While Bianca Jagger made the white horse famous, Dolly Parton was the reason the animal came to Studio 54 in the first place. Desperate to make the Queen of Country comfortable, owner Steve Rubell brought in the magnificent white beast. While Dolly loved her stunning white steed, plenty of other animals also roamed the disco.
Chickens and mules wandered through the exclusive club, joining the celebrities on the dance floor or finding a bit of solace in the decorative wagon filled with hay. It may have been an NYC nightclub, but Studio 54 boasted a strong touch of country.
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.
Bianca Jagger and Liza Minnelli Teamed Up to Provide Entertainment
In case you haven’t figured this out yet, Studio 54 was no ordinary club. While requests from the DJ may frown upon today, Studio 54 turned their illustrious patrons into the entertainment plan. On more than one occasion, the biggest names in music stepped up to provide entertainment at Studio 54. Liza Minnelli and Bianca Jagger once performed a duet while Andy Warhol documented the experience in photos.
What most people might wait a lifetime to experience was simply another normal evening at the ‘70s disco. These unforgettable moments were just part of a typical evening at Studio 54, where guests never knew what kind of excitement they might encounter.
Warhol Gifted Rubell With a Money-Themed Sculpture
As repayment for his garbage can full of money, Andy Warhol gave Steve Rubell his own money-themed gift. When Rubell was sentenced to prison for tax evasion, Warhol presented him with a brass sculpture filled with cut-out dollar signs. While some may have thought the gift was in poor taste, it was a Warhol original.
It perfectly commemorated Rubell’s long friendship with the artist and his well-known love of money. No one could say it wasn’t personal. The gift was a testament to the personal relationship between the two men and the unique culture of Studio 54, where art, music, and money intertwined in unexpected ways.
Woody Allen and Michael Jackson Partying Together
Now, this is something you don't see every day: a neurotic, introverted Woody Allen having a drink next to Michael Jackson..at Studio 54! But that's exactly what this photo is. Taken in August of 1977, a young Woody Allen with an even younger Michael Jackson attend the Carter Burden Party at the club.
Obviously, the famous nightclub had a very strict and flashy dress code, which it evidently decided to ignore when they let Allen in while looking like that. The funniest part is that Woody was the one hosting the entire event! All this just goes to show the power and influence that Studio 54 held over the cultural elite of the 1970s.