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Journalism of Courage
WASHINGTON, FEBRUARY 13: Charles Schulz, the creator of the immensely popular Peanuts8217; comic strip featuring Charlie Brown and Snoopy, died late Saturday the night before the final Peanuts8217; strip was to appear in Sunday newspapers. Quoting Schulz8217;s son, CNN television reported here that the 77-year old cartoonist succumbed to cancer of the colon.
Schulz had been undergoing treatment in Santa Rosa, California, near San Francisco. He died at his home. Along with battling cancer, Schulz recently suffered minor strokes that left him with slurred speech and impaired vision.The day following Schulz8217;s death, newspapers published the final Peanuts8217; cartoon,concluding a 50-year run for the strip and bringing to an end a daily cartoon staple followed by millions of readers around the world.
Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, Snoopy and the other stars of the Peanuts8217; strip first appeared in seven newspapers on October 2, 1950, and instantly became a hit with readers. Schulz8217;s gentle brand of humor reached more than 355 million readers in 75 countries and 21 languages every day, making him the most successful cartoonist in history, with Peanuts8217; appearing in a record-breaking 2,600 newspapers.
His annual income from the strips, merchandise and product endorsements was estimated at somewhere between 30 and 40 million dollars. The cast of quirky and lovable characters gave the strip its bite and its poignancy. At its center was Charlie Brown, the great anti-hero of Peanuts,8217; always attempting to kick the football that got pulled away at the last moment.
Also among the lovable cast of characters was Lucy, who dispenses bad psychiatric advice at five cents per visit; Schroeder, who worships Beethoven and was capable of virtuoso performances on his toy piano; and Linus, the gentle voice of reason, who gets through life with the help of a thumb to suck and quot;security blanketquot; to nuzzle.
Perhaps most popular of all, was Snoopy, Charlie8217;s sometimes-aloof, sometimes-effusive beagle, who always seems to enjoy a much more satisfying life than his owner. For his grand finale, which appeared in newspapers Sunday, Schulz penned a montage capturing about a dozen of the laughs and pratfalls of his quirky characters.
In one sketch, Charlie Brown screams, quot;Aaugh!quot; as Lucy yanks a football just as he was about to make contact with his foot; in another scene, Lucy 8211; hopeless as ever in the outfield 8211; gets hit on the head while trying to catch a fly ball. In yet another, Snoopy battles the Red Baron in a leather fighter pilot helmet and goggles.
The farewell strip also contains a typewritten letter, signed by Schulz, to Peanuts8217; devotees. quot;Dear Friends,quot; the letter began. quot;I have been fortunate to draw Charlie Brown and his friends for almost 50 years. It has been the fulfillment of my childhood ambition. Unfortunately, I am no longer able to maintain the schedule demanded by a daily comic strip8230;.quot; quot;I have been grateful over the years for the loyalty of our editors and the wonderful support and love expressed to me by fans of the comic strip, Schulz continued. quot;Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus, Lucy,quot; he wrote. quot;How can I ever forget them 8230;quot;
