Charles M. Schulz

Charles Monroe Schulz (November 26, 1922 – February 12, 2000) was a 20th-century American cartoonist best known worldwide for his Peanuts comic strip.

 

Easton Press Charles M. Schulz books

  Peanuts 2000 - 2000
  It's a Dog's Life, Snoopy - 2001
  A Peanut’s Christmas - 2002
  A Peanut's Valentine - 2003
  The Complete Peanuts Fifties 1950-1960 - 5 volume set - 2004
  Who's On First, Charlie Brown? - 2004
  Trick Or Treat A Peanuts Halloween - 2005
  A Charlie Brown Christmas The Making Of A Tradition - 2005
  It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown - 2006

  Woodstock A Bird's Eye View - 2009

Peanuts books by other authors

  The Parable of Peanuts & The Gospel According To Peanuts by Robert L. Short - 2002 / 2003

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Cartoonist Charles M. Schulz

Charles M. Schulz was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and grew up in Saint Paul. He was the only child of Carl Schulz, who was German, and Dena, who was Norwegian. His uncle nicknamed him "Sparky" after the horse Spark Plug in the Barney Google comic strip.

Schulz attended St. Paul's Richard Gordon Elementary School, where he skipped two half-grades. He became a shy and isolated teenager, perhaps as a result of being the youngest in his class at Central High School.

After his mother died in February 1943, he was drafted into the United States Army and was sent to Camp Campbell in Kentucky. He was shipped to Europe two years later to fight in World War II with the U.S. 20th Armored Division. Schulz attained the rank of staff sergeant and was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge.

After leaving the army in 1945, he returned to Minneapolis where he took a job as an art teacher at Art Instruction, Inc. — he had taken correspondence courses before he was drafted. Schulz, before having his comics published, began doing lettering work for a Catholic comic magazine titled Timeless Topix, where he would rush back and forth from dropping off his lettering work and teaching at Art Instruction Schools, Inc.

Schulz's drawings were first published by Robert Ripley in his Ripley's Believe It or Not!. His first regular cartoons, Li'l Folks, were published from 1947 to 1950 by the St. Paul Pioneer Press; he first used the name Charlie Brown for a character there, although he applied the name in four gags to three different boys and one buried in sand. The series also had a dog that looked much like Snoopy. In 1948, Schulz sold a cartoon to the Saturday Evening Post; the first of seventeen single-panel cartoons by Schulz that would be published there. In 1948, Schulz tried to have Li'l Folks syndicated through the Newspaper Enterprise Association. Schulz would have been an independent contractor for the syndicate, unheard of in the 1940s, but the deal fell through. Li'l Folks was dropped in January, 1950.

Later that year, Schulz approached the United Feature Syndicate with his best strips from Li'l Folks, and Peanuts made its first appearance on October 2, 1950. The strip became one of the most popular comic strips of all time. He also had a short-lived sports-oriented comic strip called It's Only a Game (1957 – 1959), but abandoned it due to the demands of the successful Peanuts. From 1956 to 1965 he also contributed a single-panel strip ("Young Pillars") featuring teenagers to Youth, a publication associated with the Church of God (Anderson).

Charlie Brown, the principal character for Peanuts, was named after a co-worker at the Art Instruction Schools; he drew much of his inspiration, however, from his own life:

Like Charlie Brown, Schulz's father was a barber and his mother a housewife.
Schulz had a dog when he was a boy. Unlike Snoopy the beagle, it was a pointer. Eventually, it was revealed that Snoopy had a desert-dwelling brother named Spike.
Spike's residence, outside of Needles, California, was likely influenced by the few years (1928 – 1930) that the Schulz family lived there; they had moved to Needles to join other family members who had relocated from Minnesota to tend to an ill cousin.
Schulz was also shy and withdrawn.
Schulz's "Little Red-Haired Girl" was Donna Johnson, an Art Instruction Schools accountant with whom he had a relationship. She rejected his marriage proposal, but remained a friend for the rest of his life.
Linus and Shermy were both named for good friends of his (Linus Maurer and Sherman Plepler, respectively).
Lucy was inspired by Joyce Halverson, his first wife.
Peppermint Patty was inspired by Patricia Swanson, one of his cousins on his mother's side.

