On this historical day, December 9,
1965, "A Charlie Brown Christmas,"
a cherished holiday television tradition among numerous American families,
premiered to resounding popular approval, defying network concerns about
potential failure.
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| "A Charlie Brown Christmas" |
Various historical accounts indicate that expectations for its success were initially modest. The slow pace of the production left CBS executives unimpressed, and behind-the-scenes struggles occurred between the network and "Peanuts" creator Charles M. Schulz regarding the inclusion of a scene directly taken from the New Testament.
The animation possessed a distinct
quirkiness, devoid of a laugh track, and actual children, not trained voice
actors, provided the character voices.
At just nine years old during that
time, Peter Robbins, the voice behind Charlie Brown, later passed away in
January 2022 at the age of 65.
Despite the initial concerns, the
American public wholeheartedly embraced "A Charlie Brown Christmas" right from its broadcast to their
antennas.
According to a Smithsonian Magazine treatise on the program's history, on
Thursday, Dec. 9, 1965, over 15 million households tuned in to form their
judgments. The reception transformed the special into a classic, surprising CBS
as nearly half of American television sets tuned in, defying the network's
expectation of a flop.
“On
Thursday, Dec. 9, 1965, over 15 million households tuned in to judge for
themselves, The reception would turn the special into a classic. CBS soon
learned that nearly half of American television sets had watched what the network
thought would be a flop," wrote Smithsonian Magazine.
Each holiday season, "A Charlie Brown Christmas" continues to bring warmth to the hearts of millions of people worldwide.
The apparently straightforward
children's cartoon conceals a surprisingly rich and intricate piece of American
art.
"A Charlie Brown
Christmas" combines inventive animation techniques with a jazz soundtrack
that has received critical acclaim. Meanwhile, its grade school-age characters
grapple with the mature theme of the true meaning of Christmas in the midst of
an overtly commercial society.
Children are drawn to the cast of
characters, each with unique personalities, navigating a world that seems
devoid of adults.
The "Peanuts" gang,
initially introduced by Schulz in his syndicated comic strip in 1950, gained
popularity.
For adults, the show serves as a
reminder of childhood, resonating with the universal struggle to find purpose
in a holiday whose spiritual foundations seem increasingly under threat each
year.
Cynical Lucy bluntly remarks, "Look, Charlie, let's face it. We all know that Christmas is a big
commercial racket," during the Peanuts gang's attempt to stage a
Christmas play. "It's run by a big
Eastern syndicate, you know."
As the bouncy and spirited Vince
Guaraldi Trio tune "Linus & Lucy" plays, Charlie Brown is tasked
with finding "a great big shiny aluminum Christmas tree … maybe painted
pink" to instill the holiday spirit.
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| Jazz composer Vince Guaraldi plays the piano, circa 1962 |
The Guaraldi soundtrack comprises 11 jazz recordings, skillfully blending instrumentals and vocal tunes. It includes original compositions by the California jazz pianist (such as "Skating" and others), a Beethoven masterpiece ("Fur Elise"), a traditional folk tune ("O Tannenbaum"), and a pop holiday classic by Mel Torme ("The Christmas Song").
Rolling Stone, in a 2015
50th-anniversary retrospective of the Guaraldi recordings, expressed, "The
genius of ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ was the way it channeled the looming
sadness and anxiety that come with the holidays." The timeless,
best-selling soundtrack by the Vince Guaraldi Trio, according to the article,
seamlessly tapped into that narrative with muted, melancholic jazz.
Despite this, the cornerstone of
the program's popularity lies in its explicit embrace of the birth of Christ—a
detail often overlooked in most children's Christmastime specials featuring
magical snowmen and flying reindeer.
The culmination of "A Charlie
Brown Christmas" occurs when the frustrated title character exclaims,
"Isn't there anyone who knows what
Christmas is all about?!"
In a dramatic Shakespearean moment,
Linus responds, "Sure, Charlie
Brown. I can tell you what Christmas is all about." Taking the stage
alone, under a spotlight, he proceeds to quote verbatim the Christmas story as
it appears in the King James Version of the Book of Luke.
"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
"And, lo, the angel of the
Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they
were sore afraid.
"And the angel said unto them,
Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to
all people.
"For unto you is born this day
in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
"And this shall be a sign unto
you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
"And suddenly there was with
the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, ‘Glory to
God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.’"
Linus concludes his biblical soliloquy by declaring to his now uplifted friend, "And that, Charlie Brown, is what Christmas is all about."
The group then assembles around
Charlie Brown's once-unattractive and wilting Christmas tree, now cherished and
flourishing, embracing the birth of the Savior.
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| The Peanuts gang provides the cutest Christmas ever, complete with a pathetic little tree |
"Hark the herald angels sing; glory to the newborn King,"
resonates triumphantly from the voices of the Peanuts gang as the credits roll.
In a review of the timeless TV
classic, The Christian Chronicle noted, "No ‘Good grief!’ at the end," highlighting the absence of the
usual phrase. Instead, there's a silent acknowledgment of good grace, God’s
grace, through the gift of His infant son, Christ the Lord—the greatest miracle
of all.
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