‘Happy Days’ sitcom TV series debuts on ABC 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 15 1974)

Video: 'Happy Days S01E01 - All The Way'

(Tuesday, January 15, 1974, 8:00 p.m. EST)Happy Days, an American sitcom television series that presented an idealized vision of life in the 1950s and early 1960s Midwestern United States, debuted tonight on ABC.

The show, created by Garry Marshall, starred Ron Howard as Richie Cunningham, Henry Winkler as his friend Fonzie, and Tom Bosley and Marion Ross as Richie’s parents, Howard and Marion Cunningham; also starred Anson Williams, Donny Most, Erin Moran and Al Molinaro.