How to Make Summer Watermelon Punch for a 1940s Party

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Spiked watermelon beach party in San Diego, 1948.
Spiking the watermelon. Guitar optional.Allan Grant—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
By Eliza Berman

A 1940s beach party might conjure images of chaste bathing suits and innocent fun, but even the party people of yesteryear had a few tricks up their sleeves. One of the best: spiked watermelon. It may seem like an invention of the Girls Gone Wild era, but beachgoers have been pouring vodka into their watermelons since Joe Francis’ parents were in diapers.

Times have changed since LIFE photographed this spiked watermelon party in 1948, but the recipe is still as simple as ever: about 3 cups of vodka funneled into a 10 lb. watermelon to spike the fruit itself; or into a hollowed-out rind along with the juices of the melon, to create a punch served inside the fruit. Bonus points for huddling around the melon Kumbaya-style and sipping through straws side by side.

Liz Ronk, who edited this gallery, is the Photo Editor for LIFE.com. Follow her on Twitter @lizabethronk.

Spiked watermelon beach party in San Diego, 1948.
Spiked watermelon beach party in San Diego, 1948.Allan Grant—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Spiked watermelon beach party in San Diego, 1948.
The ingredients: liquor, a watermelon. The tools: a knife, a spoon, a bowl.Allan Grant—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Spiked watermelon beach party in San Diego, 1948.
Removing the top of the watermelon.Allan Grant—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Spiked watermelon beach party in San Diego, 1948.
Scooping out the contents of the watermelon.Allan Grant—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Spiked watermelon beach party in San Diego, 1948.
Straining the watermelon juices and snacking along the way.Allan Grant—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Spiked watermelon beach party in San Diego, 1948.
Straining watermelon juice back into the watermelon.Allan Grant—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Spiked watermelon beach party in San Diego, 1948.
Pouring the liquids back into the watermelon.Allan Grant—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Spiked watermelon beach party in San Diego, 1948.
Spiking the watermelon. Guitar optional.Allan Grant—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Spiked watermelon beach party in San Diego, 1948.
Feasting on the leftover fruit.Allan Grant—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Spiked watermelon beach party in San Diego, 1948.
Sipping the final product through straws.Allan Grant—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Spiked watermelon beach party in San Diego, 1948.
Caption from LIFE. Dusk on the beach, finds Californians still playing "horsie" or stretched out sipping watermelon punch.Allan Grant—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Spiked watermelon beach party in San Diego, 1948.
Huddled round the watermelons for warmth and sustenance.Allan Grant—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images

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Write to Eliza Berman at eliza.berman@time.com