Snoopy and Charlie Brown are iconic characters, especially around the holiday season. These characters were created by Charles Schulz. The Peanuts started as published comics starting in 1947 under the name Li’l Folks, then renamed as Peanuts in 1950. The comics featured a cast of childrens’ characters led by Charlie Brown, who is Schulz’s alter ego in the strip. The Peanuts did not differ from other newspaper comics of its time. It included four-panel daily strips that featured simple artistic style and usually ended in a joke, often at Charlie Brown’s expense.Â
Peanuts Golden Age
It is said that the Peanuts entered its golden age in the 1960s. After 15 years of the comics being printed and distributed, in 1965 the first television special aired: A Charlie Brown Christmas. In 1967, the off-broadway show You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown debuted and is still often played in young adult theater performances. Charles Schulz started to expand his characters and embraced diversity. This was seen in 1966 when Schulz introduced “Peppermint” Patty, who was raised in a single-parent household and enjoyed playing sports. Shortly after the tragic assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, there was a fan outrage wanting racial diversity with the Peanuts characters. Schulz responded to this outcry by introducing his first Black character in 1968, Franklin. The 1970s through 1990s was an important time for the Peanuts. A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving and You’re a Good Sport, Charlie Brown, were released and earned Emmy awards.Â
The Downfall of Peanuts
Some fans of the Peanuts noticed Shulz’s drawings getting shaky and noticed changes in his work in 1992. Many fans assumed it was from Parkinson’s disease, but he really was experiencing a tremor from the early stages of his colon cancer. In November 1999, he had a stroke which negatively impacted his memory, eye sight, and inspiration. Months later, he passed away. The next day, his final comic strip was released in the newspapers. Charles Schulz wishes were granted, as nobody else drew the comic strips despite the Peanuts ownership.Â
Where Are The Peanuts Now?
Today the Peanuts movies and shows are currently streaming on Apple TV+ and Charles Schulz’s beloved Peanuts comics are being spread around online. Occasionally, Peanuts movies get released, but merchandise is the most commonly used for the spread of love of the Peanuts characters. Schulz’s legacy will live on for generations to come. Snoopy still is one of the most iconic characters in history, appearing at holiday events all over the world. If you watch and celebrate, you will find Snoopy soaring through the sky for the 50th time at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.