Thanks to the folks who made this nifty computer game, Snoopy vs. the Red Baron , players can join
the WWI Flying Ace and a cast of Peanuts characters as they take on the evil Red Baron!
These articles are arranged from the most recent down, so you'll always find the newest news about Charlie Brown and his friends toward the top; older articles will be located further down, or on previous pages.
American Masters: Good Ol' Charles Schulz
October 3, 2007
PBS press release
Linus never sees the Great Pumpkin. The nefarious Red Baron always gets away. Good ol' Charlie Brown never, ever kicks that football.
Armed only with security blankets and vivid imaginations, the Peanuts gang endured unrequited love, loneliness, resentment and despair for almost 50 years ... just like their creator, Charles M. Schulz. Every day for decades, Schulz poured out his heart on the comics page and helped us all laugh at life's toughest struggles.
Although characters like Snoopy and phrases like "Happiness is a warm puppy" became part of a billion-dollar global phenomenon, success failed to quell Schulz's own doubts. "I can't believe they think I'm that good," Schulz said tearfully at the end of his last on-camera interview. "I just did the best I could."
In Good Ol' Charles Schulz, American Masters presents an unexpected portrait of the man behind the most popular comic strip in history. The feature-length documentary premieres Monday, October 29, 2007, 9:00-10:30 p.m. ET on PBS.
"I grew up reading Peanuts ... we all did," says Lacy. "The characters are as familiar to us as our own siblings. Their trials and tribulations evoke our own childhood desperations. To learn that Charles Schulz, as incredibly successful as he was, struggled with the same kinds of frustrations and self-doubts his characters did -- and that they helped fuel his art -- was a revelation. "
Schulz's genius -- evident throughout his 17,897 comic strips -- lay in depicting the daily collisions of insiders and outsiders, of mundane cruelties and transcendent hopes. With both whimsy and profundity, Schulz offered millions of readers different facets of his own personality, along with a unique take on 20th-century America. Peanuts burst on the scene in 1950 with a minimalist aesthetic and emotional wallop unlike anything seen before. The strip combined open expressions of malice (the very first punch line was " Good ol' Charlie Brown & How I hate him!" ), psychological insights and a lifelong loser of a protagonist in a way that upended not only the comics page but also the eras prevailing Father Knows Best mythology. It had an immediate impact on readers of all ages, from bohemia to Peoria.
"Charles Schulz was one of the great artists of the 20th century and an utterly fascinating individual," says director David Van Taylor. "His is a quintessential American tale, in both the extraordinary accomplishments and the relentless self-questioning. Like Horatio Alger's self-made man, Schulz and his best-loved creations wanted to fit into the crowd and couldn't help but stand apart from it. "
Good Ol' Charles Schulz includes excerpts from classic Peanuts television specials, archival footage, personal photos and home movies, as well as unlimited use of the comic strips. Archival interviews with Schulz himself offer insight into a humble man who reached the pinnacle of his profession but still described himself as ordinary. Original interviews include Schulz's widow and three oldest children, the real-life inspirations for Linus and the little red-haired girl, prominent cartoonists who knew Sparky Schulz and David Michaelis, author of Schulz and Peanuts (available in October from HarperCollins), who served as consultant to the film.
Throughout, the documentary explores the many connections between Schulz's life and art, from wintry images of a Minnesota boyhood and the echoes of a first marriage in the relationship between Lucy and Schroeder to the dismal family Thanksgiving that found its way into a holiday special. Even when the strip seems least grounded in reality (such as Snoopy's well-loved flights of fancy), it reflects Schulz's state of mind. The film also uses video compositing and original animations to meld Peanuts and Schulz's life.
Like Peanuts, Schulz's story highlights the extraordinary drama of ordinary life. The loss of a parent, heartbreak, divorce, illness, death ... Schulz confronted these universal challenges in his own life and found a way to translate them into the everyday doings and musings of grade-schoolers. The Peanuts gang made smart observations about literature, art, classical music, theology, medicine, psychiatry, sports and the law, becoming permanently affixed in our collective psyche.
But while Peanuts affirmed the Charlie Brown inside us all, Schulz continued hoping he could leave behind the isolation that shadowed him since childhood. Again and again he found, or made, homes and communities for himself: in a Church of God congregation he joined after returning from World War II; at the art school where he taught as an aspiring cartoonist; in the idyllic estate he and his wife Joyce built for their five children in Northern California; in his very different second marriage to Jeannie Schulz.
His continuous ascent encouraged these hopes. Peanuts debuted in seven newspapers on October 2, 1950, through United Features Syndicate, and ended up in 2,500 newspapers. In 1965, after Peanuts made the cover of Time magazine, the animated special A Charlie Brown Christmas was seen in more than 15 million homes, capturing nearly half of all American viewers. Peanuts soon became a worldwide industry. For the first time in the book trade, booksellers started to sell not just Peanuts books but also sweatshirts, dolls and an increasing array of paraphernalia that bore the image and form of the characters in the books. An old idea called licensing would bring in $1 billion a year to United Features and make Schulz richer than any popular artist in the world. Even in death, his annual earnings of $35 million place him just behind Elvis Presley.
But essential doubts continued to plague both the creator and his creations. Would his many admirers seek him out, he wondered, if he weren't rich and famous? Like Charlie Brown, he awoke in the middle of the night to ask hard questions about God, love and life. In later years, he found himself wondering more and more about basic mysteries of his childhood, including the death of his mother just as he left home for military service. He watched Citizen Kane as many as 40 times, looking for clues to his own Rosebud.
