A Charlie Brown Christmas: The Making of a Tradition

by Lee Mendelson, Bill Meléndez

Since its top-rated debut on CBS in December 1965, A Charlie Brown Christmas has been one of America's most beloved television shows. Year after year, fans of all ages tune in to the Emmy-winning Christmas special that has earned a permanent place in the nation's popular culture.

This collector's treasury contains the entire script of A Charlie Brown Christmas, illustrated with full-color stills from the animated film. Producer Lee Mendelson and animator Bill Melendez pay tribute to the program with personal memories and reflections about the show, including charming anecdotes about their long friendship and working career with Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz. Offering rare, behind-the-scenes insights, they also share memories of the late, great jazz pianist/composer Vince Guaraldi and provide never-before-published background sketches, storyboards, production sheets, and other materials that bring the making of the show to life.

A Charlie Brown Christmas: The Making of a Tradition also brings the sound of the show home with the piano/vocal musical scores for Guaraldi's "Christmas Time Is Here" and "Linus and Lucy," two songs that have become standards of American popular music.

As the very first Peanuts special, A Charlie Brown Christmas brought Charlie Brown, Linus, Lucy, Snoopy, and the rest of the gang to television. In addition to breaking the mold by using jazz music (which exposed millions of people to jazz for the first time and inspired a generation of jazz pianists), A Charlie Brown Christmas broke new ground by using real children for the voices instead of adult actors. Schulz, Mendelson, and Melendez created these and other innovations that made A Charlie Brown Christmas a unique and timeless work of animation art.

A Charlie Brown Christmas: The Making of a Tradition celebrates this award-winning and history-making show with warmhearted memories, fascinating trivia, and colorful animation art that will delight fans of all ages.

Genres: Christmas, Nonfiction, Art, Holiday, Comics, Childrens, Classics

192 pages, Hardcover

First published October 31, 2000

About the author

Lee Mendelson was a long time collaborator with Charles M. Schulz. From the very beginning his work resulted in some of the most beloved television specials of all time.

Reviews

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as a Christmas gift (thanks, Emily!) and know I will treasure it always. It chronicles the history of the making of the first animated Peanuts film. It’s a great behind-the-scenes of an American classic that almost didn’t happen at all!

Excerpts from Charles Schulz interviews and the rest of the collaborators piece together the story of how they all came together to work one of my favorite Christmas specials. According to those who worked with him, Schulz seemed like such a nice guy. And the rest of the team got along as well. It was just one of those things that was just meant to be and came together.

What makes this such a great gift is that not only do you get a better sense of the people who created the animated film, you also get to see the process. Loads of sketches and storyboard pics are included as well as the music and lyrics to Christmas Time is Here and Linus & Lucy. But my absolute favorites are the original ads and commercials used to promote the cartoon and the Vince Guaraldi Trio albums. And each corner of the lower right-hand pages contains a single still from the special which forms a flip book of the opening scenes from the cartoon special. And I can’t forget to mention that the illustrated cells and script to the entire show are also included!

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can remember watching all of the Charlie Brown television specials and reading all of the comics. These were some of my favorite comics to read. I felt sorry for Charlie Brown. He never got to kick the football and Lucy was so mean to him. Of course Lucy was mean to everyone.

If you are a fan of Charlie Brown and the gang and of Charles M. Schulz then you have to pick up a copy of this book. You will relive your childhood again (trust me the best parts of it are here). It is amazing how the A Charlie Brown Christmas special came to be created. It almost did not. The original idea was formed from the documentary "A Boy Named Charlie Brown". Coca-Cola was not sold on the documentary but instead was looking for a Christmas special and thus A Charlie Brown Christmas was created.

This book gives a nice insight into Mr. Schulz's life, the comic, the characters, and everything else Charlie related. This book would make the perfect gift.

[Mom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very nice commemorative edition of the making of my favorite Christmas special.

[Sarah Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sobbing .. I love those lil guys

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great history of the holiday special.

