Thanks for covering one of my favorite TV specials of all time. I was just a 10 year old kid when this came out and I remember being so excited to see my favorite Peanuts characters come to life and actually move! I was obsessed with Peanuts books and had already started collecting them using my allowance and getting them for my birthday. I still have those Peanuts books from the 60’s to this day. It was so fun to read those books and to just get lost in the world of those characters. Such a great time to be a kid!
Whatever happened to "A Charlie Brown Christmas"? It's been locked away behind the Apple+ paywall, of course.:( So, get the DVD or other physical media so you can watch it when YOU want to.
In 1968, I was 10 years old. My new stepfather moved us from New York to California. As a child living in the tenements in the Bronx, i had little access to watching TV or even new about Charlie Brown. That all changed when i saw my first Charlie Brown special Charlie Brown Christmas in December of 1968. It literally changed my life. I became an army aviator because of a snoopy and his flying dog house, never missing an episode on network television with the exception of being stationed overseas. I introduced my high school sweetheart, Brenda, later, my wife, to Charlie Brown Christmas special since they had no TV at home. Together, we continued watching this show, introducing our two children to it and then our grandchildren until my wife's passing 8 years ago. Alone I just finished watching it in 4k ultra this evening Dec. 22nd 2024. I love you Brenda. Merry Christmas to all and to all a goodnight.
Holiday specials being an event is sorely missed. Running to pee during commercials, planning and having anticipation all week helped make the season. I tried to explain that to my students during my teaching career and I think some did get it. Good job on piano Dan !!! Merry Christmas !!
The peeing during commercial breaks was my most favorite of all Christmas memories. Oh how I loved to pee. It's such a comforting practice that has followed me to this day with each and every holiday season. We should all remember to count our blessings and never forget to acknowledge the wonderful feeling we get, each and every time we pee during a commercial break. ❤
They were awesome, the way television is going now, you will have to have a banner at the bottom of the screen telling you what show you're watching because of all of the commercials they are adding, you'll forget what show you're watching by the time the commercials finish.
I was eleven in 1965. I remember the first time I was so excited . I watched every year with my children way before they were old enough to get it. It will always be fear to my heart. At 70 I will watch it several times over the next few days. I adore the music as well, “ Wishing all a “Merry Christmas” 🎄 🎄🎄🎄
Outside of the controversy of religion in this special, you notice that Charlie Brown is frustrated by the over-commercialization of Christmas. When Charlie Brown gets frustrated trying to produce the school Christmas play, there's one time when Lucy actually shows sympathy to Charlie, and she says- "Listen Charlie, we all know Christmas is a big fake. I hear it's run by a big, eastern syndicate." That must have gone over the heads of Mc Cann/Erickson and the ad department of the people who sell and bottle Coca-Cola.
A Charlie Brown Christmas, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer remain our perennial favorites. My wife still cries during the Island of Lost Toys sequences. God bless DVDs.
Yeah! Those Island of the Misfit Toys sequences are gut wrenching (but in a good way, of course). Mind you, I'm as manly as the next guy, but I've had to choke back tears during those sequences since I was a just a little kid, and even now sometimes when I watch Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. Watching classic Disney's Bambi is like that, too! The point is that animation, just like live action movies, when done well, can often have a completely unexpected power to really emotionally jerk an audience around. But as far as I'm concerned, that's all just part of good old fashioned movie magic.
We were very fortunate to have been growing up during these times! There will never ever be a time like it again! Isn't it incredible how we had such a appreciation for the simple things compare that of today we realize how good we really had it!
The Christmas specials and the Sears wish book. Some of my fondest memories from my childhood. Ahhh.... those were the days. Merry Christmas to you and your family Dan.
I always used to think Charlie Brown's pitcher's mound being so high was because Charles drew him too high by accident and didn't want to start over. I think this because I had made that mistake myself with my own drawings and did the same thing.
You are so right it seems like pulling teeth to get everybody off their electronics and into the living room to watch a half hour show together. Where no one is leaving the room, picking up their phone or fighting.
Jerry Granelli, the drummer from Vince Guaraldi's band, moved to Halifax Nova Scotia and did a Charlie Brown Christmas concert there every year until his death in 2021. What a legend.
Hi Dan ! I love the Charlie Brown Christmas special. I'm a Christian and Linus reciting the Bible verse of the angels greeting the shepherds announcing Jesus' birth to them always makes my eyes moist for some reason. I've often felt like CB, that we've gotten away from the real meaning of Christmas, so I too identify with him. We're all nerds here Dan, we love you. The outcast amongst his people is no longer an outcast. Merry Christmas to you and your family. Thank you for all that you do. More than once I have shed a tear when you pressed my nostalgia button. (Very rough childhood and many, many beloved souls are missing in my life) Happy New year too !
Too bad Linus didn’t recite the Matthew version, which is a little more intense: Herod ordering the killing of all children in Bethlehem under the age of two; Roman soldiers looking to hunt down Mary and Joseph; three kings lying to Herod to protect the infant Jesus; Mary, Joseph and Jesus fleeing to Egypt to evade execution. All of which are nowhere to be found in the Luke version. So, which version is the correct one? Or, maybe they’re both just fairytales?
Love your key change and beautiful arrangement of Guaraldi, my brother! Thank you for all of this excellence! When I was young, I was kinda like Charlie Brown, and when he cried out, "Would someone tell me what Christmas is about??!!" I knew this was my question, too. When Luke's Gospel is quoted by Linus, my heart warmed, and I tucked this away, but later in life I became a believer in Jesus, and a pastor. I'm thankful that this Christmas special on CBS was my early dose of real and lasting hope. I was also like the little tree, I just needed a little love. I think these are reasons why many have fond memories of this!! Blessings and Merry Christmas!!
So true and poignant, I think the sad little tree was always such a beautiful symbol of love and hope, just Linus telling of Luke and the meaning of Christmas! God Bless!
Hey Dan, you doing the score on the piano was damn sweet. As a German viewer, The Peanuts were something special when on the TV. We had different "Christmas Specials" in these times (way back, when there were only three programs you could receive) and Charlie Brown was something completely new for me as a child, basically my first contact with Christmas as it is celebrated in the US. Thank you for all the videos you did this year, I enjoyed every minute of them. Have a peaceful Christmas and all the best to you and your family from the old world to the new world. 🌲🎄🎀
It's a miracle that the production was even finished on time. The cartoon was done 10 days before the airing on December 9th. Still in the end, it the viewers that have the final say. The parents and kids who watched that special. Down to earth, simple, and had a very good message. It did so well that the special won an Emmy in 1966 and CBS ordered 4 more Charlie Brown specials. CBS continued to air those specials for years afterwards. It was a huge risk running and doing that special and it produced a big reward for those that got involved.
One of my favorite memories is related to this, specifically the tree. It was junior year of high school, and I was at vocational school. There was a competition to see who could make the best, most original tree. What they didn't put in the rules was that we had to make a 'Traditional' tree. We spent weeks scouring our yards to look for a branch that looked like the Charlie Brown tree. After that we all pitched in and donated ornaments and tinsel to make it really look like the tree. It even bowed with the ball ornament on it, thankfully not breaking. We won the prize as it was the most original tree out of the bunch...the others all had a normal tree but wacky ornaments. Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year.
I was just turning 5 in Dec. 1965. Watching Charlie Brown Christmas and The original Grinch cartoon were absolute musts while growing up and still are now! The music is some of my favourite Christmas music. ❤ Linus knows what Christmas is really all about!
