Brad Russ
12-17-2006, 08:57 PM
:rednose:How The Story of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Came To Us
On a December night in Chicago many years ago, a
little girl climbed onto
her father's lap and asked a question. It was a
simple question, asked in
children's curiosity, yet it had a heart-rending
effect on Robert May.
"Daddy," four-year-old Barbara May asked, "Why isn't
my mommy just like
everybody else's mommy?"
Bob May stole a glance across his shabby two-room
apartment. On a couch lay
his young wife, Evelyn, racked with cancer. For two
years she had been
bedridden. For two years, all of Bob's small income
and smaller savings had
gone to pay for treatments and
medication.
The terrible ordeal had already shattered two adult
lives. Now, Bob suddenly
realized the happiness of his growing daughter was
also in jeopardy. As he
ran his fingers through Barbara's hair, he groped
for some satisfactory
answer to her question.
Bob May knew only too well what it meant to be
'different'. As a child he
had been weak and delicate. With the innocent
cruelty of children, his
playmates had continually goaded the stunted, skinny
lad to tears. Later, at
Dartmouth, from which he graduated in 1936, Bob May
was so small that he was
always being mistaken for someone's little brother.
Nor was his adult life much happier Unlike many of
his
classmates who floated from college into plush jobs,
Bob became a lowly copy
writer for Montgomery Ward, the big Chicago mail
order house. Now at 3 3, Bob
was deep in debt, depressed and sad.
Although, he didn't know it at the time, the answer
he gave the little child
on his lap was to bring him fame and fortune. It was
also to bring joy to
countless thousands of children like his own
Barbara. On that December night
in the shabby Chicago apartment,
Bob cradled the little girl's head against his
shoulder and began to tell a
story . . .
"Once upon a time, there was a reindeer named
Rudolph, the only reindeer in
the world that had a big red nose.
Naturally people called him "Rudolph, the red-nosed
reindeer." As Bob went
on to tell about Rudolph, he tried desperately to
communicate to Barbara the
knowledge that, even though some creatures of God
are strange and different,
they often enjoy the miraculous power to make o thers
happy.
"Rudolph," Bob explained, "was terribly embarrassed
by his unique nose.
Other reindeer laughed at him; his mother and father
and sister were
mortified, too. Even Rudolph wallowed in self pity."
"Why was I born with such a terrible nose?" he
cried.
"Well," continued Bob, "one Christmas Eve, Santa
Claus got his team of husky
reindeer - Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, and Vixen, and
the others -- ready for
their yearly trip around the world.
The entire reindeer community assembled to cheer
these great heroes on their
way. But, a terrible fog engulfed the earth that
evening, and Santa knew
that the mist was so thick that he wouldn't be able
to find a single
chimney."
"Suddenly Rudolph appeared, his read nose glowing
brighter than ever. Santa
sensed at once that here was the answer to his
perplexing problem. He led
Rudolph to the front of the sleigh, fastened the
harness and climbed in.
They were off! Rudolph guided Santa safely to every
chimney that night.
Rain, and fog,
snow and sleet -- nothing bothered Rudolph for his
bright red nose
penetrated like a beacon."
"And, so it was that Rudolph became the most famous
and beloved of all the
reindeer. The huge red nose he once hid in shame was
now the envy of every
buck and doe in the reindeer world.
Santa Claus told everyone that Rudolph had saved the
day, and from that
Christmas on, Rudolph has been living serenely and
happy."
Little Barbara laughed with glee when her father had
finished. Every night
she begged him to repeat the tale until finally Bob
; could rattle it off in
his sleep. Then, at Christmas time, he decided to
make the story into a poem
like the 'Night Before Christmas' and prepare it in
a booklet form with
crude illustrations, for Barbara's personal gift.
Night after night, Bob worked on the verses after
Barbara had gone to bed,
for he was determined that his daughter should have
a worthwhile gift, even
though he could not afford to buy one.
Then, as Bob was about to put the finishing touches
on Rudolph, tragedy
struck. Evelyn May died. Bob, his hopes crushed,
turned to Barbara as his
chief comfort. Yet, despite his grief, he sat at his
desk in the quiet, now
lonely apartment, and worked on Rudolph with tears
in his eyes.
Shortly after Barbara had cried with joy over his
handmade gift on Christmas
morning, Bob was asked to an employee's holiday
party at Montgomery Wards.
He didn't want to go, but his office associates
insisted.
When Bob finally agreed, he took with him
the poem and read it to the crowd. At first the
noisy throng listened in
laughter and gaiety. Then, they became silent, and
at the end broke into
spontaneous applause. That was in 1938.
By Christmas of 1947, some 6 million copies of the
booklet had been given
away or sold, making Rudolph one of the most widely
distributed books in the
world.
The demand for Rudolph sponsored products increased
so much in variety and
number that educators and historians predicted
Rudolph would occupy a
permanent niche in the Christmas legend.
Through the years of unhappiness, the tragedy of his
wife's death and his
ultimate success with Rudolph, Bob May has captured
a sense of serenity. And
as each Christmas rolls around he recalled with
thankfulness the night when
his daughter's questions
inspired him to write the story.
