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Overview

Discover why the beloved Peanuts holiday special reshaped storytelling—and join a live Q&A for history buffs and fans of classic animation, online.

Details

Tickets: $12 (includes access to the full replay for one week)

Click the link below to officially register for this experience:

https://www.nyadventureclub.com/event/1963468905351

To best appreciate this webinar, we encourage you to first watch the full episode of A Charlie Brown Christmas on the Internet Archive!
Sixty years ago on December 9, 1965, a little scraggly tree and a round-headed kid helped reshape how we see the holiday season. Against all odds, an earnest story about the true meaning of Christmas became one of the most beloved animated specials of all time. Get ready to peel back the wrapping and explore how this quiet half-hour classic made such a lasting impact on American pop culture, holiday storytelling, and the television landscape.

Join New York Adventure Club for a retrospective and analysis of the landmark animated special A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965). Through heartfelt storytelling, distinctive production choices, and an uncompromising creative vision, we’ll explore how this modest cartoon by Peanuts creator Charles Schulz became one of the most enduring half-hours in television — and why its message still resonates sixty years later.

Led by pop culture historian Arlen Schumer, this in-depth exploration of the timeless cartoon classic widely considered “the greatest animated Christmas special of all time” will include:

  • An analysis of A Charlie Brown Christmas — how its message, tone, and simplicity set it apart from other holiday programming of its time
  • A look at Charles Schulz’s storytelling vision — and how his collaboration with director Bill Melendez and producer Lee Mendelson brought the Peanuts gang to life
  • Behind-the-scenes decisions — why casting real children as voice actors broke from industry norms and gave the special its emotional authenticity
  • A breakdown of the special’s iconic dance scene — how its spontaneous charm became one of the most beloved and imitated moments in animation history
  • The special’s unlikely path to broadcast — and how CBS nearly shelved it before it became a cultural touchstone watched by millions every year

Afterward, we'll have a Q&A with Arlen — any and all questions are welcomed and encouraged!
Can't make it live? Don't worry, you'll have access to the full replay for one week.
See you there, virtually!

*Immediately upon registering, you will receive a separate, automated email containing the link to join this webinar
**For the best possible viewing experience, please ensure you're using the latest version of your internet browser
***A full replay of the experience will be available to all registered guests for up to a week
****If the event has already passed, but it's been less than a week, you can still register for it on our website's active replay section!

About Arlen
Arlen Schumer, MFA is one of the foremost historians of comic book art, named by Comic Book Artist magazine in 1998 as "one of the more articulate and enthusiastic advocates of comic book art in America." His coffee table book, The Silver Age of Comic Book Art, won the Independent Publishers Book Award for best Popular Culture book.
Schumer is also one of comic book art’s most idiosyncratic practitioners, creating award-winning illustrations for the advertising and editorial markets.
Arlen Schumer is also an esteemed Twilight Zone scholar, and an author/designer of the only coffee table art book about the series, Visions from The Twilight Zone.
“One of the country’s pre-eminent authorities on comics and culture.” —Jon Meyerson, Producer, ABC News’ 20/20
“Nobody speaks about comics with more authority, understanding and love than Arlen does. He is to comics what Pauline Kael was to movies.” —Clem Robins, letterer for DC and Marvel Comics

Disclaimer
By attending a New York Adventure Club experience, you accept our terms of service.
This is an educational webinar presented by New York Adventure Club and is not affiliated with Charles Schulz, his estate, Peanuts Worldwide, Lee Mendelson Film Productions, CBS Studios, or any other associated entities or rights holders. This fan-driven experience is intended to celebrate the legacy, artistry, and cultural significance of A Charlie Brown Christmas. All references to the Peanuts characters, television specials, or related media are made solely for educational and commentary purposes, with no official endorsement or sponsorship implied. Peanuts, A Charlie Brown Christmas, and all related trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
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