[Margaret Chind · Rating 5 out of 5]

My childhood memories of Peanuts (to me it was simply Snoopy cartoons) It's the Great Pumpkin: The Making of a Television Classicwas A Charlie Brown Christmas: The Making of a Tradition. I remember watching the Christmas special all the time live on TV and possibly recorded on VHS.

The TV specials are neat on their own, but the treasures that these "Making of a Television Classic" coffee table books bring to any family is fabulous! From actor/voice biographies, to screen plays, to musical numbers, and behind the scenes details it is all entertainingly wonderful. A perfect gift book. Now you can also find It's the Great Pumpkin: The Making of a Television Classic as well!

I received this product free for the purpose of reviewing it. I received no other compensation for this review. The opinions expressed in this review are my personal, honest opinions. Your experience may vary. Please read my full disclosure policy for more details.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who doesn’t love A Charlie Brown Christmas? That’s a rhetorical question, don’t respond if you don’t. Lol. I found this book on an after Christmas sales table at Half Price Books and am so glad I picked it up. It tells the story of how the beloved Christmas special came to be- with great personal stories from people who knew Charles Schulz both professionally and personally. This book also has some great photos and includes the entire script of A Charlie Brown Christmas. I loved the section about composer Vince Guaraldi, the master behind the music of the special. I had no clue he died so young (age 47). The bottom right corner of each page has a small drawing and if you “flip” through them, it’s a scene from A Charlie Brown Christmas. This is a great book for any Peanuts fan!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Currently adding this to my coffee table now; it was a little wordy, but I loved the concept drawings, pencil sketches, original illustrations, and the illustrated full script of the original program!!! This was my childhood and such a priceless, timeless classic!!! It was so cool reading about the behind- the-scenes!!!

[Steven H · Rating 5 out of 5]

A FASCINATING PORTRAIT OF THE CREATION OF THE MARVELOUS SPECIAL

Executive Producer Lee Mendelson wrote in the Preface to this 2000 book, “I was talking on the phone with Charles Schulz. It was not unlike thousands of phone calls that we had shared over thirty-seven years on various projects… We talked about the preparation for this book. ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ had always been his favorite of the forty-five specials we had produced with animator Bill Melendez. He was excited about our retelling of how it all came about… Charles Schulz’s final comic strip was to appear the next day. It would be number 18,170 in over forty-nine years of drawing nonstop… We planned to meet the next day at his home. A few hours later, my friend of nearly four decades passed away in his sleep… his friends all called him Sparky, and he never lost the common touch. This is the story of how he created a television milestone.”

He recounts, “In 1963… I called Charles Schulz … I told him that I would like to produce a documentary about his life and about the world of ‘Good Ol’ Charlie Brown.’ He invited me to come out and visit him so that we could discuss the project… we decided to produce a half-hour documentary. I wanted to include one or two minutes of animation (which as all I could afford at the time), and Sparky told me to get in touch with animator Bill Melendez. Sparky and Bill had collaborated on the first-ever animation of Peanuts a few years back for the Ford Motor Company…While Bill was creating two minutes of animation based on a few comic strips, Sparky and I started to shoot the documentary… Once we completed filming I had to add some music. I had always been a great fan of jazz, and while driving back … I heard a song … [that] had won a Grammy and had been written and performed by … Vince Guaraldi… It turned out that Vince was a great fan of Peanuts and he agreed to work on the music.” (Pg. 11-12)

He continues, “A few weeks later Vince called me, very excited. He said he wanted to play something he had just written. I told him that I would prefer to come hear it at his studio, rather than over the telephone, but he said… ‘I’ve got to play this for someone right now or I’ll EXPLODE!’ … what I heard over the next two minutes stunned me. It was perfect for the Peanuts characters! ... I asked him what he was going to call it. He said, ‘Linus and Lucy.’” (Pg. 14)