In 1949, Robert's brother-in-law, Johnny Marks wrote
the song, "Rudolph the
Red-Nosed Reindeer," based on Robert's book.
Demo tapes were sent out to several singers,
including
Bing Crosby and Dinah Shore. Gene Autry was included
as an afterthought.
Autry had enjoyed a resounding success with "Here
Comes Santa Claus," which
he co-wrote and recorded in 1947.
Seeking a follow-up Christmas hit, Autry selected
three songs for a
four-song recording session. He passed over
"Rudolph," saying, "There are
already too many reindeer f lying around."
But Ina, his wife, liked the song. "Oh, Gene," she
told him, "it reminds me
of the story of the Ugly Duckling. I think you ought
to give it a try. The
kids will love it."
As time ran out in the recording session, Autry
decided to go with the
reindeer song. It was an "only take," and the payoff
since for those few
minutes has been phenomenal.
Autry recorded the song and by 1950 it was the most
popular Christmas song
on the radio. Within three weeks of its release,
Autry's "Rudolph the
Red-Nosed Reindeer" hit the top of the charts.
"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" sold two and a half
million copies the
first year. The song moved Autry onto the pop charts
for the first time, and
went on to become the second-best-selling single of
all time behind Bing
Crosby's "White Christmas." It was one of 16 songs
named to the music
industry group ASCAP's
All-time Hit Parade.
Marks became known as a Christmas composer and named
his publishing company
St. Nicholas Music, Inc. Marks wrote "Rockin' Around
the Christmas Tree," "A
Holly Jolly Christmas," "The Most Wonderful Day of
the Year," and "I Heard
the Bells on Christmas Day." Autry recorded several
other Marks songs during
the next decade, but none achieved the success of
"Rudolph."
For children who may remember sitting on Santa's lap
in 1939 at a Montgomery
Ward store, telling the jolly gentleman their
Christmas wishes, they left
with a peppermint stick and a colorful story booklet
named "Rudolph the
Red-Nosed Reindeer
Montgomery Ward dist ributed 2.4 million copies of
the booklet in 1939. By
1946, six million had been given away. May received
a magnificent gift that
year from Ward Chairman Sewell Avery---the copyright
to "Rudolph the
Red-Nosed Reindeer." May licensed the
character and organized Rudolph the Red-Nosed
Enterprises, Inc. The company
promoted a book, a technicolor cartoon, a Barnum &
Bailey circus act, and
other spin-offs. The little reindeer led May to
financial security.:rednose:
Came To Us
On a December night in Chicago many years ago, a
little girl climbed onto
her father's lap and asked a question. It was a
simple question, asked in
children's curiosity, yet it had a heart-rending
effect on Robert May.
"Daddy," four-year-old Barbara May asked, "Why isn't
my mommy just like
everybody else's mommy?"
Bob May stole a glance across his shabby two-room
apartment. On a couch lay
his young wife, Evelyn, racked with cancer. For two
years she had been
bedridden. For two years, all of Bob's small income
and smaller savings had
gone to pay for treatments and
medication.
The terrible ordeal had already shattered two adult
lives. Now, Bob suddenly
realized the happiness of his growing daughter was
also in jeopardy. As he
ran his fingers through Barbara's hair, he groped
for some satisfactory
answer to her question.
Bob May knew only too well what it meant to be
'different'. As a child he
had been weak and delicate. With the innocent
cruelty of children, his
playmates had continually goaded the stunted, skinny
lad to tears. Later, at
Dartmouth, from which he graduated in 1936, Bob May
was so small that he was
always being mistaken for someone's little brother.
Nor was his adult life much happier Unlike many of
his
classmates who floated from college into plush jobs,
Bob became a lowly copy
writer for Montgomery Ward, the big Chicago mail
order house. Now at 3 3, Bob
was deep in debt, depressed and sad.
Although, he didn't know it at the time, the answer
he gave the little child
on his lap was to bring him fame and fortune. It was
also to bring joy to
countless thousands of children like his own
Barbara. On that December night
in the shabby Chicago apartment,
Bob cradled the little girl's head against his
shoulder and began to tell a
story . . .
"Once upon a time, there was a reindeer named
Rudolph, the only reindeer in
the world that had a big red nose.
Naturally people called him "Rudolph, the red-nosed
reindeer." As Bob went
on to tell about Rudolph, he tried desperately to
communicate to Barbara the
knowledge that, even though some creatures of God
are strange and different,
they often enjoy the miraculous power to make o thers
happy.
"Rudolph," Bob explained, "was terribly embarrassed
by his unique nose.
Other reindeer laughed at him; his mother and father
and sister were
mortified, too. Even Rudolph wallowed in self pity."
"Why was I born with such a terrible nose?" he
cried.
"Well," continued Bob, "one Christmas Eve, Santa
Claus got his team of husky
reindeer - Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, and Vixen, and
the others -- ready for
their yearly trip around the world.
