Studio One (nightclub)
Studio One, formerly known as The Factory, was an LGBT nightclub in West Hollywood, California.
History[edit]
The Studio One building was originally owned by William Fox and housed the Mitchel Camera Company. Mitchel manufactured Hollywood's early film cameras used by Charlie Chaplin, and for filming The Wizard of Oz. Later, it was used as the Norden bombsight facility during World War 2. 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 1974 by part-owner Scott Forbes, a Boston optometrist.[1][2][3][4] In the 1990s it was bought by Sandy Sachs and renamed to Axis.[5] The space is currently called "The Robertson".[6]
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[7] on its board of directors.[8]
Notable performers[edit]
- Wayland Flowers[2]
- Madeline Kahn[9]
- Bernadette Peters[9]
- Chita Rivera[9]
- Joan Rivers[9]
- Ike & Tina Turner[10]
See also[edit]
- Studio One Forever, documentary film
References[edit]
- ^ THURBER, JON (7 February 2002). "Scott Forbes, 57; Ran Dance Palace" – via LA Times.
- ^ a b "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. p. 237. ISBN 046502288X. Retrieved 2013-12-12.
Los Angeles Times Studio One 1976 Scott Forbes.
- ^ Heully, Gustave (2013-09-23). "Ever Wonder: Was the Factory a Factory?". wehoville.com. Retrieved 2013-12-12.
- ^ "Famous West Hollywood Club The Factory Changing Hands". curbed.com. 2010-09-17. Retrieved 2013-12-11.
- ^ "Home Page - The Robertson".
- ^ Levy, Shawn (2009). Paul Newman: A Life. Random House. ISBN 978-0307462534. Retrieved 2013-12-12.
- ^ Alleman, Richard (2013). Hollywood: The Movie Lover's Guide: The Ultimate Insider Tour of Movie L.A. Random House. ISBN 978-0804137775. Retrieved 2013-12-12.
- ^ a b c d Thurber, Jon (2002-02-27). "Scott Forbes, 57; Ran Dance Palace". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2013-12-12.
- ^ "Ike and Tina Turner at Studio One :: ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives". digitallibrary.usc.edu. Retrieved 2020-06-15.