Schulz moved briefly to Colorado Springs, Colorado. He painted a wall in that home for his daughter Meredith, featuring Patty, Charlie Brown and Snoopy. The wall was removed in 2001 and donated to the Charles M. Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa, California. The restored artwork by Schulz is printed in the paperback edition of Chip Kidd's book Peanuts: The Art of Charles M. Schulz.

Schulz's family returned to Minneapolis and stayed until 1958. They then moved to Sebastopol, California, where Schulz built his first studio. It was here that Schulz was interviewed for the unaired television documentary A Boy Named Charlie Brown. Some of the footage was eventually used in a later documentary titled Charlie Brown and Charles Schulz. The original documentary is available on DVD from The Charles M. Schulz Museum.

Schulz's father died while visiting him in 1966, the same year his Sebastopol studio burned down. By 1969, Schulz had moved to Santa Rosa, California, where he lived and worked for more than 30 years.

Schulz had a long association with ice sports, as both figure skating and ice hockey featured prominently in his cartoons. In Santa Rosa, he was the owner of the Redwood Empire Ice Arena, which opened in 1969. Schulz's daughter Amy served as a model for the skating in the 1980 television special She's a Good Skate, Charlie Brown. Schulz also was very active in Senior Ice Hockey tournaments; in 1975, he formed Snoopy's Senior World Hockey Tournament at his Redwood Empire Ice Arena, and in 1981, Schulz was awarded the Lester Patrick Trophy for outstanding service to the sport of hockey in the United States. In 1998, he hosted the 1st ever Over 75 Hockey Tournament (although goalies could be younger - 60). In 2001, Saint Paul renamed The Highland Park Ice Arena the "Charles Schulz Arena" in his honor.

The first full-scale biography of Schulz, Schulz and Peanuts: A Biography, by David Michaelis, was released in October 2007. The book has been heavily criticized by the Schulz family, while Michaelis maintains that there is "no question" his work is accurate. However, fellow artist Bill Watterson (creator of Calvin & Hobbes) feels that the biography does justice to Schulz's legacy, while giving insight into the emotional impetus of the creation of the strips.

In light of David Michaelis' biography and the controversy surrounding his interpretation of the personality that was Charles Schulz, responses from his family reveal some intimate knowledge about the Schulz's persona beyond that of mere artist. 

Death

Peanuts ran for nearly 50 years without interruption and appeared in more than 2,600 newspapers in 75 countries. In November 1999 Schulz suffered a stroke, and later it was discovered that he had colon cancer that had metastasized to his stomach. Because of the chemotherapy and the fact he could not read or see clearly, he announced his retirement on December 14, 1999. This was difficult for Schulz, and he was quoted as saying to Al Roker on The Today Show, "I never dreamed that this would happen to me. I always had the feeling that I would stay with the strip until I was in my early eighties, or something like that. But all of sudden it's gone. I did not take it away. This has been taken away from me."

Schulz died in Santa Rosa of complications from colon cancer at 9:45 p.m. on February 12, 2000, at age 77. He was interred in Pleasant Hills Cemetery in Sebastopol.

The last original strip ran the day after his death. In it, a statement was included from Schulz that his family wished for the strip to end when he was no longer able to produce it. Schulz had previously predicted that the strip would outlive him, with his reason being that comic strips are usually drawn weeks before their publication. As part of his will, Schulz had requested that the Peanuts characters remain as authentic as possible and that no new comic strips based on them be drawn. United Features has legal ownership of the strip, but his wishes have been honored, although reruns of the strip are still being syndicated to newspapers. New television specials have also been produced since Schulz's death, but the stories are based on previous strips.