The entire reindeer community assembled to cheer
these great heroes on their
way. But, a terrible fog engulfed the earth that
evening, and Santa knew
that the mist was so thick that he wouldn't be able
to find a single
chimney."
"Suddenly Rudolph appeared, his read nose glowing
brighter than ever. Santa
sensed at once that here was the answer to his
perplexing problem. He led
Rudolph to the front of the sleigh, fastened the
harness and climbed in.
They were off! Rudolph guided Santa safely to every
chimney that night.
Rain, and fog,
snow and sleet -- nothing bothered Rudolph for his
bright red nose
penetrated like a beacon."
"And, so it was that Rudolph became the most famous
and beloved of all the
reindeer. The huge red nose he once hid in shame was
now the envy of every
buck and doe in the reindeer world.
Santa Claus told everyone that Rudolph had saved the
day, and from that
Christmas on, Rudolph has been living serenely and
happy."
Little Barbara laughed with glee when her father had
finished. Every night
she begged him to repeat the tale until finally Bob
; could rattle it off in
his sleep. Then, at Christmas time, he decided to
make the story into a poem
like the 'Night Before Christmas' and prepare it in
a booklet form with
crude illustrations, for Barbara's personal gift.
Night after night, Bob worked on the verses after
Barbara had gone to bed,
for he was determined that his daughter should have
a worthwhile gift, even
though he could not afford to buy one.
Then, as Bob was about to put the finishing touches
on Rudolph, tragedy
struck. Evelyn May died. Bob, his hopes crushed,
turned to Barbara as his
chief comfort. Yet, despite his grief, he sat at his
desk in the quiet, now
lonely apartment, and worked on Rudolph with tears
in his eyes.
Shortly after Barbara had cried with joy over his
handmade gift on Christmas
morning, Bob was asked to an employee's holiday
party at Montgomery Wards.
He didn't want to go, but his office associates
insisted.
When Bob finally agreed, he took with him
the poem and read it to the crowd. At first the
noisy throng listened in
laughter and gaiety. Then, they became silent, and
at the end broke into
spontaneous applause. That was in 1938.
By Christmas of 1947, some 6 million copies of the
booklet had been given
away or sold, making Rudolph one of the most widely
distributed books in the
world.
The demand for Rudolph sponsored products increased
so much in variety and
number that educators and historians predicted
Rudolph would occupy a
permanent niche in the Christmas legend.
Through the years of unhappiness, the tragedy of his
wife's death and his
ultimate success with Rudolph, Bob May has captured
a sense of serenity. And
as each Christmas rolls around he recalled with
thankfulness the night when
his daughter's questions
inspired him to write the story.
In 1949, Robert's brother-in-law, Johnny Marks wrote
the song, "Rudolph the
Red-Nosed Reindeer," based on Robert's book.
Demo tapes were sent out to several singers,
including
Bing Crosby and Dinah Shore. Gene Autry was included
as an afterthought.
Autry had enjoyed a resounding success with "Here
Comes Santa Claus," which
he co-wrote and recorded in 1947.
Seeking a follow-up Christmas hit, Autry selected
three songs for a
four-song recording session. He passed over
"Rudolph," saying, "There are
already too many reindeer f lying around."
But Ina, his wife, liked the song. "Oh, Gene," she
told him, "it reminds me
of the story of the Ugly Duckling. I think you ought
to give it a try. The
kids will love it."
As time ran out in the recording session, Autry
decided to go with the
reindeer song. It was an "only take," and the payoff
since for those few
minutes has been phenomenal.
Autry recorded the song and by 1950 it was the most
popular Christmas song
on the radio. Within three weeks of its release,
Autry's "Rudolph the
Red-Nosed Reindeer" hit the top of the charts.
"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" sold two and a half
million copies the
first year. The song moved Autry onto the pop charts
for the first time, and
went on to become the second-best-selling single of
all time behind Bing
Crosby's "White Christmas." It was one of 16 songs
named to the music
industry group ASCAP's
All-time Hit Parade.
Marks became known as a Christmas composer and named
his publishing company
St. Nicholas Music, Inc. Marks wrote "Rockin' Around
the Christmas Tree," "A
Holly Jolly Christmas," "The Most Wonderful Day of
the Year," and "I Heard
the Bells on Christmas Day." Autry recorded several
other Marks songs during
the next decade, but none achieved the success of
"Rudolph."
For children who may remember sitting on Santa's lap
in 1939 at a Montgomery
Ward store, telling the jolly gentleman their
Christmas wishes, they left
with a peppermint stick and a colorful story booklet
named "Rudolph the
Red-Nosed Reindeer
Montgomery Ward dist ributed 2.4 million copies of
the booklet in 1939. By
1946, six million had been given away. May received
a magnificent gift that
year from Ward Chairman Sewell Avery---the copyright
to "Rudolph the
Red-Nosed Reindeer." May licensed the
character and organized Rudolph the Red-Nosed
Enterprises, Inc. The company
promoted a book, a technicolor cartoon, a Barnum &
Bailey circus act, and
other spin-offs. The little reindeer led May to
financial security.:rednose: