Timeless Tradition: The 55th Anniversary of "A Charlie Brown Christmas"

It was announced that the streaming service Apple TV+ would be the exclusive home of A Charlie Brown Christmas, making it the first Christmas Season since the special first aired in 1965 that the show would not be on network TV. It was now less accessible to many.

A Charlie Brown Christmas not on network TV?!? Sure, it’s on Blu-Ray and DVD and has been seen innumerable times, finding its way into our collective Christmas DNA, but if it’s not shown as a special, many felt that it wouldn’t be…well…special.

Was there anything more exhilarating than seeing this logo flash?

From this backlash came an unprecedented move, where PBS stations would be allowed to show A Charlie Brown Christmas, allowing more to see it this year.

While this may not seem like a big deal for some, it’s actually a big deal for many. There are certain traditions that go hand-in-hand with the Christmas Season. They are needed to make it feel like Christmas (this year especially).

In addition to decorating the Christmas tree, stringing lights outside the house and singing Carols, one could easily add watching A Charlie Brown Christmas to the list of Holiday “to do’s.”

Fifty-five years ago, this Holiday season, this modestly animated TV Special, inspired by Charles Schulz's massively popular newspaper comic strip, debuted and captured the hearts of viewers like few shows had.

On its debut on December 9, 1965, A Charlie Brown Christmas aired on CBS and was watched by 45% of those watching television that evening, ranking at number 2 in the overall TV ratings.

The story of A Charlie Brown Christmas is a modest one. The title character, everyone’s favorite “blockhead,” and seemingly perennial loser, finds himself somewhat depressed around the Christmas Season, unable to find the season’s true meaning and feeling overwhelmed by the commercialism that surrounds him. He takes on the role of the director of the Christmas pageant, hoping that this will help, but it only adds to his frustration. At the end of the special, it’s his friends who help Charlie Brown find the true meaning of Christmas.

Creator Charles Schulz was deeply involved in the special and brought to it the same mature sensibilities and societal commentaries that were found in his daily comic strips. These themes and messages explored are just one of the special’s many unique attributes and the main reason why it has endured for over half a decade.

A Charlie Brown Christmas came together very quickly. Producer Lee Mendelson was contacted by an ad agency and informed them that their client Coca-Cola was looking to sponsor a children’s TV Special and from that initial conversation, Mendelson partnered with Schulz and animation director Bill Melendez to complete A Charlie Brown Christmas in a mere six months.

Melendez brilliantly found a way to capture the look of Charles Schulz’ comic strips, bringing to the screen the impeccable, clean, lines as well as finding ways to make the “flat” images animatable (most notable in the “Christmas dance” sequence).

This unique approach was also applied to the character’s voices. Prior to A Charlie Brown Christmas, voices for younger characters were provided by adult actors who were imitating children. For Charlie Brown, a groundbreaking decision was made to use actual children, many of whom were not professional actors, adding an air of authenticity to the proceedings.

Another original touch in the special was in the choice of music. In lieu of the usual orchestral backgrounds, producer Mendelson employed pianist Vince Guaraldi, who made the decision to create a jazz score for A Charlie Brown Christmas. Guaraldi went on to craft a musical score that has not only become synonymous with the special, but has also become part of the soundtrack for the Christmas season itself.

What truly stands out about A Charlie Brown Christmas however and has allowed it to endure is the fact that it touches upon religion and the true meaning of Christmas. In one scene, as Linus attempts to illustrate this, he recites a passage from The Bible (Luke 2:8-14 from the King James Version). Such a move was seen as daring for its day (and still is), as most Christmas entertainment on television centered on the secular celebrations of the season.



"And that's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown!"

This, coupled with the commentary on commercialization, still makes A Charlie Brown Christmas more than just seasonal entertainment, it makes it thought provoking. No wonder so many want to make sure they see it each year. It is indeed, special in every way.