Great Gatsby Party

Hire the NoteWorthy band to make your Great Gatsby party memorable!

Are you throwing a Great Gatsby party?

All things 1920s made a comeback with the remake of the Great Gatsby movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire. Great Gatsby themed parties are “all the rage” thanks to the release of the latest adaptation of F.Scott Fitzgerald’s novel the Great Gatsby set in the roaring 1920s.

To assist people that are planning to hold a swinging 1920s Great Gatsby themed event, the NoteWorthy band had provided a list of theme ideas below. If you are planning a Great Gatsby inspired dance, the NoteWorthy band has all the inspiration and ideas needed to make the event a roaring success!

THE BAND: VERY IMPORTANT! You need a band with dance music that people love. You need to have the band perform popular dance songs that they know in order to get them onto the dance floor. The NoteWorthy band is a well-established local band that will bring fantastic dance music to your Great Gatsby party including a FANTASTIC professional light show!

INVITATIONS: The 1920s was the age of Art Deco, so impress your guests at the outset with invitations reminiscent of the era!  Your invitations should include bold geometric shapes and rich colours, or perhaps 1920s figures.  To get the language just right, review the below list which comes from a “Flappers Dictionary” for a list of phrases and terms used in the 1920s.

DÉCOR: The event decor will very much depend on whether you want to re-create the opulence of the Great Gatsby and all things Art Deco, or a 1920s speak-easy during the times of prohibition.

  • Gramophones
  • An art deco bar
  • Vintage chaise lounges
  •  Movie posters from the era (to include ‘Way Down East’, ‘The Gold Rush’, ‘Ben-Hur’ etc)
  •  Pictures of popular celebrities from the time (Charlie Chaplin, Greta Garbo and so on…)
  • Plenty of lavish lamps and lighting
  • Lots of feathers (instead of flower arrangement, use a large plumes of feathers!)
  • String lights around potted plants and trees
  • Table decorations could include champagne glasses filled with pearls or candles in vintage teacups

Speak Easy/Prohibition decor ideas

  • Movie posters from the 20s
  • Pictures of popular celebrities/gangsters (i.e. Al Capone, Babe Ruth etc)
  • A casino or poker tables
  • Leave room for a dance floor
  • Ensure the space is cozy and darkly lit with candles on tables
  • Crates piled up in corners (make it look like the liquor is bootleg liquor)
  • Get guests to enter the venue via a door with a peephole (guests must give the doorman the ‘password’ to enter)
  • Bathtubs of ice filled with gin

 Costumes
: Get your guests to dress for the occasion!

Female 1920s Costume Idea

  • Ostrich feathers and plenty of pearls.
  • Long beaded gowns that are loose fitting, A-lined and with a low waist line.
  • Tassels
  • Hair dos to include the Marcel Wave
  • Cloche hats, headbands or turbans
  • Art deco inspired jewelry
  • Silk or rayon stockings held up with garters
  • Layers of beaded necklaces
  • Makeup to include blusher, red lipstick and kohl rimmed eyes.

 Male 1920s Costume Idea

  • 
Hair slicked to the side
  • Golf caps and matching suits
  • White spats
  • Clean cut faces
  • Zoot suits
  • Fedora hats
  • Vintage white linen suits

FOOD AND DRINK: Greet your guests with a mint julep, a classic drink from the era.  Also, champagne aplenty as Jay Gatsby’s parties are renowned for being extremely lavish!  Food choices include Chinese food selections as this was extremely popular at the time. Italian food was also the ‘in thing’ during the 20s as – along with Chinese food – it was seen as adventurous cuisine!  Other 1920s classic dishes include pretty much staple party food; salted nuts, popcorn, caviar, olives, shrimp cocktail etc.

