A Brief History of Peanuts
Charles Schulz’s last Sunday Peanuts comic strip appeared in newspapers Sunday, Feb. 13, 2000
United Feature Syndicate / AP
When Alex Davis was 2 years old, he pointed to a drawing his father had done and exclaimed, “Snoopy!” The problem: his father was Jim Davis, the creator of Garfield, and the picture was of the cat he made famous. Charles Schulz’s black-and-white dog is so beloved, though, that a lasagna-loving cat can’t even compete. Saturday, Oct. 2, marks 60 years since Schulz’s first Peanuts strip hit newspapers. Since then, Snoopy, Charlie Brown and the gang have become the most recognizable cartoon characters in America — and have left an indelible mark on American culture.
Yet leave it to the man behind Charlie Brown to experience disappointment before success. In 1947 Schulz started a cartoon feature called L’il Folks for the St. Paul Pioneer Press. It was a flop, never achieving a permanent spot in the paper. In 1950 he compiled his strips and sold the series to the United Features Syndicate, which changed its name to Peanuts. Schulz originally resisted the name change. “I wanted to keep Li’I Folks,” he told TIME in 1965. “I wanted a strip with dignity and significance. Peanuts made it sound too insignificant.” (See the top 10 children’s books of 2009.)
The first strip was printed on Oct. 2, 1950, and appeared in seven newspapers. In the strip, Charlie Brown walks by two friends, one of whom remarks, “Well! Here comes ‘ol Charlie Brown! Good ‘ol Charlie Brown … yes, sir! Good ‘ol Charlie Brown … how I hate him!” By the end of the decade, Peanuts had been picked up by hundreds of newspapers and had won Schulz a Reuben award, the highest honor given by the National Cartoonists Society.
Schulz’s Peanuts exploded during the 1960s, leaving its fingerprints on everything it touched. Charlie Brown and the gang even graced the cover of TIME in 1965. The influence didn’t go just one way, though — Peanuts evolved with the turbulent decade. After Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968, fans pressed Schulz to include a black character; Franklin first appeared on July 31 of that year. Peppermint Patty, a multidimensional, sports-loving girl living in a single-parent household, made her debut in 1966. And Woodstock, Snoopy’s yellow, feathered companion, finally got his name in 1970. When asked why he named the bird after the music festival, Schulz simply replied, “Why not?” (See the 100 best TV shows of all time.)
Peanuts triumphed off the printed page as well. In 1965 A Charlie Brown Christmas first aired, beginning a string of televised specials. Two later specials, You’re a Good Sport, Charlie Brown and A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, both took home Emmy awards. In 1967 Snoopy and friends hit the stage in an off-Broadway production, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, which ran for four years. It remains one of the most performed American musicals in history. Charlie Brown and Snoopy even went to the moon in 1969, after the Apollo X crew named their command and lunar modules after them. In later decades, Schulz’s work graced the Louvre and Carnegie Hall.
By the 1980s and 1990s, Schulz had acquired a massive personal fortune. As he gave millions away to charity, he was frequently listed by Forbes magazine as one of the highest-paid entertainers in America, alongside Michael Jordan and Michael Jackson. He became the highest-paid and most widely read cartoonist of all time. By 1984, Peanuts had made the Guinness World Records after being syndicated to its 2,000th newspaper. Peanuts, which was read by 355 million people, raked in cash through newspaper licensing, book compilations, merchandising and endorsements.
Schulz’s health began to deteriorate in the 1990s. His hands developed a tremor, leaving his classic lines wobblier than usual. He suffered a stroke in November 1999 that impaired his vision, memory and motivation to draw. On Dec. 14, 1999, he announced his retirement. On Jan. 3, 2000, the last Peanuts daily strip was published. Schulz died of complications from colon cancer on Feb. 12, one day before his final Sunday strip hit the presses. He was 78. Schulz was posthumously given the Congressional Gold Medal, the body’s highest honor given to a civilian. To this day, kids around the world know and love Snoopy.
Read “Passages: The Life and Times of Charles Schulz.”
Tags: National Cartoonists Society, charlie brown, united features syndicate, jim davis, Emmy awards
I am really inspired together with your writing skills as well as with the layout on your weblog. Is that this a paid topic or did you customize it your self? Either way keep up the nice high quality writing, it is uncommon to see a great blog like this one these days..
