NEW YORK, Sept. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Saturday, October 2 marks the 60th anniversary of
PEANUTS by Charles M. Schulz.
First launched in only seven papers, the comic strip now
appears in over 2,200 newspapers, in 75 countries and 21 languages.
PEANUTS animated specials have become a seasonal tradition
and thousands of consumer products are available in virtually all
retail channels. Charlie Brown kicking the football, Linus
and his blanket and Lucy leaning over Schroeder's piano are images that live in
everyone's memory. Phrases such as "Security Blanket" and
"Good Grief" have become a part of the global vernacular.
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100929/NY73030 )
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100929/NY73030
)
To honor the 60th anniversary of PEANUTS and the impact of
cartoonist Charles M. Schulz on
millions of people worldwide, celebrations have been held across
the globe. The yearlong tribute culminates on October 2, the "birth date" of the beloved world
of PEANUTS, with some noteworthy events that will be enjoyed by
family, friends and fans nationwide.
- A photograph of PEANUTS creator Charles Schulz (1922–2000) will
be presented to the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery in a
ceremony for invited guests on October
1. The 1986 photograph, created by acclaimed portraitist
Yousuf Karsh, is the Portrait
Gallery's first image of the famed cartoonist. In the image, Schulz
is at his drawing board with pen in hand. Before him is a partially
completed PEANUTS full-page comic featuring the perennially popular
story line in which Lucy snatches the football away from
Charlie Brown and sends him hurtling
through the air. The photograph, with the accompanying original
comic strip, will be on view to the public immediately following
the ceremony in the museum's "New Arrivals" exhibition.
- On October 2, the National
Portrait Gallery will host a family-and-friends day with events for
all ages: cartooning workshops; a screening of It's the Great
Pumpkin, Charlie Brown; and
guest appearances from Snoopy and Schulz friend Lee Mendelson, executive producer of all the
classic PEANUTS specials.
- The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History will also
mark the 60th anniversary of the PEANUTS strip with a case that
will feature objects from Schulz, including drawing utensils, an
animation cell from the television special It's the Great
Pumpkin, Charlie Brown and two
comic panels that show the cartoon's progression from rough pencil
sketches to finished ink strips beginning October 1.
- Also this month, PEANUTS fans are celebrating the 60th
anniversary of their favorite comic strip via the "Countdown to the
Great Pumpkin" (www.greatpumpkincountdown.com) game. This online
social media game invites Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, Foursquare
and YouTube users to join the Anniversary fun by completing a
series of daily PEANUTS-themed "to-dos" from early September
through Halloween. Players earn
points for each task completed—such as sharing a PEANUTS quote with
their friends or followers, or changing their profile picture to
that of a PEANUTS character—and the winner will take home a special
PEANUTS-loaded iPad and have a shot at an extra $25,000. Weekly winners receive prizes throughout
the contest and members of the Schulz family—including Charles
Schulz's son Craig, daughter Jill, and widow, Jeannie—are playing
along, offering their own PEANUTS memories and suggesting some of
the daily to-dos.
PEANUTS fans can purchase a variety of 60th anniversary
merchandise including plush, photo albums, frames, coffee cups and
cards from Hallmark Gold Crown stores; DVDs from Warner Home Video;
The Peanuts Collection from Little Brown and Company, a
compendium of rare materials from the Charles Schulz museum and
family archives; and a variety of high end apparel and other items
from designers such as LaCoste, Longchamps, and Converse available
at New York's upscale
mini-department store Jeffrey.
"I know that Sparky would be humbled but also delighted to see
the scope of events celebrating the 60th Anniversary of PEANUTS,"
says Schulz's widow, Jeanne Schulz.
"Most of all he would be so moved to see the tremendous enthusiasm
and affection that people of all ages and nationalities continue to
feel for his beloved characters."
About Charles Schulz
Charles Schulz once described himself as "born to draw comic
strips." A Minneapolis native, he
was just two days old when an uncle nicknamed him "Sparky," after
the horse Spark Plug from the "Barney Google" comic strip.
Throughout his youth, he and his father shared a Sunday-morning
ritual of reading the funnies. After serving in the army during
World War II, Schulz got his first big break in 1947 when he sold a
cartoon feature called "Li'l Folks" to the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
In 1950, Schulz met with United Feature Syndicate, and on
Oct. 2 of that year, "Peanuts," so
named by the syndicate, debuted in seven newspapers. Schulz died in
Santa Rosa, Calif., Feb. 12, 2000—just hours before his last original
strip was to appear in Sunday papers.
PEANUTS Worldwide
The PEANUTS characters and related intellectual property are
owned by Peanuts Worldwide LLC, a joint venture owned 80% by Iconix
Brand Group, Inc. and 20% by members of the Charles M. Schulz family. Iconix Brand Group,
Inc. (Nasdaq: ICON) owns, licenses and markets a growing portfolio
of consumer brands including CANDIE'S (R), BONGO (R), BADGLEY MISCHKA (R), JOE
BOXER (R), RAMPAGE (R), MUDD (R), LONDON FOG (R), MOSSIMO
(R), OCEAN PACIFIC(R), DANSKIN (R), ROCA WEAR(R), CANNON (R), ROYAL
VELVET (R), FIELDCREST (R), CHARISMA (R), STARTER (R) and
WAVERLY (R). In addition, Iconix
owns an interest in the ARTFUL DODGER (R), ED HARDY (R), ECKO (R), MARC ECKO (R), ZOO YORK (R), MATERIAL GIRL(TM),
and PEANUTS brands. The Company licenses its brands to a network of
leading retailers and manufacturers that touch every major segment
of retail distribution from the luxury market to the mass market in
both the U.S. and worldwide. Through its in-house business
development, merchandising, advertising and public relations
departments Iconix manages its brands to drive greater consumer
awareness and equity.
PEANUTS Worldwide
Contacts:
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Melissa Menta (212)
293-8506
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mmenta@peanuts.com
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Ilona Zaks (212)
293-8788
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izaks@peanuts.com
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SOURCE Iconix Brand Group, Inc.
Copyright . 29 PR Newswire