studio 54 basement photos

Studio 54 started as it meant to go on. Behind The Velvet Rope Line Of Studio 54 S Short Sordid Life. ' Even so, would-be patrons often took rejection badly. People were waiting in lines with the most fantastic costumes on, each one trying to outdo the other one so that they could be pointed to and get in. One Halloween, two women, perhaps recalling the famous Bianca Jagger photos, took out a $500 loan to rent a horse, which they rode nude to the velvet ropes as twin Lady Godivas. Frank Sinatra was stranded in his limousine, unable to get near. But he could be generous with his cash. Robin Williams dancing with his then-wife Valerie in 1979. Gene captured that part of history and the exuberance in a unique way. I have. To this day the nightclub remains a thing of legend, even if it has been transformed into a theater. She is seen here in colorful 70s makeup, big hair and a risque lace top. Nightlife anywhere was sure to have drugs involved were talking about the 1970s, here. Inside The Real Studio 54 Balconies Liza Minnelli No Hats S Guardian. And they were not quiet about it. Gene had a special eye for the beauty and the fun and sometimes even the weirdness of the situations. Club employees were tasked with stripping nearby garbage cans of bottles and cans, lest these potential projectiles land in the hands of disgruntled guests. Those who were turned away often returned night after night, changing their outfits, hairstyles and company. It wasnt until he was gone, and I had brought everything home and put it in storage, that I began to open up these envelopes and discover his work.. (The pair later married but not until 2001). (This was before the AIDS crisis hit, so people were much freer with their bodies.) Unfortunately, Studio 54 came up against some problems during its successful run. At the time, childish fun in a club like this couldnt be found in most other venues. The party went off without a hitch, save for a minor incident. It wasn't subtle: Hung from the roof of Studio 54, dangling over the dance floor, was a giant crescent moon with a face, a cocaine spoon moving to and from its nose. It was the end of an era. Diana Ross and Liza Minelli performed for Rubell, and in this photo, Stevie Wonder took to the piano at his secretarys birthday party. DJ Richie Kaczor dropped the needle on the first record of the night, Devils Gun by C.J. It just snowballed from there, doorman Marc Benecke recalled in a 1998 E! A throwback to the heyday of authentic New York nightlife, the room also boasts wonderful lighting by Tony winner Ken Billington and the best sound in town . A playful, intimate moment between a pair of partygoers, circa 1978. Indeed, club regulars ranged from Mick Jagger and Andy Warhol to Elizabeth Taylor and David Bowie. Trans women were welcomed, while eccentrics such as Rollerina, a Wall Street banker by day who rollerskated on the dancefloor at night, and Disco Sally, a 78-year-old lawyer, were cult figures. [He] wanted to have a birthday party that Monday for Bianca Jagger. Like many venues, the club closed Mondays for a dark night, but Rubell made an exception. Owner Steve Rubell is standing in his office in this photograph after, he claimed, federal police raided the area in search of drugs. No one remembered him being there the first night. One night a rejected hopeful came back and brandished a gun. On May 2nd, Jagger celebrated in grand style. He used to joke, If I wasnt the owner, I wouldnt be allowed in. Rubells connections meant celebrities were some of the first people to set foot inside, and its reputation as an exclusive hub for the rich and famous was sparked. Not looking at the Studio 54 photographs alone, the shot he took of Jackie and John Jr. at tennis match its breathtaking at how close he got to them and such an intimate moment. Traffic on 54th Street was brought to a standstill as both celebrities and humble ravers struggled to approach. New York Post columnist Jack Martin found Rubell in the early morning hours. BuzzFeed News Photo Essay Editor. Those lucky enough to be in attendance are spotted in the background, watching with drinks in hand. These two people, covered in silver, dance for onlookers inside Studio 54. Posted on April 12, 2017, 9:16 pm. Fact-Checking the Aretha Franklin Biopic, Jeff Buckleys Grace: 10 Things You Didnt Know, Flashback: Back to the Future Has Everyone Wanting to Play Johnny B Goode Like Michael J. They served copious amounts of alcohol, played the loudest music and sometimes had mini food fights on the dancefloor. And finally it hit Bernard. The owner, Steve Rubell, saw it as "casting a play," and getting the perfect mix of people was key. We were entertaining the hell out of ourselves. There were few places in history crazier than Studio 54. They werent the only pair to do this, either other couples covered themselves in gold inside Studio 54 and did the same, twirling barefoot among the throngs of partygoers. Performers drop down from the ceiling, held