We’re a gaggle of volunteers and starting a brand new scheme in our community. Your web site provided us with helpful information to work on. You have done an impressive process and our entire community will likely be thankful to you.
Thnx a lot to do this! I haven’t been this thrilled from a post for years! You have it, whatever however in blogging.
A Brief History of Peanuts | HowToCleanseYourBody I was recommended this web site by my cousin. I’m not sure whether this post is written by him as nobody else know such detailed about my problem. You’re wonderful! Thanks! your article about A Brief History of Peanuts | HowToCleanseYourBodyBest Regards Justin
That’s a great post!
We’re quite certain I??ll learn a bunch of new stuff what follows! Enjoy for the following!
http://timesharesprookjeofnachtmerrie.info/nieuwsbrief-nr-2
That is a handful of motivational stuff. Never ever knew that may opinions could be this distinct diverse. Numerous thanks for all the excitement to create accessible this kind of valuable information and facts the following.
I’m still learning from you, as I’m trying to reach my goals. I certainly liked reading all that is written on your site.Keep the stories coming. I liked it!
Great post. I most certainly will have a watch for this post. I have added your blog post to my bookmarking account to make certain that I’m able to re-visit once more. Great content, I have to agree.
Howdy, I really hopped over for ones web page via StumbleUpon. Not necessarily another thing I??d usually learn, nevertheless liked your ideas none the less. Thank you making something price reading.
Hiya, I am really glad I have found this info. Nowadays bloggers publish only about gossip and net stuff and this is actually irritating. A good blog with interesting content, this is what I need. Thanks for making this web site, and I’ll be visiting again. Do you do newsletters? I Can’t find it.
Hey there. I discovered your website by way of Google even as searching for a related matter, your website came up. It looks great. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks to visit later.
This is the proper A Brief History of Peanuts | HowToCleanseYourBody journal for anyone who wants to seek out out about this substance. You remark so more its near debilitating to debate with you (not that I really would want…HaHa). You definitely put a new whirl on a issue thats been codified most for life. Good lug, simply eager!
This is the rectify A Brief History of Peanuts | HowToCleanseYourBody diary for anyone who wants to attempt out out near this substance. You attending so more its almost tiring to debate with you (not that I really would want…HaHa). You definitely put a new rotate on a topic thats been graphic roughly for period. Fastidious shove, just eager!
Nice piece of information! May I reference part of this on my blog if I post a backlink to this webpage? Thank you.
Hi! It is nice interesting text. Watch my website. I believe It’s also interesting.
Thank you for the sensible critique. Me and my friend were just preparing to do some research about this. We got a book from our local library but I think I learned more from this post. I am very glad to see such fantastic information being shared freely out there..
Nice blog here! Also your web site loads up very fast! What host are you using? Can I get your affiliate link to your host? I wish my web site loaded up as fast as yours lol
A Brief History of Peanuts | HowToCleanseYourBody I was recommended this web site by my cousin. I am not sure whether this post is written by him as no one else know such detailed about my difficulty. You are incredible! Thanks! your article about A Brief History of Peanuts | HowToCleanseYourBodyBest Regards Shane
Among the finest one to recognize that you simply seriously created a fantastic evaluation about it particular subject. This page really consists of the informative concept in which filled me using a substantial amount of information about this type of issue.
Have you ever considered writing an e-book or guest authoring on other websites? I have a blog based upon on the same ideas you discuss and would love to have you share some stories/information. I know my subscribers would appreciate your work. If you’re even remotely interested, feel free to shoot me an e mail.
A Brief History of Peanuts | HowToCleanseYourBody I was recommended this blog by my cousin. I am not sure whether this post is written by him as nobody else know such detailed about my trouble. You are wonderful! Thanks! your article about A Brief History of Peanuts | HowToCleanseYourBodyBest Regards Agata
Glad to be 1 of many visitants on this awful internet website : D.
A Brief History of Peanuts | HowToCleanseYourBody I was suggested this web site by my cousin. I am not sure whether this post is written by him as no one else know such detailed about my trouble. You are wonderful! Thanks! your article about A Brief History of Peanuts | HowToCleanseYourBodyBest Regards Cassetta
A Brief History of Peanuts | HowToCleanseYourBody I was recommended this blog by my cousin. I am not sure whether this post is written by him as no one else know such detailed about my problem. You’re amazing! Thanks! your article about A Brief History of Peanuts | HowToCleanseYourBody Best Regards Nick Cindy
It really catches my interest. It feels me like I’m the 1 who writes the write-up and not the blogger at all. By the time I’m nearly finish reading, I’m expecting a great deal more sentences to read however it finds me out that I am nearer towards the finish. I’m truly significantly excited to read new article from this page.
