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Home > BizTimes Daily > Archives > May 27, 2008
'Happy Days' crew to dedicate Bronze Fonz at new site
Published May 27, 2008 - BizTimes Daily
Most of the cast members of the "Happy Days" television show will return to Milwaukee to dedicate the bronze Fonzie statue at a new site on the city's RiverWalk on Tuesday, Aug. 19.
The site for the statue has again been moved from a previously announced location on the west side of the Milwaukee River near Rock Bottom Brewery to the RiverWalk location just south of Wells Street on the east side of the river, at the request of the Milwaukee RiverWalk District, a major funder of the project.
The new site is on a patio next to the China Gourmet restaurant, the former site of Tula's restaurant.
"The district felt and we agreed that this new site offers easier access, more visibility and a considerably bigger footprint for people to pose with the statue," said David Fantle, vice president of public relations for Visit Milwaukee.
Actor Henry Winkler, who played the Arthur Fonzarelli character, will attend the statue dedication, along with other cast members, including: Marion Ross (Mrs. Cunningham), Tom Bosley (Mr. Cunningham), Erin Moran (Joanie), Don Most (Ralph Malph) and Anson Williams (Potsie).
Stars of the "Happy Days" spin-off, "Laverne & Shirley," Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams also are expected to attend, along with the show’s creator, director/producer Garry Marshall and his other sister, Ronny Hallin, who served as a producer on the show.
The statue dedication ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m. It will be followed by a public celebration at Pere Marquette Park at 11 a.m., where Culver's will host a free public frozen custard social.
The day-long celebration will conclude when Winkler and his cast colleagues are honored at a pre-game ceremony at Miller Park prior to the Milwaukee Brewers' game against the Houston Astros game. The cast will throw out the first ball, and Williams will sing the National Anthem.
Fantle said actor and director Ron Howard, who played Richie Cunningham, is scheduled to be working on a new film in Rome, Italy, and will not be able to attend the dedication. Howard is expected to provide a video salute for the ceremony, Fantle said.