Dan Thank You so much for making this video!!! This is my childhood right here! I was born in ‘62. I became a Peanuts fan during the late 60’s. After watching the Charlie Brown Christmas Special, I was looking for books, getting the Hallmark items, asking my mom to get me the Avon Peanuts items they had and Vince Guarldi’s music kicked off my love of Jazz. During the 60’s his music from Charlie Brown and Herb Alpert & the Tiajuana Brass were my favorites! Even today still my favorites! You should see the Peanuts Collectibles I have around the house! Wishing you a Merry Christmas and thank you so much for your channel! You bring back so many good memories! ❤🎉
Dan, In 1968 in June, I made a trip to Petaluma, California and found myself outside Charles Schultz home . There was a Snoopy plaque on his entry gate which said "No unexpected visitors". That brought a smile to my face, it was cool! I had a friend back in New Jersey called Frank Evers, who did political cartoons for the New York Daily News, I thought he knew Mr. Schultz, so after my homage, I gave Charles Schultz a call. I explained who I was and I mentioned Frank, but to my chagrin he said he didn't know him. I apologized and we spoke for a few minutes and then I went I my way. Back home I had all the compiled editions of His Charley Brown Cartoons which unfortunately have been lost to time and our moving out here to Ferndale, Washington. This brought back many memories of, as you said, a better time. Cheers, Frederick "Rik" Spector
Born in 1964 I have enjoyed this show all my life. I wasn't popular either and associated with him as well. Thanks for doing this one Dan. Merry Christmas Dan!
The first several times I saw this as kid, was in black and white, as we didn't get a color set until 1972 I think. I don't think there is another Christmas-themed production of ANY KIND that is closer to my heart -and Mr. Monroe treated it with the genuine love it deserves. Thank you for this, and Merry Christmas!
You are not alone in being touched by this Christmas special. I wrote to Charles Schultz as a child in the very early 70s, and he actually wrote me back. Made my day. And you know, that was just like him. Good memories, all. Thank you for reminding us of how special this memory was and is. Also, good piano work, and... Merry Christmas Dan Monroe !!!!! =)
I was fifteen when I first saw this special and when I had my own children I played it on the VHS for them, and they watched it several times on their own! Both of my children have daughters and they have their own DVD copies of this wonderful special to play at Christmas time. It's a timeless classic that will never show it's age and go out of fashion!
I watch this every year. It is like traveling back in time to remember being with my parents and sisters watching this. Wholesome entertainment from a simpler time. To me it would not be Christmas without Charlie Brown. Thanks for this memory
Now you're talking! My absolute favorite of all the Christmas TV specials. My youngest Peanuts memory was when I was about 3 years old in 1967. there is a photo of me in the family photo albums wearing a Peanuts sweatshirt bearing the name "PEANUTS" and displaying several of the characters. I do remember wearing that sweatshirt back in the day. I also remember visiting my grandmother at Christmastime when she still had two of her teen children living at home (an aunt & uncle). They had a black, curly-haired poodle mix (?) named "Snoopy". As I became an older kid, I too LOVED reading, as you say and as I too called them: "Charlie Brown books" vs. "Peanuts books". Those being the paperback collections of cartoons from certain time periods. I also loved reading the strips in the Sunday "funnies" in the newspaper (remember newspapers?). I was overjoyed when Fantagraphics started releasing the Complete Peanuts series of books. I have them all now and read them frequently. Quite a shelf-filling collection! I don't remember when I actually first saw "A Charlie Brown Christmas", maybe 1968?... But I DO remember that every year afterward it was "Appointment Television". You made it a point to find out the day and time it was coming on and you were in place in front of the TV waiting for that "CBS Special" bumper to come on and herald the start of the program: th-cam.com/video/pD4LQAKB-YA/w-d-xo.html The show has such a relaxing vibe to it. The music is just so soothing, nothing visually flashy, nothing hectic or chaotic in the action. The opening scene of the kids skating on the pond perfectly captures my favorite kind of winter day... steely gray overcast sky with snow falling, bare trees, snow covering the ground. Perfect. It was really cool to know that you were watching it the very same time as millions of other families across the country. Also, if you missed it that year, it was a noticeable loss and you had to wait another whole year for the chance to see it again. Of the many storybooks I had as a kid, one such was a hardcover copy of "A Charlie Brown Christmas" with it's unique black cover. Something I need to find a good copy of on E-Bay. Thanks to the Internet, I was able to find a TH-cam upload of the "original airing" version complete with period CBS bumpers and a teaser promo. The actual special contains the original Coca Cola sponsor footage at the beginning and end. I think I actually watch this version more often now than the current one. As for the music, It wasn't until about 1986 when I found out about Vince Guaraldi. I never knew name of the "Peanuts Music Guy" until then. After that, I quickly added as many LPs of Peanuts music to my collection as I could find. The "Charlie Brown Christmas" album is usually the first one I play to kick of the Christmas listening season. In the past, I had imposed a moratorium on Christmas music until after Thanksgiving dinner was completed. My intent was to not get burned out on my beloved Christmas music. Over the past couple years however, I have been relaxing those restrictions and firing up the tunes earlier in November. Thankfully, I have not gotten burned out yet. You want a REAL "Deep Dive" on the music, check out the Vince Guaraldi TH-cam page. Therein lies "A Charlie Brown Christmas - Complete Deluxe Edition" - A collection of the ENTIRE recording sessions. At least 70 tracks including the original album tracks, ALSO the versions used in the TV special (which contains alternate versions of "Linus And Lucy", "Christmastime Is Here", and "O Tannenbaum"). There also several other alternate versions of many of the tunes, various takes, etc. including a beautiful version of "Christmastime Is Here" with the children's choir vocalizing the melody or "Ooo-ing" as they did in the intro to "Hark! The Herald..." Here is the playlist: th-cam.com/play/PLLG_xm_uUlt-oYopnYUePSg7nUDFJnkL3.html They also have the complete "Great Pumpkin" soundtrack as well... my 2nd favorite Peanuts special. The artwork of the skies throughout is beautiful in itself. Also love the inclusion of the flute in some of the music. Very haunting in the scenes where Snoopy the downed WWI flying ace is sneaking across the French countryside. Also, you mentioned in the Christmas special where Lucy calls Charlie Brown "Charlie"... interesting parallel in the Thanksgiving special where Peppermint Patty calls him "Chuck" 20+ times throughout and near the end refers to him once as "Charlie Brown". Anyway, great video. Thanks! Hope to see other Christmas specials featured in the years to come! Merry Christmas, Dan Monroe!
I was six years old when A Charlie Brown's Christmas came out. I'm 65 years old now and I still love to watch this special piece of American television history. Sadly, since it does not come on television anymore, I guess I will need to purchase the DVD. I didn't realize until years later the all the kids' voices were performed by actual children at that time. The music was great also on this classic cartoon. Ah, those were the days.
My mom appeared in that unaired Schulz documentary, in a portion filmed at a Beethoven’s birthday party he gave where her string quartet performed. We went to his home to see a screening of it. The people who later created Charlie Brown Christmas were there, including Bill Melendez and Vince Guaraldi.
"I shouldn't have picked this little tree, everything I do turns into a disaster." But one thing that DIDN'T turn out to be a disaster was this WONDERFUL video and the heart felt tribute to the Charlie Brown Christmas special uploaded and done with love and care by Dan Monroe! Many thanks for this Dan. In my humble opinion, your piano score version of the music from this classic is equally as classic. A VERY merry to you and yours.
Thank you Dan. You pulled a genuine tear out of my eyes on this one. I was 5 when when this aired. Religiously watched it EVERY year after that till well in to my teens. I cannot explain the emotion that this Christmas special evoked in me as a boy. Thank you for your time spent on this video, and I really enjoyed your rendition of Christmas Time Is Here. I would love to hear a full version of that.
As an 8 year old in 1965, I loved the Peanuts. Linus' reciting of the beautiful words from Luke was just the touch of love ol' Charlie Brown needed. Merry Christmas Dan, and thanks for the wonderful piano playing!
EXCELLENT episode! I love "A Charlie Brown Christmas!" I was 5 years old when it debuted on my Birthday, December 9th. What a birthday present! Great piano playing, by the way.
Thank you Dan. I was 7 years old and can still remember being so excited to watch the Charlie Brown Special! I'm now 66. Great memories. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Dan for putting this video together. I didn't get to know Charlie Brown's Christmas until early 70's , I was born in 67. I've loved the Peanut's Gang since forever. So many holiday specials over the 70's and 80's as well as Saturday morning cartoons that don't exist anymore. 😢 I completely agree with you, those days were so much better than what we have now. I also wanted to thank you for your piano playing, feeling so many emotions. 😊😁 Thanks again for taking the time to put this video together for us, I appreciate your efforts. Take care Dan and Merry Christmas to everyone 🎄🎁 ☃️⛄
Remember the Charlie Brown Christmas, all the Dolly Madison Zinger commercials for donuts that weren't available in my area as a kid,great music,thumbs up great video
Just eat a freakin Ding Dong or a Twinkie why don't ya! It's all the same crap. At least you weren't stuck with those knock off pastries Little Debbies. I got so sick of those damn things.
