Surprising Stories from the Set of Happy Days

Happy Days wasn’t just a ratings hit — it was a merchandising machine. From lunch boxes and posters to slot machines and all kinds of branded memorabilia, the show’s characters were everywhere. But according to the cast, they weren’t seeing money from products using their likenesses.

The cast eventually sued CBS, which owned the rights to the series, claiming they weren’t being properly compensated for the merchandising boom. After a legal battle, CBS settled the case and awarded them a relatively small sum. Even in real life, it seems not everything was as happy as the title promised.