HOMAGE TO ARNOLD'S OUTDOOR ATMOSPHERE

Welcome back to another installment of Kip Pullman's American Graffiti Blog.  This post pays homage to drive-in diner, Arnolds that was seen each week on TV's Happy Days.  There is a cross-pollination between the 1973 film, American Graffiti and the TV show, which first aired in January 1974. One of the similarities is  between Mels Drive-in  featured in Graffiti and and the outdoor set of Arnold's diner in Happy Days. This post is a tribute to the drive-up restaurant that looked so real on TV that we wanted to hang out there with the Happy Days gang.

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 The association between American Graffiti and the TV series Happy Days is remarkable and the two are definitely linked in some way but not necessary the way most fans think they are. Even though Happy Days starred Ron Howard and premiered in early 1974, which suggests it was inspired by the success of American Graffiti, it actually pre-dates the film, and was as an unsold TV pilot in 1971. ABC aired it in February 1972 as part of the weekly anthology series Love, American Style.

 

After American Graffiti‘s success, and with the popularity of the Broadway 1950’s style stage hit, Grease, ABC regained interest in the Happy Days pilot and authorized a series.  The show, created by Gary Marshall, presented a romanticized vision of life in 1950s and early 1960s America. The earlier episodes revolved around Richie (Ron Howard) and his friends, Potsie Weber (Anson Williams), Ralph Malph (Donny Most) and local dropout Arthur "The Fonz" Fonzarelli (Henry Winkler) who hung out at Arnold's. The drive-in was the favorite after-school hangout for Richie, his pals and other Jefferson High School students.

There was no direct spin-off between Happy Days and American Graffiti, but ABC clearly wanted to remind people of the movie. “Rock Around the Clock,” which opened American Graffiti, was also Happy Days‘ theme song for its first two seasons, and even used the same neon style font in its credits. In addition, Arnold's drive-in resembles Mels drive-in featured in Graffiti, as both were the hub of the gang's activities and the place where the kids in both the film and TV show converged.

Where do you hang a tray on a motorcycle?

Arthur's from the pilot episode / 1001 S. Victory Blvd, Burbank 

Before we go any further, here's a little factoid for ya:  In the premier episode of Happy Days the drive-in where the kids hang out was named Arthur's not Arnold's.  The reason for the name change is unclear but Arthur's certainly looked a little more elaborate than Arnold's.

Some of the shots were set up purposely to showcase Arthur's Restaurant sign

Flashing neon and selected lighting gave Arthur's a carnival-like look similar to what Visual-Consultant, Haskel Wexler achieved with the look of Mels in American Graffiti.

Potsie searches the busy drive-in for Ritchie

There were three known owners of Arnolds throughout the 10 years that the show aired. Matsuo Takahashi “Arnold” (Pat Morita) was the crazy, irritable owner of the diner for the show’s third season who also managed the restaurant and flipped burgers for the local teenagers. Arnold later sold the restaurant to a good-natured, easy-going Italian-American named Al Delvecchio (Al Molinaro) who retained the name of the restaurant.  Later in the series, "The Fonz" became Al's business partner at Arnold's Restaurant. 

The 1956 Presidential elections come to Arnold's

"I like IKE & my bike likes IKE!"

 Although Happy Days was filmed in Los Angeles, CA it took place somewhere in Milwaukee and fans have always argued over which drive-in Arnold's was modeled after.  According to Tom Miller, one of the show's Executive producers and co-creators who graduated from Nicolete High School in Glendale, WI., Arnold’s was based on the old Milky-Way, at 5373 N. Port Washington Road, which closed in November 1977.  As of this date (9/14/2015) the location is now a Kopps Frozen Custard. In 1977 Miller reflected on the roots of Arnold's: 

“Let’s face it,” he told the old Milwaukee Journal, “Arnold’s is really a compilation of everybody’s recollections of the drive-in of the ’50s. It’s just that the Milky-Way was closest to me when I grew up on Bay Ridge” Ave. in Whitefish Bay.

Outdoor menu board

Ritchie meets Fonzie's cousin, Spike (Danny Butch)

The outdoor scenes were incredible and really gave the show an authentic feel of ‘50s teenage life. One can see various teens parked and eating in their cars or two lovers making out in the background. A typical scene might include Ralph driving into the parking lot in his hot yellow 1929 Ford Roadster Pickup or Fonzie lying across his motorcycle as a young woman files his nails. Carhops were seen interacting with the patrons, and many teenagers passing by as rock and roll blared from the diners’ outdoor speakers. 
 

Car Hop, Wendy (Misty Rowe) is anxious to serve the boys

MORE THAN ONE ARNOLD’S??? 

