Last modified: Sunday, November 2, 2008 1:26 AM EST The fashions of the Jazz Age of the Roaring Twenties were on display during Saturday night's Great Gatsby Gala at the Attleboro Public Library. The event celebrated the city's communitywide reading of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel about the Roaring Twenties, "The Great Gatsby" as part of the 1 ABC Big Read community program. (Staff photos by Tom Maguire) The Twenties roar back into Attleboro BY STEPHEN PETERSON SUN CHRONICLE STAFF ATTLEBOROThe Roaring Twenties was the era of Prohibition, jazz and some catchy dances, and the decade was back for at least one night in the city Saturday night. Entering the Attleboro Public Library downtown was like stepping back into time as the Great Gatsby Gala was held as the highlight for this year's 1 ABC and The Big Read program, the communitywide read of "The Great Gatsby" novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald that is set in the 1920s. Dress at the gala resembled '20s style, and dances such as "The Charleston" were the craze again to the sounds of a top-notch local jazz band. Dozens of men were sharply dressed in vested suits, suspenders and hats that ranged from straw to fedoras, dozens of women in evening dresses with boas and other '20s garb. The color was mostly black. And the strongest beverage being served was punch. This being the time of Prohibition - the outlawing of alcohol - it was most appropriate that three women rotated in a circle at the entrance of the library with protest signs reading "Lips That Touch Liquor Will Not Touch Ours," and "Vote No on the 18th Amendment," which repealed Prohibition in 1933. All that was missing was a vintage 1920s automobile rolling up to the front door, and maybe one or two of those arrived later. On the library's second floor, the periodical and large-print room was turned into a dance hall, with couples dancing to the music of The Dixie Diehards Jazz Band of Foxboro. The six-piece horn section was backed up by a keyboardist, drummer, and banjo player. Band members were dressed in green vests. "(Won't You Come Home) Bill Bailey," which trumpet great Louis Armstrong performed in the '20s, and other standards such as "Sweet Georgia Brown" from the Jazz Age - as the decade is also known - had the joint jumping. "I think it is fantastic. It is really nice to see everyone in the spirit," said John Whitney of Attleboro, who came to the event with his wife Marlene. This also being the era of gangsters and bootlegging, one man was overheard asking another, "You Bring Your Machine Gun?" "It is great. It is awesome. The band is perfect," said Jason Hancock of Plainville, and one of the youngest in attendance. "It is nice to see everyone together." Peter Brown of Attleboro added, "It is a good community event. You see a lot of different eras represented." On the library's first floor was the game room, and several were playing chess, backgammon and a Chinese game called mah jongg that were popular in the 20s. "Everyone looks very nice. Everyone is in character," said Mary Feuti of Attleboro, who was playing backgammon with Mary Oliver, also of Attleboro. "It is lovely. They have a beautiful atmosphere," said Oliver, who helped plan the event. The event was sponsored by the Attleboro Public Library Board of Trustees and the Friends of the Library. The last Big Read event is Thursday at 7 p.m. at the library, when the Attleboro Chapter of the American Association of University Woman will conduct an open discussion of "The Great Gatsby." STEPHEN PETERSON can be reached at 508-236-0377 or at speterson@thesunchronicle.com.