Sex, drugs and disco: The life and death of Studio 54, the legendary celebrity nightclub

For 33 months, from 1978 to 1980, Studio 54 was the place to be, it provided a space for hedonism, tolerance, glamour, subversion and freedom unlike any other before or since

“When you walked through those blacked-out doors, you were in another world,” recalls a clubgoer who frequented Studio 54 — a New York nightclub in the 1970s that forever changed what “going out” meant and created a space where, for the first time, people could be totally free. If they could first get in, of course.

On April 26, 1977, a huge mob formed on the West 54th Street in Manhattan in front of an old TV studio. It was the opening night of Studio 54 and it was quite literally a blockbuster. The police were called in to control the crowd and make way for the block-long line of limousines as a bevy of celebrities descended on the venue. Andy Warhol, Cher, Liza Minnelli, Elizabeth Taylor, Truman Capote set the bar for entry into the newest nightclub in town.

The people outside, according to one observer, resembled 'the Damned looking into Paradise' (Screenshot: 'Studio 54' A&E)
The people outside, according to one observer, resembled 'the Damned looking into Paradise' (Screenshot: 'Studio 54' A&E)

GET THE BIGGEST ENTERTAINMENT STORIES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

'What If Christmas' follows Erin as she revisits her long-held dream of becoming a fashion designer
2026-10-26T08:44:49.000Z
An individual was arrested from the set after a crew member reported a verbal dispute, resulting in the display of a knife.
2026-10-26T08:02:42.000Z
Co-director Lance Oppenheim recalls how a car ride after a gym session led to the film’s much-discussed shower scene
2026-10-26T07:49:46.000Z
Lori Loughlin and Hallmark strengthen their collaboration with the movie ‘What if Christmas’
2026-10-26T06:39:18.000Z
'Avengers: Doomsday’ brings back Steve Rogers in a new teaser featuring Mjolnir, a reunion with Thor, and a callback to ‘Endgame’
2026-10-26T04:30:57.000Z
A fan-favorite actor is set to join Christopher Abbott, Sadie Sink, Kit Connor, and others for the ‘X-MEN’ reboot
2026-10-26T03:02:33.000Z
The singer reportedly has a cameo in the psychological drama, which follows an American couple’s adoption trip to Europe.
2026-10-24T19:15:55.000Z
Scott is attached as producer, while the studio has yet to name a director for the project
2026-10-24T10:13:58.000Z
Michael Keaton starrer ‘Rode to Ruin’ welcomes ‘Baby Reindeer’ actor as an outlaw with a personal vendetta
2026-10-24T09:50:20.000Z
The Club Vesuvius sequence in the Tom Rhys Harries film borrows a face that fans have been asking about
2026-10-24T07:42:05.000Z