Through it all, Schulz's work and his dedication to his characters and his art never flagged. He had known since boyhood that he wanted to be a cartoonist, and it remained his number one commitment. That could be an obstacle in itself, as Schulz's solitary vocation often isolated him even from his loved ones. As a close friend describes it in Good Ol' Charles Schulz, "He was in his own world ... close the door and he lived in Snoopy's doghouse. "
But it was also, clearly, his salvation. When all else failed him, Schulz still knew, like Schroeder at his piano, the satisfaction of mastering his art. Even after he developed a tremor, he did all the drawing, all the lettering, himself. Jeannie Schulz compares it to his diary, where he could express and explore his feelings, even those he couldn't share with his family.
That diary was not only Schulz's deliverance, but his legacy. The way Schulz used the strip to wrestle openly with difficult emotions is the ultimate convergence of his life and art. After viewing Good Ol' Charles Schulz, you'll never look at Peanuts the same way again.
Warner makes a deal for Peanuts
Snoopy and his gang also could see new life on mobile, Web, VOD platforms
October 2, 2007
By Susanne Ault
www.videobusiness.com
Cowabunga! Warner Home Video has signed a multi-year deal to distribute Snoopy, Charlie Brown and the rest of the Peanuts gang on DVD and digitally.
The first titles from the pact are deluxe editions of Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown and It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown streeting on Jan. 15, 2008, and Feb. 26, 2008, respectively. The content will be re-mastered and boast newly created bonus features.
Overall, Warner has exclusive access to 50 classic Peanuts TV specials and series episodes, based on the comic strip, which is read in 2,400 newspapers spanning 75 different countries. Peanuts content was licensed from United Media, Charles M. Schulz Creative Associates and Lee Mendelson Film Productions.
The deal also opens the door for new made-for-video Peanuts titles, as well as related short-form content distributed for mobile, Web and VOD platforms. Mendelson/Melendez Productions LLS will be involved in crafting such brand new Peanuts material.
Paramount Home Entertainment has previously distributed a number of Peanuts titles, including A Charlie Brown Christmas and A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving in 2000.
"This agreement is a testament to Warner Home Video's dedication to bringing some of the world's most foremost and cherished properties to consumers," said Jeff Brown, Warner senior VP and general manager of TV, family and animation. "We have a tremendous passion for Peanuts and look forward to the opportunity to build this perennial brand by reinvigorating the home video library via product and packaging innovation, potentially creating original content based on Schulz's work and building digital distribution on new media platforms. "
United Media is hopeful Warner will attract new fans to its Peanuts franchise.
"A perfect match for Peanuts, Warner Bros. has demonstrated to us and the industry its enormous global reach, creative foresight, marketing expertise, as well as its ability to understand classic properties," said Doug Stern, United Media president and CEO.
Mercer Gets Help From Snoopy in Anti-Smoking Effort
September 27, 2007
By Bethany A. Romanek
The Intelligencer/Wheeling News-Register [West Virginia]
WHEELING -- With one in three West Virginia high school students currently using tobacco products, Dr. William Mercer plans to use a new tool to teach children not to smoke.
On Wednesday, Mercer, who serves as health officer at the Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department, announced the Joe Too Cool To Smoke Campaign -- a year-long effort to educate the youth of the county about cigarette smoking, smokeless tobacco and clean indoor air. The program incorporates two of Mercer's favorite things -- Charles Schulz's Peanuts characters and his passion for promoting a tobacco-free lifestyle.
Mercer recently returned from the Peanuts on Parade event in Santa Rosa, Calif., to support the Charles Schulz Foundation. Each year a life size Peanuts character statue is chosen and different individuals and corporations submit themes that they would like to see on the statue.
According to Mercer, the designs are then chosen by the family of the late Charles Schulz. This year the selected character was Joe Cool also known as Snoopy. Mercer submitted his design, Joe Too Cool To Smoke , and it was accepted.
"My love for the Peanuts characters came to my head and I thought how about Joe Too Cool To Smoke?" Mercer said. "I wanted to use this as a tool back in Ohio County to teach kids not to smoke. "
Given his interest in promoting a tobacco-free lifestyle in youth, Mercer left one paw of the Snoopy statue blank. He is asking for all fifth grade students in both the Ohio County Schools system, as well as parochial school students to submit a drawing which will be painted on the figure. One winner from each participating school will be awarded and the overall winner will have their design featured as a permanent part of the statue.
On Oct. 24, Joe Too Cool To Smoke will make his first appearance on the campus of Wheeling Jesuit University with fifth grade students in attendance. Additionally, the 17th Surgeon General, Richard Carmona, will join other dignitaries as invited guests.
"Can this make a difference? I think so," Mercer said. "If we can get our great community behind this we can have a great thing. "
Once the 500-pound Snoopy is home in Wheeling, Mercer and a medical student will be visiting each school to speak about the dangers of tobacco use. Mercer will also be incorporating the methods used by Joseph Henry Garagiola, Sr., a former major league baseball catcher, who spoke out about the dangers of tobacco.
Mercer hopes to continue the campaign in other West Virginia counties, promoting Joe Too Cool To Smoke. He hopes the program will one day reach a national level. For more information call (304) 242-6645.
Joe Cool fetches big cash for cool
Hundreds turn out for benefit auction of snoopy statues
September 23, 2007
By Robert Digitale
The Santa Rosa Press Democrat
A few sprinkles couldnt dampen the fun Saturday when Santa Rosa bid farewell to its summer of Snoopy, the culmination of three years of whimsical statues placed around town in tribute to Peanuts creator Charles Schulz.
