A couple of entities in the Route 66 town of Needles, California, will commemorate the 50th anniversary in mid-August of the creation of Spike in the long-running “Peanuts” comic strip.
A celebration first will occur from 10 a.m. to noon local time on Aug. 12 at the Colorado River Medical Center in Needles, coordinated by Foundation for Hospital Arts, Peanuts Worldwide and River Valley Art Guild, according to Needles Tourism.
The next day, Needles Regional Museum will be open for a photo op with its large Spike figurine to mark its 50th anniversary debut in “Peanuts.”
Spike, the hat-wearing and mustached brother of Snoopy the beagle from “Peanuts,” lived in the desert near Needles. He first appeared in the comic strip on Aug. 13, 1975. He appeared in the comic more than any of Snoopy’s other siblings.
Spike also appeared in several “Peanuts” television specials.
More about Spike can be read in a “Peanuts” fan page.
“Peanuts” creator Charles Schulz’s family lived in Needles for a brief time before going back to their native Minnesota.
According to the Schulz Museum:
45 years after living in Needles, Charles Schulz incorporated some of his experiences into Peanuts through the life and adventures of Snoopy’s brother Spike. Spike lived alone in the desert, often making friends with coyotes and conversing with the saguaro cactus – sometimes even decorating the cacti with lights to serve as his Christmas tree. With all of his alone time in the desert, Spike found time to write often to his brother Snoopy, relaying tales of his solitary lifestyle and short-lived hobbies like weaving, painting and roller skating.
“Peanuts” ran from 1950 to 2000, becoming one of the most influential and popular comic strips in history. The final strip ran the day after Schulz died of a heart attack.
(Image of Spike the beagle from the “Peanuts” comic strip by Michael Li via Flickr)