HOWDY DOODY: CHARLIE BROWN'S STEPFATHER?

HOWDY DOODY: CHARLIE BROWN'S STEPFATHER?

SANTA ROSA, Calif. (Wireless Flash) -- Although Charles Schulz has been drawing his "Peanuts" comic strip for nearly 50 years, he owes part of his fame to Howdy Doody. Schulz -- who just announced the strip will officially end on January 4 -- says the name "Peanuts" was inspired by Howdy Doody's "Peanut Gallery" audience. The characters are about the same age -- but he admits he's never really liked name `Peanuts." When "Peanuts" first appeared in 1950, only nine newspapers carried the cartoon strip. These days, it's in more than 2,400. Schulz will use his retirement to spend more time with his family while undergoing treatment for recently detected colon cancer.