The Happy Face is an icon of the 1970s.
The 1970s were a sort of antidote to the turbulent 1960s. Instead of hippies in flowing outfits being relegated to the fringes of society, mainstream America was embracing their free thinking ideals along with platform shoes, hot pants and disco music. The waterbed became a home fashion statement as did the shag carpet and lava lamps. Recreate this colorful era for your next theme party. Does this Spark an idea?
Happy Face Party
A Happy Face party is perfect for the younger crowd. The round yellow ball with the wide smile and laughing eyes was invented in 1964 by Harvey Ball, but the Happy Face took off in the 1970s when the words "Have a nice day" were added. The smiley face is still used in today's emails and is the precursor of the emoticon. Plan a Happy Face-themed party for a birthday or even a slumber party. Put up Happy Face posters. Give Happy Face stickers as party favors. Create a pin-the-smile-on-the-Happy-Face game. Have a drawing contest to see who can make the best Happy Face. Make a round yellow cake and draw the smile and eyes on with contrasting icing. Put some 1970s music on and teach the kids some age-appropriate disco dance moves.
Disco Dance Party
It just wouldn't be a disco dance party without a multifaceted disco ball rotating in the center of the room. Strobe lights, fog machines and seating areas, made up of bean bag chairs and low slung coffee tables adorned with lava lamps, all add an authentic look to your 1970s event. For music, play some vintage Bee Gees, Village People, Donna Summer or ABBA. To get people in the mood to get up on their feet and dance, show "Saturday Night Fever" on a big screen TV. Ask your guests to dress in 1970s clothing. Suggestions include satin jackets, open neck, wide lapelled shirts with giant medallions rather than ties, hot pants, mini skirts and just about anything made out of skin-hugging Lycra. Don't forget the platform shoes. You can always take them off to dance.
Hawaii Five-O Party
Break out the aloha shirts, the grass skirts and the coconut bras. "Hawaii Five-O" was one of the most popular television shows running during the 1970s. Turn your summer 1970s party into a "Hawaii Five-O" luau. Decorate your backyard with plastic blow-up palm trees, acres of flowers and maybe some fish netting with colorful fish splashing along a fence. Party attire could be anything from casual Hawaiian clothes, which haven't changed much since the 1970s, to the dark suits that Jack Lord wore in his role as Steve McGarrett. Have a contest to see who can say "Book 'em Dano!" with the most authority. Play Hawaiian music from the show. Dance the hula. As far as food, there may not be room to dig a traditional imu pit oven and roast a whole pig all day long, but roast pork, rice and fruit salad, heavy on the pineapple and mangoes, works just fine. Don't forget the haupia, or coconut milk pudding.
Tags: Happy Face, Hawaii Five-O, disco dance, lava lamps, platform shoes