Locations Locations

Africa
Asia Pacific
Eurasia
Europe
- Austria
- Belgium (Dutch)
- Belgium (French)
- Bulgaria
- Denmark
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Great Britain
- Greece
- Hungary
- Ireland
- Italy
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Portugal
- Poland
- Romania
- Russia
- Serbia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Ukraine
Latin America
- Argentina
- Bolivia
- Brazil
- Chile
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- Mexico
- Nicaragua
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Uruguay
- Venezuela
North America

Locations

| The Coca-Cola Company

Our Company
Our Company Main
About Coca-Cola Journey
Mission, Vision & Values
Diversity & Inclusion
Human and Workplace Rights
Workplace Overview
Supplier Diversity
Coca-Cola Leaders
Company Reports
The Coca-Cola System
Company History
Coca-Cola Product Facts (U.S.)
The Coca-Cola Foundation
World of Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola Store

Investors
Investors Main
2017 Annual Review
Investors Info: Financial Reports and Information
Investors Info: Stock Information
Investors Info: Investor Webcasts and Events
Shareowner Information
Corporate Governance
Investors Info: SEC Filings

Press Center
Press Center Main
Press Releases
Company Statements
Leadership
Video Library
Image Library
Press Contacts

Careers
Careers Main

Contact Us
Contact Us Main
FAQs

Search

Front Page
BRANDS
OUR WAY FORWARD
SUSTAINABILITY
INNOVATION
HISTORY

#CocaColaRenew
2017 Annual Review
Commitment to Transparency
Product Facts (U.S.)
2017 Sustainability Report

FRONT PAGE

Topgolf and Coca-Cola Tee Off Exclusive Beverage Partnership

Topgolf guests can now sweeten their swings with Coca-Cola beverages at 46 sports entertainment venues nationwide.The fast-growing concept invites people of all ages and skill levels to enjoy point-scoring golf games – Top stands for “target-oriented practice” – using microchipped balls that instantly

Quincey Chairman Hero

Quincey Chairman Hero

James Quincey to Succeed Muhtar Kent as Chairman of The Coca-Cola Company

Kent to Retire After 41 Years in the Coca-Cola System; Board of Directors Elects Quincey as Company ChairmanSam Nunn to Step Down After 22 Years as a Director; Board Elects Maria Elena Lagomasino as Lead Independent Director to Succeed NunnATLANTA, Dec. 6, 2018 – James Quincey was elected today

Muhtar Kent Retires Hero

Muhtar Kent Retires Hero

Looking Back, Looking Ahead: Muhtar Kent on Four Decades at Coca-Cola

Forty years ago, I was reading The New York Times when I came across a classified ad for a position at The Coca-Cola Company. Intrigued by the possibility of helping to build a global business, I decided to apply.A short time later, after traveling to Atlanta for an interview, I accepted the job as

Coca-Cola Shows Why the Holidays Are a

2018 Holidays Hero

Coca-Cola Shows Why the Holidays Are a Time to Give and Give Back

Giving a Coca-Cola is the most refreshing, simple and delicious act of kindness that uplifts holiday moments, making them a little more special.That’s the core idea behind the brand’s festive campaign for 2018, which is anchored by the Coca-Cola Gift Bottle. Limited-edition 20-oz. packages of Coca-Cola

Santa Stamp Hero

Santa Stamp Hero

Sundblom’s ‘Coca-Cola Santa’ Gets Its Own Commemorative Stamp

The U.S. Postal Service has released a series of commemorative holiday stamps featuring Santa Claus images painted by artist Haddon Sundblom for Coca-Cola Christmas ads from the 1940s through the early 1960s.The Sparkling Holidays Commemorative Forever stamps, sold in booklets of 20 for the holiday

Polar Bear Hero

Polar Bear Hero

The Story of the Coca-Cola Polar Bears: How Man's Best Friend Provided the Creative Inspiration Behind the Beloved Icons