WORDS AND PHRASES USED IN THE 1920S

  • Absent Treatment—Dancing with a bashful partner.
  • Airedale—A homely man.
  • Alarm Clock—Chaperone.
  • Anchor—Box of flowers.
  • Apple Knocker—A hick; a hay-shaker.
  • Apple Sauce–Flattery; bunk.
  • Barlow—A girl, a flapper, a chicken.
  • Bank’s Closed—No petting allowed; no kisses.
  • Barneymugging—Lovemaking.
  • Bee’s Knees—See “Cat’s Pajamas”
  • Bell Polisher—A young man addicted to lingering in vestibules at 1 a.m.
  • Bean Picker—One who patches up trouble and picks up spilled beans.
  • Berry Patch—A man’s particular interest in a girl.
  • Berries—Great.
  • Biscuit—A pettable flapper.
  • Big Timer—(n. masc.)—A charmer able to convince his sweetie that a jollier thing would be to get a snack in an armchair lunchroom; a romantic.
  • Billboard—Flashy man or woman.
  • Blushing Violet—A publicity hound.
  • Blouse—To go.
  • Blow—Wild party.
  • Blaah—No good.
  • Boob Tickler—Girl who entertains father’s out-of-town customers.
  • Brush Ape—Anyone from the sticks; a country Jake.
  • Brooksy—Classy dresser
  • Bust—A man who makes his living in the prize ring, a pugilist.
  • Bun Duster—See “Cake Eater”.
  • Bush Hounds—Rustics and others outside of the Flapper pale.
  • Cancelled Stamp—A wallflower.
  • Cake Basket—A limousine.
  • Cake Eater—See “Crumb Gobbler”
  • Cat’s Particulars—The acme of perfection; anything that’s good
  • Cat’s Pajamas—Anything that’s good
  • Cellar Smeller—A young man who always turns up where liquor is to be had without cost.
  • Clothesline—One who tells neighborhood secrets.
  • Corn Shredder—Young man who dances on a girl’s feet.
  • Crepe Hanger—Reformer.
  • Crumb Gobbler—Slightly sissy tea hound.
  • Crasher—Anyone who comes to parties uninvited.
  • Crashing Party—Party where several young men in a group go uninvited.
  • Cuddle Cootie—Young man who takes a girl for a ride on a bus, gas wagon or automobile.
  • Cuddler—One who likes petting.
  • Dapper—A flapper’s father.
  • Dewdropper—Young man who does not work, and sleeps all day.
  • Dincher—A half-smoked cigarette.
  • Dingle Dangler—One who insists on telephoning.
  • Dipe Ducat—A subway ticket.
  • Dimbox—A taxicab.
  • Di Mi—Goodness.
  • Dogs—Feet.
  • Dog Kennels—Pair of shoes.
  • Dropping the Pilot—Getting a divorce.
  • Dumbdora—Stupid girl.
  • Duck’s Quack—The best thing ever.
  • Ducky—General term of approbation.
  • Dud—Wallflower.
  • Dudding Up—Dressing.
  • Dumbbell-Wall flower with little brains.
  • Dumkuff—General term for being “nutty” or “batty”.
  • Edisoned—Being asked a lot of questions.
  • Egg Harbor—Free dance.
  • Embalmer—A bootlegger.
  • Eye Opener—A marriage.
  • Father Time—Any man over 30 years of age.
  • Face Stretcher—Old maid who tries to look younger.
  • Feathers—Light conversation.
  • Fire Extinguisher—A chaperone.
  • Finale Hopper—Young man who arrives after everything is paid for.
  • Fire Alarm—Divorced woman.
  • Fire Bell—Married woman.
  • Flap—Girl
  • Flat Shoes—Fight between a Flapper and her Goof
  • Fluky—Funny, odd, peculiar; different.
  • Flatwheeler—Slat shy of money; takes girls to free affairs.
  • Floorflusher—Inveterate dance hound.
  • Flour Lover—Girl who powders too freely.
  • Forty-Niner—Man who is prospecting for a rich wife.
  • Frog’s Eyebrows—Nice, fine.
  • Gander—Process of duding up.
  • Green Glorious—Money and checks.
  • Gimlet—A chronic bore.
  • Given the Air—When a girl or fellow is thrown down on a date.
