What do Reindeer, Dentists, Gene Autry and General Electric have in Common?

Santa & Rudolph Mug @ Time’s Tin Cup !

What do Reindeer, dentists, Gene Autry and General Electric have in common? Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer!

Robert May, a copywriter for Montgomery Ward was tasked with creating an original holiday story in 1939 to commercially market to their shoppers.

Robert May penned, and Montgomery Ward distributed to their customers’ children for free, “The Surprisingly Sad True Story Behind ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’

Robert May then persuaded his brother-in-law, Johnny Marks, to write a song about the book. After several attempts and rewrites, Marks presented the song to Gene Autry. Autry recorded “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” in 1949.

2023 Smithsonian Magazine

2023 Smithsonian Magazine

Rankin/Bass Productions reached out to Johnny Marks to create Rudolph into a television show as part of GE Fantasy Hours sponsored by General Electric. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer came into production in 1963.

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