Spotlight
on
Snoopy
“In this series of Keepsake Ornaments, as in his comic strip adventures, SNOOPY takes on a variety of roles.” The Spotlight on Snoopy series launched in 1998 and has continued ever since — one of Hallmark’s longest-running Peanuts series. Each year Snoopy and Woodstock step into a new character: Joe Cool, the Famous Flying Ace, the Detective, the Beaglescout, the Literary Ace, Uncle Sam, and more. The 1998 #1 Joe Cool is in The Henry Ford. A 2022 25th Anniversary Special Edition celebrated a quarter-century of the series. All available entries here at Already Christmas.
1998 #1 Joe Cool — In The Henry Ford Collections · Bob Siedler
The Henry Ford museum holds the 1998 Spotlight on Snoopy #1 Joe Cool (QX6453) in its permanent collections. The full box text: “First in the Spotlight on SNOOPY Series. Look for series verification 1 on this ornament. Since his debut with the PEANUTS gang nearly 40 years ago, this loveable beagle with the big imagination has charmed his way into our hearts. In this series of Keepsake Ornaments, as in his comic strip adventures, SNOOPY takes on a variety of roles. Here, with his pal WOODSTOCK, he’s campus personality ‘Joe Cool,’ ready to help old St. Nick. Sculpted by Bob Siedler.” The 1998 ornament was released on Hallmark’s 25th ornament anniversary year (box top: “25 Years of Collecting Memories, 1973–1998”).
“SNOOPY Takes on a Variety of Roles” — A Quarter Century and Counting
The Spotlight on Snoopy series launched in 1998 with Snoopy’s most famous alter-ego: Joe Cool, the ultra-hip campus personality who appears in the Peanuts comic strip. The founding entry launched on Hallmark’s 25th ornament anniversary year and immediately landed in The Henry Ford’s permanent collections. The series premise was set from the beginning: each year, a different role from Snoopy’s rich repertoire of comic strip characters and disguises. The 1999 Famous Flying Ace brings Snoopy’s Red Baron fantasy to life — brown bomber jacket, aviator hat, goggles, maroon scarf, Woodstock wearing matching aviator gear, 2.5 inches high.
The series has continued for over 25 years: the Detective in 2000 (magnifying glass, deerstalker), Beaglescout in 2001 (with Woodstock), Literary Ace in 2002 (Snoopy as the writer on his doghouse), Joe Cool again in 2003, Uncle Sam as The Winning Ticket in 2004, Snoopy the Magnificent in 2005. The 2022 25th Anniversary Special Edition (QXI7813) marked a quarter century of the series with a celebration ornament. The series is ongoing — one of Hallmark’s longest-running Peanuts ornament series. The entries at Already Christmas represent a curated collection from across the series’ history.
“Since his debut with the PEANUTS gang nearly 40 years ago, this loveable beagle with the big imagination has charmed his way into our hearts. In this series of Keepsake Ornaments, as in his comic strip adventures, SNOOPY takes on a variety of roles.”
— Box text, 1998 Spotlight on Snoopy #1 Joe Cool · QX6453 · In The Henry Ford · Sculpted by Bob Siedler · First in Series · Hallmark’s 25th ornament anniversary year
Tips for the Collection
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01Display in numbered sequence — the roles Snoopy assumes tell a complete character biography of Peanuts’ most imaginative beagle. Joe Cool (#1), Famous Flying Ace (#2), Detective (#3), Beaglescout (#4), Literary Ace (#5), Joe Cool again (#6), Uncle Sam (#7), Snoopy the Magnificent (#8). In sequence the eight entries map the breadth of Snoopy’s most beloved comic strip identities. Every Peanuts fan will recognize each one. The series is an argument for why Snoopy is the most versatile character Charles Schulz ever created.
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02The 1998 #1 Joe Cool is in The Henry Ford and launched on Hallmark’s 25th ornament anniversary year — give it the most prominent position. The founding entry of one of Hallmark’s longest-running Peanuts series, released in the same year Hallmark celebrated 25 years of Keepsake Ornaments (1973–1998), and now in The Henry Ford’s permanent collections. It is the series’ most historically significant entry and deserves the lead position in any display.
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03All Spotlight on Snoopy entries at Already Christmas — #1 through #8 from 1998–2005, plus the 2022 25th Anniversary Special Edition — are here. Joe Cool, Flying Ace, Detective, Beaglescout, Literary Ace, Uncle Sam, Snoopy the Magnificent. And the anniversary. All nine available entries here.
Every Spotlight on Snoopy Keepsake Available Here
Joe Cool · Flying Ace · Detective · Beaglescout · Literary Ace · Uncle Sam · Magnificent · Anniversary. Click to shop.
Bob Siedler put Snoopy in sunglasses and a Joe Cool t-shirt in 1998 — campus personality, Woodstock beside him, first in the series, now in The Henry Ford, released in Hallmark’s 25th ornament anniversary year. The Famous Flying Ace came next, then the Detective, then the Beaglescout, then Literary Ace typing atop his doghouse, then Uncle Sam, then Snoopy the Magnificent. A series that has run for over 25 years, celebrating the most imaginative beagle in the history of American comics. All available entries here.
✦ Part of our Collection: Hallmark Peanuts Series, Explored ✦