Today in Television History (October 27th, 1966): "It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!" Airs on CBS!
Jay B
On October 27th, 1966, the Halloween-themed television special, "Its the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" aired on CBS for the first time. The special was the third Peanuts special, and the second holiday-themed one to be created, and was written by Peanuts creator, Charles M. Schulz. The special featured the first use of iconic scenes that have become widely recognized in pop culture, such as Snoppy as the "World War I flying ace" and Lucy pulling the football away from Charlie Brown. The program was highly successful, being watched by 49% of television viewers in the United States in its debut broadcast. It aired on broadcast television every year from its debut in 1966 until it became an Apple TV+ exclusive in 2020.