Classic finds

What happens when fun is illegal

Back in 1975, the Department of Commerce put out a booklet called The American Economic System… and Your Part In It. It used a number of Peanuts illustrations along with its text to help explain the economy. Now, materials produced by employees of the US government as part of their work are …

Classic finds

What was in Nat’s box

I mentioned yesterday that I’d received a box, and that I anticipated what was inside making me a very happy Peanuts collector boy. And boy, it did! In the past, I’ve discussed Charlie Brown’s Career Education Program, a series of film strips from 1979. I even showed you some scans …

Classic finds

Oh, No! Charlie Green!

While looking into Kanrom, the company that published the books I reprinted in Happiness is a Rat Fink and Unhappiness is a Dirty Dog, I discovered that wasn’t the last time that company took on Schulz’s work. In 1971, they put out a booklet (which was much of what they published, …

Classic finds

Happiness is a Dry Martini

After the post I made about the various parodies and follow-ups to Happiness is a Warm Puppy (including the two I just reprinted), I received some questions about one that I’d mentioned, but did not show a picture of. Happiness is a Dry Martini is credited to Johnny Carson – yes, the …

Classic finds

Happiness Is Widely Copied

WARNING: This piece does include an announcement of something I’ve just published. Back when the Peanuts gift book Happiness is a Warm Puppy was published in 1962, it was huge. Not in size, it’s just about five and a half inches square, but in impact. This little thing spent forty-five weeks …

Classic finds

Oh Noklahoma!

I just noticed… the surrey on this cover only has three wheels! Seriously unstable. Which is not at all helped by the fact that it’s not connected to any horses, except for the reins in Snoopy’s paw. Unless he has a period-inappropriate seatbelt, this is a disaster just waiting to …

Classic finds

A Friend Is… Double Feature!

Last week, I got a copy of a Peanuts book I’d not heard of before, called A Friend Is…. Yesterday, I got a copy of a Peanuts book I’d not heard of before, called A Friend Is…., and no, I did not buy the same book twice. In the 1970s, …

Classic finds

Snoopy and the King and I

I have a fondness for this series of sheet music books from 1983, despite the fact that I don’t play an instrument. I am amused by the collision of properties, and how it gives us the long titles like Snoopy Goes To Broadway to see The King and I… as …

Classic finds

Love in motion

I got some very positive reaction to the video I did of the Japanese Moving Book. I also got email from Kato, pointing me to an ad video for that book… which lead me to other ad videos for the series. (If you’re getting this via email, please click through …

Classic finds

Peanuts in motion

I received my copy of the Japanese (in source; in language, it’s all English!) book Peanuts in Motion: Happy-Go-Lucky (and yes, that is a link to order it from Amazon US.) This is a very, very happy-making item, with a dozen animations that occur when you turn the pages. Watch the …