Milwaukeeans – and guests of the city – love to photograph themselves with the Bronze Fonz statue. Some of us have even tried interviewing him. But now, they can actually invite him to their event or party.

Gary Ostrander, who co-owns a company called Pantaloon Productions with his wife and another couple, was clandestinely contacted earlier this year by a bride-to-be. She asked Ostrander to dress up as the Bronze Fonz and attend her wedding as a surprise for her father and husband, both of whom are big "Happy Days" fans.

Ostrander gave two thumbs up at the chance to become a "living statue" of the Fonz and attended the wedding in May.

"The Bronze Fonz was a huge hit with everyone," he says. "It took people a while to realize I was hired by the bride, not just crashing the wedding. It was pretty funny."

Last week, Ostrander appeared at the NEWaukee Night Market, again donning his Bronze Fonz persona. OnMilwaukee was elated to present him with a temporary tattoo and sticker of the Bronze Fonz’s thumbs, designed by OnMilwaukee Creative Director Jason McDowell.

Ostrander and his wife, Jessica, operate the business from West Bend along with another couple, Theo and Jolie Williams. The Ostranders are trained in mime and dance and have a history of posing as living statues.

"I’ve done a lot of statue posing but it was so fun to move around, saying ‘ayyyyy’ and being a living, moving statue," says Ostrander. "It brings people a new way of interacting with the Bronze Fonz and they love it."

Surprisingly, the transformation from man to Bronze Fonz only takes Ostrander about 30 minutes. The wig was handcrafted and the makeup is three layers of water-based bronze-colored paint.

"The skin tone is still evolving," he says.

Pantaloon Productions provide interactive characters/entertainers for corporate events, trade shows, festival entertainment and private parties worldwide. They also serve as a live event services talent agency.

Ostrander says he hopes to return to the next Night Market on Wednesday, July 13. He and his team will also appear at corporate and private events this summer.

"I've been so surprised by how much people enjoy the costume and the interaction," he says. "I love celebrating Milwaukee history and our pop culture by being the Bronze Fonz."