I first heard the song when the premiere episode of Happy Days aired on TV, shortly after my tenth birthday in 1974. Hard to believe the show began that long ago. And that I was so young at the time. Rock Around the Clock was the program's theme song for the first two seasons, then was replaced by the newly written song Happy Days. I enjoyed both songs, but went so far as to buy the 45-rpm single of the newer theme.
Happy Days, creation of TV genius Garry Marshall, plunked the viewers into the bygone era of 1950's and 60's Milwaukee. The nostalgic comedy was a huge, long-running hit, spawning spin-offs both good and bad. I loved it. I loved the music, the characters, and the comedy.
Clean-cut pals Richie, Potsie, and Ralph lived out their teenage and early adult lives during the course of the show, the ongoing story spanning the years 1955 to 1965. Richie Cunningham (played by now-famous movie director Ron Howard) was the well-bred, freckle-faced lad whose parents served as the older and wiser generation in the program. And the Cunningham house was the "home base" for most of the episodes, where many an adventure began.
Wax on, wax off, Potsie!
- Arnold, owner of Arnold's Drive-In
Of course, teenage shenanigans often began and ended at the malt shop hang-out Arnold's Drive-In. Arnold's was where romances blossomed and withered, and plans for crazy escapades were hatched. And of course, Arnold's was where our innocent trio first met The Fonz, the biker hoodlum who took them under his wing and taught them a thing or two about the world. Fonzie, as he was also known, became a friend, advisor, and protector to Richie and his buddies as they explored more adult territory. Henry Winkler, a great comedic actor, played Fonzie in all of his ducktail haircut glory.
Sadly, as the TV seasons passed, Fonzie's character became too soft and likable to really have any edge to contrast with the idyllic middle American values of the time. And even if younger generations don't know the source of the popular saying "jumped the shark", Happy Days can remain ashamed that it was responsible for this negative pop-culture reference. In a ridiculous water-skiing challenge, Fonzie - clad in beach shorts, leather jacket and boots - performed a "death-defying" jump over an open-top shark enclosure. Many cite this episode as the beginning of the end for the show, hence the enduring catch-phrase "jumped the shark". It was becoming tougher for me to stick with Happy Days as its stories and characters lost their spark.
Some good things came of Happy Days, like the successful spin-off shows Laverne and Shirley... and Mork and Mindy. Penny Marshall, now a famed movie director, got her start on Happy Days as Laverne, alongside Cindy Williams as Shirley - as a pair of bottlecappers in a Milwaukee brewery. The two gals were introduced in the first season of Happy Days as friends of The Fonz, then a couple of years later they found their own long-running hit TV series, also created by Garry Marshall (Penny's brother!). I enjoyed Laverne and Shirley just as much as Happy Days, even more so once Happy Days began its tailspin.
Robin Williams made his first real mark on TV with his appearance on Happy Days.... as the space alien Mork from Ork. His bizarre and hilarious character was so popular that creator Marshall lined his pockets further with yet another hit show, Mork and Mindy, starring none other than Mr. Williams. This ran for four seasons, but the quality went downhill very quickly. But Williams had a huge and wild stand-up comedy and film career ahead of him. I loved his antics on TV, but less so once he got into more com-dram roles in movies.
The Fonz, pre-leather jacket, was at least a
little more authentic in the grease department
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