I saw that Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was on the other day and I refused to watch it. It just seems so early! But I probably should have tuned in for two reasons: it might have been my only shot this season, and it would have been nice of me to acknowledge everyone’s favorite Christmas misfit on his 70th birthday. To make up for neglecting our crimson-nosed friend, we’ll dedicate today’s Q10 to him.
1. Rudolph was created in 1939 when the department store Montgomery Ward asked one of their writers, 34-year-old Robert May, to come up with a character they could base coloring books around so they would have freebies to hand out to the kiddies who came to visit Mr. Claus. As you can probably tell, the character was a huge hit. Montgomery Ward gave out 2.4 million copies of the Rudolph booklet in the first year alone and Rudolph ended up going commercial.
2. Although the song has become synonymous with Christmas at this point, “Rudolph” is actually still copyrighted.
3. He could have been Rollo the red-nosed reindeer or Reginald the red-nosed reindeer. Those were two of the names considered before May settled on the name we know today. Rollo was rejected for sounding too sunny and happy; Reginald sounded too British.
4. If you grew up in Finland, you’re probably be more familiar with Petteri Punakuono than Rudolph. Peterri is Rudy’s Finnish counterpart. The Finnish legend of Santa Claus (AKA Joulupukki) doesn’t name his reindeer the same way we do – Dasher, Dancer Donner and so on – so the beginning of the song doesn’t start out the same way. Instead of running through the laundry list of reindeer the Finnish version translates to something like, “You remember Cinderella, Snow White and Sleeping Beauty, Little Red Riding hood, and the grey wolf, but this reindeer is often forgotten.”
5. Apparently Rudolph hooked up with Clarice at some point, because he has a son named Robbie. At least, he does according to the BBC. They developed three cartoons based on Rudolph’s offspring, but the name of Robbie’s famous dad is never actually mentioned. The plotline tells us that the villain of the series, Blitzen, can’t stand to hear Rudolph’s name. In reality, it’s because the BBC couldn’t get permission to use it (or didn’t want to pay to use it). If you haven’t seen the British version but still remember Robbie, that’s because Fox Family ran the show for a few years in the early ’00s with redubbed voices, including Ben Stiller as Robbie, Hugh Grant as Blitzen, Britney Spears as Donner, Leah Remini as Vixen, and Brad Garrett as Prancer.
6. Although the character came out in 1939, the song wasn’t recorded until 1949. It was May’s brother-in-law who wrote the lyrics for it; Gene Autry recorded it. He actually almost passed on the song, but his wife urged him to go ahead and give it a shot. The song hit #1 on the charts during the week of Christmas, then plummeted right off them entirely. It’s the only song in history to ever hit #1 and then just disappear.
7. In addition to being named Reginald or Rollo, Rudolph almost guided Santa’s sleigh much differently. Instead of having a red, glowing nose that could cut through the fog, May considered giving Rudolph large, headlight-like eyes that would light the way. After much consideration, he decided that mean kids would be more likely to make fun of a red nose than huge eyes. Which is a good thing… that would have changed the song drastically! “Rollo, the bug-eyed reindeer, had very large protruding eyes.” No??
8. Speaking of the song, songwriter Johnny Marks specialized in Christmas songs. We have him to thank for Rudolph, obviously, but also “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day,” “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” “Run Rudolph Run” and “A Holly Jolly Christmas” (in addition to a bunch of lesser-known Christmas songs). The irony? Marks was Jewish.
9. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, the stop motion animated T.V. special, is the longest-runing Christmas T.V. special of all time.
10. The puppets used for that T.V. special disappeared for many years. When they resurfaced, they did so on Antiques Roadshow in 2006. Well, not all of them – just Santa and Rudolph. A woman who worked for Rankin-Bass, the company who made the show, had stored them in her attic since at least the ’70s. Prior to that, she let her kids play with them. Rudolph last his red nose and somehow Santa’s eyebrows disappeared. But they were fully restored after their trip to Antiques Roadshow and have been displayed at the Center for Puppetry Arts for visitors to see. The new owner hopes that the puppets can go on national tour so more people can enjoy them.
Will you try to catch a viewing of Rudolph this year, or do you have another must-see Christmas special? We’re a Grinch household, but if I happen to spot Rudolph on T.V. again, I won’t pass him up next time.
