This 1950s PSA On What Makes A Good House Party Is Bush League Propaganda

Socrates Johnson7 years ago

While drugs, musical genres, and other facets associated with party culture have evolved over the decades, the idea of what makes for a great house party has remained fairly constant. All you need is a house, a couple of good friends, some sort of background activity, and an illicit substance or two.

So, when — during one of my many meanderings through the time suck that is the YouTubes — I came across this 1950s PSA on what makes a good house party, it seemed hilariously misleading, even by 1950s standards.

The ’50s is a weird decade to me. The way it was portrayed in the media, everything was Leave It To Beaver, married couples slept in separate beds-type shit. But this was the decade of rock ‘n roll. Once Elvis started pop-locking those hips, it was game over, man. Long story short, the kids were getting down.

I refuse to believe, like this bush league propaganda video suggests, that kids actually dressed up all fancy like for house parties. I refuse to believe that the games they played were this fucking lame. I mean, even the actors look bored. I refuse to believe that there wasn’t any sort music playing whatsoever, that snacks were served in a buffet-style line or that everyone left “on time and courteously, too.”

Sure, adults controlling the narrative on “what your kids are/should be up to” has been a thing since Reefer Madness in the 1930s, and it still happens to an extent even now. Maybe it was actually a good thing, from the ’50s kids’ perspectives, that their parents assumed they were out there partying responsibly. But, for the sake of the hypothetical, this is how I imagine this ’50s house party video going down if it were really true to the times.

The voiceover guy comes through. “Hey-o, Daddy-o!” And then he starts snapping. The entire time, he’s just snapping and, every now and then, throwing out hip exclamations like “Cool!” and “Neat!” Then, like eight to ten kids pile into a house with several six packs of Budweiser in tow. The kid whose house it is daps up his guests ’50s-style, and then immediately heads over to the record player and puts on Rock Around The Clock. Dancing and boozing commences.

Later, we cut to spin the bottle as Jailhouse Rock plays. Jimmy spins the bottle and it lands on Susie. Everyone cheers. Jimmy and Susie head into a closet for a smooch sesh.

Another transition. Now, [insert slow Elvis song] is playing, and a few couples are slow dancing. Teddy is passed out on the couch. Nancy and Billy are ripping cigs. Joanie is arguing with Richie about why he hasn’t taken her in a ride in his new Thunderbird yet.

Close up on Susie and Jimmy. Their chemistry is off the charts tonight. She whispers something in his ear. His eyes light up. She grabs his hand and leads him upstairs. Jimmy gives one last look into the camera and flashes a wink.

Fade to black. The End..

[via YouTube/History Channel]

Image via YouTube Screenshot