One day in 1992, Ken Stewart was brainstorming ideas for what he hoped would become the next great Coca-Cola commercial when four-legged inspiration came barreling into his Los Angeles office. His trusty Labrador Retriever, Morgan, gave him the creative spark he’d been looking for.“The brain quickly

RED Philadelphia hero

RED Philadelphia hero

25 Years After ‘Philadelphia’: Coca-Cola and (RED)® Release Featurette Charting Progress Made in Fight Against HIV/AIDS

The Coca-Cola Company, through its partnership with (RED), will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the movie Philadelphia with a mini documentary highlighting progress made in the fight against HIV/AIDS since the film’s 1993 release.The 25-minute featurette titled The Last Mile features interviews with

Just Poured

Featured
Business
Brands
Diversity
Food
History
Innovation
Jobs
Sports
Sustainability

Lee Mendelson Charlie Brown Christmas Hero

history For countless families across the country, the annual broadcast of A Charlie Brown Christmas signals the official start of the holiday season. The animated classic will air for the 50th consecutive year tonight at 9 p.m. ET on ABC, preceded at 8 p.m. by a music-driven retrospective. We caught up with Lee Mendelson -- the filmmaker who served as executive producer of the seminal show a half-century ago alongside Peanuts creator Charles Schulz and animator Bill Melendez -- by phone from his home in Hillsborough, Calif., about 20 minutes from San Francisco. The award-winning producer reflected on the origins and enduring cultural relevance of A Charlie Brown Christmas… and its little-known ties to Coca-Cola and a Bay Area baseball legend. Legend has it that in 1963, just after you’d made a TV documentary on Willie Mays, you were reading a Peanuts comic strip and got the idea to cold-call Charles Schulz and pitch him on the idea of making him your next subject. Do I have my facts straight? You do. Schulz lived in Sebastapol, California -- about an hour from me in San Francisco -- and his number was actually in the phone book. I called him up and said, “I’d like to do a documentary on you. We’re a small, two-man crew. We won’t be intrusive.” He responded, “I appreciate the call, but I really just want to focus on the comic strip. I don’t want to be bothered with New York or Hollywood animation.” Just before hanging up, I said, “By the way, did you happen to see the Willie Mays documentary last week?” He said, “Yes, I did! Willie Mays is my hero… why do you ask?” And I replied, “Because that’s what we want to do with you.” He said, “Well, if Willie Mays trusted you with his life, I can trust you with mine. Come on up and we’ll talk.” So we did the documentary and hired (jazz composer) Vince Guaraldi to do the music. He wrote “Linus and Lucy”, which eventually made it to A Charlie Brown Christmas. Bill Melendez came up, and we did two minutes of animation. That was the germination of everything. When you made A Charlie Brown Christmas in 1965, did you ever imagine it would still be on the air 50 years later? Absolutely not. Everyone liked the Schulz documentary, but nobody bought it. Two years later, a fellow named John Allen called from McCann-Erickson and said, “My client, Coca-Cola, liked your documentary.” I got all excited because I thought he was calling to buy it. Then he asked, “Have you ever thought of doing a Christmas show?” I lied and said, “Absolutely!” I called Schulz and told him, “I think I just sold A Charlie Brown Christmas show. He replied, “What in the world is that?” And I said, “It’s something you’re going to write tomorrow.” Melendez flew in, and we put the whole show together in one day. About halfway into the production process, a guy from McCann came in to see where we were. It was a very rudimentary beginning... it was all in black and white, with no color and no music. He said, “This is terrible… I don’t know what to do with it.” I said, “Trust me, if you believe in Charles Schulz, everything’s going to be fine.” But after we finished the show, all of us thought we’d ruined Charlie Brown because we thought it was too slow. We took it to the network, and they thought it was too slow. McCann and Coca-Cola did, too. It was unanimous. Nobody thought it was going to work. So when you ask if we expected it to be on 50 years… we only expected it to be on once and then never be heard from again. But back in those days, there were only three networks, and almost half the country tuned in to watch A Charlie Brown Christmas in 1965. We got a 45 share. The network ordered four additional specials, and we were on our way to doing 50 more. Why do you think those initial reactions were eventually proven wrong? Because of the philosophy and characters of Charles Schulz, and the fact that he deals with basic truths. What he wrote about then is still true today. So is it safe to say A Charlie Brown Christmas would never have been produced if the call had not come from Coca-Cola? No. It never would’ve been made. Did McCann and Coca-Cola provide you with any sort of a creative brief other than: ‘We want you to produce a Charlie Brown Christmas special?’ No. It was a Thursday and they said, “We’ll need the outline by Monday.” We were stupid enough to believe we could do it. Describe the collaborative dynamic between you, Schulz and Melendez. In 1961 or 1962, Charles Schulz met Bill Melendez. When I did the (Schulz) documentary a few years later and could only afford two minutes of animation, Schulz said, “You should meet Bill Melendez.” And we were partners for the next 38 years. We met once or twice a month and produced 50 specials, a series and four movies. How did you first connect with Guaraldi? The Schulz documentary was done, and I couldn’t figure out what kind of music I wanted. I was driving over the Golden Gate Bridge listening to my favorite jazz station. I heard something called “Cast Your Fate to the Wind”, which had just won a Grammy, and they mentioned Vince Guaraldi. I called Ralph Gleason, the jazz critic at the (San Francisco) Chronicle, and asked if he knew Guaraldi. He said, “I’m having lunch with him today.” We met soon after that, and he wrote "Linus and Lucy" and a few other songs for the documentary. It was all serendipity. Willie Mays came to San Francisco in 1958, and Charles Schulz came here from St. Paul in 1958. I met them both five years later, and then Vince Guaraldi. You mentioned the initial feedback was that A Charlie Brown Christmas was too slow. Did Vince Guaraldi’s score pep it up a bit? That was one of the things that worked, yes. Vince had written this great melody for the beginning of the show, an instrumental over the characters skating. I said, “I’m going to write some words for this.” I asked Vince to get a choir to sing it. So at the last minute, we put “Christmastime is Here” in the show. And it has since been covered about a hundred times. Also, nobody had used kid actors before we did (for the voiceovers), and nobody had mixed the types of music we did -- Beethoven, jazz and traditional. And certainly nobody animated from the Bible. That combination is why it all worked, despite our lack of faith… no pun intended. Guaraldi’s A Charlie Brown Christmas is one of my favorite albums -- of any genre -- of all time. Obviously the great show you guys produced has stood the test of time, and I think the music certainly has, as well. I think without the music, we never would’ve made it. In the initial 1965 broadcast, a title slide let viewers know that the production was made possible by the support of local Coca-Cola bottlers around the country. Did the brand make any other cameos? Originally, when Linus crashed into the tree, a Coca-Cola sign fell down. (Note: The scene was edited out the following year when Coke’s sponsorship ended). And at the end of the show, we showed Schulz at his writing desk with a Coke bottle, and he thanked Coca-Cola for sponsoring the show. I remember McCann flying a guy out from New York to make sure we had the right frosting on the bottle. But that clip has long been lost… we can’t find it. How did critics respond? TIME magazine gave us a glowing review several days before the show aired. The network didn’t want to show it to the TIME critic, but I convinced them. He didn’t say a word or take any notes while he watched it. I thought, “Oh no, he didn’t like it either!” But then we got this glowing review, which led to more great reviews. All the reviews we got were outstanding. What about A Charlie Brown Christmas has continued to resonate with generations of viewers? Just because we got a 45 share that first year didn’t mean people would watch it again. But, again, there were only three networks back then, so a 45 share is a tremendous amount of viewers. They obviously stuck with it and cared enough that it’s been passed on to the next two generations. Now we have grandparents, parents and kids watching. It’s been handed down and become a Christmas tradition. And I think it’s because of the music and talking about the true meaning of Christmas. All of these things touched people back then and continue to touch people today. The theme that has caught people’s fancy the most is its simplicity. And there’s also a lot of fun in it. What does its legacy mean to you personally? I’m still in shock, of course. We read recently that it’s the president’s favorite Christmas show and the first family decorates their tree every year to it. The whole thing is surreal. Do you have a favorite character or scene? Someone asked me that the other day, and I hadn’t really thought about it before. I think it’s when Linus talks about the tree and says, “I think all it needs is a little love.” That line has spoken to generations and has always been very important. If you were producing A Charlie Brown Christmas in 2015, would you approach it differently? This all came out in a one-day meeting and flowed like it was meant to be. I can’t think of anything we’d change, frankly. How soon after its success did tackle next Charlie Brown special? We went right into Charlie Brown’s All Stars, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this spring, and then It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, which celebrates its 50th anniversary next fall. A lot of comic strips had one network special and then were never heard from again. You only get one shot. We were lucky. Did Coca-Cola sponsor any more of your shows after A Charlie Brown Christmas? Yes, they sponsored Travels with Charley, an Emmy-nominated reenactment of the famous John Steinbeck novel, starring Henry Fonda. And we did Tips on Baseball with Willie Mays, which Coke has in its archives. As a Coke drinker all my life, I appreciate the product and I appreciate the sponsorship. Have you seen new Peanuts movie? Yes, it’s great! The Schulz family produced it… it’s fun, charming and a nice transition from our stuff. Will it open up the Peanuts catalogue to yet another new generation of fans? Well, we hope so. You never know how things translate, but it’s certainly reaching a new generation. Tonight (Monday, Nov. 30) and again on Christmas Eve, ABC will air a special commemorating the 50th anniversary of A Charlie Brown Christmas. What can viewers expect? We’ve done about 50 music variety specials, and this is my favorite. The host is Kristen Bell, and we have Sarah McLachlan singing “Christmastime is Here.” She’s my favorite to have covered it over the years. This is partly a tribute to the music of the show, partly a look at how we created it, and a bunch of highlights from the last 50 years. We’re very excited about it.

