With the Chicago Sun-Times, Jeannie Schulz, widow of Peanuts creator Charles Schulz, and animator/director Bill Melendez recollect on the making of It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. The special premiered October 27, 1966, on CBS. Forty years later, the Halloween classic continues its annual television tradition, airing tonight on its latest network home, ABC. Thanks to Daniel Jake at the Animated News Forum for the heads up!

Meanwhile, Snoopy.com is also honoring Great Pumpkin’s anniversary, offering a section for the special. It is worth noting that the site has revealed the winners for the “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown 40th Anniversary Essay Contest.” Contestants were asked to send their “Worst Halloween Ever” stories – tales to rival the humorously tragic conclusions to Charlie Brown and Linus Van Pelt’s All Hallows’ Eve .