Episode Five – Hardware Jungle

Howard develops a sore throat. It is later diagnosed as tonsillitis. He must go to the hospital for an operation. He asks Richie to work at the family hardware store in his place on the Saturday night. Richie had plans to go to a rock’n roll concert with Arlene but he cancels them so he can do the shift.
(Episode Five – Hardware Jungle)

Richie must ask the Fonz, whom he bought the tickets from, for his money back. However Howard tells Richie he can close the store early, meaning he can still go to the concert. After receiving his money back from Fonzie, he approaches him again to re-buy the same tickets.

Richie completes his shift at the hardware store alongside his friend Potsie. When it is time to leave, Richie accidentally locks himself in. In an attempt to retrieve the keys which are on the outside of the door Richie puts his foot through a plate glass window.

Richie gives his concert tickets to Potsie and tells him to go on without him.. Richie stays behind to wait for the glass repairer. Visiting his father in hospital the next day, Howard tells Richie he is proud of him for the responsibility he showed.

In HAPPY DAYS, Howard Cunningham, or ‘Mr C’ as he later became known, owned his own hardware store named CUNNINGHAM HARDWARE. An internet search reveals a hardware store in Pennsylvania, U.S that goes by that same name today.

To see Henry Winkler (Fonzie) display his current acting smarts, check out the recently released third season of the HBO American dark comedy crime drama television series BARRY. In it Winkler plays an acting coach whose students include a hired hitman. BARRY is available in Australia on BINGE FOXTEL NOW APPLE TVAMAZON PRIME HULU – and ITUNES.

5 thoughts on “Episode Five – Hardware Jungle

  1. I like how innocent and nonviolent these episodes were. Seems like another world… I was watching the Mary Tyler Moore show on Hulu and was surprised to see Henry guest starring as a sweet guy who gets fired by the department store Rhoda works at and she unexpectedly brings him to Mary’s dinner party where he has to sit alone at tiny table against the wall because there’s no room at main table. I think I prefer ’70s TV and fortunately we live in a time where it’s now available again.
  2. I’m with you on the preference for 70’s tv. I was watching an old episode of THE LOVE BOAT the other day. That was cheesy even back in it’s day but for light entertainment I found it very likeable and kind of refreshingly innocent as well as charming. Used to love THE MARY TYLER MOORE show, and especially the character of Rhoda. Folk may need to brush up on their German for this LOVE BOAT clip. And the speeches from Ed Asner and Valerie Harper are both classics. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7RYXfej2i8
  3. Much to my husband’s chagrin, the ’70s are my favorite decade, ’cause it was the last time I was truly happy, lol. Well, I was lucky to have a great childhood, so lots of good memories (including Barry White’s Love Theme, lol). Remember the little girl who was on the Love Boat for a while? I think she was someone’s niece (maybe the captain?) She lived across the street from a friend of mine in the ’70s and we visited her a few times. She was VERY sweet. I remember that vividly.
  4. Wow! What a great childhood memory. I definitely know what you mean by childhood happiness – so pure, so carefree. Nothing can really compare in adult life for most people I reckon to that type of innocent bliss. There are certainly other forms of happiness for adults but that childhood type is largely a kind of special ‘never to be repeated’ form. That’s one of the facts of life I’ve come to know anyway. Someone has put together a full seven minute tribute to Jill Whelan, the actress who played the daughter of the Captain…
  5. Aw, what a sweet little tribute. I guess he really had a thing for her! I find it very amusing that he’d be glued to the dunk tank portion of Battle of the Network Stars, lol. Looks like she has a pretty full life. Good for her! She didn’t go down the usual “child actor” road, which is often tragic.

Got thoughts? Wanna share some? Do you know just how much I would enjoy that?