This is where I can't call it a lookback because my rule about non-holiday specials (except Arbor Day, America's best holiday) being the primary focus and avoiding the holiday specials on purpose. I do sometime assume that everyone knows the holiday specials at least the main three (Christmas, Halloween, and Thanksgiving in that order) though that's not necessarily true. I am not going to go into the special's goings on like a lookback would but just going to focus on maybe my thoughts on the special. This was my disclaimer I like to do these when I touch holiday peanuts specials.
The Great Pumpkin , Charlie Brown was the third Peanuts special ever. I've covered the second one this year , called "Charlie Brown's All Stars". In 1965 The Christmas special came out, in 1966 we got two specials "All Stars" and this one meaning that's alot of work going on in short time. It originally aired on CBS and has repeated every year even moving from CBS to ABC in 2001. Meaning that is a mainstay and if it ever not aired then that's when TV dies.
It starts like the Christmas episode in establishing the mood with Lucy and Linus going to do the classic going to pumpkin patch, one that is larger than both of them, and taking it back home to carve. Though, when Lucy starts hacking away Linus starts to cry because he didn't know she was going to"kill" it. Then it establishes the fall atmosphere well like Charlie Brown raking leaves only to have Linus mess it up by jumping it, we also need to finally animate the famous football gag, this is the first Peanuts special to show that. Also, when many think of fall or autumn they think of football. (Chet here with JOL Sports and it's time for Tuesday Lunchtime football) It's a very good atmosphere set up to tell the viewer that it's fall and Halloween is soon upon the characters.
In the comic strips though time wavers a little, Linus and Charlie Brown are best friends (unless I've been reading it wrong) the way the hang out together you can forget that Linus is a little younger than Charlie Brown. Lucy seems to be the same age as Charlie Brown and if Linus is her little brother then well that means. I think he is closer to maybe a year or two older than Sally. I bring up his age stance because of the primary plot of this special : Linus and the Great Pumpkin. Linus at some point screwed up the story of Santa Claus as a story for Halloween and The Great Pumpkin. He even writes a letter to TGP (shorthand for well you know). I do question why people just walk into Linus' house to mock him. Linus doesn't let anybody get to him and the belief that TGP will come.
This special also shows us the traditions of Halloween that we have become accustomed. As our main children characters participate in the customs of that holiday (except Linus and Sally more on that later). Trick or treating takes up a segment of the special starting with the kids making costumes , mostly ghosts, and Lucy's witch costume. (No comment) Also Charlie Brown , I hope you didn't cut up the good sheets , I mean really. Then the kids go trick or treating and they go through the normal traditional ritual of Halloween evenings. I do question why the neighbors gave Charlie Brown rocks why do they hate Charlie Brown? They are lucky Charlie Brown isn't the kind to just start throwing the rocks back at them through their windows. It's a strange thing to see really.
Fun fact about the rock thing :
Mendelson also cites Melendez’s influence in the trick-or-treat scenes, as poor Charlie Brown endures a stone-cold, heartless Halloween.
“When Charles Schulz said Charlie Brown should get a rock at the first house in his treat bag, Bill suggested it be done three times at three houses,” Mendelson recounts. “I mildly objected that is was too cruel, but I was vetoed, fortunately, as it is something that people still quote today.” (“I got a rock,” indeed.)
From the Washington Post , 2016
Meanwhile, Linus has convinced someone to join him in his waiting (in the comic strip this happened alot where he got Peppermint Patty, Marcie , and Snoopy to wait with him) though it wasn't hard, Sally is his accomplice hoping she gave up "tricks or treats" for this. Linus is genuinely happy that someone has joined him. After the trick or treating the kids decide to go take sometime and make fun of Linus. ( 1. I will make note that Charlie Brown didn't do anything to make fun of Linus and his sister, and 2. Kids are cruel) Now, they did this before they went T or T-ing as well.
Snoopy gets a lot more to do in this special than say in the first two where he's there and has some gags but otherwise is minor. (Yeah Snoopy minor) He gets to play his most famous character , the World War I flying Ace. It really is random to have this in a special about Halloween and this would seem to make no sense but no it in no way seems to be out of place. I am going to talk about ABC's broadcast here for a little second. They in fact, used to air a version of this special where they took out some of the Flying Ace scenes and viewers didn't like that so ABC added them back , still jams in more commercials so they air the full special but it runs past the 30 minute slot and coupled with "You're not Elected,Charlie Brown" where they do cut out stuff from that instead. (You can read what they do cut from that here). It's also fun to see how Snoopy's world connects to the other things happening like where he rises from the apple barrel at the party and Lucy does her "dog germs" thing. That scene where he enjoys the music of Schroeder and reacts to the different tones accordingly to their moods.
The Halloween party is also another thing people do at Halloween so, again doing a good job at showing Halloween in this special. Though, poor Charlie Brown did get invited which was nice he was also used as the party as a pumpkin model. Sadly, TGP doesn't show up and Sally is angry she has been scorned is un happy that she missed Tricks or Treats, in which Linus' learns never mess with someone and their right to free candy. So, she leaves and he still sticks on hoping that maybe he can see TGP. Lucy maybe mean and crabby she does have a moment of care when she wakes up and retrieves her brother from the cold. It ends with Linus yelling about how he'll try again next time, never giving up that faith.
There's a good reason that this special still airs and has aired since 1966 and again if it doesn't , TV is over and done with, it's a classic timeless feeling special that exhibits the simple fun and even heartbreak of Halloween. It's relate able, except maybe the rock thing, and it's a wonderful special that is memorable.
Some other fun things It has the same voice actors from "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and "Charlie Brown's All Stars" In standing it's more polished than "A Charlie Brown Christmas" but again that special was rushed because that's what happens. (not knocking that special) I don't think there's a new opinion I could give on the special , I love it enough myself that's all I can really say. I think it's one of the top Peanuts specials.
That's our talk , tune in next time after I somehow go into the Peanuts special and start yelling at every single person who gave Charlie Brown a rock.
