• Sock hops, diners and soda shops bring the 50s to life. The decade provides a great deal of inspiration for birthday parties. The birthday party theme works well for honorees who were born in the decade or those who simply appreciate that period in history. A birthday party cake that embodies the 50s takes center stage at the party.
  
  

Record

• A vinyl record cake is a simple idea that fits the 50s birthday party theme. Bake the cake in a round pan. Cut a small circle out of the middle of the record cake using a round cookie cutter. Ice the cake with black frosting. Use a cake decorating comb to make the grooves on the record. Spin the cake on a turntable holding the comb steady to make even grooves around the cake. Make up a song title using the guest of honor's name.
  
  

Jukebox Cake

• Use a sheet cake as a base for a jukebox birthday cake. Make a jukebox-shaped template on a piece of thin cardboard. Place the template on top of the cooled sheet cake and cut around it with a knife. Ice the cake with a brown base color of frosting. Add the details to make the cake look like a jukebox. The amount of detail added to the cake depends on your personal preference and your cake decorating skills.
  
  

Poodle Skirt Cake

• Use a dome-shaped cake as the poodle skirt for this 50s themed cake. You can purchase a specialty dome cake pan or use a Pyrex bowl for baking the cake. Cover the dome cake with pink fondant, making a few folds along the bottom to make it resemble a skirt. Pipe a poodle image on the skirt using buttercream icing. Another option is to cut out the poodle shape from rolled fondant. Add a buttercream icing ruffle along the bottom of the cake. You can leave the cake as the poodle skirt or add a doll pick to the cake to turn it into a 50s girl. Doll picks are available at craft stores in the cake decorating section. Create the dress bodice by piping buttercream icing on the doll pick.