Studio One (nightclub)
Studio One, currently known as The Factory, is an LGBT nightclub in West Hollywood, California.
History
The Studio One building was originally owned by William Fox (producer) and was used as a Norden bombsight facility during World War I. In 1968 the building was bought and transformed into The Factory nightclub, named after the furniture manufacturing business in the lower floor of the building. The Factory became a popular 1960s-style discothèque that was frequented by Hollywood celebrities, but it only lasted a few years. Studio One was founded on the same site in the early 1970s by part-owner Scott Forbes, a Boston optometrist.[1][2] The club was popular throughout the 1970s and 1980s. There was a marked decline in popularity after the Los Angeles Times confronted the owner about allegations of racism, sexism, and homophobia. Forbes promised reforms but the problems continued.[3][4][5] In the 1990's it was bought by Sandy Sachs and renamed to Axis.[6] The space is currently called "The Robertson".[7]
Throughout its history, the club has been associated with the gay rights movement. Many celebrities graced the club either as guests or performers, especially during the late 1970s and most of the 1980s. Photos of those people were displayed in the hallway between the disco and cabaret. The club also had entertainers Sammy Davis, Jr., Peter Lawford and Paul Newman[8] on its board of directors.[9]
Notable performers
- Jim Bailey
- Lucie Arnaz
- Patti Austin
- Pearl Bailey
- Kaye Ballard
- Roseanne Barr
- Sandra Bernhard
- Patti Brooks
- Julie Brown
- Ruth Buzzi
- Carol Channing
- Charo
- Barbara Cook
- Sarah Dash
- Patti Deutsch
- Phyllis Diller
- Divine
- Carol Douglas
- Lola Falana
- Alice Faye
- Frances Faye
- Totie Fields
- Geraldine Fitzgerald
- The Flirts
- Wayland Flowers[3]
- Connie Francis
- Eileen Fulton
- Lesley Gore
- Ellen Greene
- Kathy Griffin
- Grace Jones
- Sam Harris (shot his video for "Sugar Don't Bite" at Studio One)
- Joey Heatherton
- Nona Hendryx
- Mimi Hines
- Georgia Holt
- Thelma Houston
- Grace Jones
- Madeline Kahn[2]
- Sally Kellerman
- Roslyn Kind
- Morgana King
- Eartha Kitt
- Gladys Knight
- Patti LaBelle
- Cheryl Ladd
- Dorothy Lamour
- Cyndi Lauper
- Elsa Lanchester
- Peggy Lee
- Lorna Luft
- Madonna
- Liza Minnelli
- Liliane Montevecchi
- Melba Moore
- Rita Moreno
- Phyllis Newman
- Rosie O'Donnell
- Jane Olivor
- Bernadette Peters[2]
- Cassandra Peterson
- Charles Pierce
- Jane Powell
- Martha Raye
- Martha Reeves
- Sharon Redd
- Charles Nelson Reilly
- Debbie Reynolds
- The Ritchie Family (filmed their "Give Me a Break" number for Can't Stop the Music at Studio One)
- Chita Rivera[2]
- Joan Rivers[2]
- Ginger Rogers
- Craig Russell
- Jane Russell
- Connie Stevens
- Sylvester
- Rip Taylor
- Judy Tenuta
- Mamie Van Doren
- The Village People
- Lesley Ann Warren
- The Weather Girls
- Margaret Whiting
- Pia Zadora
References
- ↑ "Christopher Street". 1976. Retrieved 2014-01-02.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Thurber, Jon (2002-02-27). "Scott Forbes, 57; Ran Dance Palace". latimes.com. Retrieved 2013-12-12.
- 1 2 "Paper Trail: That '70s glow". advocate.com. 2006-09-25. Retrieved 2013-12-12.
- ↑ Faderman, Lillian; Timmons, Stuart (2006). Gay L.A.: A History of Sexual Outlaws, Power Politics, and Lipstick Lesbians. Basic Books. ISBN 046502288X. Retrieved 2013-12-12.
- ↑ Heully, Gustave (2013-09-23). "Ever Wonder: Was the Factory a Factory?". wehoville.com. Retrieved 2013-12-12.
- ↑ "Famous West Hollywod Club The Factory Changing Hands". curbed.com. 2010-09-17. Retrieved 2013-12-11.
- ↑ http://www.robertsonweho.com. Missing or empty
|title=(help) - ↑ Levy, Shawn (2009). Paul Newman: A Life. Random House. ISBN 0307462536. Retrieved 2013-12-12.
- ↑ Alleman, Richard (2013). Hollywood: The Movie Lover's Guide: The Ultimate Insider Tour of Movie L.A. Random House. ISBN 0804137773. Retrieved 2013-12-12.