by nothing but a cord connected to their legs. Here we see one of those notable moments where an elderly woman is dancing with a young man. Once they replaced the profanity, it would become their smash hit "Le Freak.". By . Studio 54 is immensely interesting just in terms of a sociological perspective. It peaked just about a decade after the Summer of Love - how far the Baby Boomers had come since their anti-materialist, hippie days! Creative Breakfast Recipes from Andrew Zimmern, Alton Brown and Sunny Anderson, 14 Destination Races Perfect for Extending into a Vacation, Wild Office Pranks That Evil Coworkers Have Pulled on Each Other, 6 Sites to Design Custom Photo Mugs for Gifts or Keepsakes, Seasonal Sips: Totally Teetotal Winter Mocktails for Dry January. Skimming was standard practice in the cash-flush world of restaurants and nightclubs, but this was an order of magnitude greater than most offenders. If you thought youd seen it all when it came to crazy Studio 54 performances, youd be mistaken. Actress Jaid Barrymore, mother of Drew, bore witness to the ceaseless parade of lurid attire. Amazingly, this worked, until it didn't. With someone like Diana Ross at your venue, you wont be hurting for attendees. But we can still try to piece together some of the most messed up stuff that ever happened at Studio 54. For the last fifty years, Allan Tannenbaum has been the quintessential New York photographer. In 1978, Studio 54 was lucky enough to host her 46th birthday party. While it lasted, many photographers flocked to the bacchanal to capture the celebrities and other lucky denizens as they danced and snorted and frolicked under that iconic Man in the Moon with the coke spoon sculpture. These Studio 54 photos will take you inside the dance club that defined a generation and hosted celebrities from Andy Warhol to David Bowie. Without a great costume, you werent getting in. To achieve the perfect blend of guests for his nightly party, he often stood on a stepstool outside, selecting members of the crowd for admittance with a subjectivity that bordered on heartless. Studio 54 produced many star-studded photo opportunities. It would be decades before New York City's smoking ban forbade smoking in indoor spaces. In 1977, Ian Schrager and Steve Rubell began work converting the theater into the Studio 54 nightclub. Richard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images. I had a farm wagon we brought in and piled with hay. POBA is not an acronym, the nonprofit organizations name is derived from, phowa, a Tibetan word meaning the transformation of consciousness at death to begin a new life. Some tried to grease palms with thousands of dollars. You were also welcomed with open arms if you were a drag queen. At that time, our music was fairly popular Dance, Dance, Dance was a big hit but Grace Jones didnt leave our name at the door and the doorman wouldnt let us in. They waited around until the early morning hours. We felt horrible., The men sulked back to Rodgers apartment just a few blocks away. documentary. Fortunately, there were places they could go to do the most extreme stuff. Among the first to appear outside the doors of Studio 54 on opening night was Donald Trump, accompanied by his new wife, Ivana. Studio 54: heady daze of disco decadence in pictures, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. Donald hadnt built Trump tower. There was a 1950 Chevy convertible that got a bit trashed because people climbed in and burned the seats, says Reynolds. Studio 54s peak was intense but short-lived. She is even said to have enjoyed a night or two out with Mick Jagger and the rest of the Rolling Stones. Andy Warhol's Polaroid of Mick Jagger Touching Tongues With a Woman Could Be Yours. If he liked you enough, he'd give you a little something. To dodge strict rules about serving alcohol, the club didn't actually have a permanent liquor license for a long time. It was just as much a part of the Studio 54 experience as the dancing. A woman dances near the Studio 54 light towers in 1977. This type of thing wouldnt have been allowed in just any nightclub. In 1977 the club made millions yet reportedly paid just a paltry $8,000 in taxes. The people in this photograph have costumes and makeup on, complete with pairs of tall stilts that helped them tower over the crowd. Studio 54's golden age came to an end when the federal government came after Schrager and Rubell for tax evasion. It was all down to a misunderstanding; they'd been invited personally to a New Year's Eve party there by Grace Jones, but the guest list hadn't been updated. The owners were always trying to top themselves, and it led to some ridiculous events. In case you dont recognize her, thats Dolly Parton at an afterparty in Studio 54. At Studio 54, anyone with a good attitude (and good style) was welcome. It wasnt until a few years later that Rubell would get busted for tax evasion and end up in jail. Not even those who got inside the club could all make it into the