Inside Studio 54 Lib/E

by Mark Fleischman

In The Studio 54 Effect, the former owner takes you behind the scenes of the infamous club, through the crowd to a place where celebrities, friends, and the beautiful people sip champagne and share lines of cocaine using rolled up $100 bills.
In the early 80s, Mark Fleischman reopened Studio 54, the world's most famous and notorious nightclub, after it was closed down by the State of New York. 10,000 people showed up that night, ready to re-start the party that abruptly ended after the raid in 1978, landing the former owners in jail. The Studio 54 Effect takes you to the happening scenes of the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, the post-Pill, pre-AIDS era of free love, consequence-free sex, and a seemingly endless party.
Following Fleischman as he built connections as a hotel, restaurant, and club owner that lead him to Studio 54, The Studio 54 Effect takes the reader from Brazil to the heights of debauchery in the Virgin Islands and finally to New York City. A start-studded thrill ride through the glamorous and sometimes seedy world of the world's most famous night club.

Genres: Nonfiction, Music, History, New York, Historical

Audio CD

First published October 3, 2017

About the author

I am a graduate of The School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University, and began acquiring restaurants, clubs, and hotels in the "Go-Go" 60's. A failed love affair, problems with the mob, and more adventures led me to reinvent myself by buying the 230-room Virgin Island Hilton in St. Thomas, where I opened a Studio 54 nightclub, licensed from Studio 54 New York.

In 1980, I purchased the original famed Studio 54 in New York on visiting days in prison where I would meet with the former owners, Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager. I was able to catapult the club back to its original glory, but found myself getting deeper into dugs, sexual experimentation, and destructive relationships. After nearly four years, I entered rehab, married, and bought and operated supper clubs in New York and Hollywood, this time sober.

Reviews

[Kevin Greaves · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, this was deeply disappointing. This book is long on information about the author's life but short on details about the actual goings-on at the club itself. Case in point; the wildly extravagant 16th birthday party Calvin Klein threw for his daughter Marci was summed up in about 4 paragraphs in a page and a half. There was no sense of having been there, no drawing the reader into the world of Studio at all. Descriptions were modest and utilitarian and ever story seemed to end too soon as though the author was bored by the telling. While this may be a true insider view, it isn't much of a view at all.

[no elle · Rating 2 out of 5]

literally half of this book is this nasty old freak fondly recalling all the sex he did in his heyday like i get it u fucked a lot grow up loser!

[Olesya Gilmore · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was fascinating, only from the perspective of the kind of men that lived the disco era — addled with drugs and alcohol, obsessed with the idea of celebrity, going through faceless women like cheap pieces of clothing and jumping from business venture to business venture, completely ignorant of the ruin that they leave behind them, the lives upended and finished too early. Unbelievable hubris, hedonism, and devil may care attitude. Disgusting. And what’s more, really nowhere does the author express true regret at his behavior, decisions, and ultimate legacy.

[Jennifer Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Received through FirstReads...
I have some mixed feelings about this book. I think I expected something a bit more exciting, and this took a bit to get going. The best parts of this book were the anecdotes about celebrities. I have to say that the rest tended to be kind of repetitive, and if you believe everything the author says about himself, then he's better at everything than anyone else, ever. I guess I'm saying there was no lack of ego here.

[BJ Richardson · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book just showed up in my Kindle. I didn't order it. I have no interest in reading it. I don't know why or how it ended up there but I did make absolutely sure I wasn't paying for it. The last thing I need is to actually contribute money to this type of trash.

I would have much rather have completely ignored this book and everything it recalls. But since it somehow imposed itself on my life a I figured I would turn around and "impose" the one star I am certain I would rate it if I ever did bother to read this nonsense. Now, rant over. It is time to go back to reading real books that have some legitimate entertainment and/or educational value.

[Marisa Carpico · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this would be about the Schrager/Rubel year’s, but this still had lots of glamor and fun. Does take, like, way too fucking long to get to the point though. Eventually all the sexual exploit stuff becomes a little repetitive.

[Robert Grieco · Rating 5 out of 5]

In one word: WOW!!! If you like Sex, Drugs, and Rock-n-Roll, you'll LOVE this!

[Andrea Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

well written and an exciting account of what It was like. I like that Fleischman isn't afraid of looking bad either. very honest. an enjoyable read

[Emily Nelson · Rating 1 out of 5]

THIS IS A HORRIBLE BOOK

If you enjoy reading insipid books about Studio 54 after THIS NAME DROPPER OH SO COOL HIPSTER SWINGER BOUGHT THE CLUB, be my guest. It's AWFUL. He should have just called it "I THINK I WAS COOL ONCE BUT NOW I'M OLD." Nothing is cool or new in this book unless you slept through the 80's, even then, could this guy love himself more? Boring and if I could give it negative stars I would.

[Rob · Rating 2 out of 5]

I came to this book due to a passing interest in Studio 54 but this was more an account of the vast amounts of sex that the author had, alongside the copious amount of drugs he consumed. Which frequently led to sex. This gets old very quickly and if 50% of these narratives were trimmed you’d quickly realise that there’s not much to this historical reflection that will interest many.

