Less than a year after Ron Howard played a college-bound adolescent enjoying a final, summer-of-1962 romp with old friends in American Graffiti, he turned up as high school innocent Richie Cunningham in the memorable, ABC television network debut of Happy Days, set a few years earlier in Milwaukee. The show would last a decade and go through many changes in tone, cast, and character development, but that first season got a boost from the natural perception that it had some things in common with Graffiti: Howard, of course, but also fumbling teenage sex, drag races, drive-in food, pesky little sisters, and laconic greasers.

Happy Days is a sweet trip back to the Garry Marshall-produced sitcom's 1974 entry in primetime television, before political correctness would make stories about clean-cut boys fixated on seducing girls unthinkable, and long before older kids were defined by angst on the WB and Fox TV. At least in its first year, before Happy Days developed more of a comic-book feel and energy, the show was about Richie's all-too-human inclination to grow up too fast, to bite off more than he could chew and learn poignant lessons in the process. He was a sympathetic naif, not the charming braggart he later became, and major characters appear to have been created to provide both ballast and motivation. Among them is best friend Potsie (Anson Williams), a superficial hustler who typically incites Richie's enthusiasm for booze, reputed nymphomaniacs, and sophisticated, older girls, and fast-talking Ralph Malph (Donny Most), owner of a fantastic, yellow hot rod. More important are counterparts Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli (Henry Winkler), a vaguely dangerous drop-out, and Richie's exasperated father, Howard Cunningham (Tom Bosley), each of whom provides Richie the validation of an experienced male: Fonzie's raw worldliness versus Mr. C's seasoned view of a man's responsibilities.

Cast and Characters

• Ron Howard as Richie Cunningham (1974-1980)
• Henry Winkler as Arthur Fonzarelli (Fonzie)
• Tom Bosley as Howard Cunningham
• Marion Ross as Marion Cunningham
• Anson Williams as Warren Weber (Potsie) (1974-1983)
• Donny Most as Ralph Malph (1974-1980)
• Erin Moran as Joanie Cunningham
• Pat Morita as Arnold (Matsuo Takahashi (1975-1976, 1982-1983)
• Ed Peck as Officer Kirk
• Ted McKinley as Roger Phillips (1980-1984)
• Cathy Silvers as Jenny Piccalo as (1980-1983)

Broadcast History

First Telecast: January 15, 1974
Last Telecast: July 12, 1984
Number of Seasons: 11
Number of Episodes: 255
Original Network: ABC
Original Primetime TV Schedule:

• January 1974- September 1983, ABC, Tuesday 8:00-8:30pm
• September 1983- January 1984, ABC, Tuesday 8:30-9:00pm
• April 1984- May 1984, ABC, Tuesday 8:30-9:00pm
• June 1984- July 1984, ABC, Thursday 8:00-8:30pm

Theme Song Lyrics and Intro

"Happy Days" (Gimble-Fox); recordings by Fats Domino, Connie Francis, Johnnie Ray, Kay Starr, and other stars of the 1950s ans 1960s.

Sunday, Monday, Happy Days, Tuesday, Wednesday, Happy Days, Thursday, Friday, Happy Days, Saturday, what a day, Rockin all week with you. This day is ours Won't you be mine. (Oh Happy Days) This day is ours (Oh Happy Days) Oh please be mine. Hello sunshine, goodbye rain, She's wearing my high school ring on her chain. She's my steady, I'm her man, I'm gonna love her all I can. (Chorus) Gonna cruise her round the town, Show everybody what I've found Rock'n'roll with all my friends Hopin' the music never ends. These Happy Days are yours and mine (oh Happy Days) These Happy Days are yours and mine (oh Happy Days) These Happy Days are yours and mine, Happy Days.

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