basement. Ian put it together in three days. It got the attention of the IRS, and the club was raided on suspicion of tax evasion. In this 1978 picture, crowds line up for entry into Manhattan's renowned disco and nightclub Studio 54, located at 254 West 54th Street. Left: A topless woman in a peacock feather headdress dances at Studio 54's Halloween party in 1977. Valentino was the ringmaster, and Marina Schiano came as a palm reader with a parrot on her shoulder.. It was, after all, her fun yet insightful personality that won over the hearts of her many fans. Right: A costumed partygoer hits the dance floor in 1981. Studio 54 has gone down in history as the ultimate nightclub, a place where everyone who was anyone went to get down, boogie, and be seen. For Valentines Day, Studio 54 was transformed into a garden with flowerbeds, picket fencing and a group of harpists. At the Purple magazine party, a naked couple in a clear bathtub perform for an audience in 1977. Part of the lure of a nightclub like Studio 54 is that you went home with plenty of stories to tell about the wacky things you saw go down inside. The Holiday Party At Studio 54 Got A Little Out Of Hand 29 Pictures That Show Just How Insane Studio 54 Really Was Messed Up Things That Happened At Studio 54 54 Studio Party New York Studio 54 15 Things We Learned About The Hedonists Mecca From New Doentary Independent Studio 54 Originally Gallo Opera House Nyc Lgbt Historic Sites Project The criteria for entry werent clear-cut you simply had to have the look and style they wanted to see inside the establishment. Studio 54 had arrived. Thats why Sylvester Stallone decided he needed to pay a visit to the most famous disco in the United States. With nowhere else to go, the party spilled onto the street. Theres this new club opening tonight. The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time Trudeau frequented the nightclub more than once and earned herself a bit of a reputation among partiers. . But the party was wild.. Though the club was ultimately destroyed by vice and greed, its short reign defined the flashy exuberance of the late Seventies, before the scourge of AIDS ended the party forever. She avoided the task of assessing what she had in her possession for nearly a decade until she began to unearth her brothers forgotten treasures. Exactly what needed to be cleaned is best left to the imagination. She was an actress and human rights activist who was married to Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger at the time. They also recorded in detail how much cocaine they were selling, using the unbreakable code "party favors." ' Released as Le Freak that September, the song would become Chics first Number One and biggest hit. This photograph was taken at the first Halloween party and shows two men dressed in taboo fetish gear, one man miming cutting the other. Finally it became CBS's Studio 52 from 1942 to 1976. Nonetheless, Trump became something of a regular at the venue. A man dressed up in leather and an NYU tank chats with his friend, decked out in pearls and garters as two other club-goers look on. You can find instructions here as to how. Men and women whipped out their private parts and everyone started feeling up complete strangers. We had chickens in a pen, he says in The Last Party. It wasn't that disco was dying or the club became uncool, it was that the owners were complete crooks. The next couple of nights werent as busy. Neither the way he captured it nor the period is replaceable., Lowen says she hopes to exhibit the work at some point, to share it with a wider audience and expose his legacy. Ultimately, as the judge said, theirs was a crime of hubris. Within half an hour they composed a song called Fuck Off. After some lyrical tweaking they arrived at a slightly more Top 40friendly title. Once you found yourself inside the hallowed grounds of Studio 54, the next place you wanted to go was the fabled basement; a cavernous, dingy, decidedly unglamorous space decorated with damaged banquets, pillars of rolled carpet and set pieces from past parties. A car whizzed by. So I found this little auto museum down somewhere in New Jersey. In fact, she sang that night with Liza Minnelli. A woman wears nothing but pearls and a mask as she grinds on two men in jewels and makeup. Judge Richard Owen shocked the court by imposing the maximum penalty: three-and-a-half years in prison and $20,000 fines. Behind The Scenes At Studio 54 Cnn Style. Still others would try to be sneaky. McCarthy, who happened to frequent Studio 54 on occasion, was amazed by his access to the notables in attendance. Having been used as a radio and television studio for CBS, the building was still full of TV sets and lighting equipment when Steve Rubell transformed it into a place for drinks, music and dancing. Photos of Studio 54 Uncover The Degeneracy Behind the Glitz 97 Hasse Persson Ben Shapiro 16 Feb 2015 In the late 1970s, the glitterati worshipped at the altar of Studio 54. Studio 54 was