Another of Ol' Groove's all-time fave TV shows is Happy Days. Can you dig it? Aaaaaaaaaaay! For those of you who are too young to remember, or spent the mid-70s to mid-80s hiding in Lower Slobbovia (definitely for nerds), here's the low-down on Fonzie and the Gang:
Happy Days started out in 1974 as a showcase for Ron Howard, Tom Bosley, and the 1950s. My whole family loved it (though a few of the first two season's episode were considered "racy" at the time), but it drew abysmal ratings. It might have bitten the dust after season 2, except everyone (Young Groove included) really, REALLY dug Henry Winkler's Fonzie. When he moved into the attic apartment at the Cunninghams', making him a member of the family in the process, Fonzie-mania took off, and the show lasted until 1984.
From December, 1978 to November, 1979, Gold Key produced six issues of Happy Days, the comic--and while interesting, it bears little resemblance to the classic TV show. I never knew who the creators were, but according to Grand Comics Database, it was drawn by Boys Life cartoonist Bill Williams. Can anyone out there verify that info? Anywho, here's a sample of the Gold Key version of life in the 1950s with the Cunninghams and the Fonz from Happy Days #3 (April 1979)..."Framed!"
Can't verify it's Bill Williams but he did HENRY ALDRICH way back in the day and the faces here resemble the faces there and I know Williams remained quite active in comics below the radar for many years. A good bet, I'd say.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Booksteve! I need to be careful after being taken to the woodshed by M.E. a couple weeks ago! ;D
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