CMP

Even Invitation/Flyer scans are needed... HAVE You bought ANY poptopic.com.au/article/the-biggest-gambling-wins-in-history/ ? Please...

Mail ME ! In April 26, 1977 - simply off Broadway, at 254 W. 54'th Street, Manhattan, New York - Probably the most well-recognized Disco of all occasions opened up its doors for the very first time. The membership would quickly develop into the "dwelling" of the wealthy, the well-known and the vogue pack. The membership was (in fact) - Studio 54. But... Even before the club and its distinguished friends "moved in", this now legendary handle was already the home of one of many world's best Disco labels - West End Records. Have the Studio 54 DJ combine for you The Club was positioned in an old theatre and Tv studio. In 1927, when the constructing was simply built it was the home of the "San Carlo Opera Company". It was then adopted by theatres like "the new Yorker", "Casino the Paris", "Federal Music Theatre" to lastly in 1943 develop into a Tv studio of Columbia Broadcasting Co. (CBS). CBS used the place as a soundstage for radio and television and from this studio successful shows like the Johnny Carson show, Beat the clock and $64000 question had been broadcasted. The CBS individuals known as the place Studio 52, since it was their 52'nd studio (and it was not called Studio 53 as stated by many sources'). Because of the premises former use as a Tv studio the name for the brand new club was first meant to be simply the Studio, but because it was used to be called Studio fifty two by CBS and it was positioned in W. 54'th Street someone came up with the title Studio 54. The choice wasn't exhausting - this WAS the title!!!

Many individuals had been taken with turning the old theatre right into a nightclub. But it surely wasn't till the two (to turn into) house owners, Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager, saw the place something actually occurred. They loved the place without delay and only a week after they first saw it that they had signed the lease. Both Steve and Ian had been working in the nightclub enterprise before they managed to hit it off big time with "the Studio". That they had additionally been in the restaurant business for a very long time and they presently owned a membership in Queens, referred to as the Enchanted Garden. In the Enchanted Garden Steve and Ian had a very gifted DJ taking part in, a man who's the pioneer DJ - Nicky Siano. Nicky began enjoying at Steve and Ian's club in 1976 and about two weeks before they opened up Studio 54 they employed Nicky as one in all the new clubs two resident DJ's. The other resident DJ was a guy referred to as Richie Kaczor. Steve and Ian also had a 3rd companion, Jack Dushey, who was an expert retailer and in actual estate. He was the brand new membership's financial backer. Ian and Steve had first met Jack in early 1976 when he held his youngsters Bar Mitzvah in their membership - Enchanted Garden. The guys had began talking they usually informed Jack they wanted to open up a club in Manhattan. Jack, as the true property man he was, stated he was keen on being a part of that. When Rubell and Schrager had found the location they approached Dushey again and he gave the guys a few hundred thousand dollars and stated; "Take the money and I'll get 50% of the net revenue." Demolition and development work took about a year and by the time Studio fifty four opened, some $600'000 - $700'000 had been spent to get the place able to occasion. For the Premier evening of the Studio 54 the guys hired this girl and occasion promoter named Carmen D'Alessio to invite the "proper" individuals for the grand opening. Steve and Ian had met her at their former partner Maurice Brahms' membership Infinity. Carmen got the job as the brand new clubs PR supervisor and she had also been working with Steve and Ian earlier on the Enchanted Garden. Time went closer and closer to the opening night time, some 5000 invitations had been out and folks had been working day and evening to get the place ready in time... Then in April 26, 1977 - THE day was there. People have been still working in the club when some of the invited individuals started gathering exterior the club. And about half an hour late the membership opened up its doors for the first time. There weren't a lot individuals getting into at this "early" hour, however within a few hours the place was crowded and out of doors the doorways it was chaos. Even people with invitations could not get in!

