Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, a classic stop animation movie, was first released in 1964. This year, 2014, marks 50 years that we’ve watched this Holiday classic during every winter season. Many of us grew up with this show never missing a year. This is truly my absolute favorite Christmas show. It brings back such memories of me as a child, gazing at the TV in amazement of Rudolph and how brave he was. After all, he proved victorious in the end and beat all his dilemmas. A great story for children!!!!!
Robert L. May wrote the story that has surely gone down in history back in 1939. He worked as a copywriter at Montgomery Ward, a long gone department store retailer. He wrote the copy for their catalogue, even though he dreamed of writing a novel. Montgomery Ward used to give away coloring books to children during the Christmas season. This year his boss wanted him to try and come up with their own booklet to handout instead of buying them from the outside. Robert tells the story in an article published in 1975 for the Gettysburg times and in 2011 Ben Locker recounts the story of how Rudolph came to be. It was January of 1939 and Robert May went home that night and asked his 4 year old daughter what his story should be about, she loved the idea of a reindeer. He thought of a way to make the Reindeer an underdog and after more thinking the idea of a red nosed reindeer leading Santa’s sleigh was born. However when he presented the idea to his manager, he sent him back to rethink the story.
Robert May was disappointed but he had faith he could make this work. He asked his friend Denver Gillen, in the art department of Montgomery Ward to draw Rudolph for him. Robert, his daughter Barbara and Denver went to the zoo and Denver sketched a red nosed reindeer. When presenting the drawing to his manager again, he was told to go ahead and write the story. He started it but by July of that year, his wife had died of an ongoing illness. Thinking he was in no mood to continue with the Rudolph story, Roberts Boss asked him to give him what he had and he’d have someone else finish the story. However, his boss was wrong; Robert felt he needed to bury himself in the writing now more than ever and by August he completed the story. He read it to his daughter Barbara and to her grandparents, his deceased wife’s parents, and he knew immediately how special this little reindeer was. Robert recounts that the little deer started out in life as a loser like he did but when you give yourself to others you find happiness. Robert May was correct in saying that Rudolph brings a message to millions old and young every Christmas and I couldn’t agree more.
That was just the beginning of Rudolph in 1939. Ten years later, Robert L. May’s brother in law, Johnny Marks, approached him on making the story he wrote into a song. Already a successful music producer, Marks was onto something here. Marks had Gene Autry, famous folk singer, sing Rudolph the Red nosed Reindeer. The song was #1 the week of Christmas 1949 and also #1 the first week of January 1950. Fifteen years after the hit song, in 1964, Rankin/Bass Productions released the infamous stop motion animation television special we’ve all grown so fond of. This tv special was based off of the song that was based off of the coloring book that Robert L. May wrote in 1939. While it initially aired on NBC, it’s been airing on CBS since 1972. This is only one of five television classics that are played every year since the 60’s. Do you know what they are? A Charlie Brown Christmas, Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas, The Little Drummer Boy, and Frosty the Snowman.
I’ve watched this for as far back as I can remember, definitely more than 3 decades. What’s your top reason you love this classic so much? Here are mine:
Top 5 Reasons I love the movie:
- It tugs at your heart and makes you root for Rudolph.
- It shows that even misfits and things that make you different can be embraced.
- It teaches you about remorse and feeling bad about treating someone badly.
- Reminds you there are some people that will love you no matter what, like Clarice.
- You can overcome obstacles or things that make you feel bad about yourself, embrace your uniqueness and be you.
You can listen to the song sang by Gene Autry here:
http://youtu.be/7ara3-hDH6I
