When the names Charlie Brown or Snoopy are mentioned, they’re often followed by the phrase “Peanuts.” Charles M. Schulz created the comic strip in the late 1940s. Eleven historic strips are now on display at the new Mahoney Library Gallery on SRJC’s Petaluma campus through Oct. 30.
“Peanuts” is one of the most popular comic strips of all-time, having appeared in 2,600 newspapers in 75 countries. In addition to Snoopy and Charlie Brown, Schulz went on to create loveable characters like the bossy, crabby, fuss-budget Lucy Van Pelt, her security blanket-toting brother, Linus, and Snoopy’s speechless and faithful sidekick, Woodstock. These cartoon characters have been iconic in American pop culture and all over the world for nearly 60 years.
During April and May of 1968, Charles M. Schulz developed a series of 11 comic strips based on the Wrist Wrestling World Championships, held in Petaluma. The Mahoney Library exhibition includes all of these strips and archival material on the Wrist Wrestling phenomenon in Petaluma.
Also included are photographs of the memorial sculpture by Rosa Estabanez, a prominent North Bay sculptor, and columns by legendary “Argus Courier” columnist Bill Soberanes.
“It was Soberanes who played a major role in organizing the Wrist Wresting Tournament and who encouraged Schulz to write the strips,” said Karen Petersen, a librarian at Mahoney Library, and coordinator of the exhibit.
According to Petersen, the concept for this exhibit came from Jo Morohashi, an administrative assistant at the Petaluma campus. “Jo is a museum professional and formerly worked at the Charles M. Schulz Museum,” Petersen said. “We wanted something that brought Petaluma into focus and this set of strips based on this [Wrist Wrestling World Championships] historical event fit the bill.”
A reception will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Sept. 23 in the Mahoney Library Gallery to spotlight the “Peanuts” exhibit. The event is open to the public and the Schulz curators will also be in attendance.
The exhibit was funded by a grant from the Santa Rosa Junior College Foundation and the Randolph Newman Cultural Enrichment Endowment, and is being displayed courtesy of the Charles M. Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa, Calif. Once Mahoney Library was given confirmation of the award, library staff met with the Schulz Museum staff to work out the details of the exhibit.
Schulz, who grew up in St. Paul, Minn., moved with his wife and five children to Sebastopol, Calif. in 1958. By this time, “Peanuts” appeared in 355 U.S. and 40 foreign newspapers. In 1969, he and his family moved to Santa Rosa where they built a new ice-skating rink: the Redwood Empire Ice Skating Arena. Schulz was an avid ice-hockey player and participated in senior ice-hockey tournaments.
In late 1999, Schulz was forced into retirement due to health problems. Schulz passed away on Feb. 12, 2000, in his home in Santa Rosa due to complications with colon cancer. The last “Peanuts” strip appeared on Feb. 13, 2000.
In honor of Schulz’s lifetime achievements, the Sonoma County Airport was renamed the Charles M. Schulz – Sonoma County Airport. On Aug. 17, 2002, the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center, which celebrates Schulz’s work, opened in Santa Rosa. Several “Peanuts” comic strips exhibits are permanently displayed in the museum, including a re-creation of Schulz’s working area in his studio and a tile mural featuring the image of Lucy holding the football for Charlie Brown, designed by Japanese artist Yoshiteru Otani.
When Schulz created his famous comic strip almost 60 years ago, it was originally called “Li’l Folks.” After several rejections, he sold the strip to United Feature Syndicate, who changed the comic strip’s title to “Peanuts,” much to Schulz’s dismay. On Oct. 2, 1950, “Peanuts” debuted.
The “Peanuts” exhibit at the SRJC Petaluma Mahoney Library Gallery is located at 680 Sonoma Mountain Parkway.