For one last time, visitors strolled past the likenesses of the round-nosed beagle, 90 statues gathered together at the ball field behind the Schulz Museum. Beneath gray skies were sunglasses-wearing Snoopys in Joe Cool personas, as pilot and race car driver, legal beagle and Blues Brother Jake to name but a few.
Like many visitors, Santa Rosan Jenny Lawrence said the fun Saturday came in the photo shoots beside the statues. She said her 11-year-old daughter, Shannon Cook, and Shannons friend, Taylor Hopper, enjoyed play acting for the camera.
"They could be surfing or being pirates," she said.
Saturday also featured the auction of 17 statues at the nearby ice arena. Several hundred fans and bidders attended the event, which featured four popular statues displayed on ice.
The auction raised nearly $250,000, which will benefit art scholarships and a permanent bronze Peanuts sculpture to be unveiled at 11 a.m. today at the Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport.
The top auction item, the tropical-themed Boom shaka laka laka, raised $31,000. It was purchased by the owners of the Flamingo Hotel, who also paid $6,000 for the Egyptian-themed A-snoop-bis, and $30,000 for Joe Cool Giant, signed by 42 past and present San Francisco players, including Barry Bonds.
Schulz, the creator of one of the most popular comic strips in history, died in February 2000 at age 77. He had lived in Sonoma County for more than 40 years.
Santa Rosa's statue invasion began three summers ago with 55 Charlie Browns, followed last summer by 76 Woodstocks and this year's 94 Snoopys.
Some fans at Saturday's auction clapped in support of keeping the statues coming again next year. But Schulz's son Craig told the audience that the end had come.
"This is it, Santa Rosa," Craig Schulz told the crowd. He expressed appreciation that community support had made possible the bronze statue for the airport, adding that "today's unveiling is the day I've been waiting for for eight years."
The three years of statues will be remembered for the sometimes-quirky pop art -- this year included allusions to Harry Potter and pirate Capt. Jack Sparrow. With that was coupled the chance to revel in the creations of a Santa Rosan known round the world.
"To me it's brought so many smiles, not only to the people who live here, but we've had so many people visit our community to see the statues," said former mayor and Peanuts on Parade co-chairwoman Janet Condron.
MetLife blimp gives a smooth, slow ride
September 23, 2007
By Rony Walter
Green Bay Press Gazette [Wisconsin]
The only time my name has appeared in the same sentence as blimp has been ... well, it wasn't flattering.
But when the MetLife blimp coasted past the office window this week after arriving for today's Packers game, it was time to go investigating and blimping.
The insurance people were kind enough to accommodate, so I met the crew of 13 people at the south end of Austin Straubel International Airport on Saturday morning for a close and personal experience with Snoopy 1.
As one who still doesnt understand how planes stay in the air, my assumption was that blimps were just like those helium-filled balloons you buy for birthday parties, only bigger.
Snoopy is bigger -- 128 feet long and 44 feet high, with 69,000 cubic feet of helium. MetLife has owned these things for 20 years and now has three Snoopys.
Pilot Charlie Smith, a 25-year-old Florida native, took us up for a 40-minute drift over Lambeau Field, the same route he'll be taking today so his cameraman can give the television network those aerial pictures of the game.
They'll have a camera attached to the front end of the cabin, gyrating for whatever angles the cameraman wants.
But getting a blimp into the air isn't an easy process.
They had four strong men holding ropes and two others holding onto the ship cabin to make sure Snoopy didn't leave before his time.
When the crew chief, a man named Julian, gave the signal, Smith revved the two gas-powered engines and we went forward and up.
Smith and I were in the 20-by-6-foot cabin that hangs below the blimp. He told me its maximum speed is 52 mph, but it seldom goes that fast.
"The easiest comparison is that it's a lot like sailing," Smith said as we hovered over Lambeau Field for while.
The ride is smooth, with the cabin occasionally swaying back and forth with the wind.
Smith controlled the elevation with wheels on both sides of his chair, and had pedals to determine the direction. Snoopy usually floats between 1,000 and 1,500 above the ground.
"It's a great job," Smith said, looking ahead to trips to Indianapolis, Boston and finally to Florida, where Snoopy will stay for the winter.
"The biggest concern for us is weather," Smith said.
"We couldn't have flown yesterday (Friday) because of the wind, and we're always watching out for heavy storms. We do everything we can to avoid that. "
Landing the blimp is determined by wind direction but Smith set it down smoothly in a field south of the runway, and the big guys made sure it stayed there.
Snoopy won't be in Green Bay if there's a January game here. The cold weather and helium just don't get along well.
My only knowledge of blimps was from newsreels, especially the one of the Hindenburg that back in 1937 ... well, let's not go there.
The blimp is obviously a safe flying machine and its staff is professional. But I had to ask Smith about their safety.
"There's a separate air flow that helps us control the pressure," he said, as we floated high above the city.
"We don't want to overload the balloon so it blows up. "
Say again?
Snoopy the Flying Ace (Cell Phone Game) Review
That dastardly Red Baron is no match for Snoopy and his barnstormin doghouse.
September 20, 2007
By Levi Buchanan
wireless.ign.com
Snoopy's alter ego as a World War One flying ace was a fun side story in the classic Peanuts pantheon, perhaps the world's most successful (and heartfelt) comic strip. Namco Network's new casual game checks in on Snoopy as he flies not-so-dangerous missions with his Sopwith Camel. Sure, his plane may look a lot like a big, red doghouse, but the point Peanuts creator Charles Schulz was making concerned the wonder of an imagination. So, if you still see a doghouse after reading that, you've been overrun by an overly cynical media age.
