Drive-in celebrates anniversary with The Fonz - News and Tribune.com
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Actor, director, producer and author Henry Winkler arrives at the Georgetown Drive-In on Saturday evening in the back of a classic car chosen by drive-in owner, Bill Powell. Photo by Leah Tate
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Actors Candy Clark and Paul Le Mat from the 1973 movie American Graffiti sign autographs for fans at the Georgetown Drive-In on Saturday night. Photo by Leah Tate
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Winkler hugs a fan during a meet-and-greet at the Georgetown Drive-In on Saturday evening. The actors helped celebrate the Georgetown Drive-Ins 60th anniversary. The drive-in was built in 1951. Photo by Leah Tate
Winkler, others visit Georgetown Drive-In for event
BY LEAH TATE newsroom@newsandtribune.com Sun Jul 24, 2011, 08:08 PM EDT
GEORGETOWN In celebration of their 60th anniversary, the Georgetown Drive-In rocked around the clock on Saturday night with Happy Days star Henry Winkler and actors from American Graffiti.
We wanted to give fans a special treat, Bill Powell, owner of the Georgetown Drive-In said.
Gates opened early welcoming classic hot rods and cruisers, poodle skirts and leather jackets. The Cadillac Shack and the Von Schroeder Quartet Group performed doo-wop style music while performing on the roof of the concession stand.
Two episodes of Happy Days Sight For Sore Eyes and Cruzin and the movie American Graffiti, shown on a vintage carbon-arc projector, played at 9:30 p.m. before the recent releases of Harry Potter and The Deathly Hollows and Transformers Dark of the Moon. Transformers ended about 4:45 a.m.
Celebrity guests included actor, director, producer and author, Henry Winkler, who came to fame with his role as The Fonz on the television series Happy Days and has since appeared on several other TV shows such as Arrested Development and The Practice and movies such as The Waterboy and You Dont Mess with the Zohan. Actors Candy Clark and Paul Le Mat from the 1973 movie American Graffiti were also there for the celebration. The celebrity trio arrived about 7:30 p.m. after attending the Friday night Film Fest convention Saturday afternoon in Louisville.
The celebrities paraded in on three classic cars chosen by Powell.
Hundreds of fans lined up for autographs and pictures, some even dressed like The Fonz in black leather jackets despite the 90-degree heat.
You can have as many people as you want in the pictures and I need a hug, Winkler said to fans.
Celebrity guests signed autographs for several hours in an outside tent decorated in records and vintage posters from shows and movies in the 1950s.
Louisville resident, Mary Rucker, walked away from the tent smiling and said to fans in line, Its worth the wait. My husband wouldnt just wait for anybody in this heat.
Another Louisville resident, Tommy Roberts, brought his Happy Days thermos he kept from the 1970s and had Winkler autograph it.
Tommy Roberts wife, Nancy, said she was shocked about Winklers attendance.
When some friends told me that Henry Winkler would be here, I thought there would be an impersonator.
Powell acknowledged well-known actors dont often make the trip to the Southern Indiana drive-in
Its not every day you get Henry Winkler The Fonz at a small-town drive-in in Georgetown, in Floyd County, Powell said.
Bill Powells wife, Karen Powell, said, For him to take the time and come here says a lot about him. Not too many big stars will do that.
Karen said theyve been bringing in celebrities for their stars under the stars event for the past three years. She said one of her regular patrons, Ken Daniels, is a promoter and offered to help connect the Powells with the celebrities.
The Georgetown Drive-in has welcomed stars like Gunnar Hansen who played Leatherface and John Dugan who played Grandpa from the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Linda Blair, the possessed child Regan from the 1973 film The Exorcist.
Karen Powell said they like to mix things up at the drive-in but focus on family-orientated events everyone can enjoy.
She said theyre selling T-shirts and trying to get the funds for a digital projector but have no plans to change the overall look of the drive-in.
People like to come to the drive-in for the nostalgia and the simplicity, Karen said. You can come as you are.
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