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Studio 54 Wiz Party

Party Date Assessed from “Associated Press” (archived), stating the party was on “Monday night”, October 24, 1977

Interview Date Assessed from the fact that Steve Rubell said “Michael just finished shooting the scarecrow” and Michael’s outfit in the interview matches the photos with the Wiz dancers during the party

Lisa Robinson, “There Goes Gravity: A Life in Rock and Roll”, autobiography

In October 1977, there was a party for Michael at Studio 54. On hand were the dancers from The Wiz, his mother Katherine, sisters Janet and LaToya, and brothers Marlon and Tito. Also present were Epic Records executives, CBS Records president Walter Yetnikoff, and assorted drag queens. Michael and I sat together on one of the sofas on the side of the dance floor. He told me that he loved New York City. “It’s the perfect spot for me,” he said. “When I’m in New York I get up early and I have a whole schedule. I’m going to see this play, I’m going to have lunch, I’m going to see a movie. I like the energy. Whenever I come back home, I look forward to going back to New York—I love the big stores, I love everything.” He said he had the time of his life in New York filming (the flop movie) The Wiz, and now, what he really wanted to do, more than anything, was make more movies. “I can go on tour and it’s exciting, but when it’s done, it’ll be lost to the world. If I do a movie, it’s a moment captured for eternity. The stars die—like Charlie Chaplin—but his films will be here forever. If he did Broadway and plays while he was alive, he would have been lost to the world.” I asked him about working with Diana Ross—who he adored—in The Wiz. Michael said, “It was incredible. I learned so much from her. We’re like brother and sister. She made sure I was okay on the set; she was very protective. I just loved the world of movie making; I love it more than reality. Sometimes I just wish I could wake up in the morning to a big production dance number.”

“Associated Press” (October 26, 1977) (archived)

Michael Jackson takes time out for some dancing with Rona, a member of the cast of the movie version of the play "The Wiz", during a party at New York's Studio 54 disco Monday night. The party was held in honor of Michael and the other members of the Jackson Five singing group.

Chris Cadman, author, “Michael Jackson the Maestro”

Michael was interviewed by Jane Pauley with Steve Rubell for the Today program that same evening for a feature on Studio 54. Long-time friend Liza Minnelli and Broadway actress Lisa Mordente also feature on the programme.