Seasons 1 and 2 were filmed with one camera and a laugh track. This probably made filming outdoors in the parking lot of Arnold's pretty simple. We know the drive-in’s exterior was a dressed area constructed on the Paramount Studios back lot supposedly near Stage 19 where the rest of the show's indoor sets were located. However, astute fans had probably noticed the surrounding exterior backgrounds of Arnold’s were not consistent from week to week. 
 

Sometimes to the immediate right of the restaurant there was a large brick wall. On the other side there appeared to be a tall apartment building(s) mixed in with really tall homes that had Spanish style roofing. Other times there is no wall but a tall grayish stucco building with a sign that reads "All American Frozen Foods." There is also a large neon EAT sign to the right of the interior entrance of Arnold's whose position changes height and locations throughout various episodes and bushes below the sign that disappear and re-appear. 
 

So what’s with all the changing scenery? Perhaps the Arnold's set was torn down when they weren’t using it. Then when a particular episode called for an outdoor scene at Arnold’s the set was re-constructed on a random part of the Paramount back lot that wasn’t being used at the time. Hey, as my friend Jeff says, Rumors have to start somewhere.  

Carhop, Marsha (Beatrice Colen) reports a crime

The sign to the right of Arnold's reads,  All AMERICAN-CHINESE FROZEN FOOD

Joanie (Erin Moran) poses with the boys. Notice the Bicycle shop in the background

Bicycle shop  (Click on the pics to enlarge)

The exterior surroundings to the left of Arnold's restaurant were rarely seen but in a few early episodes they are visible.  For example, at the beginning of a second season episode we see Ritchie, Potsie and Ralph cruising in his 1929 yellow Ford truck before they pull into Arnold’s parking lot.  First they pass a white bicycle shop (see above picture). This must be where patrons at Arnold's buy their bikes because there's plenty of 2-wheelers in Arnold's parking lot too.

 It was easier for many of the the cast to use bicycles to get around the Paramount back lot.  This may explain the seeming surplus of bikes at Arnold's.  They were transportation and unlike golf-carts they didn't have to be hid from the camera.
 

Hanging a left to enter the restaurant's parking lot.

...next door to the bicycle shop, directly across the street of Arnold's parking lot entrance is a gas station. This extra attention to dressing up some of the surrounding buildings really helps create an interesting and realistic outdoor ambience. 

  

Notice the odd looking buildings or homes on the other side of the wall.

In another episode we see the surroundings to the left of the restaurant. Here's a shot of the gas pump from the filling station in the background as Fonzie enters the drive-in parking lot.

Now we can see the white bicycle shop in the background and again lots of bikes at Arnold's too. 

As Fonzie makes his way further along we can see more of the bicycle shop.  There's also a large Taggart's construction sign to the right of the shop. 

 Fonzie (Henry Winkler) appears triumphant having made it through the parking lot without spilling. Apparently, Winkler had difficulty driving a motorcycle and had crashed on several occasions.

 

Aaaaay, Kip's American Graffiti Blog is cool!

An atmosphere of fun and action was conveyed in the exterior settings at Arnold’s.  Unfortunately, by the third season the producers made the choice to shoot the TV sitcom indoors with 3 cameras, in front of a live studio audience so filming outdoors no longer became practical. Once Happy Days moved to an all-indoor set the TV show lost something important... a little magic that the series would never regain.

The later seasons shamelessly recycled a few seconds of stock footage from the first two seasons (such as the above picture and the one below) for establishing shots of Arnold's in each episode. 

Arnold's Drive-up restaurant looking abandon before it was finally torn down.

~ ENDE ~

NOSTALGIA DAYS: A GLOWING SUCCESS Pt. II

'55 movie clone car owned by Jeff Zastrow

I was going through my cell phone and realized I had a few more pictures I'd taken from Nostalgia Days in Novato, CA. that I didn't share on my last post.  (Click here to go to previous post).  So, I thought I'd share 'em with my readers, (that'd be you).

True to the original coupe there are slicks on the back and a missing rear window to accommodate sound & film crew

Bitchin' 40th anniversary film car built by David Acheson and now owned by Jeff Zastrow

Notice all the autographs from various American Graffiti related stars and personnel on the interior of the coupe.

Incidentally, anyone who has an American Graffiti related event and would like to have the two most popular cars from the film on display: 1.) Falfa's '55 black Chevy and 2.) Milner's '32 yellow Ford coupe the owner of these movie tribute vehicles, Jeff Zastrow just might be available to hook you up.   Jeff has been known to display his sweet rides in the past for a minimal fee.  Sometimes as little as the cost of expenses for travel and lodging.  That's it!  "It's not about the money,"Jeff said, "It's all about the excitement on people's faces when they see these cars." These are real racers. They weren't built just to look pretty.  Imagine having these two cars at the next grand opening of a new The Original Mels, or special event at a car show, or the next showing of American Graffiti at the theater of your nostalgic event. Okay, you get the picture.