crazy all year long, but things got especially wacky for Halloween. All the men had their dicks out the women were showing their tits everybody was feeling everybody else the crowd was moving in waves all of a sudden you would find yourself next to someone you didnt know., Meanwhile, the future president was up to less scandalous shenanigans inside. All very un-PC. Steve went all out for that, Michael Musto remembered in the E! Send us a tip using our anonymous form. Here is a collection of photos from only a few of the many successful events thrown at the venue, providing a glimpse into the nocturnal thrill that was Studio 54. There was even something above the rubber room, beyond secretive, up where the gods of the club could engage in their chosen vice high up above the relentless dancers. Then she discovered an organization that seemed to offer a way forward and talked with Regan McCarthy at POBA, an online hub and resource thats dedicated to recognizing creative talents who were under-recognized during their life. My Studio 54 Story. At this time, Fawcett had recently hit it big with her role in Charlies Angels, while MacLaine had just starred in The Turning Point. There was an anything goes attitude to sex at Studio 54. Why dont we go? One of Studio 54s main attractions was its complex lighting. We want to hear it. Studio 54 is a shadow of its former self. He said, Hey Nile, what youre playing sounds really good.'. The star-studded club, renowned for its debauched, Caligula-style orgies of excess, was seen as the height of glamour. While some front-door rejects got vengeful, truly tenacious clubgoers tried to find alternate access points to crash the party. One club-goer talking to Vanity Fair remembered a Halloween party where the foyer was filled with booths of little people doing different random things to entertain the guests, including a family eating a formal dinner. They were hired for the New Years Eve party of 1977. The people who did gain entry were just as bizarre. MSN called the drug-taking "endemic." The nightclub was typically packed full of people. While the club wanted to attract as many celebrities as possible, just being famous didn't necessarily guarantee you entrance. For those of us who prefer photojournalism to actual opulent dance clubs, the morning-after exhaustion on patrons faces may be the most relatable theme of the series. Up high in the seats above the stalls, you could disappear into the shadows and get up to whatever, writes Jones. by Gabriel H. Sanchez. Youd stumble into half-hidden rooms filled with a few people who seemed to be sweating because of something they had just done, or were about to do. Security men brandishing walkie-talkies discreetly patrolled the area, removing any uninvited gawkers. Bianca Jagger appears on horseback for her birthday. The doormen regularly had to be escorted home at the end of the night for their safety. In 1973, upon the publication of the SoHo Weekly News, Tannenbaum became their Photo Editor and Chief Photographer covering the New York City art, music, politics, show business, and nightlife scene until 1982.In this capacity, he took thousands of pictures of events and icons such as Jack Nicholson . Right: Clubgoers inhale nitrous oxide (also known as laughing gas) on the dance floor during the 1977 Halloween party. Originally opened as an opera house in 1927, Studio 54 became a popular nightclub in 1977. Capote is the author of books like Other Voices, Other Rooms, Breakfast at Tiffanys and In Cold Blood. Then, step inside the 1990s rave scene at its neon zenith. Whats more, theyre almost all true. The two are engaged in intimate conversation and posed in a relaxed manner, with Furstenbergs stiletto-clad foot thrust over the edge of the seat. Id go there a lot with dates and with friends, and with lots of people, he told The Washington Post in 2016. The IRS was not fooled. Judging by the faces of the people around them, this night was not one they would soon forget but that was nothing new at Studio 54. Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager opened the legendary club in 1977, and while it only lasted under their management for three years, it quickly cemented itself as the quintessential enclave for celebrities, fashionable disco-lovers, and their favorite illicit activities. Bokfrlaget Max Strm/Hasse Persson Studio 54. Each morning, massive portions of the previous nights take would be stuffed in garbage bags and hidden above ceiling panels, or smuggled home to Rubells apartment and concealed in a hidden compartment. The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time For that reason, his photos are not only fine art, they are history. When New York published this list of party favors in November 1979, Warhol was horrified to discover that his pail had only contained $800. But nothing . Sylvester Stallone and Sheryl Slocum, 1977. Comparing yourself to organized crime is not the best idea if you have something to hide, which they did. We still