When I was growing up this was a must-watch in October. It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown was first released in October 1966.
Charlie Brown is invited to Violet’s Halloween party. Before the party, the Peanuts gang plan to go trick or treating, with Snoopy, who is dressed as the WWI flying ace, taking his Halloween disguise to an extreme. The one person who won’t be joining them for the trick or treating or the party is Linus, who will be waiting in his local pumpkin patch for the arrival of the Great Pumpkin to give toys and candy to all the girls and boys.
This year he talked Sally, Charlie Brown’s sister, into coming with him while the others went out. Linus and Sally stays at the pumpkin patch all night until Lucy gets up in the middle of the night to take Linus back home. The next day, Charlie Brown and Linus about the night’s events. Charlie Brown assures Linus that he’s done his share of stupid things too. This upsets Linus, who vows that the Great Pumpkin will appear next year.
It’s The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown was adapted from Schulz’s newspaper strip, which he had conceived as a metaphor for some of the hope and disappointment associated with Santa Clause. Schulz didn’t like the idea of kids getting their hopes up about a lot of presents when many families could only afford one or two gifts for the holidays. “The Great Pumpkin is really kind of a satire on Santa Claus, when he doesn’t come, Linus is crushed.”
Growing up, there was no other cartoon I looked forward to more than The Peanuts. Every holiday I was there watching the gang. I would also read the Sunday paper to see the Peanuts strip.
Everything from Linus telling us the true meaning of Christmas, Sally and Linus waiting for the Great Pumpkin, Lucy pulling that football from Charlie Brown, Snoopy being WWI flying ace, Lucy being a Psychiatrist, and Charlie Brown getting that sad-looking Christmas tree…we got to peek into that kids only world and listen to the wisdom that was going on while Linus and Charlie Brown discussed life.
The Peanuts taught us about life. We lose more than we win therefore everyone is Charlie Brown to an extent. Every person has failed at a big moment or many of the small ones. We felt for Charlie Brown because we could relate.
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I just need to cave and buy the DVD of all the holiday specials for my kids! Kind of ticked off that it’s not going to be on TV this year unless you’re an Apple subscriber
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Dang we didn’t get to talk this weekend… hold off on that Keith.
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October 1966. Wow. That, I didn’t know. And, Schulz was concerned about kids presents way back then. I guess he saw the future of hoarding & consumption.
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He was the man to me…no scandal’s or stories of underhanded dealings…he seemed to be what we all thought.
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Yep.
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Peanuts has been and always will be a big part of my life. Like you I grew up with the comics, as well as the Halloween and Christmas specials. I always have a Peanuts day-by-day calendar on my desk, and am reminded daily how much Charles Schulz gave to the world. Great post, Max.
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Thank you! I have enjoyed the Peanuts as a kid and as an adult…
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I’m friends with Kevin Fagan , who draws the Drabble strip, on Facebook. He was friends with Charles and occasionally posts stories about him.
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That is really cool Keith… Charles seemed like a great guy.
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What’s not to like about Charlie Brown? Great stuff. Especially Snoopy (and Woodstock).
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Thanks Pam… I still watch it.
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a classic, second to only their Christmas special . Loved watching this every October for years. That reminds me – need to get some rocks to hand out tonight , LOL
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I can’t believe I never have written this up before! I was going to “repost” it but I discovered….there was nothing to repost lol.
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Funny, I thought you had too! Either way, well worth revisiting.
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I was shocked…I did the Christmas one and the Thanksgiving but not this one.
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Schulz could nail the kids or a beagles mind. One strip I recall that was perfect in that right/wrong way is someone watching snoopy running and asking CB why dogs chase cars and Snoopy, all tired out, tongue lolling and eyes rolling saying ‘to read the hubcaps, of course.’ Surreal, yet in Peanutland, perfect.
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That is perfect! As a kid that was one cartoon I could relate to.
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This left me kind of blah, especially after A Charlie Brown Christmas, which came out the previous December. Of course, there was the great Vince Guaraldi music.
Just once…. just ONCE… I wanted to see Lucy pull away the football and Charlie Brown kick her head off.
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Oh me too!!! I want him to just kick Lucy through the up rights…and while we are at it…date the little red head girl he always liked.
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Me three! You can do it Chuck!
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He had a dance with the little redheaded girl, in “You’re In Love, Charlie Brown.” I’m not sure their relationship went any further.
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I’ll have to check that out.
I’m such a fan but I never watched the newer one…but it was computer animated….but I should at least watch it.
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These Peanuts cartoons are really something! 🙂
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Yes they are Christian…I love their little world.
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I haven’t watched this in years. It would be fun to see it again. One time I went to see a play about Charlie Brown. Actually it was a musical, but it wasn’t as good as the cartoons because the people didn’t look like the cartoons. Haha. It just wasn’t the same.
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Oh yea! It might have been “A Boy Named Charlie Brown”…. Yea I like all of their holiday specials…something about them.
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I love that sound Snoopy makes. Charlie Brown specials made the world go around for kids. No holiday would be complete without them.
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