vehicle | toy: Snoopy Fire Engine

On October 12, 1950, Charles Schulz had his first Peanuts comic strip run in the daily newspapers. Peanuts centered on Charlie Brown, a rather sad figure who often recalled his defeats, charted his worries, and planned comebacks; his dog, Snoopy; and a cast of characters with peculiar attractions and realistic faults. The beauty of Peanuts was that it appeared simple, but it was sophisticated. In an article in “The Atlantic,” writer and illustrator Sarah Boxer explained “the strip’s cozy suburban conviviality, its warm fuzziness, actually conveyed some uncomfortable truths about the loneliness of social existence.” Schultz single-handedly drew more than 18,000 Peanuts comic strips. The brand proved highly marketable and was featured on endless numbers of toys, games, and household products.