The club was large, about one hundred meters lengthy and 80 meters large, but it surely nonetheless had its theatrical feel, not solely by the spectacular people who went there, but additionally due to the balcony and stage was nonetheless there. In the balcony there have been sitting areas with tables and beneath the balcony was the massive parquet dance floor with all its strobe-lit columns that descended from the ceiling and its pumping music. Around the dance floor there have been silver banquettes and the mirrored diamond-shaped predominant bar was situated underneath the balconies, near the dance floor. At the top of the membership, in the third flooring, overlooking each the balcony and the large dance ground was the notorious Rubber room. The room had a High-Tec bar and was designed with thick rubber on the partitions to be simply washed down with water and cleaning soap after all of the intercourse and drugs happening up there. Some folks used to consult with the Rubber room as "Upstairs", but there have been actually more secret locations above the Rubber room were more non-public intercourse passed off. Those areas had been the true "Upstairs" to the initiated. Within the ceiling above the dance ground there have been cat walks for the maintenance of the lightning. It's said that the homeowners used to spend a great deal of time up there doing medication and having intercourse above the heads of the hundreds of dancing people beneath. In the basement was the room not anybody may enter - the VIP room. I [Discoguy] received a chance to speak to Paolo Miranda, who started working as Busboy, and later Head Busboy, within the membership in July of 1978 and was there for about 2 years. Paolo, or Paul-Michael as he was referred to as back then, fills me in on the VIP lounge... "I wouldn't actually name it a VIP lounge, it was the basement. There were wire chain link fences all around with all the provides for special decorations behind them. There was an Elton John pinball machine down there and a few white plastic lawn chairs. But I used to be down there on a regular basis. Also there was the 2-yr anniversary party down there, full of lots of celebrities."

