Winkler Recalls Dolly Parton's Crumpled Page Story
Happy Days star Henry Winkler shared a behind-the-scenes anecdote about Dolly Parton's 1986 holiday film at Rhode Island Comic Con.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Celebrities
Henry Winkler recounted a behind-the-scenes story about Dolly Parton's 1986 made-for-TV movie A Smoky Mountain Christmas, which he directed, during a Happy Days panel at Rhode Island Comic Con. The panel took place Saturday, November 7, at the Omni Providence Hotel.
Why it matters
The anecdote offers a personal glimpse into the making of Parton's first made-for-TV movie, a project that has drawn renewed attention following her death. Winkler's account arrives as fans revisit her film and television work.
The film was Dolly Parton's first made-for-TV movie, released in 1986 and directed by Henry Winkler. Parton played singer Lorna Davis, and the anecdote centers on a scene in which police search her apartment.
The players
Henry Winkler
An actor best known for playing Arthur 'Fonzie' Fonzarelli on Happy Days, who also directed the 1986 holiday film A Smoky Mountain Christmas.
Dolly Parton
A country music singer, songwriter and entertainer whose first made-for-TV movie was A Smoky Mountain Christmas, and who died on August 25 at age 80.
Anson Williams
An actor who played Potsie Weber on Happy Days and appeared alongside Winkler on the Rhode Island Comic Con panel.
The details
During filming, Parton crumpled a page of music and tossed it into a trash can. An actor playing a police officer asked to keep the page as a souvenir, and a boom microphone operator suggested he could take it because it would otherwise have been thrown away.
Timeline
1986: A Smoky Mountain Christmas is filmed and released.
August 25: Dolly Parton dies at age 80.
Saturday, November 7: Winkler tells the story at the Happy Days panel at Rhode Island Comic Con.
Industry Dynamics
A Smoky Mountain Christmas marked Parton's entry into made-for-TV movies, a format that in the 1980s gave established music stars a way to reach television audiences. Winkler's recollection adds a production-level view of that early TV work.
Viewers interested in Parton's early television work can seek out A Smoky Mountain Christmas, which was made for television rather than theatrical release. Availability of the film on specific platforms was not established in the source extraction.
The takeaway
Small production details, like a discarded page of music, can become lasting stories that keep a film's history alive long after its release. Fans revisiting a favorite performer's early work often find these behind-the-scenes moments add a new layer to the original viewing.
Further reading
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Source note: This article includes information reported by GEO TV.
