feature article - august 2008

Winkler’s character also was a biker
Casts of Happy Days, Laverne and Shirley here
to dedicate bronze Fonz on the RiverWalk

By DAVID FANTLE
Visit Milwaukee

IT’S BEING BILLED as “ A Celebration of Cool” and it has nothing to do with a breeze coming off Lake Michigan.

It’s happening Tuesday, Aug. 19. That’s the date Milwaukee celebrates its role in pop cultural history as HenryWinkler comes to town to dedicate the bronze Fonz, the new image of the iconic character he created for the long-running television series, Happy Days.

The statue will reside on the east side of the Milwaukee River on the RiverWalk just south of Wells Street in the heart of downtown. Similar statues of comedian Bob Newhart, whose television series was set in Chicago, and actress Mary Tyler Moore, whose show was set in Minneapolis, are popular attractions in those two cities.

Cast members to appear Winkler will be bringing with him many of his co-stars from the show, including Tom Bosley, Marion Ross, Erin Moran, AnsonWilliams, Don Most and the show’s creator Garry Marshall. In addition, Penny Marshall and CindyWilliams, stars of the Happy Days spin-off Laverne and Shirley, will appear. Also scheduled to attend the program will be Laverne and Shirley producer Tom Boyett.

Both Happy Days and Laverne and Shirley were set in Milwaukee, the latter opening with a shot of Milwaukee’s historic City Hall.

In addition to Garry Marshall, Happy Days was the creation of Milwaukee’s own Tom Miller and Michael Eisner, who prior to becoming CEO of Disney was the vice president of program planning at ABC. Miller, whose family owned the Spic & Span Cleaners, grew up on Milwaukee’s North Shore, and childhood friends and haunts, such as the Pig n’ Whistle and the Milky Way helped to forge the characters and locations of the actual show.

Happy Days, an affectionate portrayal of Milwaukee and its neighborhoods, remains a popular staple in re-runs and still takes viewers back to a more innocent time. The street smart Fonz, as portrayed by the Yale-drama-trainedWinkler, remains a positive influence.While set in the late ‘50s and early ‘60s, dozens of episodes rallied around positive messages and remain relevant to this day.

Positive messages The show entertained while dispensing story lines as disparate as Fonz advocating for a college education, in support of improved literacy by taking out a library card or going to Georgia to fight for civil rights and standing up to a group of racists.

While eternally etched for his portrayal of the Fonz, the tough guy with the heart of gold, Winkler has made his mark as an actor, director, producer, best-selling author and humanitarian. He travels the country sharing his inspirational story of overcoming dyslexia and serves as a tireless advocate on behalf of children.

The celebration includes a public frozen custard party sponsored by Culver’s from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the Peck Pavilion of the Performing Arts Center, 929 N.Water St.Winkler and the other guests will appear and sign a limited number of commemorative posters, with all proceeds going to SPARK, a Boys and Girls Club of Milwaukee literacy program.

Custard and parade to Miller Park In addition to free custard, all attendees will receive at no cost a Bronze the Fonz baseball card, compliments of the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, which will host a six-day run of the new Garry Marshall-PaulWilliams musical, “Happy Days,” Jan. 6-11, 2009.

At about 5:45 p.m.Winkler and the cast will parade in vintage cares downWisconsin Avenue (starting atWater Street) to Miller Park, where they will be honored at pre-game ceremonies. Anson Williams will sing the National Anthem. All fans at the game also will receive the baseball card.

Henry proudly states that his leather jacket is in the Smithsonian Institute and now his bronze statue resides in Milwaukee, his adopted hometown that he has embraced for more then 30 years.

For more information on the Aug. 19 festivities, check out www.bronzethefonz.com.

(David Fantle is vice president-public relations for Visit Milwaukee, which markets the Milwaukeearea to visitors and convention planners throughout the country.)