Schroeder (Peanuts) arrives with a toy violin and asks Schroeder if he could play Beethoven on it, and Schroeder scoffs at such an absurd idea. Peppermint Patty once called Schroeder a "miniature Leonard Bernstein" after she heard him whistling a classical piece during a ball game shortly after she was introduced to the strip and briefly took over management of the team. Schroeder's other distinguishing mark as a character is his constant refusal of Lucy's love. Lucy is infatuated with Schroeder, and frequently lounges against his piano while he is playing, professing her love for him. But Beethoven was a lifelong bachelor,
Franklin (Peanuts) the characters needed a last name and he suddenly realized that Franklin did not have one. Schulz asked if he could make "Armstrong" Franklin's last name and Robb Armstrong gave his permission, thinking of it as an honor. From that time onwards "Armstrong" was Franklin's last name. Franklin reappeared as a supporting character in 2015's "The Peanuts Movie." Franklin (Peanuts) Franklin Armstrong is a character in the long-running comic strip "Peanuts", created by Charles M. Schulz. Introduced on July 31, 1968, Franklin was the first African American character in the strip. He goes to school with Peppermint Patty and Marcie.