They came decked out in fiery red wigs with tight curls, oversize glasses and, of course, the colorful caftans that were iconic to the look of the beloved Mrs. Roper.
Younger generations may be confused at the reference, but anyone with a television in the late ’70s and ’80s will remember Mrs. Roper, the wise-cracking-yet-lovable neighbor from the hit sitcom “Three’s Company.” The television show told the story of a bachelor who lived with two female roommates and interacted neighbors, a hilarious cast of characters that included the landlady Helen Roper, played by the late Audra Lindley.
And now, decades after the show was a nightly must-watch ritual in living rooms across the country, Mrs. Roper look-alikes are bringing back a bit of nostalgia – and a lot of laughs.
“There’s been Roper Romps all over the United States,” said Erin Williamson, who organized a gathering in Yorba Linda on Saturday, the group starting at the boutique Chic Revelations on Main Street and making their ways to bars and restaurants around town. “We hope the Mrs. Roper community continues to grow … it’s a phenomenon that is taking over the world.”
Many articles online point to the origin of the Roper Romps as dating back to 2013 during a New Orleans parade, and through the past decade, pop-up events have spread across the country, the trend splashed across social media and even written about in the New York Times.
Williamson, a real estate agent, attended a Roper Romp in Orange a few months back when 200 “Helens” showed up, and then decided to host her own with friend and fellow real estate agent Christina Loomis, with hopes it will become an annual event.
Williamson recalled how Mrs. Roper was always complaining about her husband, Stanley, who was perennially in a bathrobe holding a newspaper.
“Her famous line was ‘oooh Stanley,’” Williamson chuckled.
Whether 10 or 110 people showed up decked out in the Mrs. Roper attire, it was no matter,…
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