To mark the 50th anniversary of “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” the U.S.P.S. is issuing a collection of Forever stamps depicting 10 scenes from this beloved show. Go get ’em starting tomorrow, October 1.
I’m super excited because — like many of you — I grew up watching this Christmas classic and have always been a huge fan of Schultz’s Peanuts characters in all their adventures — both in comic strips and film. These stamps will be the postage of choice on all of my holiday cards this year!
From the press release:
Charlie Brown Christmas Forever Stamps Bring Cheer to Holiday Greetings and Packages
Stamps Based on 1965 Holiday TV ClassicThe U.S. Postal Service begins celebrating the holiday season by dedicating the Charlie Brown Christmas Forever stamps Oct. 1. The booklet of 20 stamps features 10 still frames from the 1965 TV special “A Charlie Brown Christmas” (two of each design) celebrating the classic’s 50th anniversary.
The stamp images include: Charlie Brown holding the sapling that eventually becomes his Christmas tree; Charlie Brown and Pigpen with a snowman; Snoopy and children ice skating; the cast of the program gathered around the Christmas tree; Linus kneeling by the sparsely decorated Christmas tree; Charlie Brown checking his mailbox for a Christmas card; Charlie Brown and Linus leaning on a snowy brick wall; Charlie Brown and Linus standing by the Christmas tree; a frustrated Charlie Brown standing in front of Snoopy’s doghouse; and, Charlie Brown decorating the tree in front of the prize-winning lights display on Snoopy’s doghouse.
Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamps.
The early October release of the stamp coincides with the Peanuts comic strip debut in seven newspapers on Oct. 2, 1950: The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, The Minneapolis Star-Tribune, The Allentown Call-Chronicle, The Bethlehem Globe-Times, The Denver Post, and The Seattle Times. When Schulz announced his retirement in December 1999, the Peanuts comic strip was syndicated in more than 2,600 newspapers worldwide, with book collections translated in more than 21 languages.
The Christmas Classic
“A Charlie Brown Christmas,” the first animated special featuring characters from Charles Schulz’s beloved comic strip Peanuts, aired on CBS the evening of Dec. 9, 1965. Over the years, the ode to the holiday season has become a tradition. The program now airs annually on ABC.
Work began on “A Charlie Brown Christmas” in the spring of 1965, when Schulz met with producer Lee Mendelson and animator Bill Melendez.
Instead of hiring adult actors, the group decided to take the then-unusual step of having children provide voices for most of the characters. Schulz insisted that the program should not have a laugh track, which he considered cynical and unnecessary. “Let the people at home enjoy the show at their own speed,” he said, “in their own way.”
Composer Vince Guaraldi contributed a memorable jazz score. “Linus and Lucy,” a lively piano tune that plays in the film, is still synonymous with Peanuts.
Schulz’s script focuses on Charlie Brown’s search for the true meaning of Christmas. All around him, his friends are enjoying themselves, but he is bothered by the season’s commercialism. “I just don’t understand Christmas, I guess,” he tells Linus. “I like getting presents, and sending Christmas cards, and decorating trees and all that, but I’m still not happy.” At Lucy’s request, Charlie Brown agrees to direct their school’s Christmas play. The production is temporarily derailed when the other children laugh at him for choosing a small sapling — not a shiny aluminum replica — as a Christmas tree.
After an exasperated Charlie Brown wonders if there’s anyone who knows what Christmas is all about, Linus says that he does, and proceeds to recite a stirring rendition of the biblical Nativity story. When he’s finished, he picks up his blanket and says, “That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.”
