Helen Roper was a character on the classic TV sitcom "Three's Company." Played by the late Audra Lindley, Roper was the silly, eccentric and sex-starved wife of grumpy landlord Stanley Roper. Every episode, she sported the same fashion ensembles — wacky caftan outfits, bright jewelry and redwith-envy hair.
"She was sassy. She was smart. Her humor was ahead of her time," said Patty Jo Stewart of Portage.
Stewart is a founding member of The International Order of Mrs. Ropers — Northwest Indiana Chapter, launched in December by fans of the show and devotees of silly fun. "My friends and I saw these Roper Romps all over social media in other areas and wanted to join in the fun," Stewart said.
"Honestly, you just can't help but smile when you put on that caftan and red wig." You also can't help but smile when you see a bunch of Mrs. Ropers swirling around at public events like ice cubes in an "Oh, Stanley!" cocktail.
"Looks like I need another drink. These ice cubes seemed to have soaked up all my gin," Roper quipped in one episode of "Three's Company," which aired from 1976 to 1984. Roper's love-deprived yet lovable character has somehow resurrected into an international cult figure, prompting fans of all ages to emulate and celebrate her.
Pub crawls. Paint and sip parties. Wine tasting.
Comedy Clubs. Late-night gatherings. These are just a few of the "Roper Romps" taking place around the world, and now in our Region.
"We have coined ourselves a bit of a social club," Stewart .