"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" has aired annually ever since, finding a new home in 1972 at CBS, which gives the ever-enchanting fantasy its 40th-anniversary telecast Wednesday, Dec. 1.
For many people, it just wouldn't be the holidays without the saga of Rudolph's adventurous, tuneful path to guiding Santa's sleigh one foggy Christmas Eve ... thanks to his unique schnoz, once an albatross but ultimately the saving grace of a "Holly Jolly Christmas."
Popularized by Gene Autry, composer Johnny Marks' song about Rudolph would have been famous anyway. The Rankin-Bass production made it even more so, paving the way for other "Animagic" shows such as "The Little Drummer Boy" and "The Year Without a Santa Claus" (which ABC Family will show in December).
"My math tells me this is actually (the special's) 41st anniversary, but for the sake of round numbers, I'm willing to concede," Rankin muses. "The generation that saw the show when it was first on introduces it to their children, then to their grandchildren. It's been very rewarding to know your work has entertained so many people, not only in America but also abroad."
Four decades ago, Rankin and production partner Bass (who now lives in France) hoped "Rudolph" might endure, but Rankin maintains that "in show business, nobody knows anything. Maybe you've heard that before, but it's the truth. You just try to do your best and hope it's a success. Of course, 'Rudolph' was, which prompted us to acquire the rights to the title of almost every popular Christmas song named for a character." (Also included: "Frosty the Snowman," which CBS will repeat Friday, Dec. 3.)
Rankin originally took "Rudolph" to a sponsor instead of a network. "I pitched it to General Electric through an ad agency, and the man in charge of that division had worked for Marshall Field's. He remembered the character as a promotional tool devised by Robert May (credited with the original 'Rudolph' story, though Romeo Muller wrote the teleplay). Johnny Marks wrote the song, but the character of Rudolph came from Robert, so the president of G.E. became very involved in getting the program on the air. He bought the air time on NBC."
"Rudolph" also is showcased on a 40th-anniversary DVD recently issued by Classic Media, including an introduction by Rankin and a bonus CD of the title tune by the newly reunited trio Destiny's Child. The release also boasts a digitally remastered version of the special, restored in 1998 after the songs "We're a Couple of Misfits" and "We Are Santa's Elves" had been edited over the years. Happy that "Rudolph" is back in its original form, Rankin has fond memories of the painstaking production process.
"Each person attended to one character, maybe two. They calibrated in their minds how the character should move, so the camera would click one frame, then the person would go in and change the position of the figure. We're a very close-knit group in our small company, so we all created this together.
"Johnny Marks was a neighbor of mine; I told him what I wanted to do, and he was very reluctant, for fear of jeopardizing the song that had become his bread and butter. I convinced him it would probably get the song played even more, and he went along. Of course, neither of us ever knew it would result in this kind of longevity."
In case you still don't know your "Rudolph," here's a guide to the major characters.
Rudolph, the title star
Outstanding trait: Uh ... he sneezes through it, and you could even say it glows.Sam the Snowman, the story's narrator
Outstanding trait: the look (by design, according to Rankin) and voice of Oscar-winning actor and singer Burl Ives.Hermey, the elf who wants to be an "independent" dentist
Outstanding trait: a front hair flip that makes you wonder where that much gel is sold in the North Pole.Clarice, the doe of Rudolph's dreams
Outstanding traits: long, curved eyelashes just made for batting at our hero, and a lovely singing voice ("There's Always Tomorrow").Yukon Cornelius, the self-declared "greatest prospector in the North"
Outstanding trait: a backpack big enough to make a lesser man topple over.Bumble, a.k.a. the Abominable Snow Monster
Outstanding trait: size, since only his feet fit the TV screen at first.
The residents of the Island of Misfit Toys. Outstanding trait: Varies by Misfit Toy.Santa Claus, Father Christmas himself
Outstanding traits: that booming voice and big, white beard, naturally.
Donner, Rudolph's father. Outstanding trait: a majestic pair of antlers any reindeer would envy.Fireball, Rudolph's young reindeer pal ... initially, anyway
Outstanding trait: treachery, proven by how fast he turns on Rudolph once the red nose is exposed.Santa's other elves
Outstanding trait: the unexpected ability to become a pitch-perfect chorus.
