Post Prohibition Cocktail Party Etiquette

“Jause” al Fresco?— In Vienna, it’s usually a cold snack, or a cold meal, served in between the standard breakfast, lunch and dinner. A charcuterie board or cheese, fruits and nuts with wine will qualify, as will even cake and coffee.

Gay, Informal Games, and Food to Go With Them for Cocktail Hour

HOMES at 4 o'clock pause in the day’s occupation that is known in America as the “cocktail hour.” In England it is known as “tea.” In gay Vienna, by the Danube, it is called the "jause."

Since the repeal of Prohibition the cocktail hour has become a feature of American social life and an afternoon institution of the smart hotel and club. And with the Christmas holidays upon us this hour should be one that promotes happiness and good cheer more than any other. This is one time that you can throw your doors open wide to your friends and neighbors.

Questions regarding the etiquette of this new entertaining form are often received: For example, how long is the cocktail party, what is the correct dress, the proper hour to arrive, the right thing to serve?

Cocktail time is between the hours, of 4 and 6, or 5 and 7. Guests come and leave as at a tea, when they please. The cocktail hour is more apt to extend late into the evening if the guests begin to enjoy themselves thoroughly.

No entertainment but conversation and congenial company is provided, and one is expected to go on for dinner somewhere else. However, the host or hostess can start a few games.

ALTRUISM

Each one is asked to write down a stunt that anyone can do. These stunts are collected, mixed up and then passed around. Each person is then “ordered” to do the stunt written out on the slip of paper given him. Oh, boy! Some fun!

STAR WITNESS

A few of the guests, not more than four or five, get together and plan a short and exciting murder case. Although the case is only outlined. it must be complete and provide such details as names, type of weapon used, the address, habits, and appearance of the principal participants.

The conspirators return to the rest of the guests and act out the murder scene they have concocted. The acting must not take more than five minutes and may be done in less

When the acting of the crime is over, a list of questions which are prepared by the conspirators is read off to the other guests who have just viewed the enactment of the crime. The guests are given pencil and paper and without talking to each other must write down their impressions of the true answers and sign their names at the bottom.

Questions that may be asked are: What did the murderer say just before he committed the crime? Was there a girl involved?

What caused the murder?

There are the kind of questions that test the observation of the “witnesses.” The actual questions will depend on the crime enacted.

BLOWN EGG OR THE EMPTY LUNG

Prior to the arrival of your guests take a raw egg, puncture a hole in each end with a pin and then blow through one of the holes until all of the inside of the egg has been blown out through the other hole, Caution must be taken to see that the skin inside the shell is well punctured; otherwise the egg won't empty. This empty egg-shell is your equipment.

Mark off the table exactly in half. Half of the players may be arranged around one side of the table and the other half on the other. All players must be on their knees so that their mouths are even with the top of the table. Now place the egg-shell in the center of the table.

At a given signal, everyone starts to blow. The object is to get the egg off one side of the table or other, by blowing it over the edge. Each time the egg-shell goes over the edge, it scores a point for the side opposing.

DISTRICT ATTORNEY

Everyone is a judge in this game. Divide the guests into two sides. Form them into two rows facing each other. Now the host or hostess announces he is the "District Attor- ney" and may ask anyone any question that occurs to him. He now starts to pace up and down between the rows.

He stops wherever he wishes and asks someone a question. However, the one he addresses is not the one who must answer-it is the one directly opposite.

The object is for the District Attorney to make the person to whom he speaks answer his questions or to catch the one who should answer it, off guard.

If the person spoken to by the District Attorney answers the ques- tion put to him, or if the person op- posite who should answer fails to do so promptly, the one who misses must become District Attorney. The District Attorney takes the player's seat.

If the person spoken to by the District Attorney answers the question put to him, or if the person opposite who should answer fails to do so promptly, the one who misses must become District Attorney. The District Attorney takes the player's seat.

These games are especially good if the group is not well-acquainted. The only type of food served with cocktails is canapés, chilled crisp and provided in great variety.

There is no need to dress for this informal cocktail hour. Guests arrive from playing bridge, golf, tennis, shopping or from the office. Street clothes are proper even for the hostess, although the picturesque, floor-sweeping hostess gown makes her that much more charming.

A suggested few appetizers for the successful cocktail party:

When gin or vermouth is used in the cocktails, an excellent hors d'ouevre is Melba toast spread with relish. Canapé spreads are sardine and egg: pineapple and chicken, crabmeat and onion; minced ham and egg: deviled ham and mushrooms; fresh shrimp with mayonnaise: parsley and capers; Roquefort and cream cheese; boned anchovies with sliced hard-cooked eggs.

All is not the high priced pate de foie gras that seems to be. A harmless way of deceiving your guests is with “mock pate de foie gras” canapés. Use the finest knife of your meat chopper and grind a cup of boiled calves liver and a quarter-cup of cooked mushrooms. Combine with three tablespoons of mayonnaise and salt and pepper to taste. Blend thoroughly and spread on canape biscuits. Serve these sophisticated tid-bits with slices of lemon.

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia