Studio 54
Studio 54 still resides in the heart of New York City. In the 70s, it was a nightclub that promoted a feeling of excitement. It was a place people can to escape their normal lives and experience a sense of freedom.
Founded by Syracuse University graduates, Steve Rubell, and Ian Schrager, bathed in the success of their nightclub. However, it was only open for 33 months between April of 1977 and January of 1980. Although short-lived, it definitely left its mark on the community.
What stood out about Studio 54 was that everyone was someone in that club. Andy Warhol commented, “Studio 54 is a dictatorship at the door and a democracy on the dance floor.” It was hard to get in, but there were no rules inside the club. It allowed people to freely express themselves and not care about whatever else was happening around them. Of course, this mindset promoted the excessive use of alcohol and drugs, much like the rest of the ’70s.
The downfall was a culmination of many factors. In 1979, both founders pleaded guilty for tax evasion and served 20 months in jail. They built a magical place that allowed people to escape, but it was too good to be true. They didn’t have a building permit when construction started and their liquor license was a temporary catering permit that was distributed daily. The owners were targets of many aggravated people and “were the poster boy for all that was wrong in the economy”.
Today, Studio 54 is used as a theatre. Currently, Kiss Me, Kate is playing along with the club that is co-owned by Michael Feinstein next door. So, although it has evolved to be more theatre-oriented, the spirit of the Studio 54 of the '70s lives on.
This is a really cool post! I remember learning about Studio 54 and how hard it was to get in, but it's crazy how it got shut down for tax evasions and liquor licenses. I agree with you saying it's too good to be true, but it's nice that it lives on as a theatre and even still a bit of a club next door.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very interesting post. It is really cool that studio 54 was a place that allowed people to feel free and that allowed people to express themselves. It is also interesting that they now use it as a theater.
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