history

SUBMIT NOW!

SUBMIT NOW!

What makes an everyday moment a 'Coca-Cola Moment'? Submit your best pics and show us!

MOST POPULAR

SEE MORE SEE MORE

Topic Filter Category Callout

Topic Filter Category Callout

Our Way Forward

Our Commitment to Transparency: Learn More

Topic Filter Category Callout

Topic Filter Category Callout

Topic Filter Category Callout

Topic Filter Category Callout

Nutrition, Info, Ingredients & FAQs

Nutrition Info, Ingredients & FAQs - Get the Facts

STOCK49.09 NYSE/KO 0.29 Quote delayed at least 15 minutes.

Stock Ticker

Topic Filter Category Callout

Topic Filter Category Callout

Topic Filter Category Callout

Topic Filter Category Callout

STAFF PICKS

Jay Moye Recommends Why Coca-Cola is Acquiring Costa
Hannah Nemer Recommends How Coca-Cola Scholar Adan Gonzalez is Freeing Himself and His Community Through Education
Emily Bucherati Recommends Topo Chico Sparkling Mineral Water Joins Coke's Venturing & Emerging Brands Portfolio
Scott Leith Recommends Investing In America: Coca-Cola And Its U.S. Bottler Partners
Jamal Booker Recommends Treat Sustainability like a Hidden Treasure
Kate Hartman Rosenzweig Recommends Coke Inks ‘Virtual Sponsorship Deal’ with EA SPORTS FIFA 18 Game
Kent Landers Recommends Coca-Cola USA: A Total Beverage Company With Local Roots
Justine Fletcher Recommends The Varsity at 90: Coke’s Neighbor Marks a Milestone

James Quincey

IN THE NEWS

James Quincey Elected Chairman

Quincey to succeed Muhtar Kent, who will retire after 41 years in the Coca-Cola system.

Read the Press Release

#JOURNEYTV

Who We Are: The Coca-Cola Company

We are a total beverage company. From our passion for what people want, we bring people everywhere more of the brands they love. From one brand to over 500, we are Coca-Cola…and so much more.

