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About this item
Highlights
- Discover the inspiring, unknown, against-all-odds story of how the classic animated holiday special A Charlie Brown Christmas almost never made it on to television.
- About the Author: Michael Keane is an adjunct professor at Pepperdine University's School of Public Policy and a former professor at the University of Southern California.
- 304 Pages
- Performing Arts, Television
Description
About the Book
"Discover the inspiring, unknown, against-all-odds story of how the classic animated holiday special A Charlie Brown Christmas almost never made it onto television. Professor and cultural historian Michael Keane reveals much in this nostalgia-inducing book packed with original research and interviews. Keane compellingly shows that the ultimate broadcast of the Christmas special-given its incredibly tight five-month production schedule and the decidedly unfavorable reception it received by the skeptical network executives who first screened it-was nothing short of a miracle. Keane explains why the show, despite its technical shortcomings, has become an uplifting and enduring triumph embraced by millions of families every Christmas season, even more than fifty years after its premiere. This gripping and joyful behind-the-scenes story of how the creators of A Charlie Brown Christmas struggled to bring the program to life will also help readers (and loyal fans) understand how America's favorite Christmas special changed our popular culture forever. Keane masterfully weaves the momentous events of 1965 (the turbulent year of the program's production) into his story, providing critical context for a profound new understanding of the program's famous climactic scene, Linus's spot-lit soliloquy answering the question repeatedly posed by Charlie Brown-'Can someone tell me what Christmas is all about?'"--Book Synopsis
Discover the inspiring, unknown, against-all-odds story of how the classic animated holiday special A Charlie Brown Christmas almost never made it on to television.
Professor and cultural historian Michael Keane reveals much in this nostalgia-inducing book packed with original research and interviews. Keane compellingly shows that the ultimate broadcast of the Christmas special--given its incredibly tight five-month production schedule and the decidedly unfavorable reception it received by the skeptical network executives who first screened it--was nothing short of a miracle. Keane explains why the show, despite its technical shortcomings, has become an uplifting and enduring triumph embraced by millions of families every Christmas season, even more than fifty years after its premiere.This gripping and joyful behind-the-scenes story of how the creators of A Charlie Brown Christmas struggled to bring the program to life will also help readers (and loyal fans) understand how America's favorite Christmas special changed our popular culture forever. Keane masterfully weaves the momentous events of 1965 (the turbulent year of the program's production) into his story, providing critical context for a profound new understanding of the program's famous climactic scene, Linus's spot-lit soliloquy answering the question repeatedly posed by Charlie Brown--"Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?"
Review Quotes
"Charlie Brown's Christmas Miracle opens up a rich and surprising history that encompasses the first jazz mass in the United States, the consecration of one of America's great cathedrals, the preaching of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and the creative work of one of the 20th century's leading jazz musicians. You will find this book to be a gift worth opening; highly recommended."--The Right Rev. Dr. Marc Handley Andrus, VIIIth Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of California
"A beautifully told tale that knits together the story of America in 1965--including the struggle for civil rights--with the making of the most popular Christmas special of all time. Uplifting and relevant!"--Ambassador Andrew J. Young
"Michael Keane has created a detailed, behind the scenes look at one of America's most beloved TV programs. Since its premiere in 1965, A Charlie Brown Christmas has been viewed annually by millions of people for almost sixty years. But it almost did not happen. Keane gives us the story about the key players who together created this Christmas classic."--Tom Sito, animation historian, University of Southern California
"Fans of the Peanuts comics included many occupants of the White House including my father, President Ronald Reagan, who had a decades-long friendship with "Sparky" Schulz that began during his days as Governor of California. This book weaves together a marvelous tapestry of personal stories, including my family's, alongside those of the creators of A Charlie Brown Christmas. A captivating tale of the making of an American classic!"--Mike Reagan, President, Reagan Legacy Foundation
"This book will make a great Christmas gift for friends and neighbors. Michael is a terrific storyteller."--Robert C. O'Brien, 27th Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs
"Charlie Brown's Christmas Miracle delivers the heartwarming story behind the beloved cartoon television classic inspired by Charles Schultz's cartoon strip. The improbable events, divergent forces, and remarkable personalities that led to the show's debut in 1965 are enriched by Michael Keane's perceptive historical commentary on the turbulent decade of the Sixties. A wonderful read!"--Joan Waugh, Professor Emerita, UCLA Department of History
"As a Peanuts fan this compelling behind-the-scenes look at how a beloved Christmas classic was born, makes it all the more special. It's a tale of real triumph of the human spirit. A must read!"--Robert Vince, Founder/CEO, Air Bud Entertainment
"Few people know that the creator of Charlie Brown and Peanuts, the world's most popular comic strip, was a U.S. Army combat veteran of World War II. This powerful book tells the important story of how the trauma of war shaped Charles Schulz's life and his art, including the wondrous A Charlie Brown Christmas. A remarkable read!"--James Stavridis, Admiral, US Navy (Retired); Supreme Allied Commander at NATO (2009-2013)
"One of my fondest childhood memories was being a member of the choir that sang the vocals for A Charlie Brown Christmas. I thought I was familiar with how the show was created. However, Michael Keane's new book contains so much detail about the creation of the show and the collaboration of the creative geniuses of Charles Schulz, Lee Mendelson, Bill Melendez, Vince Guaraldi, and choir director Barry Mineah. A poignant story of a show that almost did not make it on the air but became a Christmas classic!"--David F. Willat, Choir member, A Charlie Brown Christmas
