Fonzie to Get Bronze Statue in Milwaukee

By CARRIE ANTLFINGER, AP

Posted: 2008-01-25 16:06:21

Filed Under: TV News

MILWAUKEE (Jan. 25) - Aaaaaaay! The Fonz will be returning to Milwaukee later this year - permanently, and in bronze.

A statue of Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli, the leather-jacketed biker from "Happy Days," will be erected in the city where the TV sitcom was set, now that local groups have raised the $85,000 needed to do it, civic leaders said Friday.

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Henry Winkler, who played Fonzie during the show's run from 1974 to 1984, called the "Bronze the Fonz" project "a phenomenal compliment."

"It's not often you have a dream when you're 7 lying in your bed, you get to live your dream out and then someone is going to erect a life-size statue of your creation," he told The Associated Press earlier this week.

Winkler was in Milwaukee on Friday morning when organizers officially announced the money had been raised. Plans call for dedicating the statue around Labor Day. It will likely be downtown along the Milwaukee River.

Two booster groups, VISIT Milwaukee and Spirit Milwaukee, spearheaded the fundraising. Among the donors was cable network TV Land, which has sponsored similar statues such as ones of Bob Newhart in Chicago and Mary Tyler Moore in Minneapolis.

Other supporters included a bakery in Jefferson that sold thumbs-up cookies and a fan who established a "Bronze the Fonz" group on the social networking site Facebook.

Some serious art lovers were less enthusiastic. Mike Brenner, founder of the Hotcakes Gallery, called the statue a "publicity stunt" that perpetuated lowbrow stereotypes about Wisconsin.

"Can we just try to move forward, a little bit?" he said.

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In an e-mail, Dave Fantle, spokesman for VISIT Milwaukee, said he's spoken with Brenner and another disenchanted gallery owner and hopes everyone can "live harmoniously with the Fonz."

"We can either run and hide from our traditions - beer, brat, fish fries, custard, `Happy Days,' et cetera - or realize that they all embody good times and we should celebrate this."

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

2008-01-25 09:35:21

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219 comments

uli2liv 01:35:06 PM Jan 31 2008

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So in effect you are erecting a statue of a lie.

uli2liv 01:24:39 PM Jan 31 2008

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It would have been great if they could have cast a real italian guy to play an italian part in Happy Days. Henry Winklers jewish parents moved from germany to the United States in 1939. Winkler married Stacy Weitzman in 1979 and have 2 children Zoe and Max. Jewish director Garry Marshal wanted to cast an italian model type guy in the role of Fonzie. Who does this proposed statue really represent? Italians? They had us all watching and loving that show, and they are still pushing it, and here we find out that its all a lie?!!!

guitarman82451 10:37:04 AM Jan 31 2008

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You go Fonz,,,,aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh

flarnick 04:36:28 PM Jan 28 2008

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I would have been cool a mundo if they jumped the statue over a shark.

grnwytch32 03:25:00 PM Jan 27 2008

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We need more people like Fonzie these days. Good clean humor. TV progranms these days are getting out of control. Its no wonder our children are doing the same!!
You picked a great man for this tribute. Wonderful Actor!!!!!

digia54 02:14:55 PM Jan 27 2008

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Lavern and shirley should get one next...hahahaha

urbanbluefly 01:15:00 PM Jan 27 2008

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Oh God, Milwaukee. Has it come to this? What a horrible publicity stunt.
Did anyone even know Happy Days was set there?

Anyway - Winkler did the best work of his career on Arrested Development, not Happy Days. The OC should consider this stunt.

graydon902 12:15:06 PM Jan 27 2008

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So I guess from now on he is going to be known as "Bronzie?"

grdigger1 11:52:31 AM Jan 27 2008

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Greatness!
Great memories of two eras (50's and 70's) gone by.

rex246488 08:24:20 AM Jan 27 2008

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aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa yea''

Images150 08:15:23 AM Jan 27 2008

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I lived through those times.The real life Fonzy type character.....would more likely whip you with a chain....than hang around a malt shop being"cute".I never agreed with this portrayal.....after all...he was a gangster.

Shinolah 08:39:00 PM Jan 26 2008

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sgwjbbear, maybe he just didn't want to give your sister his spare change. she needs to lighten up a bit.

Shinolah 07:38:00 PM Jan 26 2008

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sgwjbbear, maybe he just didn't want to give your sister his spare change. she needs to lighten up a bit.

ritasoldman 07:34:20 PM Jan 26 2008

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THANK YOU TO THE PEOPLE WHO PAYED FOR THIS TRIBUTE TO A GREAT ACTOR.WELL DESERVED.

manoablood 07:10:17 PM Jan 26 2008

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I sure hope Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton wake up,They can become hasbeens
at any moment,don't put Your nose too high! And the same for Jessica or Ashlee
Simpson or even Britney Spears!

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