‘I love the idea of Roper Romps’

ROSEVILLE — Quick. Who was the lively sitcom character with the curly auburn hair and colorful caftans who couldn’t get any love and affection from her husband Stanley?

If you answered Helen Roper from “Three’s Company,” well then, come and knock on our door.

“Three’s Company” was a hit TV show that ran from 1977 to 1984 about three roommates — Jack, Janet and Chrissy and later Cindy and Terri — who shared an apartment near the beach in Santa Monica, California. Helen and Stanley Roper — played by Audra Lindley and Norman Fell — were the landlords during the first three seasons of the comedy series before they got their own show, “The Ropers.”

About a year ago, “Three’s Company” fans began paying tribute to the Helen character by holding Mrs. Roper Romps across the country. Participants show up in their best muu-muu dresses, wigs, gaudy jewelry and platform shoes and venture into bars, bingo halls, parades and maybe even the Regal Beagle. The groups often post the rendezvouses on their respective Facebook pages.

On Sept. 28, a Roper Romp pranced into Roseville during the annual Jammin’ at the Junction classic car show on Utica Road. Due to the weather, both the car show and Roper Romp had a low turnout.

Therefore, the Roper Romp wasn’t “Three’s Company,” but rather “Two’s Company,” with residents Beverly Flaton and Cara Arildsen showing up in their best Helen Roper looks. The purple-caftan-dressed Arildsen organized the event. It was the first time the two “Helens” met.

“I thought it would be neat to have it in Roseville. It’s so cool,” Arildsen said. “What I like about Mrs. Roper is that she’s herself. She’s funny. She’s witty.”

She hopes the Mrs. Roper Romps in Roseville catch on.

“This is the inaugural event and there’s going to be more to come,” she said. “I love the idea of Roper Romps. It brings women and men together, because men do this. It’s really fun.”

Arildsen added that she was a fan of the show, “but I wasn’t a superfan like I am now.”

While walking through the car show, the pair tried to pick out their favorite classic car.

“Look at the Bonneville,” Arildsen said. “Wow.”

“That’s my second choice right there,” Flaton said. “That old Vette.”

Flaton, who grew up in Roseville, is a retired Roseville Community Schools educator. This was her first-ever Mrs. Roper Romp. Not only did she have fun emulating Helen Roper with pearls and sunglasses, but it also gave her a chance to honor her mother.

“I’m wearing my mother’s caftan,” she said of the flowery green dress. “It’s from Hawaii. Apparently I kept it for a reason.”

Flaton said she participated in the Mrs. Roper Romp in an effort to promote Roseville.

“I wish more people would come out to our events,” said Flaton, who is a member of the Roseville Optimist Club.