As Fonzie's popularity spread (his thumbs-up gesture and "aaayyh!" became trademarks), the show became a bigger and bigger hit. Winkler moved from his original fifth billing to third, then second behind Ron Howard and then first when Howard left in 1980. Changes in the cast were minor in the early years. Dozens of high school kids came and went, and Richie's older brother disappeared from the family early on, never to be referred to again. Arnold, the Japanease who owned Arnold's, first showed his face in 1975 but was replaced by a new owner, Al, in 1976. Two lower-middle- class girls who turned up briefly in late 1975 on a double date with Richie and Fonzie, quickly went on to a series of their own, Laverne & Shirley.