Figure 1.-- Here we see the kids at a birthday party in the 1950s. The boys were dressed up--sort of. Notice the girl is wearing a dress. They look mostly like 1st graders (6year olds). We had our parties in the backyard. We are not sure where this party is taking place. The photograph may come from Canada.

I certainly remember my parties in the late-1940s and early- 50s. These are the ones I remember. Party hats and these little blow trumpet tooting affairs were popular. My birthdays were rather informal affairs. Clothing varied. We did not dress up, but did not come in beat up play clothes. As attitudes were changing, we see some parties in which some boys dressed up in suits and other kids wore casual clothing. Girls were more likrly to dress up. Almost all wire dresses, many their party dresses. Some families at the time were more likely to dress up their kids. We think this had most to do with social class. Well to do families were most likely to have the kids dress up for birthday parties. The parties continued to be almost all home affairs. I do recall one outing to a local park (my birthday was in August). Mostly mostly they were informnal home affairs. We played standard party games like 'Pin the Tail on the Donkey' and 'Musical Chairs'. This was all conducted out in the yard. Parties diring the Winter of course had to indoors affairs. Birthday cakes were the only cakes I don't recall mom baking. There were burgers and hot dogs for eats and of course ice cream to go with birthday cake. I don't recall Cokes and other carbonated beverages. I think we had Kool Aide. Ice cream was a little tricky at the time as until after mid-decade most people only has refrigerators with very small freezer compartments, meaning it could not be stored.

Created: 7:09 PM 8/5/2020
Last updated: 7:09 PM 8/5/2020