I am a Peanuts Brand Ambassador sharing exclusive content in preparation for the 50th airing of A Charlie Brown Christmas! I was provided with a couple of gifts as a participant in this promotion. The opinions in this post are 100% mine. You can read my full disclosure policy here.
The celebration of A Charlie Brown Christmas continues! Did you catch my interview with Jill Schulz, daughter of creator Charles Schulz? I loved getting her perspective! Recently I had the chance to chat with Sally Dryer, who voiced Violet in A Charlie Brown Christmas at the young age of 8, and later went on to voice Lucy in It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. That one should be airing soon and I can’t wait! Sally was a lot of fun to talk to and it was interesting to hear what a child my daughter’s age thought of being part of this iconic show. Read our interview below, and be sure to get all the way through to find a great giveaway just for my readers!
This is a special year for A Charlie Brown Christmas and I’m SO excited to be a part of a year-long celebration where we’ll reach two amazing milestones. The 50th time A Charlie Brown Christmas will air will be this December 2014 on ABC. The 50th year since it was created, produced, and debuted will be marked in December 2015.
What was it like for you to to do this as your first job?
Sally: Yes, my first job at age 8! It was unknown at that point, an experiment. Lee Mendelson had approached Charles Schulz for years to do an animated special, and Schulz always said no. Finally, he said, “I’ll do it, but it has to be real kids’ voices.” For me, it was a fun way to get out of school. We didn’t know what it become, for sure!
Can you describe the process of how they recorded your voices?
Sally: There were a group of kids in Southern California: the boy who played Linus, Peter Robbins [Charlie Brown], and the original Lucy were in Los Angeles, where they recorded with Bill Melendez. Lee Mendelson recorded with us in San Francisco at a studio on Van Ness Ave. They’d record us one at a time: Lee Mendelson would say a line to us, and we’d repeat it. We’d try to repeat with inflections he gave us. Sometimes we’d hit it on the first try, and other times we’d have to go over and over and over again.
I remember when we were recording the Great Pumpkin, the girl who played Sally spent hours trying to say “You owe me restitution!” The miracle was done with editing. They’d use the lines they wanted and assemble it all. I think we went to studio 3 or 4 times. There were some group lines, like “You blockhead, Charlie Brown,” that we did as a group. We’d have to make 3 or 4 attempts.
Were you excited to be cast as Lucy?
Sally: It was a good thing. I had no idea how bratty my voice was, but all my neighbors were like, “Oh yeah, she’s Lucy all right!” The neighborhood knew before I did! Lucy was more fun to play. You get to say what you think! She’s such a smart aleck. You get to really embrace that crabby person within you and it’s okay.
Do you have any favorite anecdotes from the recording sessions?
Sally: I suppose one of my favorites was when we were all sitting as a group, having lunch at The Hippo, which was a hamburger joint. They were trying to figure out who to cast as Peppermint Patty. One of the daughters of a producer spoke up and said, “Please pass the salt.” Lee Mendelson said, “That’s it!” She had a wonderfully raspy voice. That’s about how free-form it was.
My sister worked for Lee Mendelson, and one Christmas he called the house and said, “I’m here with Lee Guaraldi and we’re trying to write the lyrics for ‘Christmastime Is Here.’ What represents Christmas to you?” We were all sitting around the table offering ideas: happiness, cheer, fun for all. So I feel that in some ways my family contributed to the creation of that song.
Jefferson Airplane was recording in the studio when we were, and they were more excited to meet us than we were to meet them! But I think we were pretty tickled.
What did you get paid?
Sally: I got paid a whopping $100 per show! It was the 60s and an unknown thing. My mother’s philosophy was, “Whatever—just have fun.” That’s what it was about. I occasionally get residuals, sometimes 9 dollars and 33 cents, sometimes a couple hundred dollars. I had to put it in a college fund. Fortunately, I went to a state school in California!
Were you a celebrity among your friends?