@@sterling557 It's just like Coca-Cola now. They used to make that stuff with real sugar and I remember it tasting so much better as a kid. I have this thing for cherry coke and bought a 4 pack of some 'craft brewed' brand Cherry cola made with real sugar and honey and I couldn't believe how damn good it was. It was like 12 bucks but it was amazing stuff. Coke just tastes like chemicals to me.
Wow...this episode just blasted me back to 1965... watching Lost in Space, Charlie Brown Christmas, the TV Guide...yeah, those were such great times. Thanks for the memories Dan!
I remember leafing through the JC Penney Christmas catalog watching this as the first of many Christmas specials including the Carpenters with youthful anticipation of family coming into town to celebrate Christmas together. Family and friends are what Christmas is all about. I also listen to Christmas music during the year. My family and neighborhood that I grew up have a tradition of putting out luminaria on Christmas Eve. A wonderful sight to see the neighborhood lit with the candles and white bags. Merry Christmas Dan Monroe! (Kids from the ending of Charlie Brown Christmas) Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas!
I had Charlie Brown cartoon books. I would laugh and laugh reading them in bed at night. I cant imagine what i was laughing at, it's a wonderful memory
Dan. great stuff. Loved the contemporary publicity photos of the voice actors. Rather than one line at a time, Sally's voice actor had to repeat back a single word or syllable all of which were then strung together. I was six when this was first broadcast and I remember the aluminum trees from the Sears catalog Wish Book. This special is credited with helping to end what had been up until then the very popular trend of families buying aluminum Xmas trees. After declining sales they went out of production in 1970 thereabouts. A perfect entry for the last weekend before 25 December. Dan, to you and your charming wife I wanted to wish you both a Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year. Thank you both for the great content you've shared with all of us denizens of the M³ comment section.
Thank you for this Dan Monroe. I can remember being VERY Excited to watch this as a 4-5 year old. I had the picture book that told the story as a kid. As an older Gen Xer (1967), I also want to say thank for remembering 70s childhood. A lot of Gen X nostalgia channels talk about 80s childhood. But the 70s were a GREAT time to be a kid.
Having watched this in 1965 as a young child on a B&W roll cart TV, common in 1965, our wood cabinet Color Zenith didn't come until 1967, and even those early color sets were rare. I would imagine most of the viewers in 1965 who watched this the first time saw it in B&W. A very different viewing experience ( for a Cartoon ) Peanuts needed to be in Color. In fact all the classic cartoons which came out in the early 1960s were first watched on B&W TV's, at least until 1966+. Here are some stats: In 1965 only 3.1% of the pop had Color TV , about 2.8 million out of 195,000,000, Not many. Yes, a 49% viewer rating share when first aired, but most of that was on B&W TV's in 1965-66. Those Christmas specials, all of them IMHO, did not really come to life until Color TV became mainstream. Including 1964's classic Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer, can you imagine watching Rudolf's Red nose in B&W ! Many did back then. All made for Color. The Addams Family, Munsters, Twilight Zone, etc. from that period are classics being only in B&W, Works with those.
Thank You For Another Wonderful Behind The Scenes!! The Charlie Brown Christmas Was A Beautiful Walk Down Memories Lane!! Thank You Dan! Wishing You Both A Very Merry Christmas!! Your #1 and #2 Fans Steven and Jack 😇🌲🎅🤶🦌☃️
I was one of that 49% of televisions tuned in to this special in '65. Watch it in one form or another every year since. Got it on VHS one year in the 80's for free from a gas station with a full tank of gas. The Flintstones Christmas special never made sense to me, since they, the Flintstones, lived before the birth of Christ! Ha! Have Merry one, Dan, you and yours! And a Happy New Year, too!
Great coverage of a timeless classic! I was five years old and was there for the first showing in 1965. My whole family looked forward to it at Christmas every year. As a kid, you knew that Santa would soon be paying a visit after watching A Charlie Brown Christmas. Wonderful stuff, Dan. And a very Merry Christmas to you and your wife!
Merry Christmas everyone! At 65 I get teary eyed watching this every year with my Granddaughters. It's become a ritual, along with original Grinch Who Stole Christmas.
My fave Christmas movie! I must have seen it 60 or more times by now. My Charlie Brown Christmas tree is sitting proudly on the shelf. Love the new arrangement. Vincent Guaraldi was an absolute genius. It’s probably where my love of jazz began at a very early age! My son gave me a green vinyl album version a few years back, and that comes out every year, the most listened-to music for a month straight! ❤
A true classic. I still watch it every year from my collection. I'm 62. Never too old to enjoy it. I've shared it with all of my young nieces, nephews and step kids. Beautiful piano playing BTW. I'm a guitar player myself.
One of my favorites. Takes me back to when we would circle the Christmas specials we wanted to watch in the TV Guide. "of all the Dan Monroes, you are the Dan monroe-iest'. Merry Christmas.
This is one of my favorite holiday specials, I play it every December and my kids (all grown up) still like watching it every time. I've always liked the original Charlie Brown holiday specials because I grew up with the same voice cast. They have some new CB specials out there with new kid voices (of course) but it just doesn't sound the same. Thanks Dan for sprucing up Christmas with this. You always have awesome content!
Thank you so much for sharing this episode with us, Dan! I was also born in 1964 and my sister in 1963. We would watch A Charlie Brown Christmas together every Christmas Eve after church. We did this until our mid-teens. Dan, you brought back so many fond childhood memories. Thank you and Merry Christmas!
Dan, you couldn’t have chosen a better topic for this season. The beautiful memories all the Charlie Brown specials bring us, are endless and timeless. Thanks for this and have a wonderful Christmas🎄
Thank you for producing this, Dan. I haven't watched this show in so long. The music and overall simplicity are what I remember the most. It brought additional joy to me as a kid!
Well Dan I was born in 1963, I remember seeing Charlie Brown's Christmas when I was 4 and all of the Christmas specials growing up and to be honest I still watch them, I am 61yo and I still watch Cartoons. I would pop in a CD of Bugs Bunny and friends Thanks Dan, now I'm going to make some hot chocolate sit back and watch the Christmas Shows, Dan you and your family have a Happy Christmas and New Year
Dan, I've been a great fan of your content for a while, but as far as being culturally significant, you have achieved that with this video like Charlie Brown Christmas did! My lady and I started out our Christmas video watching two days ago by starting with it. It has always been near and dear to my heart, and my presumption is that I viewed it the very first time in its initial presentation in '65 (I had just turned 6). Funny part, too, is that we didn't have a color TV until 1975 but I watched it every year since if I could find the time it was being broadcast and introduced my daughters' to it as well (first purchased on VHS). The special part of this for my lady is that Charlie Brown and this special was a favorite of her first son, who passed away at the age of 8. AND when I assisted with music for a kid's program at church, myself and the other keyboardist learned "Linus and Lucy" and interrupted his wife with it while she directed :) Merry Christmas Charlie Brown!! And to you and yours', Dan.
Saw it on TV when it first came out. Always looked forward to it each year. A Charlie Brown Christmas, Scrooge (Alistair Sim), Miracle on 34th Street (Edmund Gwenn), and Rudolf (Rankin/Bass) are all played at our place every Christmas Eve. A very Merry Christmas to you and your family.
WOW 😮 Dan plays piano. How cool is that. Do kids nowadays even know about A Charlie Brown Christmas Or a Charlie Brown Thanksgiving? The airing of those shows marked the beginning of the Fall and Christmas seasons for us kids when we were younger. Those shows and the claymation Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer got our whole families into the Christmas spirit. Nowadays there's nothing that compares to those classic shows.