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I most definately will. I love that watching the Rudolph movie every year.
posted by Chelsea on 12-4-2009 at 3:35 pm
I meant…I love watching that Rudolph movie every year.
posted by Chelsea on 12-4-2009 at 3:37 pm
I caught it on TV this week and it always brings up great memories. Although I was flipping back and forth from Rudolph to the 25 Anniversary of Christmas Vacation too.
posted by Colene on 12-4-2009 at 3:53 pm
Um, Johnny Marks may have written the most common music used for \I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.\ But the words were written by Henry Longfellow during the Civil War.
posted by Julie on 12-4-2009 at 3:58 pm
I just read an article that says that Rudolph is actually a female, since he/she still has antlers on Christmas. Male reindeer shed their antlers in mid December. Some people think way too much.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/6487154/Rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer-is-a-female.html
posted by tpal on 12-4-2009 at 4:00 pm
Isn’t it actually Donder, not Donner?
posted by Susan on 12-4-2009 at 4:01 pm
I’m so glad you gave a mention to Robbie the Reindeer! My mom and I LOVE that special; it is really funny in an adult humor way. I even bought it for her on DVD a few years back as a gift.
posted by catherine ann on 12-4-2009 at 4:02 pm
When I was a kid, the special was aired on Sunday afternoons…and even in broad daylight, I was absolutely TERRIFIED of the Abominable Snowman!!!!
posted by Zane on 12-4-2009 at 4:03 pm
I watch that special every year just for the wonderfully sexist remarks.
“No… this is man’s work”
posted by Manda on 12-4-2009 at 4:09 pm
Rudolph is good and all, but the holiday tradition in our house is Emmett Otter’s Jugband Christmas. Gets a little dusty during Ma’s song every friggin’ year.
posted by Pete on 12-4-2009 at 4:13 pm
Did I miss something? The article references “May” twice, but I didn’t see who “May” was.
@ Susan… it is Donner
posted by Marty on 12-4-2009 at 4:26 pm
I personally like “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town.”. I’m just sayin’.
posted by Anne on 12-4-2009 at 4:34 pm
@ Pete… I thought I was the only one who remembers Emmett Otter! I haven’t seen it in years!
posted by Renee on 12-4-2009 at 4:34 pm
Rudolph’s my #2 holiday special. Number one? A Charlie Brown Christmas, naturally. I try not to miss either one when they’re on.
Thanks for mentioning Robbie the Reindeer! Those specials were actually quite funny; I especially liked Brad Garrett’s Prancer.
posted by Steve from San Diego on 12-4-2009 at 4:40 pm
@Marty – Susan’s actually right, it is Donder… but Donner’s become the name most associate with that particular reindeer.
(Besides, “On Donder! On Blitzen!” just doesn’t have that ring to it.)
posted by Steve from San Diego on 12-4-2009 at 4:43 pm
I love watching Rudolph. I especially like singing along with the elf when he sings the “You can’t fire me, I quit” song.
A Charlie Brown Christmas is my favorite but I cry every time I watch it now.
posted by Donna on 12-4-2009 at 4:55 pm
My must see at Christmas is “A Christmas Carol”….but it has to be a specific version….with Alistair Crowley I think his name is….anyways…got that habit from my Dad….and Charlie Brown, and The Grinch!!! All serious favorites from various times in my life!
posted by Sandie on 12-4-2009 at 4:55 pm
I’m a BIG Rudolph fan – still never miss it nor, now, do my kids.
Regarding the missing puppets, I have a very vivid memory of a school trip to NBC Studios when I was little (yes, I’m that old) where we saw the puppets displayed in a glass case. The only one missing was the Bumble, which we were told was too tall to fit in the case.
