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A 1950s diner theme for a dinner party may seem like an informal approach. However, you can have a sophisticated meal and still capture the essence of the decade that put Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe on the map. Depending on how far you want to take the theme, recreate the feel of a 1950s sock hop or soda shop in your dining room in a variety of ways. Host an evening that your guests aren't likely to forget.
The fashions of the 1950s represented a transition between the more formal fashion norms of the 1940s and the cultural revolution of the 1960s and 1970s. Perhaps more than women, men began expressing themselves in ways that violated the conservative norms of earlier decades. Indeed, even though radical change did not enter the workplace at this time, the fashions that emerged in that era laid the groundwork for the less formal apparel that people in certain workplaces wear in the 2010s.
Treat your guests to a glimpse of the mid-century lifestyle with an entertaining 1950's party. When planning a '50's party, show off your creativity by making homemade invitations, decorations and games. A trip to your local retail and craft store is all you need to get the memorable '50's party started.
Hosting a 50s theme party provides an opportunity to temporarily go back to a time when life seemed simple and fun. Gasoline was less than a .25 cents per gallon, and you could buy a new dress for $3.29. The world was experiencing postwar prosperity and rock-n-roll had young people dancing and expressing themselves like never before.
When rock and roll music exploded in the 1950s, young people everywhere longed for a place to get together and dance. Schools began hosting dances in gymnasiums, but school officials insisted that the teens remove their shoes in order to protect the gyms' wooden floors. The sock hop was born, and kids kicked off shoes and danced in fashions that were inspired by rock 'n roll and perfect for swinging the night away.
Rock and roll and drive-in movies were the order of the day in the 1950s, so throwing a party that features these themes will remind your loved ones of this upbeat era. There are also certain foods associated with the '50s that will add to the authentic feel of your celebration, and most of the fare is really easy to prepare.
At a 50s dance party, stay in theme with the music, style of dress, kinds of dancing, and even the party cuisine. The food popular during the Nifty Fifties can be served in several creative and appetizing ways. And if you keep it light by serving finger foods, diners will still have enough pep in their step to dance the night away.
Your guests can twist the night away when you plan a 50s sock hop theme party. Capitalize on the 50s fads, pastimes and icons when planning the party. Adults and children can enjoy eating, drinking and having a great time during a sock hop. As a party favor, extend a coonskin cap to each party-goer in celebration of the fad honoring by Davy Crockett.
A 1950s themed party includes influences from the popular fashions of the day, the music and the food. Whether you are hosting a Grease-themed 50s party or a sock-hop, you can set up a pretend photo booth, or rent a real photo booth so guests can go home with a reminder of the good time.
One of the most iconic locations of the 1950s is the classic soda shop. When planning a 50s themed party, consider turning the party space into an old-fashioned soda shop. To carry the theme, decorate the tables with oversized milkshake decorations.
The right theme and decorations for a 1950s party are the makings of a successful event. Post-war American teens were the queens and kings of the time. Their fashions and tastes in music set the scene for future generations. When planning a party celebrating this time, watch a few movies from the period to get an idea what Hollywood had in mind for the coming-of-age generation.
Poodle skirts, leather jackets and doo-wop----party-goers will feel as if they have traveled back in time at a 1950s-theme party. Whether you are celebrating a birthday or you just want to have a good time, this blast from the past theme is appropriate for all ages---for kids, those who lived during the decade and everyone in between.
Although a retirement party itself is a joyous celebration, an entertaining theme adds a fun twist to the occasion. With proper decorations, a menu featuring classic diner fare and decade-specific entertainment, a 50's theme retirement party is easy and simple to plan.
Try something different for the next party you throw and make it 1950s themed. The '50s were a great time for style and music, so take advantage of that. Let your guests know about the theme beforehand so that they can dress the part. Carry the theme into your decoration, food and party favors.
The 1950's, with its poodle skirts, denim pants, and drive-in theaters, may be a bygone era, but a 50's themed party can be a fun way to evoke that vibrant time in America. Convert your home into a 1950's-style diner or malt shop, or your backyard into a drive-in movie theater.
Long before discotheques and raves, American youth reveled in dance at 1950s sock hops, so called because high school students were often required to take off their shoes at dances to avoid causing damage to gymnasium and cafeteria floors. Recreate the days of Eisenhower, malt shops and jukeboxes with a sock hop party.
Even if you're not old enough to remember them, the aesthetics, products, culture and history of the 1950s are probably familiar to you, enough to invoke a sense of nostalgia. Creating an atmosphere to help bring about this feeling is a great basis for a themed party. In addition to using items such as food, music and costumes to evoke the feeling of this decade, create some handmade crafts for use in decorating and enhancing your event.
The right decorations can transform an everyday '50s-themed sock hop into a real blast. From the jukebox in the corner to the balloon drop overhead, a number of items can add authenticity to the party. Carefully plan your decorations ahead of time to be sure that you have everything you need--you can't just run out and get some of the items.
Following the conclusion of World War II, people had the money and the inclination to enjoy themselves. Fashion, dining and entertainment became fun in a whole new way. The 1950s provide the perfect elements for a fabulous theme party: unforgettable music, distinctive fashion and original dances.
The 1950s invokes a sense of nostalgia even for those who were not alive during this era. Icons such as James Dean, Elvis and the Fonz, along with films like "Grease," help people of all ages to relate to this theme, which lends itself to a party. Centerpieces should tie into the '50s theme. Use any items from this decade you or a relative may have stored away, or visit a vintage or party store to collect items for centerpieces.
The fifties were a cool, chic and ever-so entertaining decade. "Grease" and "Happy Days" highlighted an era of time in America's history that was innocent but coming of age. Party attire for a '50s theme gathering includes the classic poodle skirt and the turned-up collar of a leather jacket; both of which represent the era's fashion trends.
The '50s gave rise to poodle skirts, Marilyn Monroe and James Dean. The decade seemed to be a golden time after the darker times of war. As such the decade is remembered fondly and is a popular theme for parties--maybe especially for those who are either too young to remember the '50s or weren't even born yet. For them, a '50s party is a chance to live it, at least for a night.
