I am planning "A Walk Down Memory Lane" party for my 75 year old father this August. It is not a birthday so it will come as a complete surprise. We've gathered old photos, had friends and family write memories for a scrap book and had everyone sign a quilt piece when they come in so we can make a memory quilt.
Don't forget some great oldies music. You can buy some CDs or download them from winmx or whatever you have. It will definitely add to the atmosphere and you could give the CDs as party favors. An idea for the background would be a mural of old cars and trucks. Or if you know someone with a classic car, have them bring it to the party for a photo opportunity. You could have three tables (one for each decade) and put the appropriate things on each; like candy from that time, little model cars, and pictures. You could ask your guests to come dressed in 30s-50s attire. Hope this helps.
How about having different guests dress in the different era's garb? As I don't know how many people you have coming, but you could have some come in roaring 20s, hip 50s, way cool 70s, etc. Two minutes of internet surfing would also give you 'lingo' from each time frame that they could use.
Don't forget how important music is. Start early with some really old stuff and move through the years.
You could also research what year major inventions came out, or major steps in history, or both. You can put them on a piece of cardboard with the year in large numbers and hang them from the ceiling, so you (and your dad) can see all the things he's seen. He's seen everything from the TV to the landing on the moon. Under each one, you could put the phrase "Where were you when...?". I hope these are helpful.
What about setting an old radio on the table. You can always buy them on eBay. That would make a nice pre-birthday gift. Add to the decor a chair with a doily on the back of it and have each guest pose with him using black and white film, of course.
Play some old-time jazz music from the Red-Hot Jazz website. Some of the stuff dates back form the 30s, Paul Whitemen's music ranges from the 20s to the 50s.
That sounds so sweet! Maybe you have seen how they do videos for funerals, well, not to sound morbid, but some of the old pics of him and his friends and family throught the years would be nice to show during the party.
