A Peanuts Chronology

Oct. 2, 1950: "Peanuts" debuts, with Charlie Brown, Shermy and Patty.

March 3, 1952: Lucy makes her first appearance.

June 1, 1954: Linus is first seen with his security blanket.

Nov. 19, 1961: Charlie Brown reveals his unrequited love for the Little Red-Haired Girl.

Oct. 10, 1965: Snoopy first appears as the World War I Flying Ace.

July 31, 1968: Franklin appears, and the strip become racially integrated.

March 14, 1969: Snoopy the World-Famous Astronaut lands on the moon, beating Apollo 11 by several months.

June 22, 1970: The little unnamed bird who first appeared in 1967 is given the name Woodstock.

July 20, 1971: Marcie, Peppermint Patty's friend and confidante, debuts.

Aug. 13, 1975: Spike, Snoopy's skinny, desert-dwelling brother, makes his first appearance.

Jan. 27, 1977: Sally calls Linus her Sweet Babboo for the first time.

Nov. 2, 1983: Schulz honors the movie "Flashdance," with the appearance of Snoopy, the Flashbeagle.

March 30, 1993: Charlie Brown hits his first home run.

Jan. 16, 1997: Schulz commented on the more excessive aspects of "political correctness" with a strip on harassment.

May 25, 1998: The Little Red-Haired Girl finally appears, but only in silhouette.

Feb. 13, 2000: The end of an era.

— Carma Wadley