Anyway...
Snoopy doesn't engage the Red Baron in direct dogfights in Flying Ace. Instead, the game concentrates on a one-button mechanic that's geared for the ultra-casual crowd. Holding and releasing the OK button raises and lowers Snoopy's plane. Tapping it twice makes him do a loop-de-loop. The pup's mission is to collect enough red balloons in each three-stage chapter to move on to the next. The more balloons you collect, the more points you earn which can be cashed in for classic comic strip downloads. (Thats very cool.)
The balloons are all over the place. Fortunately, you have a small guide along the top of the screen that shows the relative placement and altitude of the upcoming balloons so you can make the necessary adjustments. Matters are complicated by storm clouds, wind gusts, and the Red Baron's fly-bys. Snoopy can pick up mugs of his favorite drink, root beer, to increase speed. Picking up Woodstock and his friends increases Snoopys bonuses, as does barnstorming or clipping the Peanuts gang on the ground.
This is not the first game to use this one-button mechanic. Vivendi's Flying Toaster game tried it before, for example. It's not an exceptionally deep kind of game, but married with a cool theme, it can work. Snoopy is a good fit. For Peanuts fans, it's exceptionally endearing. If you're not a Snoopy fan, though, the simple game play may leave you a little cold.
Closing Comments
Snoopy the Flying Ace is a simple, casual game geared for the legions of Peanuts fans. There are a lot of flying missions in here, giving the game some longevity. However, the coolest feature by far is the ability to download comics after earning enough points. That's the kind of added value more casual mobile games need.
Pig Pen: From Concept to Creation
September 18, 2007
By David Scroggy
Dark Horse Web news
As long-time collectors and Dark Horse Deluxe fans are aware, we have for the last several years been producing a remarkable line of statuettes in the style of vintage syrocos, which are the common name for a type of figurine popular in the 1930s and 1940s.
The brainchild of Dark Horse President Mike Richardson, these limited-edition figurines are produced in very short runs, and are unique in the marketplace. Packaged in distinctive litho-printed tin boxes, the series has captured everything from the greatest newspaper comic strip characters to Kellogg's cereal mascots to comic book heroes.
Perhaps one of the most noteworthy series is the current one: a set of ten statuettes inspired by one of the greatest comics of all time, Charles Schulz's Peanuts. Produced under license from United Media, with the direct participation of the Schulz Estate, these new releases are being delivered to discriminating collectors and retailers.
Constructing these deceptively simple sculptures is actually quite challenging, since sometimes capturing a character's essence in a simple way is often a most difficult assignment. As an example, let's look at Pig Pen.
In the Peanuts strips, this unwashed kid is largely defined by the cloud of dirt and gritty speckled dots that swirl about him. This is apparent in what we call the source art, which is taken from the Peanuts style guide. Turning to the talents at Yoe! Studio, we found ourselves going straight to the top-President and Peanuts expert Clizia Gussoni, who graciously decided to personally supervise the translation from pen and ink to three dimensions.
"Growing up in Rome, Peanuts was one of my favorite comic strips. It appeared in newspapers, which my father used to read to me, and themed collected book editions. I always related to Peppermint Patty, because she fell asleep in class and wasn't ready with her homework assignments--just like me!"
"In designing the statues, we had to think of which illustrations to pick. Like different photos of the same person, they change subtly from strip to strip. Trying to pinpoint which phase of Schulz's career to pick to depict the characters was key, since the character's appearance evolved over time. In the end, we picked the look of the characters from more-or-less the 1970s versions."
Having provided this assessment, she had the Yoe! illustration team create the Concept Art, which was submitted to Schulz creative team leader Paige Braddock for approval prior to sculpting. Agreeing that this direction was the way to go, we then proceeded to sculpting. This resulted in the Clay Sculpt. The clay is a preliminary hand-crafted version of the final piece prior to casting and painting.
In Pig Pen's case, the visual solution of his hair, the dust cloud at his feet, and other details were refined. Dark Horse project manager Sarah Sturgill discussed the sculpture with Ms. Braddock, and they agreed that the approach was a good way to solve the visual problem as far as the sculpture was concerned, and outlined additional features to be addressed in the paint application phase.
At that point, a mold was made of the clay piece, and a resin casting was created. After approval there were to be no further sculptural changes.
The Yoe! team then created a color palette, submitting the colors as designated by the widely used PMS color codes. Again, this was consistent with the Peanuts style guide. The coloring was essential to the success of Pig Pen. Experimentation revealed that the black speckled dots Schulz used to convey dirt and grit came off as if they were acne or skin blemishes. Ms. Gussoni came up with a smudgy paint effect that looked, well, dirty. While this solution was actually quite different than the cartoon sketches, it was an inspired choice that really solved the problem. We had arrived at a Pig Pen that was true to the underlying character, but attainable in production.
We started with a darker-than-usual skin color. We put a wash on top of the first paint application to give it a smudged look, trying different levels to get the right patina. It's interesting ... usually with the syroco-style pieces we take a complex color scheme and simplify it. With Pig Pen, we used a fairly sophisticated paint application to create an effect that appears simple. It is only a rumor that we used Craig Yoe as a model by smearing dirt and mud on his face over and over until we found what we were looking for!
