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Lee Mendelson has been involved in the Peanuts series since it began, and we’ve been lucky enough to interview him in conjunction with the Easter 2004 DVD release, Peanuts: It’s The Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown!
Read the Peanuts: It’s The Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown! DVD review
- Lee Mendelson, Executive Producer, all 70 of the “Peanuts” specials and 4 animated “Peanuts” movies. Born in San Francisco in 1933 (3rd generation San Franciscan). Second favourite city: London. Have visited at least 25 times.
- I was a documentary film maker. I produced a network special on the greatest baseball player of all time, Willie Mays. Then I decided to do a documentary on the world’s worst baseball player, Charlie Brown. I met Charles Schulz in 1963 to do the documentary, which eventually lead to our 37-year partnership with Bill Melendez in the animated shows.
- Mr.Schulz never liked the title “Peanuts” but United Feature Syndicate insisted it was a good title. We used to call little kids “little peanuts” in the old days.
- It was a wonderful 37 year relationship. We never had any disagreements. He was always a pleasure to be with. He was at once a great artist, writer, philosopher, and comic genius.
- My favourite moment in Easter Beagle was when Snoopy dances with the bunnies.
- Colouring eggs and hiding eggs with my grandchildren.
- My favourite is “A Charlie Brown Christmas” because if it hadn’t been a great success, it would have be the first and last special.
- Charles Schulz had a red-haired girl friend in his early adult days in Minnesota but she decided to marry someone else and so that’s where that character came from.
Charlie Brown and Linus got their names from friends of Charles Schulz back in Minnesota. I was happy when Peppermint Patty came along in the late 60s as she added a freshness to the strip and to our shows. Likewise, Marcie.
- I did produce many of the “Garfield” shows but we have nothing to do with the movie coming out.
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.