"Set against the background of America in 1965, Michael Keane's masterful account of the making of A Charlie Brown Christmas provides a vast insight into the circumstance and cast of characters that produced this enduring cultural miracle."--Michael Garland, New York Times best-selling author and illustrator
"The idea that CBS executives thought the Charlie Brown Christmas Special would never engage family audiences around the globe is laughable today. It was and continues to be a must see attraction at Christmas for millions of families including mine! I grew up with it and then 30 years later I was in charge of CBS Primetime Specials and had the honor and privilege to schedule the special to #1 ratings every airing! It's the real National Treasure and Keane's book is a fascinating tale on how it almost never came to be."--Charles Segars, Creator and Executive Producer of National Treasure and CEO, Ovation TV
"You're going to find this book more compelling than the TV special. It's a miracle! A masterful treatise on a holiday tradition!"--Dan Coughlin, Emmy award-winning newscaster
About the Author
Michael Keane is an adjunct professor at Pepperdine University's School of Public Policy and a former professor at the University of Southern California. He is the author of the illustrated children's Christmas book, The Night Santa Got Lost, and is a former executive with Digital Domain, a leading visual effects and digital film studio in Hollywood. Keane has also worked in military affairs and was selected as a fellow for the Department of Defense's highly-competitive National Security Education Program.Dimensions (Overall): 9.06 Inches (H) x 6.14 Inches (W) x 1.18 Inches (D)
Weight: 1.1 Pounds
Suggested Age: 22 Years and Up
Number of Pages: 304
Genre: Performing Arts
Sub-Genre: Television
Publisher: Center Street
Theme: History & Criticism
Format: Hardcover
Author: Michael Keane
Language: English
Street Date: October 17, 2023
TCIN: 88693358
UPC: 9781546004905
Item Number (DPCI): 247-18-5310
Origin: Made in the USA or Imported
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Shipping details
Estimated ship dimensions: 1.18 inches length x 6.14 inches width x 9.06 inches height
Estimated ship weight: 1.1 pounds
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4.5 out of 5 stars with 2 reviews
100% would recommend
1 recommendations
The Real Meaning of Christmas!
5 out of 5 stars
Tickmenot - 2 years ago
This is the true story of how the television special, A Charlie Brown Christmas, came about. From the very beginning, the deck seemed stacked against it. Fifty years ago, it was not common to hear passages from the Bible quoted in a television program, yet that was one of the requirements Charles Schultz insisted be a part of the show. That should have been enough to keep it off the air, but there were many other obstacles the program faced--any one of which could have been used to stop it. Yet, miraculously, the show went on. The general public's reactions were not what was predicted by the expert forecasters. This is a comprehensive history of everyone involved in the ground breaking Christmas show. Because of that, this is an interesting but rigorous read, so be prepared for a time commitment. I think there are very few people who have not seen, or at least not heard of, the Charlie Brown Christmas special. It has become ingrained in the American culture, and is a part of the annual Christmas celebrations in this country. Even without the television show, the Peanuts themselves are loved by many, including me. This book shows that God's fingerprints were all over the events needed to get this show off the ground, and into everyone's tv sets. Everything had to be orchestrated to the last detail for it to happen. There are many interesting nuggets in this tale. The story of the little red-haired girl was both intriguing and bittersweet. I think the in-depth descriptions of everyone could have been cut-down a lot without changing the point of the book. Fans of Peanuts, and lovers of history, will enjoy this five-star book. Thank you, Hachette Books, for providing Tickmenot with a book to review. Opinions are my own.
IT'S ALL ABOUT CHARLIE
4 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
Connywithay - 2 years ago
“If it’s to be a Christmas special, I want it to certainly deal with the true meaning of Christmas,” Charles Schulz insisted regarding his animated story in Michael Keane’s Charlie Brown’s Christmas Miracle. ~ What ~ This three-hundred-and-four-page hardbound with a jacket cover targets those who are interested in learning about the backstory of the famous Christmas special involving the Peanuts cartoon. With minor quoted profanity and taking the Lord’s name in vain, topics of depression, illness, and death may not be appropriate for some readers. While the beginning includes a list of characters, preface, and introduction, the ending has an author’s note, appendix, acknowledgments, and notes. Eight glossy pages with photographs and descriptions are inserted in the middle of the book. In this inspiring story, the making of the short 1965 television special covers all the players who participated in the creation and production of the classic animated special. The chapters cover the producer, sponsor, agency, network, cartoonist, director, adman, jazz musician, animators, actors, television critic, and the audience. Throughout the pages, each character is discussed including their upbringing, education, career, and often religious convictions. The ending has a recap of the holiday program including the importance of reciting Luke’s story of Christ’s birth from the Bible. ~ Why ~ Unique in its format, the story is personal in how and why each character was driven and challenged to produce the thirty-minute special in six months. I appreciated its details about Schulz’s depression and his insistence that Scripture would be read, despite it causing an issue. The biographies were interesting and not too tedious and drawn out. ~ Why Not ~ Those who do not care about the iconic Charlie Brown comic strip may not appreciate the book. Others may not like the Christian-referenced content, but it is factual based on individuals’ beliefs without being demanding or hypocritical. A few may tire with the name-dropping that connects the dots between those involved. ~ Wish ~ While the story included many facets of creating the Christmas special that is still enjoyed decades later, I wish it focused more on Schulz and contained less detailed information on others such as Coca-Cola and Reagan, yet both were pertinent to its success. ~ Want ~ If you want to know about God’s miracle producing an iconic Christmas special, this is an engaging and interesting read. Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars Thanks to Hachette Book Group, Center Street, and the author for this complimentary book that I am under no obligation to review.