In Studio 54, a 2018 documentary that featured the club’s surviving co-founder Ian Schrager, he revealed that someone really was found dead after getting stuck in an air vent and suffocating after trying to enter the club illegally—but unlike in the show, it was a man dressed in black-tie attire.
Who died in the air vent at Studio 54?
From there, she manages to sneak into an air duct only to get stuck, with Halston later learning that not only was Studio 54 raided and closed, that cops found her body wearing Calvin Klein.
How did Steve from Studio 54 died?
But, “This was the one thing he couldn't get away with,” he said in the documentary. Rubell died at age 45 on July 25, 1989. The media widely reported Rubell died of complications from hepatitis. According to The New York Times obit, “A spokesman, Dan Klores, said Mr.
Was there a body found in Studio 54?
In Studio 54, a 2018 documentary that featured the club's surviving co-founder Ian Schrager, he revealed that someone really was found dead after getting stuck in an air vent and suffocating after trying to enter the club illegally—but unlike in the show, it was a man dressed in black-tie attire.
How much did it cost to get into Studio 54?
The $20 entrance fee to enter Studio 54 would be more than a band of four or five people would likely make to split between them from a gig at CBGB's. Prior to being a nightclub, Studio 54 was a CBS television and radio studio.
Who is the co-founder of Studio 54?
Halston 's depiction of Studio 54 co-founder Steve Rubell swiftly denying patrons at the door on the basis of their shirt or their hat not being to his liking is, according to footage from the documentary, accurate.
Who sang at the final party of Studio 54?
Liza Minelli sang at the final party, the night before the co-owners went to prison. Exclusive as it might have been, Studio 54 was a place where all were welcome and celebrated—no matter gender, sexuality, or race.
Who is Halston's best friend?
Fashion royalty Halston was a regular, of course, along with his best friend and muse Liza Minnelli. Halston shows Minnelli partying consistently, indulging in drugs, and even overdosing inside Studio 54 one night before deciding to go to rehab. While there’s no record of an overdose inside Studio 54 like the series shows, ...
Did Minnelli overdose in Studio 54?
While there’s no record of an overdose inside Studio 54 like the series shows, Minnelli did check into the Betty Ford Clinic in California for the first time in 1984 for treatment. The living legend, portrayed remarkably by Krysta Rodriguez in Halston, speaks only kindly of her late fashion mentor to this day. “I did what he said.
Who got in for free in the Rolling Stones?
The Rolling Stones, for example, were split into two of the categories—Mick Jagger and Keith Richards got in for free, but the other band members had to pay to enter. Club regular Andy Warhol once said that Studio 54 “was a dictatorship on the door but a democracy on the dance floor.”.
Did Steve Rubell go to jail?
But the party couldn’t last forever. In 1978, Steve Rubell boasted to New York magazine that in terms of finances, “only the mafia does better than us,” and not long after the IRS came knocking. Rubell and Schrager pleaded guilty to tax evasion in 1979 and served 20 months in jail. Rubell and Schrager’s mystical Studio 54 shut down in January of 1980, less than three years after it had opened. Liza Minelli sang at the final party, the night before the co-owners went to prison.
What happened in Studio 54?
In Halston the designer learns of a person who died in an air shaft while trying to sneak into Studio 54. The anecdote seemingly stems from Studio 54 associate Baird Jones, who told The Last Party author Anthony Haden-Guest this had actually happened: “This guy got stuck in a vent trying to get in. It smelled like a cat had died. He was in black tie.” Jones added, “People would climb down from the building next door in full mountain-climbing gear…trying to get into the courtyard.”
Why is Halston hurt in Studio 54?
What Halston’s been most upset about in the Studio 54 bust is that the IRS agents discovered another little room that nobody knew about, and Halston is hurt because he’s such a close friend and Steve hadn’t told him about it.”.
What did Andy Warhol say about Liz?
Like a fat little Kewpie doll…. Diana Vreeland was there, and people were being brought over to Liz—she was the queen. I met a quarterback. Bob was watching Bianca [Jagger] take poppers and he said to Diana Vreeland, ‘It really becomes more like pagan Rome every day,’ and she said, ‘I should hope so—isn’t that what we’re after?’”
How old was Sally Lippman when she died?
As New York magazine reported at the time, “A tiny, 77-year-old lawyer named Sally Lippman was mourning the death of her husband when she happened upon the disco scene and changed her life.
Why did Rubell and Schrager go to jail?
The night before Rubell and Schrager went to prison for corporate tax evasion, the duo threw a party at which Rubell wore a Frank Sinatra–style fedora and serenaded the club with “I Did It My Way.” “When I look back at it now,” Schrager said in 2018’s Studio 54 documentary, “it was so preposterous.
What was the drug taking at Studio 54?
