Period Piece

Last year’s 1940s WWII Ball, held in a hangar at the Boulder Airport, was a surprise success. “We’d expected 200 people, and 600 turned up,” says event organizer Khyentse James. And this year will be twice as big — literally. The ball will be held in a bigger hangar, and the theme is a USO-style show with Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland and the Andrews Sisters. “We’ll have a WWII-era plane flying overhead with some skydivers jumping out with a giant American flag. It’ll land, and out will come Bob, Frank and all the stars,” James says. “They’re going to run up on stage, and then Bob’s going to host a show with singing and dancing.”

There will also be a nine-piece band, aerial dancing, a WWII-era tank, a Tango Tango lounge where people can watch WWII videos, and cigarette girls serving hors d’oeuvre. “At the end, we’ll have a costume contest and a balloon drop announcing the end of the war with an actual WWII radio announcement, and a conga line,” James adds.

You can also expect an aerial dancer performing on a propeller, as well as wine, champagne and cocktails, a slew of WWII re-enactors in period costume and much more. Tickets to the 7 p.m. gala are $25 in advance, $30 at the door. The Boulder Airport is at 3393 Airport Road in Boulder. Visit www.1940swwiiball.org for more information.

Sat., June 19, 7 p.m., 2010