A Charlie Brown Christmas is a animated television special.
It is the first TV special based on the comic strip Peanuts,
by Charles M. Schulz.

The special aired on this day in 1965 for the first time and
CBS executives, unhappy with the music, the pacing, lack 
of a  laugh track and Linus reading a Bible verse (from Luke)
almost refused to air it.        

       
However, contrary to their collective apprehension, A
Charlie Brown Christmas received high ratings and
acclaim from critics. It received an Emmy, a Peabody
Award, and became an annual presentation

   
    

Charles Monroe "Sparky" Schulz 
(November 26, 1922 – February 12, 2000)