Let's see. Myself as well born in 1964. I never met Dan but when I shared with him. That I was interested in the robot byte pieces i shared with him that I would send him the money. I had lost two loved ones in 2020 one from covid in a nursing home, my sister and then my brother 52 days later my brother was walking across the street and got hit by a car and killed. Dan was beyond amazing and without hesitation. He immediately responded and said you've endured a lot. This one's on me. I will never forget that that meant a lot to me. This Christmas 🎄 my best wishes go to you Dan and your wife and family. You bring to life our nostalgia so well. So professional well gifted with words which I thought I was good at what I can do but no, you. You got it dan and we appreciate you each and every time you put out a piece of nostalgia Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
Had tears in my eyes through much of this, especially when you were playing that wonderful music, THANKS SO MUCH FOR THIS DAN, A TRUE LOVE VIDEO!! I can remember in 1965 sitting in my moms lap watching this the first time and every year later , missing my mothers lap though, such wonderful memories...
The Peanuts gang is the most beloved cartoon characters of all time. Charles Shultz was visoniary in the field. All of us know those characters. I guess Snoopy, then Charlie Brown are common household icons. I,as an old boomer, have always loved those characters. Charles,thank you for creating such loveable cartoon kids.
Setting my Way Back Machine to 1965 and I was watching A Charlie Brown Christmas the first time on the air at age 9. I have loved it ever since. Merry Christmas Dan and your family :-)
Of all the Christmas specials ever produced, this one is the Christmas special-est! Great stuff Dan (including the ivory tickling), and yeah, it was a better time👍 🎄
I'm old enough to remember watching this in '65 and I can't count how many times I've seen it since. And the soundtrack! Still my favorite Christmas album. Thanks for the deep dive, Dan, and for bringing up so many fond memories. A very merry Christmas to you and your family.
Another great video, Dan! As a fellow baby boomer (66 years and counting), I remember the anticipation we felt for this classic to come on TV each year, in the pre-VCR/DVD era. It was definitely "must-see TV" for me, my sisters, and all our friends. Btw, very nice piano work on "Linus and Lucy." How did you avoid a TH-cam copyright strike on that tune? 🤔
Thank you Dan for doing an indepth look at A Charlie Brown Christmas. Like you I had all the books, watched all the specials, had had tons of Peanut memorabilia. I even scored a 5 foot stuffed Snoopy and had him for over 40 years. Really big thank you for playing Linus and Lucy. With everything that's gone wrong the past few years, I really needed to hear that. Lucy's pulled a few to many footballs out from me and that helped fill the void of not having the best Christmas special on network television any more. Merry Christmas to you and have a Happy New Year.
I agree completely with your view of Christmas and all holidays past. Christmas time was about gifts for us kids, but as we grew older, we knew that family was the heart of it. I, too, literally grew up with this and the later specials. It wasn't a few days of specials, but on Thanksgiving night, the Christmas specials began. Almost 6 weeks of nothing but specials. Now, barely anything. The Peanuts special runs for every Christmas time. It needs to, for Linus tells you why. As per the changes, I've just come across a TH-cam video of side by side comparisons. I'd forgotten that Coke was the sponsor, but it rebooted a memory. Do you remember Dan, the Coke commercial of the singers performing "I'd like to teach the world to sing." It became Coke's trademark holiday song for several years and even became a hit single. This was a wonderful Christmas gift from my favorite host. Merry Christmas to you and all your family.
Most of my career was spent in a small confined space, and quite often I found myself whistling the tunes from the Charlie Brown shows. Good one Dan, thanks. 👍👍⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐.
I grew up with Charlie Brown and so did my children. We wore out the VHS tape and we are trying to ware out the DVD. My children have grown up with all the christmas specials that I loved in the 60's and 70's. They love the wholesomeness of those older specials and the TV shows from that time period. Merry Christmas to you and yours and a New Year full of music and happiness.
Your piano playing is beautiful! Life was better back then! I was born in 1968. When I became aware, however, this was always my favorite of the specials from that golden era. B-9 is so witty! Thanks for the memories ❤️ Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you, your wife and family! ❤Bill Harris
Your version of the song at the piano was so beautiful! I was 3 when this was released but I do remember waiting for the TV Guide that listed the times of the Christmas specials that made the holidays so complete. I never forgot the air play time and it was must see TV as a child through the early 1970's. Thanks for doing this episode! Merry Christmas!
This was and still is my favorite Christmas season special. When the A Charlie Brown Christmas: The Making of a Tradition hardback cam out, I immediately bought it and treasure it still. Great piano there, Dan!
You’re absolutely right… a much better time. We had the BEST childhood! Great vid Dan!
Sounds Like You We’re A G.I.Joe Or A Team Fan.
Thanks for the episode and memories. Mostly for the memories of what’s turned into a lifetime. Merry Christmas.
Thanks for covering one of my favorite TV specials of all time. I was just a 10 year old kid when this came out and I remember being so excited to see my favorite Peanuts characters come to life and actually move! I was obsessed with Peanuts books and had already started collecting them using my allowance and getting them for my birthday. I still have those Peanuts books from the 60’s to this day. It was so fun to read those books and to just get lost in the world of those characters. Such a great time to be a kid!
Whatever happened to "A Charlie Brown Christmas"? It's been locked away behind the Apple+ paywall, of course.:(
So, get the DVD or other physical media so you can watch it when YOU want to.
To be fair, Apple does make it free to watch for two days. Those days just passed, December 14 & 15.
This!
Are you kidding me?? What the fuck.
Yes, because the people at Apple would like to make a living, too 🎅
That’s ironic because the show has an anti-commercialism message.
In 1968, I was 10 years old. My new stepfather moved us from New York to California. As a child living in the tenements in the Bronx, i had little access to watching TV or even new about Charlie Brown. That all changed when i saw my first Charlie Brown special Charlie Brown Christmas in December of 1968. It literally changed my life. I became an army aviator because of a snoopy and his flying dog house, never missing an episode on network television with the exception of being stationed overseas.
I introduced my high school sweetheart, Brenda, later, my wife, to Charlie Brown Christmas special since they had no TV at home. Together, we continued watching this show, introducing our two children to it and then our grandchildren until my wife's passing 8 years ago. Alone I just finished watching it in 4k ultra this evening Dec. 22nd 2024. I love you Brenda. Merry Christmas to all and to all a goodnight.
That's awesome. For me it's about the memories and in my opinion, simpler times.
Pleasant memories and Happy Holidays!!
Merry Christmas, and thank you for your service.
@@jasonsimpkins9069 Absolutely...I 100% agree, a much simpler times. Thank you all for your comments and thumbs up. Love to all!
@@lisasharf1442 Thank you so much, and happy new years to you and to all!
Holiday specials being an event is sorely missed. Running to pee during commercials, planning and having anticipation all week helped make the season. I tried to explain that to my students during my teaching career and I think some did get it. Good job on piano Dan !!! Merry Christmas !!
Yes - kids today don't get it that these were only shown once a year and if you missed them, you were out of luck. They really were television events.
The peeing during commercial breaks was my most favorite of all Christmas memories. Oh how I loved to pee. It's such a comforting practice that has followed me to this day with each and every holiday season. We should all remember to count our blessings and never forget to acknowledge the wonderful feeling we get, each and every time we pee during a commercial break. ❤
They were awesome, the way television is going now, you will have to have a banner at the bottom of the screen telling you what show you're watching because of all of the commercials they are adding, you'll forget what show you're watching by the time the commercials finish.
@@harveykitzman9083and we were all planning to watch at the same time. It was an event in school
💯 I'm running to the bathroom, or getting some more popcorn, or another drink or whatever! If you missed it, you missed it!
I was eleven in 1965. I remember the first time I was so excited . I watched every year with my children way before they were old enough to get it. It will always be fear to my heart. At 70 I will watch it several times over the next few days. I adore the music as well,
“ Wishing all a “Merry Christmas” 🎄 🎄🎄🎄
@@Ets638 My brother and I were the same. I was only eight but already a big fan of Peanuts.
