Melbourne’s nightlife has always been a mixture of the sophisticated and the seedy, where a complimentary drink-card had more immediate value than a pocketful of bitcoin.

Two of the first to be granted late licences and run by the same family were the Top Hat Cabaret in Bourke Street and The Galaxy in Exhibition Street.

The Galaxy Night Club – where glamour met gangsters. Credit: Fairfax Media

In the early days at the Top Hat, a jacket and tie were required, while at The Galaxy, a concealed pistol was a more sensible option.

You would head downstairs to a 1950s-style Las Vegas club with tables, a menu and even a cigarette girl.

On stage, there would be two shows – perhaps a well-known local singer such as Ricky May or a touring American crooner – the first about 10pm and the secon

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