A.T. Jones and Sons costume company
The first clue that magic is afoot on North Howard Street is the collection of oversized alabaster clown masks that smile enigmatically through the dusty display windows of A.T. Jones & Sons, Inc. Enter the costume shop, and you face more sentries: a row of medieval suits of armor line the wall. A few are Victorian antiques, but most of the armor was fabricated from fiberglass. You can’t tell the old from the new, and that is the point.
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- The reflection of the 700 block of North Howard St. melds with one of the antique oversized clown masks in the display windows of The A.T. Jones & Sons costume company. (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun)
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- A.T. Jones & Sons costume shop owner, George Goebel, 81, spends time during his lunch break with his German Shepherd, Norman, left, and Tazwell, who comes to the costume shop every day with his owner, employee John Bernatitus. Goebel also had a renowned career as a magician. (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun)
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- Corbin Phillips, left, in the masters program at Peabody Conservatory, gets fitted by costume designer John Bernatitus, right, for his role as Quince in the upcoming Peabody Opera Theatre production of Benjamin Britten: “Midsummer Night’s Dream.” The A.T. Jones & Sons costume company was founded in Baltimore in 1868. (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun)
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- In one of many storage rooms at A.T. Jones & Sons is a large collection of animal costumes, including many Easter Bunnies. (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun)
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- Customers are greeted at the entrance of the costume shop with an imposing line-up of swords, helmets and suits of armor, including fiberglass replicas and Victorian antiques. (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun)
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- Fred Flintstone feet sit on a table. They will be used for an upcoming show in Washington D.C. (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun)
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- A.T. Jones & Sons owner George Goebel, seated at center in his customary spot near the table in the first floor workroom, with Mary Bova, in foreground at left, who oversees key details to fill every job order. (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun)
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- Mary Bova checks the large stockroom upstairs for hippie pants for an upcoming show. The organization of the storage areas for costumes is mysterious, but Bova knows where to find anything. (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun)
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- Costumer John Bernatitus places custom pattern pieces on fabric for a jacket design. All of the costumes start the old-fashioned way, from a bolt of fabric. (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun)
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- An adjoining building to the costume job offers a complete line of theatrical makeup, plus masks – and warts. (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun)
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- Rick Goebel, 53, the son of owner George Goebel, pitches in to make button holes on some shirts. He has been working with his father at A.T. Jones & Sons for about 40 years, and now runs the business with his father. (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun)
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- “Oliver,” the parrot, watches over the activity in the workroom from his perch near owner George Goebel. (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun)
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- Bessie Gaylord, 76, who had her own costume business, was coaxed out of retirement by George Goebel. (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun)
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- An entire storage room is devoted to Santa suits. The A.T. Jones & Sons, Inc., has seasonal costumes, and at one time did a lot of Halloween business, but now concentrates on opera and theater productions. (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun)
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- George Goebel, while overseeing the daily operations, is always working on whatever is needed to meet the next deadline. Here he is wielding a glue gun to make a stage prop. (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun)
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- Tazwell, who belongs to costume designer and tailor John Bernatitus, likes to nestle into a cozy basket of fabrics near the sewing machines. (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun)
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- A hat with satin ribbons and feathers in a late 18th century style from the opera “Andrea Chenier” rests on a box in a storage room at the A.T. Jones & Sons costume shop. (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun)
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- Eric Carey, left, a Peabody Conservatory student, gets fitted by Rick Goebel, kneeling, and John Bernatitus, right, for his role as Robin Starveling in the upcoming Peabody Opera Theatre production of Benjamin Britten: “Midsummer Night’s Dream.” (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun)
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- Monica Hibbert, seamstress, has worked at the A.T. Jones & Sons costume company for 15 years. (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun)
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- The costumes for a production of Puccini’s “La Fanciulla del West,” which is set during the Gold Rush, are tagged for each performer, ready to be packed and shipped. (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun)
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- Dress forms and spools of thread are tucked into a corner of the work room where the costumes are fabricated. (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun)
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- Patterns for garments from various productions, ranging from “West SideStory” to “La Traviata” are stored near the costumes. (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun)
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- Sumptuous fabrics, with lace, brocade, and beads are used for many of the thousands of well-constructed garments created by A.T. Jones & Sons, Inc. They are organized by production and hung in rows, filling most of the second floor of the shop. (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun)
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- George Goebel, 81, owner of A.T. Jones & Sons, Inc., began working at the costume company back in 1950 when he was in high school. Goebel had a successful career as a magician, but always kept his hand in the costume business. (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun)
A.T. Jones & Sons has been in the business of casting spells since opening its original shop on Front Street in 1868. Every period costume transforms its wearer into a fantasy world, and the audience is swept with the performer into a new imaginary realm.
At the center of a constant swirl of activity in the first floor workroom is the 81-year old owner, George Goebel. Goebel, who still works 12-hour days alongside his employees, started at A.T. Jones in 1950. In addition to his love of the history and craft of costuming, George Goebel has had an international career as a renowned magician who performed in his own large-scale illusion shows. Now retired as a performer, he continues to entrance audiences indirectly through his company. His son Rick, 53, runs the old-fashioned atelier with his father.
A small but loyal staff scrambles to produce the extensive wardrobes for a new show about every two weeks. They have just wrapped up the costumes and props for the annual Gridiron show in Washington, D.C. Seasonal outfits, from the Easter Bunny to Santa, are available, but the mainstay of the business are theatrical productions, mostly operas. George Goebel ruefully observed, “We seldom see the shows. Literally we don’t have the time.”
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Vince Clews
Feb 20, 2018 @ 13:52:45
In the 1970’s and early 80′, I had a production that often used costumes from AT Jones. And, through that, had the pleasure to work with George. I was fascinated by his warehouse of costumes. More, however, I was delighted by conversations with George. A wonderful, knowledgeable man. I wish I needed a costume for a writer so I could go down and wander through his wealth of choices and chat with George while we searched. Hello, George. Any new magic tricks.
Steve Boettinger
Jun 22, 2015 @ 15:32:13
My grandmother Mae Josephine Boettinger worked for AT Jones & Sons as a seamstress in the 1950’s and 60’s