Studio 54, New York

Studio 54 was a popular, world renowned, nightclub operating from 1977 until 1991, initially by Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager. During its heyday between 1977 and 1981 under its original management, the club was infamous for it's high level of exuberance and decadence. Along with a door policy, run by founders Rubell and Schrager, where only the most interestingly dressed and/or best looking people could enter, it also attracted many celebrities of the era, including artist Andy Warhol, actress Liza Minnelli, socialite Bianca Jagger, singer Diana Ross, and many others. It was sold by the owners in 1981, largely because Rubell and Schrager were sent to prison for skimming $2.5m in cash from the club, and their pleaded guilty to tax evasion and subsequent 13 month jail sentence each. However, following prison terms, both went on to successfully set-up and run The Palladium, a 1980's NYC nightclub, and other business ventures together, until Rubell's untimely death in 1989.