Before Brooke Shields graced the cover of Vogue, she was simply a young model looking to take advantage of everything New York City could offer. At only twelve years old, Brooke somehow made her way past the picky bouncer and onto the taboo dance floor of Studio 54. But Brooke wasn’t the only underage celebrity to sneak her way into the club.
She was joined by Mariel Hemingway, the granddaughter of the famous American author Ernest Hemingway. Together, the two young girls danced their evenings away at the nightclub far before they transformed into the beauty icons they are today.
Rubell and Schrager Almost Didn’t Have Booze for Their Opening Night
Although Rubell and Schrager poured their heart into their club, they never imagined it would become as successful. To enhance the disco theme, the two owners revamped the inside of what was once an old television studio, transforming it into a light-filled ballroom perfect for dancing. However, in all their preparation, the club owners forgot to take care of their liquor licenses.
They failed to apply in time and found that they were left without booze just a few days before the club was meant to open, eventually leading to a frantic scramble to obtain the necessary permits. Despite this hiccup, Studio 54 went on to become a cultural icon and a symbol of the decadent excesses of the 1970s.
Timothy Leary Turns On, Tunes In, and Drops Out at Studio 54
Even though it is not surprising to see Timothy Leary at a place where substances could be found at every corner, the photo below is truly a gem. Leary, a former psychologist from Harvard University, became the ultimate icon of '60s counterculture and psychedelics.
We're guessing that apart from whatever he took that night, Leary has a smile from ear to ear because he was at the post-premier party of the "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" film on March 6, 1978. The film, a musical inspired by the Beatles' album of the same name, was a celebration of the band's legacy and cultural influence, making it an event that Leary would not want to miss.
Bette Midler Was Starstruck When She Met The Temptations
While Studio 54 was always filled with the decade’s most notable A-listers, even celebrities sometimes could get a little starstruck. After releasing one of their albums, The Temptations — one of the biggest bands in the 1970s — threw a party at Studio 54 to celebrate. The event drew a who's who of A-listers, including Bette Midler, who was already a celebrated entertainer in her own right.
Despite her own fame, Midler couldn't hide her excitement when she had the opportunity to meet The Temptations. Photographs of the encounter capture her expression of complete shock as she grasps their hands and introduces herself.
Disco Sally Loved Showing Off Her Moves
While Studio 54 was often filled with fresh faces, Sally Lippman didn’t allow the young crowd to deter her from having a good time. After her husband passed away, Sally visited Studio 54 while attempting to find some new purpose in life. Despite her old age, she immediately fell in love with the club and visited it many times in the future.
The dance moves Sally brought to Studio 54 earned her the name “Disco Sally.” She was such a popular patron that the manager granted her access whenever she decided her dancing shoes could use a night out.