By Nick Thomas
As the TV matriarch of the Cunningham clan in the sitcom “Happy Days,” Marion Ross appeared in over 250 episodes during the hit series 11-season run from 1974 to 1984. But one episode has special significance for the actress this time of year.
In ‘The First Thanksgiving,’ broadcast two days before the November holiday in 1978, Ross’s character (also named Marion) leads the cast in a departure from the show’s usual Milwaukee-based setting. She narrates a flashback story set in the Plymouth Colony, with the cast doubling as historical characters, to remind her family that sharing and giving thanks are the traditions behind the annual festivities.
“Tom (Bosley) and I were dressed up as pilgrims and I had on a lovely outfit with a white bonnet,” recalled Ross from her home in Woodland Hills, California. “Then Fonzie (Henry Winkler) comes in wearing traditional clothes, but with his leather jacket over them!”
It was classic ‘Happy Days’ humor: Fonzie on a wooden motorbike; later, when he invites Indians into the pilgrims’ compound, he’s punished and restrained in the stocks but breaks free with a characteristic Fonzie move (“He broke the stock – hey, a first stockbroker!” quips Anson Williams’ Potsie character).
Ross’s son – actor, comedian, and impressionist Jim Meskimen (see www.jimmeskimen.com) – also recalls the episode.
“The show didn’t often break the boundary of the normal format, so the Thanksgiving episode was a chance to do so,” he said from Los Angeles. “It was a big Marion episode, too, and I have to say Mom was charming in it.”
He also recalls Al Molinaro arriving at the pilgrim Cunningham home toting a heavy cask of cider.
“Tom asks him ‘Hard?’ and Al replies something like ‘No, I rolled it most of the way.’ That was typical of the strength of the ‘Happy Days’ writers – a lot of opportunity for some cheap but funny vaudeville gags. It’s humor that stands the test of time.”
Like many TV moms in sitcoms dating back to the 50s and 60s, Ross’s role was essentially one of the traditional homemaker with limited opportunities for character development.
“Sometimes I would ask the producers if I could have a different kind of scene,” said Ross. “The response was ‘No dear, it’s not about you, it’s about the boys.’ However, they realized children were much of our audience and they would be talking about the show next day at school. So it was important for Tom and me to be in every episode so viewers saw parents who were always there watching out for the family.”
Ross’s own family roots trace back to Minnesota, where she was born in Watertown and spent her formative years in Albert Lea. “In my high school junior year, I moved to Minneapolis to take drama lessons.”
She remembers her Minnesota Thanksgivings as being “rather brisk.”
“My father was older, so there was not much playing outside,” she recalled. “I was a middle child and the rambunctious one, so I would run out and shovel the snow off the walkway.”
She says Thanksgiving included a large extended family seated at tables stretching into the living room. “I remember by the time I was about ten having the traditional meal of turkey, stuffing, pumpkin pies, and also rutabagas. Guests would say ‘Rutabagas? We feed those to the pigs!’ But we liked them mashed with salt and pepper.”
With a Scottish father and a Canadian mother of Irish background, Ross says it was more than just the harsh Minnesota climate that toughened her for a career in the brutal entertainment business.
“I was raised not only with that ‘You can do anything’ attitude, but also “You must do it.’ So I was always determined to get into acting.”
Marion was 16 when the family headed west.
“World War II just ended and my father had been working on the Panama Canal and the Navy transferred him to the base in San Diego. We sold everything, got on a train full of servicemen coming home from the war, and moved to California.”
At first, West Coast Thanksgivings seemed strange.
“They were a terrible disappointment and just didn’t seem natural with the warmer weather,” she said. “But now I’m a seasoned Californian!”
That includes enjoying outdoor activities, particularly one with a long family Thanksgiving tradition at Happy Days Farm.
“That’s what I call my house. After all, ‘Happy Days’ paid for it!” she noted, laughing. “It’s on 2-acres and we play bocce ball at Thanksgiving with the family and a few friends.”
But no one will be expecting Marion to prepare this year’s meal.
“I’m not much of a cook,” she admitted. “It was always a bit tense when I did! The young mothers (daughter and daughter-in-law) will probably be doing most of the work.”
And in the spirit of the season, the family often invites a guest who might otherwise be alone –somewhat akin to the “Happy Days” Thanksgiving episode where Fonzie convinces the pilgrims to welcome the local Indians.
“In the end, they join our family for the meal,” said Ross, who turned 89 this year and will be publishing her autobiography next spring.
The pilgrim story concludes at the table, where Richie (Ron Howard) leads the dinner party in prayer: “Thank you, oh Lord, for leading us to this New World. And thank you for the freedom that we can all share together.”
As the episode returns to then present-day Milwaukee, Marion serves the meal to her attentive family, adding: “This is a day to count your blessings – everyone has something to be thankful for.”
Nick Thomas teaches at Auburn University at Montgomery, Ala, and has written features, columns, and interviews for over 650 newspapers and magazines. See www.tinseltowntalks.com
