There was a time, not so awfully long ago, when Hollywood seemed like a different world.

“It was this silver-lined bubble that floated in California, where life was perfect,” says Alison Franz, wine and spirits assistant manager with Hy-Vee.

You didn’t see pictures of stars having breakdowns or waddling around pregnant with their venti lattes.

In fact, you rarely saw stars, if not for the movies.

“It was such a different era,” Ms. Franz says, “such a different frame of mind.”

But Hollywood does still hold some of its early mythology, and at no time does that exist more than on Oscar night. This year, instead of putting on your sweats and ordering a pizza for the show, why not go old school and glam it up with an old Hollywood watch party?

It’ll take a little planning, some great clothes, good food, drinks and décor, but then you and your guests can return to a time when the studios were all powerful, the starlets full of hope and the 24-hour-news-cycles still decades away.

GONE WITH THE GLITTER

Setting the stage (apologies for the pun) is always essential to throwing a good party. You could just e-mail your invites, or text them, or even give your guests a call, but why not start the themed-ball rolling?

Oprah.com has a few ideas, from giving your guests envelopes that read “And the winner is ...” to using a piece of fabric that looks like a red carpet.

Also, you’ll have to decide if you’ll ask your guests to dress up (more on that below). If so, note that on the invitation, or you’ll be the only one in long white gloves and fur.

Once your guest list is confirmed, you’ll want to add some glam to your home.

First, of course, you’ll need a red carpet. You could make this with a few yards of red fabric, or try red cellophane, suggests Jennifer Dinning, event coordinator with Michael’s. Another thought: use a red table runner, sheet or tablecloth.

Hanging Christmas lights will add some nice sparkle to the mood lighting, and using aluminum foil you can make stars and hang them from the ceiling in the room where you’ll be watching.

Ms. Franz recommends putting confetti around, and when people come in, evite.com suggests snapping photos so they’ll feel like they’re really at a premiere.

For another Hollywood touch, Ms. Dinning likes the stepping stone kits that allows guests to imprint their hands, a la the walk of fame. If you’re low on time, money or just don’t want the mess, though, you could make one out of construction paper and have guests draw their hands when they arrive.

Also, be resourceful. Pull out anything you have around the house to add to the glamour — silver Mardi Gras beads, feather boas, silver trays for the snacks.

Linda Raines, manager at Rusty Chandelier, suggests finding some old movie posters to put on your walls. Try eBay or Amazon.com or just print out black and white photos of the stars on your computer and hang them up. In fact, Oscar.com, the event’s Web site, has movie posters dating back to the 1920s.

As favors for your guests, get some big costume jewelry to share, either from a thrift store or a craft store using rhinestones, Ms. Dinning says, or even get all the ladies ring pops and the men candy cigars.

The bonus of the ring pops — you won’t need any security following you around to watch the jewels until the end of the night.

MY FAIR COSTUME

You have lots of options for costumes, but Ms. Dinning thinks dressing up is the way to go.

“It would make it more fun, I think, to be fancy.”

You could revive an old bridesmaid or prom dress, or find something simple and slinky at a thrift store. Think Gretta Garbo, Ms. Franz says, in a long white dress with your hair pulled up. Men can wear suits or smoking jackets and carry cigars.

“You know,” she says, “the old Clark Gable kind of thing.”

For the more creative out there, challenge your guests to come as their favorite old Hollywood stars, or, one better, their favorite Oscar-winning old Hollywood stars.

Ms. Raines also suggests finding some vintage hats and bags, which she says her store carries, to complete the look. And of course, don’t skimp on the costume jewelry.

Evite.com also recommends having extra feather boas handy and maybe some cheap sunglasses so your guests can maintain their mystique.

THE SOUND OF

MARTINIS

Like the other elements of your party, your food and drink options are many.

Ms. Franz suggests a martini theme with a baguette, caviar, salmon mousse and shrimp or olives wrapped in bacon. Offer different types of martinis already prepared on a silver tray.

Another option, she suggests, is champagne for toasting all the big awards.

But you can take old school in another direction, too, by serving classic movie theater food. Ms. Dinning likes that option.

“Definitely, you got to have popcorn,” she says.

Add the typical candy you find at theaters, plus hot dogs, and your guests will leave full, and unlike the movie theaters, not broke.

ALL ABOUT GAMES

Finally, when all the planning is complete, you will just be having people over to watch TV. Add some games, however, and your party will keep crackling.

Ms. Franz likes Twister. Don’t play anything that’s too involved, she says, or takes your attention away from the show.

You can play various trivia games, too. Oscar.com has trivia about the history of the Oscars, how the statues are made and who past winners were. Ms. Dinning even suggests giving each guest an index card with the name of an Oscar winner, having them tape it on without seeing who they are, then inviting the guests to mingle and give each other hints until each can guess their identity.

Whatever décor, dress, food and games you decide on, an old Hollywood watch party just might offer what Hollywood used to.

“It’s the epitome of what Americans visualized their lives could be,” Ms. Franz says of the time. “... It’s the momentary escape.”

That, at least, hasn’t changed.

Lifestyles reporter Kristen Hare can be reached at kristenhare@npgco.com.