I need the hive's help with a party for my sister's 50th - 1950's theme

[Rhonda in TX]

I am planning a surprise party for my sister this Saturday. She is turning 50 and we are having a 1950's theme. I am very, very excited about this. She is going to be thrilled (although her DH has told me it will be a long week because she is mad at him for not making it "special" :D ).

I know we're going to set up the kitchen bar area as a soda fountain. I'm going to get a CD of 50's music to play. I'd love to find movie posters from the 50's to put on the walls, but I'm trying not to spend a ton of money. I've found some 50's theme decorations at Party City, but they are kind of cheesy and not cheap.

Any ideas?

[Mrs. H.]

Have you tried allposters.com for the movie posters? As for decorations, I would scour a flea market, used book/music store, or a thrift store for some old vinyl you could hang from the ceiling or walls. If a friend had a collection, you could be extra careful not to hurt them. It might cost too much to rent a jukebox that plays records, but that could be an option, too. Contact a rental party store, and see what they have.

I could go nuts with this! Is everyone dressing to theme? Too fun!:001_smile:

[Rhonda in TX]

I hadn't thought of thrift shops. There are several in my area.

Thanks.

[BeachGirl]

When my aunt turned 50, her husband threw a big party and we all dressed up 1950's style. The girls wore pedal pushers with ballet flats and a blouse or poodle skirts with scarves around the neck. The guys wore jeans, white T-shirts with the sleeves rolled up and a box of candy cigarettes in the sleeve and slicked their hair back with lots of hair grease. Of course the ones with leather jackets wore those also. I recently sewed a poodle skirt for my daughter from felt. It was for a church function. You can find the pattern at any fabric store.

You could get some black paper and draw out music notes or the shapes of records and then draw in the circular lines. It sounds like a lot of fun.

[Ferdie]

Do you have a Freecycle group in your area? If so you might try putting out a wanted message for 50's party decor. We have a lot of party decor offered on our local Freecycle loop.

Also I put out some baby pictures for my friend's surprise 40th, or rather her mother did. Everyone loved seeing her childhood pics.

You are such a great sister! Have fun.

[Mrs Mungo]

I bet you could find an old record player and some 45 records at a thrift store as well! In fact, I see ebay has some huge lots of old 45s selling for less than $20. You could make hanging decorations with them or even make garlands out of them. Oh! You could even use them as the invitations by printing the party info on colored paper, cutting them in circles and pasting over the original record label!

[OnTheBrink]

Call around to some of the antique car clubs and see who has a 50's decade Bel Air. Maybe they'd be willing to take her for a spin at the party or even rent it to you for the evening. Can't hurt to ask and wouldn't that be fun??