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John Travolta’s ‘Saturday Night Fever’ Suit Sells For Big Bucks At Auction

Author Phil Harris
Actor John Travolta attends the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences 30th anniversary screening of "Saturday Night Fever" on November 20, 2007 at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

If you’re over the age of 40, you recognize it instantly and probably start hearing the Bee Gees in your head. I’m referring to the iconic white polyester suit that John Travolta wore as ‘Tony Manero’ when he danced to “More Than a Woman” with ‘Stephanie’ in the 1977 movie Saturday Night Fever. That classic Hollywood wardrobe item now has a new owner.

CNN reports that the three-piece ensemble was auctioned off by Julien’s Actions and Turner Classic Movies in California. The suit with exaggerated peak lapels and oversized pockets was originally purchased in 1977 for a measly $100 at a menswear shop in Brooklyn. It sold at the April 2023 auction for a whopping $260,000.

There may still be two more of those suits out there. It turns out John Travolta had two identical white suits to wear during the movie’s famous dance competition scene. He would wear one while the other was drying out. Hey, disco is hard work. According to the Daily Mail, a third suit was used for promotional photos only. I’d like to think Travolta still has at least one of them in a closet somewhere.

Phil Harris is 50% of "Phil & Mel in the Afternoon" on K104.7. He has been with the station since 2013 and on the air in Charlotte since 2000. Before coming to the Queen City, Phil worked for radio stations in Pittsburgh, Austin, and Seattle. In addition to the weekly "Throwback Threesome" music video feature, Phil writes about things that matter to Charlotte sports fans and pet owners. He happens to be both.

5 Classic Rock Disco Tracks We All Love (Admit It!)

Rock and disco: They’re two genres that are sworn enemies. But during disco’s heyday, it managed to sneak its way into songs by some of the biggest rock acts ever.

One of the best examples is KISS, whose 1979 studio album Dynasty is known for being heavily influenced by disco. The biggest hit off the album is “I Was Made For Lovin’ You.” Despite being a hit on the Billboard Hot 100, it’s a track that continues to divide some fans and even members of the band.

In fact, Gene Simmons said in a new interview that he absolutely hates one part of the song. That part? All the high register “Do, do, do” backing vocals.

“I hate it to this day, ” said everyone’s favorite blood-spitting Demon. “Except, stadium-fulls of people … they jump around like biblical locusts … ‘Do, do, do’ … and so I play along.”

In honor of Simmons’ love-hate relationship with the song, here’s a brief look at five classic rock disco tracks we all love. Admit it; it’s hard to deny these earworms.

  • KISS - 'I Was Made For Loving You'

    This ridiculously catchy track features a songwriting credit from Desmond Child, who also helped co-write massive hits for Aerosmith (“Angel,” “Dude (Looks Like A Lady)”), Bon Jovi (“Living On A Prayer,” “Bad Medicine”) and Joan Jett & the Blackhearts (“I Hate Myself For Loving You”.)

  • Blondie - 'Heart of Glass'

    This song was controversial for two reasons:  Blondie was a punk band and because the song features the phrase “pain in the ass,” which made some radio stations nervous to play it.  What a simpler time!

  • Pink Floyd - 'Run Like Hell'

    While not an overt dive into disco, you have to admit that this track from The Wall is definitely disco-influenced, at the very least. (And it’s just such a killer groove.)

  • The Rolling Stones - 'Miss You'

    Play “Miss You” at any wedding, and I guarantee the dance floor will be immediately packed. Plus, this might be the hookiest hook Mick Jagger and Keith Richards ever wrote.

  • Rod Stewart - 'Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?'

    A list about classic rock disco tracks just isn’t complete without this Rod Stewart gem. We’ve all danced to it in front of our bedroom mirrors. We’ve all cranked it while in the car. And if you say you haven’t, you’re either a liar or just don’t know how to live.

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