Snoopy Creator Schulz Receives French Honor
Cartoonist Charles Schulz drew lofty praise from the keepers of French culture today as they lavishly celebrated the 40th birthday of America’s favorite floppy-eared dog, the irrepressible Snoopy.
The beagle was glorified with a giant retrospective at the Decorative Arts Museum. French Culture Minister Jack Lang named Schulz a “commander of arts and letters,” one of France’s highest awards for excellence in the arts.
“Thank you for being the creator of Snoopy, full of humor and with a zest for life,” Lang told Schulz. “Your character is both mythical and hedonistic and he has taken over our collective consciousness and become a part of our everyday lives.”
Schulz, 67, beaming but appearing slightly embarrassed by all the fuss, said that when Snoopy was a World War I flying ace, he asked him how he learned to speak French.
“He said he had a small tourist phrase book but he told me you only really need to know one word, and that is merci, “ Schulz said in English.
The show opens to the public Wednesday and runs through April 22.
The biggest entertainment stories
Get our big stories about Hollywood, film, television, music, arts, culture and more right in your inbox as soon as they publish.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
