Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer
Just a bit of trivia for 'tis the season. Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer is perhaps the most identifiable icon of the Christmas Season other than Santa Claus. But, do you know the origin of the ever lovable Rudolph?
In 1939 an illustrator named Robert May under contract with Montgomery-Ward Department Stores was asked to draw a children's Christmas theme coloring book for M-W to give away as a promotion. Over 2.5 million were distributed. May's brother-in-law, Johnny Marks, later put the words to music. Early in November 1949 Harry Brannon was the first popular songster to sing the song. Later that same month Gene Autry's wife insisted (over Gene's better judgment) that he record the song. She may have heard Brannon sing it. To please his wife (probably to get her to quit badgering him) Gene at the end of a recording session had a little extra time left over. So, he recorded "Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer" on the backside of a record.
The rest is history.
In 1939 an illustrator named Robert May under contract with Montgomery-Ward Department Stores was asked to draw a children's Christmas theme coloring book for M-W to give away as a promotion. Over 2.5 million were distributed. May's brother-in-law, Johnny Marks, later put the words to music. Early in November 1949 Harry Brannon was the first popular songster to sing the song. Later that same month Gene Autry's wife insisted (over Gene's better judgment) that he record the song. She may have heard Brannon sing it. To please his wife (probably to get her to quit badgering him) Gene at the end of a recording session had a little extra time left over. So, he recorded "Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer" on the backside of a record.
The rest is history.
posted by Donald G Davidson at 6:46 PM
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