Richie Kaczor was the DJ enjoying this opening evening and the primary music he performed was "Devil's gun" by C.J. & Co.. Richie was also the DJ taking part in in the weekends and Nicky Siano performed the second evening and within the weeknights. Nicky could not play weekends at "the Studio" since he owned his personal in style New York club - the Gallery and was playing there within the weekends. It was additionally Nicky who performed the night time of the famous Bianca Jagger birthday bash in May 1977, through which she rode into the membership on a white horse led by a naked body-painted guy. What's surprising is that whereas a DJ like Larry Levan was effectively-recognized amongst the gang of the Paradise Garage, not many people knew the names of the resident DJ's of Studio 54. Paolo adds concerning the DJ's: "Richie Kaczor was THE DJ through the time I worked there. He was actually wonderful. He would mix a song for a good 10 minutes. It was seamless. You would by no means know the track changed. Now a days, they mix for about 10 to 30 seconds and not very good. I received really spoiled at 54." Nicky worked at Studio fifty four for about half a year, then he really acquired fired as a result of he preferred to spend hours within the bathroom getting excessive on drugs as an alternative of getting high on enjoying information within the DJ booth. This Nicky told me himself once i got the prospect to speak to him, but for the record I also wanna inform that he stopped taking medicine many a few years in the past. Nicky also had so many memories from the Studio that it would take an entire ebook to tell it all, but when he played the famous Birthday bash for Bianca Jagger was in all probability his most treasured reminiscence. That night was really a blast, he informed me. He also told me slightly concerning the owners of Studio 54, Steve and Ian. "Steve was straight once i met him...? Ian was always the level headed enterprise man, and he was straight, on a regular basis... I really like them each, Steve and Ian had been really good to me, and I'll at all times consider them nice supporters and pals." He thinks just a little more and continues; "Yes, there was also this celeb lounge at 54 that made Sodom and Gomorra appear to be kindergarten!" (the VIP lounge!) The Studio additionally had it personal door policy, they needed to get an ideal mix of people which really meant that even celebrities was stopped on the door and didn't get in. This young guy, Marc Benecke ruled the door and was instructed by Steve to combine an ideal salad each evening. That method it did not really matter in case you have been famous or not - you just had to suit it presently. The doorman Marc even grew to become more well-known to the company of the 54 than Ian Schrager. Steve was also typically within the entrance choosing folks to let in and it's stated that Steve once didn't just like the shirt a guy was sporting. He informed the guy he would not get in with that shirt on, the guy asked if he could get in if he took it off. Steve stated sure and the guy took it off and was allowed to enter the membership, naked-chested. So it was mainly just a query of matching what Steve and Marc have been looking for so as to add to their salad for the night time. Some individuals tried desperately to get in and there's really one other true story about this man who got stuck within the air duct in his attempt to enter the club - one way or one other... I asked Paolo in regards to the 'salad' door coverage and as he says; "It's what made the membership so well-liked. Working there meant I had no worries, and it made me feel special at the time." Not matching the 'salad of the day' was what occurred to Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards of Chic, when the guys were contacted by Grace Jones who wanted to work with them for her subsequent album... Grace invited them as her company to her gig down on the Studio 54. It was New Years Eve in 1977, the guys have been all dressed up and it was snowing and freezing chilly... When Nile and Bernard acquired to the membership the doormen couldn't discover their names on the guest listing. Nile and Bernard defined that they "have been" Chic and that Grace was anticipating them. However the doormen just wouldn't let them in... In anger they went again residence to Nile and in simply 25-half-hour they wrote a complete music they called "Fuck off". It went like this... "aaahh Fuck off". They only know this was a success track and they (in fact) had to change the title to have the ability to launch it. So that they modified the text and that line to "aaahh Freak out" and their greatest hit was a reality - "Le Freak". The track topped the US charts for six weeks and "Le Freak" became Atlantic Records biggest promoting single ever. It additionally became the 3'rd largest single within the music historical past. It's nonetheless probably the most sold report ever in Canada and the only bought over 6 million copies only in the US. But after 6 million copies offered of the one, Nile and Bernard select to cease the only to not have it reduce down the album gross sales. Who knows how large it will have grow to be if they hadn't stopped it!? But Nile and Bernard got their revenge... About one 12 months later to this episode at Studio 54, every little thing associated to the membership and its identify was a giant trade and at this time Ian & Steve were credited as Executive Producers of this Casablanca Records double LP known as A night at Studio 54. The top tune and first track out of this album was no less than - "Le Freak". Ian & Steve thanked their friends like this in the album; "To all our visitors at Studio 54, whose energy made this record possible... Our sincere Thanks!" Beside the good Chic observe the album included other nice Disco songs commonly performed in the membership like; "I like the Nightlife (Disco round)" (Alicia Bridges), "Let's All Chant" (Michael Zager Band), "Y.M.C.A" (Village People), "Last Dance" (Donna Summer), "I like America" (Patrick Juvet), "Instant Replay" (Dan Hartman) and "(Push, push) In the Bush" (Musique). One enjoyable element to know in regards to the Patrick Adams act Musique (with Jocelyn Brown on lead vocals) was that they shot their video for "(Push, Push) Within the Bush", within the membership. Paolo remembers the music performed: "It's still the very best dance music round; 'Last Dance', 'I really like the Nightlife', 'Born to be Alive', 'Push, Push within the Bush', I may go on and on... What made the music so special was the light show that went with it. As the music became extra alive, so did the light show." Another enjoyable detail is that in addition to "Le Freak" which originally was a hate music of Studio 54, there have been also many different songs mentioning or referring to this "Disco Mecca"... In Dennis Parker's "New York by night" he sings; "At Studio 54, they're waiting on the door, cannot get in - just can't win... This is N.Y. by night time, that is N.Y. by evening so get ready for the time of your life...". Amanda Lear bought well-known for her track "Fashion Pack" wherein she sings; "Hustling at the door to get into Studio 54... Liza dancing on the flooring and Bianca walking by the door". Mick Jackson, writer of "Blame it on the boogie", wrote the tune "54th Street" wherein he sings a few membership in Manhattan, USA the place they are dancing in a Studio on 54th Street... As said before, the whole lot associated to the membership and the Studio 54 identify was an enormous industry. You may even buy yourself a pair of Studio 54 Jeans. The stitching on the back pockets, which every brand try to seek out its personal distinctive one, even said fifty four within the studio's logo style. The title and the particular Studio fifty four brand grew to become nicely-identified in no time all around the world. The good logo was designed by a guy named Gilbert Lesser. Almost as famous at the emblem was this signal of the "Man within the Moon" inhaling cocaine (???) from his silver spoon that was hanging on the wall within the membership. Unfortunately inhaling coke and utilizing different drugs was quite common within the membership, however this wasn't something particular for Studio 54. Right now drug abuse was sort of common in all clubs. Drug use was like a life-style again then. Probably all the cash and all of the clubs famous and common visitors attracted people selling them. Among the regular visitors at Studio fifty four had been people like Andy Warhol, the designer Halston, Diana Ross, Liza Minelli and lots and plenty of others. Other individuals seen on the membership have been; Elizabeth Taylor, Michael Jackson, Brooke Shields, Warren Beatty, Calvin Klein, Bianca & Mick Jagger, Salvador Dali, Madonna and Elton John. Not all of those famous folks needed to attempt to get in via the main entrance. No, there was truly a VIP entrance on the back side of the club, from 53'rd avenue. This was the entrance where the staff and the true VIP's got in.

