Every year during the holiday season, many of us sing along to the famous Christmas song, "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." The song tells the story of a reindeer with a unique feature that helps guide Santa's sleigh on foggy Christmas nights. But have you ever wondered which department store created Rudolph?
Montgomery Ward
The answer is Montgomery Ward, a now-defunct department store chain that was founded in 1872. In 1939, the store's management decided to create a Christmas storybook to give away to children as a promotional item. They hired a copywriter named Robert L. May to create the story, which featured a reindeer with a bright red nose.
May named the reindeer Rudolph and wrote a poem about him, which was included in the storybook. The poem was an instant hit with children, and Montgomery Ward decided to print more copies of the book the following year.
The Creation of the Song
Several years later, May's brother-in-law, Johnny Marks, wrote a song based on the Rudolph story. The song was first recorded by Gene Autry in 1949 and became an instant hit. Since then, "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" has become one of the most popular Christmas songs of all time.
The Legacy of Rudolph
The story of Rudolph has been adapted into various forms of media over the years, including television specials, movies, and even a Broadway musical. The most famous adaptation is the 1964 Rankin/Bass animated television special, which has become a beloved holiday classic.
While Montgomery Ward may no longer exist, the legacy of Rudolph lives on. The story of the red-nosed reindeer has become an important part of Christmas folklore and continues to bring joy to children and adults alike during the holiday season.
Conclusion
So, the next time you sing "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," you can thank Montgomery Ward for creating the iconic character. Without their promotional storybook, we may have never known Rudolph and his bright red nose.