Reminisce Extra – September 2019

SPOTLIGHT

12 REMINISCE.COM*SEPTEMBER 2019

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Encounter

WINKLER: HENDERSON/MILLER-MILKIS/PARAMOUNT/KOBAL/SHUTTERSTOCK

G

rowing up in Norco, California,

in the ’ 60 s and ’ 70 s had its perks.

I experienced one of them at

age 14 when my boyfriend at the

time got a small part in a movie

and invited me and my older sister to go with

him to the Hollywood set.

We watched him shoot an

airport scene for the movie

Baby Blue Marine ( 1976 ), starring

Jan-Michael Vincent.

Walking back to our car after

the filming, we noticed a line

of people going into another set.

We asked around and learned

that it was the location of the

TV show Happy Days.

Of course, we had to get in on

that! But we didn’t have tickets,

so we were stuck outside. I was

very upset and unable to hide my

disappointment.

At that point, I heard someone

approaching. “What’s the matter?”

he asked.

I was surprised to see that it was

actor Henry Winkler (aka Arthur

“Fonzie” Fonzarelli). He’d been on

his way to the set when he stopped

to talk to us.

“They won’t let us in,” I said with a pout.

Amused, The Fonz kissed my forehead, put

his arm around me and said, “I’ll get you in.”

He then escorted the three of us through a side

door and asked that we “keep this between us.”

As we passed the woman who had previously

turned us away, he told her, “These

are personal friends of mine.”

We were quickly ushered to the

bleachers, where we were able

to watch the fascinating inner

workings of a TV show filmed

before a live studio audience.

Seeing all the stars was a treat.

The most memorable scene

involved Fonzie watching over a

group of boys, one of whom had

to spray The Fonz with a squirt

gun. They had to do multiple takes

because Winkler kept anticipating

the squirt and closing his eyes.

After the show, I went down to

the set to see Winkler to thank

him for his kindness before we

left. He smiled and winked as

we walked out.

That special memory, sealed

with a kiss, will be with me—and

will be something I can brag

about—for the rest of my life. •

OH HAPPY DAY!

A visit to her boyfriend’s set leads to a memorable favor.

BY TERRI WARD • DALLAS, NC

HENRY WINKLER

played it cool as

The Fonz on Happy

Days, but he was

a total sweetheart to

Terri backstage.

Born: Oct. 30, 1945

Overcame dyslexia

to earn a Master of

Fine Arts degree from

the Yale School

of Drama in 1970.

Won his first Emmy,

for best supporting

actor, in 2018 for the

HBO series Barry.

Married for 41 years

to Stacey Winkler,

with whom he has

three children.

Co-authored several

children’s books

with his writing

partner, Lin Oliver.

UP CLOSE:

HENRY WINKLER