Sally: I think so, but it was so short-lived. As teens, we didn’t watch it at all. I was kind of mortified to be that cranky girl. But I don’t have that problem anymore. Now I love it.
Did you ever meet Sparky?
Sally: Yes, I met him at least 4 times. We went up to Santa Rosa to do a photo shoot for a book called Charlie Brown and Charles Schulz. He was working on a strip at his drafting table, and he explained to me that he felt he had to do a term paper every day. He was a kind and gentle and soft-spoken, very impressive guy.
Do you ever find yourself using the dialogue in your real life?
Sally: Oh, absolutely—all the time! I work as a volunteer dog technician in an animal clinic, and I always say “Dog lips are not poison! No iodine! No ‘blecch’!” I’ll find myself saying, “I got a rock!” It’s always right there.
“Snoopy’s got to be my favorite character, really. I love Lucy’s frankness and willingness to say anything, but Snoopy’s the most entertaining thing ever.” – Sally Dryer
The generous Peanuts gang sent me these two BEAUTIFUL hardcover books, It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown and A Charlie Brown Christmas. Each of these contain so many awesome details on the making of the TV specials. Definite keepsakes. And a little chocolate does hurt! They also sent me a delicious bag of Peanuts Crunch bars. I’m ashamed how quickly they were gone so I just won’t tell you about that. 😉
They are offering one of my readers this same fantastic prize pack! Sweet! (pun intended) This giveaway is open to US residents ages 18+ and will end at 11:59pm ET on October 6, 2014.
Good luck!
Kay K says
I enjoyed your interview with Sally Dryer. Great job! I think it would of been more fun to voice the part of Lucy. Attitude and volume. I have always loved each and every Charlie Brown special, and it just wouldn’t be the holiday without watching it on TV and reading the story by (Sparky) Charles Schulz. I would love to own this awesome and priceless book set. Thank you for the giveaway.
Maralea says
I think Lucy would be the most fun. She is such a bossy gal 🙂
wendy c g says
Has to be Lucy, she’s so bossy to Charlie Brown. Love when she pulls ball away from him.
Leigh Anne Borders says
Love Lucy with her smart attitude–now–of course–I would not promote that in real life but as for a show, it adds to the fun
Jenny says
I think it would be Lucy – fun to be someone that has such attitude.
Angie Bano says
Love Lucy! I would have to say her because of her attitude!
Julia Kantrowski says
Lucy totally would have been more fun! She is the inner “brat” in all of us.
Chelsea M says
I think Lucy would be more fun to voice she’s very bossy.
danielle august says
lucy, she is sassy and clever
stephanie says
Lucy…my kind of gal that I can totally relate to! Love the Peanuts Gang…not many cartoons out there anymore like these!!
Vicki v says
Lucy was sassier, but a little bit mean. I’d still pick her… Although, as a child, I liked drawing Violet over Lucy!
Marci says
I think playing Lucy would be much more fun as she has such attitude!
Btw: Tracy Stratford (voice of Lucy on Charlie Brown Christmas) was my daughters drama teacher at her high school!! She was such a great teacher and person!
sindy murray says
Lucy, I like how bossy she is.
Jose Diaz says
Lucy us the best!
linda burleson says
Lucy would be the person I would choose
Michaela K says
I’d say Lucy because she’s got so much sass. 🙂
samantha wagner says
I think Lucy would be fun, she’s bossy. I’m not usually bossy, so it would allow me something I’m not normally.
Jessica To says
I think it would have been fun to be the voice of Lucy!
Kelly says
I think Lucy would be more fun because she had such range in her character.
Melissa Teears says
I 1ould say Lucy because she has a lot of spirit to her.
Angie Bano says
Lucy. The boss. Lol
lauren says
Lucy attitude, bossy, and miss diva
Silvia Reid says
I think Lucy would have been more fun because she said what she thought and got to be bossy.
Sarh S says
Bossy Lucy is who I think would be more fun.
Portia says
Lucy! Sarcasm has to be way much funner! LOL
Angie Bano says
lucy! she is the bomb!