"Charlie Brown Christmas” fans reflect on its 50 years

By DAVID SKOLNICK

skolnick@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

Kelly Wickham has never seen “A Charlie Brown Christmas” though she rarely misses the TV special during the holiday season.

That’s because Wickham, of Niles, who grew up in Salem, has been blind since birth.

“Growing up, I’d watch it with my family, who would explain what was happening,” she said. “I was really excited when my friends found a version a few years ago of the show that specifically describes the show for the blind so I can really understand what’s going on while the music is playing.”

She’s among numerous Mahoning Valley residents who are huge fans of the Christmas special that first aired on TV 50 years ago. The show about a kid fighting depression over the commercialization of Christmas by directing his school’s play premiered Dec. 9, 1965.

Among its lasting impact is the term “Charlie Brown Christmas Tree” in honor of the small tree that the title character picks out and flops over when he puts an ornament on it.

“My father picked out Charlie Brown Christmas trees,” Wickham said.

After Charlie Brown walks away from the tree thinking he “killed it,” the rest of the Peanuts characters decorate it, sing Christmas songs and upon his return, they all say, “Merry Christmas Charlie Brown.” The title character looks at the tree and smiles.

“I try never to miss ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ when it airs,” said Sue Miller of Youngstown. “It’s just not the same watching it on DVD. I like to know I’m watching along with millions of others. I am struck that in 50 years, the message hasn’t changed: Christmas isn’t about presents and Christmas pageants and gaudy light displays.”

Miller and other fans of the show say their favorite part is when Charlie Brown asks if there is anyone who understands the meaning of Christmas, and in response, Linus recites the story of the birth of Jesus from the Gospel of Luke.

“Linus gets it right every single time,” Miller said. “There’s a pause of sweet silence as he says, ‘That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.’ Yes, indeed. Happy anniversary to the best Christmas special ever made.”

“Linus isn’t afraid to say the real reason for Christmas, and it’s very eloquently stated,” said Sandra Rivera of Campbell.

Rivera has a screen-by-screen paper copy of the show that her mother, who died five years ago, took out of a 1971 Family Circle magazine and kept.

“I’m a fan of the show, and I can follow along word for word,” she said.

Youngstown Mayor John A. McNally said he and his family – including his two daughters, Cara, 12, and Casey, 9 – watch the special together.

“Seeing that scruffy little Christmas tree come to life is always moving,” he said. “The music is what I enjoy the most.”

The music includes traditional Christmas songs with memorable jazz numbers written specifically for this show.

The jazz songs “always remind me of Christmas when I was growing up,” McNally said. “I really enjoy ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ for sentimental reasons.”

For Jim Tressel, Youngstown State University president, Charlie Brown “is the model of persistence.”

It’s been years since he watched the show – since his children were young.

The character and its creator also bring to mind a donation to one of Tressel’s former employers. Jean Schulz, the widow of Charles M. Schulz, donated $1 million to Ohio State University, where Tressel formerly served as head football coach, toward creation of the first museum of printed art. The museum is at OSU.

“I thought, ‘There’s another Buckeye fan,’” Tressel said.

Like “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” the Rev. Lewis W. Macklin II, pastor of Holy Trinity Missionary Baptist Church in Youngstown, turned 50 this year.

“I’ve been watching it since it started,” he said. “I have a great appreciation for it. The message it gives is energizing and inspiring, particularly what Linus says about the birth of Christ. Despite some bleak times, it still gives a message of peace and hope.”

U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Howland said he is excited to watch the show with his son, who was born in 2014.

“I can’t wait to watch Brady experience his first ‘Charlie Brown Christmas,’” he said. “It’s an American classic and for the family to watch it with our new son and brother for the first time will make it an extra special Christmas for us.”

ABC aired the show and a special highlighting its 50th anniversary Monday. It will show both again Dec. 24.