Hangin' with the OG Fonz: A Salute to TV's Icon on Milwaukee's Riverwalk

The Bronze Fonz graces the Milwaukee Riverwalk, a nod to TV legend Henry Winkler and his timeless character, Fonzarelli, or 'The Fonz' for short. This commemorative piece was cooked up by Visit Milwaukee, a local non-profit eager to show off their city, in 2008. Ever since, it's been a popular pitstop for both locals and vacationers. The artist behind The Fonz's creation is none other than American sculptor Gerald P. Sawyer, and it reportedly set them back $85,000. From the Riverwalk, you'll spot Henry Winkler reaching for you with his famous two-handed thumbs up. Don't be fooled, though - the statue isn't to be climbed; it took a break in 2022 for a bit of TLC.

Although The Fonz's statue isn't far from his TV home, the Happy Days sitcom actually unfolded in Milwaukee. The series follows a fam-bam in the 1950s and '60s, making the statue's spot on a modern, bustling Riverwalk rather ironic. Mike Brenner, a gallery owner and executive director of Milwaukee Artist Resource Network (MARN), initially balked at the statue, especially when it was slated for a 'prime downtown spot.' Still, The Fonz wouldn't be deterred. After a few disagreements, the statue found its forever home on the Riverwalk. Brenner eventually shut shop and opened a Milwaukee microbrewery in 2008-05, eight days after threatening to do so.

The Fonz wasn't always toe-tappin' along the Riverwalk, though. TV Land, a TV channel, initially intended to order Fonz statues in various cities, with the pilot greenlit in Raleigh, North Carolina. This pilot was one of several planned for 2007, but TV Land eventually scrapped them all before the year was through. Similar opposition popped up in Raleigh, just like it did in Milwaukee.

So, don't forget to snap a selfie with The Fonz during your visit! Remember, don't try to shimmy up there - the statue's surfaces have become as shiny as a disco ball from all the selfies taken over the years.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata