‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ Book Excerpt from CHRISTMAS TV MEMORIES by Herbie J Pilato

[Note: This article is edited material from the book, Christmas TV Memories: Nostalgic Holiday Favorites of the Small Screen. Unless otherwise indicated, all commentary and quotes that appear in this article are from interviews by the author with those mentioned.]

Entertainment historian Bob Barnett remembered sitting in front of his “old television set with its rabbit-ear antennas, waiting for the annual TV broadcast of A Charlie Brown Christmas, which this year celebrates its 59th Anniversary. The moment that tiny tree drooped under the weight of a single ornament I couldn’t help but feel for Charlie Brown. The music, especially the song, ‘Linus and Lucy,’ always brought a smile to my face. And Linus’s speech about the true meaning of Christmas? It made my heart swell with the warmth of the season.”

With good reason, as that speech includes this passage from the Bible, “for unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior which is Christ the Lord.”

A monumental moment in the history of animated Christmas specials, Linus quoting the Bible is indeed historic, in every sense of the word.

Directed by Bill Melendez, and written by Charles Schulz, A Charlie Brown Christmas clearly had a TV effect in the hearts and…