Annotations of The Complete Peanuts/1953 to 1954
Annotations to The Complete Peanuts: 1953 to 1954 by Charles M. Schulz (Fantagraphics Books, 2004. ISBN 1560976144
- p. 11 (January 25, 1953). Schroeder is playing the Piano Sonata No. 29 in B-flat, op. 106 "Hammerklavier" by Beethoven. This appears again on p. 110 (September 13, 1953).
- p. 16 (February 5, 1953). Bela Bartok was one of Hungary's greatest composers.
- p. 52 (May 1, 1953). Schroeder is singing from the 4th movement of the Symphony No. 9 in d, Op. 125 "Choral" by Beethoven.
- p. 63 (May 26, 1953). "Doggie in the Window" was Patti Page's #1 hit song in 1953.
- p. 122 (October 11, 1953). Ben Hogan was a famous professional golf player. (It is interesting to note that in these pre-1960s strips, Charlie Brown can sometimes be quite self-confident.)
- p. 130 (October 31, 1953). A contour sheet is a fitted bed sheet.
- p. 133 (November 5, 1953). Lucy is exercising her rights as guaranteed by the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution. This may be a "topical" reference to "pleading the 5th" at the "McCarthy Hearings", starting in 1950.
- p. 149 (December 13, 1953). Schroeder is playing the waltz "On the Beautiful Blue Danube" op. 314 by Johann Strauss Jr..
- p. 207 (April 26, 1954). Schroeder is smiling, and has a candelabra on his piano, as Liberace did in his television show at the time.
- p. 215 (May 16, 1954). Sam Snead and Ben Hogan were famous professional golfers. "Ike" refers to President Dwight D. Eisenhower, well-known for his love of golf.
- p. 225 (June 8, 1954). Miss Frances was the host of a popular children's television program. She invented the approach of talking to her young viewers as if they were in the room with her.
- p. 232 (June 24, 1954). Stan Musial, Ted Williams, Roy Campanella were popular baseball players of the era.
- p. 274 (October 2, 1954). After Lucy does some meaningless graffiti, Charlie Brown crosses the t.
- p. 280 (October 15. 1954). Handballs are quite small: 1⅞ inches (4.8 centimeters) in diameter.
- p. 281 (October 17, 1954). Outing flannel is particularly soft, having a nap on both sides.