As so many Celeb's frequented the membership, I needed to ask Paolo, who actually had met most of them, if he had any feedback on some of them. Paolo; "Every celebrity was extraordinarily nice. All besides Sylvester Stallone. He was on some type of ego journey. He had physique guards all around his banquet sporting bell bottom denims with 'Rocky' embroidered on their ass. He did not need to be bothered by anybody. Not even me, who was his busboy. He didn't want me in 'his' area cleaning up. Robin Williams was a hoot. I danced with Valerie Harper for half an hour, a candy lady. Margaux Hemmingway gave me her plastic heart on Valentine's Day. She was there before the membership opened and i got there late that night and there weren't any left. They have been a part of our costume that night so I had to have one, so she recreation me hers'. I saw a political daughter (I will not identify names, but her family is usually not round any extra) wearing a white t-shirt and baseball cap, snorting cocaine. And I assumed, if I had a digital camera proper now, I'd make 1,000,000 dollars promoting the image." Have you got some other special memories of some Celeb's? "Elton John was there one Saturday evening and tried to choose up Patrick Taylor, one other busboy - who was straight, and I assume I used to be the next smartest thing. He asked me to go to his lodge with him, I said thank you as it was a Saturday evening and solely around 1am and told him I needed to work all night. About 5 minutes later, Michael Overington got here over to me, tapped me on my shoulder and instructed me to go get my things as a result of I was leaving with Elton John. I did and had an exquisite time. That's all I'll say about that evening. Liza Minelli cornered me in the employee dressing room and told me that one time she was in a limo going to do a live performance at Madison Square Garden. She was drinking some champagne, and abruptly a disco version of 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' got here on the radio. She said it made her furious and threw the glass of champagne against the window between the entrance and back of the limo. She then mentioned she realized how much the public liked her mother to contemporize the track, she burst into tears and cried all the method to the live performance." Many celeb's kept coming again to '54' and in an interview, August Darnell, cofounder of Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band and leader of Kid Creole and the Coconuts remembers: "We used to hang out at Studio fifty four so much that we should always have been paying rent. In England, now, they have all these rave parties, but when people say there's nothing like a rave, I say I saw all this in 1977 at Studio 54. I'd should say my favourite membership was Studio 54, it was so decadent and so thrilling in that interval to be a part of one thing you knew was a world motion. The great factor was it gave individuals a cause to say 'Let's get dressed up and go out!'" Beside all of the well-known visitors of the Studio 54, the membership additionally managed to get all the perfect DJ's to play there as well. All the well-known DJ's like; John "Jellybean" Benitez, John Ceglia, Tony Humphries, Sharon White, Kenny Carpenter, Robbie Leslie, Tony Carrasco and lots of others, moved the group from the clubs legendary horseshoe formed DJ-booth. One guy everybody think DJ'ed there, but who was really by no means a DJ at all, but who's mixes have been always performed within the club, was the legendary remixer Tom Moulton.

