Comic Feature- Charles Schulz

Comic Feature- Charles Schulz

Charles Schulz – The Man Behind Peanuts

We are delighted to highlight one of our world’s most legendary cartoonists and writers in this brief biography and comic feature on Charles Schulz.
The beloved cartoonist who brought us Charlie Brown & Peanuts,

Charles Schulz was a master of writing and drawing. The trademark of this cartoonist is his characters’ personalities. They have become real to those who have read his comics or watched the television specials adapted from the comic strip.

Read on to take a peek into the life of this marvelous artist, Charles Schulz!

A photograph of Charles Schulz wearing glasses and smiling with a cartoon Charlie Brown peeping behind his shouldar.

Early Life Of The Creative Cartoonist

Charles Monroe Schulz nicknamed Sparky was an American cartoonist.

Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on November 26, 1922. An uncle gave him the cute nickname “Sparky”

“I have been told, an uncle came in and looked at me and said, ‘By golly, we’re going to call him Sparkplug.’ So, I’ve been called Sparky since the day after I was born – named after a comic strip character.” Charles M. Schulz 

As a young child, he quickly discovered his love for drawing comics and drawing. He had a Sunday morning ritual of reading the Sunday comics with his dear dad.
Soaking in inspiration from classic comic strips of that time such as SkippyMickey Mouse, and Popeye.

Early comic of Charlie Brown in The Lil Folk. </p>
<p>A grumpy boy sits on a bench next to a girl and boy who have ice-cream cones.

The Peanuts Comic Strip

His first published cartoon was a drawing of his small black-and-white dog, Spike.
which appeared in a newspaper in 1937.

Schulz’s first group of regular cartoons was weekly series of one-panel jokes entitled Li’l Folks. It was Published in the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Each publication consisted of four, one-panel drawings.

 It was here in Li’l Folks that Schulz first used the name Charlie Brown for a character.

The series ran from June 1947 to January 195 when Schulz sold “Li’l Folks”.

It was then sold to a company that sells comic strips to newspapers renamed the strip “Peanuts,”.

The comic strip quickly soared in popularity! By 1958 “Peanuts” appeared in 355 U.S. newspapers and 40 newspapers in other countries.

A four panel comic of Linus and Charlie Brown appearing to have a deep conversation.

Inspired By Real Life Characters

Schulz admitted in interviews that, like Charlie Brown. He has said he d often felt shy and withdrawn in his life.

I suppose there’s a melancholy feeling in a lot of cartoonists, because cartooning, like all other humor, comes from bad things happening.” – Charles Shulz

Snoopy who was one of Schulz’s earliest Peanuts characters, was also inspired by a real-life dog.

Schulz loosely based Snoopy on a black-and-white dog named Spike he had as a teenager.  Originally, he was planned to be called Sniffy in the cartoon.

But just before the comic strip launched, Schulz was passing a newsstand and noticed a comic magazine featuring a dog named Sniffy.

Schulz  then remembered his mother’s suggestion that the family should name their next dog “Snoopy.”

Linus and Shermy, two of Peanut’s main characters,  were named for his good friends Linus Maurer and Sherman Plepler, respectively.

And Peppermint Patty was inspired by his cousin Patricia Swanson.  Schulz has said he created the character’s name when he saw peppermint candies in his house.

The inspiration for Charlie Brown’s love interest, “The Little Red-Haired Girl”   was an art instruction accountant Donna Mae Johnson.

Charles Shulz has said he fell in love with Donna, proposing to her in June 1950. But was turned him down and Donna would go on to marry another man.

Charlie Brown cartoon standing with seven of the main characters in Charlie Brown.

Hockey Hall Of Fame

Charles Schulz’s passions didn’t stop with comics! He also loved hockey!

In fact, he loved the sport so much that in 1969 he built an alpine-themed ice skating arena in Santa Rosa.

 Schulz was even inducted into the Hockey Hall Of Fame for his contributions to the sport including his organization of Snoopy’s Senior Hockey Tournament.