Outside of the controversy of religion in this special, you notice that Charlie Brown is frustrated by the over-commercialization of Christmas. When Charlie Brown gets frustrated trying to produce the school Christmas play, there's one time when Lucy actually shows sympathy to Charlie, and she says- "Listen Charlie, we all know Christmas is a big fake. I hear it's run by a big, eastern syndicate." That must have gone over the heads of Mc Cann/Erickson and the ad department of the people who sell and bottle Coca-Cola.
@@DavidSmith-xs3or It's no wonder that the network execs in New York hated it so much! 😄
Dolly Madison cakes also.
Happy Holidays to you too. Oh, and Happy Birthday! I turned 70 this year too.
The TV guide would arrive in the mail, and I would circle all the Christmas programs I wanted to watch!!
Mr. Magoo Christmas Carol
Original Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer - Rankin - Bass
Charlie Brown Christmas
Grinch - with Boris Karloff
A Charlie Brown Christmas, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer remain our perennial favorites. My wife still cries during the Island of Lost Toys sequences. God bless DVDs.
Oldies But Classics. 1980’s Baby Here. Still Love Everything About This Franchise
I still tell people “ I’m a misfit among misfits.”
“ just like the island of misfit toys “
@@MichaelWysocki-ks5xt Welcome to the club.
Yep those are the big three!
Yeah! Those Island of the Misfit Toys sequences are gut wrenching (but in a good way, of course). Mind you, I'm as manly as the next guy, but I've had to choke back tears during those sequences since I was a just a little kid, and even now sometimes when I watch Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. Watching classic Disney's Bambi is like that, too! The point is that animation, just like live action movies, when done well, can often have a completely unexpected power to really emotionally jerk an audience around. But as far as I'm concerned, that's all just part of good old fashioned movie magic.
We were very fortunate to have been growing up during these times! There will never ever be a time like it again! Isn't it incredible how we had such a appreciation for the simple things compare that of today we realize how good we really had it!
The Christmas specials and the Sears wish book. Some of my fondest memories from my childhood. Ahhh.... those were the days. Merry Christmas to you and your family Dan.
The Star Wars Spread .. Masters of the Universe.. Transformers.. and GI-Joe ... I'd stare at that crap forever.
The JC Penny catalog was great too. As a kid, I would sit down with both of them and circled everything I wanted for Christmas (Lol)
Sears catalog women's underwear ads... Puberty Porn for young boys in the '60s... LOL ;-)
If you could draw a perfect Snoopy, you were the king of the elementary classroom. Thanks, Charlie Brown and Dan. Merry Christmas 🎄
Even in high school...Snoopy is revered!
I could and I was lol
I did em' all .. Snoopy, Woody Woodpecker, Popeye, Mickey Mouse and Freddy Kruger.
I always used to think Charlie Brown's pitcher's mound being so high was because Charles drew him too high by accident and didn't want to start over. I think this because I had made that mistake myself with my own drawings and did the same thing.
@@pittadrum8 Me too haha.
What I remember is that the whole family gathered in the living room to watch this classic. Family dynamics have changed.
Yep. But As People Age Family Unless In Certain Situations Seem To Drift Apart.
You are so right it seems like pulling teeth to get everybody off their electronics and into the living room to watch a half hour show together. Where no one is leaving the room, picking up their phone or fighting.
Jerry Granelli, the drummer from Vince Guaraldi's band, moved to Halifax Nova Scotia and did a Charlie Brown Christmas concert there every year until his death in 2021. What a legend.
Appreciate the shoutout! 🙏 love how in depth you go with the full special here!
Hi Dan ! I love the Charlie Brown Christmas special. I'm a Christian and Linus reciting the Bible verse of the angels greeting the shepherds announcing Jesus' birth to them always makes my eyes moist for some reason. I've often felt like CB, that we've gotten away from the real meaning of Christmas, so I too identify with him. We're all nerds here Dan, we love you. The outcast amongst his people is no longer an outcast. Merry Christmas to you and your family. Thank you for all that you do. More than once I have shed a tear when you pressed my nostalgia button. (Very rough childhood and many, many beloved souls are missing in my life) Happy New year too !
Too bad Linus didn’t recite the Matthew version, which is a little more intense: Herod ordering the killing of all children in Bethlehem under the age of two; Roman soldiers looking to hunt down Mary and Joseph; three kings lying to Herod to protect the infant Jesus; Mary, Joseph and Jesus fleeing to Egypt to evade execution. All of which are nowhere to be found in the Luke version. So, which version is the correct one?
Or, maybe they’re both just fairytales?
@@tomc2979I’m certain you will get your answer someday. I only pray you are on the Lord’s side of the fence when you do.
I'm a nurse, and we have the Charile Brown christmas tree on all our units lol. Its neat. Thanks Dan.
I Believe I Got Mine From Hobby Lobby Or At Hone A Few Years Ago. Love It. Oh Christmas Tree 🎄
@@Craft_Game33
We to have a Charlie Brown Christmas tree along with a full size leg lamp
Love your key change and beautiful arrangement of Guaraldi, my brother! Thank you for all of this excellence! When I was young, I was kinda like Charlie Brown, and when he cried out, "Would someone tell me what Christmas is about??!!" I knew this was my question, too. When Luke's Gospel is quoted by Linus, my heart warmed, and I tucked this away, but later in life I became a believer in Jesus, and a pastor. I'm thankful that this Christmas special on CBS was my early dose of real and lasting hope. I was also like the little tree, I just needed a little love. I think these are reasons why many have fond memories of this!! Blessings and Merry Christmas!!
PS Thank you, Dan! Merry Christmas!!
So true and poignant, I think the sad little tree was always such a beautiful symbol of love and hope, just Linus telling of Luke and the meaning of Christmas! God Bless!
Hey Dan, you doing the score on the piano was damn sweet. As a German viewer, The Peanuts were something special when on the TV. We had different "Christmas Specials" in these times (way back, when there were only three programs you could receive) and Charlie Brown was something completely new for me as a child, basically my first contact with Christmas as it is celebrated in the US. Thank you for all the videos you did this year, I enjoyed every minute of them. Have a peaceful Christmas and all the best to you and your family from the old world to the new world. 🌲🎄🎀
It’s not such a bad little Christmas tree after all Charlie Brown. As an adult, this line has profound meaning for me.
Maybe it just needs a little love.
We all feel like Charlie Brown at some point. That’s why we love him.
The description of the true meaning of Christmas in a cartoon, certainly would beat that out by a lot.
It's a miracle that the production was even finished on time. The cartoon was done 10 days before the airing on December 9th. Still in the end, it the viewers that have the final say. The parents and kids who watched that special. Down to earth, simple, and had a very good message. It did so well that the special won an Emmy in 1966 and CBS ordered 4 more Charlie Brown specials. CBS continued to air those specials for years afterwards. It was a huge risk running and doing that special and it produced a big reward for those that got involved.
One of my favorite memories is related to this, specifically the tree.
It was junior year of high school, and I was at vocational school. There was a competition to see who could make the best, most original tree. What they didn't put in the rules was that we had to make a 'Traditional' tree. We spent weeks scouring our yards to look for a branch that looked like the Charlie Brown tree. After that we all pitched in and donated ornaments and tinsel to make it really look like the tree. It even bowed with the ball ornament on it, thankfully not breaking. We won the prize as it was the most original tree out of the bunch...the others all had a normal tree but wacky ornaments.
Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year.
I was just turning 5 in Dec. 1965. Watching Charlie Brown Christmas and The original Grinch cartoon were absolute musts while growing up and still are now! The music is some of my favourite Christmas music. ❤ Linus knows what Christmas is really all about!
It’s Just Not Christmas Without The Grinch, Snoopy And Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer ❤
Dan Thank You so much for making this video!!! This is my childhood right here! I was born in ‘62. I became a Peanuts fan during the late 60’s. After watching the Charlie Brown Christmas Special, I was looking for books, getting the Hallmark items, asking my mom to get me the Avon Peanuts items they had and Vince Guarldi’s music kicked off my love of Jazz. During the 60’s his music from Charlie Brown and Herb Alpert & the Tiajuana Brass were my favorites! Even today still my favorites! You should see the Peanuts Collectibles I have around the house! Wishing you a Merry Christmas and thank you so much for your channel! You bring back so many good memories! ❤🎉
Dan,
In 1968 in June, I made a trip to Petaluma, California and found myself outside Charles Schultz home .