The membership had a very good sound system, built and designed by some of one of the best people in the business - RLA [Richard Long & Associates]. Richard was additionally the one who was responsible for the sound system at the Paradise Garage, a system that still right now is claimed to have been the perfect system ever on this planet. The equipment at Studio fifty four were comprised of 6 3-means "Waldorf" horn loaded/bass reflex most important bass containers, 6 "Bertha/Levan" bass horns, 4 "Z" tweeter arrays & 2 "Ultima" 3-approach full vary containers. This system additionally included the now famous RLA X-3000 DJ crossover. This sound system was the reason for this and many different clubs during this era's success. Richard is sadly not with us right now, however among the RLA designs, electronics and speaker bins can be found from the brand new York primarily based firm GSA [Gary Stewart Audio]. GSA can allow you to if you're inquisitive about constructing a sound system just like the one in '54'. Also, within the GSA store they nonetheless have a bunch of issues from the unique Studio 54. By the way, the original "Man in the Moon" sign is told to be put in in the existing Studio 54 membership within the MGM Grand in Las Vegas lately. Paolo (Paul-Michael) was hired as a Busboy by the clubs supervisor - Michael Overington. Here Paolo shares his reminiscences from his years as an worker of Studio 54... What did you consider the club itself? "I thought it was amazing. Apart from having my son, it was in all probability the most fun I had in life." Have you got any reminiscences of membership's house owners? "Stevie was candy and always had a Michelob in his hand. He at all times seemed a bit bit drunk or Quaaluded out. Ian was the silent associate, not round a lot but I knew who he was. Jack Dushey, the monetary backer, I had never heard of at the time. Another factor... Once i began working there I went up to Stevie every night time for 2 weeks and asked him if he knew my name. It took him two weeks to get it right. Then he thought that I'd sleep with him because he remembered. I didn't." How many individuals have been working in the bar? "I'd say there have been 4 bartenders at the primary bar, just a few bar-backs, 1 bartender up on the bar in the lounge. There were in all probability 5 to 6 busboys on a busy night time. Less when it wasn't as crowded. There have been 2 busgirls upstairs in the balcony when i started and they had been there for a while. After some time they put in one other bar on the appropriate facet of the dance ground, so there was 1 bartender there as properly." Do you recall how many individuals were working the club at a busy night time, all areas? "Yes, there were lots extra workers. 2 coat examine ladies, 1 gentle man, 1 to 2 folks working the pulleys at the back of the dance ground. The front half of the dance ground lights had been electronic, within the back, such because the moon and the spoon, light poles, and so on., have been moved up and down on pulley's by 1 to 2 guys. Mark B and Stevie had been up front at the door in addition to in all probability four to 6 bouncers." How many guests had been there in a crowded night time? "I could only guess on the quantity of individuals in the membership on a busy night time... I'd say around 500, this is simply a guess, could possibly be more, may very well be less. On a Friday and Saturday night time there have been in all probability also around 500 individuals exterior attempting to get in. I do know that if you didn't get picked by the point you walked up to the ropes you most likely didn't get it. I might see people walking up to the ropes and when Stevie and/or Mark seemed away, they might cease and stroll in place till they looked over once more after which continue up to the ropes in the hope of getting in." Were most of the workers gay, as you told earlier that Elton tried to choose up a straight busboy? "Most of the workers had been gay. There have been just a few straight boys combined in." So, had been there many individuals attempting to pick you up? "Yes, on a regular basis. The busboys were regarded upon as like 'playboy bunnies'. Everyone was at all times trying to bed us." The Balcony has develop into legendary by means of the '54' film, any feedback on what went on in the balcony? "Not a lot went on it the balcony that I used to be aware of, some making out and a bit more however it was nothing like the film." You must have a lot of different reminiscences and tales from the membership, the rest you'll be able to tell about? "Well one morning as I used to be leaving the club, Saturday morning after a Friday evening, and as I left by the back door I opened it and Ian was coming from the proper with a 3-ring binder under his arm, and from the left had been 2 men in suits and trench coats. I allow them to in, closed the door and went residence. Ian had lots of cocaine and medicine for that Saturday evening, he put the binder down on the speaker near the again door pondering that both the FBI brokers would comply with him upstairs to look on the books. Just one went with him. The other stayed down stairs and sat on one of the banquettes at the again of the dance floor. The guy bought bored and started flipping through the binder and located the drugs... And the remaining is historical past." Have you bought any contact with any of your former colleagues at '54'? "I found a web site the place Sandt Litchfield was listed with some associates, and that i tried to contact him but never heard back. Mark Beneke appears to be Ian's eyes and years at the Clift Hotel here in San Francisco. I spoke to him and of course he did not remember me. He was sizzling stuff back then and I used to be just a peon. I'm also involved with one of the busboy's Jeffrey, he's here in San Francisco as properly."

Download the FREE basic RealPlayer...

Click to hear some Studio fifty four classics...

54th StreetMick Jackson

Bad womenDonna Summer

the BossDiana Ross

Dance, dance, danceChic

Disco night (Rock freak)G.Q.