He goes on, “in April of 1965… I received a call from John Allen … ‘Have you ever considered doing a Christmas special?’ he asked me. ‘Of course,’ I replied, not bothering to think about what I was saying… I called Sparky. ‘I think I may have just sold a Charlie Brown Christmas show… The one you need to make an outline for tomorrow.’ … The next day I took notes as Sparky outlined his ideas. ‘If it’s to be a Christmas special, I want to certainly deal with the true meaning of Christmas… And I’d like to do a lot of scenes in the snow…’” (Pg. 14-17)’” He adds, “John called me… ‘The good news is that Coca-Cola wants to buy ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas,’ but the bad news is that they want it for early December…. Can you do it in six months?’ … I blurted, ‘Of course!’” (Pg. 17)

He recalls, “eight-and-a-half-year-old Peter Robbins … became our first Charlie Brown…. [Peter said] once I got in the studio I found it was chaotic, with a bunch of kids, six to nine years old, running all over the place and too excited to calm down… Another challenge was the fact that I, as Charlie Brown, was supposed to be depressed at Christmastime. It was very strange … to pretend to be depressed about Christmas, the most joyous time of the year!’… somehow all the kids settled down and got to work. ‘We did the whole show in a few hours,’ said Peter. ‘I’ll never forget that day.’” (Pg. 20-21) Linus was voiced by Christopher Shea: ‘His slight lisp gave him a youthful sweetness while his emotional delivery gave him power and authority as well… There is no doubt that the high point of the show is Linus reading from the Bible to explain the true meaning of Christmas. I asked Christopher how it felt to be the voice of perhaps the most famous one-minute animation ever. ‘Well, at the time,’ he said, ‘…I didn’t realize the depth and perception of what I was reading…. But as I grew older I came to appreciate the true meaning of Christmas as it was told on the TV show.’” (Pg. 22)

He recounts, “Toward the end of production, Vince Guaraldi brought in a beautiful opening song. After he laid down the instrumental track, however, we all felt it needed some lyrics. Because we were running out of time, I wrote some lyrics in about fifteen minutes on the back of an envelope. The song became ‘Christmas Time is Here,’ which has become a holiday standard covered by dozens of recording artists. Who knew?” (Pg. 27)

However, “When I flew to New York to present the show to the top two executives at CBS… the two men looked at each other and then at me, and I could tell instantly that they were disappointed. ‘Well, you gave it a good shot,’ said one. ‘It seems a little flat… a little slow,’ said the other. I was crushed… ‘we will, of course, air it next week, but I’m afraid we won’t be ordering any more… But maybe it’s better suited to the comic page.’” (Pg. 27)

He explains, “The idea for Linus and his blanket came from Schulz’s first three children, who each dragged blankets around the house… Schulz wrote, ‘I did not know then that the term ‘security blanket’ would later become part of the American language.’” (Pg. 38)

Bill Melendez recalls, “It was amazing how Sparky came up with the religious aspect of the story and made it so acceptable…When I first looked at that part of the story I told Sparky, ‘We can’t do this, it’s too religious.’ And he said to me, ‘Bill, if we don’t do it, who else can? We’re the only ones who can do it.’ … It just didn’t sound right for a cartoon… When I read that part, I thought we were going to kill this thing, but by golly he came through.” (Pg. 39-40)

Mendelson laments, “When we saw the finished show, we thought we had killed it. It had so many warts and bumps and lumps and things. A year later we fixed up a few things, but we never completely re-created the show. The inconsistencies and little problems seem to make it even more endearing to a lot of people, and Sparky never wanted change it.” (Pg. 61)

This wonderful book will be absolute ‘MUST READING’ for any fan of the show.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

An easy-to-read, sweet re-telling of how A Charlie Brown Christmas came to be (and it isn't Christmas until the first Christmas album I play, ALWAYS, is the soundtrack to A Charlie Brown Christmas. ALWAYS.) It's just SUCH an underdog story (like Charlie Brown!) and for it to be such an everlasting favorite, and so beloved, is just such a sweet coda to this story. It's an unapologetic story about the meaning of Christmas, and how its creators just kept going until they got the special they wanted. It is a lovely coffee table book for Christmas.

