12 rockin' and rollin' things you never knew about Happy Days

Learn how the sitcom utilized George Lucas, a "Batman Theme" singer and Tom Hanks' softball skills.

Happy Days, which ran for a decade from 1974 to 1984, was not expected to be a hit. The 1971 pilot film, originally titled New Family in Town, went unsold for years. It would end up as an installment of Love, American Style called "Love and the Television Set."

It would take the massive success of a certain George Lucas film (not Star Wars) to get Happy Days on the air. The hit sitcom would spawn five — five! — spinoffs, including Laverne & Shirley.

But we're getting ahead of ourselves. This humble depiction of life in Milwaukee during the '50s and '60s is rich with fascinating facts. We bet these twelve trivia factoids surprise you.

1. The opening used a newly recorded version of "Rock Around the Clock," yet the reruns used the original 1954 take.

 

Bill Haley re-recorded his groundbreaking song in 1973 for the opening credits of seasons one and two. However, when the series entered syndication, it was retitled Happy Days Again and featured the original "Rock Around the Clock." The 1973 version was not released commercially until 2005.

Image: Discogs

2. Harold Gould of 'Rhoda' was the original Mr. Cunningham.

 

Gould, who is perhaps best known for playing Rhoda's father Martin Morgenstern, took the role of Howard Cunningham in the pilot. He was offered the role again when the series was picked up, but the actor was not willing to back out of a stage commitment he had already booked. Additionally, Susan Neher — not Erin Moran — portrayed Joannie in the original pilot.

3. Ron Howard was cast in 'American Graffiti' because of his work in the 'Happy Days' pilot.

 

Director George Lucas requested to see the New Family in Town pilot when casting his defining portrait of 1962 youth. American Graffiti became a box office smash in 1973 and earned Oscar nominations. Its blockbuster success convinced ABC to in turn pick up the Happy Days series.

4. In season one, the network said Fonzie could only wear a leather jacket if standing next to a motorcycle.

 

Oddly, the Fonz sports a windbreaker and penny loafers at the start of the series. The network was a touch afraid of the hoodlum look and re-outfitted Henry Winkler when creator Garry Marshall was away filming another pilot in Hawaii. Clearly, the more square windbreaker look did not fly. Marshall pushed for the black leather, and ABC agreed in the condition Fonzie only wear the jacket when standing by his motorcycle. This is why you always see the bike by the character's side in season one — even indoors.

5. Gavan O'Herlihy played Richie's forgotten older brother Chuck Cunningham — and supposedly left to become a poet.

 

Yes, there was an older brother, as you can see in the upper right (above the windbreaker). According to the book Happier Days: Paramount Television's Classic Sitcoms, 1974-1984, O'Herlihy, who played the dim Chuck, asked to leave the show after a handful of episodes. He told Marshall he wished to move to Ireland to become a poet. However, you might recognize the actor from Superman III and the Bond film Never Say Never Again. The character of Chuck, a role very briefly filled by Randolph Roberts, soon just sort of vanished from Happy Days.

6. The man who sang the 'Happy Days' theme also sang the 'Batman' and 'Wonder Woman' theme songs.

 

Ron Hicklin sang the unforgettable "Sunday, Monday, Happy Days…" theme song. The musician led a vocal group, The Ron Hicklin Singers, who can also be heard on the hooky theme songs to Batman, Laverne & Shirley, That Girl, Wonder Woman, Flipper and more! 

Image: Discogs

7. Both Anson Williams and Donny Most scored Billboard Top 100 pop hits with solo songs.

 

It's only natural that a series so based on rock & roll would have many aspiring musicians. Anson "Potsie" Williams' crooned his single "Deeply," which peaked at No. 93 on the Billboard charts in April '77. That just beat out Donny "Ralph" Most, who landed at No. 97 with his song "All Roads (Lead Back To You)" in 1976.