There was a Snoopy plaque on his entry gate which said "No unexpected visitors".
That brought a smile to my face, it was cool!
I had a friend back in New Jersey called Frank Evers, who did political cartoons for the New York Daily News,
I thought he knew Mr. Schultz, so after my homage, I gave Charles Schultz a call.
I explained who I was and I mentioned Frank, but to my chagrin he said he didn't know him.
I apologized and we spoke for a few minutes and then I went I my way.
Back home I had all the compiled editions of His Charley Brown Cartoons which
unfortunately have been lost to time and our moving out here to Ferndale, Washington.
This brought back many memories of, as you said, a better time.
Cheers,
Frederick "Rik" Spector
Born in 1964 I have enjoyed this show all my life. I wasn't popular either and associated with him as well. Thanks for doing this one Dan. Merry Christmas Dan!
Hark, Harold the Angel sings! Charlie Brown Christmas is part of my Christmas traditions now!
The first several times I saw this as kid, was in black and white, as we didn't get a color set until 1972 I think. I don't think there is another Christmas-themed production of ANY KIND that is closer to my heart -and Mr. Monroe treated it with the genuine love it deserves. Thank you for this, and Merry Christmas!
same here. our first color TV in 1972
You are not alone in being touched by this Christmas special. I wrote to Charles Schultz as a child in the very early 70s, and he actually wrote me back. Made my day. And you know, that was just like him. Good memories, all. Thank you for reminding us of how special this memory was and is. Also, good piano work, and... Merry Christmas Dan Monroe !!!!! =)
I was fifteen when I first saw this special and when I had my own children I played it on the VHS for them, and they watched it several times on their own! Both of my children have daughters and they have their own DVD copies of this wonderful special to play at Christmas time. It's a timeless classic that will never show it's age and go out of fashion!
Just wonderful, Dan! 11:00 Bill Melendez... was also the "voice" of Snoopy!
I watch this every year. It is like traveling back in time to remember being with my parents and sisters watching this. Wholesome entertainment from a simpler time. To me it would not be Christmas without Charlie Brown. Thanks for this memory
In the Charlie Brown universe if you yell "That's it!" at someone it sends them flipping and flying.
….not to mention Charlie Brown himself flipping and losing his clothes at a line drive!
Now you're talking! My absolute favorite of all the Christmas TV specials.
My youngest Peanuts memory was when I was about 3 years old in 1967. there is a photo of me in the family photo albums wearing a Peanuts sweatshirt bearing the name "PEANUTS" and displaying several of the characters. I do remember wearing that sweatshirt back in the day.
I also remember visiting my grandmother at Christmastime when she still had two of her teen children living at home (an aunt & uncle). They had a black, curly-haired poodle mix (?) named "Snoopy".
As I became an older kid, I too LOVED reading, as you say and as I too called them: "Charlie Brown books" vs. "Peanuts books". Those being the paperback collections of cartoons from certain time periods. I also loved reading the strips in the Sunday "funnies" in the newspaper (remember newspapers?). I was overjoyed when Fantagraphics started releasing the Complete Peanuts series of books. I have them all now and read them frequently. Quite a shelf-filling collection!
I don't remember when I actually first saw "A Charlie Brown Christmas", maybe 1968?... But I DO remember that every year afterward it was "Appointment Television". You made it a point to find out the day and time it was coming on and you were in place in front of the TV waiting for that "CBS Special" bumper to come on and herald the start of the program:
th-cam.com/video/pD4LQAKB-YA/w-d-xo.html
The show has such a relaxing vibe to it. The music is just so soothing, nothing visually flashy, nothing hectic or chaotic in the action. The opening scene of the kids skating on the pond perfectly captures my favorite kind of winter day... steely gray overcast sky with snow falling, bare trees, snow covering the ground. Perfect.
It was really cool to know that you were watching it the very same time as millions of other families across the country. Also, if you missed it that year, it was a noticeable loss and you had to wait another whole year for the chance to see it again.
Of the many storybooks I had as a kid, one such was a hardcover copy of "A Charlie Brown Christmas" with it's unique black cover. Something I need to find a good copy of on E-Bay.
Thanks to the Internet, I was able to find a TH-cam upload of the "original airing" version complete with period CBS bumpers and a teaser promo. The actual special contains the original Coca Cola sponsor footage at the beginning and end. I think I actually watch this version more often now than the current one.
As for the music, It wasn't until about 1986 when I found out about Vince Guaraldi. I never knew name of the "Peanuts Music Guy" until then. After that, I quickly added as many LPs of Peanuts music to my collection as I could find. The "Charlie Brown Christmas" album is usually the first one I play to kick of the Christmas listening season. In the past, I had imposed a moratorium on Christmas music until after Thanksgiving dinner was completed. My intent was to not get burned out on my beloved Christmas music. Over the past couple years however, I have been relaxing those restrictions and firing up the tunes earlier in November. Thankfully, I have not gotten burned out yet.
You want a REAL "Deep Dive" on the music, check out the Vince Guaraldi TH-cam page. Therein lies "A Charlie Brown Christmas - Complete Deluxe Edition" - A collection of the ENTIRE recording sessions. At least 70 tracks including the original album tracks, ALSO the versions used in the TV special (which contains alternate versions of "Linus And Lucy", "Christmastime Is Here", and "O Tannenbaum"). There also several other alternate versions of many of the tunes, various takes, etc. including a beautiful version of "Christmastime Is Here" with the children's choir vocalizing the melody or "Ooo-ing" as they did in the intro to "Hark! The Herald..."
Here is the playlist:
th-cam.com/play/PLLG_xm_uUlt-oYopnYUePSg7nUDFJnkL3.html
They also have the complete "Great Pumpkin" soundtrack as well... my 2nd favorite Peanuts special. The artwork of the skies throughout is beautiful in itself. Also love the inclusion of the flute in some of the music. Very haunting in the scenes where Snoopy the downed WWI flying ace is sneaking across the French countryside.
Also, you mentioned in the Christmas special where Lucy calls Charlie Brown "Charlie"... interesting parallel in the Thanksgiving special where Peppermint Patty calls him "Chuck" 20+ times throughout and near the end refers to him once as "Charlie Brown".
Anyway, great video. Thanks! Hope to see other Christmas specials featured in the years to come!
Merry Christmas, Dan Monroe!
I was six years old when A Charlie Brown's Christmas came out. I'm 65 years old now and I still love to watch this special piece of American television history. Sadly, since it does not come on television anymore, I guess I will need to purchase the DVD. I didn't realize until years later the all the kids' voices were performed by actual children at that time. The music was great also on this classic cartoon. Ah, those were the days.
I still watch it onDVD every year, I am 64 now. Memories! Tradition! ❤
Never missed watching in over 40 years....and I just slid it into my DVD Player...=))
Don’t Forget Charlie Brown Halloween Now 😊
My mom appeared in that unaired Schulz documentary, in a portion filmed at a Beethoven’s birthday party he gave where her string quartet performed. We went to his home to see a screening of it. The people who later created Charlie Brown Christmas were there, including Bill Melendez and Vince Guaraldi.
"I shouldn't have picked this little tree, everything I do turns into a disaster." But one thing that DIDN'T turn out to be a disaster was this WONDERFUL video and the heart felt tribute to the Charlie Brown Christmas special uploaded and done with love and care by Dan Monroe! Many thanks for this Dan. In my humble opinion, your piano score version of the music from this classic is equally as classic. A VERY merry to you and yours.
Thank you Dan. You pulled a genuine tear out of my eyes on this one. I was 5 when when this aired. Religiously watched it EVERY year after that till well in to my teens. I cannot explain the emotion that this Christmas special evoked in me as a boy. Thank you for your time spent on this video, and I really enjoyed your rendition of Christmas Time Is Here. I would love to hear a full version of that.
As an 8 year old in 1965, I loved the Peanuts. Linus' reciting of the beautiful words from Luke was just the touch of love ol' Charlie Brown needed. Merry Christmas Dan, and thanks for the wonderful piano playing!
