The Life, Disappearance, And Future Life Of Chuck Cunningham

     American culture can easily be defined by television. We are children of the television age.  As TV programming evolved, so did we. Television filled a need of community and national mythology.
     Early TV was filled with programming celebrating the myth of the "wild west". Viewers ate up the illusion that the West was won by clean cut, morally up right, and socially conscious white men. Women were always secondary to the story, little more than set decorations. If they ever dared speak their minds, it was usually in defense of their man's position.
     African-Americans, Hispanics, and Asians were absent unless the story line required a subservient character or an exotic villain. You NEVER saw a homosexual. Any efiminate males were always comic characters (Joe Besser, Jerry Lewis, and Bob Denver's portrayal of "Gilligan").
     TV was also filled with programming praising the lives of upper middle class white men, who live in upper middle class neighborhoods, married to the subservient, attractive whote wife who is always well dressed and wearing a pearl necklace. He has two or three polite, naïve, but well adjusted children. Minorities are never to be seen anywhere.
     As time went by, tv progressed and time slots opened up, reruns filled our afternoons and weekends. This gave people a sense of nostalgia and reinforced the myth of the "good ol' days" when "things were simpler". That gave us the birth of the long running tv show, "Happy Days".
     Originally, "Happy Days" was a throwback, nostalgia filled, sanitized view of the mythological white teenager and his "Father Knows Best" style father. You rarely saw people of color, and the one Hispanic character that I recall was a gang member (the gang leader was, of course, white).
     Even the sole Italian character of  "Aurthur (Fonzie) Fonzerelli", was originally a member of The Falcons street gang. His younger relatives, Spike Fonzarelli and Chachi Arcola, were thugs in training.
     Which brings us to Chuck Cunningham. "Who is Chuck Cunningham?", you ask. He is the eldest son in "Happy Days" (played by Gavin O'Herlihy in season 1 and Randolph Roberts in season 2). Chuck was the stereotypical 1950s high school jock. He rarely appeared and one day was never seen again. He is never mentioned after season 2. There are no photos of him anywhere in the house. In season 11 of "Happy Days", patriarch of the family, Howard, proclaims that he is proud of his "two kids" (episode 22 "Fonzie's Spots"). It's as though Chuck never existed.
     Being the 1950s, perhaps he was "caused" to never have existed. Politics and family morality of the time, there may be an underlying cause for his erasure from the collective family memory.
     Long before the Stonewall Riots brought LGBTQ oppression to the forefront, homosexuals had to lead secretive lives. Even one U.S. president, James Buchanan, is reputed to have been gay. Long time head of the FBI, J. Edgar Hoover, is reputed to have been not only gay, but partially African-American as well.
     This may be the simplest explanation to the mysterious disappearance of a one Charles "Chuck" Cunningham. Chuck was secretly gay and Howard found out.
      No one questioned why Chuck never had a girlfriend. He was too busy pursuing sports. Long before colleges were simply training camps for major league sports, they were opportunities for young white men to earn a scholarship so that he could not only look forward to a career in post WWII America, but find a proper wife as well.
      There is a possible explanation as to why Chuck never had a girlfriend and why he was later erased from the family memory. Chuck always liked boys. From his first time showering with other boys in summer camp, he knew he would never have a girlfriend. There in summer camp he met another boy who's sensibilities mirrored his own. Finally, someone who understood him. They understood that they could not be seen alone together. They knew that they would face ridicule or even bullying. Despite this they always looked forward to seeing each other.
     When junior high school offered a sports program, he jumped at the chance. This offered him not only the chance to be competitive, but also a chance to spend time with other boys. It also gave his father a reason to be proud of him. After all, what 1950s father wouldn't want his eldest son to be a star athlete? It was part of the American dream. He continued his dominance in basketball through junior high and high school. His secret life with some close friends would also continue on through high school.

