A Red-Nosed Reindeer – Named Rudolph

We all know the story and the song; but do you know where it originated? It was created for an appreciation gift to customers of a well known department store. In 1939, an employee of the Montgomery Ward stores created a book called: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. The store handed out 2.4 million copies that year to their customers. And by 1946 over 6 million copies had been given away.

A song writer Johnny Marks wrote lyrics and melody for the song "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and a phenomenon was born. In 1949 Gene Autry recorded the song, and it sold 2 million copies that year. Everyone, children and adults alike sing this song at Christmas. It is a true favorite and puts a smile on all of our faces!

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer song became one of the best selling songs, second only to Bing Crosby’s "White Christmas". A 1964 television special about Rudolph still remains a holiday favorite to this day. Whenever you think of Christmas you think of Rudolph with his nose so bright!