A Charlie Brown Christmas page 6 by ric gustafson
The success of the Dec 6 1964 stop motion Christmas special ' Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer' gave Coca Cola's advertising agency McCann Erickson an idea. Coca Cola wanted to do their own Christmas TV Special. To the CEO of McCann Erickson, this was going to be a huge challenge.
To find a network willing to broadcast an animated Christmas special by December 1965. That challenge fell on the shoulders of Marion Harper Jr.
In August of 1955, McCann Erickson secured their largest account. It was Coca Cola. Led by Marion Harper Jr, the agency secured the 15 million dollar deal. To an Oklahoma City boy raised by his mother, life could not be better. Neal Gilliatt was chosen to oversee the Coca Cola account.
Gilliatt knew Harper Jr and McCann Erickson were hoping to make an animated TV special for December 1965. NBC already had plans to show Rudolph again. That left only ABC and CBS. The head of CBS's programming was James T Aubrey. Aubrey already had a policy against broadcasting specials. Marion Harper Jr knew he had a rough road ahead.
research help: ' Charlie Brown's Christmas Miracle' by Michael Keane
Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric
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