60 years Charlie? Man you look great. Well, for a bald kid.

As a child, I was fairly totally certain the character on Peanut’s cartoons was named FOR ME. Now I know that idea would seem crazy to most kids. But I was far from ‘most kids’. I was weird. So I walked around thinking Charles Schulz somehow created the character Marcie for ME. And I had plenty of reasons. First the resemblance. It’s uncanny. And she was the ‘comedic foil’. I always wanted to be the comedic foil. Or even comedic plastic wrap. I wasn’t picky.

Says Wikipedia: Marcie is a bespectacled fictional character featured in Charles M. Schulz‘s comic strip Peanuts. She serves as comedic foil and best friend to tomboy Peppermint Patty, plays a supporting role in some of Snoopy‘s heroic fantasies, and displays a romantic interest in Charlie Brown, who seems to love her back. Marcie made her first named appearance on July 20, 1971

That’s right folks. She made her debut when I was one year old. Coincidence? I think not.

So when I heard it was the 60th anniversary of Charles Schulz Peanuts…I knew I wanted to help in the celebration. So I stopped by Knott’s this weekend to take a peek at good ol’ Knott’s Camp Snoopy*. I went hoping to I was looking to find Charlie and yes, of course my beloved Marcie.

Right away I saw a clear bias. Lucy had her own stage…..

and Snoopy had his own ice show.

We took a break and asked these two Knott’s regulars where all the Marcie merchandise was, but they were pretty clueless.

This house looked promising. We knocked, but no answer. Where was Charlie? Where was Marcie?

Jack went to jail to see if maybe Marcie was hiding in there…..

We found the very huggable Snoopy and eventually a few small Charlie Brown items. But clearly Snoopy is the rock star in the Peanut’s Merch gang.

Well happy birthday to the whole Peanut’s gang. And especially MARCIE. I have loved you all, all my life. Charles Schulz’s cartoon strip, written for adults about children has a longevity that reaches past generations with universal themes of disappointment, failure and friendship.

And of course the love of a silly dog.

Next week I will be interviewing Jill Schulz (Charles youngest daughter) about the Peanut empire and what lies ahead. If you have questions you would like for me to ask- please leave in the comments here.

Things I learned researching this post:

There is a Charles Schulz museum that looks really cool.

This is the official online place to still read the comic strip.

There is only one figurine of the Marcie character. And I must own it now.

*Have you not been to Camp Snoopy? It is a big part of Knott’s Berry Farm (which you know from THIS and THIS) I am a huge fan.