06/29/2020
We are very sad to share with you the passing of our dear Mr Mata. Fortunato Mata started working at the Dallas Costume Shoppe in 1942 and continued working at the shoppe for the next 72 years.
If you came into the Dallas costume shop over the last half century, you saw Mr Mata cheerfully working at his 1920’s sewing machine Leaping Lena. He was always quick to tell you a story or talk about the latest headlines.
Nato was a living piece of Dallas history, with first hand stories about Clyde Barrow's family, JFK's assassination, and the State Fair of Texas. He could tell you tales of working with Margo Jones, the Starlight Operetta (precursor to the Dallas Summer Musicals), and Maria Callas at the Dallas Opera and had countless stories of running and managing local theatrical pageants throughout the state. He was also instrumental in the introduction and creation of "Indian Earth" powder, the all-natural pure mineral makeup of the 70's.
Nato was a great supporter of Dallas Theater, helping many small theaters and costume designers in their beginnings by providing costumes to them at greatly reduced prices to give them their start. In 2006, he was awarded the Silver Ticket Award for his lifetime contributions to Dallas area theater at the Leon Rabin Awards.
While he will be missed, his legacy and stories will live on in all who had the pleasure of knowing this amazing man.
