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Patty (Peanuts)
Encyclopedia
Patty is a character in the comic strip
Peanuts
, created by Charles M. Schulz
(often confused with Peppermint Patty
, a different and later character from the same strip). Her closest friend is Violet. The two appeared very early — Patty even appeared in the first strip, along with Charlie Brown
and Shermy — but lacking the distinguishing characteristics of characters such as Lucy
, Linus
, or Sally
, she became less prominent as years went by.
As the only female character in the strip's very earliest days (as well as the first female character in the strip), Patty often acted as a sort of mother-hen, looking out for the younger characters; however, she also set the tone for the strong female characters in the Peanuts universe. In her (and the strip's) second appearance, Patty is shown walking down the sidewalk reciting "Little girls are made of sugar and spice and everything nice." She then punches Charlie Brown in the face and, without missing a beat, continues, "That's what little girls are made of!"
Patty's name was first mentioned on October 26, 1950, 24 days after her first appearance. She was apparently the oldest child in the strip (possibly along with Shermy), as she attended school when Charlie Brown did not (strip of September 18, 1951). Eventually, she, along with Violet, became best known for their social snob
bery and combined cruelty to Charlie Brown, although Violet was generally the more dominant of the two. Patty is also known for asking "Pig-Pen
" why he is constantly so dirty.
Patty's hair color is light brown (sometimes red, or blonde) and she customarily wears a checked dress with a matching bow in her hair, usually coloured orange. Patty had a major part in the original version of the stage musical You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown
, as well as the early animated
Peanuts television specials.
Although Patty — or at least unnamed girls who bear a strong resemblance to her — would make cameo appearances throughout the run of Peanuts, she pretty much disappeared as a featured character by the mid-1970s, making her last official appearance on April 11, 1976. Schulz claimed he drew Patty in the March 2, 1994 strip in which she wants Snoopy to chase rabbits with her (a role previously usually taken by Frieda
), although some fans have stated that the girl in the strip in question does not resemble Patty. Some have postulated that Patty's doom was sealed by the appearance of the similarly named Peppermint Patty in 1966, but others say her character was already in decline by then. Her most recent appearance to this date was in the television special I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown
and in a strip from November 27, 1997.
Patty's birthday is November 4. She plays outfield on Charlie Brown's baseball
team; though on an early occasion she was seen as catcher before Schroeder
was introduced. Interestingly, it was Patty who first introduced Charlie Brown to Schroeder, claiming he lived next-door to her.
(played by Karen Johnson), but by the time the show was revived on Broadway in the late 1990s, Patty's character was replaced by Sally
, since Patty had ceased making regular appearances in the strip decades earlier.
Comic strip
A comic strip is a sequence of drawings arranged in interrelated panels to display brief humor or form a narrative, often serialized, with text in balloons and captions....
Peanuts
Peanuts
Peanuts is a syndicated daily and Sunday American comic strip written and illustrated by Charles M. Schulz, which ran from October 2, 1950, to February 13, 2000, continuing in reruns afterward...
, created by Charles M. Schulz
Charles M. Schulz
Charles Monroe "Sparky" Schulz was an American cartoonist, whose comic strip Peanuts proved one of the most popular and influential in the history of the medium, and is still widely reprinted on a daily basis.-Early life and education:Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Schulz grew up in Saint Paul...
(often confused with Peppermint Patty
Peppermint Patty
Patricia "Peppermint Patty" Reichardt is a fictional character featured in Charles M. Schulz's comic strip Peanuts. A freckle-faced auburn/brunette, she is one of a small group in the strip who lives across town from Charlie Brown and his school friends...
, a different and later character from the same strip). Her closest friend is Violet. The two appeared very early — Patty even appeared in the first strip, along with Charlie Brown
Charlie Brown
Charles "Charlie" Brown is the protagonist in the comic strip Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz.Charlie Brown and his creator have a common connection in that they are both the sons of barbers, but whereas Schulz's work is described as the "most shining example of the American success story", Charlie...
and Shermy — but lacking the distinguishing characteristics of characters such as Lucy
Lucy van Pelt
Lucille "Lucy" van Pelt is a fictional character in the syndicated comic strip :Peanuts, written and drawn by Charles Schulz. She is the main bully and the older sister of Linus and Rerun. Lucy is a crabby and cynical eight-year old girl, and often bullies the other characters in the strip,...
, Linus
Linus van Pelt
Linus van Pelt is a character in Charles M. Schulz's comic strip Peanuts. The best friend of Charlie Brown, Linus is also the younger brother of Lucy van Pelt and older brother of Rerun van Pelt. He first appeared on September 19, 1952; however, he was not mentioned by name until three days later....
