Arthur Rankin, Jr. and Jules Bass produced some of the most beloved Christmas specials we know including the big four, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Frosty the Snowman, The Year Without Santa Claus, and the mother of all, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. To celebrate the most famous reindeer of all's birthday Donna Ruko has five things you don't know about this classic Christmas tale.
1. Rudolph Voiced By a Woman
The young buck Rudolph's nasally sound was courtesy of Canadian actress Billie Mae Richards.
2. American Classic Outsourced
The American classic was mostly voiced in Canada and animated in Japan.
3. Misfits Forgotten in Original Ending
In the special's original ending, Charlie in The Box and the gang of Misfit Toys were never delivered. An audience outcry got the ending reshot in 1965 to show Santa shipping the misfit toys to girls and boys.
4. Not Rudolph’s First Movie
The 1948 Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer cartoon was produced before the song became popular. Max Fleischer brought the story to life just like he did with Betty Boop and Popeye the Sailor Man.
5. Pinocchio Came Before Rudolph
Rudolph wasn't Rankin and Bass’s first shot at stop motion. The series The New Adventures of Pinocchio ran in 1960 and '61, accompanied of course by his cricket pal.
Which holiday movie is your favorite? Let us know on our Facebook page, @TheListShowTV.
