# Peanuts' Great Pumpkin Comic Strip Preceded TV Special

> Charles Schulz created a Peanuts comic strip about the Great Pumpkin two years before the famous Halloween TV special.
- Title: Peanuts' Great Pumpkin Comic Strip Preceded TV Special
- Summary: Charles Schulz created a Peanuts comic strip about the Great Pumpkin two years before the famous Halloween TV special. Charles Schulz released a Peanuts…
- Keywords: peanuts, charles schulz, great pumpkin, linus, charlie brown, halloween, comics, tv special, peanuts comic strip, gaming, culture, Peanuts'
- Source: Polygon — https://polygon.com/peanuts-best-great-pumpkin-comic-strip-linus
- Author: Brian VanHooker
- Published: 2026-10-19T04:00:26+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: peanuts, charles schulz, great pumpkin, linus, charlie brown, halloween, comics, tv special, peanuts comic strip, gaming, culture
## Great Pumpkin First Mention
Charles Schulz first introduced the Great Pumpkin in a Peanuts comic on October 26, 1959.

> Don’t you know? This is the time of year when we all write to the 'Great Pumpkin' and tell him what we want for Halloween.
## Linus Writes Letters
Linus writes letters to the Great Pumpkin while Lucy questions his actions.

> The 'Great Pumpkin' loves little children. I can see him now, rising up out of the pumpkin patch with his big bag of toys!
## Next Day's Strip
Schulz released a similar strip the following day with Linus discussing the Great Pumpkin.
## Charlie Brown's Skepticism
Charlie Brown tells Linus he's crazy after multiple strips.

> You’re crazy.
## Great Pumpkin's Absence
The Great Pumpkin never appears in reality or responds to letters.
## 1960 Pumpkin Patch Question
Charlie Brown asks why Linus believes they're in the right pumpkin patch.

> It just occurred to me that there must be ten million pumpkin patches in this country… What makes you think we’re in the right one?
## 1961 Historical Record
Linus cites specific Great Pumpkin appearances in 1959 and 1960.

> On Halloween night in 1959, the Great Pumpkin appeared in the pumpkin patch of Boots Rutman in Connecticut.
## 57 Pumpkin Cards
Linus has sent out 57 pumpkin cards by the time he's convinced Lucy.

> It would be economically disastrous for me not to believe it!
## Lucy's Pumpkin Patch
Lucy starts her own pumpkin patch to attract the Great Pumpkin.
## 1964 Election Storyline
Schulz created a multi-week storyline about Linus running for class president in 1964.
## Great Pumpkin Destroys Campaign
Linus mentions the Great Pumpkin during his final speech, ending his campaign.
## Key takeaway

Charles Schulz released a Peanuts comic strip featuring Linus writing to the Great Pumpkin on October 26, 1959, two years before the TV special aired.