It’s officially been 60 years since “A Charlie Brown Christmas” debuted. Half of all households with a TV on tuned into CBS to watch it, which amounted to about 15 million people.
It marked the first-ever TV special based on the “Peanuts” comic strip. Here are some other facts you might not know:
1. It had a budget of $76,000 from CBS and Coca-Cola to get made. And a six-month time frame.
2. There was almost an added laugh track, but Charles M. Schulz wouldn’t let that happen.
3. Snoopy’s voice is just sped-up nonsense.
4. Schulz thought jazz music was awful, but thought it still fit the vision for the special.
5. Charlie Brown’s head was difficult to animate because of its round shape. Snoopy was the easiest.
6. It killed aluminum tree sales. Viewers became more interested in real trees.