There are extremely lots of specifics like that to think about. This is a wonderful examine raise up. I provide the feelings earlier mentioned as standard inspiration however obviously you will find queries like the one you mention where the most significant point is going to be in sincere great faith. We don?to determine if guidelines have got come about about items like that will, however I know your work is actually evidently recognized as a reasonable online game. Each boys and girls have the impact associated with just a moment’s satisfaction, through out his or her life.
This is the penalise A Brief History of Peanuts | HowToCleanseYourBody diary for anyone who wants to move out out most this issue. You attention so more its almost wearying to converse with you (not that I real would want…HaHa). You definitely put a new prolong on a theme thats been typed roughly for geezerhood. Fastidious substance, just zealous!
I lately came across your post and have been reading along. I desire to express my admiration of your writing skill and capacity to make readers read from the beginning towards the end.
Outstanding job, Your communicating is an superior model of why I book coming gage to have your superior lineament commentary
Zealous job, Your writer is an excellent example of why I rest arrival back to see your fantabulous character statement
Hello there! Cool post! Please keep us posted when we shall see a follow up!
This web page does not display appropriately on my android you may wanna try and repair that
Major job, Your situation is an superior example of why I fastness reaching o.k. to record your superior dimension commentary
This is the precise A Brief History of Peanuts | HowToCleanseYourBody diary for anyone who wants to attempt out out near this substance. You attention so overmuch its most exhausting to debate with you (not that I rattling would want…HaHa). You definitely put a new twirl on a topic thats been graphic some for life. Respectable congest, but enthusiastic!
This content is written very well. Your use of formatting when making your points makes your observations very clear and easy to understand. Thank you.
I was just looking for this info for a while. After six hours of continuous Googleing, finally I got it in your web site. I wonder what is the Google’s issue that does not rank this type of informative sites closer to the top. Normally the top web sites are full of garbage.
A Brief History of Peanuts | HowToCleanseYourBody I was suggested this website by my cousin. I’m not sure whether this post is written by him as nobody else know such detailed about my problem. You are wonderful! Thanks! your article about A Brief History of Peanuts | HowToCleanseYourBodyBest Regards Lisa
A Brief History of Peanuts | HowToCleanseYourBody I was recommended this web site by my cousin. I’m not sure whether this post is written by him as nobody else know such detailed about my difficulty. You’re incredible! Thanks! your article about A Brief History of Peanuts | HowToCleanseYourBodyBest Regards Yoder
I just happened across your article and started reading. You have to be dedicated to writing to be able to produce so much interesting information. I agree with a lot of this info. Thank you. http://www.samsung1080phdtv.net/
I’ve been through this site and was wondering if you are going to be writing more on this subject. I would love to see more.
A Brief History of Peanuts | HowToCleanseYourBody I was suggested this website by my cousin. I am not sure whether this post is written by him as no one else know such detailed about my trouble. You are wonderful! Thanks! your article about A Brief History of Peanuts | HowToCleanseYourBodyBest Regards Lisa
A Brief History of Peanuts | HowToCleanseYourBody I was recommended this blog by my cousin. I am not sure whether this post is written by him as no one else know such detailed about my problem. You are wonderful! Thanks! your article about A Brief History of Peanuts | HowToCleanseYourBodyBest Regards Veronica
It isn’t often that an informative article grabs my attention and involves me in its content. Your article kept me interested from beginning to end. Yours is a very good informative article with unique content.
A Brief History of Peanuts | HowToCleanseYourBody I was suggested this web site by my cousin. I am not sure whether this post is written by him as nobody else know such detailed about my trouble. You are wonderful! Thanks! your article about A Brief History of Peanuts | HowToCleanseYourBodyBest Regards Nick
Excellent job on this article. I like your representation of your views. I would also like to thank you for interesting reading on this topic.
Hi I really appreciate all the great content you have here. I am glad I cam across it!
I am impressed with this writer’s content. This content is engaging, thought-provoking and motivational. There are many unique ideas shared in this article that I can relate to and understand.
I have been looking forever to find something like this! Great trick and I must say, it works great.