Aurora Picture Show Prom packs a (spiked) punch

How much more enjoyable would high school prom have been if we were legal, the tunes were more tasteful and a little bit of ironic video art were thrown in?

The answer was revealed on Saturday evening's Aurora Picture Show bash at the Eldorado Ballroom. Vintage film enthusiasts and those looking to relive those not-so-golden years filled the Third Ward haunt to participate in a classic costume contest, view vintage etiquette videos and sip on a lighted fountain of spiked punch.

Contest champions include Prom King and Queen, Scott Howard and Marisa Avelar, with "Best Hair" going to Paige Swift. Tria Wood and Ronald Stein won the "Best Outfit" award in their respective gender's category.

A/V Geeks film curator Skip Elsheimer hand-picked a choice variety of 16mm films culled from his own collection of educational and found films, dating back to the early 1950s. "These are the types of films one remembers seeing in junior high," Aurora's Delicia Harvey tells CultureMap.

The subject matter focused on social etiquette and party going, like the fear tactic-infused The Last Prom and As Others See Us (oddly, produced by The Dairy Council). The flick Getting Closer featured adolescent protagonist Greg deciding whether to brave the school dance or while away at home with his lizard. Attendees revisited teen drama-rama with It's a Thought, featuring a junior high girl fantasizing about being a popular kid at a school dance.

Guests decked out in fluffy gowns and Value Village tuxes bumped to all-time prom favorites like Journey's "Faithfully," "Time After Time" by Cyndi Lauper and "Forever Young" by Alphaville.

Played hooky on Saturday's prom? Watch 1953's As Others See Us here:

Or, for a taste of the soundtrack, watch the original music video of Alphaville's "Forever Young":