MSN called the drug-taking "endemic." It was just as much a part of the Studio 54 experience as the dancing. People openly took poppers on the dance floor, and less openly shot up heroin in dark corners. Not only was this accepted, but one of the biggest suppliers was the co-owner Steve Rubell. He infamously walked around wearing a padded coat that hid his stash of cocaine, Quaaludes, and poppers . If he liked you enough, he'd give you a little something. The owners knew they needed celebrities to keep coming, and they knew celebrities liked free drugs. So they would send limos to pick them up, making sure there was plenty of cocaine in them first.
Who was the first person to get into Studio 54?
Oddly, one of the first people ever in the club was Donald Trump. According to the Daily Beast, he and his friends had no problem getting in because they showed up unfashionably early and were basically first in line. But soon the crowd started to build to ridiculous proportions.
How old was Brooke Shields when she was allowed into the DJ booth?
The people who did gain entry were just as bizarre. 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. There is a famous picture of former first lady Betty Ford (who had quit drinking and prescription drugs just a year before) hanging out with the stars while her Secret Service detail stands behind her. A 77-year-old widow who became known as " Disco Sally " was a regular and was always allowed in when she showed up.
Why was Studio 54 raided?
It got the attention of the IRS, and the club was raided on suspicion of tax evasion. Unlike most businesses who are fiddling the books, Studio 54 kept detailed records of their illegality. The owners were skimming millions, up to 80 percent of their profits.
Was Studio 54 a crook?
Studio 54 had an epic few years, but that was it. It wasn't that disco was dying or the club became uncool, it was that the owners were complete crooks. And they were not quiet about it. According to the Independent, in 1978 co-owner Steve Rubell bragged openly in an interview about how well things were going, saying "only the Mafia made more money" the year before. Comparing yourself to organized crime is not the best idea if you have something to hide, which they did. It got the attention of the IRS, and the club was raided on suspicion of tax evasion.
Is it possible to get into Studio 54?
Getting into Studio 54 could be impossible. There didn't seem to be any rhyme or reason for who gained entrance and who didn't. The owner, Steve Rubell, saw it as "casting a play," and getting the perfect mix of people was key. This meant the doormen had huge amounts of power.
Who forgot to unlock her and went back to work?
The employee, stoned out of his mind, forgot to unlock her and went back to work. 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.
What happened at Studio 54?
The original Studio 54 nightclub, which opened on this date in 1977, was open for less than three years before owners Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager were prosecuted for tax evasion. But 33 months was more than enough time for a dazzling array of hedonistic shenanigans.
How much did Studio 54 pay in 1977?
After Steve Rubell made a public statement that “only the Mafia does better” than Studio 54 when it came to money, the IRS took notice—the club had paid just $8000 in taxes in 1977.
What was Andy Warhol's birthday party?
4. Andy Warhol’s birthday party. On August 6, 1979, Halston hosted another birthday bash at Studio 54—this one for Andy Warhol. He gifted Warhol with a pair of roller skates, while Rubell simply gave him a garbage pail stuffed with cash.
What was the night at 54?
Another infamous night at 54 was the evening Dolly Parton held an after-concert party there, complete with bales of hay and live farm animals. 9. When the game Simon premiered at the club. In 1978, Milton Bradley had a launch party for their new game, Simon.
How old was Sally Lippman in The Nights Disco Sally?
The nights Disco Sally appeared. Mingling amongst the likes of Warhol, Halston, and Jagger was a 77-year old widow named Sally Lippman. “Disco Sally” became a regular after one of her young friends told her that she should check out Studio 54 just once, to see it.
Why was Studio 54 closed?
Within a month of opening, the New York State Liquor Authority raided Studio 54 for selling liquor without a license and closed it. The owners of the nightclub said the incident was a "misunderstanding". The next night the club reopened, serving fruit juice and soda instead of liquor. Before the raid, the nightclub had been using daily "caterers' permits", which enabled the nightclub to serve alcohol but were intended for weddings or political events. The State had denied the daily permit for the night and raided the nightclub. The nightclub had been using these permits while waiting for its liquor license to be processed.
How much did Studio 54 make in its first year?
End of the first era. In December 1978, Rubell was quoted in the city's newspapers as saying that Studio 54 had made $7 million in its first year and "only the Mafia made more money". This got the attention of the IRS.
What is the name of the building where the Velvet Underground and Nico album was recorded?
The building, which is still frequently referred to as the Studio 54 building, houses various tenants, among them a theater venue, offices, and an educational facility called Mandl School, the College of Allied Health. This building also houses Olivtree Securities LLC. In 1965, the building housed Scepter Records 's offices, warehouse space and a recording studio, where The Velvet Underground & Nico album was recorded in April 1966.
What was the name of the CBS studios?