     His (and his father's) dream came true one day. Chuck earned scholarship offers from several colleges. Chuck wanted, no, needed to get as far as he could from home. He accepted a scholarship from a fine school in Pennsylvania. Being away from home, he could finally feel free.
     In addition to college sports, he wanted to study law. He wanted to fight against the racial and sexual oppression that was part and parcel of the American dream. Then one day it all came crashing down.
     He accepted an invitation from some friends who were members of a fraternity that secretly sought out homosexual men. It was publicly, a formal meeting to discuss post college careers and politics. It was also a secret way to meet other men of similar predilections.
     It all went south when a nosey classmate tipped off the police on what he suspected as "suspicious" and "subversive" activity at a "commie" frat house.
     The police approached the house silently and without a warrant, claiming "suspicious anti-American activity". They raided the house en masse. While in the downstairs rooms, the police found no unusual activity. The upstairs was a different story. There the police found a couple of dozen young men in various states of undress. The police savagely beat the men, including Chuck, before arresting them. The police report would claim that they were simply defending themselves against "violent perverts".
     Chuck was handcuffed and thrown into a paddy wagon. He was taken downtown, booked, and thrown into a cell along with his "co-conspirators". The police informed the college, warning them of "communists" in their midst. The Dean, in turn, called the parents of the detained students. 

     Howard Cunningham was awakened at 1am by the abrupt ringing of his phone. One could only imagine the rage and fury of the elder Cunningham as an official from Chuck's school informed him of the trumped up charges placed against his son. 

     Chuck tried calling home, but his collect calls weren't accepted. He was released on his own recognizance only to find that he had been expelled from college.
     Demanding a speedy trial and acting as his own council, he managed to have the charges reduced to disorderly conduct and sentenced to time served.
      Expelled and with nowhere to go, he decided to go home. He was still unable to reach anyone at home. He took his few belongings to the bus station and hesitantly purchased a one way ticket to Milwaukee. Two days on the road seemed like an eternity. He was a bundle of nerves and hardly ate during the two days on the road. 

     Once in Milwaukee,  he called the one friend who was glad to see him, his buddy from summer camp. He gave him a ride to the Cunningham home. There he found his belongings in burlap sacks in the front yard. His high school graduation photo was on top of one of the bags.
      His life as part of the Cunningham family was over. There was no turning back. He knew he had two choices - he could give up and die or find a way to carry on. 

     He decided to move to Chicago. His first order of business was finding a place to sleep. He found a low cost boarding house. The next morning he went out looking for jobs. He quickly found a job as a stocker in a department store. He now had a new job, a new life, and a new resolve.

     With a new job, he was determined to enroll in college again. Chuck dedicated himself to working and completing his law degree. He had a purpose. He also felt that he needed a new identity.

     He wanted to break free from the Cunningham family. He decided to legally change his name to Kelp, his mother's maiden name. He was now Charles Jefferson Kelp. He greatly admired Thomas Jefferson despite his ownership of slaves. The nickname "Chuck" was left behind. He preferred to be called "CJ".

     As a lawyer, he took a stand against the imjustices of the day. He fought against inequity. He later joined the Civil Rights movement and marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He survived attacks by police in Selma. He also joined the anti-war movement, going as far as defending arrested protesters pro bono.

     Because of his work, he often received death threats from conservative Christians in the South. By sheer luck he survived two assassination attempts during trials in Alabama and Mississippi. 

     Howard Cunningham lived the rest of his life squashing the memory of his eldest son. He would go into a rage if anyone mentioned Chuck, even accidentally. He hid his pain by becoming a workaholic. Spending nearly all of his waking hours at the hardware store. He eventually parlezed his business into an ACE Hardware franchise. One ACE Hardware eventually became three stores. 

     On the surface, Howard was living the American dream. He worked hard and drank hard. He often travelled alone to conventions. On the inside he was a tormented soul. He worked hard to suppress the shame of having a "queer" son. Not a day went by when he tried to place the blame for Chuck's behavior on someone - anyone. Was it his fault? Was it Marion's? Did a stranger lure him astray? "Who did this?", he asked himself endlessly. 
     Marion was often left alone. She was isolated and depressed. She eventually developed a habit of drinking. She became Howard's second shame. He would be seen as weak if he could not control the drinking habits of his wife. 

