On this day, 61 years ago, Peanuts was first published in eight newspapers as a daily comic strip. Originally titled Lil' Folks, the United Feature Syndicate changed the name to Peanuts because the original title closely resembled another work, Lil' Abner. Shultz later said that he always hated the name Peanuts because it "is simply ridiculous, it has no meaning, no dignity, and I think my humor has dignity."
The series became popular for its deft social commentary, especially during the turmoil of the 50s and 60s. Shultz covered every topic from dress codes, US savings bonds, the Vietnam War and "new math." One strip featured Snoopy throwing Linus into the air, which he then boasted as the first time an animal ever put a human into orbit. This was a direct parody to the Soviet space program that launched a dog into space before the satellite Sputnik.
Peanuts only continued to gain popularity into the 1980s. Other hits like Garfield and Calvin and Hobbes competed for audiences, but never took the #1 spot from Charlie Brown.
The strip ran nationwide non-stop until Shultz's death in 2000. He had served his country in WWII as a .50 cal gunner in the 20th Armored Division. By the time he got to Europe, the war was practically over. He only had one chance to fire his weapon, but forgot to load it. The German facing him willingly surrendered.
Upon hearing the news, Gretl Coudrille of Britain asked, "Is there a Nobel Prize for bringing joy?"
The first movie made featuring Peanuts was produced in 1969. "A Boy Named Charlie Brown" had a song by Vince Garladi and John Trotter that served the opening and closing credits. One of the lines reads, "He's just a kid next door, perhaps a little more. He's every kid in every town."
