As said the founder and owner of the iconic New York Studio 54, Steve Rubell: “The key to a good party is filling a room with guests more interesting than you.” Learn more at new-york-trend.
In the 1980s, New York’s nightlife was too turbulent, as new nightclubs and bars were actively opening in the city. Unlike traditional nightclubs that focused solely on music and dancing, these new establishments deliberately tried to be part of the art scene. Almost every gallery opening, film premiere, theatrical debut, fashion show, or book publication ended with a club party.
The management and teams of these clubs presented vanguardist music genres, art exhibitions, fashion shows, performances, as well as experimental film and video. These establishments served as the main hub for artistic individuals who sought a space for self-expression and the spread of the mass counterculture of the 80s. The unique New York clubs of that time contributed a lot to the city’s infrastructure development and shaped the course of popular culture in America.
In reality, there are a few nightclubs that cause great changes in the world and create the perfect blend of music, light and aura. In these venues, each visitor has a sense of absolute freedom and the opportunity to be part of something special, even somewhat historic.
Studio 54 remains the legendary club of those years. It is an iconic nightclub located in the center of Manhattan in NY. Initially, it was a Broadway theater, which was converted into a disco club in the late 1970s.
Throughout the 80s, the local elite regularly visited Studio 54. This creative space attracted an enormous number of celebrities, socialites and fashion icons. The extravagant decor and lighting made the club unforgettable, as well as its legendary loose parties.
To understand why this place was so cult and memorable, let’s immerse ourselves in the crazy vibe of the dazzling and magical night at Studio 54. Undoubtedly, photos and historical facts cannot fully convey the special pleasure that every corner of this iconic nightclub exuded.
EXCLUSIVE WILD PARTIES AT STUDIO 54
During one of the wildest decades, in the 70s, citizens had truly frenzied and insane amusements. It was a time when people craved drugs, alcohol and sexual pleasures. The walls of such clubs were often filled with the rich, famous and elite. It was this segment of society that went mad behind closed doors at Studio 54.
For sure, this nightclub was the hottest spot on Earth. This is how many prominent individuals who had the opportunity to visit and feel this crazy energy themselves described it. The club gained distinctive popularity and exclusivity because of illegal activities, hidden from the New York police and journalists within its walls. After all, only one photo leaking in the press could change the life and career of any person, so the club owners did not allow strangers inside.
FROM THE THEATER TO NEW YORK’S LEGENDARY CLUB
The process of founding and opening of Studio 54 went quite fast, but it has a long history behind it. In 1927, the building was designed for the Opera House, which operated until 1942. Shortly after, the American television and radio network CBS purchased the building and transformed it into a television studio called “Studio 52.” When CBS relocated its studio in 1977, two ambitious entrepreneurs, Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager, decided to buy out the building and turn it into a nightclub. It took only six weeks and $400,000 for the renovation. The businessmen kept the aesthetic appearance of the television studio but changed the name to “Studio 54,” located on 54th Street in Manhattan.
On April 26, 1977, the club opened its doors for the first time, causing a great stir. It had a favorable location and a guest list, which had been prepared for several months and included the names of stylish, prosperous and famous individuals.
The main idea of the club’s owners and founders was to create the most up-scale venue in NY. In order to get into the club, a guest had to be well-known in a certain field or have a bank account with several hundred thousand dollars. Furthermore, all club members adhered to a dress code, which varied for each party.
Such personalities as Michael Jackson, Freddie Mercury, Elton John, Madonna, Salvador Dali, Elizabeth Taylor, Liza Minnelli, Calvin Klein, Tina Turner, Cher, John Travolta, Jackie Kennedy Onassis, and many others tore up the club every week. By the way, photos were banned inside the nightclub. Numerous pictures taken inside became some of the best historical shots of that time.
FAKE MAPS, TUNNELS AND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO GET TO THE COVETED VENUE
Ordinary people sought by all means to get into the wild atmosphere of the most popular club, while others found ways to make money from it. These scammers sold to New Yorkers maps that led to the nightclub through subway tunnels. Such a map cost several thousand dollars. In fact, there are several hidden tunnels in the New York subway, but none of them leads to Studio 54.
Once, a dead man in a tuxedo was found in these tunnels, holding a fake map in his hand. The unfortunate man was unlucky to get involved with crooks. He bought a map and got lost in the dangerous culverts, looking for the fake entrance to the club.
At that period, the business experienced hard times, as most nightclubs and establishments suffered from the suspension of alcohol licenses in 1978. However, this did not bother the club’s visitors too much because drugs were a sufficient substitute. The nightclub even employed a person who drew special markings to make it easier for the members to consume narcotics.
Studio 54, in its first year of opening, made over seven million dollars in profit, making it one of the most successful not only in New York but also worldwide. In one of his interviews, Steve Rubell boasted that only the mafia could earn as much as they did in NY at that time.
THE LAST PARTY AND THE DETENTION OF THE OWNERS OF THE NIGHT ESTABLISHMENT
Because of hunger for money, the owners refused to pay any taxes, which led to an investigation coordinated by the FBI in 1981. The club was closed down in the same year, as the two owners were arrested for tax evasion amounting to about 3 million dollars. In the course of the raid, the FBI also discovered a large stash of drugs. The police seized over 30 kilograms of cocaine and other types of narcotics.
Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager were sentenced to three and a half years in prison. Before their confinement, they threw one last big party at the club featuring American vocalist Diana Ross. The owners defiantly and loudly finished an era that many considered their best years.
The empire created by Rubell and Schrager vividly demonstrated the preferences and lifestyle of the 1970s in the United States. Studio 54 lasted for only 33 months, but that was enough time for clubgoers to have as much fun as ordinary people never experienced in their lives.
Â
Owing to such popularity and reputation, the two businessmen became unofficial kings of NY. They hosted politicians and stars at their grand parties and witnessed the most high-profile scandals of their time. They managed to create a unique space where guests openly and ostentatiously displayed their wealth and indulged in drugs and sexual pleasures.
