A look back at local, national and world events through Deseret News archives.
On Feb. 12, 2000, cartoonist Charles Schulz died at his home in Santa Rosa, Calfiornia.
On Feb. 13 — 25 years ago today — the final new “Peanuts” cartoon strip was released in newspapers around the nation and world.
Schulz was the brainchild of “Peanuts,” the much-loved cartoon series featuring the characters of Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy and Linus with his blanket.
Per historical accounts, Schulz always wanted to be a cartoonist. When he initially sold his cartoon Li’l Folks to United Feature Syndicate in 1950 its name was changed to “Peanuts,” to avoid a claim on the title from the owner a 1930’s strip called “Little Folks.”
Schulz reportedly never liked the name, and avoided using it conversation.
“Peanuts” grew in popularity, books were published, and in 1965 it appeared on the cover of Time magazine. In the same year the first animated TV special was broadcast, winning Schulz his first Grammy award. An off-Broadway show also ran for four years, followed by a musical. Over the decades “Peanuts” popularity continued, the NASA Apollo 10 mission used Snoopy in its safety program and an animated film appeared in 1969. At its height, “Peanuts” appeared in 2,600 papers in 75 countries, in 21 languages.
Schulz retired in 1999 not long before his death.
Who is your favorite character? Which was your favorite gag?
For me it was Snoopy as a mystery writer, seated at a typewriter atop his doghouse: “It was a dark and stormy night ...”
A Utah connection
One of Schulz’s daughters, Amy, lived in Utah for many years, and she told her story to the Deseret News as her famous father prepared to retire.
You’ll grow to appreciate Schulz’s talent again through her eyes.
Here are some articles from Deseret News archives of the cartoonist, “Peanuts” the comic strip, the individual characters and the timeless appeal:
“Charles Schulz to draw one final ‘Peanuts’ strip”
“Good grief! Farewell strip runs Monday”
“Comic strips hail spark of ‘Peanuts’ creator”
“Charlie Brown’s timeless appeal: The secret behind the ‘Peanuts’ franchise”
“Schulz daughter nuts about ‘Peanuts’: Utahn says her dad is truly Charlie Brown”
“‘The Peanuts Movie’ captures the charm of Schulz’s beloved comic strip”