Schulz was the creator of the comic strip “Peanuts,” known for its classic characters Charlie Brown, Linus, Lucy, and Snoopy. Mendelson’s characteristic of jumping the gun often worked in his favor, even when at first it didn’t. Schulz agreed to Mendelson’s idea of the documentary. While Mendelson was driving to meet with Schulz, he heard a jazz band on the radio that he thought would be perfect for the documentary’s soundtrack. It was the Vince Guaraldi Trio.
‘Peanuts’ for Christmas
Two years later, as “Peanuts” continued to grow in popularity, an executive for Coca-Cola came calling. Remembering the documentary pitch, he asked if Mendelson and Schulz had considered creating a “Peanuts” Christmas show. Mendelson jumped the gun again. When the executive asked to have the pitch by the following Monday, Mendelson replied, “No problem.”He had committed to a “Peanuts” Christmas special without letting the creator know, but Schulz was game. Mendelson, Schulz, and Bill Melendez, the longtime animator who had worked with Schulz on several “Peanuts”-themed Ford commercials, had five days to outline a Christmas special. They finished it in a day. Coca-Cola accepted the pitch.
Luckily for Mendelson, he already had a composer in mind: Guaraldi. Shortly after Guaraldi had signed onto the project, he called Mendelson asking him to listen to a song he had composed. Mendelson said he preferred to hear it in person, but Guaraldi implored him to listen right then before he forgot the tune. Over the phone, Mendelson listened to the eventual iconic “Peanuts” theme song of “Linus and Lucy.”
As is typical for jazz compositions, there were no words. For the Christmas song, however, Mendelson felt there should be. Guaraldi had already composed a tune, so Mendelson started reaching out to lyricists. In a time crunch, he decided to write it himself. He sat down and wrote out the now classic holiday song “Christmas Time Is Here.” It took him 15 minutes.
The three decided to have the songs sung and the actors voiced by children rather than adults. When Schulz wanted to use biblical passages in the script, Mendelson went with it.
After the three watched the final product, they thought they had ruined “Peanuts.” The CBS executives also didn’t like it, but they had already placed it in the TV guide schedule. The plan was to run it once that Dec. 9, 1965, and never again.
The ratings came in. “A Charlie Brown Christmas” had garnered an astounding 49 percent of television audiences. CBS quickly issued a 15-year contract and it has become an American Christmas classic.
