Lee Mendelson (1933–2019) was the man behind the scenes. He preferred it that way. The Californian had run into success as a local documentarian, winning a Peabody Award and producing a documentary on Willie Mays. Soon he decided to shoot a documentary on another California legend: Charles Schulz.
In just six months "A Charlie Brown Christmas" was produced as a 20-minute Christmas special. Lee Mendelson Film Productions
