Studio One Forever (Documentary)

The first gay disco, Studio One in Los Angeles, was a safe space for the gay community from 1974-1993. This documentary is a loving look at the iconic gay disco and its legacy. Replete with pictures of events at Studio One and at its adjoining music and dining venue The Backlot that vividly recall its heyday, the film remembers it as a vital place where gay people could be themselves and which also became a popular spot for celebrities eager to demonstrate Hollywood's liberal side. The building was slated to be demolished in 2018, and this film provides an oral and visual history of the club as the local board determines its fate. A handful of “survivors” of Studio One, including comedy legend, Bruce Vilanch, return to the club to recall its glory days.

With a capacity of over 1000, this cavernous club and adjoining cabaret called The Backlot attracted hordes of mostly white gay men and the Hollywood elite throughout such historical touchstones as the sexual revolution and the height of the AIDS crisis. The makers have conducted dozens of interviews for his film, from Studio One staff, most touchingly Michael Koth, a former bartender, who describes the devastating loss over the years and his own personal struggles. There’s a hilarious interview with a dancer named Jimmy, who became a local celebrity, and who makes the distinction between dancing on a box and dancing on a stage. He also gets vivid and humorous stories from the likes of such other showbiz icons. In a documentary filled with beautiful memories, I was glad to see it not shy away from its ugly past, like no women or men of color were allowed. This was strictly for white males. Also, as disco fell out of favor, and the AIDS epidemic began, the club experienced troubled times. The emotional stories of grief and loss recounted in the film are, as expected, heartbreaking. But there are other emotional accounts by interviewees that illustrate gay men’s experiences during the era. 

The pacing of the film is energetic but this partly stems from having so many interviewees who, even in the case of those who return to the screen several times, comment rather briefly. Less contributors and more detailed personal recollections would have helped the film to sustain its impact for a wider audience. It feels all too characteristic when the film acknowledges yet fails to investigate in-depth accusations. The film is sometimes adventurous  and is often lively but, even though it builds up a special show reunion at The Backlot in 2019 and emphasizes the tension over the challenge to prevent the demolition work, the movie lacks the depth and weight that a closer study of the gay context in Hollywood in the days of Studio One could have provided. This documentary may be best appreciated by those who knew or have been to the club — as the interviewees’ trips down memory lane attest. But this documentary also provides an engaging history for viewers curious about gay history. (4/10)