Schulz had been asked if, for his final Peanuts strip, Charlie Brown would finally get to kick that football after so many decades. His response: "Oh, no! Definitely not! I couldn't have Charlie Brown kick that football; that would be a terrible disservice to him after nearly half a century."

He was honored on May 27, 2000, by cartoonists of 42 comic strips paying homage to him and Peanuts.  

 

Peanuts

Peanuts, the iconic comic strip created by Charles M. Schulz, first graced the pages of newspapers on October 2, 1950, and went on to become one of the most beloved and enduring contributions to American popular culture. Born out of Schulz's innate talent for drawing and storytelling, Peanuts introduced readers to a cast of endearing characters, each with their own distinctive personalities and quirks. At the heart of the strip was Charlie Brown, a lovable but perpetually hapless character who faced life's challenges with a blend of optimism and resilience. Charlie Brown's eternal quest for success, often thwarted by Lucy's football antics, his struggles with the "kite-eating tree," and the ever-elusive victory in a baseball game, endeared him to readers worldwide.

Snoopy

Snoopy, Charlie Brown's imaginative beagle, added a whimsical and fantastical dimension to Peanuts. Snoopy's alter egos, from the sophisticated author to the daring World War I Flying Ace, showcased Schulz's creativity and the strip's ability to seamlessly blend reality and imagination. The supporting cast featured a range of memorable characters, including Lucy, the assertive and opinionated friend; Linus, her philosophical and blanket-toting brother; Schroeder, the precocious piano prodigy; and Peppermint Patty, the athletic but academically challenged girl. Each character brought a unique perspective to the strip, contributing to its rich tapestry of humor, insight, and emotion.

Whether he's the World War I Flying Ace battling the Red Baron or Joe Cool, the sunglasses-wearing, too-cool-for-school character, Snoopy's vivid imagination and playful antics are central to the charm of the Peanuts strip.

Charlie Brown

Charlie Brown is a timeless symbol of innocence, resilience, and the everyday struggles of life. Born on October 2, 1950, when the first Peanuts comic strip was published, Charlie Brown quickly became the heart and soul of Schulz's beloved comic universe. Charlie Brown is characterized by his round head, zigzag-patterned shirt, and his endearing, if somewhat melancholic, personality. As the central figure in Peanuts, Charlie Brown experiences a multitude of challenges, yet he faces each setback with a remarkable sense of optimism. One of Charlie Brown's most enduring traits is his unwavering hope and determination, even in the face of constant adversity. Whether trying to kick a football held by Lucy, managing a baseball team that can't seem to win a game, or grappling with self-doubt, Charlie Brown remains an emblem of perseverance.

Despite his struggles, Charlie Brown is surrounded by a cast of friends who, each in their own way, contribute to the charm of Peanuts. Linus, his blanket-toting and philosophical friend; Lucy, the assertive and sometimes bossy companion; Snoopy, the imaginative beagle with his own set of adventures—all these characters play significant roles in Charlie Brown's world. Linus's unwavering friendship and philosophical insights, Snoopy's whimsical antics, and the rest of the gang contribute to the humor and warmth of the Peanuts universe. Charlie Brown's interactions with these characters often highlight the complexities of friendship, the search for identity, and the enduring power of hope.

Charles M. Schulz continued to feature Charlie Brown in Peanuts until his retirement in 2000. Schulz's ability to infuse humor, wisdom, and relatability into Charlie Brown's character has left an indelible mark on popular culture. Charlie Brown's enduring popularity extends beyond the comic strip to animated specials, merchandise, and a legacy that continues to resonate with audiences of all ages, making him an enduring and beloved figure in the world of comics. 

Peanuts stood out not only for its engaging characters but also for its exploration of deep, universal themes. Schulz fearlessly tackled issues such as the complexities of friendship, the search for meaning, the challenges of growing up, and the enduring power of hope. The strip's deceptively simple art style, characterized by clean lines and expressive characters, belied its ability to convey profound truths about the human condition. The success of Peanuts extended beyond the comic strip. Schulz adapted his characters into animated television specials, starting with the timeless A Charlie Brown Christmas in 1965. These specials became annual traditions, enchanting audiences with their heartwarming stories and Vince Guaraldi's memorable musical compositions.

