There is perhaps no better embodiment of the old saying that “it’s not whether you win or lose, but how you play the game,” than Charley Brown’s baseball team from the old Peanuts comic strip. Several dozen of those strips, dating as far back as 1952, were on display from Nov. 14 to Dec. 20 at the Village Theatre in Danville in an exhibit entitled Peanuts at Bat.
It was the first of a series of visiting exhibits to be displayed at the newly renovated historic theatre. The building, opened in 1913, was almost turned into a parking lot in 1987, and was re-opened in its current form as part of the Peanuts at Bat Grand Opening on Nov. 14.
According to the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center, the owners and organizers of Peanuts at Bat, the Peanuts team won six games over the years and suffered innumerable losses. The fact that they kept on playing season after season captures the spirit of participation that the Town of Danville aspires to in its own sports program through its slogan, “Everybody Can Play,” said Assistant Town Manager Marcia Somers.
Everybody can play is a hallmark of the Peanuts team. Its regular lineup, according to the Village Theatre’s docent notes, included a dog at shortstop and an all-girl outfield. Charley Brown pitched almost every game, which led to his developing Little League elbow. Linus replaced him on the mound and the team went on a rare, but brief, winning streak.
A small part of the Peanuts exhibit pays homage to Schulz’s love of the San Francisco Giants. In one strip, Charley Brown lost a spelling bee when he was asked to spell maze, but instead spelled the last name of Giants centerfielder Willie Mays. In a December 1962 strip, Linus and Charley Brown sit morosely on a curb for three panels before Charley Brown blurts, “Why couldn’t McCovey have hit it three feet higher?” This is in reference to a line drive McCovey hit that was caught by the Yankees’ Bobby Richardson at second base to end Game 7 of the 1962 World Series. Had the ball landed safely two runs would have scored and the Giants would have been World Champions.
Schulz also took note of baseball trends. In one strip the Peanuts gang is at an autograph show discussing how much each had paid to get an autograph of their favorite real-life player. Charley Brown’s favorite player was the fictional Joe Schlabotnik. He was so bad that he paid Charley Brown a dollar to take his autograph.
The Peanuts at Bat exhibit is the first of a series of art exhibits that will grace the Village Theatre lobby on an ongoing basis. “We chose the Peanuts exhibit first because we wanted to draw families,” said Somers. The exhibit’s contents earned overwhelming approval from the Town’s Art Commission, and according to Somers, children as young as 3 and up through the teen years have visited.
Somers says that the 1,100 square foot space in the Village Theatre lobby will regularly host traveling exhibits available for public viewings. On Jan. 30 an exhibit of contemporary Irish stained glass will begin a two month stay, and a collection of art work celebrating Mt. Diablo will be featured from April 10 to June 6. Gallery hours are 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. from Wednesdays to Saturdays and from 11 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays. There is no charge for admission, and a docent is always available during regular gallery hours. Those attending theatrical productions at the Village Theatre can enjoy the lobby art series at no additional charge.
Further information is available by calling 925-314-3400 or by visiting www.ci.danville.ca.us.