The Score of ‘It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown’ Was Lost — Now It’s Found, and Better Than Ever
Halloween has a soundtrack. It’s the shrieks, howls, and moans of a spooky sounds cassette. It’s the novelty songs from the era of late, late shows mingling with more straight-faced pop that dips a toe into the macabre and the supernatural. It’s the instrumentals that set the tone for the hauntings, possessions, and/or slashings of a favorite horror movie.
Yet, for decades, this seasonal backdrop was incomplete. The Halloween canon lacked one of its most vital recordings, its esprit de fall confined to annual television airings, home video releases, and one hard to find read-along storybook and record. You couldn’t add it to a costume party mixtape, couldn’t load it onto a playlist for a drive to the pumpkin patch. Which is a shame, because unlike so many of the pop hits retroactively adopted as Halloween standards, jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi’s score for...
Yet, for decades, this seasonal backdrop was incomplete. The Halloween canon lacked one of its most vital recordings, its esprit de fall confined to annual television airings, home video releases, and one hard to find read-along storybook and record. You couldn’t add it to a costume party mixtape, couldn’t load it onto a playlist for a drive to the pumpkin patch. Which is a shame, because unlike so many of the pop hits retroactively adopted as Halloween standards, jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi’s score for...
- 10/31/2022
- by Erik Adams
- Indiewire
We’ve learned the sad news this morning that original Charlie Brown voice actor Peter Robbins has passed away at the age of 65, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter today. THR reports, “His family told Fox 5 San Diego that the actor died by suicide last week.” Peter Robbins was a staple in the classic “Charlie […]
The post Peter Robbins – Voice of Charlie Brown in “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” Has Passed Away appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.
The post Peter Robbins – Voice of Charlie Brown in “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” Has Passed Away appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.
- 1/26/2022
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Peter Robbins, who was the first person to voice Charlie Brown in several “Peanuts” TV specials in the 1960s, has died. He was 65.
His family told Fox 5 San Diego on Tuesday that he died by suicide last week.
At 9 years old, Robbins first voiced Charlie Brown in “A Boy Named Charlie Brown,” which was a television documentary about “Peanuts” creator Charles M. Schulz released in 1963. He followed that up with the holiday classics “A Charlie Brown Christmas” in 1965 and “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” in 1966.
Throughout the ’60s, Robbins provided his voice for “Charlie Brown’s All Stars,” “You’re in Love, Charlie Brown,” “It’s Your Dog, Charlie Brown,” “It Was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown” and the 1969 feature film “A Boy Named Charlie Brown.” The film was directed by veteran animator Bill Melendez, who also provided the voices of Snoopy and Woodstock in dozens of TV specials,...
His family told Fox 5 San Diego on Tuesday that he died by suicide last week.
At 9 years old, Robbins first voiced Charlie Brown in “A Boy Named Charlie Brown,” which was a television documentary about “Peanuts” creator Charles M. Schulz released in 1963. He followed that up with the holiday classics “A Charlie Brown Christmas” in 1965 and “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” in 1966.
Throughout the ’60s, Robbins provided his voice for “Charlie Brown’s All Stars,” “You’re in Love, Charlie Brown,” “It’s Your Dog, Charlie Brown,” “It Was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown” and the 1969 feature film “A Boy Named Charlie Brown.” The film was directed by veteran animator Bill Melendez, who also provided the voices of Snoopy and Woodstock in dozens of TV specials,...
- 1/26/2022
- by Jordan Moreau
- Variety Film + TV
The Peanuts gang are ringing in the holidays with another New Year’s Eve special. Apple TV Plus has announced a new Peanuts TV installment, “For Auld Lang Syne,” which will premiere globally on Friday, Dec. 10.
“For Auld Lang Syne” — the first Peanuts TV special ever with a title that does not include the name of Charlie Brown or Snoopy — is also the first new original holiday special to come following a partnership struck by Apple last year with WildBrain, Peanuts Worldwide and Lee Mendelson Film Productions to bring together new original series and specials, along with the library titles all in one place.
“For Auld Lang Syne” is the second New Year’s Eve-themed special to come from Peanuts, following “Happy New Year, Charlie Brown,” which first premiered on CBS in 1986.
In this new special, the Peanuts gang are disappointed to learn that Charlie Brown’s grandmother can’t visit,...
“For Auld Lang Syne” — the first Peanuts TV special ever with a title that does not include the name of Charlie Brown or Snoopy — is also the first new original holiday special to come following a partnership struck by Apple last year with WildBrain, Peanuts Worldwide and Lee Mendelson Film Productions to bring together new original series and specials, along with the library titles all in one place.
“For Auld Lang Syne” is the second New Year’s Eve-themed special to come from Peanuts, following “Happy New Year, Charlie Brown,” which first premiered on CBS in 1986.
In this new special, the Peanuts gang are disappointed to learn that Charlie Brown’s grandmother can’t visit,...
