HAPPY DAYS: THE ROARING TWENTIES (TV)
Summary
One in the series of comedies about life in the 1950s. In this episode, Howard's Uncle Joe invades the Cunningham home. Richie shows Joe a report he wrote on the 1920s and his uncle claims it is all wrong. Joe decides to tell a story from the Roaring Twenties. He tells the tale of a saloon owner named Eddie (Howard) and his opposition, District Attorney Cecil Cunningham (Richie), a distant relative of Uncle Joe's. The two became adversaries after the onset of Prohibition. As flappers Betty (Joanie) and Ginger (Lori Beth) sing "Powder My Back," Eddie's temperance-promoting wife (Marion) comes into Eddie's Kit Kat Club protesting alcohol. Then, a newsboy (Chachi) informs Eddie and his henchman Pretty Boy (Potsie) that Cecil is closing speakeasies. With Cecil en route for a raid, Howard has to quickly flip his saloon into a coffee shop. Cecil arrives with his assistant Purvis (Ralph) and finds no evidence of wrongdoing. Before leaving the saloon, Cecil flirts with his ex-girlfriend Ginger, who's now the paramour of gangster Spats (Fonzie). Next, the cool Spats arrives at the club and women are immediately at his side. Spats claims that Cecil will be dead by the next day, rubbed out by Bear (Al). That night, Cecil and Purvis continue trying to clean up the town, though Purvis is scared of the town hoodlums. Then, the newsboy announces the expected hits on Cecil and Purvis and their expected funerals. Thus, Cecil and Purvis make one more surprise raid on Eddie's club, having all arrested, including the treacherous Ginger. Afterward, Bear goes after Cecil in his office, with the stooge struggling to attack him with his patented "hug" move. Then, Spats arrives to finish Cecil off, but relents at the last second. Spats tells Cecil that he is an undercover man with the FBI and will have to let Cecil die lest his position be revealed. In the nick of time, Prohibition is ended and Spats keeps Cecil from falling off a windowsill. Back in the present, Joe discusses the story some more with Richie, revealing that he exaggerated a few details -- with the notable exception of Cecil's exploits. Finally, the family sees Cecil off as he heads home to plan yet more adventures. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: March 25, 1980 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:25:50
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:51631
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1974-1984
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Thomas L. Miller … Executive Producer
- Edward K. Milkis … Executive Producer
- Garry K. Marshall … Executive Producer, Created by
- Lowell Ganz … Supervising Producer
- Walter Kempley … Producer
- Jerry Paris … Producer, Director
- Ronny Hallin … Associate Producer
- David Ketchum … Writer
- Tony DiMarco … Writer
- Tom Worrall … Music by
- Charles Fox … Theme Music by
- Norman Gimbel … Theme Music by
- Shirley Kirkes … Choreographer
- Ron Howard (See also: Ronny Howard) … Cast, Richie Cunningham
- Henry Winkler … Cast, Arthur "Fonz" Fonzarelli
- Marion Ross … Cast, Marion Cunningham
- Anson Williams … Cast, Potsie Weber
- Donny Most … Cast, Ralph Malph
- Erin Moran … Cast, Joanie Cunningham
- Al Molinaro … Cast, Al Delvecchio
- Scott Baio … Cast, Chachi Arcola
- Tom Bosley … Cast, Howard Cunningham
- Lynda Goodfriend … Cast, Lori Beth Allen
- Pat O'Brien … Cast, Uncle Joe