Editing Studio 54 (section)

=== Gallo Opera House ===
In July 1926, theatrical impresario [[Fortune Gallo]] leased a site at 254 West 54th Street and hired Eugene De Rosa to design a 16-story office building at the site, with a 1,400-seat theater at its base. Z. D. Berry and Robert Podgur would build the venue at an estimated cost of $2 million.<ref name="nyt-1926-07-09">{{Cite news |date=July 9, 1926 |title=Gallo Acquires Theatre of His Own; Leases House in 54th St. For San Carlo and Theatrical Productions. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1926/07/09/archives/gallo-acquires-theatre-of-his-own-leases-house-in-54th-st-for-san.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220913153757/https://www.nytimes.com/1926/07/09/archives/gallo-acquires-theatre-of-his-own-leases-house-in-54th-st-for-san.html |archive-date=September 13, 2022 |access-date=September 13, 2022 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref><ref name="p1677032682">{{Cite magazine |date=July 9, 1926 |title=Site Leased For New $2,000,000 Theatre And Opera House: Fortune Gallo, Impresario Of San Carlo Company, Signs Contract.—Structure To Open About Jan. 1 |magazine=Women's Wear |pages=29 |volume=32 |issue=159 |id={{ProQuest|1677032682}}}}</ref><ref name="p1031794627">{{Cite magazine |date=July 17, 1926 |title=Fortune Gallo To Have His Own Opera House |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|The Billboard]] |pages=9 |volume=38 |issue=29 |id={{ProQuest|1031794627}}}}</ref> Gallo planned to present the San Carlo Grand Opera Company's productions at the theater during the autumn, renting it out for [[Legitimate theatre|legitimate]] shows at other times.<ref name="p1031794627" /> The venue was originally supposed to open in January 1927,<ref name="nyt-1926-07-09" /><ref name="p1677032682" /> but this was delayed because the opera company had an extended engagement in San Francisco.<ref name="p1113520051">{{Cite news |date=February 6, 1927 |title=Gallo Theater to Open Early In September; Company in West |work=[[New York Herald Tribune]] |page=E10 |id={{ProQuest|1113520051}}}}</ref> Prior to the venue's opening, Gallo transferred his interest in the San Carlo Company to his nephew Aurelio Gallo, allowing the elder Gallo to focus on operating the new theater.<ref name="p1113556376">{{Cite news |date=September 7, 1927 |title=San Carlo Opera Under Aurelio Gallo's Direction: Fortune Transfers Interest to Nephew to Devote Time to His New Theater |work=[[New York Herald Tribune]] |page=20 |id={{ProQuest|1113556376}}}}</ref>

The opera house opened on November 8, 1927, with the San Carlo Company's large-scale production of ''[[La bohème]]''.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 8, 1927 |title=San Carlo Opera Opens New House With ''La Boheme'': Fortune Gallo Honored By Company—Performance Well Done And Received With Enthusiasm |work=[[Women's Wear Daily]] |pages=6, 19 |volume=35 |issue=110 |id={{ProQuest|1654357486}}}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=November 8, 1927 |title=San Carlo Opera Opens New House: Gives a Dedicatory Performance of Puccini's ''La Boheme'' to an Applauding Throng |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1927/11/08/archives/san-carlo-opera-opens-new-house-gives-a-dedicatory-performance-of.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211213143802/https://www.nytimes.com/1927/11/08/archives/san-carlo-opera-opens-new-house-gives-a-dedicatory-performance-of.html |archive-date=December 13, 2021 |access-date=December 13, 2021 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> The Gallo was one of three legitimate theaters to open in New York City during 1927; at the time, the city had over 200 legitimate theaters.<ref name="p130386768">{{Cite news |date=August 1, 1927 |title=The Theatre: Is Broadway Overbuilt? |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |page=3 |id={{ProQuest|130386768}}}}</ref> The San Carlo Company performed for two weeks.<ref name="p1113659398">{{Cite news |date=November 20, 1927 |title=Brailowsky Gives Brilliant, Recital; Vigorous at Piano: Young Russian Chooses His Program From Mozart, Schumann, Chopin, Liszt, De Falla and Others |work=[[New York Herald Tribune]] |page=24 |id={{ProQuest|1113659398}}}}</ref><ref name="p1031835745">{{Cite magazine |date=November 5, 1927 |title=American Concert Field: Gallo Opera To Open New Theater in New York |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|The Billboard]] |pages=27 |volume=39 |issue=45 |id={{ProQuest|1031835745}}}}</ref> A revival of the play ''[[Electra (Sophocles play)|Electra]]'' opened at the Gallo that December,<ref name="The Broadway League 1927a">{{Cite web |last=The Broadway League |date=December 1, 1927 |title=Electra – Broadway Play – 1927 Revival |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/electra-10509 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613163058/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/electra-10509 |archive-date=June 13, 2021 |access-date=September 13, 2022 |website=IBDB}}<br />{{Cite web |date=December 14, 2015 |title=Electra (Broadway, Studio 54, 1927) |url=https://playbill.com/production/electra-gallo-opera-house-vault-0000004945 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220618181833/https://playbill.com/production/electra-gallo-opera-house-vault-0000004945 |archive-date=June 18, 2022 |access-date=September 13, 2022 |website=Playbill}}</ref><ref name="p1131828249">{{Cite news |last=Ruhl |first=Arthur |date=December 2, 1927 |title='Electra' Vivid In Its Revival By Miss Anglin: Classic Drama of Sophocles Staged al Gallo's and Played With Due Respect to Tradition and Spirit |work=[[New York Herald Tribune]] |page=19 |id={{ProQuest|1131828249}}}}</ref> followed the same month by ''[[Juno and the Paycock]]''.<ref name="The Broadway League 1927b">{{Cite web |last=The Broadway League |date=December 19, 1927 |title=Juno and the Paycock – Broadway Play – 1927 Revival |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/juno-and-the-paycock-10518 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220913165348/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/juno-and-the-paycock-10518 |archive-date=September 13, 2022 |access-date=September 13, 2022 |website=IBDB}}<br />{{Cite web |date=December 14, 2015 |title=Juno and the Paycock (Broadway, Studio 54, 1927) |url=https://playbill.com/production/juno-and-the-paycock-gallo-opera-house-vault-0000004944 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220913165342/https://playbill.com/production/juno-and-the-paycock-gallo-opera-house-vault-0000004944 |archive-date=September 13, 2022 |access-date=September 13, 2022 |website=Playbill}}</ref><ref name="p1132285417">{{Cite news |last=Ruhl |first=Arthur |date=December 20, 1927 |title=Irish Players Shift to Gallo in O'Casey's 'Juno and Paycock': Long Stretches of Drama, Billed as Tragedy, but Set in Key of Broad Farce, Evoke Constant Laughter |work=[[New York Herald Tribune]] |page=16 |id={{ProQuest|1132285417}}}}</ref> A $660,000 [[mortgage]] was placed on the theater building in January 1928.<ref name="nyt-1928-01-19">{{Cite news |date=January 19, 1928 |title=Gallo Theatre Mortgaged. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1928/01/19/archives/gallo-theatre-mortgaged.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220913165342/https://www.nytimes.com/1928/01/19/archives/gallo-theatre-mortgaged.html |archive-date=September 13, 2022 |access-date=September 13, 2022 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> The [[American Opera Company]] opened its season there the same month,<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 18, 1928 |title=American Opera Gives 'Marriage of Figaro'; Large Audience Generously Applauds Work of New Company Here. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1928/01/18/archives/american-opera-gives-marriage-of-figaro-large-audience-generously.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220913165351/https://www.nytimes.com/1928/01/18/archives/american-opera-gives-marriage-of-figaro-large-audience-generously.html |archive-date=September 13, 2022 |access-date=September 13, 2022 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> performing there until March.<ref name="p1114336594">{{Cite news |date=March 4, 1928 |title=American Opera Co. Ends Season With Big Crowds: Gives 'Carmen' in Afternoon and 'Fanst' at Night |work=[[New York Herald Tribune]] |page=17 |id={{ProQuest|1114336594}}}}</ref> Ballet Moderne also performed there for two weeks in April 1928.<ref name="The Broadway League 1928">{{Cite web |last=The Broadway League |date=April 9, 1928 |title=Ballet Moderne – Broadway Special – Original |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/ballet-moderne-456671 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220913165342/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/ballet-moderne-456671 |archive-date=September 13, 2022 |access-date=September 13, 2022 |website=IBDB}}<br />{{Cite web |date=December 14, 2015 |title=Ballet Moderne (Broadway, Studio 54, 1928) |url=https://playbill.com/production/ballet-moderne-gallo-opera-house-vault-0000004943 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220913165346/https://playbill.com/production/ballet-moderne-gallo-opera-house-vault-0000004943 |archive-date=September 13, 2022 |access-date=September 13, 2022 |website=Playbill}}</ref>
[[File:54-ny.jpg|left|thumb|Studio 54, originally the Gallo Opera House, is placed within the base of an office building at 254 West 54th Street.]]