- 10/4/2021
- by Michael Schneider
- Variety Film + TV
Apple TV+ is pulling the football from millions of traditional television viewers hoping to watch “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” on broadcast, and at least a few hundred thousand of them are so unhappy about it they’ve launched a Change.org petition over the move. Former rights holder ABC is also missing out due to the recently expanded Apple TV+ deal for the catalog of specials based on Charles M. Schulz’ “Peanuts” cartoon — including classics like “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” and “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.” The specials were good for a few million viewers apiece, annually — that adds up. Also Read: Apple TV+ Renews 'Snoopy in Space' for Season 2, Will Produce New Peanuts Shows and Holiday Specials Counting seven days of delayed viewing, ABC’s Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2019 airing of “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” tallied 6.3 million total viewers — a...
- 10/30/2020
- by Tony Maglio
- The Wrap
As Halloween rapidly approaches, I decided to take a look back at one of my favorite Halloween specials, It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown and why it remains one of my favorite things to watch on Halloween night. The third animated Peanuts special, It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown originally premiered on October 27, 1966 […]
The post Why I’ll Always Watch ‘It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown’ on Halloween appeared first on Cinelinx | Movies. Games. Geek Culture..
The post Why I’ll Always Watch ‘It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown’ on Halloween appeared first on Cinelinx | Movies. Games. Geek Culture..
- 10/27/2020
- by Becky O'Brien
- Cinelinx
Apple TV+ Renews ‘Snoopy in Space’ for Season 2, Will Produce New Peanuts Shows and Holiday Specials
Apple TV+ has renewed “Snoopy in Space” for Season 2 and, just in time for the holidays, is set to become the home of iconic Peanuts specials and create new ones celebrating Mother’s Day, Earth Day, New Year’s Eve and “Back to School” season, the streaming service said Monday.
Apple’s streaming service, which launched the first season of “Snoopy in Space” in November 2019, has expanded its partnership with WildBrain, Peanuts Worldwide and Lee Mendelson Film Productions to create new shows and specials based on Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the gang. While you wait for those fresh installments, you can check out old favorites “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown,” “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” and “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” as they begin to roll out over the coming months.
Additionally, Apple and WildBrain’s animation studio are partnering on a Peanuts 70th anniversary documentary film from Imagine Documentaries.
Apple’s streaming service, which launched the first season of “Snoopy in Space” in November 2019, has expanded its partnership with WildBrain, Peanuts Worldwide and Lee Mendelson Film Productions to create new shows and specials based on Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the gang. While you wait for those fresh installments, you can check out old favorites “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown,” “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” and “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” as they begin to roll out over the coming months.
Additionally, Apple and WildBrain’s animation studio are partnering on a Peanuts 70th anniversary documentary film from Imagine Documentaries.
- 10/19/2020
- by Jennifer Maas
- The Wrap
Lee Mendelson, who produced several “Peanuts” and “Garfield” television specials, died at his home in Hillsborough, Calif. on Christmas Day after a battle with lung cancer, according to Palo Alto’s Daily Post.
Mendelson is also known for writing the lyrics to “Christmastime Is Here” from the 1965 TV special “A Charlie Brown Christmas.”
The producer was born in 1933 and began his career in television in 1961 while working at San Francisco’s Kpix-tv. In 1963, he started Lee Mendelson Productions in Burlingame, Calif., according to his website. That same year, following a hit on NBC with a documentary called “A Man Named Mays” made by Mendelson and cinematographer and editor Sheldon Fay Jr., the two made their first Charlie Brown special, “A Boy Named Charlie Brown.” What followed was a 38-year long relationship with “Peanuts” creator Charles Schultz and animator Bill Melendez that lead to over 50 “Peanuts” specials.
Also Read: Jerry Herman,...
Mendelson is also known for writing the lyrics to “Christmastime Is Here” from the 1965 TV special “A Charlie Brown Christmas.”
The producer was born in 1933 and began his career in television in 1961 while working at San Francisco’s Kpix-tv. In 1963, he started Lee Mendelson Productions in Burlingame, Calif., according to his website. That same year, following a hit on NBC with a documentary called “A Man Named Mays” made by Mendelson and cinematographer and editor Sheldon Fay Jr., the two made their first Charlie Brown special, “A Boy Named Charlie Brown.” What followed was a 38-year long relationship with “Peanuts” creator Charles Schultz and animator Bill Melendez that lead to over 50 “Peanuts” specials.
Also Read: Jerry Herman,...
- 12/27/2019
- by Margeaux Sippell
- The Wrap
Lee Mendelson, the producer behind more than 50 animated TV specials featuring Charlie Brown and the “Peanuts” gang, died on Christmas Day at his home in Hillsborough, Calif., after a long battle with cancer. He was 86.
Mendelson also wrote the lyrics to “Christmas Time Is Here,” a song featured in “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” the 1965 special that turned “Peanuts” into a TV staple. “Charlie Brown Christmas” brought Mendelson the first of his 12 Emmys. The last came in 2015 for “It’s Your 50th Christmas, Charlie Brown.” Mendelson’s work with animator Lee Melendez also brought him four Peabody Awards, an Oscar nomination and two Grammy noms.
