How "A Charlie Brown Christmas" Came to Pass -- The unlikely beginnings of a holiday classic

Fact Monster. com ^ | 2005 | Holly Hartman

[summer]

I watched "A Charlie Brown Christmas" last night, just as I have every year during the Christmas season.

For the first time I couldn't help but wonder: In light of the fact Linus quotes from the Bible in the central scene of the program, would a wonderful program like this ever be produced today?

Then, later -- I found out from the above article: It almost didn't get produced back in 1965!

[summer]

"There will always be an audience for innocence in this country." —

Charles Schulz

[summer]

FYI. Also -- Merry Christmas! :)

[kenth]

Thank God for Charles Schultz. It's one of the very few Christmas programs that directly tells the true meaning.

[Liz]

"Merry Christmas."

[Liz]

Nice post.......thanks.

[summer]

My pleasure. :)

[Liz]

We should put you in charge of digging up and posting the histories of the best-loved Christmas film classics.....the ones running on The Family channel......Frosty The Snowman, Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer, and such.

[summer]

Re your post #5 - Oh, what a beautiful Christmas tree and angel there! Thank you, Liz!!! :)

[summer]

RE your post #8 - LOL... :)

[summer]

Re your post #4 - Yes, and -- he was a genius, too! :)

[cgk]

I bought this for my husband for our first Christmas. Now that we have a 3 year old in the house, she has gotten her mitts on it, so we need to repurchase it. It's one DVD I don't mind re-buying.

Thank you for posting! Merry Christmas...

[shezza]

Hark, the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on Earth and mercy mild,
God and sinner reconciled.
Joyful all ye nations rise,
Join the triumph of the skies,
With angelic hosts proclaim,
Christ is born in Bethlehem!
Hark, the herald angels sing,
Glory to the newborn King!

[scott says]

My all time favorite Christmas Music CD- A Charlie Brown Christmas by the Vince Guaraldi Trio

[SamAdams76]

It's a shame that so few new genuine Christmas movies and music are produced today. And I'm not talking about movies like "The Santa Clause" and songs like "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer" either.

I think the last decent Christmas film was "A Christmas Story" and even that one was totally purged of the religious aspect of Christmas.

[raccoonradio]

>> It was criticized as being too religious

Yes, we had political correctness even back then. Also in 1960 when many radio stations balked at airing Stan Freberg's single "Green Chri$tma$". Why were they offended? Because it dared to criticize the holiday as being over-commercialized ("FIVE TUBELESS TIRES!")

Green Chri$tma$

CRATCHET: The people keep hoping you'll remember. But you never do.
SCROOGE: Remember what?

CRATCHET: Whose birthday we're celebrating.

SCROOGE: Well, ....... don't get me wrong. The story of Christmas, in its simplicity, is a good thing - I'll buy that. It's just that we know a good thing when we see it.

CRATCHET: But don't you realize Christmas has a significance, a meaning.

SCROOGE: A sales curve! Wake up, Cratchet, it's later than you think.
CRATCHET: I know, Mr. Scrooge, I know.

[JCEccles]

I vividly remember watching it the first time it was broadcast. The musical score by Vince Guaraldi was brilliant, an essential part of the overall success of the program.

[Liz]

You are very welcome.

[Liz]

This is cute, too.

[dixiechick2000]

Thanks for finding, and posting, this article.
I really enjoyed it.

This thread was made for you, devolve.
"And now, for something completely different." ;o)