The Murder
We’ve hired a professional murder mystery company with experienced performers to weave the tale of murder, gang intrigue, and prohibition. The mystery starts at the beginning of the evening so don’t arrive late!

The Music
The 1920’s marked the beginning of the Jazz Age - an era of ragtime, the Charleston, the shimmy, and the beginnings of swing and big band. THEMUSEUM is not one to disappoint – we’ll have a live band from the Jazz Room and a DJ from Maxwell’s Music House playing and spinning the biggest hits from Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and Bix Beiderbecke. Trained dancers from Fred & Ginger Dance Studios will perform and might pull you out of the crowd to learn some of the steps!

The Look
For woman: bobbed or shortly cut hair topped with a cloche hat or bejeweled headband with a feather. A finger weave in the hair is also a good option. Dresses were straight with a dropped waistline and finishing just below the knees. Arms were bared as well. And don’t be shy with the Art Deco accessories – lots of flare and you’ll fit right in.


For men: definitely less outrageous but still cool. Short suit jackets, 3 piece suits, straight pants, double breasted vests, wide trousers (Oxford Bags) – any combination of these will work. Sports clothes like sweaters or short trousers (knickers) were also in fashion. And don’t forget your hat! Top hats, fedoras, trilbys, straw boaters, and newsboy caps will do.

 
The Scene
THEMUSEUM will be transformed into two spaces. The main atrium will be a Jazz Dance Hall with your local Speakeasy hangout in the room off to the side. Lots of red velvet on one side, many barrels and ropes on the other side. A huge bar will serve your adult beverage needs while a silent film will be projected to suit your cultural needs.

The Slang
This party is going to be the Cat’s Meow, the Bee’s Knees if you will. You’ll be the Big Cheese if you can master this slang:
Ab-so-lute-ly – affirmative
Applesauce- an expletive same as horsefeathers, As in "Ah applesauce!"
Bank's Closed - no kissing or making out - i.e. - "Sorry, Mac, the bank's closed."
Bee's Knees - An extraordinary person, thing, idea; the ultimate
Big Cheese - The most important or influential person; boss. Same as big shot
Bum's rush - ejection by force from an establishment
 Bump Off - To murder, To kill
Cat's Meow or Cat’s Pajamas - Something splendid or stylish; similar to bee's knees; The best or greatest, wonderful.
Copacetic - Wonderful, fine, all right
Don't take any wooden nickels - Don't do anything stupid
Drugstore Cowboy - a guy that hangs around on a street corner trying to pick up girls
Flat Tire - A dull witted, insipid, disappointing date. Same as pill, pickle, drag, rag, oilcan
Hair of the Dog - a shot of alcohol
"Now you're on the trolley!" - Now you've got it, now you're right!
On the lam - fleeing from police
Putting on the Ritz - after the Ritz hotel in Paris; doing something in high style
Spifflicated - Drunk. The same as canned, corked, tanked, primed, scrooched, jazzed, zozzled, plastered, owled, embalmed, lit, potted, ossified or fried to the hat
Take for a Ride - To drive off with someone in order to bump them off
You slay me - that's funny

Party Time!
That pretty much sums it up. Make sure you have your tickets, your “glad rags” (going out on the town clothes), and hope your date is not a flat tire (disappointing date) – it’s time for the Murder Mystery Masquerade!