     Marion's life was spiraling out of control. She felt like she was falling into an abyss from which there would be no return. She was losing touch with her husband. She lost her son who's name she could no longer mention. Her two remaining children were ashamed of her. All her friends turned their backs on the woman with the aweful secret.

      It was the spring of 1969, Marion woke up on a park bench. She didn't even remember being in the park. The next thing she noticed was a man speaking to her as though she were a friend. He introduces himself as Matsuo Takahashi. Takahasi-san was the owner of an import-export business by day and a karate instructor by night. Marion looked at the Oriental gentleman as though she recognized him. In her addled state, she couldn't quite place him. She looked into his eyes, trying to formulate a question when he asked, "How are Chuck, Richie, and Joanie?" 

     Marion's jaw dropped. She hadn't heard Chuck's name in years. She sat there in shock for a moment. So many memories rushed back into her head. She began to slowly shed tears. She then began to openly weep.

     Matsuo gently reached over and gently placed his hand on hers. Marion gasped lightly. No one had touched her hand in years. She turned to look at him and was overcome by a wave of familiarity. She knew the face but couldn't find the name. After a moment of suffling through names in her memory, she hesitantly asked, "Al?" Matsuo chuckled. "No, not Al," he replied in his thick Japanese accent. Marion thought for a moment, then sniled. "Arnold?", she asked.

     Matsuo, smiled and nodded. "I have not been called "Arnold' in many years." Matsuo used to be the owner and cook at "Al's Drive In".

     The pair sat there and spoke for hours. Marion was finally able to speak about that most forbidden of subjects - Chuck. As she spoke, Mastuo could see the physical change in Marion's face. The years of stress, neglect, and alcohol abuse faded slightly from her face. The pair ended up sitting on that bench talking until almost sunset. 

     The chance meeting becomes daily meetings. Marion is now able to express years of repressed feelings. She had been forbidden to even mention her son's name. She hadn't uttered his name since April of 1960. Marion, again, has a confidante. Years after his divorce from his wife, Momo, Arnold has a companion again.

     The new friendship brought a new scandal. She was no longer the drunk wife with the absentee husband. She was now that scandolous wife cavorting with the strange Oriental man. 

     Over time, Arnold taught Marion how to meditate and practice kata. She found that she was drinking less and less. She learned how to grieve the loss of her son and her husband. Howard and Marion were still husband and wife, but on paper only. They lived as strangers in a large empty house. After Howard passed away, Marion became owner of Howard's stores.

     Howard had died in the fall of 1970, he had just turned 60. Before passing away, he said his greatest joy were his two children and six grandchildren. Even in the face of death, he maintained his denial. He refused to acknowledge the existence of his first born son.

     Richie was already manager of one of Howard's stores. Marion appointed him general manager of the three store chain. Joanie was assistant manager of one of the other stores. She was bumped up to manager of Richie's old store.

     Not wanting to live alone in the large house, Marion sold it. She rented a room in a nearby boarding house until she decided what to do with her life. She spent one last night in her bedroom. Matsuo slept on the sofa downstairs. The next morning, she turned her keys over to the realtor. She walked to Matsuo's waiting car. She stepped into the car with tears pouring down her face but bravely kept her head up. The couple drove off and she never looked back.

     She invested some of her money in Matsuo's business, Great Orient Imports and Trading. Wanting to stay busy, Marion would spend allot of time at Great Orient. She began to help "Arnold" out in the office by running errands and cleaning his office. He later decided to hire her as a bookkeeper. 

     The working relationship slowly blossomed into a romance. It started with occassion dinners out. 

     The couple spent so much time together that Mastuo proposed that Marion move in with him. Marion was stunned. She pondered smiled and hugged Arnold. Richie and Joanie, growing up in conservative middle America, weren't especially thrilled with the idea.  The idea of their mother having an Oriental friend was OK, but God forbid she live with one. After all, what will the neighbors think?

     At the end of the month, Marion vacated her rented room and moved into Matsuo's suburban Milwaukee home.

