Entertaining Guests at Home Looked Way Different 60 Years Ago
Save us some of that cheeseball, will ya?
By 
The art of entertaining has been around for centuries. But when it comes to social gatherings, there are a lot of tips, tricks, and etiquette rules that have gone out of fashion since the heyday of the practice in the '50s and '60s. Here's a look back at how hosting guests at home has evolved over the years — from mailing invitations to dress codes to vintage dishes.
Invitations were sent by mail.
Even though telephones were fully functional, it was considered poor taste to extend an invitation any way other than by mail — which also guaranteed invitations were sent far in advance.
The guest list was carefully curated.
Parties were not just a way to socialize, but a way to fulfill obligations to acquaintances or colleagues. Guest lists were carefully combed over to include the most interesting guests who would enjoy each other, according to The Calvert Party Encyclopedia: "... blend a group which will enjoy each other's company and make for a pleasurable evening."
The host always greeted guests at the door.
The host's job was to guide the guests through the party from start to finish, from greeting them at the door to saying goodbye to them at the door.
Coats went straight into the closet.
To keep everyone's jackets safe, it was the job of the host to take the guest's coat and place it in a coat closet or a spare room. No draping your own coat over the arm of a chair!
Seating arrangements were crucial.
Some parties were more free-form, but if you had a formal dinner party, place cards were a must. For a great party, it was up to the host to seat their guests next to people they would have something in common with to talk about.
Dress codes were important.
No one wants to show up to an occasion over- or under-dressed. So no matter the kind of event — from casual backyard gatherings to family-friendly birthday parties — including the dress code on the invite was very common.
A lot of parties were formal.
People dusted off their jewels and dressed up for parties back in the day. From formal black-tie dinners to cocktail soirées, partygoers were dressed to the nines.
People brought out their fine china.
Again, it wasn't just your good friends that you'd entertain at these parties, but people you wanted to impress. So hosts would often polish their silver and bring out the fine china when hosting.
Flower arrangements were a must.
Every host knows that a floral centerpiece is the key to a tablescape. No one would be caught entertaining without a dramatic floral arrangement or greenery moment.
The evening started with hors d'oeuvres.
Hors d'oeuvres have remained the star of any good party since the 1950s. Even though we've drifted away from some of the go-to dishes of the time, appetizers like onion dip or anything wrapped in bacon are still in circulation today.
Usually a cheese ball was served.
The cheese ball was the food to bring or serve at a party during the '50s up until the late '70s. Serve it savory or sweet, there was no bad combination of flavors for the dish.
Menus were planned and prepped in advance.
When hosting a party, most people would prepare the food beforehand, so that everything was ready as soon as guests arrived. That way, the hosts could socialize and weren't stuck in the kitchen.
The bar was always fully stocked.
It was polite to make sure your liquor cabinet was up to snuff before hosting a shindig, so that you could make any drink guests requested. This was especially important given that hard liquor is what most people drank before dinner at the time.
The cocktails served were elaborate.
From Tom Collins and Gimlets to Martinis and Manhattans, people drank complex cocktails back in the day. If you were hosting, you had better be ready to whip up anything.
Presentation was everything.
Back in the '50s and '60s, it was almost just as important what the food looked like as how it tasted. We're talking fruit cornucopias, seafood towers, and don't even get us started on what they did to Jell-O.
Guests never helped themselves to a drink.
It would be considered rude if a guest helped themselves to the bar upon arrival, as it was the host's responsibility. Drinks were typically made in the kitchen or bar, then brought out to everyone.
But the punch bowl was fair game.
Punch bowls made things easier on the host, as it they could make a large serving and leave cups out for guests to help themselves. Just use caution: The punch was typically deadly.
Kids didn't eat with the adults.
Kids weren't often on the guest list at dinner parties back in the day. Instead, their dinner would be served before guests arrived and they would be sent to their bedrooms to play. Or, if they were invited, they sat at the kids' table.
Kids usually made an appearance before going to bed.
In a very The Sound of Music-esque manner, kids were brought out to say hello to guests before their bedtime. You may even remember your parents doing this with you if they entertained.
Kids had their own parties.
From birthday gatherings to holiday soirées, kids parties were much simpler than they are now, and typically just included some streamers, a cake, and presents.
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