May, to come up with a christmas story they could give away in. This first edition of rudolph, the rednosed reindeer, bottom, and original layout, top, are from the estate of robert may, who wrote the famous story in 1939 as part of a montgomery ward. Rankinbass productions thundercats, silverhawks did the bestknown animated version, the one narrated by burl ives as sam the snowman, which debuted on nbc december 6, 1964. The song, based on the story, was written in the late 1940s and is still frequently played on radio or. The red cover shows the title and rudolph with his shiny red nose. Do you know the real history of rudolph the rednosed reindeer. Unfollow montgomery ward rudolph to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. Montgomery ward had been buying and giving away coloring books for christmas every year and it was decided that creating their own book would save money and be a nice goodwill gesture. According to a widely circulated story, the character was created by montgomery ward copywriter bob may to console his 4yearold daughter after her mother died of cancer.
This is rudolph as he was meant to be, the one that may created for montgomery ward while employed as a copywriter and has since come to embody the warmth and love of the season. First edition of the very first appearance of santas beloved ninth reindeer, written exclusively for montgomery ward by robert may, with 41 illustrations by denver gillen. In the meantime, may had met and married montgomery ward secretary virginia newton and the couple eventually had three children together. Rudolph the red nosed reindeer by robert l may abebooks. Rudolph the rednosed reindeer origin story began at. May was inspired to pen the story of the humble, resilient, reindeer to cheer his daughter barbara, whose mother was dying from cancer. Rudolph, the rednosed reindeer, written for montgomery ward robert l. In early 1939, mays boss at montgomery ward asked him to write a cheery christmas book for shoppers and suggested that an animal be the star of the book. This is a modern reprint, using the original drawings. Hes a young buck who was born with a striking, luminescent red nose.
Rudolph the rednosed reindeer first appeared in a marketing campaign for retailer montgomery ward. Montgomery ward, at that time, gave away coloring books to try to get more shoppers into their stores during the holiday season. A beautiful rudolph keepsake collection with two beloved classics, these timeless picture books capture all the wonder and enchantment of the christmas season. Rudolph came to life in 1939 when the chicagobased montgomery ward company asked one of their copywriters, 34yearold robert l. Dec 02, 2010 today i found out rudolph the rednosed reindeer was created by the department store chain montgomery ward as a way to save money on one of their annual christmas promotions. In 1958 may donated the original 32page rudolph manuscript to the baker library at dartmouth college, which now houses the robert l. May, creator of the classic childrens story of rudolph the red nosed reindeer, died wednesday in chicago. Rudolph the rednosed reindeer is a fictional reindeer created by robert lewis may.
Chapter 5 montgomery ward employee invents rudolph the red. Rudolph the rednosed reindeer first edition bauman rare books. The original rudolph storyas written by the late may for a booklet published in 1939 by retailer montgomery ward enjoys a vivid revival in this 75thanniversary adaptation. But do you recall how the most famous reindeer of all came to be. Who really wrote rudolph the rednosed reindeer, and why. Lankford has written the definitive history of this iconic and muchloved christmas character. Rudolph, the rednosed reindeer, written for montgomery. Sharing this story with your family is sure to become a yearly tradition cherished by the young and old alike. The original rudolph storyas written by the late may for a booklet published in 1939 by retailer montgomery wardenjoys a vivid revival in this 75thanniversary adaptation. Reprinted in its original form by montgomery ward book big catalogue.
Rudolph the reindeer was created by montgomery ward. Lawrence printing press launched rudolphs tale news. Rudolph the red nosed reindeer was first sung commercially by gene autry in 1949 and instantly became a smash hit which led to its place in the cannon of traditional christmas music. Small quarto, original pictorial wrappers, as issued. The company gave away coloring books each christmas to bring children and their parents into their store. Fast forward to 1939, when the chicagobased department store montgomery ward commissioned copywriter robert lewis may to author a childrens book for that years holiday promotion. Til that the original rudolph the red nosed reindeer booklet. While the dc version was running, little golden books produced its own version of the story, and followed it with rudolph the rednosed reindeer shines again. Dec 18, 2019 when the reindeer story returned in 1946, it was more popular than ever as montgomery ward handed out 3. Vintage rudolph the rednosed reindeer picture book original rudolph story christmas book montgomery ward rudolph book robert l. Get cozy and expand your home library with a large online selection of books at. Montgomery ward s printed and distributed more than 2 million copies that year at branches across the country. Rudolph the rednosed reindeer smithsonian institution.