     At the appointed time, Arnold (he had become accustomed to being called "Arnold" again) pulled up to the boarding house. Marion was ready with her suitcases in hand. They were both nervous and made only small talk as they drove to suburban western Milwaukee. 

     Pulling up into the driveway, Marion noticed how similar Arnold's house was with the others down the street. The couple were both visibly nervous and somewhat giddy at the new arrangement. They both walked up the steps and through the front door.The interior decor was mostly contemporary American furnishings. Marion was impressed at how tidy and neat everything was. Arnold continued the tour upstairs. 

     Arnold's bedroom was sparsely decorated in traditional Japanese style. A small platform covered in a thin matress served as his bed. The floor was covered in bamboo mats. A small shrine was against the wall opposite the bed. Unlike the wallpaper downstairs, the walls were covered in  light colored wood veneer. Some traditional Japanese art adorned the walls. 

     The next room was even more sparse than the previous. This room only had mats, some small portraits, and swords on the wall. Marion studied the room and finally asked, " Arnold, what is this room?" "This is dojo. Like a gymnasium. I practice kata here."

     At the end of the hall was another room. It was another bedroom. This one was decorated in typical American bedroom furnishings. Arnold even included a canopy bed for effect. While Marion loved the room, she seemed a bit confused. She looked at Arnold, put a hand on his shoulder and asked, "Who's roon is this?"

     Arnold was a bit embarrassed by the question. He began to explain, "I... uh... was not sure of arrangement." Marion smiled and kissed Arnold gently. "We can sleep in your room."

     After a year togèther, business couple decided to marry. They decided on a traditional Japanese wedding. Traditional wedding garments were to be made by a Japanese tailor in Chicago.

     Marion's children initially, weren't overly thrilled with the idea of their mother getting married again. Over time, they saw the change in their mother's health and outlook. She was busy and happy. Eventually, both warmed to the idea.

     In June of 1972, Arnold and Marion tied the knot. They both looked resplendent in their traditional Japanese wedding attire. Ritchie and Joannie were stunned at how incredible their mother looked in her colorful wedding kimono. They were also pleased that their mother was not only sober, but genuinely happy and healthy. A Shinto priest from Chicago officiated the ceremony.

     The ceremony itself, or Shinzen Kekkon, was in Japanese and English. This was followed by the traditional drinking of sake. At the end, the officiant asked the the assembled friends and family to give the traditional cheer of "Kanpai!" Marion's family accidentally shouted "Banzai!" Most of Marion's old friends had turned their backs on her and refused to attend.

     The ceremony officially ended when Al and Marion were presented with the Milwaukee County marriage license. With the stroke of a pen, Marion Cunningham became Marion Takahashi. 

     The couple continued to work at Oriental Trading until they both retired in 1980. They bought a Winnebago RV and spent part of the year traveling. Marion would still mourn the loss of her eldest son, but at least now she had a supportive spouse.

     In the meantime Charles continued to work in law. He made a good living with high priced clients, but continued his crusade for minority, women's, and gay rights. He got involved in politics. He campaigned for progressive candidates. He travelled extensively and made new friends where ever he went. 

     The pace of his work was begining to take a toll on his life. He was tired all of the time. In late 1981, a visit to his doctor revealed that he was the latest victim of the AIDS virus. President Ronald Reagan was in denial and refused to act on the new health crisis. Charles now had a new crusade.

     The pace of Charles' work on top of his disease finally was too much. He became incapacitated in November of 1982. He finally succumbed to the disease in January of 1983. His last audible words were, "I love you, mom."

     He was buried in Cicero, IL. His funeral was attended by a handful of close friends. The Cunningham family was not informed of the funeral. His friends knew little of Chuck's family. All anyone knew is that they lived in Milwaukee, WI. Chuck rarely spoke of them.

     Marion died quietly in her sleep in 1989. Arnold died a few weeks later.  As per written agreement, both Arnold and Marion were cremated and their asshes were spread upon Lake Michigan from a shared container. 

     The plot next to Howard's grave remained unused forever more.
     Richie and Joanie's children never knew that they once had an uncle named Chuck.