Ruldolph biography

The story of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, a cultural icon that heralds the Christmas season, was first introduced to the American public in December 1939. The familiar plot: a young reindeer named Rudolph (a name that won out over Romeo, Rodney, and Reginald) endures teasing for his bright red shiny nose and exclusion from "reindeer games" and ultimately saves the day.

A timeless tale, the story of Rudolph celebrates uniqueness and teaches the important lesson of tolerance and acceptance; Rudolph's curse turns into a blessing when he is chosen to guide Santa's sleigh on Christmas Eve.

Robert May originally wrote the story for his daughter, using a rhyming prose like "'Twas The Night Before Christmas." A public relations copy editor for the Chicago-based Montgomery Ward department store, May used the story as an advertising promotion in an attempt to boost store profits during the holiday season.

The illustrator, Canadian-born Denver Gillen, was a young commercial artist who al