10 Peanuts Comics That Take Us Back To A Simpler Time
Peanuts ran for an impressive 50 years, reflecting the evolving culture of each decade along the way. From iconic '50s music legends to the aerobics craze of the '80s, certain comic strips stand out as true time capsules, serving as perfect snapshots of the eras they were drawn in.
One of the great things about the timely nature of certain Peanuts comic strips is how they offer a sense of nostalgia for readers who lived through those decades, while also giving newer readers a glimpse into what life was like back then. While most Peanuts strips remain timeless and easy to connect with no matter how many years have passed, there are a few that clearly reflect the era they were created in. Here are 10 of the most hard-hitting nostalgic Peanuts comics.
10 "Look At That Thing Fly"
Originally Published: September 7, 1952
The neighborhood kids are excited to see Charlie Brown fly his model airplane for the first time since he built it. He gathers his small crowd and gets them ready for the big moment when the plane will soar through the sky. With all his strength, Charlie Brown throws it, only to watch it crash straight into the concrete. Furious, he vows never to build another model plane again and kicks it to let out his frustration. That kick ends up doing the trick. The airplane suddenly takes flight, impressing both Charlie Brown and the kids watching.
In the 1950s, model airplanes were a popular hobby for children and adults alike. This scene, with Charlie Brown and the neighborhood kids captivated by the plane, gives readers a nostalgic look at a beloved pastime from that era.
9 "Off To Aerobics"
Originally Published: July 1, 1987
Snoopy hops off his doghouse roof, ready to start the day while wearing his aerobics workout gear. Charlie Brown sees him off, pointing out what a nice gym bag Snoopy has. Assuming that his aerobics bag is filled with all the extra gear and equipment he might need, Snoopy would prove his assumption wrong. In reality, Snoopy's bag is not filled with gear but instead, doughnuts!
The aerobics craze of the '80s made exercise and fitness topics everywhere, something Peanuts could not resist either. Featuring their usually pretty lazy beagle getting active, well, making it look like he is getting into fitness at least, Snoopy gets in on the aerobics kick too. It turns out that Snoopy is still his usual food-loving self despite the very '80s workout attire he has on. He may look every bit like an '80s aerobics fiend, but he is more of a doughnut fiend in reality.
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8 "Chomp! Chomp!"
Originally Published: March 30, 1952
Charlie Brown makes a kind gesture by letting Lucy listen to some of his records, something that means a lot to him since he takes great pride in his collection. Like any little kid, Lucy starts making demands about which songs she wants to hear, getting the names wrong in the process, and then asks for a glass of water. While Charlie Brown steps away, Lucy takes the opportunity to bite into one of his beloved records.
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When he returns and sees the damage, he is devastated and begins to sob. Seeing Charlie Brown in tears, Lucy tries to cheer him up by offering what made her happy, another bite of the record. Vinyl records were a staple of 20th-century entertainment, and the 1950s are often considered the beginning of vinyl's golden age, making this scene a humorous yet bittersweet nod to that era.
7 "A Bird Hippie"
Originally Published: July 12, 1967
In this comic, Snoopy sees something coming towards him that is out of frame for the audience, leaving the reader wondering what he's seeing to make him look so taken aback. In the last panel, readers finally get to see what made Snoopy remark that he has now seen everything: Woodstock as a hippie. Woodstock now has long hair in a fashion that is similar to the hippies of the day during the era in which the comic strip was published, namely the late 1960s.
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Hippies had become the focal point of the burgeoning counterculture movement that occurred in the late 1960s in response to civil unrest that occurred among many of America's youth. A major belief of the hippies was promoting individualism and rejecting the ideals and social norms put in place by the previous generation, with long hair being one way to express a unique personal style and as a way to reject authority.
6 "The Beat Generation"
Originally Published: May 30, 1958
Linus asks Charlie Brown if he has ever heard of something called the Beat Generation. Charlie Brown definitely has heard of it, given that he is a charter member. The Beats comprised literary and cultural figures as well as the movement's followers, who were the precursor to the hippies of the '60s, rejecting conventional society norms in the '50s.
