Living near Milwaukee, Wisconsin, can be rather quiet (except when the Harley-Davidson riders come here to celebrate, which will happen in a short while.) But this past week was rather exciting! Icons from the old TV Show “Happy Days”, which ran from the 1970s into the 80s, were in town to view the Bronz Fonz, a delightful sculpture by Gerald Sawyer.
It was made in honor of Arthur Fonzarelli, the show’s super-cool character. Played by Henry Winkler, The Fonz, as he was known to all, would simply enter a room and the girls would swoon, or he could get the juke box to play a favorite song with a snap of his fingers or swing of his hips. All the guys on the show idolized the guy and wished they could be just like him. He would start to comb his long, black hair, then glance in the mirror and recognize it was perfect just the way it was. He’d wear a white T-shirt with rolled up sleeves, jeans and a black leather jacket. He made the simple word “AYYYYY!” a buzz-word, forever to be associated with him.
Many of the Happy Days’ cast were on-hand, literally paraded to the sculpture’s unveiling in 1950’s classic cars. Ron Howard, who played Richie Cunningham, a focal point of the show, was missing. His absence was due to commitments in Hollywood, but he sent a video message that was played for all who attended Tuesday’s Milwaukee Brewers’ baseball game. The cast continued on to Miller Park after the parade and were interviewed throughout the game.
The Bronze Fonz was first revealed in front a large gathering of fans and city dignitaries. It is located on the Riverwalk, just south-east of the Wells Street Bridge, in downtown Milwaukee (not far from the new Harley museum.) It will surely be another hot tourist attraction (although my teen-age granddaughter asked who The Fonz was.) Celebrities included Marion Ross, who played Mrs. C., Tom Bosley, her husband, Richie’s friends and comrades, Don Most (Ralph Malph), Anson Williams (Potsie), Erin Moran (Joanie Cunningham, Richie’s sister and the ‘hot number’ on the show), and also the show’s creator, Garry Marshall. Penny Marshall, his sister, and Cindy Williams also attended. They were known as Laverne and Shirley and were on several episodes.
Real characters, they were best known for their spin-off TV show of Laverne & Shirley, also held in Milwaukee. The show started out with the girls singing “Schlemeil, Schlemazel” and many in the crowd used those words in greetings!
I am sure there are numerous collectors of TV memorabilia who will want to visit the statue and reminisce about a simpler time when we ate in the living room as a family, in front of our only TV set, and when Tuesday evenings were more special because of this wholesome, hilarious show!
If you are a collector of Happy Days’ memorabilia, I’d love to hear from you! And if you are a fan, be sure to make a trip to Milwaukee to view this ‘local treasure.’ I’ve read that the sculpturer had a sense of humor and incorporated the initials of Henry Winkler and his Wife, Stacey, on the statue’s extended hands. Be sure to check it out!
August 23rd, 2008 at 1:37 PM
Too cool!
June 24th, 2009 at 9:41 PM
Can you please tell me if there is a drive in restaurant devoted to Happy Days or Arnold’s in Milwaukee? I have relatives coming into town that want to check out the statue of course, and one of them heard last year that there is an actual “Arnold’s” or Henry Winkler cafe somewhere in Milwaukee. I cannot find anything on it. Any information would be most helpful.
Thanks,
Kelly
June 26th, 2009 at 3:10 AM
Kelly, as a Milwaukee native, the rumor was that Leon’s Frozen Custard was the model for Arnold’s… I’m not sure if that’s true or what your relatives are talking about…
Leon’s does have excellent custard & fabulous classic 50’s design, including retro neon. I think it’s on Loomis or S. 27th (I always did get mixed-up in that area on the south side).
Hopefully Val or Dean know more than I do
June 26th, 2009 at 10:14 AM
Hey Kelly and Deanna! We have also heard stories that Arnold’s was based on Leon’s Custard Stand. It is on 27th street, near Oklahoma Avenue. Your relatives MUST go there – it is a ‘blast from the past.’ It has served custard to a long list of presidents too and is a must-stop place. Not sure if Obama has been, but Clinton and the Bush pres’s at there for sure. Another wonderful retro place is the 50’s “Solid Gold” McDonalds on 76th street and Edgerton in Greenfield Wisconsin. It has all sorts of rock and roll memorabilia, and fabulous pictures of R&R stars from 50s andd 60s. Put together by a DJ from a local station who met with all of them!
Another possibility about Arnold’s a custard stand now called Kopp’s on the East side of Milwaukee (Silver Spring Drive.) The writers of that show were from the East Side so this is also a possible location – we’ve never heard for certain. Thanks for reading and we hope your relatives have a blast in Milwaukee. Val
March 1st, 2010 at 3:07 AM
Hi–
Not sure if you’d be able to help me, but I found an amazing pair of Fonzie tube socks in a second hand store, and I want to know where I might be able to find a buyer… The happy days memorabilia on ebay all seems newly made, and these are mint condition, labelled as made in (I think) 1978, (but I’m just going from memory). They have a cartoon of the Fonz on each sock, with the text “Aaaaay!”… If you know of anyone who’d be interested, I’d appreciate it. They’re really cool, but someone else could love them more than I do.
Cheers,
p
March 9th, 2010 at 11:16 PM
Hello Portia, wish I could be more helpful but it is not my area of expertise – a pretty rare one I’d guess! Maybe a friendly CQ reader can assist you – thanks again for reading my blog, Val
July 25th, 2010 at 6:15 PM
1997 calander great shape value?
August 18th, 2010 at 3:46 PM
I have a rare Fonzie ring in silver with thumbs up on both sides and Fonzie’s picture on top under a contact like lens. How much is it worth?