Celebrate the 60th anniversary of ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’

(Gray News) – “A Charlie Brown Christmas” turns 60 years old on Tuesday.

The classic 25-minute animated special debuted on television Dec. 9, 1965.

It first appeared on CBS and is based on the comic strip “Peanuts” by Charles M. Schulz.

The show was the first of more than 45 animated Charlie Brown television specials.

The plot revolves around Charlie Brown feeling depressed during the start of the holiday season. He then tries to direct a neighborhood play with his friends, but he is laughed at for choosing a tiny Christmas tree as a centerpiece.

Since its debut 60 years ago, “A Charlie Brown Christmas” has been a holiday staple in American households.

Although the “Peanuts” comic strip was incredibly popular at the time, network executives were convinced “A Charlie Brown Christmas”