The Impact & Influence On Future Comics

 Charles Schulz is also widely regarded as one of the most influential cartoonists of all time.

Cited as a major influence by many later cartoonists, including  Bill Watterson, the creator of Calvin & Hobbes. And Matt Groening, who created The Simpsons.

“Charles Schultz is a really interesting case. He wrote that comic strip and drew it himself from beginning to end, and it’s a work of genius. It’s very simply drawn, but it has some really deep emotions that you don’t expect in a silly-looking comic strip.” – Matt Groening

 

Snoopy wearing a toque and carrying a hockey stick and hockey bag.

A Dedicated Cartoonist

Schultz was incredibly hardworking and passionate about his comic strip.

Over the nearly 50 years that Peanuts was published, Schulz drew nearly 18,000 strips!

During this weekly publication, Schulz took just one vacation, a five-week break in late 1997 to celebrate his 75th birthday.

“Peanuts” eventually went on to spread across the globe. It was published in 2,600 newspapers in 75 countries.

The Peanuts comic strip was also created into multiple books, tv shows, and movies.

It even spawned a broadway musical, Snoopy!!! The Musical.

Schulz announced his retirement from drawing “Peanuts” in December 1999. He died in his sleep on February 12, 2000, the night before the final “Peanuts” strip appeared in newspapers.

Though this legend is not here with us in person – the amazing legacy he created and his memory will surely live on for generations to come.

Behind view of Charlie Brown and Snoopy's backs as the sit on a dock overlooking a body of water.

If you enjoyed this short biography of Charles Schulz, check out our Laugh Category.

It’s filled with smiles, comics, and short biographies of beloved writers like Schulz.

Learn about the woman who brought us Peter Rabbit with Words Of Wisdom- Beatrix Potter.

Or if you’re looking for another inspiring cartoonist, check out this similar comic feature, Dik Browne Of Hagar The Horrible.

 


Enchanted Little World is a daily blog highlighting good news, funny videos, happy people and inspiring stories from around the world.  Give each day a “high-five of happiness” with Enchanted Little World.

Words of Wisdom From Neil Young

Words of Wisdom From Neil Young

Words Of Wisdom – Neil Young

Born in Canada in 1945, in Toronto Canada, and raised in a small rural town of Omemee, Neil’s boyhood was a complicated one. Suffering from epilepsy, Type 1 diabetes and polio, by 1951 his health had deteriorated so far that he was unable to walk.With time, Neil was able to overcome his ailments, and with his mother’s encouragement he began to nurture an interest in music, learning to play both the ukulele and banjo.

He performed in bands since his teens and later as a soloist in Toronto coffeehouses, Young was both folkie and rocker, so when he arrived in Los Angelas in 1966 he was ready for Buffalo Springfield, the versatile and pioneering group he joined including folk legend Stephen Stills. By 1968 strains in the band dynamics led him to go solo.“Cinnamon Girl” and “Down by the River,” the album climbed up the charts to No. 34, and eventually went gold.

He reunited with former Bandmate Stephen Stills to form another successful band Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (CSN&Y) before decided to go solo again, writing and recording such timeless songs as “Old Man,” “Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black),” “Rockin’ in the Free World” and “Heart of Gold”—a No. 1 hit.

Nicknamed the “Godfather of Grunge” for his undeniable influence on that genre, he still has released 40 studio albums, 8 live albums, 3 tribute albums, and 3 soundtrack albums. More than 50 years into his musical career, he continues to record and tour on a regular basis.

Young is also a strong advocate for environmental and disability issues, Having fathered two sons with cerebral palsy, Young helped establish and support the Bridge School in San Francisco to help meet the needs of those challenged by the disease. As well he co-founded the Benefit for Farm Aid and the Bridge School Benefit Concerts. BIOGGRAPHY ONLINE, BRITTANICA, WIKIPEDIA


Enchanted Little World is a daily blog highlighting good news, funny videos, happy people and inspiring stories from around the world.  Give each day a “high-five of happiness” with Enchanted Little World.