On This Day in 1965: ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ Airs on CBS

The beloved television special A Charlie Brown Christmas aired on CBS on December 9, 1965, making it 59 years old today. As the first animated special based on the Peanuts comic strip, there was a lot of pressure to deliver on the popularity of the comic. However, the special has since become synonymous with the holiday season, and the soundtrack stands out as one of the most instantly recognizable compositions.

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A Charlie Brown Christmas follows the titular Charlie Brown as he confesses to his friend Linus that he’s still depressed despite the oncoming holiday. Lucy suggests he lead the neighborhood Christmas play, but his friends and peers mock and ignore him when he chooses a sad, puny tree for the centerpiece. Hence why we use the term “Charlie Brown Tree” for any skinny, floppy, or generally sickly-looking Christmas tree in contemporary times.

Charlie Brown, meanwhile, is determined not to let the commodification and commercialization of Christmas ruin his holiday. He takes the puny tree home and decorates it, but the weight of the decorations causes it to bend. Charlie Brown believes he has killed the tree and is even more upset. Meanwhile, the others realize that they were a bit too hard on him after a rousing recitation of the annunciation to the shepherds from Linus.

The kids decorate the tree for Charlie Brown, which then becomes a magnificent display of Christmas magic as they hum “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.”

Producers at CBS Initially Thought A Charlie Brown Christmas Would Flop as a Holiday Special

A Charlie Brown Christmas didn’t have a laugh track, which was popular with television specials and sitcoms of the time. Because of this, as well as its pacing and overall tone, producers and executives at CBS thought it would flop. However, the complete opposite happened.

This was due in part to the fantastic soundtrack from the Vince Guaraldi Trio. Jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi composed the recognizable soundtrack to the special, creating the cozy, simple, and wholesome atmosphere. A Charlie Brown Christmas became a staple of the holiday season and was broadcast on CBS around Christmas for 56 years. In the U.S., the soundtrack was so popular that it sold 5 million copies.

The omission of the laugh track was crucial for Charles M. Schulz, who was instrumental in bringing his creations to life on television. Schulz felt strongly that viewers should not be told when to laugh, according to a 2005 report from USA Today. He rejected the idea of a laugh track outright, which led to a lack of faith in the project by 1965 standards. However, A Charlie Brown Christmas would not be the beloved classic that it is today if Schulz had caved on that single aspect.

As for the soundtrack, it has since been added to the GRAMMY Hall of Fame and the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry. The music is what made the special so universally loved; it blended contemporary jazz with traditional music to appeal to all ages. Generations later, A Charlie Brown Christmas is still a staple of holiday films.

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