Nov. 6, 1979
Crowds linger outside the entrance to Studio 54 in New York
Only the mafia made more money.
STEVE RUBELL, OWNER OF STUDIO 54
Jun 22, 1978
Eartha Kitt, left, and her daughter, Kitt McDonald
IMAGE: AP PHOTO/G. PAUL BURNETT
Nov. 19, 1977
Actress Liza Minnelli teases an unidentified man about his shoes on the dance floor at Studio 54. Liza declined the opportunity to dance with the man because of his shoes
IMAGE: AP PHOTO/ RICHARD DREW
From the moment it opened in 1977, nightclub Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, New York City, was a magnet for stars.
Oct. 11, 1977
British pop singer Elton John makes a brief appearance at Studio 54.
IMAGE: AP PHOTO/SUZANNE VLAMIS
Oct. 18, 1979
Elton John pulls up the legs of his long pants to make it easier for him to join the dancing during a party in his honor.
IMAGE: AP PHOTO/RICHARD DREW
Dec. 12, 1977
Bianca Jagger and companion dance at New York's Studio 54 Thursday night.
May 9, 1977
Singer Bette Midler, left, greets members of the Temptations, at
a party at Studio 54 given to announce the soul group's new recording
contract with Atlantic Records.
IMAGE: AP PHOTO/RICHARD DREW
Fifty yers earlier, the building had opened as The Gallo Opera House. CBS bought the building in the 1940s and used it as a TV and radio studio - it was the 52nd building bought by CBS and was called Studio 52.
In 1977, new owners Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager took just six weeks to transform the studio into a nightclub, employing Broadway set designers to create moveable, theatrical sets and lighting.
After only one month, the club was raided and shut down for selling alcohol without a license. Studio 54 had been relying on temporary caterers permits, used to sell alcohol at weddings.Regular patrons included Mick Jagger, Bianca Jagger, Jackie Kennedy Onassis, Margaret Trudeau, (former wife of Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau), Liza Minnell, Elizabeth Taylor, Margeaux Hemingway, John Travolta, Brooke Shields, Debbie Harry, Grace Jones, Michael Jackson, Elton John, Tina Turner, Diana Ross , Cher, Andy Warhol, Salvador Dali, Truman Capote, dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov, Jerry Hall, Calvin Klein and drag queen Divine. Not to mention many members of the criminal underworld.
Oct. 2, 1978
Wanda Toscanini Horowitz, right, and her husband, famed pianist Vladimir Horowitz, on the dance floor to celebrate the pianist's birthday.
IMAGE: AP PHOTO
Jul 20, 1978
Dr. Timothy Leary, the former psychedelic drug guru, puts his all into dancing at a post-premiere party for the movie “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.”
IMAGE: AP PHOTO/DREW
March 30, 1979
Italian film director Franco Zeffirelli and actress Toni Tucci at Studio 54. Zeffirelli was in New York for the premier of his movie, "The Champ."
IMAGE: AP PHOTO/RICHARD DREW
Jan. 13, 1978
Pat Boone dances with daughter Debbie.
IMAGE: AP PHOTO/RON FREHM
Jan. 17, 1978
Margaret Trudeau, estranged wife of Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, dances as Andy Warhol looks on
IMAGE: AP PHOTO/RICHARD DREW
IMAGE: AP PHOTO/ RICHARD DREW
May 7, 1977
Actor Tony Curtis and his wife Leslie.
IMAGE: AP PHOTO/RICHARD DREW
Nov. 2, 1977
Actor-comedian Richard Pryor and his wife Deborah.
IMAGE: AP PHOTO
April 12, 1979
Actor Robin Williams dances with his wife, Valerie Velardi. Williams was appearing in the ABC television comedy series "Mork and Mindy.
Jan. 12, 1978
Author Truman Capote dances with C.Z. Guest
IMAGE: AP PHOTO
Jan. 7, 1978
Author Truman Capote with friend.
IMAGE: AP PHOTO
March 19, 1978 Singer Tom Jones with Rina Messinger of Israel, Miss Universe 1976.
April 4, 1978
Margaret Trudeau arrives with Andy Warhol.
IMAGE: AP PHOTO/G. PAUL BURNETT
July 10, 1978 Elton John, left, Alana Hamilton, wife of actor George Hamilton, and rock singer Rod Stewart (her future husband) arrive at Studio 54 for party given by RCA Records, which signed John to a contract with the label.
The original incarnation of Studio 54 closed with a final party on Feb. 4, 1980, when Diana Ross personally serenaded Rubell and Schrager. Ryan O'Neal, Mariel Hemingway, Richard Gere, Jack Nicholson, and Sylvester Stallone were among the guests. After the original Studio 54 was closed, Schrager and Rubell pleaded guilty to tax evasion and spent 13 months in prison. When it reopened under new ownership in September 1981, Schrager and Rubell were hired as consultants