At first, there was just Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol (which I wore about here); then later in the 1960s, my brothers and I would eagerly await the broadcasting of the Big Three: Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer (which played on NBC), How the Grinch Stole Christmas and A Charlie Brown Christmas (which were both on CBS the same night, one right after the other).
One of the things I looked for in the Journal right around the time the specials were shown were publicity photos on the TV page. At left is the photo that promoted the very first showing of A Charlie Brown Christmas, which celebrated its 50th anniversary this year. The photo ran in the Lorain Journal on December 9, 1965.
To read some 1965 TV reviews of that first showing – including one written by a reviewer who didn’t like it – be sure to visit Tralfaz.blogspot.com. The Tralfaz post also has the same photo of the Peanuts gang (but in that one Charlie Brown has both of his ears).
To read some 1965 TV reviews of that first showing – including one written by a reviewer who didn’t like it – be sure to visit Tralfaz.blogspot.com. The Tralfaz post also has the same photo of the Peanuts gang (but in that one Charlie Brown has both of his ears).
Maybe it’s because I’m a crusty old man of 56, but I’m finally burned out on A Charlie Brown Christmas and the others. I’ve simply seen them too many times. Plus, they’re all chopped up, time-compressed and interrupted by endless commercials when they’re shown on TV these days.
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Like me, you might find it interesting to check out those TV listings below the Peanuts photo. It’s funny seeing how few choices you had back then. Although modern TV audiences would be horrified, it was plenty for us – and a lot simpler.
