So, cleaning out closets I found an old audio tape I made of most of this special. It is so old it sheds and grinds to a halt after seconds of play, but it has the "Suppertime" song, what sounds like Schroeder getting his Beethoven bust destroyed and replacing it with one from a closet full of backups (my brother in the background of the tape: "Ha! All those Beethovens!").. Discussion of the inspiration for Woodstock and the, then, soon to be released "Bon Voyage Charlie Brown, and Don't Come Back!".

There's comments from original Charlie and Lucy voice actors.

There's a clip of Snoopy and Woodstock on a plane-- "Coffee, tea or milk?!"

Near the end there's some Guaraldi-sounding music with what sounds like Sally chasing Linus around playground slides. Not familiar with that and it doesn't ring a bell.

I presume there was also new animation at the end when the Peanuts gang gives a hearty "Happy Birthday, Charlie Brown!" (featuring plenty of pre-echo from either the damaged tape or the original broadcast.)

The tape, an ages-old Certron, cannot be transferred and basically disintegrates, losing chunks of oxide coating when played. Disappointing, since the special is MiA and some of the animated bits leave me curious since I can't really recall the visuals.

Now, one question is why the heck can't this special be released to video? Most everything else Charlie Brown related has been rehashed a gajillion times on video and tv. I wanna think this might have been repeated one time in '79 but, well, I can't remember some stuff that I heard. Is it another case of a journalist (Phyllis George) wanting too much money to finance another island? Music?

Another is does this thing even exist in trading circles? I think the clip of Suppertime that is on the net comes from a different special highlighting newspaper comic strips. Apart from what looks like a screen grab of George and Schulz talking, no other relic from this seems to exist in internetland.

Is it archived in any television museum or major media library collection? Some basic searches turn up no information.

Would there be a rundown of this show anywhere that details where the animated bits come from and/or what was newly created just for the special?

Anyone?

I wanna think this might have been repeated one time in '79
No, it only aired once.

Another is does this thing even exist in trading circles?
No. Since it's from 1979, there's always a slight possibility that someone could fluke their way in finding a taped airing of it. But, I've never heard anything.

I think the clip of Suppertime that is on the net comes from a different special highlighting newspaper comic strips.
"The Fantastic Funnies". It was also used in a 1983 repeat of "It Was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown", where it replaced the final scene, for whatever reason!

Thanks for the response! Fantastic Funnies made it to YouTube, maybe this one will one day. Irks me I can’t resurrect my audio tape.. it also had recordings of me, my brother and sisters as kids in the 70’s. If only I’d dug it out sooner.

And, well, y'know what? It's on YouTube:

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Finally!