A lifelong fan of jazz, Mendelson had the inspiration to hire musician Vince Guaraldi to create original music for “Charlie Brown Christmas,” a touch that helped make the specials stand out with viewers young and old. Over the years Mendelson worked with other notable musicians such as Dave Brubeck,...
Mendelson also wrote the lyrics to “Christmas Time Is Here,” a song featured in “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” the 1965 special that turned “Peanuts” into a TV staple. “Charlie Brown Christmas” brought Mendelson the first of his 12 Emmys. The last came in 2015 for “It’s Your 50th Christmas, Charlie Brown.” Mendelson’s work with animator Lee Melendez also brought him four Peabody Awards, an Oscar nomination and two Grammy noms.
A lifelong fan of jazz, Mendelson had the inspiration to hire musician Vince Guaraldi to create original music for “Charlie Brown Christmas,” a touch that helped make the specials stand out with viewers young and old. Over the years Mendelson worked with other notable musicians such as Dave Brubeck,...
- 12/27/2019
- by Variety Staff
- Variety Film + TV
Bill Melendez, best known for bringing the Peanuts characters to life with such classics as "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown," died Tuesday at St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica. He was 91.
Melendez, the only animator permitted by Charles M. Schulz to work with the Peanuts characters, earned eight Emmy Awards, 17 Emmy nominations, one Oscar nomination and two Peabody Awards. He began his career at Disney and Warner Bros., working on classic characters at those studios, and spent more than 70 years in the entertainment industry.
In 1948, the Mexican native left Warner Bros. and for more than a decade served as a director and producer on more than 1,000 commercials and films for United Productions of America, Playhouse Pictures and John Sutherland Prods.
It was at UPA that Melendez started doing work for the New York-based J. Walter Thompson ad agency, whose client included Ford. The carmaker...
Melendez, the only animator permitted by Charles M. Schulz to work with the Peanuts characters, earned eight Emmy Awards, 17 Emmy nominations, one Oscar nomination and two Peabody Awards. He began his career at Disney and Warner Bros., working on classic characters at those studios, and spent more than 70 years in the entertainment industry.
In 1948, the Mexican native left Warner Bros. and for more than a decade served as a director and producer on more than 1,000 commercials and films for United Productions of America, Playhouse Pictures and John Sutherland Prods.
It was at UPA that Melendez started doing work for the New York-based J. Walter Thompson ad agency, whose client included Ford. The carmaker...
- 9/3/2008
- by By Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NEW YORK -- After taking a breather from original programming Monday because of a World Series sweep, Fox came roaring back Tuesday to win in the adults 18-49 demographic.
Preliminary estimates from Nielsen Media Research showed that House kept Fox far ahead in the demo while Dancing With the Stars results show pushed ABC to victory in viewership.
House was the night's top program in adults 18-49 with 17.1 million viewers and a 7.0 rating/17 share in the demo. Dancing (18.6 million) was the night's top show in viewership.
Winning at 8 p.m. was ABC's perennial It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (11.4 million, 3.8/11), which was up from last year's 2.6/9 on a Friday but down slightly from its last Tuesday airing two years ago. CBS' NCIS (16.3 million, 3.3/9) won in viewership.
ABC won the 10 p.m. hour with Boston Legal (11.7 million, 3.1/8) and probably spillover from Dancing. Final ratings will be out later Wednesday, though it was likely to beat CBS' Cane (8.1 million, 2.0/5) and a repeat Law & Order: SVU (8.7 million, 3.0/8).
Preliminary estimates from Nielsen Media Research showed that House kept Fox far ahead in the demo while Dancing With the Stars results show pushed ABC to victory in viewership.
House was the night's top program in adults 18-49 with 17.1 million viewers and a 7.0 rating/17 share in the demo. Dancing (18.6 million) was the night's top show in viewership.
Winning at 8 p.m. was ABC's perennial It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (11.4 million, 3.8/11), which was up from last year's 2.6/9 on a Friday but down slightly from its last Tuesday airing two years ago. CBS' NCIS (16.3 million, 3.3/9) won in viewership.
ABC won the 10 p.m. hour with Boston Legal (11.7 million, 3.1/8) and probably spillover from Dancing. Final ratings will be out later Wednesday, though it was likely to beat CBS' Cane (8.1 million, 2.0/5) and a repeat Law & Order: SVU (8.7 million, 3.0/8).
- 11/1/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Great Pumpkin came through for ABC on Tuesday. The network won the night in the adults 18-49 demographic thanks in large part to the enduring appeal of the animated Peanuts Halloween special It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. Meanwhile, Fox saw its signature drama series 24 get off to a good start in its third-season debut, winning the 9 p.m. hour in total viewers and tying with ABC's comedy block for No. 1 status in the adults 18-49 demographic, according to preliminary estimates from Nielsen Media Research. (The release of final national Nielsen ratings for Tuesday primetime were delayed until today.) Great Pumpkin opened the night for ABC at 8 p.m. with an average of 13.2 million viewers and a 5.0 rating/14 share. The Peanuts special vied with CBS' 8 p.m. drama Navy NCIS (13.5 million, 2.9/8) for the mantle of most-watched program of the night.
- 10/30/2003
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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