Ideas for the Sock Hop Years
A 1950s sock hop theme brings a special sense of fun to any dance or party, regardless of the age of the attendees at your next class reunion, child or adult birthday party or dance at a local high school or senior center. Get your party ideas from the sock hop years and transport your guests back to the days of Elvis, ducktail and beehive hairdos, bobby socks, letter sweaters, drive-in movies and jukeboxes. Does this Spark an idea?
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Set the Mood with Invitations
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If inviting a large number of people to a class reunion or dance, you will want to keep it simple by using a paper flier you mail or a PDF you can email. When creating this, make sure to use creative wording such as "grab your best guy or gal and hop on down to the soda shop," "move like greased lightning," or "twist the night away" to set the theme for the evening. For a smaller guest list, buy a package of bobby socks in bulk at your local discount store and attach the invitation to them with a ribbon. Use old vinyl LPs you can buy at your local thrift store or used record store and cover the label in the center of the record with a label that details the important party or dance "where, when and why" information. Or simply make paper invitations out of black construction paper cut out to look like vinyl 45s and put the invitation on white paper in a circle in the middle where the record label would be. Ask your guests to dress in traditional sock hop attire--poodle skirts, jeans rolled up at the ankle, white T-shirts and leather jackets.
Transform Your Venue
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Decorations at your sock hop party or dance can be simple things found at any discount or party store. Use vinyl helium balloons and streamers in bright primary colors. Mount inflatable guitars on the walls and use them as table centerpieces. Use vinyl records to decorate the tables walls and to hang from the ceiling. Print off photos of 1950 and early 1960s stars like Elvis, Sandra Dee, Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello, Dion & the Belmonts, Buddy Holly, Chubby Checker and others to use as posters on the walls.
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Serve Nostalgic Food
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Whether preparing the food yourself or having it catered, your sock hope refreshments should be simple. Burgers, fries, onion rings, sodas, milk shakes and ice cream sundaes will set a soda-shop atmosphere. Serve a round cake decorated like a vinyl record or a sheet cake or cupcakes decorated with items such as a 1950s car, sunglasses, a string of pearls (imitation, of course) or a little Elvis figurine.
Play 1950s Music
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What sock hop party or dance is complete without the right music? Rent a jukebox, set up your CD changer or hire a DJ to play hits by 1950s and early 1960s favorites like Elvis, Chubby Checker, Bill Haley and the Comets, Frankie Valli, The Drifters, Little Richard and The Platters.
Hold a Dance Contest
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Encourage your guests to "stroll" down the dance floor, "twist the night away" and do other classic sock hop dances. Hold a dance marathon to see which couple can stay on the dance floor the longest and present a prize at the end of the evening. Host a "Then & Now" price game in which your guests guess the average prices of an item in the 1950s and its price now such as a gallon of gas, a carton of milk, a car, a house, a loaf of bread and such. Play karaoke versions of 1950s songs and hold a singing contest. Play songs from the era and hold a "Name That Tune" contest.
Use Special Party Favors
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Many of your decorations can be used as favors after the party. Send your guests home with the balloons, inflatable instruments and laminated posters of the sock hop-era celebs your created. You can also make goody bags of like chewing gum, wax lips, dark sunglasses, bobby socks, bead necklaces and other nostalgic items.
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