4. “Hobo Party” was actually pretty rude.
During the Great Depression, the idea of a “hobo” was actually kind of charming and endearing. People even admired hobos in a way, because they were seen as adventurers who had the freedom to jump on the next train and travel across the country. Of course, the reality of a hobo’s life was very different than the romanticized version.
A “Hobo Party” was themed entirely around pretending that you were homeless. Party guests showed up dirty, and wearing their oldest clothing. All of the games were themed around the idea of being homeless, like one game similar to “musical chairs”, except that players had to jump on top of crates that were supposed to be box cars. When it was time to eat, party guests had to knock on neighbor’s doors to beg for sandwiches, beer, and spare change. Party hosts were supposed to let their neighbors know ahead of time that they were getting ready to play an adult version of trick-or-treat, and provide food for them beforehand. This tradition was strange and downright insulting, so it’s not surprising that it didn’t last long.