Galaxie Night Club, San Francisco.
Going solely by these promotional postcards for hip and happening nightclubs this was where all the beautiful people hung out in the late 1950s and 1960s. Apparently. Beach parties in Miami. Go-go clubs in San Francisco and Florida. Discotheques in New York. Youngsters twisting the night away in South Fallsburg? Most of the postcards are promotional fliers for hotels, motels and restaurants hoping to lure in that lucrative youth market.
Once upon a time, I collected postcards like these. I found them more fascinating than say collecting stamps or coins. Postcards offered a touchstone for creating stories about other people’s lives. Which kinda makes me sound like that freaky kid who didn’t like to mix. Well, yes probably.
When I started underage drinking—in and around Edinburgh—it was always the small hotel bars and faded nightclubs I preferred. These once swinging sixties haunts—with their dated interiors and occasional mirrorball dance floors—were generally so desperate for customers they never checked if you were over eighteen before serving up a pint of warm, flat beer. I certainly would not have minded imbibing in a few of the venues featured below. At least the beer would have been properly chilled.
‘The psychedelic dance scene’—apparently.
‘Teenagers at the Twistick Lounge, Raleigh Hotel, South Fallsburg, New York.’
‘Castaways, Motel Pool Bar, Miami Beach, Florida.’
‘Florida fun! Caged Night Go-Go Dancers.’
‘Ginza Chinese Smorgasbord & Discotheque Dancing - New York.’
‘007 ½ Go Go Night Club, Shelborne Hotel - Miami Beach, Florida.’
‘Castaways Motel, Pool Bar - Miami Beach, Florida.’
‘Downtowner Motor Inn, Tony’s Restaurant - Springfield, Illinois.’
The Batman inspired nightclub ‘Wayne Manor, Bay Area, San Francisco.’
‘Mirrored Balls by Halboy Fixture Distribution - St. Louis, Missouri.’
‘Le Bateau Discotheque Club - Rotterdam Hilton, Holland.’
‘The Den Discotheque, Hilton International - Okinawa, Japan.’
Via Neat Stuff and Messy Nessy Chic.