Observations about a Charlie Brown XMas and Frosty The Snowman

[Frank Gannucci]

I just figured I would say this to make funny observations.

During Forsty The Snowman, it is implied that the kids were in school on XMas Eve. What kind of school has classes on XMas Eve?

Also during A Charlie Brown XMas, the kids are putting a XMas play in the auditorium and when Linus made that great speech, he was given a spotlight which may indicate that adults were allowing kids to form the school play. What kind of school allows kids to form a play and take over the auditorium?

Also, the kids think it’s a great idea for a Religious XMas play to have dancing and animals like a sheep, a cow and a penguin (with Lucy expecting Snoopy to play them all.). With that being said, I got to ask this.

What kind of play were they going to stage?

Now, don’t get me wrong. I love Peanuts. I just figured I would ask these questions even though I know we got to suspend disbelief when we watch these.

[cd637299]

Well,

Keep in mind three things—

(1) “A Charlie Brown Christmas” was the first-ever animated Peanuts special. Also, Charles Schulz and the PTB insisted things such as real children doing the voices (unheard of at the time). Also, Schulz had to fight to get the actual Biblical story of the birth of Jesus in the special. The sponsors and CBS weren’t keen on it, but Schulz won out. And the important aspect during Linus reciting this wonderful true story for the Christian, and I never even paid attention until it was brought up maybe on YouTube comments, is how Linus dropped his usual security blanket. In other words—why be frightened?

(2) Also, being the first animated Peanuts special, the question seemed to be, how true-to-the-comics the animated form could be. If I have read right, many felt that “A Charlie Brown Christmas” would not only be the first Peanuts special, but also the last. Again, Schulz (the only writer credited) comes out a winnah.

(3) About children running the show…. again, it’s a case of staying true blue to the comic strip. Adults were not only NOT shown, but not even heard! Hence in other Peanuts specials, the “wah-wah-wah-WAH-wah” substitution for any adult voice. ……I have seen some of the earliest comics in the early 50s, and there were “assumed” adult faces—blank ones in a crowd of a kids’ golf tournament (?!). I say this is a case of Schulz not having the formula down pat quite yet. By 1965, the comic format was well entrenched. (You’ll note that in 1966’s “…Great Pumpkin…” special, you don’t even see the arm of any adult dropping candy, or in Charlie Brown’s case, a rock, in the bags.) Of course you have later specials like “….Flash Beagle…” where teens and older are seen. And Schulz was credited there, right? (I never watched the thematic specials like that, and I wonder if it was a case of Schulz just tiring, and giving in. I have no idea, but any input here is welcomed.)

BTW PBS was able to save the Christmas special for 2 Decembers—but is it all over now, with Apple at the rights helm?

Wow this was a novel here…

(Edit/PS) Also, to have a jazz score in a supposed special for children—THAT had to be a head-scratcher at the time as well….but now we have “Linus and Lucy” amongst all the Christmas tunes played on radio today!

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