The Controversial ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ Scene That Almost Got Cut

This scene from the television special, 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' was almost cut by television executives prior to the first broadcast of the show in 1965. The scene was saved because one person refused to let it be cut.

That person was the creator of 'Peanuts,' Charles M. Schulz who insisted on the scene saying,

"If we don't tell the true meaning of Christmas, who will?"

The animated special was a very low budget production with choppy video, poor audio quality and and numerous other technical problems. Network executives were so doubtful about it's success they ordered it to air only once. Much to their surprise, the show was amazingly successful with 50% of U.S. households with a television tuning in.

Strangely, it's the fact the show is so quirky that not only made it a success in 1965, but has kept it on the air every holiday season since.