Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer – Nostalgia Central

1 9 6 4 (USA/Canada/Japan)
1 x 47 minute episode

This Rankin-Bass-produced TV special aired on NBC’s The General Electric Fantasy Hour on 6 December 1964. Over half a century later, fans continue to watch the special at Christmas, and it has become the longest continuously running Christmas TV special in history.

Sam the snowman (voiced by Burl Ives) narrates the story of Rudolph the young red-nosed reindeer (the son of Mr and Mrs Donner) who, after being ridiculed and ousted from the Reindeer Games because of his beaming honker, runs away and teams up with Hermey, an elf who wants to be a dentist (voiced by Paul Soles), and a prospector named Yukon Cornelius (voiced by Larry Mann).

They run into an Abominable Snow Monster and find a whole island of misfit toys.

Rudolph (voiced by Billie Mae Richards) vows to see if he can get Santa (voiced by Stan Francis) to help the toys, and he goes back to the North Pole on Christmas Eve.

Unfortunately, Santa’s sleigh is fogged in. But when Santa looks at Rudolph, he gets a very bright idea.

The stop-motion animation – dubbed “Animagic” – was created at the MOM Studios in Japan under the supervision of Tadahito “Tad” Mochinaga, who was regarded as the father of stop-motion in Japan.

The voice cast recorded at the RCA Victor Studios in Toronto, Canada.

Rudolph
Billie Mae Richards
Sam the snowman
Burl Ives
Santa Claus/King Moonracer
Stan Francis
Yukon Cornelius
Larry Mann
Hermey
Paul Soles
Charlie-In-The-Box/Fireball
Alfie Scopp
Clarice
Janis Orenstein
Donner/Comet the Coach
Paul Kligman
Head Elf
Carl Banas
Mrs Donner/Doll
Corinne Conley
Mrs Claus
Peg Dixon