Holiday open house celebrates Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer
The McHenry County Historical Society & Museum celebrates two landmark anniversaries related to Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer at its annual, free Christmas Open House from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6.
Christmas aficionado Dave Harms is once again spearheading the annual display, which marks the 75th anniversary of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer's birth, courtesy of author Robert L. May, and the 50th anniversary of the airing of the Rankin/Bass television special.
From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the museum, view a wide assortment of Rudolph-related memorabilia including radios, games, children's furniture, record players and flashlights; everything from press photos of Robert L. May to Rudolph lapel pins.
"All of the timing was right when it took off," said Harms, of Crystal Lake. "And the song put it over the top. Everyone was familiar with Gene Autry."
Montgomery Ward directed its marketing department to create an original Christmas story to supplant the more expensive coloring books the retailer had given away to kids in the past. May got the job and his efforts were immediate hit. More than 2 million storybooks were given out to Wards' customers in 1939 alone.
A decade later May's brother-in-law, songwriter Johnny Marks, put the story to music and Autry - dubbed the "original singing cowboy" - recorded what has become one of the most beloved Christmas songs of all time. It sold 2.5 million copies during Christmas week 1949.
For a donation to the historical society, bring your camera and take a picture seated on or standing by a motorized, vintage Rudolph, coin-operated ride. Introduced in 1953 by the Exhibit Supply Co. of Chicago, Harms said it no doubt sat just inside or outside a Ward's department store - rocking back and forth with its nose blinking. Rides were 10 cents.
Enjoy live holiday music between 11 a.m. and noon by pianist Nicholas Renkosik of Wonder Lake. Make your own early American Christmas ornaments with Bill Scarlett. Browse our bake sale and search for unique gifts in our gift shop.
Moving forward, the display will be open Tuesday through Friday, Dec. 9 through Jan. 9, with the exception of Dec. 24-26, Dec. 31 and Jan. 1. Contact the museum office at (815) 923-2267 if you are unable to attend during the week and wish to arrange for a weekend visit. In all cases, after Dec. 6 regular museum admission charges apply. For information, visit gothistory.org.
• Also join the McHenry County Historical Society at the museum, 6422 Main St., Union, at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 17, for a presentation by Rick Goldschmidt, historian and biographer with Rankin/Bass. He will speak about the making of the Rankin/Bass Holiday Classic: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. The Illustrator/cartoonist has written several books, including: "The Enchanted World of Rankin/Bass: A Portfolio," "Mad Monster Party," and "The Arthur Rankin Jr. Scrapbook."
Arthur Rankin, Jr. and Jules Bass are best-known for producing some of the most popular animated holiday TV specials ever aired, including the long-running "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer," "Frosty The Snowman," "The Year Without a Santa Claus" and "The Hobbit." They also collaborated on the animated feature films "Mad Monster Party" and "The Last Unicorn," and cartoon series such as ThunderCats, The Jackson Five, and SilverHawks.
Admission is $7 for Society members, $10 for nonmembers. Bring a nonperishable item for the local food pantry and save $2.