Jeff can be reached at Jeffzastrow@sbcglobal.net or call him on his cell phone (916) 719-7135

'58 Impala owned by Ken Crawford.  The open trunk is filled with a case of Old Harper and Coke.

"Shit, Holstein!"  1961 Ford police car

Bitchin' Camero

Gnarly little surf machine

Heading home from Novato towards San Francisco on the Golden Gate Bridge

 

~ FINI ~

WHO WAS WINNING THE DRAG RACE ON PARADISE ROAD???

WAS FALFA BEATING MILNER???? Whether Falfa would have won the drag race in American Graffiti may be pure speculation. In the film it looks like the cars were neck in neck and Milner was starting to take the lead when Falfa's car began to run off the road. It’s ambiguous at best. The original rough draft (dated May 10, 1972) script reads, "Falfa's engine is winding incredibly and he begins to get the edge on John. The cars rocket through the dawn light along the flashing white line until Falfa's car hits the shoulder, his front wheel slips off...etc." So in the script it alludes to Falfa taking the lead at some point. However, things look different in the actual film where it looks to me like Milner is gaining on Falfa BEFORE Falfa hits the shoulder. But ultimately, the fact that Milner was winning is given credence by the actor who played Milner, Paul LeMat. When I spoke with actor, Paul LeMat he said that Milner was winning the drag race and he was told to pretend like he thought he lost. “He’s convinced he was losing the race,” said LeMat. “That’s not the fact or the way we were suppose to film it. Here I was thinking I lost the race but it was obvious to other people like Toad that I wasn’t losing the race.” I asked LeMat, Was Milner winning the race? He responded emphatically, “YES.” "But, I was supposed to act like I thought I was losing. I remember,” he continued, “that I tried to work it out without making him look insane that he was sure that he thought his time had come. Like he has obsessed about it so much. The race was so close that that was it for him. That was bad enough. That was worse. ‘I lost it, I lost it!’ LeMat compared it to a boxing match. “It’s similar to a fighter who wins a whole lot of fights and then he just BARELY wins one. He thinks, oh, my God! Did I lose it? I didn’t knock the guy out and he was beating me up. The other times it was so much easier. LeMatt said I still don’t think that scene works ‘cause I get people [fans] saying to me all the time, ‘You won the race what were you talking about?’ So there you have it: MILNER WAS WINNING! Now, go home and get your shine box! 

To see my whole interview with Paul LeMat watch the video below or go to You Tube: 

~ FINE ~

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Irish McCalla

NOSTALGIA DAYS: A GLOWING SUCCESS

Yours truly behind the wheel of the most famous car

Last weekend I headed up 101-North in California to Novato’s Nostalgia Days.  The annual event, run by Marv Giambastiani, included a Friday night cruise with about 200 custom cars “draggin’ the main.” It was so cool. To me the directions for the circuit were slightly confusing and made so many lefts and rights that I almost got whiplash trying to follow the action. I mean that in a fun way of course. Fun with a capital, "F."  Saturday there were plenty of sweet rides and custom machines on display. Bands played ‘50s style rock and roll as a backdrop to the many spectators walking around checking things out and others who sat in the cool shade on the patios of various restaurants on Grant Street.  It’s always fun to attend events such as these because I get to see a lot of friends, many of who own a car or two on display.  This year was no different. Two of the major attractions of the show were the American Graffiti Dream Team, which consists of dedicated hot rod builders who have meticulously cloned many of the major rides featured in the original 1973 movie.  They’re all a great bunch of guys. The other attraction was Candy Clark.

Photo by Alan Mercer

I knew the star of American Graffiti had come to the event so I arrived with my arms filled with memorabilia that I wanted her to sign. I was hoping we could chat for a bit too.  I've met Candy before at several hot-rod shows and have always enjoyed talking with her. She is intelligent, down-to-earth and has a wonderful sense of humor.  Unfortunately, I arrived a bit late due to car problems and as I was looking for the booth where Candy Clark was located my friend, Jim Bergstrom said, "You just missed her, she’s taking off!” 

