I would have been 12 years old and fully caught up in the “Marvel Age of Comics” — that Christmas I would get a copy of Jules Pfeiffer’s The Great Comic Book Heroes inscribed by Mom with, “To Warren, the comic book fiend of 1965.”
Charles Schultz’s comic strip “Peanuts,” of course, was an integral part of the daily diet, and so it was a Big Event for comic book fiends when “A Charlie Brown Christmas” debuted. It was amazing to see all the characters come to life on our TV screen.
I was also a Top 40 music fiend, and so I recognized the unique sound of the Vince Guaraldi Trio, who’d had a hit a couple of years earlier with their tasty rendition of “Cast Your Fate to the Wind.” Of course they’re best known now for this soundtrack.
For the most part the show was everything you might expect from Schultz, as poor old Charlie Brown went from mishap to mishap in his efforts to make it a memorable Christmas, until Charlie Brown cried out in frustration, “Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?!”
I’m pretty sure I didn’t breathe for the next minute after Linus replied calmly, “Sure, Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about,” and proceeded to recite the story that my father insisted on reading to us every Christmas over cookies and candlelight.
These are the most magnificent 78 seconds in cartoon history.
