50 Years Ago Today…A Christmas Classic Was Born!
On December 6, 2014
- TV History
50 Years Ago Today…A Christmas Classic Was Born!
The evening of December 6, 1964, kids across the country tuned into NBC for the debut of ‘Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer’ in living color. It’s aired every year since.
The Christmas television special was produced in stop motion animation by Rankin/Bass Productions, and was sponsored by General Electric under the umbrella title of ‘The General Electric Fantasy Hour’. The GE commercials in the first two years also featured the Rankin/Bass characters.
Below is a clip of the Burl Ives “Holly Jolly Christmas” segment. I watched…did you? Happy Birthday Rudolph! Enjoy and share! -Bobby Ellerbee
sharing thanks
“The General Electric Fantasy Hour” aka the time spent on the phone with GE retiree benefits …
I still watch it!
Even though it aired a year later this show seemed like a relief for the kids after the JFK assassination. The holiday season was good again.
Yes, I watched it, I’m sure. I was 14 when it first aired.
These were on sale at CVS during the 90’s.
Another ad, from the Boston Globe
A masterwork!
NBC aired it annually until 1971, then CBS picked it up the following year and has had it since.
Here’s the ad for the debut