[Peter Conti · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Debauchery, drugs, disco, and decadence were always in full supply in the infamous Studio 54 club. It was a time, an era , and a place with scandals galore. Those who were lucky enough to get entrance to Studio 54 spent the night dancing and partying with the hottest celebrities of the day from Cher to Jackie Onassis, Mick Jagger to Joan Collins, plus so many more. Club goers witnessed the evolution of many songs we still know and love today. Think Gloria Gaynor - “I Will Survive” That little thing called “tax evasion” was their ultimate downfall. Not the best book on Studio 54, but the stories are really intriguing.

[Kim Hamilton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a huge obsession with the famed NYC nightclub, so I was super excited to read Inside Studio 54: The Real Story of Sex, Drugs, and Rock 'n' Roll by Mark Fleischman.
This was extremely disappointing as I wanted to hear about the time frame when Steve Rubell/Ian Schrager owned the place. Instead, I learned about the guy that bought the place after Rubell/Schrager went to prison. There were some good stories from its heyday, but mostly it was explicit details of Fleischman's sex life and drug use. So repetitive and way too many pages were filled with details of other clubs he owned.

[gloria segal · Rating 2 out of 5]

The cost of the party

A look into Studio 54 how the strong survive. Drugs, sex,decadence among the in crowd. Found the book very unsettling. The owner/author contributed drugs and perversion and tries to convey that the majority of patrons extracted a better life due to 54. Sorry to contribute to Mark Fleischman ego by purchasing this book. What he has contributed to society other than the constant party host leaves much to be desired.

[Patti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Basically a story of sex, drugs and rock and roll. Fleischman didn't give much in the way of juicy details, often alluding to people as "a prominent socialite" or "an A-list actor," so if you go into this expecting lots of secrets, you won't get it.

What you do get is his history in hotel/restaurant management, his reign at Studio 54 and his subsequent trips to rehab.

Not a bad read, a little tedious in spots. I expected a bit more.

[Roberta Westwood · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing

Thank goodness this was a freebie with Audible Plus, otherwise I’d ask for a refund. I bailed after a couple of hours, before it really got to the story of the club (and I’m sure that story was going to be good!). I just didn’t like and couldn’t relate to the author… I wasn’t looking for details on his sex life or his misogynistic views on women. Bleh. The book might have improved later on but I wasn’t going to waste my listening time waiting for it.

[Insu · Rating 1 out of 5]

2025/9. I do not DNF books, but this one reaaaally made me think I should.
It's not a book about Studio 54, but instead a memoir of the club's second owner Mark Fleischman's life before, during AND after owning Studio 54. In his own words.
His elevated sense of self seeped through every sentence about the club and it really destroyed any possibility of enjoying any part of the book. It really was unbearable.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit much and over-the-top but then so was the nightclub. A fun speed read I guess. The most impressive part of the book was the fact he was able to get sober and live a normal life later considering the insane amount of alcohol and drugs he consumed. It's also impressive that he's still alive. He must have had a good doctor and/or good genes.

[B. Cheng · Rating 1 out of 5]

Quite possibly the worst book I've read in a long, long time. It's less about Studio 54's history, "real" story, or place in the New York nightlife scene or an era, in fact, Studio 54 is a bit player in a book that is a memoir of Fleischman's life. All you get is his own braggadocio about the mostly C list celebrities he's met and partied with, the drugs he took and the bimbos he bedded.

[Angie and the Daily Book Dose · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was more about the author. Most highlights were sex and drugs. He really, really liked Rick James. Dude was/is quite pompous. Not really about Studio 54 as a club so much as it was about Mark the second owner who just rode in after the party was almost over anyway. Lots of info on his business ventures.

[Shelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, it was an informative read on Fleischman’s life. I was often embarrassed for him (and his family). Quite a lot of bad behavior, illegal activity and intimate details. I am not sure how many of those details were needed, how many people wanted their bad behavior outed and how he would feel if his children and grandchildren were to read it. But it was entertaining.

[Leann Pena Garcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading inside studio 54 I found to be rather enjoyable and exciting. Mark Fleischman takes you into his personal life and experience through the events leading up to studio 54 and beyond. As someone born almost two decades after studio 54, the retelling of these stories gave me a real sense of the partying times of the lates 70s and 80s.

[Gail O'Connor · Rating 3 out of 5]

An amazing book about an amazing man. I read this just after he died which made the book even more interesting. If you were aware of the club , then this book will be right up your alley.
I never would have believed that things like this club could exist.
Great great read!

[Shannon Wolf · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ghastly. Barely about Studio 54, focused on the narcissist writer who seems pretty obsessed with cocaine and threesomes for an elderly man (now dead) who claimed to be a reformed husband and father. Wish I had not bothered to read this.

[William · Rating 1 out of 5]

The book brings home the self absobed meaningless life of celebrity culture. Does anyplace sound less attractive than Studio 54 in the late 70s ealy 80s.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

It wasn't a bad book, but the author named dropped a little to much for my liking.

[Richard W. Swinney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fleischman showed running a nightclub with 365 days of excitement for four years would require living on the dark side. Sobering would be the cornerstone to Survival.

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting bits in the book, but I really didn't need to know the gory details of Fleischman's sex life.

[Ben Shiff · Rating 1 out of 5]

Author spent too much time describing the various 3-ways he had

[Johnny Tunstall · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was ok, lots of excess. Rich people's problems.