Peanuts’Snoopy has a long history with skating, having not just one but two different skating alter egos. As a result, it is not all that surprising that he has a major storyline that involves skating. What is surprising is that one particular 1965 skating storyline involved Snoopy falling head over heels for an ice-skating beagle and asking her to marry him.
While that sounds like a heartwarming premise,the storyline takes a turn and the romance is not to be. From the elation of falling in love to his heart being smashed into a million pieces, this storyline was a departure from Snoopy’s usual fantastical and humor-driven storylines, with more vulnerable aspects of him being shown to readers. Consequently, Snoopy became a character who is so much more than comic relief, all while delivering a storyline that tracks the beginning to the end of a relationship.
14"It’s Lonely Skating by Yourself at Night"
January 22nd, 1965
Snoopy does not get lonely too often. He makes his own fun, always entertaining himself. In the rare moments that he is not immersed in his world of fantasy, he can typically bug anyone of thePeanutskidsfor some companionship or cookies. He has even crawled into Charlie Brown’s bed before. However, when Snoopy is ice skating one night all by himself,the loneliness hits him in a melancholic way for the seemingly first time.He usually loves to ice skate, but readers can see plain on the usually upbeat beagle’s face that he is just not feeling it. He looks sad and downtrodden, which is a far cry from how audiences typically see him.
13"Where Are All the Girl Beagles?"
January 23rd, 1965
Skating can be quite a social activity, but that is apparentlynot the case for Snoopy, wholaments how he comes to the ice rink every night, but there is never anyone around, especially any girl beagles.Snoopy wants some female company, but a deserted, iced-over lake at night is evidently not where to find them. The set-up for Snoopy’s desire for a female companion is laid in this comic strip and the one previously, so when Snoopy does fall head over heels for a girl beagle who is sure to show up very soon, it is seen as perfectly serendipitous and as if by fate.
12"Good Grief! There She Is!"
January 25th, 1965
After a long while of Snoopy wishing he could meet some girl beagles while he skates,he finally comes across one who literally stops him in his tracks.Interestingly, readers do not see the object of Snoopy’s affection in this strip or in any others of the “Ice Skating Girl Beagle” storyline.
A lot ofPeanutscharacters were based on people (and dogs) from Charles Schulz’s real life, including Snoopy.
An intriguing decision made by Schulz, the Ice Skating Girl Beagle was not the only love interest of a mainPeanutscharacter to have never been shown, with Charlie Brown’s crush, the Little Red Haired Girl, also never being shown to readers. Regardless of knowing what Snoopy’s love interest looks like or not, he is instantly smitten, which was not an all-too-common occurrence for the lackadaisical pup.
11"She Liked Me!"
January 26th, 1965
After a long round of wishing to meet some girl beagles,Snoopy finally sets his sightson a pretty girl beagle who just so happens to be at the rink at the same time as him.He is overjoyed, even more so whenthe girl beagle likes him back.He is so over the moon that he literally tumbles over for his new love interest. Snoopy can typically stay pretty even keeled, so to see him jump for joy and bounce around in exhilaration is different from what is typically seen from him. As a result, the point is nailed home that Snoopy has feelings for this female beagle like never before.
10"Have I Ever!"
January 27th, 1965
Charlie Brown, being the caringowner he is for Snoopy, gets curious about what his dog does to spend his time - or, more importantly, who he spends time with. When Charlie Brown questions Snoopy if he has been at the rink skating with a girl beagle,Snoopy lets Charlie Brown know that he definitely has been after playing just a tad coy at first.Charlie Brown knows his beagle can get swept up into fantasy, so he is already a little worried at the first mention of Snoopy skating with the girl beagle. Yet, Snoopy is so elated that no one can bring him down, even the neurotic Charlie Brown.
9"Watch Yourself, Snoopy!"
January 28th, 1965
When Snoopy makes a habit of skating at the rink with his ice-skating girl beagle at night, he attracts the attention of the otherPeanutskids, including Lucy. When Charlie Brown lets Lucy know why Snoopy is going down to the skating rink,Lucy is her typically obnoxious self and yells at Snoopy to be careful,because teenage marriages never last. Snoopy may be a teen in human years, but he is a full-grown adult in dog years. Nevertheless,Lucy’s heart is probablyin the right place, if very rude and loudmouthed, but this is Lucy after all. Puppy love is given a whole new meaning in this comic strip.
8"My Dog Has Flipped"
January 29th, 1965
Flipped means to lose one’s composure or to become very enthusiastic, which is the perfect term used by Charlie Brown to describe Snoopy’s newfound boundless energy for his beagle girlfriend. When Snoopy meets his waiting girlfriend down at the ice skating rink, he cannot skate towards her fast enough.Unbeknownst to Snoopy, his round-headed kid owner is watching him in shock and even a little horror.
Despite the immense success that it would later have, network executives thought thatA Charlie Brown Christmaswould be a flop due to the perceived slow pacing of the special, Linus’s bible-quoting monologue, the jazz soundtrack, the child voice actors' inexperience, and the lack of a laugh track.
Charlie Brown cannot believe that his buddy is so in love and thatit has caused such a change in his beloved dog. Charlie Brown would not usually resort to such sneaky tactics as spying, but desperate times call for desperate measures.
7"I Could Have Skated All Night"
January 30th, 1965
Being in love can make one do some silly things, like bursting out into song. Snoopy becomes infatuated with the ice-skating girl beagle, spending time with her at the ice-skating rink.He had such a great time with her that he could have skated all night, making him go into an impromptu skating rendition of the song “I Could Have Danced All Night” fromMy Fair Lady, which was a hit film in 1964, all while doing his happy dance.
Snoopy’s dancing and singing out of love and joy make him start thinking about marriage.
Unable to keep his happiness inside, Snoopy’s dancing and singing out of love and joymake him start thinking about marriage with this fellow beagle - who he has just met. Lucy started trouble bringing up marriage to this love struck pup in a previous strip.
6"I Won’t Stand in Your Way"
February 1st, 1965
Charlie Brown caresabout Snoopy’s happiness, which is nowhere more clear than in this continuation of the “Snoopy in love with an ice-skating beagle” storyline. When Snoopy seriously considers asking the girl beagle to marry him,Charlie Brown gives Snoopy his blessing, letting the dog know that if he wants to marry her, then Charlie Brown will not have any objections. While Charlie Brown does not seem completely sold on the union, he is supportive and is willing to adopt a live-and-let-live attitude about it all. Charlie Brown’s blessing means the world to Snoopy, who gives Charlie Brown a warm hug like he has never given him before.
5"The Marrying Kind"
February 2nd, 1965
With Charlie Brown’s blessing now given, Snoopy begins to get the inklings of cold feet.He wonders if he is actually “the marrying kind,“questioning his more selfish characteristics and the fact that he and his beagle wife would need another supper dish if they were to get married. Snoopy, a beagle, puts more thought into getting married than some humans do. He wonders if he is suited to be a good partner in a marriage, which gives readers avulnerable look at Snoopy, who is usually a source of comic relief or the picture of laid back, cool, and confident, even when the reality does not match the level of confidence.
