A Charlie Brown Christmas first aired in 1965.
The animated special premiered on CBS on December 9, 1965, and was produced by Lee Mendelson-Bill Melendez Productions. It adapts Charles M. Schulz's Peanuts comic strip, following Charlie Brown as he struggles with the commercialism surrounding Christmas and directs a school play.
The program became notable for its understated jazz score by Vince Guaraldi, including the piece that became known as “Christmas Time Is Here.” Its use of child voice actors, sparse animation, and a sincere religious message differed from many polished television specials of the period.
The special originally faced concerns from its production team and network executives, but its first broadcast drew a large audience and earned both an Emmy Award and a Peabody Award. It later became an annual holiday television tradition and is now closely associated with the Peanuts Christmas franchise.