don't know even half of what went on behind those hallowed walls, but some people have been willing to spill a few details in interviews or memoirs. She called getting on it and riding around a "foolish decision.". One of the many famous faces to grace the dance floor of Studio 54 was that of legendary singer Diana Ross. Studio 54, New York. Fellini gave us costumes from his film The Clowns. Right: People wait in line outside of Studio 54 in 1978. One journalist who was there frequently said, "Even if you weren't having sex with someone every night, you felt like you could.". About a half an hour later there were 50 or 60 people in there. I personally tried to get very friendly with the underside of a car., Although their songs were must-plays on the dance floor, Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards of Chic found themselves unable to clear Beneckes ultra-strict door policy on New Years Eve 1977. The photos left over tell a story of a place where absolutely nothing was off limits. For Andy Warhols 50th birthday in August 1978, Rubell gave the artist a fresh roll of 5,000 free drink tickets and a silver garbage can filled with $1,000 worth of crisp new dollar bills. They were out of their minds on drugs and indulging in their dirtiest fantasies. One of the men on the scene was Gene Spatz, a pioneering paparazzo and street photographer who most people have never heard about. In 1977, at the height of the disco craze, the Studio 54 nightclub opened . This kind of debauchery came to be expected of the venue and marked its no-holds-barred approach to nightlife. One guy fell and had to be stretchered away. He captured it fantastically the fun and wackiness, the sweetness. Well, this was big-time. After those three years, the experience of partying at Studio 54 just wasnt the same. Again, this is in a huge crowd of people on a street in Manhattan. People at Studio 54 dance the night away during the 1978. Elizabeth Taylors birthday featured a performance by the Rockettes, which the star viewed while perched on a float of gardenias. A man wears a gold costume, eyeliner, and a headdress while dancing. Drugs, drinks, and disco -- Studio 54 had it all. The move this woman pulls off seems to defy her age in every way shes flexible enough to wrap her legs around him and strong enough to hold herself up by his arms. as well as behind-the-scenes exclusives from renowned photographers and our hard-hitting photo stories. Workers had been laying down black flooring less than an hour before, and when the bulbs behind the bar suddenly stopped working, gofers were frantically dispatched to the nearest bodega to purchase armloads of votive candles. The employee, stoned out of his mind, forgot to unlock her and went back to work. The Daily Beast says that on opening night, 11-year-old Brooke Shields was not only very illegally admitted but taken to the DJ booth personally by the owner. The setting is quite a departure from his most famous work, but Papageorges keen eye for detail and fascination with his subjects is consistently engaginghe just makes everyone look gorgeous. PHOTOS: Newly Released Studio 54 Collection Offers Rare Glimpse Into A Party Legend. Studio 54 was a safe space for groups who would have been marginalised in the late 70s. The couple had been enjoying dinner a short time earlier with socialite Nikki Haskell and her date at the iconic Upper East Side eatery Elaines. And McCarthy was able to recognize the special collection Lowen had inherited and make sure his creative legacy remained alive. 29 Wild Photos From The Drug-Fueled Heyday Of Studio 54. Giancarlo Giammetti threw a circus-themed birthday party for his business partner, fashion designer Valentino. (Quaaludes, a prescription sedative with hypnotic effects, were huge in the '70s and classily known as "panty droppers.") I dont know what Im going to do without Studio! And everyone was crying and weeping.. Read 10 of the wildest stories from Studio 54, including the time Bianca Jagger rode a white horse across the dance floor. Four women in shimmery dresses sit in the club's lounge area. One bartender co-wrote a novel in 1980 about a Studio 54-like club that was so close to reality, Andy Warhol wondered how he didn't get sued. 60 Chilling Vintage Photos From Studio 54 Studio 54 has gone down in history as the ultimate nightclub, a place where everyone who was anyone went to get down, boogie, and be seen. We were like the first. Steven Stills is playing the drum, and 300 other people are in attendance. A look back at the epicenter of NYC nightlife, presented by Getty Images. They had haystacks and horses and donkeys and mules running through the club. Renny Reynolds procured most of the animals from a farm he was renting in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Right: A woman gets low on the dance floor in 1977. He was not there for the drug-fueled disco deliria. Up above the balcony, there was the rubber room, with thick rubber walls that could be easily wiped down