Rudolph the rednosed reindeer book by robert lewis may. In 1947, rudolph the red nosed reindeer was printed commercially for the first time. Author robert may considered other names before settling on rudolph. The animated specials produced by both rankinbass and goodtimes entertainment have given. Rudolph, the rednosed reindeer aired on december 6, 1964. What i learned about writing and storytelling from rudolph. Rudolph is usually depicted as the ninth and youngest of santa clauss reindeer, using his luminous red nose to lead the reindeer team and guide santas sleigh on christmas eve for only one year. Ward chain of department stores published it as a book.
Claims that rudolf the red nosed reindeer was created by robert l. Rudolph the rednosed reindeer a good times entertainment. Rudolph the rednosed reindeer is a legendary reindeer, created by robert lewis may, usually depicted as a young fawn who barely has antlers, with a glowing red nose, popularly known as santas ninth reindeer. May created rudolph in 1939, when his company, the montgomery ward department stores, asked him to write a christmas. Click to see robert mays original rudolph the rednosed reindeer manuscript. Rudolph the rednosed reindeertranscript rudolph the. The story didnt really take off until mays brotherinlaw, songwriter johnny marks, adapted the lyrics and wrote the melody for the song rudolph the red nosed reindeer.
The film was based on the johnny marks song rudolph the rednosed reindeer which was itself based on the 1939 poem rudolph the rednosed reindeer written by marks brotherinlaw robert l. May to comfort his grieving daughter who had lost her mother to cancer. May, an ad man for the store, to take a crack at a story. I read the original, which was first published in 1939, as well as one illustrated by david wenzel. Chicago turabian humanities citation style guide may, robert l. Rudolph is the english form of rudolf, which was imported from german in the 19th century.
The story of rudolph the red nosed reindeer first appeared in a booklet created by robert l may in 1939. May july 27, 1905 august 10, 1976 was the creator of rudolph the rednosed reindeer. Rudolph, the rednosed reindeer wikipedia, in german about the 1939 book, the 1949 song, and the 1964 film version. Rudolph the rednosed reindeer was a character invented in 1939 by robert may, an employee of the montgomery ward department store chain. The modern illustrations are bright and engaging, but the words are the same. Ten years later, may contacted a brotherinlaw, a jewish songwriter by the name of johnny markswho well hear about againto write a song based on his original coloring book story. Similarly, the inhouse advertising department of montgomery ward created the everpopular rudolph the rednosed reindeer. Rudolph red nosed reindeer rudolph the red christmas books vintage christmas. You can see the pages of the original illustrated rudolph manuscript here. What year was rudolph the red nose reindeer created answers. Rudolph the red nosed reindeer by may robert l abebooks. The most wonderful story of rudolph the rednosed reindeer, written by robert l may for the montgomery ward department store in chicago in 1939. Every year at christmastime, young and old alike fall under the fingersnapping, joyinspiring spell of this song. Rudolph the rednosed reindeer book has some lightly bumped rubbed corners dust jacket has some creases with several neatly taped closed tears rudolphs second christmas book has an inscription on the first page priceclipped dust jacket has several closed tears.
Numerous sources say it was mays brotherinlaw, johnny. Even santa and the elves are no help to poor rudolph as he is turned into an outcast because of his unusual glowing nose. Robert mays creation was not the rudolph the red nosed reindeer song that everyone now knows so well and it was not the popular cartoon that is now shown on tv each christmas. I needed rudolph now more than ever, he later wrote. Rudolph the rednosed reindeer wikipedia, in english about the 1939 book and the character created by robert may, with links to info about the song and the films. Surprisingly, many are unaware of the fact that the character of rudolph the rednosed reindeer actually began as a story book from montgomery ward. As shown in this map, copies of rudolph the rednosed reindeer were shipped to. The song rudolph the rednosed reindeer was written in 1949 by johnny marks, brotherinlaw of may, and recorded by gene autry the following year. Rudolph, the superficially popular reindeer the beloved christmas story of rudolph has a message that offends many adults, but makes perfect sense to kids. Its a question children ask year after year when they hear the story of rudolph the rednosed reindeer, written by robert l. May and the story of rudolph the rednosed reindeer.
Id never read the original story of rudolph the rednosed reindeer by robert lewis may until this month. Rudolph the red nosed reindeers surprisingly sad origins. Well, the fact is that rudolph the rednosed reindeer did not come into the picture until more than a century after the publication of a visit from st. When reagan deregulated advertising, the elf song was typically. Rudolph the rednosed reindeer hardcover picture book, september 30, 2014. In a blog post this week, rollo the rednosed reindeer, rauner writes that rudolph was just one of many possible names may came up with for the storys herorollo being another.
