I Found the Rarest Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer VHS!!! 

Upon of discovering the Trans-Atlantic Video catalog of Rankin/Bass specials, the VHS cover for The Little Drummer Boy (also released in 1988) tape was discovered 6 YEARS before the Rudolph tape was even discovered online

Other little details about this tape: - It has a record tab on it. This means that, unless the consumer breaks it off, he'll have to press Play every time he puts the tape in because it won't play automatically. It also means that somebody could record over it if desired unless the tab gets broken off. - It's in EP mode, which uses up less tape, but also degrades the quality.

You are ONE lucky fellow! I have my doubts of this tape’s existence since i only saw 1 photo of the cover! But i’m glad it actually existed

I'd love to see this full rip on the Internet Archive! This needs to be preserved!

The Minnie’s yoo-hoo was made for the local Mickey Mouse clubs in various theater chains through the 30s.

I have a feeling that this was a case of mistaken public domain. The 1948 Max Fleisher cartoon of the same name was in public domain at the time, and was featured on many public domain Christmas compilation tapes. I think the company heard that "Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer" was in the public domain, they just assumed it was the 1964 Rankin/Bass version. It's not like they could check on the internet in 1988. Companies that put out public domain material are not always careful to check that they're issuing the correct movie, and not one with a similar name. Mill Creek had to discontinue many of their 50 movie DVD packs because one or more of the movies that they assumed was public domain turned out no to be. I have a DVD that I bought at the dollar store that has Wes Craven's "Chiller" from 1985, and Ken Russel's "Gothic" from 1986, both clearly not in the public domain, and clearly unauthorized. I think the company that issued it mistook these movies with pretty generic titles for early works that WERE in the public domain. DVD's in particular were so cheap to produce that if they did have to recall them, they would probably still make more money from the ones they sold than they'd lose from the ones they had to destroy. And many of those companies would be out of business anyway by the time anyone found out and served them with a Cease And Desist order.

Glad to know that this tape exists! I could barely find any proof of it other than a few pictures.

if anybody deserves this VHS, it’s u legend. keep it up

Similar thing happened to me with a Little Lulu Tape. Some of those releases are just completely 100% unknown, with only a single picture to go off of.

Apparently the little drummer boy tape from tans Atlantic also includes the gift of winter special starring Dan aykroyd and Gilda Rainer It makes that tape even more rare

This is truly history in the making right there.

You should try to find the rare Public Domain VHS tapes of The Little Drummer Boy. Compared to Rudolph there’s quite a few of them

Oh man I didn't know Rudolph had a good lost VHS back in the 80's and 90s.

14:07 it could have been transferred on a telecine “R.C.A TK Series of machines”, which is sometimes prone to sound vibrations, even though it has a mic inside the projector

They really should preserve vhs tapes and put them back in service - same for other discontinued things and old-fashioned ones

I literally just realized that Rudolph turns 60 next year

1:37 Well, if my experiences with fan mail taught me anything, is that you can write a fan letter to someone like Ashleigh Hairston for example, and then you can get an autographed postcard from her in the mail for free a few weeks later.

I wish I had that, the rarest vhs I have only had 1 copy called Play Video: Bugs Bunny

I think there might be more VHS Findings that were distributed by Trans-Atlantic Video.

I came across a weird looking VHS of The Little Drummer Boy a few years ago that was marked “1994 A. E. E. Inc”

OMG i didn't know that it was the first! Thanks for finding it!

Are there any plans of uploading the full 1988 VHS rip of the special anywhere online?

It looks like one of those public domain stuff, i mean the Special is techinally public domain because of that copyright error, but it has copyrightable elements

I would break off the tab on the tape, to keep from accidentally recording over it. I accidentally did that one time with one of my tapes.

Back then, I NEVER EVEN KNEW this tape actually existed!

You have an adorable cat!

That's crazy! YTou owning one from eBay is insane. eBay sucks but damn...that's a Home run

I think a better question is why did they also release The Little Drummer Boy (Im pretty sure none of that is in the PD (apparently the song isnt)

The VCR from Heck is a good Tumblr page I will say. Best place to go find some public domain stuff!

Both this edited version of Rudolph and A Charlie Brown Christmas were release in 1965. I thought you might like to know that.

Wow that,s so amazing that you got a holly grail!!!!!

Does this one have the scene with the Bumble with the polka dot handkerchief on?

Please tell me you'll give us scans of that slip cover and back up the cassette. This has to be preserved.

The best way to capture the VHS is with a domesday device

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Well, i didn't know that this special was released on VHS By Trans-Atlantic Video in 1988. I would usually see the Other Copy Of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer From 1989, But for this VHS Being Released by a Public Domain Company, i actually knew this tape Existed.

Great video by the way!

That looks like a creepypasta

Wait, the "Mad Doctor" is a public domain short? Does that mean I could use the titular character if I so choose, or do I have to wait until 2028 or so? Mickey, of course, would enter the public domain next year with some strings attached.

Are you gonna upload this tape onto internet archive?

I can’t seemed to find that public domain RU-vid upload

Upload the tape so we can see a good clear version of the opening without Rankin Bass present.

Oh crap mine actually has the sticker on the tape. I'm rich. What a great day.

The Mad Doctor is not banned in germany and was never banned in germany we even have a german dub of it

This is amazing

Are you planning to buy the 1988 VHS copy of the Little Drummer Boy?

oh this is interesting never knew this existed

Lucky finde this is the first video I have seen about this VHS 🦌🦌

Trans-Atlantic Video? Is that name a reference to the slave trade???

To be fair lane mickey's surprise party another mickey cartoon in the public domain Most likely due to nabisco product placement Granted it did appear in the spirit of mickey tape but it was edited to prevent a lawsuit from Nabisco

I have a copy of the Rudolph vhs. Who do I talk to. Except my trans-atlantic sticker won't stay on.

Do more leapfrog

What To Christmas Stop Motion

How much did you pay for the lot

I have this vhs been trying to get rid of it

Neat

MCMLXIV MCLXIV

I’m m achere