Why is Everyone Surprised by How Cool Milwaukee Is? Cassandra Brooklyn In the ’70s, Milwaukee was known for the upbeat TV shows Laverne and Shirley and Happy Days; in fact, the “Bronze Fonz” statue that gleams over the Milwaukee River is a persistent reminder of what some consider to be the city’s glory days. In the ’80s, Jeffrey Dahmer took over as the city’s (very!) unfortunate claim to fame and, at one point, when I’d tell people I’m from Milwaukee, their first reaction would be “Oh, that’s where Jeffery Dahmer is from!” Indeed, it is.