Considered Bohemian, the Beat Generation featured topics like alienation in their works. It may be surprising to hear that Charlie Brown is part of such a hip group, but hearing that alienation is part of it makes it all make a lot more sense. A big part of the Beat experience was also drugs and jazz, with it being highly unlikely that Charlie Brown was taking part in at least one of those interests.
5 "The First Beagle On The Moon"
Originally Published: March 14, 1969
Snoopy lands on the moon, becoming the first ever beagle to take steps on the moon's surface. Snoopy is thrilled with his accomplishment, beating the Russians and everyone in general. Perhaps nothing is as sweet for Snoopy as the fact that he beat the stupid cat next door to the moon, getting there before him.
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The space race of the '60s was a very real occurrence happening between the United States and Russia. In this comic strip, Snoopy references the space race through his actions and a comment about the Russians, serving as a kind of time capsule that reflects the spirit of the 1960s. During that era, the moon landing and space exploration were major topics on everyone's minds, making Snoopy’s reference a fitting nod to the cultural moment.
4 "Woodstock's Legwarmers"
Originally Published: March 22, 1987
Snoopy spots two small orange items on the floor and puzzles over what they could be. He guesses they might be pincushions or even earplugs. Just then, Woodstock shows up and asks for the items, revealing they’re actually his leg warmers. Snoopy hands them over, and Woodstock promptly slips them back on.
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Clearly, Woodstock is one stylish bird, keeping up with the latest trends, even the legwarmer craze of the flamboyant 1980s. Originally designed for dancers, legwarmers became a widespread fashion statement thanks to the aerobics boom of the era. Apparently, not even the Peanuts gang could resist their charm.
3 "Disco Fever"
Originally Published: October 18, 1978
Snoopy has caught disco fever, complete with a polyester suit straight out of Saturday Night Fever, paired with flashy gold chains. He proudly shows off his outfit, even flaunting his gold to Eudora as he tries to impress her. He uses the classic pickup line, asking if she comes there often, and follows it up by asking for her sign, completely missing the hint that she isn’t interested. Snoopy has never shied away from fads, diving into them without a second thought.
Disco is just one of the many trends he has embraced over the years. With its explosive success in the 1970s, disco became a cultural force that was impossible to ignore, no matter how some people felt about it.
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2 "Yes, Sir, Boy"
Originally Published: June 22, 1956
Lucy sits by Schroeder at his piano, repeatedly saying, "Yes, Sir, Boy." Schroeder is baffled by her insistence, but also low-key doesn't care since it has nothing to do with Beethoven, his one and only love. But Lucy gets more persistent, showing him that she’s actually referring to Elvis Presley.
Schroeder, unimpressed by the King of Rock and Roll and Lucy’s obsession with him, remains unfazed, but Lucy couldn’t care less. Elvis was a colossal figure in pop culture, with his fame peaking in the 1950s. He was the biggest celebrity of the era, talked about by everyone, even making his way into Peanuts.
1 "Johnny Horizon"
Originally Published: March 8, 1972
Peppermint Patty wakes up from a bizarre dream that leaves her feeling unsettled. It was so strange that she feels the need to talk to her friend Franklin about it. She mentions how environmental concerns, particularly ecology, have been weighing on her mind. In the dream, things take a surprising turn when she finds herself getting engaged to Johnny Horizon.
For younger readers, the name Johnny Horizon might be unfamiliar, so here’s the context: Johnny Horizon was the mascot for the Bureau of Land Management in the 1970s. His role was to promote environmental awareness and reduce littering. With his cowboy appearance, he was similar to Smokey the Bear, though not as widely recognized. Today, many people outside of the '70s may not know who Johnny Horizon is, but it still makes for an incredibly nostalgic Peanuts comic.
