I went to the Schultz Museum last spring. The kids and wife wanted to go (I was not that into it). But as I was wondering around I starting talking to an old docent there who explained he met "Sparky" by working on his office equipment. Schultz became friends with him and talked him into learning hockey and joining his over 40 league. Remember Schultz was a Minnesota kid living in Santa Clara.
When the local rink closed, he built one. He hired people to run it and he got top of the line skates (hockey and figure) for the kids to rent.
I probably spent a good two hours talking to the guy. He was semi retired and just enjoyed doing something two or three times a week. He still skated at the rink in the over 70 league.
So I went back that night and did open skate with the kids. I have to say, the Peanut characters were all head cases, but Schultz and the old guy were okay.
I used to live in Santa Clara, and Santa Rosa was a long drive. Good thing, too, as my space cadet SiL lived up there and I could avoid her using the "It's too far to drive" excuse. Works even better from NC.
But the real point is - why the fuck was Peanuts never funny? That was as depressed and depressing a "comic" strip as I ever read. Pathetic. Must have been due to the creator being from Minnesota and liking to ice skate. Ice, really? Pathetic...
Santa Clara is now over priced. The house "My Three Suns" was supposedly filmed in would go for what, $3,000,000 today (was that in Palo Alto or Santa Clara)?
Santa Rosa is probably cheaper than most of Nassau County. Which is of course not saying much. I suspect the taxes are cheaper there too, but I have not checked them out.
I was always a Linus fan. There was a series of strips where Lucy is terrorized by Linus' blanket. It waits for her, ambushes her...quite horrifying really.
Linus was my favorite character. But its really the TV specials that made "Peanuts" popular with the masses. The Christmas special was hard to make. The "sponsors" didn't like it. Don't know why. Could guess but that wouldn't be nice.
No, the strip was never laugh out, "haha" funny. It was smart and witty at least in the 50s/60s.
I think one of the early cartoons showed Charlie Brown walking by and the one of the other characters says: -OH, there's Charlie Brown! -Good ol' Charlie Brown -Yep, Good ol' Charlie Brown.. -How I hate him.
You're right Blake - it was pretty early, 1950?. I think the strip really went downhill in the 70s or 80s. C.S. seemed to be struggling and introducing new characters like Marcie.
I don't blame him. You can't keep writing about the same characters for ever (unless you're Beetle Bailey).
But the comic strips best years were probably pre-1975.
Of course, to my daughter comic strips are an alien concept. Do they even exist anymore?
I hate Sarah Jessica Parker, Robin Williams, Tim Robbins, Susan Saradon, the BJ Hunnicut guy, brussel sprouts, the Boston Red Sox, commies and well, lawyers.
20 comments:
When I was little I wanted to do the one that played the piano.
Charlie Brown's gotten to be a real pottymouth.
I went to the Schultz Museum last spring. The kids and wife wanted to go (I was not that into it). But as I was wondering around I starting talking to an old docent there who explained he met "Sparky" by working on his office equipment. Schultz became friends with him and talked him into learning hockey and joining his over 40 league. Remember Schultz was a Minnesota kid living in Santa Clara.
When the local rink closed, he built one. He hired people to run it and he got top of the line skates (hockey and figure) for the kids to rent.
I probably spent a good two hours talking to the guy. He was semi retired and just enjoyed doing something two or three times a week. He still skated at the rink in the over 70 league.
So I went back that night and did open skate with the kids. I have to say, the Peanut characters were all head cases, but Schultz and the old guy were okay.
Schultz was an emotional train wreck, not that that matters, and the last place he lived was in Santa Rosa, not Santa Clara.
That's a pretty good song, though.
Lynch has gotten better, I think?
Sixty Grit. D'oh. It's early, yes Santa Rosa.
A little early I know for October, but this thread needs a palliative cleanser: link
This is what I hear when Jon Huntsman talks.
I used to live in Santa Clara, and Santa Rosa was a long drive. Good thing, too, as my space cadet SiL lived up there and I could avoid her using the "It's too far to drive" excuse. Works even better from NC.
But the real point is - why the fuck was Peanuts never funny? That was as depressed and depressing a "comic" strip as I ever read. Pathetic. Must have been due to the creator being from Minnesota and liking to ice skate. Ice, really? Pathetic...
I lived in Santa Clara Sixty. Hugs.
I was a member of the Santa Clara Vanguard.
We practiced right by the 6 flags or whatever that amusement park was.
Special bonding going on definitely.
I lived in Santa Cruz and San Francisco as well.
But I am an East Coast girl.
I loved "Peanuts" as a kid. Read them all. I don't know that I can say they made me laugh, interestingly. I just liked the strips.
Titus, you are a sad old queen. Keep your diseased hugs to yourself.
The Ying and Yang of Peanuts
Dispair all who look here.
Santa Clara is now over priced. The house "My Three Suns" was supposedly filmed in would go for what, $3,000,000 today (was that in Palo Alto or Santa Clara)?
Santa Rosa is probably cheaper than most of Nassau County. Which is of course not saying much. I suspect the taxes are cheaper there too, but I have not checked them out.
That's a pretty astute piece, Fred.
I was always a Linus fan. There was a series of strips where Lucy is terrorized by Linus' blanket. It waits for her, ambushes her...quite horrifying really.
My kind of dark humor.
Sixty I am 40. Is that old?
I guess you are right, in gay terms I am an old hag.
Linus was my favorite character. But its really the TV specials that made "Peanuts" popular with the masses. The Christmas special was hard to make. The "sponsors" didn't like it. Don't know why. Could guess but that wouldn't be nice.
No, the strip was never laugh out, "haha" funny. It was smart and witty at least in the 50s/60s.
I think one of the early cartoons showed Charlie Brown walking by and the one of the other characters says:
-OH, there's Charlie Brown!
-Good ol' Charlie Brown
-Yep, Good ol' Charlie Brown..
-How I hate him.
Funny stuff.
rcocean,
Well, I was Linus to my sister's Lucy so there was a thing there.
That strip you mention was early on, like first year. Sherman and (non-Peppermint) Patty, I think. Or maybe her name was Violet.
You're right Blake - it was pretty early, 1950?. I think the strip really went downhill in the 70s or 80s. C.S. seemed to be struggling and introducing new characters like Marcie.
I don't blame him. You can't keep writing about the same characters for ever (unless you're Beetle Bailey).
But the comic strips best years were probably pre-1975.
Of course, to my daughter comic strips are an alien concept. Do they even exist anymore?
Peppermint Patty was definitely a dyke though.
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