, or Sally
Sally Brown
Sally Brown is the younger sister of Charlie Brown in the comic strip Peanuts by Charles Schulz. She was first mentioned in early 1959 and throughout a long series of strips before her first appearance in August 1959.-Appearance:...
, she became less prominent as years went by.
As the only female character in the strip's very earliest days (as well as the first female character in the strip), Patty often acted as a sort of mother-hen, looking out for the younger characters; however, she also set the tone for the strong female characters in the Peanuts universe. In her (and the strip's) second appearance, Patty is shown walking down the sidewalk reciting "Little girls are made of sugar and spice and everything nice." She then punches Charlie Brown in the face and, without missing a beat, continues, "That's what little girls are made of!"
Patty's name was first mentioned on October 26, 1950, 24 days after her first appearance. She was apparently the oldest child in the strip (possibly along with Shermy), as she attended school when Charlie Brown did not (strip of September 18, 1951). Eventually, she, along with Violet, became best known for their social snob
Snob
A snob is someone who believes that some people are inherently inferior to him or her for any one of a variety of reasons, including real or supposed intellect, wealth, education, ancestry, taste, beauty, nationality, et cetera. Often, the form of snobbery reflects the snob's personal attributes...
bery and combined cruelty to Charlie Brown, although Violet was generally the more dominant of the two. Patty is also known for asking "Pig-Pen
Pig-Pen
"Pig-Pen" is a character in the comic strip Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz. He is a young boy who is, except on very rare occasions, very dirty.-History:"Pig-Pen" is a nickname, invariably written in quotation marks in the strip...
" why he is constantly so dirty.
Patty's hair color is light brown (sometimes red, or blonde) and she customarily wears a checked dress with a matching bow in her hair, usually coloured orange. Patty had a major part in the original version of the stage musical You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown
You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown
You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown is a 1967 musical comedy with music and lyrics by Clark Gesner, based on the characters created by cartoonist Charles M. Schulz in his comic strip Peanuts...
, as well as the early animated
Animation
Animation is the rapid display of a sequence of images of 2-D or 3-D artwork or model positions in order to create an illusion of movement. The effect is an optical illusion of motion due to the phenomenon of persistence of vision, and can be created and demonstrated in several ways...
Peanuts television specials.
Although Patty — or at least unnamed girls who bear a strong resemblance to her — would make cameo appearances throughout the run of Peanuts, she pretty much disappeared as a featured character by the mid-1970s, making her last official appearance on April 11, 1976. Schulz claimed he drew Patty in the March 2, 1994 strip in which she wants Snoopy to chase rabbits with her (a role previously usually taken by Frieda
Frieda (Peanuts)
Frieda is a character in the comic strip Peanuts by Charles Schulz. According to Schulz, Frieda's character was inspired by his longtime friend Frieda Rich, a local artist whom he met while taking classes at the Art Instruction Schools in Minneapolis, Minnesota...
), although some fans have stated that the girl in the strip in question does not resemble Patty. Some have postulated that Patty's doom was sealed by the appearance of the similarly named Peppermint Patty in 1966, but others say her character was already in decline by then. Her most recent appearance to this date was in the television special I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown
I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown
I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown is one of the Peanuts made-for-television specials. The hour-long special first aired on ABC on December 9, 2003...
and in a strip from November 27, 1997.
Patty's birthday is November 4. She plays outfield on Charlie Brown's baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
team; though on an early occasion she was seen as catcher before Schroeder
Schroeder (Peanuts)
Schroeder is a fictional character in the long-running comic strip Peanuts, created by Charles M. Schulz. He is distinguished by his precocious skill at playing the toy piano, as well as by his love of classical music and the composer Ludwig van Beethoven in particular...
was introduced. Interestingly, it was Patty who first introduced Charlie Brown to Schroeder, claiming he lived next-door to her.
Portrayals
Patty was one of the featured characters in the original 1967 off-Broadway production of You're a Good Man, Charlie BrownYou're a Good Man, Charlie Brown
You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown is a 1967 musical comedy with music and lyrics by Clark Gesner, based on the characters created by cartoonist Charles M. Schulz in his comic strip Peanuts...
(played by Karen Johnson), but by the time the show was revived on Broadway in the late 1990s, Patty's character was replaced by Sally
Sally Brown
Sally Brown is the younger sister of Charlie Brown in the comic strip Peanuts by Charles Schulz. She was first mentioned in early 1959 and throughout a long series of strips before her first appearance in August 1959.-Appearance:...
, since Patty had ceased making regular appearances in the strip decades earlier.