50 Years Later, Producer Recalls Making Of "A Charlie Brown Christmas"
(CBS) -- Halloween is over, Thanksgiving is next and then Christmas, and this year is the 50th anniversary of one of the most cherished Christmas specials of them all.
It was 1965 when "A Charlie Brown Christmas" first hit the airwaves.
Lee Mendelson was the producer and wrote the lyrics to the opening song, "Christmas Time is Here."
He tells WBBM that, "50 years later it's unbelievable."
Mendelson, who is now 82 years old, was asked if he thought back in 1965 that "A Charlie Brown Christmas" would not only be a hit but become a holiday classic.
"Quite the opposite!" Mendelson said by phone from his home in California, "Bill Melendez (a fellow producer) and I saw the final cut about a month before (it aired) and thought we had ruined Charlie Brown!"
Charlie Brown and the rest of the "Peanuts" gang turned out OK.
Now, Mendelson has produced a new special commemorating the first one.
The anniversary special will celebrate 50 years of the iconic classic featuring spectacular live performances of Vince Guaraldi's classics from acclaimed musical guests, the special will also feature Hollywood notables reminiscing about their most treasured "A Charlie Brown Christmas" moments.
Mendelson is thrilled about the past success of "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and happy about this year's special, too.
"The whole thing has just been serendipity from beginning to end, I feel quite blessed."