Image: Discogs

8. Creator Garry Marshall would play the drums on the show.

 

Even Marshall got into the rhythm by sitting behind a drum kit whenever possible on the series. You can spot him in a couple of episodes.

9. Mork was created because Garry Marshall's son loved 'Star Wars.' Robin Williams was not the first actor cast.

 

Anson Williams did not have kind words for the script to "My Favorite Orkan." When the cast received the script to the 1978 episode that introduced Mork, they were living. "[It] was like the worst script in the history of Happy Days," Williams said in a recent interview. "It was unreadable, it was so bad." The concept came about after Garry Marshall took his son to see Star Wars. "Can you do a Martian episode?" the boy asked. The actor originally cast as Mork quit a few days into rehearsal. Marshall asked, "Does anyone know a funny Martian?" Someone responded, "There's this guy in my Harvey Lembeck [Comedy Workshop] cast." Penny Marshall vouched for the comedic talent of this unknown stand-up, Robin Williams. Of course, the rest is history.

10. Henry Winkler, Ron Howard and Don Most all provided their characters' voices for the 'Happy Days' cartoon.

 

The animated The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang ran from 1980 to 1982. Adding voices alongside Howard, Winkler and Most were narrator Wolfman Jack — giving Happy Days another tie to American Graffiti — and former Family Affair star Kathy Garver.

11. Happy Days had a softball team that played in Major League stadiums.

 

The Happy Days softball squad featured writers, crew and cast members. The roster at times even included Tom Hanks, Robin Williams, Tony Danza, Penny Marshall, and Rob Reiner. The team played before MLB games in historic stadiums such as Wrigley Field, Candlestick Park and Shea. They even traveled to Japan and Germany to play games.

Image: 22 Words

12. Tom Hanks played a black belt karate expert on the show.

 

Speaking of Hanks, the two time Oscar winner appears in the 1982 episode "A Little Case of Revenge." He appears as a karate master looking to pick a fight with the Fonz, due to a grudge tracing back to the third grade. It was the first time anyone hit Fonzie.

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16 Comments

Moverfan 46 months ago
Tom Hanks may have been the first to lay a hand on the Fonz, but Mrs. C was the only one who ever told him to "Sit on it!" and live ("I'm not going because she's right and I'm wrong...and I'm not going because I just got yelled at. I'm going because I'm a sweetheart of a guy!").
ll675i Moverfan 42 months ago
Ralph told Fonzie to sit on it once....when he had run Fonzis's bike over, and had bought him a new one. And Henry made the windbreaker look cool too.
Moverfan ll675i 42 months ago
True--but he VERY quickly explained he meant Fonzie should sit on the motorcycle and see how it felt. Mrs. C gave him marching orders to go to Arnold's house and explain why his bride-to-be had called off the wedding--and she wasn't taking no for an answer! (It may also have been the only time she called him Fonzie--to her, he was Arthur.)
1memyselfandI 49 months ago
When was Tony Danza in a episode of Happy Days?
Peppermintpatti 50 months ago
Loved the show as a kid and still do. Thank you MeTv for the chance to walk down memory lane.
Patti0926 51 months ago
I wonder how many different women Henry Winkler's character Fonzi kissed?
BamaDan73 Patti0926 51 months ago
I wonder if it was more than Richard Dawson?
Fruitpunch1 BamaDan73 31 months ago
No way Jose
JCTORRES6922 51 months ago
Is it just me or was Fonzie's leather jacket actually brown in the first few seasons?
1memyselfandI JCTORRES6922 49 months ago
No, it was a windbreaker.
120766 51 months ago
I don't remember mr. C as a different actor.
1memyselfandI 120766 49 months ago
Only in the pilot episode.
Wiseguy 53 months ago
#9: "When the cast received the script to the 1978 episode that introduced Mork, they were living." I believe the writer meant "livid."
1memyselfandI Wiseguy 49 months ago
Obviously they were living.
KjReynolds 53 months ago
Harvey Lembeck = Eric von Zipper ❤️
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