A Charlie Brown Christmas

A Charlie Brown Christmas is a beloved animated television special that first aired on December 9, 1965. Created by Charles M. Schulz and directed by Bill Melendez, the special has become a holiday classic, cherished by generations for its timeless themes, memorable characters, and Vince Guaraldi's iconic jazz score. The storyline revolves around the Peanuts gang, led by the lovable but often melancholic Charlie Brown. As Christmas approaches, Charlie Brown becomes disheartened by the commercialism surrounding the holiday. He is determined to find the true meaning of Christmas and overcome the prevailing materialism. One of the central plot points involves Charlie Brown being appointed as the director of the school Christmas play. However, his attempts to bring meaning to the production are met with resistance, particularly regarding the choice of a small, scrawny Christmas tree as the centerpiece.

The story takes a heartwarming turn when Linus, Charlie Brown's philosophical friend, recites a passage from the Gospel of Luke, emphasizing the true spirit of Christmas. This poignant moment helps Charlie Brown and his friends recognize the importance of love, friendship, and the simple joys of the season. In addition to its heartfelt message, A Charlie Brown Christmas is celebrated for its distinctive animation style, charming characters like Snoopy and his decorated doghouse, and the inclusion of Guaraldi's enchanting musical score, featuring the iconic Linus and Lucy theme.

Despite initial concerns from network executives about its unconventional aspects, A Charlie Brown Christmas received critical acclaim and won an Emmy Award. Over the years, it has continued to be broadcast annually during the holiday season, captivating new audiences and evoking nostalgia for those who grew up with the Peanuts gang. The special's enduring popularity has led to various home video releases, merchandise, and even stage adaptations. A Charlie Brown Christmas remains a cherished part of holiday traditions for many, symbolizing the enduring appeal of Charles Schulz's Peanuts characters and their timeless messages of friendship, kindness, and the true spirit of Christmas.

A Peanut's Valentine

In the Peanuts Valentine's Day specials, characters like Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus, and the rest of the gang often explore themes of love, friendship, and the ups and downs of relationships. These specials typically include humorous and heartfelt moments, capturing the spirit of Valentine's Day with Schulz's signature blend of humor and poignant insights into human emotions. One of the notable Valentine's Day-themed specials is Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown, which originally aired on January 28, 1975. In this special, Charlie Brown receives no valentines at the school party, and Linus convinces him to celebrate the holiday with his little sister, Sally. These Peanuts specials, whether related to Valentine's Day or other occasions, have become timeless classics, resonating with audiences of all ages. The characters' relatable experiences and Schulz's ability to infuse humor and warmth into his storytelling contribute to the enduring popularity of these animated specials.

It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

Charles M. Schulz created several Peanuts comic strips and animated specials centered around Halloween. One notable Halloween-themed Peanuts special is titled It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown first aired on October 27, 1966, and has since become a classic Halloween tradition for many. In this special, the Peanuts gang celebrates Halloween with various activities, including trick-or-treating, attending a Halloween party, and awaiting the arrival of the Great Pumpkin.

The storyline revolves around Linus, who believes in the Great Pumpkin, a mythical figure he thinks rises from the pumpkin patch to bring presents to sincere and believing children on Halloween night. While Linus waits in the pumpkin patch, the rest of the gang engages in their Halloween festivities. The special captures the humor and charm of Peanuts, as well as the endearing quirks of each character. Snoopy, in particular, adopts different personas, such as the World War I Flying Ace, as he navigates the Halloween adventures. It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown has become a beloved part of Halloween traditions, and its enduring popularity has led to regular broadcasts during the Halloween season. The special is known for its nostalgic feel, memorable characters, and the heartfelt messages characteristic of Charles Schulz's work.

 

Source and additional information: Charles M. Schulz