  • Give Your Knee—Cheek-to-cheek or toe-to-toe dancing.
  • Goofy—To be in love with, or attracted to. Example: “I’m goofy about Jack.”
  • Goat’s Whiskers—See “Cat’s Particulars”
  • Goof—Sweetie.
  • Grummy—In the dumps, shades or blue.
  • Grubber—One who always borrows cigarettes.
  • Handcuff—Engagement ring.
  • Hen Coop—A beauty parlor.
  • His Blue Serge—His sweetheart.
  • Highjohn—Young man friend; sweetie, cutey, highboy.
  • Hopper—Dancer.
  • Houdini—To be on time for a date.
  • Horse Prancer—See “Corn Shredder”.
  • Hush Money—Allowance from father.
  • Jane—A girl who meets you on the stoop.
  • Johnnie Walker—Guy who never hires a cab.
  • Kitten’s Ankles—See “Cat’s Particulars”.
  • Kluck—Dumb, but happy.
  • Lap—Drink.
  • Lallygagger—A young man addicted to attempts at hallway spooning.
  • Lens Louise—A person given to monopolizing conversation.
  • Lemon Squeezer—An elevator.
  • Low Lid—The opposite of highbrow.
  • Mad Money—Carfare home if she has a fight with her escort.
  • Meringue—Personality.
  • Monkey’s Eyebrows—See “Cat’s Particulars”.
  • Monog—A young person of either sex who is goofy about only one person at a time.
  • Monologist—Young man who hates to talk about himself.
  • Mustard Plaster—Unwelcome guy who sticks around.
  • Munitions—Face powder and rouge.
  • Mug—To osculate or kiss.
  • Necker—A petter who puts her arms around a boy’s neck.
  • Noodle Juice—Tea.
  • Nosebaggery—Restaurant.
  • Nut Cracker—Policeman’s nightstick.
  • Obituary Notice—Dunning letter.
  • Oilcan—An imposter.
  • Orchid—Anything that is expensive.
  • Out on Parole—A person who has been divorced.
  • Petting Pantry—Movie.
  • Petting Party—A party devoted to hugging.
  • Petter—A loveable person; one who enjoys to caress.
  • Pillow Case—Young man who is full of feathers.
  • Police Dog—Young man to whom one is engaged.
  • Potato—A young man shy of brains.
  • Ritzy Burg—Not classy.
  • Ritz—Stuck-up.
  • Rock of Ages—Any woman over 30 years of age.
  • Rug Hopper—Young man who never takes a girl out. A parlor hound.
  • Sap—A Flapper term for floorflusher.
  • Scandal—A short term for Scandal Walk.
  • Scandaler—A dance floor fullback. The interior of a dreadnaught hat, Piccadilly shoes with open plumbing, size 13.
  • Seetie—Anybody a flapper hates.
  • Sharpshooter—One who spends much and dances well.
  • Shifter—Another species of flapper.
  • Show Case—Rich man’s wife with jewels.
  • Sip—Flapper term for female Hopper.
  • Slat—See “Highjohn”; “Goof”.
  • Slimp—Cheapskate or “one way guy”.
  • Smith Brothers—Guys who never cough up.
  • Smoke Eater—A girl cigarette user.
  • Smooth—Guy who does not keep his word.
  • Snake—To call a victim with vampire arms.
  • Snuggleup—A man fond of petting and petting parties.
  • Sod Buster—An undertaker.
  • Stilts—Legs.
  • Stander—Victim of a female grafter.
  • Static—Conversations that mean nothing.
  • Strike Breaker—A young woman who goes with her friend’s “Steady” while there is a coolness.
  • Swan—Glide gracefully.
  • Tomato—A young woman shy of brains.
  • Trotzky (sic)—Old lady with a moustache and chin whiskers.
  • Umbrella—young man any girl can borrow for the evening.
  • Urban Set—Her new gown.
  • Walk In—Young man who goes to a party without being invited.
  • Weasel—Girl stealer.
  • Weed—Flapper who takes risks.
  • Weeping Willow—See “Crepe Hanger”
  • Whangdoodle—Jazz-band music.
  • Whiskbroom—Any man who wears whiskers.
  • Wind Sucker—Any person given to boasting.
  • Wurp—Killjoy or drawback.