For many of us here, growing up meant only getting to see certain TV shows, particularly seasonal specials and movies, once a year when they were on TV. You either saw it or you missed it, and had to wait another year if you didn't see it.
For me, A Charlie Brown Christmas and the other specials were eagerly awaited. I'd start checking the TV guide in late September to see when they'd be on.
The theme for the Peanuts, "Linus and Lucy", and the rest of the music that the Vince Guaraldi Trio performed for these specials is ingrained in my memory and any time I hear it I somehow get transported back to those days, hoping I didn't do something stupid to get grounded from watching TV and missing it for the year.
I just found out, legendary jazz drummer Jerry Granelli passed away on 21 June. He was 80, and the last surviving member of the Vince Guaraldi Trio. As long as I live, anytime I hear Linus and Lucy, I'll be transported back to an 8 year old boy looking forward to the holiday specials. Here is a video of him performing it with his band, the Jerry Granelli Trio, from 2014.
Jerry Granelli Trio - Linus and Lucy - (
New Window )
When I was in California, I made a stop to see the grave of Joe DiMaggio and when I was there I looked to see who else was buried there and saw the grave of Vince Guaraldi.
Snoopy hanging off his dog house like a vulture...Linus in the pumpkin patch, waiting on the Great Pumpkin.
Then the use of actual kids to voice the kids was different. (Even as a kid I could tell some of them could not act, though all I recognized was that they said things with weird intonation or timing.)
Also the trumpet for the adults, “was waaah wah wah.” Seen as possibly disrespectful.
And putting an actual biblical quote in a Christmas special?
Somehow it not only all works, it became iconic.
Skating - ( New Window )
Then the use of actual kids to voice the kids was different. (Even as a kid I could tell some of them could not act, though all I recognized was that they said things with weird intonation or timing.)
Also the trumpet for the adults, “was waaah wah wah.” Seen as possibly disrespectful.
And putting an actual biblical quote in a Christmas special?
Somehow it not only all works, it became iconic.
And at some point why not just put in a different holder and tell Lucy to f-off...