While the dance floor focused on having a good time, the salacious rumors surrounding the club had to come from somewhere. Apparently, the truly lewd activities took place in the basement. On one of the three levels in Studio 54, the basement featured secluded corners filled with sweaty bodies. While the lower level was used for storage, security guards constantly roamed the makeshift hallways.
You don’t need security guards to watch over unmoving props, so we’ll let you draw your own conclusions about what went on down there. While the club’s founders denied any wrongdoing, the basement of Studio 54 remains shrouded in mystery and speculation to this day.
From Unemployed to Working at One of the World's Most Famous Clubs
When interviewing former Studio 54 employees, the New York Magazine spoke with Scott Taylor, who used to tend the disco's bar. According to him, he simply came in on the opening night, offered to work, and started taking care of the place.
In fact, most of his co-workers used the opening night as an excuse to party with the rest of the patrons, but Taylor was diligent enough to sweep and take out the trash, which made him pretty popular. He was so popular that at one point, when his coworkers got word of him possibly being fired, they firmly objected, demanding that he stays.
It Was Raining Couture
It seemed that Studio 54 always found ways to surprise its patrons. And it didn't stop with costumes, outrageous amounts of alcohol, and barnyard animals roaming the dancefloor. Apparently, surprises used to fall from the sky, quite literally.
The ceiling of the famous nightclub was equipped with a special net that held items that were dropped on the guests at some point during the evening. Usually, it was just party things like balloons or glitter, but there was one time (that we know of) that it was stocked with gift boxes from elite fashion brands.
Cher Was a Regular
Nestled between 8th and Broadway in New York City, Studio 54 was an escape from the outside world. For big stars like Cher, the club offered a place to be herself, free from the pressures of screaming fans and hungry paparazzi. The Goddess of Pop was a common installment at Studio 54. The laid-back, party-centric environment allowed her to blend into the background, a necessary reprieve from her regular existence in the spotlight.
Performances by renowned musicians such as Mick Jagger, Grace Jones, and Donna Summer were a regular occurrence at Studio 54. The club was not just a discotheque but also a place where art, fashion, and music collided to create a unique cultural experience.
Rubell and Schrager Decided to Create Their Own Liquor Laws
Since Rubell and Schrager knew they couldn’t expect to find any success for their new club without alcohol, they decided to work around the laws of liquor licensing. Instead of getting their own permit, the owners bought individual catering permits that filled Studio 54 with booze on a nightly basis. Unfortunately, their plan soon backfired.
The Liquor State Authorities caught on to their not-entirely-legal practice. An evening of dancing was interrupted by police, who swarmed the nightclub, arrested Rubell and Schrager, and shut down Studio 54 indefinitely. The club's days were numbered, and it closed permanently in 1980 after the owners were sentenced to prison for tax evasion.