Encouraged, Charlie Brown rushes home to decorate his small tree, only to be disappointed again when it collapses under the weight of one ornament. His pals, however, come to the rescue, turning the sapling into a glimmering masterpiece. Watched in more than 15 million American homes, “A Charlie Brown Christmas” was a smash hit. It won the George Foster Peabody Award and an Emmy Award for Outstanding Children’s Program. “A Charlie Brown Christmas” is being issued as Forever stamps that will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail one-ounce price.
tammyCA says
Cute..I’ll have to get some. I’ve probably watched the show every year since it debuted & naturally we have all the DVDs. Used to always read the Sunday newspaper comic strip with peanuts gang, too & we have several books of those..yes, am a fan. 🙂
Mel says
Oh, I am TOTALLY going to the Post Office bright and early tomorrow to get a whole bunch! Thanks so much for posting this, Pam! 😀
Katie says
Peanuts has always been present in my life because my mom grew up in Santa Rosa, CA, home of Charles Schulz for many years. My mom played Lucy in one of the JC’s productions of “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.” She also briefly dated one of Schulz’s relatives.(Possibly a stepson or nephew?) She had so much vintage memorabilia that just burned in the Valley fire here in CA. I wish I had taken it, along with many other vintage items before the fire. Oh well. 🙁
If you are ever in the area, I recommend going to the Charles Schulz Museum and Snoopy’s Ice Rink. They are both a lot of fun.
Sheila says
Looking at these images brings back great memories. Loved that show and the Vince Guaraldi score. It’s 80 degrees at the moment, but I had to pull it up on Spotify for a listen while I ordered the stamps online!
Rick S says
Jay,
I worked at the East Towne Mall store in Madison WI. There was also one at the Hilldale Mall as well as the ones in Milwaukee.
rick
Zann says
Rick – small world! When I think “Gimbels”, I think Madison, WI, as it is where I grew up as well 🙂
Jay says
Ack! I am getting old, I remember watching it when it first premiered on TV and watched it for quite a few years afterword. I suppose it’s time to upgrade my Vince Guardi CBC music from cassette to CD.
Yes, I will buy these for my cards and glad you posted about this now because I think that when I normally get around to buying Christmas stamps in Dec. these will be long gone.
Jay says
Went to the post office Saturday to mail letters and surprise surprise they had them.
Robin, NV says
I will definitely be picking up some of these!
Also – I was a the post office the other day and noticed they have Charley Harper postcard stamps depicting coastal birds.
JKM says
I’m 55 years old and have watched this program every year since the first time it aired. The soundtrack plays in our house on Christmas mornings – and sometimes at other times simply because I like it. I’m teary-eyed with nostalgia thinking about the characters, the straightforward messages they convey, the simple animation, and the memory of watching the show with family members no longer living. Post Office promotions rarely (okay, never) are of any interest to me but I’ll buy the stamps for this year’s Christmas cards. Thank you for sharing the information.
pam kueber says
We have the sound track in our holiday CD mix, too! The music is my favorite thing of the season, maybe even more than the tree! Well, the music and the food!
Chris Dougherty says
I join you in tearing up this morning. How I miss those innocent times.
Rick S says
Kate,
I love it because I know my wife JoAnn will be so excited to see these stamps. She loves Charlie Brown . The show is a tradition every year at our house.
We have a number of 1983 Hallmark ornaments with Snoopy and Woodstock from my first years working at Gimbels department store.
We also have two of the Charlie Brown Trees from when they first came out. We put one out at home and JoAnn takes one to work for her desk.
We all need a Charlie Brown Christmas.
rick
Jay says
Gimbels! There’s a blast from the past – which city? Before and during college I worked at both Wanamakers and Strawbridges in Center City Phila.
Mary Elizabeth says
Yes, I’m running out to buy these! We have a very small post office here, and I may have to travel to another one I know of that specializes in commemorative stamps.
One of the best quotes you passed on was “Schulz insisted that the program should not have a laugh track, which he considered cynical and unnecessary.” I’ve always agreed with that, and I think one of the reasons children enjoy the Peanuts show so much is that they are not being told what is funny and what is serious. They have to figure that out for themselves at whatever stage of understanding they are.
Kelly Wittenauer says
What a wonderful analysis!