Dear Future (:60) | #CocaColaRenew

Dear Future (:60) | #CocaColaRenew

James Quincey on Costa

James Quincey on Costa

The Varsity Celebrates 90th Anniversary

The Varsity Celebrates 90th Anniversary

Who We Are: The Coca-Cola Company

Who We Are: The Coca-Cola Company

Dear Future (:60) | #CocaColaRenew

Dear Future (:60) | #CocaColaRenew

James Quincey on Costa

James Quincey on Costa

The Varsity Celebrates 90th Anniversary

The Varsity Celebrates 90th Anniversary

Snapshots

Moments of Happiness From Our Readers

Upload Image Snapshots

50 Is Just a Number

Happy Days, Graduation, and Coke

Twenty Thousand Feet

We Said Our Vows and Had a Coke

An Anniversary Coke

Monkey With a Taste for Coca-Cola

Maryanne's Diner

Visit to Kathmandu

Pearl's Halloween Costume

Let's Drink and Be Married

Coca-Cola Moment in the French Alps

From My Army Strong Son

Bliss

Traveling Back in Time

SEE MORESEE MORE

STAY & SIP

Coca-Cola Leaders: Q3 Results Show Strategic Plan is On Track
#uncapped: vitaminwater, The FADER Present 5th Anniversary Concert Series in New York
#OutOfOffice: Coca-Cola During the Day and Puccini at Night
Coca-Cola London Eye Transforms for Rugby World Cup 2015

SEE MORE STORIESSEE MORE STORIES

The Golden Rule of Creativity
A Foodie's Guide to Brooklyn, N.Y.
A Refreshing Recipe: Coca-Cola and Coffee Granita
Coca-Cola and Coffee Granita

SEE MORE STORIESSEE MORE STORIES

Coca-Cola’s Francisco Crespo: ‘Growth is in Our Hands’
Q&A: Sam Nunn’s Lifetime of Connections to Coca-Cola
Looking Back, Looking Ahead: Muhtar Kent on Four Decades at Coca-Cola
Maria Elena Lagomasino on Her New Role as Lead Independent Director for Coca-Cola

SEE MORE STORIESSEE MORE STORIES

Watch: Jason Derulo, Coca-Cola Launch Music Video for 2018 FIFA World Cup Anthem
Ed Sheeran Hosts Private Pizza Party with Coca-Cola and (RED) for World AIDS Day
10th Season of the Iconic Coke Studio Pakistan Launched
'Pop 'n Pour': This Electronic Music Pioneer Created the Sound of Coke's Beloved Bubbles

SEE MORE STORIESSEE MORE STORIES

The Power of Food: Operation BBQ Relief Feeds Front-line Heroes in Times of Need
Coca-Cola Toasts 60 Years of Dreamland Bar-B-Que
Americans Spill the Beans About What Makes Them Feel Good in Summertime McCafé Survey
The Varsity at 90: Coke’s North Avenue Neighbor Marks a Milestone

SEE MORE STORIESSEE MORE STORIES

Topgolf and Coca-Cola Tee Off Exclusive Beverage Partnership
Coca-Cola Shows Why the Holidays Are a Time to Give and Give Back
#RefreshtheFeed: Coca-Cola Reboots Social Networks With Stream of Feel-Good Content
Sprite Empowers Young Voices With ‘Get Vocal’ Platform

SEE MORE STORIESSEE MORE STORIES

Portrait Series Marks 90 Years of Coca-Cola Red
‘I’m Not Just Looking Back… I’m Looking Ahead’: New Coca-Cola Archivist Justine Fletcher Says Company’s Rich History Informs Its Future
Sprite Empowers Young Voices With ‘Get Vocal’ Platform
25 Years After ‘Philadelphia’: Coca-Cola and (RED)® Release Featurette Charting Progress Made in Fight Against HIV/AIDS

SEE MORE STORIESSEE MORE STORIES

The Coca-Co. USA: Our Promise
Coke's One Young World Delegates Ready to Make Their Mark
Army Inspector General Talks Leadership and More Ahead of Veterans Day Event at Coca-Cola
Gallery: 8 Veterans Share Their Service With Coca-Cola