Photo by Cynthia Simmons

 But, having no shame and wanting desperately to say hi to the actress, I ran after the van shouting “Candy!” Luckily the driver, Ron heard me and braked, stopping the vehicle.This prevented me from making a spectacle of myself. In other words I didn’t have to try grasping onto the bumper and have them drag me through town as, I shouted out the actresses’ name just to get them to stop.  Candy recognized me and playfully said, "You got here late."  I asked if she could sign some Graffiti memorabilia. She asked, “How many things do you have?” I had about 14 items that I’d brought for her to sign including an original poster, a couple of DVDs of her movies and a press kit but not wanting to delay her plane trip I sheepishly said “Three?” She graciously agreed. And, soon she and her entourage were back on their way to the airport. Someday I’m going to have a room specifically filled with American Graffiti posters, lobby cards, etc. signed by Candy and other Graffiti stars.  Someday.  But wait, there's more to our fun filled story so keep scrolling.

Falfa's '55 Field Car owned by Jeff Zastrow

'55 interior

'58 Impala owned by Ken Crawford

The Bucket-T is owned by Ken Crawford and the Red Truck is owned by Jim Bergstrom

40th Anniversary '32 Ford Coupe owned by Jeff Zastrow

Anyway, I was standing there half way in the street recovering from my star-struck state, after having interacted with Candy, when Jeff Zastrow, the owner of the 32 Milner Coupe and 55 Falfa Chevy clone, nudged me and asked, “Hey you want to do something fun? I replied, “What’s that?” thinking he was insinuating dinner with the group.  “You want to drive the yellow coupe?” Before he could finish his question I blurted out, “Yeah!” “Okay, said Jeff, “you can drive it back to the hotel. Just follow me, I'll be driving the black Chevy.” Sure nothing to it.  At first I stalled the engine a couple of times but eventually I got the hang of it and before I knew it, I was “John Milner” cruising through the small town with people waving at me. Damn, where was my pack of non-filter Camels when I needed them?

Powered by a modified 327 Chevy engine

I continued to follow the black 55 Chevy, Jeff was driving. Once he took a left on Redwood Road Jeff picked up speed and I followed in pursuit. We were rallying along the long stretch of road with the engines blazing and cars moving out of the way for us.  I remembered earlier Jeff had said that the Coupe had enough power that the front end lifts up off the ground if you accelerate fast enough.  Well once we came to the first stoplight I just had to see if he was right. He was. The torque was amazing.  For about 5 miles I got to test out an astounding car with the engine winding incredibly and live a little bit of a dream that I’ve had since 1974 when I first saw American Graffiti in the theater with my sister, Kary and my dad in Woodland California. It was truly bitchin! Thanks to Marv, Jeff, Ken, Jim, Candy and everyone else for a great weekend!  (Click here to see more pics from event).

Later, Alligator!

 ~ FINI ~ 

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MELS DRIVE-IN: ALIVE IN 1974

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Mels 140 S. Van Ness San Francisco August 1974

The restaurant drive-through is a staple of modern dining. However before the drive-through there was the drive-in restaurant. While the former offers an experience about as delightful as one’s daily large city commute, the latter, similar to the road trip itself, exists mainly for enjoyment's sake. In addition, when you're in transit and famished, it's a joy to discover local specialties alongside the pervasive burgers, fries and Cokes. From 1947-76 Mels Drive-in was one such place where one had the option of eating in their car, while checking out hot-rods, showing off their custom machine and ogling the opposite sex. The eateries’ 140 S. Van Ness location was the franchise’s flagship and was the place to be before drive-through and simple pick-up menu eateries became the mainstay of cheap modern dining. 

Today’s post features a pic of the drive-ins’ 140 S. Van Ness location in 1974 a year after American Graffiti made its’ debut in late August. It was taken by Mark Lee Goodale. He had the following to say about the picture:

It was in August of 1974. I had just graduated from high school and a friend of mine an I were driving up the coast to meet my girlfriend's family that were on vacation there and we got into town about 3:00 AM and I looked over and there it was: The Mels from American Graffiti!  They weren't open all night but they were lit up all night. We pulled over and slept in the van and in the AM took the picture.

I was already an AG junkie when we took this pic. I had seen the film at least 20 times in high school. I started collecting 45's around that time and the soundtrack was unbelievable. The songs fit so well with the scenes.  We had an 8 track player mounted under the dashboard and played the Beach Boys' ENDLESS SUMMER on the entire road trip.

We drove a 1967 Ford Econoline van. You can only see the back doors with windows (far right) in the Mels photo but this is what it looked like.

For the true exciting story on the closure of the original Mels featured in Graffiti check out the link below:

http://kipsamericangraffiti.blogspot.com/2013/12/mels-circa-early-1950s-welcome-back-to.html

    ~ FINI ~

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NOTES:

• Goodale, Mark Lee. [photos] received Aug 8, 2015

• Kronsberg , Matthew. Drive-In Restaurants Worth Going Out of Your Way For. (2014). Dow Jones & Co., Inc.