Controversial take: parties are fun. But what about vintage parties? I think they're even more funnerer. For example, take a look at this New Year's Eve party from 1959. It wouldn't be long before it would officially be the 1960s. Unfortunately, nothing of historical importance happened in the 1960s, which is why nobody ever talks about that decade.
"Let's not just have a party, let's have a costume party!". I'm not sure what that fellow on the left is supposed to be (he almost looks like a character from "Guys and Dolls"), but I like his checked suit. A LOT. His wife is a flapper from the 1920s, she loves dancing the Charleston and drinking a nice gin rickey.
My theory is that these two met when the guy played on the high school basketball team, and the gal was a cheerleader (or just a fan). It was love at first sight! He must have to duck to walk through doorways. She almost looks like another flapper, but I think she's more along the lines of a French chanteuse. Or a Bohemian? Or perhaps a Beatnik?
The man is embarrassed because nobody told him this was a costume party. "I feel so dumb in my ordinary day clothes!". His parachute pants look like they're made out of rain slicker material. Spill ketchup on them? Just hose 'em off! His wife is dressed as a saucy harem girl (with a heart of gold of course).
Next is a distinguished caballero (love that beard and mustache), I wonder if he knows Don Diego (aka "Zorro"?). He is smitten with this cheerful but fiery flamenco dancer (who is holding invisible castanets). Olé!
And finally, from New Year's Eve circa 1961 comes this amusing photo of a man who has partied just a bit too hearty. He's feeling no pain. His wisenheimer friends have covered him with a bunch of napkins, and he still clutches his dinner fork. Somebody placed small lampshade (?) on his head, and the cork from that bottle of rum sits in his mouth (maybe to stop his snoring?). He's going to have such a headache on the first morning of 1962.
I hope everybody has a very happy New Year's Eve!
I'm wondering if these folks rented their costumes of if they threw them together themselves? Some look rented, like the "distinguished caballero" with his gold embroidery and satin inlay. Others look home-made.
ReplyDeleteI bet the 'referee' really IS a referee at a local high school, so his costume was a snap.
The chips & dip bowl looks like it's patterned after a pumpkin. Or maybe it IS a pumpkin? (With the metal dip bowl set inside.)
Let us hope 2022 turns out better than the last two years. The way Covid is mutating, I'm afraid the Zombie Apocalypse is just around the corner!
Thanks Major.
Oh man! These pics are great and a perfect way to end the year. All these costumes look fun. The man with the rain slicker pants grabbed my attention first with his kicking back on the sofa with drink in hand. It reminds me so much of the adult parties my parents used to throw when I was a kid.
ReplyDelete2020 was the worst. 2021 wasn't great, but not nearly as bad as 2020. I'm thinking 2022 might be better, but I'll take it all one day at a time.
It's been another great year on Gorilla's Don't Blog. Thanks, Major and readers. Looking forward to more in 2022.
I love the costumes! What a great idea, to have a New Year's Eve/Costume party.
ReplyDeleteThat doesn't seem too smart to put a cork in the mouth of someone who is sleeping. Hopefully, that guy didn't end up choking on it! Anson Williams' uncle had not yet invented the Heimlich maneuver, so I don't know how much help he would have gotten, in 1959.
Ken, I agree. Taking it one day at a time, is best. Just as Bonnie Franklin used to do.
Happy New Year to you Major, and to all the Junior Gorillas out there!
Perfect pictures for the holiday, Major!
ReplyDeleteWishing all the best for you and the Junior Gorillas in 2022.
GDB is a continuous bright spot in my days and I am grateful for each of you.
JG
Major-
ReplyDeleteThat 'vest' on Mr. Parachute Pants either has a snazzy yellow 'lining', or it's actually reversible. Very fancy.
In the 4th image, that above-the-mirror-in-the-bathroom 'wall sconce' just thrown along the wall as an accent light, makes the scene look like a set from a 1960's TV show.
Poor 'ol Fred in the last image - when 'public drunkenness' was considered "a novelty". It looks as if he's taken the "advice" from the bottle of Lemon Hart Rum clutched in his hand, just a bit too seriously... LOOK HERE.
Best to all in 2022, and thanks Major for making each year better with GDB-!
JB, I assume that the costumes were mostly home-made, though the caballero’s costume must have been at least partly store-bought. If somebody shows up to a costume party in their work clothes, they should get a demerit and a frowny face.I think you’re right about the pumpkin!
ReplyDeleteK. Martinez, that shiny plastic material for those parachute pants is an odd choice. Heck, plain old cotton would have been lighter and more comfortable, and would have looked as good if not better. My mom and dad never threw a costume party at their home, but they went to a few, I still remember my dad going to one as a “hippie”, it was hilarious.
TokyoMagic!, I agree about the cork, it seems like a good snorer could accidentally inhale it. Didn’t they reboot “One Day at a Time”? I never watched the new version. Anson Williams’ uncle? Heimlich maneuver? Huh?
JG, I’m glad that GDB is here to add a smile to everyone’s day!