The origin of the character dates back to the great depression. May, a 35year old copywriter, for a promotional campaign at the montgomery ward department store in chicago. Several closed tears to the edges, closed tear to lower edge mended with tape to the inside, creasing along spine and corners, a very good copy. Wards went on to print, rudolph the rednosed reindeer and distribute it to children visiting santa claus in their stores.
Rudolph the rednosed reindeer first appeared in 1939 when montgomery ward department store asked one of its copywriters, 34yearold robert l. Get the best deals on vintage montgomery ward catalog when you shop the largest. Rudolph, the rednosed reindeer, written for montgomery ward. Rudolph the rednosed reindeer classic hardcover books. The most famous reindeer of all, though, dates only to the 20th century. Thats how executives at montgomery ward originally described rudolph the rednosed reindeer, who first appeared in a 1939 book written by one of the companys advertising copywriter and given free to chil. In 1939, montgomery ward in chicago asked one of its admen to write a story for the department stores own childrens book. Defunct chicagobased department store montgomery ward wanted to pass out free coloring books to children. The general manager of montgomery ward caught wind of the little storybook and offered bob may a nominal fee to purchase the rights to print the book. In 1939, the company decided to produce the books themselves in order to save on cost.
Rudolph the rednosed reindeer was the creation of robert may, a staff copywriter who wrote the original poem as a montgomery ward christmas giveaway in 1939. Dec 25, 2012 rudolph the rednosed reindeer, a fairly new addition to christmas lore, made his debut in 1939 as a promotional stunt for the chicagobased department store montgomery ward. Montgomery ward department store rudolph the rednosed. Make offer vintage 1981 montgomery ward fall and winter catalog in original. The origin of rudolph the rednosed reindeer holidappy. Out of all the versions of it currently available in print, this is most definitely my favorite one all thanks to antonio javier caparo absolutely stunning watercolor illustrations. Dec 25, 2015 the history of rudolph the rednosed reindeer you know dasher and dancer and prancer and vixen the list goes on, but rudolph didnt come along until 1939. Beginning of a dialog window, including tabbed navigation to register an account or sign in to an existing account.
Rudolph proves his worth when he is chosen to lead santa claus sleigh on a foggy night. While working for montgomery ward, copywriter robert l. The original game of rudolph the rednosed reindeer gameplan 1995 montgomeryward. Description original 1st edition of rudolph the rednosed reindeer, published in 1939. May left montgomery ward in 1951 to manage rudolph s burgeoning career but returned to. Rudolph the rednosed reindeer a christmas gift set book by. Every year at christmastime, there is one catchy, joyinspiring song thats stuck in everyones heads. Rudolph the rednosed reindeer was created by the department. Though marks is responsible for penning many holiday tunes such as rockin around the christmas tree 1958, silver and gold 1964 and a holly, jolly christmas 1964, he will be best remembered for his tune rudolph based on a poem written by his brotherinlaw robert l. With rights to the rudolph story in hand, mays financial future was now secure and his life had taken a happier turn. The original rednosed manuscript few people know about the department store employee who brought rudolphs story to the world.
An advertising giveaway from montgomery ward, fine department store improving american homes since 1872. He left montgomery ward and devoted his time to managing his creation until his retirement in 1971. Rudolph the rednosed reindeer tv special facts mental floss. Today i found out rudolph the rednosed reindeer was created by the department store chain montgomery ward as a way to save money on one of their annual christmas promotions the year was 1939.