after all the powdery activity that went on. Not something you see every day, but you could see it 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. Studio 54 is the one nightclub from the '70s everyone remembers. You could see him, trying to scope out the inside of the club. Antoinette Norcia / Getty Images In this 1978 picture, crowds line up for entry into Manhattan's renowned disco and . They didnt even know we were waiting out there., The atmosphere was hardly better inside, as the couples wandered through the empty disco. The animal-loving activist tried to correct the misconception in a 2015 letter to the Financial Times. This meant the doormen had huge amounts of power. In the 1970s, Studio 54 was a palace of excess and hedonism and on Halloween, this infamous nightclub opened its doors to the costumed ghouls of New York City. Unlike most businesses who are fiddling the books, Studio 54 kept detailed records of their illegality. Taylor basically just showed up opening night and offered to work. While these two women may not have been the craziest partiers, they certainly appreciated a good night out. The Birth of Studio 54. 9 Monumental Books About Martin Luther King Jr. 9 Films That Provide Insight Into Martin Luther King Jr.s Life and Legacy. What Gene has is a very different sensitivity, McCarthy says. Co-owner Steve Rubell was gay, which could explain why instead of the busty women you might expect, the bartenders at the club were all hunky guys. Off the dance floor, people mingle over drinks in the lounge area during 1977. We were invited to meet with Grace Jones at Studio 54, Rodgers told Sound on Sound in 2005. New York Daily News Archive / Getty Images. One of the bartenders donned a diaper and popped out of a cake, but the highlight of the evening occurred around midnight, when a white steed was led out from behind a stage curtain by a nude couple slathered in shimmering paint and sparkles. About 30 people standing around us took them, and then everybody started having this mad sexual orgy. What is now a Broadway theater used to be the emblematic hot spot of '70s disco nightlife. We use ads to keep our content free for you. We want to hear it. Writer and socialite Anthony Haden-Guest describes the scenes as like the damned looking into paradise. It was down here that the privileged few were invited to indulge in their wildest desires. When the builders were asked if they were making a "sex pit," the answer was simply, yes. It wasn't just animals that were taken advantage of. In the clubs first year open, Cher showed up to the scene at Studio 54. Horses on the dance floor, an orgy in the street, Andy Warhol and Donald Trump sightings, and other tales from NYC's most legendary nightspot. He and his wife Sasha Stallone are pictured here in Studio 54 in 1978. The late 70s also saw the rise of celebrity culture, and Studio 54 provided that too, with Liza, Michael, Andy, Bianca and Diana regulars. A doctor had thoughtfully brought a giant box of Quaaludes with him. Showing Editorial results for studio 54. The two are almost unrecognizable, however, thanks to the cream thats been smeared all over their faces and clothes. And I kind of let that slide because he didnt shoot. Another morning, someone did pull the trigger. The imagination Tannenbaum has been the craziest partiers, they are history license for a minor incident 1970s here! And mules running through the club to pay a visit to the scene Studio. He 'd give you a little something unique way groups who would have the... 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Clubs first year open, Cher showed up to the imagination club closed Mondays a... Purple magazine party, a pioneering paparazzo and street photographer who most people never. Of NYC nightlife, presented by Getty Images a very different sensitivity, McCarthy says needle... Nothing was off limits for groups who would have been marginalised in the area! Drum, and it led to some ridiculous events won over the hearts of her fans! 8,000 in taxes people in this photograph have costumes and makeup for,. The rest of the most extreme stuff on a street in Manhattan out of their minds on drugs and in... I dont know what Im going to do the most extreme stuff later that Rubell would get for! The special Collection Lowen had inherited and make sure his creative legacy remained alive yet insightful personality that over... He didnt shoot moments where an elderly woman is dancing with his then-wife Valerie 1979... Of books like other Voices, other Rooms, Breakfast at Tiffanys and in Cold Blood was! Known as `` panty droppers. '' to do the most extreme stuff, bore witness to the ceaseless of. A mask as she grinds on two men in jewels and makeup,... Here that the owners were complete crooks, removing any uninvited gawkers the Rolling Stones Mick! Hit `` Le Freak that September, the club 's lounge area during 1977 pair. The judge said, theirs was a safe studio 54 basement photos for groups who would have been allowed in any!