THE GRAND INTERNATIONAL: Part 10 - Memorial Awards of 1990-1994

Editor's Note: This is the tenth in a series of articles about NCA's famous Grand International Award (and the related costume awards) written by Pam Markel and Dwayne Ibsen, past presidents. To read the previous article, click here.  

     The 1990s Grand International Winners as you previously viewed in NCA Today were magnificent and stunning. There is no doubt, the entries were creative, innovative and absolutely gorgeous.

     The Memorial Awards winners for the 1990s were mirror images to the Grand International entries. They also were over the top in their designs, construction and creative use of materials. I can only imagine how hard it was for the judges to choose a winner for each category of the Memorial Awards. Several of the Grand International winners also won a specific Memorial Award.

     Just to refresh your memory, these Memorial Awards were judged by a panel of judges. A tremendous amount of documentation concerning design, construction and fabric etc., had to be displayed for the judges to examine, as well as the costume itself. Pictures outlining the construction process were also displayed. It was a lot of work to enter the Memorial judging.

      We described the different Memorial Awards and the costumers they were dedicated to in previous articles. From 1990 to 1994 all the categories were represented except the Fantasy category.

     Below is a list of the Memorial winners for this period, by individual category.

The Warren Hendricks Memorial Award of Outstanding Authentic Costume

1990 Carmelites Estomac – Ibsen Costume Gallery, Omaha Nebraska

1991 1888 Bustle Dress – Theatricks, Grand Rapids, Michigan

1992 Tea for Two- Costumes Creative, Silver Spring, Maryland

1993 Cranes & Chrysantheum – Backstage, Richmond, Virginia

1994 Elizabeth the Ditchley, Ibsen Costume Gallery, Omaha Nebraska

Helen Aune Award Memorial Award for Outstanding Spectacular Costume

1990 Jacques the Jaunty Jester- Costume Bazaar, New Haven Connecticut

1991 Crystal Folly – Features Costumes, Tampa Florida

1992 Winter Wizard – Enchanted Attic, San Bernadino, California

1993 Russian Skating Gown – Ibsen Costume Gallery, Omaha Nebraska

C. Arthur Landes & Joseph R. Landes Memorial Award for Outstanding Theatre Costume

1990 Grizabella & Mr. Mistofello – Costumes Creative, Silver Spring, Maryland

1991 Victoria’s Court – Eastern Costumes, Greensboro North Carolina

1992 Shakespeare’s Cleopatra – Ibsen Costume Gallery, Omaha Nebraska

1993 Witch from Into the Woods – All Dressed Up, Bavaria, Illinois

1994 Eveline and the Winged Monkey – All Dressed Up, Bavaria Illinois

Dorothy & La Mar Kerns Memorial Award for Outstanding First Showcase Costume

1990 The Simple Shepherdess – Backstage, Richmond Virginia

1991 Henry VIII & Anne Bolyn – CF Ross Inc., Clarence New York

1992 Legend Come Alive – New Orleans Costumes, Marrero Louisiana

1993 Crystal Pierrot – MNR Masquerade, Pennsauken New Jersey

1994 Dixie and Dimple – Bambies Costume Shop, West Salem Illinois

Robert Schultz Memorial Award for Outstanding Animal/Mascot Costume

1990 Nana the Dog – Helen’s Pacific Costumes, Portland Oregon

1991 Li Bear Ace – Magic Makers Costumes, Huntington West Virginia

1992 Recycle Man – Jeannie’s Costumes, Macungie Pennsylvania

1993 Rash Ramu, the Pushmi-Pullyou – Jeannie’s Costumes, Macungie PA

Percy Rubenstein Memorial Award for Outstanding Comedy Costume

1990 Mr. OO Woo Blue – Anderson’s Costumes, Chesterfield Indiana

1991 Banana Miranda – Jeannie’s Costumes, Macungie Pennsylvania

1992 Aussia Annie & LuLu – Broadway Bazaar, Mattoon Illinois

1993 Tin N Lizzie – Broadway Bazaar, Mattoon Illinois

Charles & Elsie Van Riper Memorial Award for Outstanding Holiday Costume

1991 King & Queen of Mardi Gras – Mr. Fun’s Costumes, Cuyahoga Falls OH

1992 Mardi Gras Magic – Ibsen Costume Gallery, Omaha Nebraska

1993 Mardi Gras Now, Then & Forever – Helen’s Pacific Costumes, Portland OR

1994 Aurora & Selma – Annie’s Costumes & Magic, Plantation, Florida

Abe Jacobson Memorial Award for Outstanding Masquerade Costume

1990 A Renaissance Santa – Marty’s Custom Costumes, Sacramento, CA

1991 Maharajah & His Slave – Costumes Creative, Silver Spring Maryland

1992 Queen of the Night & Her Court- Costumes Creative, Silver Spring MD

1993 African King – Costumes Creative, Silver Spring Maryland

1994 Rapunzel and Her Prince – Anderson Costumes, Chesterfield, Indiana

William Zauder Memorial Award for Outstanding Makeup (There were two different awards for makeup so there might be a discrepancy)

1991 Feste the Fool – Jeanne’s Costumes, Macungie Pennsylvania

1992 Titania from Mid Summers Night Dream – Yvonne’s Costumes, Rogers AR

1992 Winter Wizard – Enchanted Attic, San Bernardino California

1993 Crystal Pierrot – MNR Masquerade, Pennsauken New Jersey

1994 Evilene and the Winged Monkey – All Dressed Up, Bavaria Illinois

    * The costumes highlighted were also Grand International Winners of that year.

     Dwayne and I can attest to the fierceness and competitiveness of the Memorial Award competition. This competition was just as stressful as entering the Grand International Showcase. The GI competition was judged by your peers; however, the Memorial Awards were judged by a panel of five experienced costumers, who examined your display with a fine-tooth comb and rated your entry per individual criteria.

     In my opinion, it was an honor to display your costume among so many grand and glorious designs created by the “master costumers" of the National Costumers Association.

     Next month, we will discuss the 1995 – 1999 Memorial Award Winners.

Your Past Presidents,

Dwayne Ibsen & Pamela Markel