The painted version and an unpainted tooling pattern were then sent to the manufacturer. They reviewed it, and suggested that since his individual hairs would be overly fragile in the poly-resin material the rest of the statue was made of, that they would use thick wire for the hairs, which would be bent into shape and painted.
Meanwhile, Sturgill coordinated the graphic design of the tin box art, as well as the booklet on the character and pinback button that are inserted into the inside lid of the box. All these were approved, and the components were sent to different manufacturers for production and subsequent delivery to the statue factory.
As the statues were produced, we receive additional samples from the production run, which were sent to United Media and the Schulz team to confirm that the quality is consistent throughout the run. Each is hand-numbered on the underside of the base. Then the finished, assembled statuettes are carefully packed for shipping into cartons of eight, with each carton numbered so the individual numbers of the contents can be determined.
These are shipped from the factory in China to Hong Kong, where they are sent via ocean freight to the Port of Seattle, and by truck to the Dark Horse warehouse for distribution.
The result is a charming collectible whose simplicity belies the complexity of its creation.
Sonoma State music hall may be named for Peanuts Schroeder
September 17, 2007
The Associated Press
ROHNERT PARK, California -- One of the three main buildings comprising Sonoma State Universitys new performing arts center may be named for Schroeder, the precocious, Beethoven-loving pianist of Peanuts fame.
Campus officials proposed naming the 250-seat recital hall for the cartoon character because the widow of Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz donated $5 million toward the project, which will be part of the Donald and Maureen Green Music Center, Sonoma State spokeswoman Susan Kashack said.
"I know Sparky would have enjoyed thinking about Schroeder's connection to such a grand hall and stage," Jean Schulz said, referring to her late husband by one of his nicknames.
Jean Schulz graduated from Sonoma State, and Charles Schulz lived in Sonoma County for 42 years before he died in 2000.
California State University system trustees must approve the building's name, which they are expected to this week, according to Kashack.
Along with Schroeder's Recital Hall, the $100 million Green Music Center also will feature a 1,400-seat concert hall and a music education building, Kashack said.
The facility is scheduled to open in the fall of 2009.
Best in show
Happiness is existential ennui
September 11, 2007
By R.C. Baker
The Village Voice
The Complete Peanuts, 1965-66
www.fantagraphics.com
344 pp.; $28.95
In this eighth volume of an eventual 25 collecting all the daily and Sunday Peanuts strips, Snoopy dons an aviators helmet for the first of his jaunty dogfights with the Red Baron.
It's easy to track down this historical event through the index, which takes you to SNOOPY . . . House Burning Down . . . Siblings . . . As World War I Flying Ace . . .
The beagle who flies, plays a mean shortstop, and subs as a bespectacled analyst at the neighborhood psychiatric booth is made utterly believable through deft drawing; when sleeping, hes a heap of bulbous curves, which shift to taut diagonals whenever he performs his ecstatic bipedal dances.
Maybe its no coincidence that Charles M. Schulz (1922-2000) created such a popular, charismatic canine, since he once confessed to an interviewer, It took me a long time to become a human being. Hed had no dates in high school, and although he was a decent athlete, the other kids still regarded him as kind of sissyfied.
One could read these slights as the impetus to Charlie Browns failure to ever pitch a winning game or squire that little red-haired girl to a school dance. But how to explain the first ever Peanuts strip (published on October 2, 1950), of two kids sitting together on a curb?
As the future icon strolls by, the boy observes to the girl: Good ol' Charlie Brown . . . How I hate him!
If brevity is the soul of wit, perhaps it was Schulzs astonishingly spare penwork that propelled the existential charm of the world he created. The boy in that first comic (who later became Shermy) sits with his hands crossed in his lap -- until he delivers his anti-punch line with a downward squiggle of his brow and hands firmly on knees, body language as decisively portrayed as in any Picasso sketch.
Schulz, though, never considered himself a true artist, explaining I would love to be Andrew Wyeth or Picasso.
Yet this utterly steel-willed Minnesotans accomplishment -- 17,897 work-a-day dramas that struck a universal nerve -- was driven by his artwork. "I don't think you can write a comic strip on a typewriter," he pointed out." You're robbing yourself of the ideas that come from drawing. "
It was succinct visuals -- the foreshortening of Charlie Browns stubby legs as he lies forlornly on the pitchers mound, the rhythm of dark and light panels when Snoopy is behind enemy lines -- that made Schulzs Little League agonies and Great Pumpkin catechisms ring true. Like his chosen art form, there's something uniquely American about Schulzs earthbound realism.
He never quite figured out how to fill in the Happiness is a blank in his own life, and he never let his characters forget it.
Charlie Brown gang goes glam at Snoopy in Fashion
September 7, 2007
By Jan Paschal
Reuters
NEW YORK -- Good grief, Charlie Brown, you're gorgeous!
Who knew that beneath that sweater beat the heart of a fashionista whod rather wear a shiny gold mini dress?
Isaac Mizrahi, that's who.
He was among more than a dozen top designers, including Betsey Johnson, Pamella Roland and Heatherette, as well as celebrities like Kristin Chenoweth and Whoopi Goldberg, who gave the beloved Peanuts comic strip characters a total makeover on Friday night at the MetLife Snoopy in Fashion show in Manhattan's Bryant Park.
The designers' creations will be auctioned on eBay in October to raise money for the nonprofit organization Dress for Success, which provides low-income women with career clothes and support to help them thrive in the workplace.
For Charlie Brown, it was a gender-bender to remember.
Dutch designers Spijkers en Spijkers, who are twin sisters, imagined Charlie in a flared satin dress that looked more club kid than playground.
