Fun facts about Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer - The story

-
Rudolph is the much beloved story of the reindeer with the shiny red nose. Many kids today probably perceive the story as an old Christmas tale as it is passed down the generations. 


Image credit: Leigh Goessl

But is it really? Did you know that Rudolph is a relatively modern story? The story of the lovable reindeer was penned in 1939. Here are some other fun facts you may or may not know about Rudolph:

Fun facts about Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer


1. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was originally written as a marketing initiative. At the time, a man named Robert L. May was working for Montgomery Ward. The department store asked May to write a Christmas tale it could hand out in coloring books to customers during the holiday shopping season.

2. Robert May was 34 years old at the time he penned the famous story. 

3. Inspiration for writing the now famous story was drawn from a combination of personal experience and The Ugly Duckling story. 

4. Rudolph was not a native to the North Pole as modern storytelling says. The little reindeer was spotted by Santa Claus while delivering presents on a foggy Christmas Eve. 

5. During its first year, 2.4 million copies of the Rudolph were distributed.

6. Rudolph’s name was almost Reginald (the frontrunner name) , Roddy, Rodney, Romeo, Roland or Reggy. 

7. During World War II, there were paper shortages. Montgomery Ward did not print the booklet again until 1946 when 3.5 million more copies were distributed. 

8. Since the story was written as an employer assignment, May did not own the copyright, Montgomery Ward did. In 1947, Montgomery Ward gave the author the copyright. 

9. In 1948, May’s brother-in-law Johnny Marks set Rudolph to music, bringing it to remarkable levels of fame. 

10. Arthur Rankin, Jr. and Saul Bass famous Christmas television special based on May’s story debuted on Dec. 6, 1964.  

Over the years many more Rudolph stories, songs, television specials, toys and other products have been created. Today, in 2016, Rudolph remains as popular as ever. 

Image credit: Pixabay

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

10 Fun Facts About Springwood, the Home of President Franklin D. Roosevelt

-
Image
Springwood is the home of 32 nd U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Today it is a designated landmark in Hyde Park, New York. Also known as Springwood Estate, the property is a part of the Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site which is open to visitors year-round. The Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum is adjacent to the home and gardens. The U.S. National Park Service (NPS) administers and runs the property. Exterior view of the front of Springwood. (My photo does not capture it, but there is another wing to the left that matches the one on the right). Not familiar with Springwood? Here are 10 fun facts about this property located in New York’s beautiful Hudson River Valley. 10 Fun Facts About Springwood 1. Springwood was built in 1826 and the Roosevelt family bought the property in 1867. Franklin Delano Roosevelt was born at the estate on January 30, 1882. The family had lived in the Hyde Park area since 1818, but had ...
Read more

10 fun facts about Humpback Bridge, Covington, Va.

-
Image
Nestled in Covington, Virginia you can find Humpback Bridge. It is one of a handful of these old-timey bridges left in the state. One of Alleghany County’s treasures, it’s a nice place to visit. Want to know more about this historic bridge? Read on. 10 fun facts about Humpback Bridge 1. The current Humpback Bridge was built in 1857. It was originally part of the James River and Kanawha Turnpike. According to the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), this bridge succeeds three other previous ones built at this location. 2. Humpback Bridge crosses over Dunlap Creek. It spans 110 feet across the water. 3. According to a plaque placed at the site, the bridge is constructed of “hand hewn” timbers. 4. The first bridge at the site was built in the 1820s and was washed away after a May 1837 flood. The second bridge at this location also fell victim to flood in July of 1842. The third “gave way” in 1856, reports VDOT. The current bridge had a close brush with fl...
Read more