Cartoonist Schulz dies
Peanuts creator produced books, TV specials, over 18,000 strips
His death came on the eve of publication of his farewell Sunday comic strip.
Due to his continuing battle with colon cancer, Schulz retired in early 2000 after 50 years and a nonstop career of more than 18,000 strips. During that period "Peanuts" expanded from a simple four-panel daily strip in seven newspapers to a global merchandising phenomenon, spawning about 1,400 book titles, dozens of television specials, including "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and four movies, all of which Schulz wrote. In addition, there was a 1966 pop hit, "Snoopy vs. the Red Baron" by the Royal Guardsmen, and a successful Off Broadway musical, "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown," which is regularly revived and a stock circuit staple.
At the time of his retirement, "Peanuts," distributed by United Features (United Media), was carried in 2,600 newspapers in 75 countries and 21 languages and generated $1 billion in revenues a year from all sources.
There has even been a "Peanuts" exhibit at the Louvre in Paris.
Labor of love
Universally recognized and much beloved both in the U.S. and abroad, the funny, melancholy characters of the strip like Charlie Brown, Lucy, Snoopy and Linus had an impact on several generations, much like Walt Disney creations such as Mickey Mouse.
"I have always wanted to be a cartoonist, and I feel very blessed to have been able to do what I love for almost 50 years," Schulz said in his official Dec. 14, 1999, retirement letter, written from his home in Santa Rosa, Calif. "That all of you have embraced Snoopy, Charlie Brown, Lucy and Linus and all the other 'Peanuts' characters has been a constant motivation for me."
In his official Web site bio, Schulz recalled that "my ambition from earliest memory was to produce a daily comic strip." Born in St. Paul, Minn., on Nov. 26, 1922, Schulz received his lifelong nickname "Sparky" from an uncle, because the infant reminded him of Barney Google's horse Sparkplug.
Noting his artistic abilities at a young age, his father enrolled him in what is now known as the Art Instruction Schools of Minneapolis ("Draw Me"), a correspondence course. Ironically, he received only a C+ for drawing children.
Ambitions put on hold
His artistic ambitions were interrupted by WWII, however, and when he returned, Schulz taught for a time for Art Instruction Schools and began to contribute to a Catholic magazine, Timeless Topix. Soon thereafter he sold some single-panel drawings to the Saturday Evening Post, which led to a 1947 assignment for a weekly cartoon feature called "Li'l Folks" in the St. Paul Pioneer Press. By 1950 Schulz had moved to New York and created a new comic strip with characters like Charlie Brown and Linus, who were named after art teachers he had known. It was purchased by United Features, which suggested he turn it into a daily strip.
Schulz came up with a four-panel strip, and United Features was delighted. They disagreed on the name of the strip, however. Since "Li'l Folks" was thought to be too close to "L'il Abner," the syndicate changed its name to "Peanuts," which Schulz always hated, feeling it trivialized the characters.
Since he did not have the clout to insist, United Features won that battle; by the time the strip was a worldwide favorite, it was too late to alter the name.
"Peanuts" debuts on Oct. 2, 1950, in only seven newspapers; its popularity was helped by a 1952 "Peanuts" paperback from Rinehart and Co. In 1961, a California housewife asked Schulz if she could manufacture a "Peanuts" calendar, which led to a "Peanuts" datebook and a plethora of other merchandise -- sheets, T-shirts, lunchboxes -- thereafter. In addition, more than 1,400 "Peanuts"-related book titles have been issued.
Television specials
The first "Peanuts" television special, "A Charlie Brown Christmas," debuted on CBS in 1965 and won an Emmy; it has aired every year since. It was followed by dozens more like "It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown," "You're in Love Charlie Brown," through to 1993's "You're in the Super Bowl, Charlie Brown." There were also four animated features, starting with "A Boy Named Charlie Brown" in 1969, "Snoopy Come Home" in 1972, "Race for Your Life Charlie Brown" in 1977 and 1980's "Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown (And Don't Come Back)." All were written by Schulz as were each of the more than 18,000 comic strip panels. Many of the television and features have become bestselling video titles as well.
A private funeral is scheduled for this week.
Schulz is survived by his wife, Jeannie, who was with him at the time of his death; sons Monte and Craig; and daughter Jill Transki.