Don't go away me this fashionThelma Houston

Everybody danceChic

Fly Robin FlySilver Convention

Good instancesChic

Haven't stopped dancing yetGonzalez

He's the best dancerSister Sledge

Heart of glassBlondie

Hot stuffDonna Summer

I received my mind made upInstant Funk

I love AmericaPatrick Juvet

I really like the nightlife (Disco Round)Alicia Bridges

I'll surviveGloria Gaynor

I'm coming outDiana Ross

If you could read my mindViola Wills

(Push push) In the bushMusique

Instant replayDan Hartman

Carry on dancin'Gary's Gang

Keep on jumpin'Musique

Knock on woodAmii Stewart

Last danceDonna Summer

Le FreakChic

Let's all chantMichael Zager Band

Move on upDestination

Native New YorkerOdyssey

New York by eveningDennis Parker

Que sera mi vidaGibson Brothers

Relight my fireplaceDan Hartman

SpankJimmy "Bo" Horne

Take your time (Do it proper)S.O.S Band

Turn the beat aroundVicki Sue Robinson

The other way upDiana Ross

VertigoDan Hartman

We are familySister Sledge

Y.M.C.AVillage People

You make me feel (Mighty actual)Sylvester

Volume 1Click to buy from

Volume 2Click to purchase from

Volume 1 Studio fifty four - The 54 Allstars Keep on dancin' - Gary's Gang the Boss - Diana Ross Dance dance dance "Yowsah yowsah yowsah" - Chic Vertigo / Relight my fireplace - Dan Hartman You make me really feel "Mighty actual" - Sylvester Move on up - Destination Love machine (Pt.2) - the Miracles Contact - Edwin Starr Knock on wood - Mary Griffin Let's start the dance - Bohannon I got my thoughts made up - Instant Funk Young hearts run free - Candi Staton Native New Yorker - Odyssey Que sera mi vida - Gibson Brothers Wishing on a star - Rose Royce Volume 2 If you might read my mind - Stars on 54: Ultra Naté, Amber & Jocelyn Enriquez Haven't stopped dancing but - Gonzalez Heaven should have sent you - Bonnie Pointer Loving is admittedly my sport - Brainstorm Disco nights "Rock-freak" - GQ Found a cure - Ashford & Simpson Don't depart me this way - Thelma Houston Come to me - France Joli Take your time "Do it proper" - S.O.S Band Please do not let me be misunderstood - Santa Esmeralda Spank - Jimmy "Bo" Horne Galaxy - War I want a man - Grace Jones Heart of glass - Blondie Cherchez la femme / Se si bon - Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band Fly Robin fly - Silver Convention

I love the nightlife (Disco 'round) - Alicia Bridges I'm coming out - Diana Ross Got to be actual - Cherel Lynn Good times - Chic He's the greatest dancer - Sister Sledge I don't realize it it is proper - Evelyn "Champagne" King More, more, more (Pt.1) - Andrea True Connection Doctor's orders - Carol Douglas Everybody dance - Chic The love I lost - Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes Let's all chant - Michael Zager Band Got to have loving - Don Ray Shame - Evelyn "Champagne" King Knock on wooden - Amii Stewart The oogum boogum track - Brenton Wood Love prepare - O'Jays I love the nightlife (Disco 'spherical) - India & NuYorican Soul

Disco: The Bill Bernstein Photographs Interview with Bill

Studio 54: the Legend - Written by Anthony Haden-Guest, Niels Kummer and Domitilla Sartogo

Click cover to purchase Fabulous! A Photographic diary of Studio54 - Photos and writing by Bobby Miller - Signed copy $190 + transport

Click to buy from

fifty four - the Movie - the Movie about this legendary membership on DVD - with Mike Myers, Neve Campbell, Ryan Phillippe and Salma Hayek

