By Patti Roberts

Broadway Costumes caters to a vast array of events, productions, parties and festivals. The store has a strong, loyal following since it’s the last remaining costume rental store in Sacramento.  

Once, there were a dozen Sacramento shops that rented out costumes and props. But now Broadway Costumes on Franklin Boulevard is the only place people can borrow outfits for Halloween, theater and school productions, themed parties, drag shows, cosplay and steampunk events, as well as music videos and film productions.   

The outside beckons customers in with its large mural of a castle surrounded by a huge green dragon. Once inside, owner Larry Dockter is there to show off his vast array of costumes, makeup, masks and wigs that he and his family have collected since opening in 1965.  

Larry and wife, Deanna, are the third generation to helm this family-owned costume company. It was started 60 years ago by Dockter’s grandparents, combining their businesses of costume rentals with their stage and theater lighting company.  

“They bought out a costume shop in Los Angeles that was going out of business and brought the haul up here,” Dockter says, while showing off one of the suits that still has an original tag labeled Dean Martin, 1953. “Many were from early movies and television shows.”  

The shop has changed locations a few times over the years, with the grandparents eventually buying the current property and building the large two-story warehouse there. Eventually Dockter’s parents and family members bought the shop from his grandparents in the mid-1980s, with Larry and his wife buying it a couple years ago. 

Dockter starts the tour of his shop in the back, where tightly aligned costumes are grouped meticulously by historical periods and era; 

Medieval/Renaissance: Popular for Renaissance fairs, Shakespeare plays and pirate-themed parties. 

Colonial 1770-1790: Used in “Hamilton” as well as 4th of July presentations featuring George Washington, Betsy Ross, English and American soldiers; and more pirates. 

1800-1880s: Borrowed for Civil War reenactments, Prairie and Western-themed parties and plays. 

1920s-40s: Perfect for Flappers and Rosie the Riveter cosplayers, and offers a selection of ’40s dresses, cocktail dresses and World War II themed clothes and accessories.

Then there are the more modern eras, including ‘50s sock hops, ‘60s hippie dresses and fringe vests, ‘70s flower power and disco and more current styles.   

He points to one of many signs above the clothes racks that circle the walls and center areas. “This is the Roman/Grecian/Egyptian attire used in church plays mostly at Christmas and Easter,” Dockter says, proudly pulling out a long robe. “Also, for skits about Roman and Greek Gods.” 

There are also racks of ethnic and cultural attire — African, Japanese, Chinese, Indian, Middle Eastern, Spanish, Mexican and European — alongside storybook characters such as Wizard of Oz, Cinderella, Snow White and Prince Charming. 

Dockter notes that it’s fascinating to see fads come and go. “Things can be a flash in the pan,” he says. The movie “Barbie” was big the last couple summers, so there were a lot of people looking for pink outfits. Now it’s “Wicked” and “Frozen.” The demand for outfits from streaming television shows like “Bridgeton” and “Game of Thrones” usually last the longest.   

“And then there are the classics that never go out of style such as ‘Pirates of the Caribbean,’ ‘Star Wars’ and ‘Star Trek,’” he says. “Our two biggest seasons are, of course, Halloween, and then Christmas with our Santa and Mrs. Claus suits.”  

Also in the back room are various props like old telephones, radios and cameras used in plays and backdrops for independent movies, music videos and social media posts. 

Theaters also use the shop for their productions, though these primarily include smaller theater companies and school drama assemblies. “We work with small theaters and drama teachers in elementary, high schools and colleges,” Dockter says. “Bigger theaters have their own warehouses of costumes, or they borrow from other large theater companies. We do have the larger ones come in periodically looking for makeup, or particular props or costumes.” 

“I go to Broadway Costumes for every show — our musicals and plays,” says Jane McGinnes, Sacramento Country Day School drama teacher. “They have helped me costume ‘Spamalot,’ ‘The Addams Family’ and my current show, ‘Shrek Jr.’ I’ve also bought stage make-up from them — we needed a lot of gray hairspray and face paint for ‘The Addams Family’ ancestors.” 

The front of the store is the retail section with wigs, hats and masks for sale, and a large selection of makeup that includes every skin tone, as well as makeup kits for theatrical makeup classes at Sacramento State, Sacramento City College, Cosumnes River College, American River College, Folsom Lake College, San Joaquin Delta College and Jessup University.  

Dockter also spoke about a few interesting and unexpected patrons. “We have undercover police officers come in and buy wigs, mustaches and hats to disguise themselves,” he says. “And morticians looking for wigs and makeup for corpses who have lost their hair or to cover up scars from injuries or surgeries.” 

There are long-time customers who have been regulars for years, with many fond memories of Broadway Costumes. Vincent-Michael Damyanovich, of Vanguard FX Studio, is a visual and interactive artist and regular customer of the shop and has fond memories dating back to the ‘80s. 

“I remember the first time walking into Broadway Costumes back in 1987 when I was only 7 years old — it was like being transported instantly to another world,” Damyanovich says. “The feeling of wonder and possibility was so palpable. All these many years later much of the work I do in public art and other creative areas is aimed at evoking those very senses.”

This story is part of the Solving Sacramento journalism collaborative. This story was funded by the City of Sacramento’s Arts and Creative Economy Journalism Grant to Solving Sacramento. Following our journalism code of ethics, the city had no editorial influence over this story. Our partners include California Groundbreakers, Capital Public Radio, Outword, Russian America Media, Sacramento Business Journal, Sacramento News & Review, Sacramento Observer and Univision 19. Sign up for our “Sac Art Pulse” newsletter here.