Party Like It’s 1940
I’ve been getting ready to move, and in one of my boxes, I found an old book of party games from 1940. I remember the book from my childhood (in the 1980s, not 1940s), as I used to spend hours combing the pages for games that I could play with my little sisters. Incidentally, I was really lucky to have two sisters, as most of the games wouldn’t have worked with just one.
Anyway, I thought I’d share a couple of the games, given how silly most of them seem now. It’s hard to believe that any of these were ever termed “Party Games for Adults & Juniors”. If you’re looking for a zany good time, you should try a few…
The Complete Book of Games by Clement Wood & Gloria Goddard: Some games have been shortened because I’m too lazy to type all their examples.
Game 1: Nut Questionnaire -
Provide silly questions. Score is given for the cleverest answer in each case. Possible questions:
Who killed the Dead Sea?
Why is the Fourth of July? (Y is the 4th letter of July)
Who is the Admiral of the Swiss navy?
Which is the other side of the street?
What is the diameter of a square?
Game 2: Advertising Slogans -
Provide each guest with a list of 20 or more familiar advertising slogans to be identified. Such as: Ask the man who owns one. (Packard.) Eventually, why not now? (Chase and Sanborn’s Coffee.) Be nonchalant; light a _____. (Murad Cigarettes.) Not a cough in a carload. (Old Gold Cigarettes.) Just a real good car. (Dodge.) Keep that schoolgirl complexion. (Palmolive Soap.) Your best friend won’t tell you. (Listerine.)
Game 3: Big Game Hunt -
Animals crackers are hidden in the room or the house. The couple who finds the largest number wins; or the crackers may be numbered, and the numbers added to determine the winner. After the crackers are found, have the guests each select their favorite animals; each one is then asked to imitate the noise of the one he has chosen.
Game 4: Honeymoon Breakfast, Embarrassing Moments -
The guests are paired. Each pair draws from a container a slip containing instructions to act out or represent some embarrassing moment. As:
The first honeymoon breakfast - and no eggs.
The old maid finds the burglar under her bed.
She is trying to make Him propose.
She goes to dinner with Him - and meets hubby.
These may be amusing, or embarrassing. The acting must be pantomime, but wordless sounds, such as laughter, may be used. The other players try to guess the situation being acted. The correct guesser scores one. If no one guesses, the actors score 1 each. High score for the evening wins. (**Does this really create the right kind of incentive for the actors??)