[Ron Cole · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book about a classic TV special. I was young when this first aired. There is one question I can't resolve at this time about the ending of the show. On page 191 the book says the kids hum "O Little Town of Bethlehem" then Charlie Brown returns. Since the original broadcast has been found, much time has been devoted to noting minor changes made to the film. No one mentions this song being hummed before "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" is performed.**I watched the original broadcast myself. They do NOT hum "O Little Town of Bethlehem."**

[Alexia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has a lot of background info on Charles Schults, the people he worked closely with, and the TV show script for A Charlie Brown Christmas. I wish the book was longer and included some more behind the scenes info

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's my favorite Christmas special but the book is probably more than I really wanted to know. Good background material but too much.

[Shawna Fender · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book about one of my favorite Christmas specials that I have watched every year of my life. It was very informative and I enjoyed learning more about the behind the scenes of the special.

[Jerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a collection of an essay by Lee Mendelson about the making of the special; a retrospective on Charles Schulz with an interview with Bill Melendez and Lee Mendelson; an interview with Bill Melendez; and a retrospective on Vince Guaraldi with input from Melendez, Mendelson, and Guaraldi’s son David.

It also has the sheet music for Christmas Time is Here and Linus and Lucy and a transcription of the movie in script form.

It’s interspersed with a lot of incredible illustrations from the storyboards, the special itself, and photographs of the making of the special.

There is even what appears to be a flip-book animation with actual stills from the movie in the lower right of each page. It’s a valiant attempt, but there’s too much detail; only Charlie Brown’s plowing through the snow into a tree comes across as actually animated. That’s literally the only disappointment in the book. It is otherwise a wonderful keepsake about A Charlie Brown Christmas.

In the recording studio, an actor would read the line to the trombone player using a lot of inflections in his voice. The trombone player would then play and shape the musical line to mimic the inflections of the actor’s voice.

[Tim Lewis]

Premise: A Charlie Brown Christmas: The Making of a Tradition is a biographical tribute to the animated television classic. With stories about how the Christmas special came together, readers will learn about producer Lee Mendelson, animator Bill Melendez, musician Vince Guaraldi, and creator Charles Schulz.

The book includes the script of A Charlie Brown Christmas, Guaraldi's original score and publication notes for songs "Christmas Time Is Here" and "Linus and Lucy," and original animation art from the special. Lee Mendelson and Bill Melendez give their perspective of their relationships with each of the contributors and with the Peanuts characters, along with how the special came to fruition.

Themes: Charles Schultz's comics tell grown-up problems from the perspective of children. With deep theological and cultural insight, the Peanuts kids share wisdom about life through the simplicity of their story.

A Charlie Brown Christmas shares the true meaning of the holiday in a very literal sense. In sharing in the nostalgia of this Christmas classic, the topics of life, faith, friendship, and love are brought forth through the classic Peanuts comics.

Pros: A Charlie Brown Christmas: The Making of a Tradition told me so much about the people behind the cartoons that I didn't know, but it also revealed to me more about the Peanuts creator. I like how they share how the cartoon eventually came to be, seemingly slapped together and lacking in content, but beloved to this day for its simplicity. I love that the book includes the full script and the original score of "Christmas Time is Here" and "Linus and Lucy." The way the book is put together, sharing the different perspectives of the cartoon's creators along with the artwork makes the book more than a keepsake. It really does feel more like a biography.

Cons: Knowing this was only about the Christmas special, I would have liked a more in depth look into Charles Schulz's beliefs. I think it would have added to the meaning Schulz wanted to create through his work. And though there is a lot of original art, I would also have liked the A Charlie Brown Christmas to include more animation cells and storyboard sketches.

Recommendations: If you're looking for biography and nostalgia, A Charlie Brown Christmas has plenty of both. I learned things not only about the Christmas special but about the people behind creating it. With a realistic view of how television shows are (or at least used to be) made, this book romanticizes how things came together to develop this classic cartoon loved by many. Great to pick up in bites or to read all the way through, lovers of the Peanuts gang and of the Charlie Brown Christmas special would do themselves well to pick up a copy of A Charlie Brown Christmas: The Making of a Tradition to understand how it all came together.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember getting cozy on the couch with popcorn, every Christmas to watch A Charlie Brown Christmas with my family. It’s a holiday tradition in my house, something my mom remembers as vividly from her childhood as I do mine. And every year it’s on TV, even though we have the DVD there’s something about watching it with the rest of the world that makes it even more Christmas-y.

