Good Grief, Charlie Brown

Schroeder and Lucy

Location coordinates:
44°56'44"N,
93°05'47"W
Landmark Plaza
St. Paul, Minnesota

When I was growing up one of my favorite things about the fall and holiday seasons were the Peanuts specials on TV. As September moved into October I began my ritual monitoring of the TV Guide for the network airing of these shows. First up was It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. Halloween just wouldn't have been Halloween without cheering on Linus in his quest to see The Great Pumpkin and Charlie Brown's woeful expression of "I got a rock" compared to his friend's candy each time they went trick-or-treating. Then came A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving where we all laughed at Charlie Brown's lack of culinary skill as he offered up buttered toast as a Thanksgiving dinner. Rounding out the holiday season was A Charlie Brown Christmas, causing us to wonder along with the rest of the Peanuts gang just why Charlie Brown chose that dead, scrawny little Christmas tree.

Charles M. Schulz, creator of the Peanuts comic strip, was born in Minneapolis and grew up in St. Paul. Schulz left Minnesota for California in his mid-thirties, but his influence is still seen around the Twin Cities even today. And Minnesota certainly influenced Charles Schulz. As I watched those shows as a child I had no idea that I would eventually live in the birthplace of the Peanuts gang. In fact, the location setting for Charlie Brown's hometown was based on the Linden Hills neighborhood in southwest Minneapolis, which adjoins my own neighborhood of East Harriet Farmstead.

Charlie Brown and Snoopy

Wandering around downtown St. Paul the other day I came across these bronze statues of several of the Peanuts gang hanging out in the area around Landmark Center and Rice Park. You can't help but feel transported back to those happy childhood memories as you come across these figures in the heart of the city. So, does achieving middle age, coupled with the fact my children are now grown adults, mean that I've put the Charlie Brown shows behind me? Not a chance. And I'll bet I'm not the only middle-aged guy wanting to step back and spend a few minutes reliving those simple holiday memories. I could go out and buy the DVD sets, but it might be more fun to simply keep an eye on the TV listings - just like the good ole' days.