December 15, 2021
Ah, the 1950s. It was a time when modern America was in its infancy, the economy flourished, and there were no pesky viruses to dampen our holiday gatherings. I mean, besides polio and influenza. The middle decade of the 20th century was full of promise, with a touch of elegance and a heap of modern marvels. All that was evident in the New Year’s Eve celebrations of the time.
As these colorized photographs from the 1950s show, people from that era knew how to celebrate in style … from hors d’oeuvres served on Tupperware platters to rousing games of charades, a New Year’s Eve party in the 1950s was a swanky event that was perfect for welcoming in the new year.
House Parties
Sure, plenty of folks packed Times Square on New Year’s Eve to see the ball drop as it had been doing since the 1920s. And other people danced into the new year at a posh nightclub. But what was really popular in the 1950s was the house party. It only makes sense. Homeownership was at a high point in the fifties and many families were moving out of the cities and into the new-fangled subdivisions where they were surrounded by other nuclear families living the American dream. The nifty split-level houses with their furnished rec rooms made ideal settings for New Year’s Eve parties among friends, neighbors, and coworkers.
Fifties Party Food
What’s a party without food? In the 1950s, suburban housewives turned to modern food innovations when planning their New Year’s Eve party menus. A classy hors d’oeuvres was easy to whip up using a new product, Cheez Whiz. Just spray it onto a saltine and top with a few sprinkles of sesame seeds and, voila! Instant panache! Another sure hit was the Jell-O mold. The nice thing about instant, flavored gelatin powder was that it could be formed into clever shapes, like a ring. An experienced Jell-O chef could even layer different colors of Jell-O or suspend fruit in it. Don’t forget the deviled eggs and coconut cream pie.
Party Attire
People in the 1950s weren’t into casual, comfortable attire like we wear today. That’s why you see pics of women in starched dresses and high-heeled pumps cooking dinner and doing laundry. When they were invited to a special occasion, like a New Year’s Eve party, you can bet that they dressed in their finest cocktail dresses and suits. If the party was truly a fancy affair, you could expect to see men in tuxedos and women in evening gowns.
Decorations
A New Year’s Eve party called for decorations. The 1950s was a time when one-use, paper décor items were popular. At a New Year’s Eve house party, guests could expect to see crepe paper streamers and accordion-style, tissue paper balls hanging from the suspended ceilings in the 1950s rec rooms.
Drinks
Alcohol flowed freely at mid-century New Year’s Eve parties. At the more sophisticated get-togethers, hosts and hostesses served mixed drinks, including Tom Collins, Manhattans, and Martinis. By the end of the 1950s, when Hawaii became a state, Americans embraced all things Hawaiian, including Pina Coladas made with pineapple juice and fruity Mai Tais. Of course, party goers toasted the new year with champagne.
Song and Dance
Put on the vinyl records; it’s party time! The 1950s marked a transition period for popular music in the United States. In the early years of the decade, music was still influenced by the big band era. Folks ringing in the new year in the early 1950s may have listened to Patti Page’s “Tennessee Waltz”, Tony Bennett’s “Cold, Cold Heart”, or Perry Como’s “Don’t Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes.” A few years later, as the decade was coming to a close, NYE party-goers danced to “Mr. Sandman” by The Chordettes, “At the Hop” by Danny and the Juniors, “You Send Me” by Sam Cooke, and of course, “Jailhouse Rock” by Elvis. During New Year’s Eve parties, however, the record player was silent as the clock approached midnight and the radio was clicked on. The revelers could count down the remaining moments of the current year along with the radio announcers.
Don’t Forget the Party Games
At a New Year's Eve party, guests could expect to play a party game or two. Parties of the 1950s were less raucous than those in coming decades so there were typically no wild Twister games. Instead, charades were a popular form of entertainment. Another fun game was called Rumor-Monger. It was a lot like the telephone game we played as kids. A phrase was whispered into someone’s ear and passed along from person to person. Then everyone laughed at how misconstrued it got.