Nanook, always wear a reversible vest, that way you double your use. And if you never wash it, you can just keep flipping it inside out, it will take days for people to notice that it’s the same vest. LIFE ADVICE. Maybe these ARE from a 1960s TV show - in the seventh dimension. I can’t imagine drinking SO much at a party that I would actually conk out. How embarrassing. And yet I’m sure his friends thought it was hilarious. Lemon Hart Rum, who knew! YOU did.
And yes...our parents could have fun indeed...though we were sent to the bedroom by 10pm. It looked like so much fun too! I had forgotten that New Year's was the adult Halloween we kids enjoyed.
ReplyDeleteTo all...a better 2022 than the past two years. I'm thinking that Omicron, because of its easily transmittable yet general mild conditions, may give us the 'herd immunity' that humanity needs to control the virus. Not to say I'm willing to get it having all my shots and wearing masks. But I am hopeful this will be the year!
KS
The dashing caballero sort of looks like Johnny Carson. Play on air castanets is fun, but you have to make the noise with your tongue. It looks like a great party!
ReplyDeleteDon’t forget, 2022 is the year we start eating Soylent Green. Happy new year to all!
Now, these folks know how to party!
ReplyDeleteNanook, that truly is funny!
Here's something else that's funny...someone took the music-less Home Depot commercial and added Disney's Soaring. SEE HERE!
These past two years have been very challenging, to say the least.
I am VERY grateful for everyone on GDB and our Major - this is a FUN place to meet everyday.
Happy New Year!
Sue, thanks for the link to that video. Equal parts funny, entertaining, and thrilling. It pretty much works, too. Except when the camera/drone goes through a really small opening like the hole in the wreath. (I guess that's one of the funny parts!)
ReplyDeleteMelissa, I'm stocking up my pantry with Soylent Green as we speak! Where does that stuff come from anyway? ;-)
ReplyDeleteA costume New Year's party, what a genius idea! You get to use your Halloween costume twice a year. I like the black dog in photos 1-3, moving around the room. And yeah, poor guy in the last one. The lampshade on the head is hilarious but the cork in the mouth was taking it too far! Happy New Year Major and all; I'm looking forward to more great photos and stories from GDB in 2022.
ReplyDelete...and that's how 1962 became The Year of Bloody Revenge.
ReplyDeleteMajor, Anson Williams' uncle developed and promoted the Heimlich maneuver. Who knew? (Anson Williams' real name was Anson William Heimlich, but today people just call him Potsie.)
ReplyDeleteYes, they did reboot "One Day At A Time." I never watched it, but I guess it lasted from 2017 to 2020. Rita Moreno was in it.
Thanks Major and to all for GDB. A very nice place to visit a few times a day and practically perfect in every way. Happy New Year.
ReplyDeleteKS, my mom and dad both liked to play the ukulele, so when it was time to send the kids to bed, we often heard them playing music and singing! Kind a fun way to go to sleep. They did it at parties too, possibly much to the chagrin of the other partygoers. Hear hear, let’s go, 2022! We need a good year!
ReplyDeleteMelissa, ha ha, the quality of that fake beard is about what you’d expect Johnny Carson to wear! Soylent Green is made from abundant ocean plankton, I like it deep-fried.
Lou and Sue, first of all, I’m super impressed by the drone flying in that commercial! And I love the addition of the hanging feet. Brilliant. Thanks to you and all the Junior Gorillas for helping to keep me sane.
JB, I would like to see how they made that commercial, the drone-flying is truly amazing. Are there cuts that are cleverly hidden?
JB, don’t forget Soylent Red and Soylent Yellow… you need a balance diet.
Kathy! I didn’t even notice the dog! I wonder if the guy with the cork in the mouth ever knew that he was made the butt of that evening’s joke? For all we know, he woke up (groggily) and staggered to his car (with his wife driving, I hope), with only a vague memory of the night before.
Melissa, The Year of Bloody Revenge?
TokyoMagic!, I thought you were joking. Now I feel bad for telling Potsie to “Sit on it”. Oh right, the show with Rita Moreno! I love her, but never watched the show. Then again I don’t watch most shows.
Bu, thanks for helping to make GDB even more fun! Happy New Year to you.
Major-
ReplyDeleteI should've mentioned the artist responsible for the art work on the Lemon Hart bottles is none other than Ronald Searle. Noted for many New Yorker magazine covers, and the creator of the very-popular St. Trinian's cartoons seen in jolly old England. He "...contributed to the Lemon Hart advertising campaign for 11 years between 1951 and 1962. Mr. Searle’s iconic work for Lemon Hart Rum included design and illustration of magazine ads, recipe booklets and a series of original posters he created which ran on billboards during the 1950s".
Bloody revenge by the guy in the last picture against the people who took it.
ReplyDeleteI’ve figured out why he looked so familiar. The guy with the yellow pants is channeling the Genie from the Magic Lamp Motel across from Disneyland.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.flickr.com/photos/hollywoodplace/5078493708
Nanook, thanks for the rum bottle label info!
Cheers all!
JG
Yeah but, that Magic Lamp Motel Genie doesn't have any pants! (like Donald Duck)
ReplyDelete