Now fans of the most famous reindeer of alltime can fall in love with the original storyand its sequelwritten by robert l. But heres a bit about the story itself, and how it all started as a free giveaway at montgomery ward department store. In 1947, rudolph the rednosed reindeer was released commercially in book form. That year, chicagobased montgomery ward decided to create a giveaway childrens book instead of buying coloring books to hand out. To complete the original picture, he was almost named reginald or rollo. The original rudolph the rednosed reindeer story was written by robert l.
Rudolph the red nosed reindeer 1939 montgomery ward true. The song, based on the story, was written in the late 1940s and is still frequently played on radio or sung by school children throughout december. While rudolph was hitting it big, things grew worse for may. Montgomery ward department store rudolph the rednosed reindeer book, 1939.
This soft cover volume is the original printed copy from 1939 that was issued by montgomery ward as a free giveaway for christmas. May created rudolph in 1939 as an assignment for the company. May, to create a christmas story the store could give away to shoppers as a promotional gimmick. In that day and age, red noses were seen as an indicator of chronic alcoholism and montgomery ward didnt want him to look like a drunkard. Rudolph is the most famous of santa claus reindeer.
But do you recall, the most perfect christmas crowdbringer of all. It can refer either to the original montgomery ward, a defunct mail order and department store retailer which operated between 1872 and 2001, or to the current, eponymous catalog and online retailer also known as wards. The illustrations and paper bring back lovely feelings looks familiar. Montgomery ward printed millions of copies of the book that year and rudolph quickly became as iconic as santa claus. Rudolph the reindeer book collectible christmas book. A first edition of rudolph, the rednosed reindeer bottom. New acquisition about the most famous reindeer of all. This partly true version of the story appeared in an email contributed by reader jeanine p. Rudolph the rednosed reindeer literature tv tropes. 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.
Rudolph the rednosed reindeer was born out of a department store marketing assignment. The chicago retailer montgomery ward would give away coloring books every christmas, but it was decided that selfpublishing their own books would save money. Inscribed by the composer and writer johnny marks on the front cover, dear marlin, merry christmas, johnny marks. How rudolph the rednosed reindeer was invented by a. Do you know the real history of rudolph the rednosed.
The most wonderful story of rudolph the rednosed reindeer, written by robert l may for the montgomery ward department store in chicago in 1939. Today rudolph the rednosed reindeer is the star of a popular holiday television special and a live stage show. When the reindeer story returned in 1946, it was more popular than ever as montgomery ward handed out 3. Rudolph the rednosed reindeer a christmas keepsake. Rudolf the rednosed reindeer was created by the department store chain montgomery ward as one way to save money on some of their annual christmas promotions.
From 1947 on, may enjoyed the benefits of his 1939 creation. Dec 29, 2019 the original rudolph did not have a red nose. Ap you know dasher and dancer and the rest of the gang. Though rudolph the rednosed reindeer was popular, with 6 million copies in circulation by 1946, the rights belonged to montgomery ward since may was in their employ when he created the tale. The story, more expansive than the omnipresent christmas carol, gives caparo plenty. May of chicago for montgomery ward and then printed at kansas color press in lawrence. I believe rudolph was the creation of montgomery ward s to use as a christmas promotion for their store. Inspired by moores poem, he created the story of a ninth reindeer, whose glowing red nose guides santa through an unusually harsh blizzard.
Vintage montgomery ward book rudolph the rednosed reindeer robert may 1967 w dj. This is the original story of rudolph the rednosed reindeer, written by robert l. Youve probably only seen the movie and heard the gene autry song. The original story of rudolph the rednosed reindeer and its sequel, rudolph shines again, are now available in a beautiful christmas board book gift set. Dec 21, 2010 montgomery ward department store rudolph the rednosed reindeer book, 1939. May wrote the story of rudolph in 1939 as a christmas sales promotion for montgomery ward s, where he was a er. May, for the department store chain montgomery ward in 1939. Sadly, evelyn may passed away around the time rudolph was nearing completion.
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