Being able to read through, and see all the fantastic little bits of behind the scenes stuff, including awesome photos and all the music was a treat like you wouldn’t believe for me. With every movie these days, you always (eventually) get some kind of Behind The Scenes footage. Bloopers and parts that were cut. Thanks to YouTube, we see it immediately in fact. Very rarely do we have a peek into the way TV used to be made, let alone a classic cartoon special like this one! I think my favorite part was how they decided on the characters voices, and why they needed to sound a certain. You may think that’s simple, or it would be very straight forward – but it’s not always the case.

At the very end of this adorable, coffee table sized book is an illustrated script! You could act out the whole thing if you wanted too! It was amazing how reading the words brought everything back like I was watching it.

This beautiful book would make a great holiday gift for anyone who grew up with A Charlie Brown Christmas, and I should know – I’m giving it to my mom! Don’t worry she doesn’t read my blog…lol. I’ll be writing in the front “Thanks for sharing this tradition with me” – did your heart just melt a little? Mission Accomplished.

Haver a very Charlie Brown Christmas everyone, and don’t forget to check this book out as well as check your local listings so you can watch it this holiday season with your family!

[Marcie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been a fan of Charlie Brown for most of my life. Christmas doesn't seem like Christmas until I've watched A Charlie Brown Christmas on television. So you can imagine my excitement when I received this book chronicling the making of the show. This book doesn't really go in depth about the Peanuts creator Charles Schulz, but it's more of a behind the scenes look at how this cartoon came into being.

This book contains interviews from some of the people who worked closely with Schulz as well as reflections from some of the people who worked on A Charlie Brown Christmas. And while all that is interesting to read, I found the rough sketches, the illustrated script, and the music from the television show just as fascinating. There is something about the simplicity of these characters that speaks to the heart of millions of people. This show has been on the air for almost 50 years and there is a good reason for it.

If you're a fan of this show like I am, then you'll want to read this book. It's perfect for all ages. The younger kids will enjoy reading the illustrated script, while the older ones will enjoy reading about the making of a tradition.
Read more at http://www.2readornot2read.com/2013/1...

[Angelc · Rating 5 out of 5]

This beautiful book is a must have for fans of the television special, "A Charlie Brown Christmas." The book not only gives us a behind the scenes look at Charles M. Schulz and the actual making of the animated special, but we also get to read the actual script from the show, illustrated with scenes from the special. For a fan of the show, it's truly something special.

I loved to see the vintage advertising for the original special, and the vintage record covers. Images like this are pieced in throughout the book, along with vivid black and white photos of the actual making of the film. There are also original storyboards to enjoy, along with full page sheet music from the special. I was very impressed with how much memorabilia from the film is included in the book.

This would be a wonderful gift for a family member or friend who watches this special every year as part of their Christmas tradition. It's great to see so in depth what an impact this little tv special made on all of us!

Bottom Line: A beautiful book that includes a little bit of everything about "A Charlie Brown Christmas." It's a must have for fans!


book sent by publisher in exchange for an honest review

reviewed for http://inthehammockblog.blogspot.com

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a fan of the comic strip Peanuts, I could certainly be described as a "target audience" for this type of literature.
But I was surprised in the first read-through of this 192-page book at the format. You see, the making of "A Charlie Brown Christmas" is covered from beginning to end in the very first chapter. So at page 33 I was somewhat confused as to what to expect in the following pages. The next four chapters are mini-biographies of the major talents involved in the production with emphasis on their experiences with the Christmas special. The final half of the book offers up the original sheet music and the script with stills from the show.
It was enjoyable and informative, offering up a number of surprising insider factoids that I had not heard before. It is also lush with many pictures of original material used in the production.
So the book certainly does deliver, insofar as I understand much more about how and why the program turned out as it did. Certainly worth it if you are a fan, just be aware that the chapters are like a collection of booklets bound together under one cover.

