Monday 26 October 2015

Countdown to Halloween: Nine Things I Love About Halloween


#4
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown was an animated television special that was first broadcast on October 27, 1966. Based on the popular Peanuts comic strip by Charles Schultz, The Great Pumpkin and its predecessor, A Charlie Brown Christmas, are television classics. I was just a little girl when they first appeared, and I waited eagerly for them to be rebroadcast each year long before videotapes and DVDs let you watch them whenever you liked.

The story is simple:  the Peanuts gang are celebrating Halloween with "tricks-or-treats," followed by a Halloween party at Violet's house. Poor old Charlie Brown. One of the running gags is that, while everyone else is given a candy bar, gum, or a popcorn ball during trick or treating, all he ever gets is a rock.






Meanwhile, Linus waits in a pumpkin patch for the arrival of the Great Pumpkin, who will bring him toys if his pumpkin patch is "sincere" enough.



Then there's Snoopy, who always has a great imagination. This time he's a World War I flying ace who's shot down over enemy-controlled territory and infiltrates the Halloween party to enjoy some WWI classic songs. 



The story is funny and charming, and I enjoy it every year. In fact, it doesn't feel like Halloween until I've seen it. If you haven't seen it, do watch it. And if you have seen it, find a young child to share it with.

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1 comment:

  1. Halloween is fun! I remember, last year some kids came home for ‘trick or treat’. I just said ‘trick’ for fun and her showed me a lovely card magic. I still gave them treat, they were too cute to be ignored. I can totally relate to this post. I have to look for one of the Chicago venues like this. It is going to look superb.

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