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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (June 5, 1998)
tune 5. issa » just «Mt 1 g Pam Monette of Helen’s Pacific Costumers throws herself into her work T he O ut Q ueen of C ostumes H as R uled for T wo D ecades w by I nga S orensen ith a tape measure cascading around her neck and down her shoulders, Linda Grindell is pondering a dilemma. “I’m doing a small show for Tigard High School,” explains Grindell, who has worked for Helen’s Pacific Costumers since the early 1980s, doing everything from bookkeeping to build ing costumes—designing and crafting heads, feet, tor sos, legs—of humans, reptiles, whatever. (Santa suits are bought, however, because it’s more cost efficient.) As for Tigard High School, Grindell has got to come up with outfits for the girls in the production. ice cream cone?’ asks Monette, searching for clarification. “And an ice cream cone.” DOLLARS pon entering Helen’s, one is greeted by gorilla heads, alien faces possessing an array of eye sizes, the Grim Reaper and purple wigs. Step into the back area, you’ll spot dozens of black and gray top hats. “I bet we have a hundred police hats now,” speculates Monette, a gregarious queer who has been with Helen’s since the early 1970s when then-owners Al and Helen Learman essentially took her under their wing. (Both Al and Helen have since passed away.) Helen’s Pacific Costumers was orig inally founded as the Chicago Wonder Costume House in 1890. According to Monette, in the early days the business P hotos by L inda K liewer flourished making costumes and build ing miniature sets for silent movies. Today, Helen’s Pacific Costumers provides play costumes for schools, theater groups and com the expert. Helens has also cranked out Z 100’s Jammin’ mercial endeavors, and builds props and backgrounds Salmon, Mr. Movie for Act III Theatres, and Fred upon request. Bear for the Fred Meyer store chain. On this particular sunny, hot afternoon, J.R. Queers and costumes. One could say it’s a perfect Beaver—the Smokey-the-Bearish Oregon State fit, for they share a certain flare, not to mention a Parks critter—is in for repairs. Two J.R. Beaver possible genetic predisposition. heads sit side by side, awaiting attention. “Someone once said costumers are bom, not Helen’s also has a bid out to handle repairs on made," chirps Monette. “I think that’s true." the Portland Power’s Hoops—the friendly, fluffy parrot that pumps the crowd for women’s pro bas ketball. Monette and company designed the original ■ H elen ’ s P acific C ostumers is located at 7501 N.E. Glisan St. in Portland. bird as a squishy, accessible creature. During the For more information, call 254-2005 Power’s second season, Monette says team manage ment tried to slim down Hoops on their own. Continued on page 21 “I don’t think it was very successful,” critiques U Helen s has also cranked out ZlOO’s Jammin Salmon, Mr. Movie for Act III Theatres, and Fred Bear for the Fred Meyer store chain. “They’re 5’10” these days. They don’t have 26-inch waists. Some of this stuff is for the little ladies from the ’50s,” she laments. In walks Pam Monette, owner of Helen’s, just back from lunch. Grindell and Monette, both about five decades old, have known each other since they were pups in college studying art. Monette, chair of the Lesbian Community Project board, is about to swing me through the digs, situated at Northeast 75th Avenue and Glisan Street, almost directly across from the Trinity Broadcasting Network. “When you’re through, we have to talk about the bid on the chicken and the ice cream cone,” Grindell says to Monette, who is about to start my shop tour. “A chicken and ice cream cone or a chicken in an DECADES OF S potlighting the O ld G uard OF PORTLAND’S Q ueer E conomy