SEE MORE STORIESSEE MORE STORIES

Coca-Cola’s Francisco Crespo: ‘Growth is in Our Hands’
Coca-Cola Set to Make Santas of Us All
Topgolf and Coca-Cola Tee Off Exclusive Beverage Partnership
Portrait Series Marks 90 Years of Coca-Cola Red

SEE MORE STORIESSEE MORE STORIES

Responsible Marketing
Coca-Cola System Hosts Inaugural Disaster Relief Forum
What I Learned During My Sustainability Internship With Coke's Kenya Office
The Ongoing Fight Against HIV/AIDS: Reflecting on the Film 'Philadelphia' in its Namesake City

SEE MORE STORIESSEE MORE STORIES

Topgolf and Coca-Cola Tee Off Exclusive Beverage Partnership
Coca-Cola Tips Cap to Boston Red Sox World Series Win With Commemorative Can
Team Bottles, Coca-Cola Tailgating Supplies Score With College Football Fans
Olympic Skier Gus Kenworthy On Coming Out as a Public Figure

SEE MORE STORIESSEE MORE STORIES

Coca-Cola’s Francisco Crespo: ‘Growth is in Our Hands’
The Ongoing Fight Against HIV/AIDS: Reflecting on the Film 'Philadelphia' in its Namesake City
The Coca-Cola Co. USA Announces Dear Future Community Challenge Change-makers
#RefreshtheFeed: Coca-Cola Reboots Social Networks With Stream of Feel-Good Content

SEE MORE STORIESSEE MORE STORIES

COCA-COLA ON SOCIAL

LIKES

FOLLOWERS

FOLLOWERS

VIEWS

FOLLOWERS

Front Page
BRANDS
OUR WAY FORWARD
SUSTAINABILITY
INNOVATION
HISTORY

Our Company
Product Facts (U.S.)
Investors
Press Center
Careers
Contact Us
Newsletter
Masthead

Close

Loading...

Company Information

2017 Year in Review
2017 Sustainability Report
About Coca-Cola Journey
Ask Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola Product Facts (U.S.)
Diversity & Inclusion
Human & Workplace Rights
Job Search
Leadership Bios
Press Releases
RSS Feed
World of Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola Store

Topics

#CocaColaRenew
Brands
Business
Diversity & Inclusion
Food
History
Innovation
Jobs
Sports
Sustainability

Brands

Coca-Cola
Diet Coke
Coca-Cola Zero Sugar
Sprite
Fanta
Mello Yello
Surge
Powerade
glacéau vitaminwater
Dasani
glacéau smartwater
Honest Tea
Gold Peak
Zico
Simply Beverages
Minute Maid
Odwalla
fairlife
Del Valle
Ciel
Georgia
View All Brands »

Policies

About our Ads

California Transparency in Supply Chain Act

Cookie Policy

DMCA Policy

House Rules

Privacy Policy

Terms of Use

The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is a total beverage company, offering over 500 brands in more than 200 countries and territories. In addition to the company’s Coca-Cola brands, our portfolio includes some of the world’s most valuable beverage brands, such as AdeS soy-based beverages, Ayataka green tea, Dasani waters, Del Valle juices and nectars, Fanta, Georgia coffee, Gold Peak teas and coffees, Honest Tea, innocent smoothies and juices, Minute Maid juices, Powerade sports drinks, Simply juices, smartwater, Sprite, vitaminwater and ZICO coconut water. We’re constantly transforming our portfolio, from reducing sugar in our drinks to bringing innovative new products to market. We’re also working to reduce our environmental impact by replenishing water and promoting recycling. With our bottling partners, we employ more than 700,000 people, helping bring economic opportunity to local communities worldwide.

_{The fairlife® brand is owned by fairlife, LLC, our joint venture with Select Milk Producers, Inc., and fairlife’s products are distributed by our Company and certain of our bottling partners.}

© 2018 THE COCA-COLA COMPANY