World War I had ended, a strange new music from New Orleans was catching the ear of the nation, crazy-looking buildings were popping up all over the world and some women, known as flappers, were scandalizing the country with their bare ankles. This was the roaring ’20s. On Dec. 5, a simple step through the doors of the American Museum of Radio and

Electricity will bring that era back to life.

The event, known as Music for Moderns, is a one-night only costume party. Costumes are mandatory, and proceeds will go to the museum.

The whole interior of the museum will be transformed into a speakeasy lounge, with a bar, seating, a dance area and a stage for the many performances scheduled throughout the night. There will even be a hair salon, which will give people era-appropriate hair styles, such as the bob cut, which was popular among flappers during the 1920s, event organizer Marie Biondolillo said.

“The whole environment of the museum is going to immerse people into that era,” Biondolillo said. “Just the way the museum looks, with all the glorious radios and other gadgets, will transport everyone back to that time when everything seemed new and fun.”

Biondolillo and the other organizers of the event, Katie Rickard and Eric Holl, volunteered to help the museum. They were all recruited by coordinator Tracy Reilly, who works for the Whatcom County Opportunity Council.

“Usually I work with low-income and homeless people, but in these harsh economic times even museums are hurting,” Reilly said. “I met with the people at the museum, and they were great. The space is gigantic, so I knew I could do great things with it. When I considered all of that, I really wanted to do the benefit.”

Rickard, who is doing the interior decorating for the event, said this has been one of the most creative opportunities she has had. Her idea for the speakeasy theme was inspired by the museum’s radio station, KMRE 102.3 FM.

“The music they play: jazz, swing, ragtime. It just puts me in that mindset,” Rickard said. “The music evokes the kind of cool, laid-back feeling I want to create.”

The music for the event was specifically chosen to channel the intimate, traditional and simpler times of the 1920s.

“We chose to have bands like Pan Pan and All Creatures of Good Heart because they have that warm, instrumental feeling to their music,” Biondolillo said. “We didn’t want to book metal bands or anything like that. It would just be too jarring for the mood we’re trying to create.”

What got all of the organizers interested in participating was the act of creating a totally encompassing environment, in every way they could think of, Rickard said.

“The museum is pretty much going to be an installation art piece that won’t come together until the moment people in costume start walking in the door,” Biondolillo said. “This isn’t going to be something you just look at. You’ll be able to hear it, see it and feel it. Everyone will be a part of it.”

Museum volunteer Eric Holl said the moment he started putting up posters, he started getting questions from people already planning their costumes. This was a month before the event was scheduled to happen.

“I think this event is a testament to the support that is within the Bellingham art community,” Holl said.

Holl said he was drawn to help the museum because he could connect with it on a personal level. His father was a radio engineer. As a child, Holl was surrounded by electronics and radios and became fascinated with them.

“What I’m looking forward to the most is getting the museum filled with young people,” Holl said. “I want to shine the spotlight on this amazing resource. The museum is underfunded and underused, and it’s time to put an end to that. Hopefully, pumping up the vaudeville will help.”

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