TVSquad

January 15th, 1974. It was on this cold winter day (cold, because it was pre-global warming) 35 years ago that the American public was introduced to Richie Cunningham, Fonzie, Potsie, and the rest of the gang of Happy Days. A simple family sitcom, the Gary Marshall-created program would change the face of ABC, as well as television, for the ten years it was on the air, as well as beyond.

Happy Days came at a time when the family comedy was going through an upheaval. Gone were the days of simple shows like Leave it to Beaver and The Dick Van Dyke Show. In its place were shows like All in the Family which turned the typical family comedy on its heels. With Vietnam, a poor economy, and Watergate all weighing down on Americans at that time, the introduction of Happy Days gave viewers a chance to remember and laugh at some simpler times.

TV Land isn't making statues of their TV characters any longer (after everyone from Mary Richards to Dr. Bob Hartley were made into statues and put in various cities around the country), but that isn't stopping a group in Milwaukee from raising money to make a statue of The Fonz for their city. And they have the permission of Viacom to do it.

Vist Milwaukee and others have raised $57,000 of the $85,000 needed to make a statue of Arthur Fonzarelli for the city. Artist Gerald Sawyer says it's going to be one of the Fonz's classic poses, so I'm guessing he'll be standing and giving a "thumbs up" sign. (Please don't let it be of him in a leather jacket and swim trucks on water skis...). It won't be of him on a Triumph motorcycle as in the show, because Milwaukee is the home of Harley-Davidson!

The statue will be placed near the Chase Plaza office tower.