The first disco-style dance club was operated by David Mancuso, a New York City DJ. He built a private dance club called the Loft in his home and opened it to selected members in 1970. In 1974, the Flamingo public disco club opened in New York. By 1975, there were more than 10,000 discos in the United States, and many more in Europe.
With the popularity of the 1977 movie Saturday Night Fever and its accompanying soundtrack, disco was suddenly part of mainstream culture. The album remains the best-selling soundtrack in history and caused other singers of the time to imitate the disco sound to cash in on the hype. Artists like Blondie, Barry Manilow, Elton John, and Kiss were among those who released albums in the late 1970s that had a distinct disco influence.
Disco's sudden popularity led to its ultimate demise. Faced with a glut of mediocre songs that were more mainstream rock and pop than disco, the industry's core fans turned away from the genre. The most obvious sign of the public backlash against disco dance and music was the "Disco Demolition Night" at Chicago's Comiskey Park. Fans attending the White Sox baseball game that night were encouraged to bring along their favorite disco records to be blown up in exchange for a reduced admission fee.
In 1971, the debut of Soul Train allowed the nation to see the latest disco dances as they were emerging in the clubs. Even people who did not have access to a local disco club began to buy the music. Disco Step-by-Step with Marty Angelo made it even easier for people to learn disco in 1975, showing the exact steps needed to perform the hot dance moves of the time.
Disco-style dance music returned to prominence in the 2000s, with artists like Crystal Waters, Jody Watley, Irene Cara, and even Donna Summer releasing new music during the decade. Disco tributes such as Buffalo's annual World's Largest Disco are held in cities around the world, celebrating the music, clothing, and dance of the 1970s.