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The $15,000 Disco Floor That Lit Up Saturday Night
30 May
Summary
- The iconic disco set was intentionally dreadful in daylight.
- Aluminum foil and Christmas lights created the film's vibe.
- A $15,000 technicolor floor vibrated and changed colors.
The iconic disco set featured in "Saturday Night Fever" possessed a dual nature, appearing drab in daylight but transforming into a captivating fantasy by night. Director John Badham disclosed that the Brooklyn club, 2001 Odyssey, had its walls painted black for filming. The illusion of a vibrant atmosphere was achieved through the strategic use of aluminum foil and Christmas tree lights, creating a psychedelic, reflective ambiance.
Despite the overall "low budget" construction, a significant investment was made in the disco's technicolor dance floor, costing $15,000. This unique floor was inspired by a design Badham admired in his youth and was engineered to react to music. It was connected to the sound system, causing it to vibrate and change colors in time with the beat, enhancing the immersive experience.
The film, released in 1977, follows a young Italian-American man seeking escape from his bleak reality by dominating the dance floor at a local disco. "Saturday Night Fever" starred John Travolta and Karen Lynn Gorney, among others, and has since become a classic.