In 1943, CBS purchased the theatre and renamed it Studio 52. CBS named its studios in order of purchase; the number 52 was unrelated to the street on which it was located. From the 1940s to the mid-1970s, CBS used the location as a radio and TV stage that housed such shows as What's My Line?, The $64,000 Question, Video Village, Password, To Tell the Truth, Beat the Clock, The Jack Benny Show, I've Got a Secret, Ted Mack and the Original Amateur Hour, and Captain Kangaroo. The soap opera Love of Life was produced there until 1975.
When did CBS start using Studio 52?
It operated as an entertainment venue under various names until 1942, when CBS began using it as a radio and television studio dubbed Studio 52. In 1977, Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager opened a nightclub in the building, retaining many of former TV and theatrical sets and naming it for its street.
Who was the last guest at Studio 54?
Studio 54 closed with a final party on the night of February 2–3, 1980, when Diana Ross and Liza Minnelli serenaded Rubell and Schrager. Ryan O'Neal, Farrah Fawcett, Mariel Hemingway, Jocelyn Wildenstein, Richard Gere, Gia Carangi, Jack Nicholson, Reggie Jackson, and Sylvester Stallone were among the guests that night. Schrager and Rubell pleaded guilty to tax evasion and spent 13 months in prison.
When did CBS move to Ed Sullivan?
In 1976, CBS moved most of its broadcast operations to the Ed Sullivan Theater and the CBS Broadcast Center, and sold Studio 52.
When did Studio 54 open?
The brainchild of Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager, the club opened in a onetime CBS soundstage on April 26th, 1977, and immediately became the epicenter of nightlife in New York City – and the world.
How much did Studio 54 pay in taxes?
Studio 54’s fast and loose accounting would ultimately contribute to its downfall. In 1977 the club made millions yet reportedly paid just a paltry $8,000 in taxes. “Skimming” was standard practice in the cash-flush world of restaurants and nightclubs, but this was an order of magnitude greater than most offenders.
What was the key to Studio 54?
“The key of the success of Studio 54 is that it’s a dictatorship at the door and a democracy on the dance floor,” club regular Andy Warhol once observed , and Steve Rubell ruled the velvet ropes with an iron fist.
What was Andy Warhol's birthday gift?
For Andy Warhol’s 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. According to friends, Warhol said it was the best present he had ever received.
Who was stranded in his limousine?
Traffic on 54th Street was brought to a standstill as both celebrities and humble ravers struggled to approach. Frank Sinatra was stranded in his limousine, unable to get near. Cher, Margaux Hemingway and a young Brooke Shields made it inside, but Warren Beatty, Kate Jackson and Henry Winkler did not.
Who dropped the needle on Devil's Gun?
DJ Richie Kaczor dropped the needle on the first record of the night, “Devil’s Gun” by C.J. and Company, but the party was initially dead. “About a half an hour later there were 50 or 60 people in there.
Who attended the opening of Studio 54?
1. Donald and Ivana Trump attended the opening – while a Quaalude-fueled orgy occurred outside in the street. Among the first to appear outside the doors of Studio 54 on opening night was Donald Trump, accompanied by his new wife, Ivana.
When did CBS move to Studio 54?
It was only in 1977 that CBS moved their studio and two entrepreneurs by the name of Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager decided to buy the building and turn it into a disco nightclub, but leaving the studio aesthetic, the reason why the name was changed to Studio 54, representing the 54th street on Manhattan where it was located.
Where is Studio 54?
Studio 54, located at 254 West 54th Street Manhattan in New York, was many different things before becoming the famous disco nightclub. The building was first constructed in 1927 as an Opera House which operated until 1942 when CBS bought the building and turned it into a television studio named Studio 52, representing their 52nd studio across America.
How many years did Rubell and Schrager go to jail?
Rubell and Schrager were given four years of prison each, but before going to prison they threw one last big party at the club ending an era that for many were the best years of their lives.
Why did the club in New York City close?
Due to the love for money, the owners of the club decided not to pay any taxes and this is what leads to an investigation coordinated by the FBI in 1981. The same year the club was shut down as the two owners were arrested for tax evasion of around three million dollars. When the raid took place the FBI also found out where all the drugs in New York City were hiding. From the reports, it was estimated that the police confiscated over 30 kilograms of cocaine and many other different types of drugs.
Who are the famous people who were there every week?
From Michael Jackson to Freddie Mercury, Elton John, Madonna, Andy Warhol, Salvador Dali, Elizabeth Taylor, Liza Minnelli, Calvin Klein, Tina Turner, Truman Capote, Cher, John Travolta, Jackie Kennedy Onassis, and many others were there almost every week, so you can imagine the sort of party that would take place with these characters.
Is Studio 54 underground?
These scammers were selling New Yorkers maps that were leading to the Studio through some underground metro tunnels for thousands of dollars. It is true that there are some hidden tunnels in the New York underground system, but Studio 54 wasn’t connected to any.
