For 50 years, an animated movie about a pumpkin has been a must-watch for Americans celebrating Halloween.

In "It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown," Charles M. Schulz's "Peanuts" characters tease each other yet take care of one other as they trick-or-treat and await a possible visit from "The Great Pumpkin." 

It was the third "Peanuts" special to be broadcast, and it aired Oct. 27, 1966.

"Peanuts" is a comic strip that was published more than 17,800 times from 1950 through 2000, and it appeared in about 2,600 newspapers at its peak.

Reprints still appear in the majority of American newspapers today.

Creator Charles Schulz died in 2000, and Warner Bros. now owns the right the the "Peanuts" catalog. It features more than 50 specials.

"It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" airs at 8 p.m./7 p.m. Central on ABC.