Snoopy: 76 years ago, one decision changed Peanuts forever

Screen Rant reports that on Oct. 4, 1950, Charles Schulz introduced Snoopy to Peanuts. The character first appeared in a four-panel strip, with a flower on his head that flopped after a girl watered it. Screen Rant says the debut gave the world one of its best-known pop culture characters.

Snoopy was not instantly Charlie Brown's dog. According to Screen Rant, his first scenes were with Patty, a founding character who is not to be confused with Peppermint Patty, who did not arrive until 1966. Charlie Brown and Snoopy shared a scene on Oct. 10, 1950, and the name Snoopy did not appear until Nov. 10.

The Snoopy audiences recognize today took years to develop. Screen Rant notes he was a four-legged puppy until 1956, when Schulz made him bipedal so he could get into more mischief and have richer imaginary adventures. Thought balloons arrived in 1952, the World Famous Author and World War I Flying Ace alter egos in 1965, and Woodstock in 1966.

Snoopy's relationship with the word "beagle" was also complicated. In a Dec. 5, 1960 strip, Charlie Brown called him a beagle and Snoopy denied it: "I ain't no stupid beagle!" He later came around, embracing the label and aiming to become Head Beagle.

He almost had a different name. Screen Rant says Schulz planned to call him Sniffy before learning another comic strip character already used that name. The real-life inspiration was Spike, Schulz's childhood black-and-white pointer mix, whom he drew in funny situations as a teenager.

Today Snoopy is a merchandising staple and a Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade fixture. Screen Rant reports a new Joe Cool balloon is set to debut Nov. 26. Not bad for a character who spent his first few strips unnamed, and not yet Charlie Brown's dog.

• anniversary
• Charles Schulz
• comic strips
• Peanuts
• Snoopy