Inside Studio 54 – The Real Story of Sex, Drugs and Rock ‘n’ Roll from Former Studio 54 Owner by Mark Fleischman
If the glitterati of the late 70’s and early 80’s had built their own church, they would have created something similar to Studio 54.
In its heyday, notables as diverse as author Truman Capote, celebrity ex-wife Bianca Jagger, pop-oddity Grace Jones and fashion designer Halston worshipped at an altar of indulgence where the sacraments were cocaine, sex, and champagne. At the time, only the beautiful and famous were allowed entry into this exclusive world of post-Summer of Love hedonism but a new book, Inside Studio 54, written by the club’s former owner, Mark Fleischman has lifted the velvet rope on this bygone era of excess.
“This unfettered tell-all will prove nostalgic for those who manage to remember being there and engrossing for readers wishing they were.” — Kirkus Reviews
By the time Fleischman came on the scene, Studio 54 had died an abrupt death that dovetailed with the demise of disco. The club was raided by the feds in 1978 and owners Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager was arrested for tax evasion. After one final grand gathering in Feb. of 1980, with a guest list that included Diana Ross, Sylvester Stallone, Jack Nicholson and Reggie Jackson, the doors closed at the iconic nightclub.
Cathy St. George and Judd Nelson
Fleischmann reopened Studio 54 in the early 1980’s with dreams of recapturing the debauched glory of the previous decade. 10,000 people attended the grand re-opening but despite Fleischman’s success, things were never quite the same.
Fleischman sold Studio 54 in 1986. He later opened Tatou in New York and then LA, and came to grips with own addictions at Rancho La Puerta. He and his wife Mimi either co-own, operate or franchise sixteen Bar Method fitness studios in LA and the surrounding area.
Bar Method Teachers
Inside Studio 54 ushers you behind the scenes of the freewheeling, sensation seeking decades of the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s, as they were known to the beautiful people who gained entry into the neverending party before AIDS made consequences-free sex a memory. The book details Fleischman’s beginnings as a restaurateur, hotelier, and club owner, with stops in Brazil and the Virgin Islands, and the path that led him to the sexy and sometimes sleazy world of Studio 54.
Mark Fleischman, Steven Bauer and Ava Fabian
Recently, Nikki Haskell, Cathy St. George, Henry Eshelman, Tyson Cornell, Adam Bravin, Bryan Rabin, Danny Fitzgerald, Mimi Fleischman, Rick Ferrari and Brad Weida hosted the launch party for Inside Studio 54 – The Real Story of Sex, Drugs and Rock ‘n’ Roll from Former Studio 54 Owner by Mark Fleischman at The Standard’s Mmhmmm nightclub in Los Angeles.
Guests including Chaz Bono, Ray Donovan’s Steven Bauer, Judd Nelson, The Young and the Restless’ Tom Hallick and model Ava Fabian joined the celebration toasting to Mark’s success as he signed copies for each of them.
Mark Fleischman with Nikki HaskellFriends and revelers reminisced about the days of the famed NYC nightclub with Mark as they enjoyed champagne and in true Studio 54 fashion danced late into the night
Inside Studio 54 was released on September 19th, 2017 and is currently available through Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
“[Fleischman’s] retelling of stories about the famous and his not so famous cast of characters that made Studio 54 so much fun will tickle your fancy for wild nights that last until dawn.” — Robin Leach, Las Vegas Review-Journal, former host of Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.