For whatever reason, that left me assuming that they were being very well cared for, and I was downright startled to now read that they were found gathering dust in somebody’s attic. That’s so sad!
posted by B on 12-4-2009 at 5:22 pm
I miss Emmet Otter, I haven’t seen it in years…although “Ain’t no hole in the washtub” enters my mind randomly throughout the year!! I love Rudolph – the Bumble and Misfit toys are a must watch to get in the Christmas mood.
posted by MelTay on 12-4-2009 at 5:56 pm
In my opinion, the best part of the Rudolph story involves the copyright. It is my understanding that Rudolph author Robert May was destitute, which made it rather unfortunate that the copyright for Rudolph was originally owned by Montgomery Ward. However, after WWII, the president of Montgomery Ward decided to give the copyright of Rudolph to May. Note that this was before the song was produced, so I think May came out all right.
posted by Becky on 12-4-2009 at 6:19 pm
Mad TV did a short of Rudolf as a ‘godfarther’. It was one of the funnist things ever to come out of Mad TV.
posted by 'Da guy on 12-4-2009 at 6:21 pm
@ Zane
Yes, the Abominable Snowman terrified my and my sisters as well. We all ended up with Mom on the couch.
@ Sandie
Our family’s absolute favorite version of A Christmas Carol is A Muppet Christmas Carol. What fun! Love that Gonzo! :)
posted by Diane on 12-5-2009 at 12:26 am
@Da Guy
I don’t know if you saw it on Mad TV – but that “Godfather” version of Rudolph was actually a cut from Seth Green’s stop animation show on Cartoon Network, Robot Chicken.
And that cut was hilarious. Especially when the cocaine filled balloons inside the Abominable Snowman pop and he goes bonkers in the airport!
posted by Eric on 12-5-2009 at 1:44 am
I never miss any of the Christmas specials if I can help it, but my 2 favorites are Charlie Brown and the Little Drummer Boy.
posted by Kelly on 12-5-2009 at 2:43 am
Donder and Blitzen = Thunder & Lightening
If he had been named Donner, he would have eaten Rudolph by now.
posted by Kay on 12-5-2009 at 5:45 am
I can skip the Grich, but not Rudolf or Muppet Christmas Carol.
posted by Todd on 12-5-2009 at 9:17 am
2 Christmas specials I have a fond memory of are CBS Famous Classic Tales A Christmas Carol[1969] and The Night The Animals Talked[1970]. I’m also old.
The first was a Saturday morning cartoon with really trippy animation. The second was about the animals in the manger. Perhaps to religious for today’s tv.
posted by Monte the Duck on 12-5-2009 at 12:17 pm
Actually the original poem “a Visit from St. Nicholas” included the reindeer as Dunder and Bixem which is thunder and lightening in Dutch. When it was republished they became Donder and Blitzen which also mean Thunder and Lightening but in german.
posted by Telullah Blue on 12-5-2009 at 12:49 pm
@ Telullah. I believe the original poem had them as Dunder and Blixem, Dutch for thunder and lightning as you mentioned in your post. The german word for Thunder is Donner (not Donder), and Blitzen for lightning. Donner and Blitzen is how Gene Autry pronounced the names in his famous song, and by many accounts seems to be how most folks pronounce them today.
posted by marku on 12-5-2009 at 2:12 pm
no one mentioned the disney special they used to have every year with mickey’s christmas carols and the great cartoons that used to be on before, including the one with pluto and chip and dale and the christmas tree, and my all time favorite, the huge snowball fight between donald and his nephews. which if i remember correctly was introduced by the then ceo michael eisner.
additionally unmentioned, is the christmas song of irving berlin, also jewish, “white christmas”.
posted by john m on 12-5-2009 at 2:56 pm
i still love “A Christmas Story” even if it is on a 24hr marathon all christmas day on TNT.
also, i was very into “Mickey’s Christmas Carol” when i was a kid. and there was a short with chip and dale in mickey’s christmas tree that always came on before it.
posted by amanda on 12-5-2009 at 7:08 pm
I love all of those stop motion Christmas movies.I especially LOVE (and live for at this time of year) Jack Frost and The Year Without a Santa Claus.Bring ‘em on! :D
posted by Nikky on 12-5-2009 at 7:47 pm
Rudolph, an inspiration to red-headed people around the globe.
Brandon
Just South of North
http://www.justsouthofnorth.com
posted by Brandon on 12-5-2009 at 10:32 pm
@Diane…I have never seen the Muppet Version of A Christmas Carol, I am going to have to watch that…I loved the muppets as a teenager! It’s been a long time. Also I have never seen the Mickey Christmas Show various people have mentioned.
posted by Sandie on 12-6-2009 at 12:25 pm
I have Rudolph, Frosty the snowman, Santa Claus is comin’ yo town,,the little drummerboy,and Frosty returns.
