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Studio One Forever

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1:35

Studio One Forever

Released Sep 13, 2024

1h 36m

Documentary

LGBTQ+

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10 Reviews

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Fewer than 50 Ratings

A beacon of dancing and freedom for gay men looking for identity in a world that saw them as outcasts, Studio One was a haven and the blossoming center of nightlife in West Hollywood. From merging the gay community and Hollywood elites like Bette Davis and Jimmy Stewart to being at the forefront of the LBGTQ+ rights movement and the fight against the AIDS crisis, the venue was more than just a disco, it was a movement.

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Cath Clarke

Guardian

It’s not as if it’s possible to re-bottle the magic of a club in its heyday, so why bother? But listening to the survivors will completely change your mind about preserving its status as a cultural landmark.

Rated: 3/5

Oct 16, 2024

Full Review

Andrea Thompson

Chicago Reader

It’s the third act that’s the most devastating, as various talking heads, both celebrity and civilian, recount still-lingering trauma and survivor’s guilt from the horrific ravages of AIDS.

Sep 22, 2023

Full Review

Alex Valencia

Q+ Magazine

Through firsthand accounts and rich historical context, Studio One Forever shows us exactly what it meant to be part of this community when being out was an act of defiance.

May 7, 2025

Full Review

Rich Cline

Shadows on the Wall

More breathing space might have allowed us to better take it in, but this is a vivid look at Studio One's history and legacy.

Rated: 3.5/5

Oct 29, 2024

Full Review

Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

This is a colorful flashback, even if those who've attended Frameline over the years may feel they've seen variations on its gist many times before.

Oct 4, 2024

Full Review

Manuel Betancourt

FilmWeek (LAist)

I wanted it to be more disciplined and to say something other than "This was an important venue." It just feels like lovely, engaging, sometimes insightful and sometimes fascinating anecdotes strung together.

Sep 17, 2024

Full Review

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Derrick R

Many memories in that club. I hope PBS or similar picks it up, as an important historical document. "The Backlot" was main hangout, ( at 19yo. )

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

10/31/24

Full Review

Stephen H

A touching, powerful, and eye-opening window to a lost world. An important history that must never be forgotten lives through this film.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/16/24

Full Review

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Marc Saltarelli

Director

Chita Rivera

Self

Sam Harris

Self

Melissa Rivers

Self

Bruce Vilanch

Self

Thelma Houston

Self

Studio One Forever: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

A beacon of dancing and freedom for gay men looking for identity in a world that saw them as outcasts, Studio One was a haven and the blossoming center of nightlife in West Hollywood. From merging the gay community and Hollywood elites like Bette Davis and Jimmy Stewart to being at the forefront of the LBGTQ+ rights movement and the fight against the AIDS crisis, the venue was more than just a disco, it was a movement.

Director: Marc Saltarelli
Producer: Stephen Israel, Marc Saltarelli, Michael Alden, Lloyd Coleman, Alan Eichler, Loree Gold, Christopher Isaacson, Michael Roth, Gary Steinberg
Distributor: Gravitas Ventures
Production Co: Studio One Productions
Genre: Documentary, LGBTQ+
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 13, 2024, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 8, 2024
Runtime: 1h 36m

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