Philip Goodman leased the theater for five years in mid-1928.<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 15, 1928 |title=Goodman Leases Gallo Theatre. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1928/05/15/archives/goodman-leases-gallo-theatre.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220913165353/https://www.nytimes.com/1928/05/15/archives/goodman-leases-gallo-theatre.html |archive-date=September 13, 2022 |access-date=September 13, 2022 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref><ref name="p1031870122">{{Cite magazine |date=June 2, 1928 |title=Goodman Gets Gallo Theater; Will Do Youmans' Musical |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|The Billboard]] |pages=11 |volume=40 |issue=22 |id={{ProQuest|1031870122}}}}</ref> Goodman used the theater to stage a production of [[Laurence Stallings]] and [[Oscar Hammerstein II]]'s musical ''Rainbow'',<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 7, 1928 |title="Rainbow" at the Gallo Nov. 20. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1928/11/07/archives/rainbow-at-the-gallo-nov-20.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220913165352/https://www.nytimes.com/1928/11/07/archives/rainbow-at-the-gallo-nov-20.html |archive-date=September 13, 2022 |access-date=September 13, 2022 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> which ran for less than a month in late 1928.<ref name="The Broadway League 1928b">{{Cite web |last=The Broadway League |date=November 21, 1928 |title=Rainbow – Broadway Musical – Original |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/rainbow-10785 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211112195325/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/rainbow-10785 |archive-date=November 12, 2021 |access-date=September 13, 2022 |website=IBDB}}<br />{{Cite web |date=December 14, 2015 |title=Rainbow (Broadway, Studio 54, 1928) |url=https://playbill.com/production/rainbow-gallo-opera-house-vault-0000004942 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220913170846/https://playbill.com/production/rainbow-gallo-opera-house-vault-0000004942 |archive-date=September 13, 2022 |access-date=September 13, 2022 |website=Playbill}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=December 12, 1928 |title='Rainbow' to Be Taken Off; Goodman Will End Run of Musical Production at Gallo This Week. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1928/12/12/archives/rainbow-to-be-taken-off-goodman-will-end-run-of-musical-production.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220913165346/https://www.nytimes.com/1928/12/12/archives/rainbow-to-be-taken-off-goodman-will-end-run-of-musical-production.html |archive-date=September 13, 2022 |access-date=September 13, 2022 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> In the meantime, the theater also hosted events such as dance performances,<ref>See, for instance: {{Cite news |date=December 3, 1928 |title=La Argentina Seen in Six New Dances; Huge Audience Cheers Artist-- Michio Ito Gives a Fine Program. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1928/12/03/archives/la-argentina-seen-in-six-new-dances-huge-audience-cheers-artist.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220913165353/https://www.nytimes.com/1928/12/03/archives/la-argentina-seen-in-six-new-dances-huge-audience-cheers-artist.html |archive-date=September 13, 2022 |access-date=September 13, 2022 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}; {{Cite news |date=December 17, 1928 |title=Doris Niles Returns; Dancer and Company at a Disadvantage After Long Tour. |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1928/12/17/archives/doris-niles-returns-dancer-and-company-at-a-disadvantage-after-long.html |access-date=September 13, 2022 |archive-date=September 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220913165351/https://www.nytimes.com/1928/12/17/archives/doris-niles-returns-dancer-and-company-at-a-disadvantage-after-long.html |url-status=live}}; {{Cite news |date=February 6, 1929 |title=New Dance Series by Kreutzberg. |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1929/02/06/archives/new-dance-series-by-kreutzberg.html |access-date=September 13, 2022 |archive-date=September 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220913165356/https://www.nytimes.com/1929/02/06/archives/new-dance-series-by-kreutzberg.html |url-status=live}}</ref> a violin recital,<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 11, 1929 |title=Breton Violin Recital; Young Artist's Program Includes Several Novelties. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1929/02/11/archives/breton-violin-recital-young-artists-program-includes-several.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220913165348/https://www.nytimes.com/1929/02/11/archives/breton-violin-recital-young-artists-program-includes-several.html |archive-date=September 13, 2022 |access-date=September 13, 2022 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> and a choir performance.<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 4, 1929 |title=Hall Johnson Negro Choir Sings. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1929/02/04/archives/hall-johnson-negro-choir-sings.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220913165342/https://www.nytimes.com/1929/02/04/archives/hall-johnson-negro-choir-sings.html |archive-date=September 13, 2022 |access-date=September 13, 2022 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> Radiant Productions leased the theater in September 1929, with plans to present a dozen plays for three weeks each.<ref name="p1111662754">{{Cite news |date=September 4, 1929 |title=National Chain Theaters Subsidiary Enters Field: Radiant Productions to Offer Twelve Plays al Gallo |work=[[New York Herald Tribune]] |page=12 |id={{ProQuest|1111662754}}}}</ref><ref name="nyt-1929-09-04">{{Cite news |date=September 4, 1929 |title=Would Give 12 Plays at Gallo at $2 Top; Radiant Productions, Inc., Also Plans to Operate Theatres in Other Cities With $1.50 Seats. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1929/09/04/archives/would-give-12-plays-at-gallo-at-2-top-radiant-productions-inc-also.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220913165349/https://www.nytimes.com/1929/09/04/archives/would-give-12-plays-at-gallo-at-2-top-radiant-productions-inc-also.html |archive-date=September 13, 2022 |access-date=September 13, 2022 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> Their first and only production, ''Ladies Don't Lie'', was a critical failure.<ref name="p1031918994">{{Cite magazine |date=October 26, 1929 |title=William R. Kane Leases Gallo Theater For Mitchell Revival |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|The Billboard]] |pages=5 |volume=41 |issue=43 |id={{ProQuest|1031918994}}}}</ref> That October, Radiant transferred its lease to William R. Kane,<ref name="p1031918994" /> who staged a short-lived revival of the comedy ''[[A Tailor-Made Man (play)|A Tailor-Made Man]]'' there.<ref name="The Broadway League 1929b">{{Cite web |last=The Broadway League |date=October 21, 1929 |title=A Tailor-Made Man – Broadway Play – 1929 Revival |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/a-tailor-made-man-10966 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220913170848/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/a-tailor-made-man-10966 |archive-date=September 13, 2022 |access-date=September 13, 2022 |website=IBDB}}<br />{{Cite web |date=December 14, 2015 |title=A Tailor-made Man (Broadway, Studio 54, 1929) |url=https://playbill.com/productions/a-tailor-made-manbroadway-studio-54-1929 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220519200525/https://playbill.com/productions/a-tailor-made-manbroadway-studio-54-1929 |archive-date=May 19, 2022 |access-date=September 13, 2022 |website=Playbill}}</ref> At a [[foreclosure]] auction in December 1929, the theater's [[mortgagee]] Hemphill Realty Corporation bought the theater for $1,045,000.<ref name="nyt-1929-12-18">{{Cite news |date=December 18, 1929 |title=Gallo Theatre Sold; Planitiff Bids $1,045,000 on Playhouse and Adjoining Site. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1929/12/18/archives/gallo-theatre-sold-planitiff-bids-1045000-on-playhouse-and.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220913165345/https://www.nytimes.com/1929/12/18/archives/gallo-theatre-sold-planitiff-bids-1045000-on-playhouse-and.html |archive-date=September 13, 2022 |access-date=September 13, 2022 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref><ref name="p1112018507">{{Cite news |date=December 18, 1929 |title=Gallo Theater Sold at Auction |work=[[New York Herald Tribune]] |page=46 |id={{ProQuest|1112018507}}}}</ref>