Studio One (West Hollywood Nightclub)

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      Started in an old WW2-era bomb-sight manufacturing building in May 1975 with the after-party for the film Tommy, Studio One has a long history that played a big part in the lives, politics and gay rights movement. Owner Scott Forbes partering with various businessmen and a holder of the required liquor license.

      West Hollywood's Studio One was a HOT club for many years, had the best Halloween parties, sponsored the first Gay Night parties at Disneyland, Knott's Berry Farm and Magic Mountain. Staff ran around in tight satin short shorts. The Backlot was a show room where all the celebrities came for dinner shows. One of the pioneers of disco light shows in the dance room. The Pegasus winged horse and Studio One surrounded by a circle of stars were its symbols.

      On the 2nd floor of the building at 652 N. LaPeer Drive, West Hollywood, California, the legendary nightclub featured state of the art custom sound systems, custom lighting, a Cabaret, a Saloon bar with gameroom, and a very notable fishtank handwashing sink in the mens restroom that would frequently be mistaken for a community urinal trough.

      The disco featured a sound system designed by the late John Winkler. Urei 1620 mixer, into a DBX 3-band dynamic range expander, into a Yamaha dual 31-band EQ, then to 2 Yamaha 3-way electronic crossovers (for Left & Right). BGW Amps for Low, mid and high - 8 bass bins that were custom made for Studio One. The Mid-High speakers were re-purposed stage monitors from a Barry Manilow tour show. Custom lighting featured Litelab 8-channel controller for strip chaser lights, Celestial 4 channel chasers for neon, a large gyroball, and a custom piece, referred to as a 'canvalier' with 64 pin-spot 'cans' mounted in a circle with a special controller made by Bob Smith. The disco also featured 2 large drop-down video screens to project music videos or other visual effects.

      Later in 1988 the disco was remodeled again to include a trussing system, and many new lighting features such as an Arc-Line strobe system and gyro-scanning lights, early predecessors to the now ubiquitous intelligent lighting features found in most any nightclub.

      The cabaret featured a Yamaha 16 channel mixer for the live stage mixing, a Bozak CMA-10 for other source mixing, such as cassette deck or the music feed from the disco dj booth. BGW amps used almost universally (with an exceptional Crown amp). Stage lighting was controlled by a huge colortran dimmer pack and controller, and a single ALT follow spot.

      Many, many celebrities graced the club either as guests or performers, especially during the late 1970s and for most of the 1980s. Photos of those people were displayed in the hallway between the disco and cabaret included then President Jimmy Carter, Elizabeth Taylor, John Travolta, Bette Davis, Lucille Ball, Cher, Barbra Streisand, Tom Cruise, Liza Minnelli, Elton John, Ginger Rogers, Diana Ross, Carol Channing, Martha Raye, Donna Summer, Rock Hudson, Ethel Merman, Chita Rivera, Kirstie Alley, John Waters, Eve Arden, Eartha Kitt, Bette Midler, Dorothy Lamour, Tab Hunter, Ann-Margret, Bernadette Peters and Wayland Flowers and Madame.

      Notable Performers

      • Dance floor at Studio One 1988

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      Last modified on 15 May 2013, at 14:47