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A14 PEOPLE & ARTS
Wednesday 23 november 2022
Cartoonists honor ‘Peanuts’ creator in Saturday funny pages

By MARK KENNEDY Donnell’s drawing table:
AP Entertainment Writer “I look at it every day and
NEW YORK (AP) — Cartoon- think of what a wonderful
ists across the nation are gesture that was and what
celebrating the 100th birth- a wonderful man and what
day of “Peanuts” creator a wonderful comic strip.”
Charles M. Schulz as only So, in return, this Saturday,
they can with cartoons. readers of “Mutts” will see
More than 75 syndicated Earl at a museum looking
cartoonists have tucked up fondly his little tail wag-
tributes, Easter eggs and ging at a framed image of
references to “Peanuts” in Snoopy. “Mines pretty per-
Saturday’s funny papers sonal,” McDonnell said.
to honor the creator of “Peanuts” made its debut
Charlie Brown, Snoopy and Oct. 2, 1950. The travails of
company. the “little round-headed
“It’s a tribute to probably kid” Charlie Brown and his
the world’s greatest car- pals eventually ran in more
toonist,” said cartoonist Pat- than 2,600 newspapers,
rick McDonnell, who cre- reaching millions of readers
ates the daily strip “Mutts” in 75 countries.
for 700 newspapers. “Af- The strip offered endur-
ter ‘Peanuts,’ the cartoon This combination of photos shows a “Peanuts” cartoon by Charles M. Schulz in 1999 showing kids ing images of kites in trees,
world changed. I think most at a museum with one off on the side, gazing at a painting of the dog Earl from “Mutts,” top, and Charlie Brown trying to kick
working cartoonists today an upcoming “Mutts” cartoon by Patrick McDonnell showing Earl at the museum fondly looking a football, tart-tongued
at a framed image of Snoopy.
would say he was the inspi- Associated Press Lucy handing out advice
ration for them to become for a nickel at what looked
cartoonists.” Charles M. Schulz. He revo- to have ideas come to paper that morning, the like a lemonade stand and
The list of participating strips lutionized the comics page you,” said McDonnell. “I whole comic page is going Snoopy taking the occa-
ranges from “B.C,” “Dennis by adding depth and char- think people enjoyed the to be a tribute to Sparky,” sional flight of fancy to the
the Menace” and “Rhymes acter and emotion.” challenge of coming up said McDonnell. “I’m per- skies. Phrases such as “se-
With Orange” to “Zippy the John Hambrock, creator with something to express sonally looking forward to curity blanket” and “good
Pinhead” and “Zits.” of “The Brilliant Mind of Edi- their love and admiration the surprise that Saturday grief” are a part of the
Each artist was encour- son Lee,” drew a visit from for that guy.” to see what people did.” global vernacular. Schulz
aged to come up with World War I pilot Snoopy in McDonnell, who is a mem- For his tribute, McDonnell died in 2000.
their own way to honor his strip and Edison asking ber of the board of direc- repaid a kindness Schulz “’Peanuts’ was everything. I
Schulz, who was known as his dad for “extra aviation tors of the Charles M. Schulz gave him. In a “Peanuts” read ‘Peanuts’ books every
“Sparky.” fuel.” Museum and Research strip from 1999, Schulz drew night, and I wanted to be a
John Kovaleski, who draws The cartoonist has also Center, dreamed up the his cartoon boys and girls cartoonist because of that
“Daddy Daze,” has drawn decorated the family tribute and he and “Jump- visiting a museum and Re- since I was 4. To actually
the strip’s father, Paul, and home with framed images Start” cartoonist Robb run off on the side looking have my own little cartoon
infant, Angus, discussing of Charlie Brown and Lucy. Armstrong contacted the up with respect at a paint- character in ‘Peanuts’ it
“Peanuts” on an opened “We left it all up to them. various cartoon syndicates ing of the dog Earl from still boggles,” said McDon-
newspaper. “Ba ba?” asks Cartoonists are creative with their plan. “Mutts.” nell. “Every morning I look
the baby. To which dad re- people. When you have a “I’m pretty confident that A framed copy of that strip at it and I still can’t believe
plies: “That’s ‘Peanuts’ by daily deadline, you need when you open the news- hangs proudly over Mc- it happened.”q

Gladys Knight’s Christmas: big family gathering, TV movie

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Gladys Knight recalls Christmas as more than a family affair when
she was growing up in Atlanta.
“Because Mom and Dad were the way they were, they would just embrace all the kids
in the neighborhood,” said the legendary singer.
Many of the children were in the same church choir and “we were just so excited about
the music.”
She counts “O Holy Night” as a favorite Christmas song. The best childhood gift she re-
ceived? A bicycle, blue and silver, “and it was sharp.”
Knight will be celebrating the holiday on-screen in the TV movie “I’m Glad It’s Christ-
mas,” airing 8 p.m. EST Saturday on the Great American Family channel. Knight plays
matchmaker Cora, who wants to bring together a salesclerk dreaming of Broadway
fame (Jessica Lowndes) and a songwriter (Paul Greene) for a small town’s Christmas
concert.
Knight said she and husband William McDowell expect their Asheville, North Carolina,
home to be packed as usual this Christmas, given their large brood of grandchildren
and great-grandchildren.
This image released by Great American Media shows Gladys “Everybody’s invited to come in a good mood and share the joy,” said Knight, a seven-
Knight in a scene from “I’m Glad It’s Christmas,” premiering time Grammy winner known for hits including “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” and
Nov. 26 on the Great American Family channel.
Associated Press “Midnight Train to Georgia.”q