Charlie Brown. And Schultz.
p2pnet news | Movies:- “He’s bitter about the little red-haired girl who didn’t marry him, he’s bitter about his divorce, and he’s bitter about getting old.”
‘He’ is Peanuts creator Charles Schulz, remembered by Lynn Johnston, the Canadian creator of For Better or For Worse.
Schulz, who came up with17,897 strips, “published over an unparalleled half-century run – was regarded as a wise and gentle sage by the time of his death at 77 in 2000,” writes Brian Bethune in his MacLeans review of David Michaelis’ Schulz and Peanuts (HarperCollins), going on:
“His country loved him for it. Charlie Brown and the gang – Snoopy perhaps most of all – became American icons, while Schulz’s lifetime income from Peanuts and its merchandise amounted to more than $1 billion. Seven years after his death, his estate still generates millions annually, and Schulz is one of Elvis Presley’s few rivals on the Forbes list of ‘highest paid deceased persons’.”
But, he was also, “a first-class grudge collector, who in old age still remembered every ‘dumb’ teacher who failed to notice his genius in elementary school, and nurtured every slight and rejection since,” says the write-up.
Says the Canadian Press:
Often wishy-washy in his personal relationships, Schulz could be unyielding with his work. When, at the height of his fame, he was tapped to create a 1965 “Peanuts” Christmas special for TV, he insisted that there be no laugh track, that children do the voice work and that Linus recite from the Bible to demonstrate the true meaning of Christmas.
Executives were uneasy with the mention of Christ in a Christmas special.
Well, they would be, wouldn’t they? So, “They prepared for ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ to bomb.”
But it was a, “huge hit and has since become a beloved Christmas staple”.
Meanwhile, Charlie Brown is no longer merely a funny little guy who says things that make people laugh —– and think.
He’s now a hard-core ‘brand’ offering all kinds of juicy ‘monetizing’ possibilities.
“In an announcement made recently, Warner home Video – in an agreement with United Media (or, United Feature Syndicate, Inc.), Charles M. Schulz Creative Associates and Lee Mendelson Film Productions – has entered an agreement that will see the Peanuts brand successfully distributed,” says Animation Insider, adding:
“The agreement is an exclusive, multi-year, worldwide home video distribution deal. The many memorable television specials, video releases and new media that further brought to life Charlie Brown and his many friends will see their most promising availability yet. Digitally remastered releases of classic holiday specials, the potential for newly produced Peanuts projects for a digital media platform and much more are on tap.”
As Charlie once said, “It always looks darkest just before it gets totally black.”
Also See:
MacLeans – The man who recalled everything, October 22, 2007
Canadian Press – Darker side of ‘Peanuts’ creator Charles Schulz explored, October 22, 2007
Animation Insider – News of the ‘Peanuts’ Property, October 22, 2007
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