Later I obtained in touch with Miestorm, who was additionally working together with Paolo and others at Studio 54. Miestorm tells me; "I labored, but mostly performed at Studio (as everybody who went there called it), from 1977-1982 and I was referred to as Lenny 54. Stevie didn't like the name Miestorm because he mentioned it sounded too foreign and we already had Weego and Miranda. I used to be initially hired as a busboy and bartender, but, I used to be an entertainer and was instructed by Steve Rubell to wear as little as potential plus flirt and be as sexy as possible with everybody. The movie '54' was a Disney movie compared to the true Studio, the place was so decadent that my grandfather (who spoke solely Italian) thought I used to be working in Satans palace. During my first few years of working there, Stevie would instruct the security to watch me carfully and report back to him on what drug I was seen taking, if I drank booze and if I was seen having intercourse with anyone or leaving with whoever. He wished to know my every move, so, I could be as bad as potential and he beloved it!" Miestorm also sent me some of his own private >> photograph's from inside Studio fifty four << . The party went on great for the club and people were saying this was the best thing that had ever happened and this would last forever... But as everything else, the success story of Studio 54 also had an end. Jack Dushey had tried to convince Steve & Ian to give up the black economy of the Skim and go legit, but they just wouldn't listen. Then in 1979 Donald Moon, a former employee who had been "not very tactfully fired" by Steve, used his knowledge of the black money to turn the Feds and IRS on the owners. In late spring 1979 Jack approached the feds and pleaded guilty to one single point of tax evasion and in the end of June Steve and Ian were charged with skimming $2.5 million. In December of 1979 the IRS arrested Steve and Ian for withholding of taxes and the club was also said to be a central for cocaine distribution. The two owners never thought they would have to go to jail, but they were sentenced to three and a half years in prison and in February 1, 1980 they were in behind bars. After having informed on and turned in some of their ex-partners and competitors they got their time cut down to 13 months. The clubs liquor license expired in February 28, 1980 - just 28 days after Steve & Ian went to jail and a new license would take 18 months to get. This was devastating to a club like 54: No booze = No guests. And papers claimed it was Sylvester Stallone who had the last legal drink. Then in March, just days after the license expired the club died and was closed down. The club was then sold to Mark Fleischman who re-opened Studio 54 in September 15, 1981. Steve and Ian were out of jail and were even working in the club again for a while as consultants, as part of the deal. But the club never could revive its former popularity and lots of the famous people seen in the studio before Steve and Ian got busted, were never seen there again. Mark run the place for some four years and in 1986 he decided to close down the Studio 54. Steve and Ian had left long before this to get into the hotel business and they where also involved as consultants in some nightclub projects. But they never got the same attention as they got at the "original" Studio 54. And in July 1989 Steve died of AIDS related complications. Ian Schrager is still active in the hotel business and owns a chain of 5 star Hotels over the world, called Ian Schrager Hotels. Among these hotels are the famous Clift Hotel in San Francisco, the Paramount Hotel in New York, Miramar in Santa Barbara and The Sanderson in London. Photographer Bobby Miller entered the '54' in its first days and stayed there over the next couple of years, always with his camera ready, through which he catched all these Fabulous! photos of the people frequenting the club. His legendary pic's have been seen in lots of magazines all over the world and in this book he has put some of them together, with his own notes and memories attached to them. This book is an excellent timeline and it catches the magic of the club's first years and the photos portraits famous people like Christopher Reeve [actor], Dustin Hoffman [actor], Grace Jones [model & artist], Elton John [artist], Jerry Hall [model], Yul Brynner [actor], Mikhail Baryshnikov [dancer], Gloria Swanson [actor], Martha Graham [dancer/choreographer], Eartha Kitt [artist], Olivia Newton-John [artist actor], Bette Midler [artist] and of course "inventories" like Steve Rubell, Andy Warhol, Liza Minelli, Disco Sally and Truman Capote. But there are LOTS of other famous persons as well in the authors Fabulous! book. Here's your chance to get hold of Bobby's out-of-print book - Fabulous! - A photographic diary of Studio 54 [St. Martin's Press]. Bobby himself is offering the viewers of Disco-Disco.com brand new and signed copies of his wonderful and hard-to-find hardcover book for only $190 + shipping. Note that used signed copies of this book go for up to $250 on e-bay. Buy your signed copy of Fabulous! >> Click right here! <<. What happened to the club? Well it actually became a strip club for a couple of years. But in October, 1994 it was re-reopened as Studio 54 again. For this re-opening the new owners managed to bring in old Disco stars like Gloria Gaynor, Vicki Sue Robinson and Sister Sledge to perform. The new opening was a success and the club runs for some months when the owner suddenly took all the money and left. And the club went into bankruptcy in the beginning of 1995. It was said the place would be turned into something else, but the