The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

Omen

During the first week of a show in live theatre, costumes are not washed unless there is something deliberately done to it on stage, such as stage blood put on it. To wash the costume otherwise brings bad luck.

Data entry tech comment:

Informant and collector are the same person.
Informant was born and raised in Pensacola, Florida, where he probably learned this.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; FLORIDA ; NASHVILLE ; PENSACOLA