Were all familiar with rudolph the rednosed reindeer, thanks to the catchy christmas song. Released in time for the holiday season, gene autrys version of rudolph the red nosed reindeer was the topcharting song during christmas of 1949. It was the story of a little reindeer who was different due to a physical deformitya bright red nose. Home newsletters what i learned about writing and storytelling from rudolph the rednosed reindeer. Now fans of the most famous reindeer of them all can become acquainted with the original story of rudolph the rednosed reindeer, written in verse by his creator, robert l. What follows is the story of rudolph, and his creator, robert l.
It could have been reginald the rednosed reindeer arts. Rudolph the rednosed reindeer yule laugh, yule cry. Almost two and a half million copies of the little tale about a reindeer with a shiny red nose were given away to all the children who visited montgomery ward stores that year. Rudolph the rednosed reindeer is the story of a young reindeer who is bullied by his larger, cruel peers. May dreamed up rudolph during a particularly difficult time in his life. You may recall the brouhaha a while back pertaining to rudolph the red nosed reindeer and the book no more bullies at the north pole.
This is a modern reprint, using the original drawings. The title of his storybook was rudolph the red nosed reindeer which featured a reindeer with a red nose. May created rudolph in 1939 as an assignment for the company. Though he initially receives ridicule for his nose as a fawn, the brightness of his nose is so powerful that it. May was tasked in 1939 with coming up with a christmas story for montgomery ward, where he worked. Rudolph the red nosed reindeer facsimile edition 2000.
He is popularly known as santas reindeer and, when depicted, is the lead reindeer pulling santas sleigh on christmas eve. May was certain that he wanted an alliterative name for his creation and. Rudolph the red nosed reindeer song rudolph the rednosed reindeer is a fictional reindeer with a glowing red nose. And every december, the media return to the alumnus tale of santas fourlegged helper and his exemplary work ethic. The movie is a 1998 american christmas animated adventure musical film about the character of the same name, who first appeared in a 1939 story by robert l. The song, rudolph, the rednosed reindeer, was first sung by gene autry in 1949. Rudolph the red nosed reindeer was written to comfort a grieving daughter fiction. The origin of rudolph the rednosed reindeer holidappy.
Rudolph the red nosed reindeer song lyrics at holiday insights. He created the story book, rudolph the red nosed reindeer. Rudolph the rednosed reindeer arlington public library. Fortunately for may, the boss was not overly impressed with the rudolph story and signed over the rights to the rudolph saga to him. There was also a short cartoon shown in theaters the following year. The original story of rudolph illustrated by david wenzel. No, mays creation was a short story written in rhyming verse. Buy a cheap copy of rudolph the rednosed reindeer book by robert lewis may. The fearless leader of santas sleigh was a character created by robert l. Rudolph appeared in a giveaway promotional booklet. Rudolph the red nosed reindeer is a fictional reindeer created by robert lewis may. To most of us, the character of rudolph the rednosed reindeer, immortalized in song and a popular holiday television special, has always been an essential part of our christmas folklore. For the second special, videocraft adapted mays story and hired marks to write additional songs. The original classic rudolph storyover 107,000 copies sold.
It is a bit tough to imagine reginald the rednosed reindeer which was a finalist now that rudolph is so ingrained in our psyche. May wrote the christmas poem rudolph the red nosed reindeer in 1939. Runnerup names for the rednosed reindeer nancys baby. Rudolph the red nosed reindeer facsimile edition 2000 montgomery ward robert l. The film was the first theatrical feature from goodtimes entertainment, long known as a home video company.
Rudolph, a youthful reindeer buck who possesses an unusual luminous red nose, is harassed mercilessly and. May in his book, rudolph the rednosed reindeer, in 1939 as part of a giveaway from montgomery ward. While working for montgomery ward, copywriter robert l. Who composed the music for the song rudolph the red nosed. May, 1947, music by johnny marks you know dasher and dancer and prancer and vixen. Rudolph the red nosed reindeer song lyrics history origin. Rudolph the red nosed reindeer was written to comfort a. Any controversy over rudolph the rednosed reindeer aside, theres a real, sad story behind the.
Rudolph the rednosed reindeer by barbara shook hazen. May 19051976, a jewish american from new rochelle, new york. The original rednosed manuscript few people know about the department store employee who brought rudolphs story to the world. He originated in a 1939 childrens book by robert l. Rudolph the rednosed reindeer is a 1964 american christmas stop motion animated film about a misfit reindeer and his friends who look for a place that will accept them. But do you recall how the most famous reindeer of all came to be. In simple rhymes, rudolphs story goes beyond the song. May celebrate christmas with this classic board book edition of robert l. May this is the heartwarming story is of a sweet reindeer shunned by all his friends because of hs glowing red. Throughout the 1930s the montgomery ward company had been buying coloring books, which they gave away to customers during the holiday season. Celebrate christmas with this classic board book edition of robert l. Rudolph the red nosed reindeer dartmouth club of maryland.