Read this strip at gocomics.com.
This looks very much like a pop culture reference of the time, the candelabrum on the piano being a trademark of popular pianist Liberache. Or maybe it's just something pianists did at the time? It is rare that Charlie Brown and Shermy are more disgusted with commercialism than Schroeder, Christmas specials notwithstanding.
Ominously, Schroeder's little gesture seems to have enraptured Lucy.
what's funny is that so many people never thought he was gay. women loved Liberace.
ReplyDeleteI'll always remember his turn as a bat-villain.
Ah, it's a comment! Nice to know that someone can post them.
ReplyDeleteThe candelabrum AND the cheesy grin = a definite reference to Liberace.
ReplyDeleteSweet, comments are back! Schulz definitely nailed this one.
ReplyDeleteFor those who want to compare: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAh1IMGexH8
The reason Lucy and Violet love it and not CB or Shermy is probably because all the women in the 50s were totally taken with Liberace and the guys were not so much.
ReplyDeleteThe date of this strip would have put it right at the height of Liberace's popularity... so it would make perfect sense for it to have been a light-hearted spoof on "Mr. Showmanship."
ReplyDelete@Xenorama: I think one reason why the ladies loved Liberace so much is that they knew he WAS gay. Like teen heartthrobs, he wasn't threatening, and he had an innate sense of what women liked.
My aunt was enamored with Liberace and my mother used to kid her all the time with her euphamism for gay, "He sits down to pee."
ReplyDelete"Commercial!" scoffs Charlie Brown. Holden Caulfield had nothing on that kid when it came to spotting phonies.
ReplyDelete