Holiday: Peter Weyland Day
Gene Autry’s recording of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was released today in 1949. Autry rejected the song initially, but his wife convinced him to record it. The song made it to #1 on the charts by Christmas that year.
Ten years earlier, in 1939, Robert L. May created the character of Rudolph for Montgomery Ward as a Christmas coloring book promotion for the store. They gave away more than 2 million copies with Rudolph on the cover. May’s brother-in-law, songwriter Johnny Marks, wrote the tune that Gene Autry would eventually record. Marks also wrote Jingle Jingle Jingle, Sliver and Gold, and A Holly Jolly Christmas, all of which were also featured in the stop-motion animated film Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer released in 1964.
Music Du Jour: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (Autry 1949) and the film soundtrack by Burl Ives (1965)
Films Du Jour:
- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)
- Rudolph’s Shiny New Year (1976)
- Rudolph and Frosty’s Christmas in July (1979)
- A Reindeer’s Journey (2019) documentary
Miscellaneous:
- A Visit from St. Nicholas, first published in 1823, was a poem written by Professor Clement Clarke Moore to entertain his daughters. The poem turned into “Twas the Night Before Christmas,” which established our modern idea of Santa, including his reindeer.
- Reindeer wine bottle jacket
- Director Jon Favreau was inspired by the elf attire in Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer when designing Buddy the Elf’s costume for Elf
- Rudolph costume for your car
- The original Rudolph and Santa figures from the stop-motion film were featured on Antiques Roadshow and valued at $8,000-$10,000 each
Snacks Du Jour: Reindeer chow
Cocktail Du Jour – Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer Cocktail
- 25 oz rum
- 5 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 5 oz grenadine
- 3 oz cranberry juice
Shake the rum, lemon juice, and grenadine in a cocktail shaker with ice and pour into a coupe glass. Garnish with a lemon slice and a bright maraschino cherry.
Mocktail Du Jour – Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer Mocktail
- 25 oz Zero Proof Rum Alternative
- 5 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 5 oz grenadine
- 3 oz cranberry juice
Shake the non-alcohol rum, lemon juice, and grenadine in a cocktail shaker with ice and pour into a coupe glass. Garnish with a lemon slice and a bright maraschino cherry.
Beer Du Jour
Rudolph’s Red Eye Golden Ale, Olaf the Other Reindeer Beer, Moosehead (if you have a good imagination), or your favorite Finnish Long Drink
Wine Du Jour
Rudolph’s Red Blend or Prancer and Vixen Moscato
Use freshly squeezed citrus in your cocktails and mocktails when called for – It makes such a difference! Here’s a reliable and inexpensive juicer.
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Photo credit: “[xmas display]” by pocolover1957 is licensed under CC BY 2.0
