Studio 54 in Midtown Manhattan was only open for less than three years, but its iconic legacy has lived on to this day, in its cultural influence and as a place for people of all backgrounds to express themselves. These ideas and the club’s history are showcased in an exhibition opening March 13 (until July 5 2020) at the Brooklyn Museum, called “Studio 54: Night Magic.”
Disco music blares at the exhibition, parts of which recreate the design of the club, which was open from April 26, 1977 to Feb. 2, 1980.
Visitors are taken through the club’s history in chronological order, starting before its birth, with some history of New York City clubs, including the Cotton Club in Harlem, the Peppermint Lounge in Midtown and the West Village’s Café Society (1938-48), which was the first truly integrated nightclub in New York, the exhibition notes, with no seating designations.
New York City’s history during the 1970s is also explored for context. The city was in economic trouble, many neighborhoods were in bad shape and crime was a big problem, the exhibition notes. The 1970s were also a time of political unrest, with Nixon resigning, an oil embargo, and also ongoing movements for the rights of minority and marginalized groups.
The New York City blackout happened months after Studio 54 opened, in July 1977, and shortly after, the “I Heart NY” campaign began. “New York was beginning to rebrand,” the exhibition notes, “and Studio 54 brought the spotlight back to Gotham’s glamour and creative energy.”
The club was owned by Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager, who worked with a team to design the club space, which had previously been an opera house. This included making the stage a dance floor and using kinetic lighting to create the right feel.
... MGM Resorts is the holder of a domain name Studio54.com
read more (Amny)
Disco music blares at the exhibition, parts of which recreate the design of the club, which was open from April 26, 1977 to Feb. 2, 1980.
Visitors are taken through the club’s history in chronological order, starting before its birth, with some history of New York City clubs, including the Cotton Club in Harlem, the Peppermint Lounge in Midtown and the West Village’s Café Society (1938-48), which was the first truly integrated nightclub in New York, the exhibition notes, with no seating designations.
New York City’s history during the 1970s is also explored for context. The city was in economic trouble, many neighborhoods were in bad shape and crime was a big problem, the exhibition notes. The 1970s were also a time of political unrest, with Nixon resigning, an oil embargo, and also ongoing movements for the rights of minority and marginalized groups.
The New York City blackout happened months after Studio 54 opened, in July 1977, and shortly after, the “I Heart NY” campaign began. “New York was beginning to rebrand,” the exhibition notes, “and Studio 54 brought the spotlight back to Gotham’s glamour and creative energy.”
The club was owned by Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager, who worked with a team to design the club space, which had previously been an opera house. This included making the stage a dance floor and using kinetic lighting to create the right feel.
... MGM Resorts is the holder of a domain name Studio54.com
read more (Amny)