[Liesl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown: The Making of a Television Classic, this is a fun read for fans of the beloved TV special, but there's not a whole lot to it. Although it's neat to get profiles of Charles Schultz, Bill Melendez and Vince Guaraldi since each of them contributed so much to bringing the Peanuts characters to life in different ways, I wanted more from the section that goes behind the scenes of the program and how it all came together. The production materials are the real gems here; I loved getting a peek at a few of the original storyboards and background sketches, and found the bar sheets to be particularly fascinating.

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book for fans of the Peanuts and especially A Charlie Brown Christmas. I am a big fan and even went to David Benoit’s Charlie Brown Christmas jazz concert this past year. This book explains how the first Peanuts cartoon came to be and the doubts the producers had when it was completed. I think it surprised everyone involved how much a big hit it has become. There are interviews with Lee Mendelson and Bill Menendez. There are also remembrances with some of the children involved. Also included in this 192 page book are the sheet music to “Christmas Time is Here” and Linus and Lucy. And finally, the entire script with illustrations complete the book. I enjoyed it but was disappointed that this is a reprint of a book that was published thirteen years ago.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in CA. 191 pp. Love this book! Interesting background about the making of this holiday classic, told by the people who lived it. I love the flip animation and the illustrated script!

A Charlie Brown Christmas: The Making of a Tradition by Lee Mendelson

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an insightful, quick read for any Peanuts fan. The first few chapters give you an overview of the history of the Christmas special and those involved in its creation. The second half contains sheet music from the soundtrack as well as an illustrated script of the complete show. Any collector would enjoy the behind-the-scenes photos in this book, as well as the old Charlie Brown advertisements. I'm happy I had the chance to read this and learn more about how my favorite Christmas show came to be!

[MisterFweem · Rating 5 out of 5]

"That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown."

There are few who can add meaning to scripture. But with this simple sentence, Charles Schulz and Lee Mendelson succeed where powerfully few have.

I don't know anyone of a certain age or older who can read Luke Chapter Two without adding Linus' famous line, and this book helps me relive each wonderful moment of what's become a timeless story.

Reading the history of how this classic came about, and how many wonderfully talented people brought it to light, is wonderful.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

How to make a classic tradition: Start with "Sparky" Schultz' comic strip, add the animation & direction of Melendez, include the production of Mendelson and complete it with the jazz of Vince Guaraldi! That's how you make a classic, Charlie Brown!

I've gained a greater appreciation of the cartoons I enjoy so much.

One thing you might miss is the mini-scene flip book, which you'll find in the bottom right-hand corner of the book.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great coffee table book to have out this time of year. Having seen this show every year since I can remember, the background of how the show came about and the people who were the creative team behind was very interesting to learn about. I also liked the information about the children who did the voices. A great addition for someone who collects Peanuts items. Thank you, GoodReads, for allowing me the opportunity to own this book.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very sweet book of memories about the making of the first Peanuts special, A Charlie Brown Christmas. Includes a little bio about Charles Schulz, sheet music for two of the songs by Vince Guarini (if you aren't like me, who already has the score), and the original screen play.

An adorable little feature: in the bottom right corner of all the right hand pages is a little scene from the skating opening of the special - it's a flip book animation! :)

[Mary Sheppard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully written, educating me on the real events that take place, for the making of this traditional Christmas story!
“A Charlie Brown Christmas “ has always been a favourite of our family at Christmas!
Now, I am emotionally involved in the persons that made it all possible!
Masters in their professions, I am honoured to have read this book, and learned all the efforts in the making of “ A Charlie Brown Christmas!”

[Obadiah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a behind-the-scenes look at the Charlie Brown Christmas Special (which is probably my favorite 22 minutes in history). My only disappointment is that the books LOOKS like it has a lot of material but, in fact, is short. The bulk of the book is a reprint of the screenplay and that isn't exactly long.... I read it every year around Christmas. It's worth adding to the shelf.