The story of Rudolph begins in 1939 with a Chicago-based department store, Montgomery Ward. The store had for years distributed coloring books and small giveaways to children at Christmas time. To save money and create something of their own, the company asked one of their copywriters, Robert L. May (34 years old at the time), to craft an original Christmas storybook that the store could give away to its customers.May had a background in writing children’s stories, limericks and promotional copy for the company, but this project was unique: he was to produce a tale that could appeal to young readers, fit the holiday spirit, and serve as a free booklet tied to the store’s marketing. 

As May reflected on the assignment, he drew on aspects of his own childhood and personal feelings. He later said he had been somewhat shy and small as a child — a kind of underdog figure — and that helped inform his protagonist.  He chose a reindeer as the main character because his daughter loved the reindeer at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago; also the reindeer motif already had a rich connection with Christmas lore. 

May considered names like “Rollo” and “Reginald” for his character, but eventually settled on “Rudolph” — an alliterative name with a solid ring for children’s reading. 

Now, why the red nose? According to May’s account, one foggy day he gazed out his office window in downtown Chicago, noted the thick fog drifting off Lake Michigan, and he had a flash of inspiration — what if his reindeer had a glowing red nose that could pierce fog and light the way?

Interestingly, at the time the idea of a bright red nose raised some eyebrows among Montgomery Ward executives — in 1930s pop-culture a red nose was often associated with drunkenness or disrepute. But May persisted, and his friend and illustrator from the store’s art department, Denver Gillen, drew “cute reindeer” based on zoo deer, eventually winning over the management with his drawings of the red-nosed hero. 

In December 1939 the booklet titled Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was distributed by Montgomery Ward to its customers at no cost — 2.4 million copies in that first year alone. 

Because of wartime paper shortages, distribution slowed in the early 1940s, but by 1946 the total number of copies given away had reached some six million. 

In the original version of May’s story, Rudolph wasn’t necessarily one of Santa’s reindeer from the outset; he lived in a reindeer village, was teased for his glowing nose, and ultimately his nose proved to be an asset on a foggy Christmas Eve when Santa (by chance) found him and invited him to guide the sleigh.

The next major leap in Rudolph’s journey came via his brother-in-law, Johnny Marks, a songwriter. Marks took May’s story and in 1949 adapted it into the famous song “Rudolph, the Red‑Nosed Reindeer”. 

The song was first introduced live on radio in November 1949, sung by Harry Brannon, and then recorded by cowboy-crooner Gene Autry on June 27 1949. It was released in September and by the end of the year had become a major hit, reaching No. 1 in early 1950 on the U.S. charts. The success of the song enormously amplified Rudolph’s popularity — the simple holiday booklet had now become a mainstream phenomenon, and the character joined the ranks of classic Christmas icons.

Following the song’s success, Rudolph’s story was expanded, adapted and re-imagined in many media: short animated films, comic books, children’s books, and a major television special. For instance, in 1948 a short animated film was produced. 

The most enduring adaptation is the 1964 stop-motion television special Rudolph the Red‑Nosed Reindeer (TV special) produced by Rankin/Bass Productions. It first aired on NBC on December 6, 1964, and is widely cited as the longest-running children’s Christmas special on TV in the United States. 

Over the decades, Rudolph has been embraced by generations of children and parents alike. The appeal is enduring because Rudolph’s story touches on themes of difference, exclusion, perseverance and eventual acceptance — he is the misfit whose unusual feature becomes his gift. These universal themes are part of why the character resonates so strongly. 

It’s worth reflecting on the historical context of Rudolph’s creation. Late 1930s America was emerging from the Great Depression and facing the approach of World War II. Popular culture often sought uplifting, redemptive tales, and the idea of an outsider becoming a hero would have had appeal. May’s own personal experience of feeling marginalized likely helped shape that narrative. Moreover, Rudolph is a case study in how commercial promotion gave rise to folklore. The character was born as a marketing tool for a department store, yet evolved into something much larger. The Smithsonian Institution describes the booklet as beginning “when a writer for Montgomery Ward used Rudolph to boost profits during the holiday season.” Yet in spite of its commercial roots, Rudolph’s story transcended the marketing department. The distribution of millions of booklets meant that children nationwide came to know and identify with the reindeer. Then the song, the animation, the merchandising all built an entire franchise around this originally modest giveaway story. 

• May’s original story emphasized Rudolph’s village of reindeer, his loving parents, and his own sense of self-worth; in this version he wasn’t initially part of Santa’s team but rather discovered by Santa when he noticed the glow from Rudolph’s room on a foggy night. 
• The red nose motif was almost rejected: because red noses were strongly associated with drunkenness in the popular imagination of the 1930s, some executives doubted the idea. But the illustration by Denver Gillen and the narrative overcame that hesitation. 
• The copyright and licensing story: Because Rudolph was created as a work-for-hire for Montgomery Ward, the rights initially belonged to the store. But after the war, Montgomery Ward executives returned the copyright to May in January 1947. 

There are several reasons why Rudolph continues to be part of the Christmas tradition:  

• Relatability: The narrative of being different, being mocked, then finding one’s place resonates with children (and adults). Rudolph’s glow-in-the-dark nose is both literal and metaphorical. 
• Simplicity: The story is straightforward and memorable, with a clear challenge (hatred, exclusion), a twist (his nose becomes useful), and a triumph (he leads Santa’s sleigh). 
• Musical and visual reinforcement: The song by Johnny Marks and Gene Autry made the name “Rudolph” instantly known; the television special added memorable characters and visuals (Clarice, Yukon Cornelius, the Island of Misfit Toys) that further embedded the story in popular culture.
• Commercial-cultural hybrid: Though the character started as a marketing ploy, he transcended that origin to become something more: a kind of modern folklore. His commercial roots may even add to his charm, as a creation that “made good.” 
• Adaptability: Rudolph’s tale is flexible — it has been retold in many formats (booklet, song, TV special, film) and adapted across decades and generations. Each generation can discover it afresh.