer?
Designer Roy Halston Frowick (or just Halston), Andy Warhol, and Liza Minelli were often seen together at Studio 54. Minelli is pictured here teasing an unidentified man about his shoes as they meet on the floor before dancing. AP/Richard Drew.
When was Halloween at Studio 54?
Halloween was a huge event at Studio 54. Here, Halloween revelers dance the night away at a party on October 31, 1977. AP/Richard Drew. Rock legends like Chuck Berry and Keith Richards were often spotted at Studio 54. The pair is pictured chatting away in February 1980. AP/VANN.
What did the disco guests wear in 1979?
The disco's guests often donned crazy getups, like this tattered denim ensemble worn by a partier in 1979.
When did Studio 54 open?
The brainchild of Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager, the club opened in a onetime CBS soundstage on April 26th, 1977, and immediately became the epicenter of nightlife in New York City – and the world.
Who attended the opening of Studio 54?
1. Donald and Ivana Trump attended the opening – while a Quaalude-fueled orgy occurred outside in the street. Among the first to appear outside the doors of Studio 54 on opening night was Donald Trump, accompanied by his new wife, Ivana.
What was the key to Studio 54?
“The key of the success of Studio 54 is that it’s 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.
How much did Studio 54 pay in taxes?
Studio 54’s fast and loose accounting would ultimately contribute to its downfall. In 1977 the club made millions yet reportedly paid just a paltry $8,000 in taxes. “Skimming” was standard practice in the cash-flush world of restaurants and nightclubs, but this was an order of magnitude greater than most offenders.
Is Studio 54 a myth?
In the four decades since Studio 54 first opened its doors, tales of what went on behind the velvet rope have become modern myths. What’s more, they’re almost all true. Read on for 10 of the craziest stories from the club’s legendary heyday.
What happened at Studio 54?
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 prosecuted for tax evasion. But 33 months was more than enough time for a dazzling array of hedonistic shenanigans.
How much did Studio 54 pay in 1977?
After Steve Rubell made a public statement that “only the Mafia does better” than Studio 54 when it came to money, the IRS took notice—the club had paid just $8000 in taxes in 1977.
What was the night at 54?
Another infamous night at 54 was the evening Dolly Parton held an after-concert party there, complete with bales of hay and live farm animals. 9. When the game Simon premiered at the club. In 1978, Milton Bradley had a launch party for their new game, Simon.
Who was Valentino's partner?
Giancarlo Giammetti decided to throw a circus birthday party for his partner, fashion designer Valentino, three days before his birthday. "We had a circus ring with sand, and mermaids on trapezes," Giammetti said. "Fellini gave us costumes from his film, The Clowns. Valentino was the ringmaster, and Marina Schiano came as a palm reader with a parrot on her shoulder.” Another infamous night at 54 was the evening Dolly Parton held an after-concert party there, complete with bales of hay and live farm animals.
What was Andy Warhol's birthday party?
4. Andy Warhol’s birthday party. On August 6, 1979, Halston hosted another birthday bash at Studio 54—this one for Andy Warhol. He gifted Warhol with a pair of roller skates, while Rubell simply gave him a garbage pail stuffed with cash.
Where is Studio 54 in Manhattan?
In this 1978 picture, crowds line up for entry into Manhattan's renowned disco and nightclub Studio 54, located at 254 West 54th Street.
Where is Studio 54?
In this 1978 picture, crowds line up for entry into Manhattan's renowned disco and nightclub Studio 54, located at 254 West 54th Street.
What year did the Studio 54 Halloween party take place?
Left: A man dressed in nothing but a clear plastic sheet dances with a topless woman at a Studio 54 Halloween party in 1978. Right: A pair of women get funky on the dance floor during November 1977.
When did bartenders pose at Studio 54?
Bartenders pose at Studio 54 in 1982. Allan Tannenbaum / Getty Images. Rose Hartman / Getty Images. Left: Outside Studio 54, someone arrives to the club on a horse for the third annual Halloween party in 1978. Right: A costumed partygoer hits the dance floor in 1981.
When did the woman dance in Studio 54?
A woman dances near the Studio 54 light towers in 1977.
When did Debbie Harry arrive at Blondie?
Debbie Harry of Blondie arrives with her friends to the nightclub in 1981.
When did Studio 54 dance the night away?
People at Studio 54 dance the night away during the 1978.