club was still there and it was used for special occasions. I know for example that people like Gloria Estefan made special performances in the club. I was in New York in October, 1998 and I just had to walk by this famous address and at that time - the 54 logo sign was still there above the entrance. But just some weeks later the sign was torn down and was replaced by a sign for the 'Cabaret' musical that was playing there for some years. Since talking 'bout Studio 54... There were 2 movie releases out in 1998 trying to capture the magic and the great music of this famous Discotheque. One was a film called The Last Days of Disco and it was directed by Whit Stillman (director of "Metropolitan" and "Barcelona"). The story is about Studio 54 in the late 1970's/early 1980's and the people who hang there. The soundtrack, however, is the star of the film: featured prominently are "Good Times", "Le Freak" and "Everybody Dance" by Chic, as well as "I'm Coming Out" by Diana Ross and "He's The Greatest Dancer" by Sister Sledge and some other classic Disco songs. The film is a veritable Nile & Bernard tribute in itself! The other movie was just called "54" and was the life story of the late Steve Rubell with most attention on Studio 54. Steve was played by Mike Meyers (Waynes World) and the ever so great Neve Campbell also had a leading role in the picture together with Lauren Hutton. Some of the scenes for the movie were actually shot at the original Studio 54, that were some exterior and lobby scenes. With this movie it came no less than 2 albums with great music, of course there was one Chic track - "Dance, dance, dance". Other of the great Disco songs on the albums were; "Keep on dancin'" (Gary's Gang), "the Boss" (Diana Ross), "Vertigo/Relight my fire" (Dan Hartman R.I.P), "Move on up" (Destination), "I got my mind made up" (Instant Funk), "Don't leave me this way" (Thelma Houston), "Come to me" (France Joli), "Take your time - do it right" (S.O.S Band), "Spank" (Jimmy "Bo" Horne) and "Heart of glass" (Blondie). With the "54" album came also the new hit "If you could read my mind" by Stars on 54. A constellation of Ultra Naté, Amber and Jocelyn Enriquez. This is actually a cover of an old Viola Wills song with the same name. Many people has also asked about an instrumental song that is played about 7 minutes into the movie, just when Shane enters the club for the first time. The song is "the Break" by Kat-Mandu and it's not featured in any of the two soundtrack CD's. VERY inspired by the "54" movie was Pet Shop Boys' video to their hit song "New York City Boy", released in October 1999. The storyline is similar to the movie - This guy dreams about going to Manhattan and to the Studio 54. Finally he gets there and everyone is there, Bianca Jagger on her white horse, Andy Warhol - yes, everything you could expect. It's a great video. The song itself is (according to the guys) a tribute to Village People and it is really breathing classic DISCO. The "Boys" have been working with famous remixer David Morales and together they have made a GREAT song! It's not only the Pet Shop Boys who has been inspired by this legendary club. Even Madonna's 2006 world tour - the Confessions Tour will be a celebration to the club and the Disco lifestyle. It has been announced that Madonna will be recreating hedonistic scenes from the notorious nightclub in a stage set for her tour along with loads of Disco mirror balls. '54' will make a great background set for her Disco influenced music from her most danceable release for a long time, the Confessions on a Dance floor album. Madonna first performed in the legendary club in 1983 in a party for the Italian fashion house, Fiorucci. At that time she remarked to actor David Alan Grier: "You and me are going to be big stars, baby, and leave these other suckers in the dust." Indeed she did, and it seems the wheel has come full circle when she now, 20+ years later, return to Studio 54 where part of her success started. Another Studio 54 DJ mix Even though Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager's empire only lasted for 33 months it was an orgy in music, money, glamour and drugs. There were endless number of unforgettable parties and all the "right" people were there. Studio 54 is an Icon of the Disco era and it was without any doubt as important to Disco as the engine is to a car, without it - it wouldn't run. The club was the Center of the Disco Universe, along with some other clubs and of course all the great artists and labels whom the club would have been nothing without. But without clubs like Studio 54 the whole Disco era wouldn't probably have been as huge as it really was. The suites of this great era still influence the music and nightlife today. The Disco era set the standards for the clublife and music today. Many people have wanted to open up the club again and in May/June of 2001 part of the legendary club was re-opened as Upstairs at Studio 54. It's the former balcony which, back in the clubs later days, were strictly celeb's only that has been turned into a club again. Saturdays at the club has been told to be among the best places in town. Again, it's not the complete legendary club that's re-opened and the space has been used for conferences and special appearances as well as a theatre. The Broadway success Cabaret was played there for a long time and in April 2005 A Streetcar Named Desire was set up in the former club. This was the story about THE most famous club of all times...

Studio 54 the center of the Disco Universe!

Big THANKS to Paolo & Miestorm for enter, memories and for Miestorm's images !!! Comments, Suggestions or QUESTIONS ? Be at liberty to...