Thank you! I'm so glad you enjoyed it :) Cheers, Dan
EXCELLENT episode! I love "A Charlie Brown Christmas!" I was 5 years old when it debuted on my Birthday, December 9th. What a birthday present! Great piano playing, by the way.
A Charlie Brown Christmas is the best Christmas special! Thanks so much Dan. Great work on the piano too! 👍
Thank you Dan. I was 7 years old and can still remember being so excited to watch the Charlie Brown Special! I'm now 66. Great memories. Thanks for sharing.
66 and agree
Wow so touching Dan. My mum died many years ago great to see you with your mum. Merry Christmas Dan & family
Thanks Dan for putting this video together. I didn't get to know Charlie Brown's Christmas until early 70's , I was born in 67. I've loved the Peanut's Gang since forever.
So many holiday specials over the 70's and 80's as well as Saturday morning cartoons that don't exist anymore. 😢 I completely agree with you, those days were so much better than what we have now. I also wanted to thank you for your piano playing, feeling so many emotions. 😊😁
Thanks again for taking the time to put this video together for us, I appreciate your efforts. Take care Dan and Merry Christmas to everyone 🎄🎁 ☃️⛄
Remember the Charlie Brown Christmas, all the Dolly Madison Zinger commercials for donuts that weren't available in my area as a kid,great music,thumbs up great video
Just eat a freakin Ding Dong or a Twinkie why don't ya! It's all the same crap. At least you weren't stuck with those knock off pastries Little Debbies. I got so sick of those damn things.
@Fiveash-Art yea,we had the Hostess name here,yea,cupcakes and snowballs,,coarse its all yuck today compared to 20 years ago
@@jeffclark2725 Hostess was bought by a China company. It's not the same ...
@sterling557 that makes sense they run everything
@@sterling557 It's just like Coca-Cola now. They used to make that stuff with real sugar and I remember it tasting so much better as a kid. I have this thing for cherry coke and bought a 4 pack of some 'craft brewed' brand Cherry cola made with real sugar and honey and I couldn't believe how damn good it was. It was like 12 bucks but it was amazing stuff. Coke just tastes like chemicals to me.
Wow...this episode just blasted me back to 1965... watching Lost in Space, Charlie Brown Christmas, the TV Guide...yeah, those were such great times. Thanks for the memories Dan!
My favorite Christmas special!
You performed a beautiful rendition of "Christmas Time is Here".
Thank you, Dan!
I saw it when it first aired in '65 and I look forward to seeing it every year. It just isn't Christmas without Charlie Brown.
So did I. It was nicely different with that comfort cool jazz feel!
I identified more with Linus, and carried around a blanket way longer than I probably should have, lol.
I was born in 1962. Christmas in the 1960’s and 70’s meant Rudolph, Charlie, and the Grinch.
Then Frosty, and Fred Astaire in Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town. :)
I was born in 62 and enjoyed all of the Charley Brown specials.
I used to have all of the CharleyBrown soft back books!
I remember leafing through the JC Penney Christmas catalog watching this as the first of many Christmas specials including the Carpenters with youthful anticipation of family coming into town to celebrate Christmas together. Family and friends are what Christmas is all about. I also listen to Christmas music during the year. My family and neighborhood that I grew up have a tradition of putting out luminaria on Christmas Eve. A wonderful sight to see the neighborhood lit with the candles and white bags.
Merry Christmas Dan Monroe! (Kids from the ending of Charlie Brown Christmas)
Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas!
That music theme makes me so happy even all these decades later😊
I had Charlie Brown cartoon books. I would laugh and laugh reading them in bed at night. I cant imagine what i was laughing at, it's a wonderful memory
Dan. great stuff. Loved the contemporary publicity photos of the voice actors. Rather than one line at a time, Sally's voice actor had to repeat back a single word or syllable all of which were then strung together. I was six when this was first broadcast and I remember the aluminum trees from the Sears catalog Wish Book. This special is credited with helping to end what had been up until then the very popular trend of families buying aluminum Xmas trees. After declining sales they went out of production in 1970 thereabouts.
A perfect entry for the last weekend before 25 December. Dan, to you and your charming wife I wanted to wish you both a Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year. Thank you both for the great content you've shared with all of us denizens of the M³ comment section.
Lots more of your piano playing please Dan - I'm a great admirer of Vince and you rendered his tunes magnificently. Thank you!
Thank you for this Dan Monroe. I can remember being VERY Excited to watch this as a 4-5 year old. I had the picture book that told the story as a kid.
As an older Gen Xer (1967), I also want to say thank for remembering 70s childhood. A lot of Gen X nostalgia channels talk about 80s childhood. But the 70s were a GREAT time to be a kid.
Having watched this in 1965 as a young child on a B&W roll cart TV, common in 1965, our wood cabinet Color Zenith didn't come until 1967, and even those early color sets were rare. I would imagine most of the viewers in 1965 who watched this the first time saw it in B&W. A very different viewing experience
( for a Cartoon ) Peanuts needed to be in Color. In fact all the classic cartoons which came out in the early 1960s were first watched on B&W TV's, at least until 1966+. Here are some stats: In 1965 only 3.1% of the pop had Color TV , about 2.8 million out of 195,000,000, Not many. Yes, a 49% viewer rating share when first aired, but most of that was on B&W TV's in 1965-66. Those Christmas specials, all of them IMHO, did not really come to life until Color TV became mainstream. Including 1964's classic Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer, can you imagine watching Rudolf's Red nose in B&W ! Many did back then. All made for Color. The Addams Family, Munsters, Twilight Zone, etc. from that period are classics being only in B&W, Works with those.
Thank You For Another Wonderful Behind The Scenes!! The Charlie Brown Christmas Was A Beautiful Walk Down Memories Lane!! Thank You Dan! Wishing You Both A Very Merry Christmas!! Your #1 and #2 Fans Steven and Jack 😇🌲🎅🤶🦌☃️
I was one of that 49% of televisions tuned in to this special in '65. Watch it in one form or another every year since. Got it on VHS one year in the 80's for free from a gas station with a full tank of gas.
The Flintstones Christmas special never made sense to me, since they, the Flintstones, lived before the birth of Christ! Ha!
Have Merry one, Dan, you and yours! And a Happy New Year, too!
Great coverage of a timeless classic! I was five years old and was there for the first showing in 1965. My whole family looked forward to it at Christmas every year. As a kid, you knew that Santa would soon be paying a visit after watching A Charlie Brown Christmas. Wonderful stuff, Dan. And a very Merry Christmas to you and your wife!
I was four that year. It’s cool to be a baby boomer and alive at that time😊
It is not Christmas until I watch this & listen to the Singing Dogs doing "Jingle Bells"
"Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer" is a must.
Thank you for the look back, I loved the Charlie Brown Christmas when it first came out as a young child and I’ve enjoyed it every year since
Ah...i remember the first airing of it and finally bought the dvd a few years ago...
Christmas wouldn't be the same without watching this classic. ❤😊
Merry Christmas everyone! At 65 I get teary eyed watching this every year with my Granddaughters. It's become a ritual, along with original Grinch Who Stole Christmas.
My fave Christmas movie! I must have seen it 60 or more times by now. My Charlie Brown Christmas tree is sitting proudly on the shelf.
Love the new arrangement. Vincent Guaraldi was an absolute genius. It’s probably where my love of jazz began at a very early age! My son gave me a green vinyl album version a few years back, and that comes out every year, the most listened-to music for a month straight! ❤
A true classic. I still watch it every year from my collection. I'm 62. Never too old to enjoy it. I've shared it with all of my young nieces, nephews and step kids. Beautiful piano playing BTW. I'm a guitar player myself.
One of my favorites.
Takes me back to when we would circle the Christmas specials we wanted to watch in the TV Guide.
"of all the Dan Monroes, you are the Dan monroe-iest'.
Merry Christmas.
This is one of my favorite holiday specials, I play it every December and my kids (all grown up) still like watching it every time. I've always liked the original Charlie Brown holiday specials because I grew up with the same voice cast. They have some new CB specials out there with new kid voices (of course) but it just doesn't sound the same. Thanks Dan for sprucing up Christmas with this. You always have awesome content!
