Inside Studio 54

By: Mark Fleischman, Denise Chatman, Mimi Fleischman

Narrated by: David Colacci

In Inside Studio 54, the former owner takes you behind the scenes of the most famous nightclub in the world, through the crowd, to a place where celebrities, friends, and the beautiful people sip champagne and share lines of cocaine using rolled-up 100-dollar bills.

In the early 80s, Mark Fleischman reopened Studio 54, the world's most glamorous and notorious nightclub, after it was closed down by the State of New York. Ten thousand people showed up that night, ready to restart the party that abruptly ended after the raid in 1978 landed its former owners in jail.

Inside Studio 54 invites you to revisit the happening scenes of the 1960s, '70s, and '80s, the post-Pill, pre-AIDS era of free love, consequence-free sex, and seemingly endless partying. Following Fleischman as he built connections as a hotel, restaurant, and club owner that lead him to Studio 54.

Inside Studio 54 takes the listener from Brazil to the heights of debauchery in the Virgin Islands and finally to New York City. A star-studded thrill ride through decadent and drug-fueled parties at the legendary Studio 54.

©2017 Bar Method of LA, LLC (P)2018 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Now, as then, [Fleischman is] an eager, garrulous host, gleefully sharing his love of the place, and the time, and the drugs" (NPR)

It's Ok

I've always been fascinated by Studio 54, so I was pretty excited about this book. I ended up a bit disappointed. The author absolutely loves himself and is a master of the humble brag without the humble. While It's filled with sexist language and reads like a horrible pulp novel, the celebrity stories are entertaining. I mean, let's be honest...isn't that why most of us are interested? I wanted to know who was doing what to whom and with what drugs (and Lord, are there drugs). You'll certainly find out for the most part, but not without cringing at the author's tiresome threesomes, foursomes, and moresomes. I almost felt bad for the reader who had to slog through it, presumably with a straight face. The reader, btw, was just okay. He was very slow and I ended up listening to it at 1.5 just to get through.

All in all, it might be worth your time if you're really invested in the celebrity experiences, which you could probably learn from a Google search. It's really a three-star with four for the celebrity stories.

Solid

I really enjoyed the book for what it was-awesome story telling of a classic time and place in American pop culture-very cool-

A Facscinating Look Inside

I never got to go. Now I feel like I have, if only a little.

I feelt so naive

I've heard of that there was a club called Studio 54 that was popular in New York, but I did not know that much more about it. Talk about sex, drugs, rock and roll/disco, this place at all. Mark did not hold back in his life story, from the beginning middle, and end. The narrator was to slow that I had to speed it up. He could of had me hanging onto every word, but he read without excitement. The stories are more enjoyable for me when read by the author.

Good Read - Name Drop Galore!!

Very good book by any standard. If you are looking for the insider’s take on Studio 54 it was certainly delivered. The only reason I gave it 4 stars is because it gets to a rambling state of meaningless names that are not pertinent to the story but more so name drops by the author as to not offend. It takes away from his story at those times. Otherwise, totally worth the read.

Wow how anyone survived the days of sex and drugs with no question!

It’s quite the explicit read about the studio 54 days! Dang! Very entertaining! Definitely worth the purchase!

Disappointing

What could have been exciting reading turned out to be big big bore. The writing was so bad. I almost stopped listening but I stuck it out to the end hoping it would get better. It didn’t.

Awful

Stupid stories from an old man recounting the “good old times” and living in the past.