Jeannie Schulz, the widow of Peanuts creator Charles Schulz, welcomed the New York Fashion Week crowd of 1,500 to the show with a glimpse into her husband's own style sense.
"My husband always loved a good show and he always loved clothes," she said. "He couldn't pass a men's clothing store without looking at the sweaters. "
Later, she told Reuters that fans sent him beautiful sweaters, which he found touching, but she added: "You know, you kind of like to pick your own. "
On the runway, Snoopy proved that a beagle can clean up nice when he's wearing a white mink coat designed by Jeremy Scott for Saga Furs.
Woodstock channeled his inner showgirl when model Camilla strutted out in a bright yellow top hat and matching dress with beaded top and sassy skirt made of feathers.
"I put Woodstock in a little bitty dress. I used dyed ostrich feathers," said designer Laura Bennett, the Project Runway finalist from the Bravo show last fall.
But it was her vision of Pig Pen in clouds of light brown tulle and a copper jersey gown that almost stopped the show.
"Pig Pen was a little bit more of a challenge," Bennett told Reuters. "He's known for his grunge aesthetic. I wanted to give him some of my glam. "
Ingrid Hoffmann, host of Simply Delicioso on the Food Network, gave crabby Lucy a chance to shed her schoolgirl dress and saddle shoes. Hoffmann slipped Lucy into a blue chiffon swimsuit cover-up and stilettos.
"I wanted a va-va-voom Lucy! It's as if Lucy goes to South Beach or she's on the French Riviera," Hoffmann said.
She also did the backstage catering, bringing lettuce wrap sandwiches in hopes of enticing the models to eat something, adding: "Those girls looked like they could use a good meal. "
Dog of many disguises
Santa Rosa's final statue summer celebrates Snoopy
August 16, 2007
By Derrick Bang
The Davis Enterprise [California]
I knew we were in for a long day, after realizing that the dot for statue No. 62 was off the map ... as in way off.
And mind you, the map in question already represented a good chunk of the outlying area surrounding Santa Rosa.
The missing dot corresponded to the offices of the Laguna Treatment Plant, so I suppose its outlying location makes sense. Nobody wants to live downwind of a treatment plant.
Which also begs the bigger question: a people-sized statue of Snoopy ... at a treatment plant?
Such is the appeal of Charles M. Schulz's beloved Peanuts characters, and the ongoing local sponsorship interest in the annual tribute programs that have filled Santa Rosa with statues for the past few summers.
According to Schulz's son Craig, though, this will be Santa Rosa's final fling with the whimsical artworks.
That's a shame; family treasure hunts rarely are this much fun.
"We planned on a three-year program from the beginning," Craig said, during a recent chat, "and in doing so we intentionally left Snoopy out until the last year. We've had such a great response from the public -- and such awesome support from the sponsors -- that a lot of people want it to continue, but we feel that since weve asked so much from the sponsors and all the volunteers, that we don't want to push it too far."
"We feel we will go out on a very high note. Unfortunately, there's no easy way to end an event like this, without some sadness."
A high note, indeed.
Snoopy's Joe Cool Summer has put an impressive 95 statues of the world-famous beagle on the streets and in the businesses of Santa Rosa. They follow in the, ah, footsteps of Charlie Brown and Woodstock, who filled the city in, respectively, the summers of 2005 and '06.
The program has gotten more ambitious each year, which is great news for the eager sponsors ... but perhaps a bit daunting for dedicated statue-searchers. Finding all 55 Charlie Brown statues was a challenge for a one-day excursion, but certainly easy if divided between two days. Tagging the 76 Woodstock statues was pretty much impossible in a single day, but not at all difficult during a leisurely paced weekend.
But 95 Joe Cool statues?
After learning of that total, our intrepid team -- ace photographer Scott McGuire, your humble correspondent and my constant companion -- budgeted a full weekend in mid-June, along with the subsequent Saturday. We figured all three days would be necessary, but we secretly hoped to finish during the first weekend.
Although not that far away, a trip to Santa Rosa isnt necessarily a trivial drive; Highway 101 can be a parking lot, and the alternate inland route can slow to a crawl, depending on the influx of winery visitors.
As for how we did ... we'll get back to that.
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In their virgin state, the statues are roughly 5 feet tall and made of white polyurethane resin. All the statues start out looking identical: Snoopy in his Joe Cool persona, wearing sunglasses and canted at a slight tilt, as if he's leaning against an invisible doghouse. The statues were produced by the TivoliToo Design & Sculpting Studios, and delivered to Santa Rosa earlier this spring.
They were unveiled to the public during a paint-off that took place May 15-20, when dozens of artists -- amateur and pro -- let their imaginations run amok while transforming each statue into something unique. Some artists were satisfied with novel paint schemes, while others added physical accessories or even built up the statues in some way (most commonly, adding a small Woodstock).
Each statue also received a title, many with pun-laden plays on words ... such as 00K9 ... Her Majestys Secret Beagle, The Underwater World of Joe Coolsteau, the cow-inspired S-moo-py and the golf-themed Life's Ruff.
Honestly, part of the fun is the size of the groan produced by some of the more inventive titles.
The statues were distributed throughout the city in late May and early June, where -- vandals permitting -- they'll remain until the end of the summer. From Sept. 15-21, they'll all be moved to the ball field adjacent to the Charles M. Schulz Museum, 2301 Hardies Lane, where fans will be able to spot the few that might have eluded them until then.
