Home And Family USA

In the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, the disco craze swept the nation. Popularized by John Travolta in “Saturday Night Fever”, it spread like a wild fire. The youth could not resist the lighted dance floors, many faceted mirrored disco balls, and the flashy outfits with massive lapels and ridiculously pointed collars. The disco craze became a national sport of sorts. Dances became duels to see who could out perform their opponent. Fans even used empty delivery vans and truck trailers for their dance fests. It’s contagious and once you have it, that’s it. You’re done for or so they say.

The disco costume is easily recognized. Some dead giveaways are greased hair, muttonchops, giant sideburns, polyester outfits, bell bottom suit pants, Afro’s, glitter eyeshadow, body glitter, and a ton of makeup. The dance clubs, studios, and trucks features see-through floors in which multi-colored lights flashed erratic, fast-paced strobe effects, quick enough to give a person a seizure. There were usually reflectors all over walls and ceilings to further add to the frenetic lighting, warming the already overheated dance palaces.

To replicate a good disco costume, get a copy of “Saturday Night Fever”, the classic disco movie of the time. Take a few notes and sketch out the look you want. Just remember, polyester is the quintessential fabric of the authentic disco costume.

If you’re an aspiring groovy guy, here are some guidelines. You need a suit with matching pants and jacket, in a solid color. Jackets require the giant, extra pointy lapels and are no longer than hip length. Oh yes, it’s imperative that the pants be wide bell bottoms. Shirts should contrast loudly with the suit color, with a greatly over sized collar which protrudes considerably over the jacket lapel. A vest under the jacket adds to the authentic disco costume look. Wow! Unless you’re an able seamstress, both suits and shirts must be ferreted out in retro shops, as you won’t find anything suitable at the mall. Greased hair, along with Afros were the best hair choices. If you’re not black, forget the Afro. Go for the grease. If your hair’s thin and not highly “greaseable”, purchase a wig in the Travolta style.

Now some tips for you hopeful foxy chickies. A tube top with lots of belly showing is the real thing. Tank tops will not do, a mortal sin of disco costume fashion. Hip hugger, bell bottom pants are de rigeur. Lots of large, colorful and admittedly gaudy jewelry, along with a lot of makeup is a must. Body glitter, anywhere and everywhere, brightly colored eyeshadow, thick fake eyelashes and shiny lip gloss are all necessary to your authentic disco costume. As for hair, chicks should choose either an Afro or a waist length pin straight wig. Oddly enough, women not of color look better in Afros than men, so take your pick. Before you walk out the door, both groovy guys and foxy chickies must complete their disco costume with platform shoes. Go get ‘em!

When I was in the store the other day I noticed my daughter was looking at a Darth Vader mask that was sitting on the shelf near the cart. She had never seen the movie “Star Wars”, but she was quite intrigued with the mask. My husband had good chuckle when he saw her looking at the mask and he went over to push the button at the bottom. When he did this my daughter jumped in the air as the voice started talking. Though she thought it was cool to look at, she did want anything more to do with it after that.

When I was young, my cousin also had a Darth Vader mask. It was over 20 years ago and I remember it very clearly. My cousin was very into the “Star Wars” trilogy and we would often have fake sword fights in the backyard. We would use tree branches as swords and we were always careful not to really hurt each other. He would often wear a Darth Vader mask when we were playing, even though it was far from his favorite character. Everyone knows Darth Vader was deemed a bad guy, but he was still immensely popular with the kids.

Today, the Darth Vader mask is something that many kids play with and the sound effects are very real. When I was a kid I had to make my own sound effects and I have to wonder if that wasn’t more fun. Though the sound effects of the new Darth Vader mask sounds much like James Earl Jones, I think we had more fun using our own voice instead. I wish there were more toys today that allowed a child to use their own imagination instead of supplying the noises themselves. I almost feel strange around toys that can do so much for themselves as it is.

Unless I can find an old Darth Vader mask I guess I will have to get her the talking one if she decided she is no longer afraid of it. My husband momentarily considered buying it for himself, but when he thought about how scared she was he put it back on the shelf for another day. Perhaps in a few years she will enjoy these toys more than she does now, but until that time, I am happy to make the sound effects for her. The Darth Vader mask may not even be out by then, but I am sure they will be another talking toy on the shelf that she will wish to have.