In this TV Time Machine interview, host Jim Benson welcomes a legend in the field of television animation, Lee Mendelson. Producer of A Charlie Brown Christmas and scores of Peanuts specials including It’s a Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown and A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, Mr. Mendelson and his late partner Bill Melendez helped craft many of the most beloved and culturally significant television productions of the past half-century. 
In the following audio segments, host Jim Benson and Lee Mendelson help us explore every aspect of A Charlie Brown Christmas and Mr. Mendelson’s classic animated specials, and examine how in the transient world of TV entertainment, the Peanuts gang featuring Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus and Lucy continue to be remembered-and loved-from generation to generation.
Listen to the Interview Below
A Charlie Brown Christmas interview part one
In this segment, A Charlie Brown Christmas producer Lee Mendelson talks with host Jim Benson about growing up in San Francisco, and producing a 1963 documentary about Willie Mays that ultimately led to meeting Charles Schultz and producing the classic Peanuts holiday special. Mr. Mendelson also discusses hiring noted jazz musician Vince Guaraldi to compose the music for the Christmas special, and how the now-classic score transformed the entire Peanuts TV special franchise.
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A Charlie Brown Christmas interview part two
In the second segment, host Jim Benson and Lee Mendelson discuss legendary Peanuts Director Bill Melendez, whom Mr. Mendelson collaborated on all the Charlie Brown TV specials, and who also provided the voices of Snoopy and Woodstock. Our producer also talks about the phenomenon known as Snoopy and why the beloved beagle has such worldwide appeal. Mr. Mendelson also discusses Charlie Brown’s underdog persona, the relationship between Lucy and Schroeder, and all the different child actors who’ve played the TV parts of all the classic Peanuts characters.
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A Charlie Brown Christmas interview part three
For the final segment, host Jim Benson and Lee Mendelson talk about the personality of Peanuts creator Charles Schultz and how his childhood experiences helped shape the Peanuts stories and characters. The producer also discusses the characters of Linus and Sally, and some of the production problems he experienced with the little girl who provided the voice of Sally. Finally, Mr. Mendelson talks about the business juggernaut that is the Peanuts franchise, how Charles Schultz kept tight controls over his creation, and the legacy the Peanuts comic strip and TV specials have left for generations to come.
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