How 'Charlie Brown Christmas' Defied Doubts to Become a Holiday Classic

The 1965 animated special overcame network skepticism to deliver a heartfelt message that continues to resonate nearly 60 years later.

CBS executives initially doubted the success of 'A Charlie Brown Christmas,' citing its slow pacing, lack of a laugh track, and inclusion of a Bible passage.
The special was created under tight deadlines after Coca-Cola agreed to sponsor it, giving producer Lee Mendelson and creator Charles Schulz only months to complete it.
Schulz insisted on using real children's voices, omitting a laugh track, and including the Nativity story, despite pushback from network executives.
The jazz soundtrack, composed by Vince Guaraldi, introduced a distinctive and enduring musical element that set the special apart from other animated programming.
When it premiered on December 9, 1965, nearly half of American households tuned in, and the special received critical acclaim, winning an Emmy and a Peabody Award.