Thank you so much for sharing this episode with us, Dan! I was also born in 1964 and my sister in 1963. We would watch A Charlie Brown Christmas together every Christmas Eve after church. We did this until our mid-teens. Dan, you brought back so many fond childhood memories. Thank you and Merry Christmas!
Dan, you couldn’t have chosen a better topic for this season. The beautiful memories all the Charlie Brown specials bring us, are endless and timeless. Thanks for this and have a wonderful Christmas🎄
Thank you Steve much appreciated:-) Merry Christmas
Thank you for producing this, Dan. I haven't watched this show in so long. The music and overall simplicity are what I remember the most. It brought additional joy to me as a kid!
Well Dan I was born in 1963, I remember seeing Charlie Brown's Christmas when I was 4 and all of the Christmas specials growing up and to be honest I still watch them, I am 61yo and I still watch Cartoons. I would pop in a CD of Bugs Bunny and friends Thanks Dan, now I'm going to make some hot chocolate sit back and watch the Christmas Shows, Dan you and your family have a Happy Christmas and New Year
Dan, I've been a great fan of your content for a while, but as far as being culturally significant, you have achieved that with this video like Charlie Brown Christmas did! My lady and I started out our Christmas video watching two days ago by starting with it. It has always been near and dear to my heart, and my presumption is that I viewed it the very first time in its initial presentation in '65 (I had just turned 6). Funny part, too, is that we didn't have a color TV until 1975 but I watched it every year since if I could find the time it was being broadcast and introduced my daughters' to it as well (first purchased on VHS). The special part of this for my lady is that Charlie Brown and this special was a favorite of her first son, who passed away at the age of 8. AND when I assisted with music for a kid's program at church, myself and the other keyboardist learned "Linus and Lucy" and interrupted his wife with it while she directed :)
Merry Christmas Charlie Brown!! And to you and yours', Dan.
Saw it on TV when it first came out. Always looked forward to it each year. A Charlie Brown Christmas, Scrooge (Alistair Sim), Miracle on 34th Street (Edmund Gwenn), and Rudolf (Rankin/Bass) are all played at our place every Christmas Eve. A very Merry Christmas to you and your family.
The soundtrack truely was a masterpiece!!! It takes your mind to a happy place with no stress...Sooo peacefull....
Bought the DVD to ensure I could watch this beloved classic every year just as I did as kid. Thanks Dan and Merry Christas to all!
One of my all-time favorite cartoons. Thank you for this. I still watching it to this day. They do not make them like this anymore.
WOW 😮 Dan plays piano. How cool is that. Do kids nowadays even know about A Charlie Brown Christmas Or a Charlie Brown Thanksgiving? The airing of those shows marked the beginning of the Fall and Christmas seasons for us kids when we were younger. Those shows and the claymation Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer got our whole families into the Christmas spirit. Nowadays there's nothing that compares to those classic shows.
Let's see. Myself as well born in 1964. I never met Dan but when I shared with him. That I was interested in the robot byte pieces i shared with him that I would send him the money. I had lost two loved ones in 2020 one from covid in a nursing home, my sister and then my brother 52 days later my brother was walking across the street and got hit by a car and killed. Dan was beyond amazing and without hesitation. He immediately responded and said you've endured a lot. This one's on me. I will never forget that that meant a lot to me. This Christmas 🎄 my best wishes go to you Dan and your wife and family. You bring to life our nostalgia so well. So professional well gifted with words which I thought I was good at what I can do but no, you. You got it dan and we appreciate you each and every time you put out a piece of nostalgia Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
Had tears in my eyes through much of this, especially when you were playing that wonderful music, THANKS SO MUCH FOR THIS DAN, A TRUE LOVE VIDEO!! I can remember in 1965 sitting in my moms lap watching this the first time and every year later , missing my mothers lap though, such wonderful memories...
The Peanuts gang is the most beloved cartoon characters of all time. Charles Shultz was visoniary in the field. All of us know those characters. I guess Snoopy, then Charlie Brown are common household icons. I,as an old boomer, have always loved those characters. Charles,thank you for creating such loveable cartoon kids.
Setting my Way Back Machine to 1965 and I was watching A Charlie Brown Christmas the first time on the air at age 9. I have loved it ever since. Merry Christmas Dan and your family :-)
Of all the Christmas specials ever produced, this one is the Christmas special-est! Great stuff Dan (including the ivory tickling), and yeah, it was a better time👍
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I'm old enough to remember watching this in '65 and I can't count how many times I've seen it since. And the soundtrack! Still my favorite Christmas album. Thanks for the deep dive, Dan, and for bringing up so many fond memories. A very merry Christmas to you and your family.
Another great video, Dan! As a fellow baby boomer (66 years and counting), I remember the anticipation we felt for this classic to come on TV each year, in the pre-VCR/DVD era. It was definitely "must-see TV" for me, my sisters, and all our friends. Btw, very nice piano work on "Linus and Lucy." How did you avoid a TH-cam copyright strike on that tune? 🤔
64 here.
Thank you Dan for doing an indepth look at A Charlie Brown Christmas. Like you I had all the books, watched all the specials, had had tons of Peanut memorabilia. I even scored a 5 foot stuffed Snoopy and had him for over 40 years. Really big thank you for playing Linus and Lucy. With everything that's gone wrong the past few years, I really needed to hear that. Lucy's pulled a few to many footballs out from me and that helped fill the void of not having the best Christmas special on network television any more. Merry Christmas to you and have a Happy New Year.
I agree completely with your view of Christmas and all holidays past. Christmas time was about gifts for us kids, but as we grew older, we knew that family was the heart of it. I, too, literally grew up with this and the later specials. It wasn't a few days of specials, but on Thanksgiving night, the Christmas specials began. Almost 6 weeks of nothing but specials. Now, barely anything. The Peanuts special runs for every Christmas time. It needs to, for Linus tells you why. As per the changes, I've just come across a TH-cam video of side by side comparisons. I'd forgotten that Coke was the sponsor, but it rebooted a memory. Do you remember Dan, the Coke commercial of the singers performing "I'd like to teach the world to sing." It became Coke's trademark holiday song for several years and even became a hit single. This was a wonderful Christmas gift from my favorite host. Merry Christmas to you and all your family.
Thanks for the memories, Dan. That was GREAT.
Dan, you’re a seriously talented guy!! Charlie and Rudy make Christmas real for me. Thank you!!!
So many fond memories. Merry Christmas to you and your family Dan.
Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the whole gang would be proud of this one! Great video. 👏
Most of my career was spent in a small confined space, and quite often I found myself whistling the tunes from the Charlie Brown shows.
Good one Dan, thanks. 👍👍⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐.
I grew up with Charlie Brown and so did my children. We wore out the VHS tape and we are trying to ware out the DVD. My children have grown up with all the christmas specials that I loved in the 60's and 70's. They love the wholesomeness of those older specials and the TV shows from that time period. Merry Christmas to you and yours and a New Year full of music and happiness.
This is another reason Mr. Monroe continues to amass subs, he knows exactly how to tap into the best kinds of nostalgia. Thank you, Dan!
Your piano playing is beautiful! Life was better back then! I was born in 1968. When I became aware, however, this was always my favorite of the specials from that golden era. B-9 is so witty! Thanks for the memories ❤️ Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you, your wife and family! ❤Bill Harris
Your version of the song at the piano was so beautiful! I was 3 when this was released but I do remember waiting for the TV Guide that listed the times of the Christmas specials that made the holidays so complete. I never forgot the air play time and it was must see TV as a child through the early 1970's. Thanks for doing this episode! Merry Christmas!
Of all the Dan Monroe's in the world, you're the Charlie browniest 😂❤🌲 Merry Christmas Dan!
This was and still is my favorite Christmas season special. When the A Charlie Brown Christmas: The Making of a Tradition hardback cam out, I immediately bought it and treasure it still. Great piano there, Dan!
Loved it as a child. Still love it today.
Watch it every year the same night I watch Garfield Christmas special
BRAVO!!!
Well done & thanks for touching on this.
When you look up the word "classic" in the dictionary all you see is A Charlie Brown Christmas 👍