This paper is a historiographic balance about the main trends, concepts and approaches that have characterized the research production about the nightlife during the twentieth century. This is made by the exam of texts from the academic production of Germany, England, United States, Brazil and Argentina, countries where the investigation concerns have been centered on the relationship among subject, urban spaces and national and global contexts. For the case of Colombian, in the work is argued that studies have analyzed this topic in order to understand the relationship among modernization, urban space, working class, elite’s consolidation and social control. Finally, it is concluded that for the case of Antioquia (Colombia) there has been a particular interest in understanding the place of the night life and the sinfulness in a conservative society.