It is known that Studio 54 was a safe haven for trans people, who were often spotted at the club. But the photo below is not of any trans partygoers; these are legendary drag queens Angel Jack and Hibiscus. For those that didn’t live through the ’60s or ’70s, Hibiscus was one of the famous founders of the iconic avant-garde, psychedelic theater group, The Cockettes. The group lived in a commune in the famous Haight-Ashbury neighborhood of San Francisco.
Angel Jack was a known member of Hibiscus’s other theater group, called The Angels of Light. They were insanely creative and very well-known in 1970’s California. Angel Jack also gave regular performances at Studio 54. The happy drag queens are seen above in glamorous feathered and sequined costumes, at the re-opening party of the club, on September 15, 1981.
The Famous Vinyl
Even though Studio 54 was open for less than three years, it definitely made an unforgettable mark in disco history. The nightclub, famous for playing mostly disco music, always brought in the best DJs in the business. The music they played was so popular that a label called Casablanca Records released an album with the club's most famous songs, titled "A Night At Studio 54."
The club even hosted live performances from popular artists like Donna Summer, Grace Jones, and Chic. The DJ booth was a central feature of the club, and the legendary DJ, Richie Kaczor, better known as DJ Richie K, was the club's resident DJ for most of its time in operation.
David Bowie Look-alike Blows His Cover
In what can only be called a very sweet anecdote', one of the greatest musicians of the 20th century put a fan's admiration before his own personal interest. As the story goes, on the night of May 24th, 1979, David Bowie tried to quietly sneak into Studio 54 when somebody from the crowd shouted, "You look just like me!".
And so, a young Bowie decided to blow his cover and go say hi to his fan. The fan who called out to Bowie turned out to be a young musician named Chris Stein from the band Blondie. As Bowie approached him, Stein reportedly said, "I'm sorry, but you really do look like David Bowie," to which Bowie replied, "I am."
Funny Girl's Night Out
Even Yentl attended Studio 54! Wearing a beautiful '70s fur coat and her trademark curly hair is the legendary Barbra Streisand. The man beside her is Jon Peters, an American film producer that worked on some of the most famous movies of the '80s and '90s, including "Rain Man," "The Color Purple," "Flashdance," and countless more. The smiling friends were photographed entering the nightclub back in 1977. What a time!
It's not just singers and actors who visited Studio 54, even politicians made their way to the iconic club. The former first lady of the United States, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, was reportedly seen at the club alongside her son, John F. Kennedy Jr.
How Much Would a Modern Studio 54 Cost?
In an interview with "Business Insider," the former disco co-owner Ian Schrager said that establishing another club in the spirit of Studio 54 would be much harder than it initially was. One reason for that is that it would be significantly more expensive. When he had his first steps into the nightlife world, Schrager started his first nightclub with an initial capital of $27,000. To open Studio 54 cost him $400,000.
To his estimate, opening a nightclub today would require at least a million-dollar investment. Schrager also notes that the nightclub industry has evolved and changed drastically over the years. Social media has made it easier for people to create their own buzz, and the competition is much steeper than it was in the '70s.