Such a pity, I thought, as I scrolled through "Disco People" and noticed that under "Comments" there were "0." How quickly, I thought, people forget. If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery then people all over the world spent millions flattering this man.

Around the time of his passing, Time magazine did a blurb that I'll do my best to paraphrase here. Rubell was walking up Fifth Avenue and noticed a gaggle of the "in crowd," -- his old friends -- standing around and chatting ebulliently. Of course, he rushed toward them, wondering where the party was. As he got closer, he noticed that some of them were emerging from a church basement. They'd just finished an A.A. meeting!

Pity he went the way he did. Kudos to Schrager for his successes in the hotel business. There was only one Rubell; how else could a kid of modest means from Brooklyn end up not just being ON all the "A" lists but WRITING 'em??

Steve was a great boss! Studio was the best, thanks Steve. - Billy Smith

Billy, I know you and there are some of your co-workers here. I believe you also worked for us at one time. Among other things, we're having a special reunion. You'll freak when you find out who's going to be there.

is the reunion open to the public?

Steve is my idol right now the man is a genius.. in art, beaty, and a pretty smart a** business man in most aspects he obviously fucked up big when he did but he was still a f****** smart a**

i am only 19 and about one years old when he died but i relaly admire the work of this man and i one day hope to open a club and studio 54 geez so many aspirations.. i sitll think he was an amazing man

STEVE, YOU GOT MAD AT RICHIE FOR LETTING ME IN BECAUSE OF MY AGE....BUT YOU GOT OVER IT QWICK, AND STILL LET ME ENTER YOUR GREAT CLUB AFTERWARDS. I THANK YOU..REST IN PEACE STEVE. TILL WE MEET AGAIN,YOUR FRIEND NOW AND ALWAYS DJ STEVE THE SAGA PEREZ..ALWAYS REMEMBER,ASIDE FROM GOD,MUSIC IS THE ANSWER,AND LOVE IS THE MESSAGE...PEACE

I am totally intrigued with Steve Rubell. I've watched & read everything I can about his life, Studio 54, and everything surrounding him. I'm a completely straight woman (who was never his type ;), but still fascinated by a man who made & lived by all of his own rules. Not that I thought the movie "54" was all that well done, but Mike Myers as Steve in "54" was fantastic! It gave me a real sense of what he must have really been like.
I was only 5 when Studio opened in '77, but in '05 neither it, nor Steve Rubell, have been forgotten.

the film 54 didnt do steve rubell justice they portrayed this qualludd out man he was more than just that he was inspiring enterprising buisness man who was there at hte right time and gave the world what they wanted the greatest party the world has ever seen sogood that they are still talking about it now god bless you steve rubell your legacy still lives on you will be never forgotten

I'll never forget the one time my friends and I visited NYC just for kicks one weekend in 1979 and found ourselves on the doorstep of 54. Just for kicks, we waited to get in and offered the doorman a crisp $100 bill to let us in. We were told no. But damn, it was an experience just to be able to be that close to the greatest nightclub that ever existed. People were funny that way in those days. RIP, STEVE!

I can watch "Studio 54" over and over again...Steve seemed like a wonderful boss...I wasn't born until '79...but I wish I would have known such a man as he was...r.i.p. Steve

I figured that this site would have multiple pages full of comments. Wasn't Steve idolized by everyone in the 70's?? Wasn't he the stereotypical GAY man with lots of money? Or was he so high, he didn't know what he was doing anymore? I think the answer is all of the above. What is for sure, he hurt DISCO more than he helped it. Think about it a while. Didn't he do us a dis-service by making DISCO a comedy routine on Saturday Night Live?? Seeing his picture in the tabloids every day, sometimes with cocaine rims on his nostrils, turned off more people that he attracted. He was a GOD to all the 54 junkies, but he hurt DISCO more than he helped it. That is what I remember about the ultimate partier!!

i lived in NYC during the Studio 54 era. may stve rubel ROT in HELL. i stopped going to discos when this b****** thought who he was by choosing whatever people he wanted to come in the club. MAY HE ROT IN HELL

STEVE; I REMEMBER HANGING WITH YOU AT ENCHANTED GARDEN-WHAT TIMES!THANKS ..HEY JOHNNY-STEVE WILL RIH WHEN YOU LEARN TO SPELL-AND YOU WILL N E V E R LEARN TO SPELL! HA! RIP STEVE-THANKS 4 THE GOOD TIMES.................MARCO

Billy Smith (Billy Amato) - In-House Show Producer/Studio 54
John Addison owner of the disco "La Jardin" on West 43rd Street, New York City in 1974 introduced Steve Rubell to Billy Smith and then to Ian Schrager. Billy Smith later in 1975 was ask by Ian Schrager and Steve Rubell to handel the promotions for their new disco club called "Enchanted Gardens" a dinner/disco in Douglaston, Queens New York while still in the music business Billy Smith then joned Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager at Studio 54 in the spring of 1977 part time and full time in 1981 until the closing of Studio 54 in April 1986.


Billy Smith (Amato) NYC