We also watch How the Grinch stole Christmas almost every year. One year, we couldn’t find it, and another, we weren’t all together.
posted by Sara in AL on 12-6-2009 at 2:11 pm
I love the George C. Scott version of “A Christmas Carol” from 1984. It was the first DVD I ever bought and I watch it every year. Okay, I watch it more than once.
posted by Dan on 12-6-2009 at 2:31 pm
A Garfield Christmas is my favorite. Rudy, not so much.
traced Coney
posted by Zeke on 12-6-2009 at 2:56 pm
I can’t believe no one’s mentioned the greatest Christmas movie ever, Muppet Family Christmas from 1987 which seems to have disappeared off the face of the Earth! It had Muppets, Sesame Street, and Fraggles all in one amazing movie. My family is devastated every year that our VHS recording got lost at some point, and still baffled as to why it’s not aired on TV anymore.
posted by Amber on 12-6-2009 at 4:06 pm
I cannot believe Rudolph is 70 years old! Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer is still my favorite Christmas program of all time. It can’t get any better than Rudolph and the Misfits!
posted by Retrofaze on 12-6-2009 at 5:25 pm
@Brandon, I’m a redhead and Rudolph is not inspirational to me…I just love him. Rudolph was red-nosed, not redheaded! LOL!
posted by Retrofaze on 12-6-2009 at 5:27 pm
Oh my gosh, I remember those Disney shorts! Those were awesome! GIANT WAVE OF NOSTALGIA!
Also, no one ever seems to remember that Night Before Christmas special with the mouse and his family. They never play it anymore. :(
posted by soandso on 12-6-2009 at 10:59 pm
Sandie, I think the version you’re talking about stars Alastair Sim (1953 or so). And you’re right, it’s the best! The cast defines those roles, no one has ever done them better!
posted by Siobhan on 12-7-2009 at 12:31 am
Amber,
My family and I always watched “Muppet Family Christmas” on Christmas Eve right before bedtime. Best Christmas movie ever!! I heard that they can’t air it anymore because they don’t have the rights to all the songs. I think they made a dvd of it a few years back, but it was missing several scenes for that reason (including the “Sleigh Ride” scene with Fozzie and the Snowman).
posted by Kristin on 12-7-2009 at 10:09 am
I like Rudolph, but my favorite newer christmas special is Olive the Other Reindeer. It’s hilarious. I haven’t seen it yet, but I look for it every year.
posted by Caitlin on 12-7-2009 at 10:50 am
It is DEFINITELY “Donder”
posted by Rchard on 12-7-2009 at 11:21 am
I love the Grinch personally, but we have the box set of all those Christmas films…Rudolph, Frosty, etc. We put them on in the background for events like tree decorating, present opening etc.
posted by Ashley on 12-7-2009 at 11:24 am
Go to youtube and search rudolph/full metal jacket. Hilarious!
posted by cj on 12-7-2009 at 12:05 pm
soandso,
If you have ABC Family channel, turn it on tonight at 7:00 eastern. They play the Rankin Bass Night Before Christmas special, though I think they omit one of the songs.
Manda,
I agree with the best part of Rudolph being the dated sexist remarks. My favorite part is when they’re all sad about Yukon Cornelius going into the Ravine, but they decide the best thing to do is “get the women home”. Hilarious.
posted by Brian K on 12-7-2009 at 12:09 pm
Interesting facts. Rudolph has always been my favorite Christmas Character.
posted by Katrina on 12-11-2009 at 4:47 am
@amanda.. its actually on TBS but my family and I watch the 24hr marathon of “A Christmas Story” every year as well, its on almost every tv!
My other must-watch is the 1947 original (and best) version of “Miracle on 34th Street”. The Grinch is also a favorite in my house. I’ve never been a huge fan of the stop motion Christmas TV specials, they always gave me the creeps, but I do occasionally enjoy “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”.
posted by taytay on 12-12-2009 at 12:16 pm
My family will most definately be watching Rudolph this year just like every other year we’ve saw it! Family Tradition
posted by jackie on 12-13-2009 at 5:38 pm