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Lights, Camera, Party! Hollywood’s Wildest Nights of the ’80s and Early ’90s in Photos

The 1980s and early 1990s were a wild time in Hollywood. The clubs were packed, the drinks were flowing, and the stars were out in full force. It was a time of excess and excitement, and the party never seemed to end. Let’s dive into the glitz and the glamor, the weird and the wonderful, of Hollywood’s club scene during this iconic era.

Hollywood’s club scene was a magnet for the rich and famous. You could spot A-listers like Jack Nicholson, Madonna, and Rob Lowe rubbing shoulders with eccentric characters like drag queens and performance artists. It was a place where the lines between celebrity and regular folk blurred, where everyone was united by a love of good music and a good time.

Stephen Jerrome

One man who captured the essence of this era was photographer Stephen Jerrome. His camera was a backstage pass to the most exclusive parties and underground gatherings. He documented the outrageous outfits, the wild dance moves, and the unforgettable moments that defined the Hollywood club scene. His photos are a time capsule, transporting us back to a world of big hair, neon lights, and endless possibilities..

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Fashion Frenzy

Fashion was a big part of the Hollywood club scene. It was a time of bold statements and outrageous outfits. Think big hair, shoulder pads, and neon colors. The clubs were a runway for the latest trends, where celebrities and wannabes alike competed for attention. It was a time when anything went, and the more outrageous the outfit, the better.

Music Mania

The music was the heartbeat of the Hollywood club scene. It was a time of disco, new wave, and early hip hop. The clubs were packed with people dancing the night away to the latest hits. The music was a soundtrack to the era, capturing the energy and excitement of the time. It was a time when music was more than just entertainment; it was a way of life.

Getting into the hottest clubs was a challenge. Bouncers guarded the velvet rope, carefully selecting who was worthy of entering the inner sanctum. It was a world of exclusivity and privilege, where the right connections could open doors to unforgettable experiences. But once you were in, the party was yours to enjoy.

The late ’80s and early ’90s saw the rise of the superclub. These massive venues could hold thousands of people and featured elaborate sound systems and light shows. They were a spectacle to behold, a place where the party never seemed to end. The superclubs became a symbol of the era’s excess and extravagance.

As the ’90s progressed, the Hollywood club scene began to change. The superclubs fell out of favor, and a new generation of clubs emerged. The music changed, the fashion evolved, and the party moved on. But the memories of the ’80s and early ’90s club scene remain, captured in photographs and the hearts of those who lived it.

#1 Bruce Willis saying “Don’t take my fucking picture.” Stephen Jerrome was shooting at a private party hosted by Vanity Fair; the only photographer in the room. That’s Demi on the left.

#4 Toni Bazil and Terri Garr at the I-Hop on Santa Monica Blvd.

#5 Paul and Linda McCartney at a launch party for Linda’s last book.

#6 Slow motion dance performance, underground club style.

#7 Actor James Woods and one of the most beautiful women in the word…whomever she is!

#9 Gallery owner David Fahey horse-playing around with photographer Herb Ritts and Richard Gere.

#11 Debbie Harry and jewelry designer Smitty backstage.

#12 The girls are asking, “Are you talking to me?”

#13 Madonna at a private party hosted by the late photographer Herb Ritts.

#14 Kirk Douglas photographed on the terrace of author Sidney Sheldon’s Beverly Hills home.

#15 Kitten Natividad, ex-wife of Russ Meyer, and Diane H. busting out at the Stock Exchange nightclub.

#17 Model Iman when she was partying alone…before her marriage to David Bowie.

#18 An in-camera triple exposure of a club kid downtown.

#19 Actor Vincent Price and wife Coral Browne, not long before Price passed away…this taken at a small fund-raising dinner in Beverly Hills.

#21 Sly not getting kicked out of a club in Hollywood.

#22 Arnold Schwarzenegger, as handsome as he ever was in his pre-govenor days admired by Mrs. Vincent Minnelli, step-mother of Liza, at a private reception in Beverly Hills.

#23 Believe it or not, the artist inside this monster was a very handsome guy…at another no-name loft party.

#25 The late photographer Herb Ritts with Daryl Hannah at Herb’s photo show in Hollywood.

#26 Balthazar Getty and Drew Barrymore at a private party to celebrate the publishing of photographer Greg Gorman’s first book.

#27 Carrie Fisher and writer/actor Buck Henry at a small party to launch the film “Down and Out in Beverly Hills”.

#28 Anjelica Huston and Jack Nicholson, cornered at an art opening in Beverly Hills.

#30 Clothing designer Pepito Albert during his L.A. heyday.

#31 A little trick in camera allowed photographer to extend the negative in-camera for this triple exposure…at some one-night loft party way downtown.

#32 One of the most famous models of them all, Petty Moffitt, hasn’t changed her look in fifty years, and she’s still as “now” as ever.

#33 Linda Lovitch in the legendary studio of the late photographer Steven Arnold.

#34 More silly nonesense at a club on Hollywood Blvd.

#35 Model Lauren Hutton. She was on crutches that night.

#36 All for show at an underground club downtown…way off the Hollywood path. By day, the woman with the whip was a nurse!

#38 This rare gathering centers around model and famous muse, the late Tina Chow, second from left, with her father (left), son Max, her mother, and Tina’s former husband, Michael Chow at his restaurand in Beverly Hills.

#40 End of a long night as the Mona Lisa looks on glumly.

#41 Actor and model Steve Lyon with two friends af the Stock Exchange nightclub.

#43 The models (and stylist in glasses) having fun after a fashion show.

#44 Jay Leno at a private reception hosted by the legendary Hollywood power agent Swifty Lazar…at the old Spago on Sunset Strip.

#45 Surprise guest Ivana Trump wearing Therie Mugler at a fashion show. Another rare visitation by the New York glitrerati.

#46 Valentino with model in the lobby of the Beverly Wilshire Hotel during a rare visit to L.A.

#48 Actress Shawn Young seeing double at the old Bistro in Beverly Hills.

#49 This young man, with five rings in his foreskin, died of AIDS, his wings unfinished.

Written by Kimberly Adams

Kimberly Adams is passionate about classic movies, actors, and actresses. She offers a fresh perspective on timeless films and the stars who made them unforgettable. Her work is an ode to the glamour and artistry of a bygone era, and a tribute to the enduring appeal of classic cinema.

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