Believe it or not, the most famous reindeer of all started out as a marketing gimmick. He wasn't some ancient folktale whispered by Scandinavian villagers around a fire. No. He was a corporate assignment. In 1939, a guy named Robert L. May was sitting at a desk at Montgomery Ward, a department store in Chicago, trying to figure out how to save the company some money on their annual Christmas giveaway.
It worked.
But the story of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is actually a lot darker and more human than the claymation special suggests. We see the glowing nose and the catchy song, but we forget that Rudolph was born out of a period of deep personal grief and economic struggle. Honestly, it’s kinda miraculous the character exists at all. Robert May was broke. His wife was dying of cancer. He was a Jewish copywriter who felt like a loser, and he poured all that "misfit" energy into a reindeer that everyone teased.
Most people think Rudolph is just a cute story for kids. It's not. It’s a case study in how a brand can accidentally create a cultural deity.
The Montgomery Ward Origins You Probably Missed
The 1930s were rough. Montgomery Ward usually bought coloring books to give to kids during the holidays, but they decided it would be cheaper to just make their own. They tapped May to write it. Now, May wasn't some high-flying executive. He was a guy who’d been bullied as a kid for being small and shy. He channeled that. He wanted a story about an underdog.
Why a reindeer?
Because his four-year-old daughter, Barbara, loved the deer at the Lincoln Park Zoo. He toyed with names like Rollo and Reginald. Imagine that. "Reginald the Red-Nosed Reindeer." Doesn't really have the same ring to it, does it? He settled on Rudolph because it sounded fun to say.
The nose was a problem, though. His bosses at Montgomery Ward hated the idea of a red nose. Why? Because in 1939, a red nose was a visual shorthand for being a drunk. They didn't want their holiday mascot looking like he’d spent the night at a dive bar. May didn't back down. He took an illustrator friend, Denver Gillen, to the zoo to sketch deer with red noses to prove it could look cute and not... well, alcoholic.
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It was a massive hit. The store gave away 2.4 million copies that first year. If the story had stopped there, Rudolph would have just been a forgotten piece of retail ephemera. But May’s wife died right as he was finishing the book, leaving him with massive medical debts and a young daughter. In a rare move of corporate kindness, the head of Montgomery Ward gave the copyright back to May in 1947. That move turned a grieving copywriter into a millionaire and ensured Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer would live forever.
That Song That Won't Leave Your Head
You can't talk about Rudolph without the song. It’s impossible. You're probably humming it right now.
Johnny Marks, who was May’s brother-in-law, wrote the lyrics and melody. Marks was a prolific songwriter, but he actually didn't like the Rudolph song that much. He thought it was a bit beneath him. He pitched it to everyone—Bing Crosby, Dinah Shore—and they all passed. Eventually, Gene Autry, the "Singing Cowboy," took a chance on it in 1949.
Autry’s wife actually had to talk him into it.
He didn't think it fit his brand. But once it dropped, it became a juggernaut. It sold 2 million copies in the first year alone. Today, it’s one of the best-selling Christmas songs of all time, second only to "White Christmas." The weird thing? Johnny Marks, the guy who wrote it, didn't even celebrate Christmas. He was Jewish. He just knew how to write a hook that would stick in the collective consciousness of the Western world for nearly a century.
The 1964 Special: A Misfit Masterpiece
If the book made him famous and the song made him a star, the 1964 Rankin/Bass stop-motion special made him a god. This is where the lore gets complicated. The TV special added characters that weren't in the original book:
- Hermey the elf who wants to be a dentist.
- Yukon Cornelius, the greatest prospector in the North.
- The Island of Misfit Toys.
- Bumble, the Abominable Snow Monster.
This version of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is actually pretty cynical if you watch it as an adult. Santa is kind of a jerk. He’s grumpy and dismissive. Rudolph’s dad, Donner, is ashamed of him and tries to hide his nose with mud. It’s a story about a society that only accepts people once their "disability" becomes useful to the bottom line.
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"They never let poor Rudolph join in any reindeer games."
Think about that line. It’s not just a cute rhyme. It’s about social exclusion. The 1964 special leaned into this heavily, which is why it resonates so much with people who feel like they don't fit in. It turns the North Pole into a microcosm of 1960s social pressure.
Why Rudolph Still Dominates the Charts
We’re obsessed with the "misfit" narrative. In the original 1939 poem, Rudolph isn't even living at the North Pole; he just lives in a normal reindeer village. Santa finds him while delivering gifts to Rudolph's house and realizes the nose could help with the fog.
The evolution of the story reflects how our values have shifted.
Originally, it was a story about being helpful. Now, it’s a story about identity and self-actualization. We love the idea that the thing that makes you "weird" is actually your superpower. It’s the ultimate underdog trope.
There’s also the nostalgia factor. The stop-motion animation—which was actually done in Japan by Tadahito Mochinaga’s studio—has a "tactile" feel that CGI just can't replicate. It feels like toys coming to life. Every year, millions of people tune in to watch a puppet with a glowing lightbulb for a nose. It’s one of the longest-running holiday specials in TV history for a reason. It’s comfort food.
Addressing the Controversies (Yes, Really)
In recent years, Rudolph has come under fire. Some people argue the story is problematic because it teaches kids that you’re only valuable if you’re useful. "If you can't lead the sleigh, you're just a freak."
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It’s a valid critique.
If there wasn't a foggy night, would the other reindeer have ever apologized? Probably not. They were bullies until they needed something. But that’s what makes the story "human." It doesn't present a perfect world. It presents a world where people are mean and judgmental, and where survival sometimes depends on proving your worth.
Also, can we talk about the Island of Misfit Toys? The Charlie-in-the-Box? The bird that swims? These are metaphors for the "broken" parts of us. The fact that Santa eventually goes back for them is the redemptive arc that people crave. It’s not just about a reindeer; it’s about the hope that none of us are truly "garbage."
Actionable Takeaways from the Rudolph Phenomenon
If you’re looking at Rudolph as more than just a holiday tradition, there are actually some pretty heavy lessons to glean from his history:
- Protect Your Intellectual Property: Robert May getting the copyright back from Montgomery Ward is the only reason his family stayed wealthy. If you create something for a company, always check the fine print. May’s story is a one-in-a-million exception to corporate greed.
- The "Pivot" is Everything: The song was a failure until it found the right voice. If you have an idea that isn't landing, it might not be the idea—it might be the delivery. Gene Autry wasn't the first choice, but he was the right choice.
- Lean Into the Misfit Status: The reason Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer works is because it’s relatable. Don't try to polish the "weird" out of your projects. The red nose is the whole point.
- Understand Cultural Timing: Rudolph arrived during the tail end of the Great Depression and the start of WWII. People needed a story about hope and a light in the dark. Timing often dictates success more than talent does.
Rudolph isn't just a character. He's a reminder that even when things are foggy and you're being teased for something you can't change, there's usually a way through. Or, at the very least, a way to lead the sleigh.
Take a minute this year to actually read the original 1939 poem. It’s different than you remember. It’s quieter. It’s more about a father’s love for his daughter and a man’s attempt to find light in a very dark year of his life. That’s the real magic of the red nose. It wasn't magic—it was resilience.
Keep your own "nose" shining, even if the other reindeer are being jerks. You never know when the fog is going to roll in and everyone will suddenly need exactly what you've got.