Finally, a festival and statue auction will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 22. If you've got $15,000 or so to blow, you, too, could return home with a rather unusual -- and large -- adornment for the back yard garden. According to Craig Schulz, at least 16 statues will be up for bid.
Not all statues are auctioned: Sponsors who wish to keep them are entitled to do so, if they fork over a contribution on top of the base statue price and artists fees. Indeed, we saw many Charlie Brown and Woodstock statues during our recent search for Joe Cool. A few ambitious sponsors displayed tableaus of all three statues, having been involved each year.
The funds raised will go toward local artist scholarships and the permanent bronze statue that will be unveiled at 11 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 23, at the Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport.
"The bronze isn't quite finished yet, " Craig admitted," but they promise me they've never been late, and that it will be here. It's the classic image of Charlie Brown and Linus at the wall, and it'll be around 4 to 5 feet tall. "
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As we did last summer, our team began at the aforementioned airport, at the western end of the appropriately named Airport Boulevard, at the northern fringes of Santa Rosa. Things are hopping at the tiny airport these days; as of March 21, Horizon Air began daily service to and from Seattle and Los Angeles. Even so, the facility remains delightfully old-school; passengers walk directly onto the runway to board their flights, and major airport-style security checks are scarcely more than an afterthought.
The airport is, quite appropriately, home to Flying Ace Nabs the Red Baron, a statue that shows the WWI Flying Ace leaning on a tiny airport control tower, an equally miniature Red Baron rather futilely buzzing its much larger target. (Images of King Kong swatting at biplanes spring to mind.)
Half a dozen other statues are within a few blocks, most notably the absolutely gorgeous Joe Cool-perman, complete with spit-curl and decked out in Kal-El's familiar red, blue and yellow caped outfit.
From there, you can pick up Elton Comes to Play -- one of two Elton John-themed statues -- at the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts, while following Highway 101 south back into Santa Rosa proper.
Having now become a veteran statue-seeker, I recommend no fewer than three participants for such a challenge: one to drive; one to intently study the map, when the reality of Santa Rosas streets fails to conform with what is expected (which happens more than youd expect); and one to peer in every direction, seeking both street signs and statues, and shout, "There it is!"
And, frankly, the more the merrier: Chartering a limo aint a bad idea.
Despite having conducted our search almost as quickly as the statues were unveiled -- so quickly, in fact, that a few of the 95 still hadnt been completed -- we were dismayed by the destructive efforts of vandals. The Egyptian-flavored A-snoop-bis was missing the top half of his staff, while the entire skateboard had been ripped away from Cool the World. Similarly, Cowboy Joe Cool was absent its lariat, and a cell phone had been removed from the paw of Joe Chops.
Small wonder, then, that some sponsors have self-defensively moved their statues indoors. That's great for protecting their investment, not so good for statue-seekers who show up after hours or on weekends.
Bear in mind, then, that the following statues are visible only during (usually weekday) business hours:
* No. 30: Shakespeare Snoopy, inside Halls Engraving;
* No. 34: Joe Cool and the Gang, inside the credit union at 501 College Ave.;
* No. 38: Joe Cool Bowler, inside the County Administration Building;
* No. 39: the incredibly neat FM DJ Joe Cool, spinning platters inside the KZST/KJZY radio station;
* No. 82: Pinot Puppy, well inside the Paradise Ridge Winery complex;
* No. 86: Wingardium LeviJoesa, a Harry Potter-themed statue behind closed gates at the Sonoma County Day School.
Additionally, the dot for No. 79 -- the aforementioned Life's Ruff -- is mislocated on the map produced by the Santa Rosa Press Democrat; the statue actually is at the Fountaingrove Golf and Country Club, not too far from Paradise Ridge Winery and its Pinot Puppy.
Changes of this nature are tabulated as quickly as they become known, and added to an errata sheet that can be picked up at the Santa Rosa Visitors Center in Railroad Square, 9 Fourth St., west of Highway 101 in downtown Santa Rosa. The Visitors Center also has its own statue -- Pucker Up, Sweetie - which will be presented to the lucky winner of a summer-long raffle. Tickets, at a mere $1, are available inside the Visitors Center.
Further information can be obtained by calling (800) 404-7673 or visiting www.peanutsonparade.com.
That's also a good place to park and walk, because Joe Cool ... Always the Top Dog, Fly Fisherman Snoopy, Snoopy in My Dreams, Hamilton A.F.B. 1967, Snoopy Dawg: Hip Beagle, Joe Brakeman Cool and Puttin on the Ritz are within a few easy blocks.
(We were pleased to see that the city apparently abandoned its large red Doghouse Information Booth, supposedly a second source of maps and additional information, which in previous years was placed about a mile away at the Old Courthouse Square. Despite signs with clearly specified staffing hours, we never found anybody at the booth during our 2005 and '06 sorties.)
The Schulz Complex -- the Charles M. Schulz Museum, the Redwood Empire Ice Arena ( Snoopy's Home Ice ) and Snoopy's Gallery and Gift Shop -- also boasts a wealth of statues: Cool Reflections, Joe Masterpiece, Mr. Joe Debonair, famed artist Tom Everhart's Boom shaka laka laka, and Original Joe Cool.
Additionally, the too-gorgeous-for-words Joe Coolzilla was moved from its original location to the Schulz Museum.
While at Snoopy's Gallery and Gift Shop, you can purchase a variety of "Joe Cool Summer " souvenirs, from caps and T-shirts -- several styles of each -- to playing cards, wine glasses and a giant ceramic bank.
The Redwood Empire Ice Arena also is the site of the 24/7 Snoopy cam -- www.snoopyshomeice.com/webcam.shtml -- which is refreshed with a new image every 30 seconds. The camera keeps a steady eye on Cool Reflections, a mirror-hued statue put together by Craig Schulz and his family. Synchronize watches and warn your friends in advance, and the entire world will be able to see you pose with the statue.
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Our favorites?
First place is easy: Bling Dazzle Law Dawg, a meticulously assembled tile-and-mosaic creation by artist Ellen Blakeley, who made similar Woodstock and Charlie Brown statues. We were lucky enough to see her in action, while touring the Paint-Off earlier in the year. She is amazingly patient.
Other high points include the aforementioned Joe Coolzilla, FM DJ Joe Cool, Elton Comes to Play, Flying Ace Nabs the Red Baron, Joe Masterpiece and Joe Cool-perman ; Fleurs De Beagle, another beautiful statue from annual sponsors King's Nursery; Steel Cool, welding his way into fans' hearts outside of Barndt's Welding; and Funtime at Fairtime: Be Cool.
No doubt you'll find favorites of your own.
With gas still hovering at $3 a gallon, I can't really call this a free adventure; it's easy to drain one or two tanks, depending on the fuel economy of your chariot of choice. But when compared to theme park prices, stalking Joe Cool still rates as a family-friendly bargain.
Oh, right ... how did we do?
With industrious driving and a very early start on our Sunday morning, we found every statue available during our two-day weekend. Mind you, a few of those were photographed behind glass, since we werent touring during business hours.
But "available " is a loaded word. We checked off 89 of the 95; two of the others were in the shop for repairs, while the remaining four hadn't yet made it to the streets. During a return trip to Santa Rosa a few weekends later -- for other reasons -- we took an hour to find five of the remaining six.
The last one -- Snoopy Dawg: Hip Beagle -- still was out for repairs.
Can we retire, having missed only one?
I rather doubt it ... which means another trip to Santa Rosa in the near future.
Wings over Wine Country
Snoopy flies again: Scale model of Sopwith Camel, vintage warplanes featured at weekend air show
August 15, 2007
By Bob Norbert
The Santa Rosa Press Democrat
One-of-a-kind, three-quarter scale models of Snoopy's Sopwith Camel and the Red Barons Fokker triplane, characters familiar to millions of Peanuts fans, will be center stage this weekend at the Wings Over Wine Country air show.
"It's our connection with Charles Schulz and his legacy, with Snoopy and the Red Baron," said Dave Pinsky, the executive director of the Pacific Coast Air Museum, based at the airport bearing the late Santa Rosa cartoonist's name.
The two models, which hung in the Sonoma County Fairground's Hall of Flowers and are detailed down to the ribbed wings, are two of the museum's newest acquisitions.
They will be displayed alongside two dozen modern jet fighters, prop-driven war birds and two planes new to the museum: a Pitt Special aerobatics plane and a former California Department of Forestry firefighting tanker.
There also will be performances by five civilian and three military aerobatic teams, parades of dozens of World War II-era planes that will fly by the airport, and cockpits and a flight simulator for people to crawl in and get the feel of rudders and control sticks.
Among the planes on display will be a Lockheed P-38 dubbed City of Santa Rosa, using the name of a similar plane that was first flown in the Korean War by pilot Willis Tupper, who named the plane after his hometown.
"The real one was lost. It went out for a night mission and never came back" said Ron Stout of Santa Rosa, an air museum volunteer who has been involved in the plane's 17-year restoration.
About 25,000 people are expected at the show, now in its 11th year.
"Air shows are getting to be one of the big attractions for outdoors entertainment," said Barney Hagen, a former Royal Canadian Air Force pilot, who is the shows operations director." People like to see the aerobatic maneuvers, they like to see the military aircraft. "
The show is Saturday and Sunday at Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport, which itself is steeped in aviation history.
During World War II, it was an Army airfield to train Lockheed P-38 and Bell P-39 fighter pilots, and before that it was the site of the first air mail plane, which flew from Petaluma in 1911.
"Sonoma County has an extremely rich aviation heritage," Pinsky noted, a history that he said the 18-year-old, not-for-profit air museum was formed to preserve.
The annual air show is the museum's largest fund-raiser, netting about $100,000 in profit, which is used to restore the museum's planes and for a new, larger museum proposed for land a quarter-mile away.
The show runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Admission is $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and $5 for children.
On Friday, a C-17 Globemaster, a military cargo plane able to take off and land in short distances, will fly in, and there will be an aerobatic practice at 2 p.m. for pilots of a Pitt Special and a Navy F/A-18 Hornet.
MetLife Blimp Snoopy Three Debuts As Company Celebrates 20-Year Anniversary of Blimp Program
August 14, 2007
home.businesswire.com
NEW YORK -- MetLife Inc. announced today the debut of Snoopy Three, the newest blimp addition to the MetLife Blimp Program. Snoopy Three will serve to enhance the company's blimp program for three months beginning in August, through the end of October 2007. Snoopy Three will handle an extended blimp schedule, as a result of pick-up in activity in celebration of the 20-year anniversary of the MetLife Blimp Program.
"We are excited to celebrate the 20-year anniversary of the MetLife Blimp Program," said Beth Hirschhorn, senior vice president, Global Brand & Marketing Services, MetLife. "The blimps are an icon of our company that play an integral role in MetLife's marketing mix -- bringing viewers valuable coverage on a range of events and promoting what we do as a company -- the MetLife blimps are the most recognized blimps in the country. "
