*In 1973 our Public School PS-189, took its student on a field trip to NBC Studios - New York. I was 8 when our tour guide directed the class to a set of well lit glass displays. Behind that glass were the actual animation puppets used in Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer. There they were, all characters less that a foot away from our faces. To make things more magical, our tour guide was a vibrant young lady, maybe 23 years old, brunette, with the sweetest personality. We all fell in love with her. That class trip was one of the most unforgettably magical days in my childhood.*
It must have been really great. I've only heard talk of the puppets being displayed at NBC studios. Never heard of the experience from someone who actually visited!!! Would love to hear more details sometime.
@@Animagic_Style_2016 - Its was like a bright museum displays in a dim lit carpeted room. The characters were perfectly lit under the glass. Some displays were against the walls. It was a complete diorama experience, with cotton balls, white snow particle and the little trees used in the film. It was like looking at the Holy Grail, inches away from our faces. The young lady who took us around each studio was also a truly a magical person. She could have been on Charlie's Angels. I was not accustomed to seeing people like her up close either. The whole day was special beyond words and all we did was talk about it for week. It's good seeing that those puppets are being cared for and preserved. It's funny how animations would play a role in my life, on and off, ever since.
I can’t believe someone else mentioned this! My Brooklyn New York elementary school also went on a NBC class trip to the TV studio!! I wasn’t sure if it was NBC or CBS to this day, but now I know it must’ve been NBC. I can’t recall exactly what grade it was, but I am guessing around 1969, or possibly technically up to 1972. We were really there to visit the studio, but when we turned the corner of the hallway, there were boxes on the wall that looks like cabinets with glass fronts, and the actual puppet dolls were in these cases that had locks on them. We were thrilled to see this! I don’t recall if there was any table or anything else around it, but I don’t think so, it was just a display on the wall that I remember. We didn’t know that was happening until we got there in the hallway. Perhaps it took them a few years to elaborate on the display and add snow and tables etc but at first just wanted to get them on the wall to display them for the kids and so many other fans. I think we had a regular NBC everyday guide, and I remember one particular thing he told us, and that was the reason the abominable snowman wasn’t in a display case was because he was too big to fit! That was a little disappointing not being able to see him, but I’m sure he was only a couple of feet tall, but compared to the others I guess that’s huge. It’s nice to know that in my lifetime I got to see the real characters from a very much beloved Christmas special of mine. It’s too bad that back then it wasn’t like now, with everyone whipping out cell phones and being able to take snapshots and videos of such an event. I don’t think one child or parents had a camera on that field trip, and that was a pity.
When I and my brothers and sisters were mere 'tadpoles' back in the mid-60's.. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer was THEEE big television event of the holiday season. I'm 60 now, and it is still just as big a deal as it ever was, and a thrill beyond words to see these precious icons of so many youths being cared for and restored.
And you had to make sure you knew what night it was on and what time if you didn't want to miss it. I don't think we ever did, that would be unthinkable.
Such great memories. I also remember the first year that I didn’t watch it. We had family over and everybody wanted to go bowling but Rudolph was on so I said no but then changed my mind and went with them. It seems silly to remember something like that but it was a big deal to me at the time to not watch it.
We must always watch. This show is pure magic. Every song is amazing. The plot is wonderful. Every character endearing. They can't and won't do that again.
This was a major event in my home. Mom would pop a huge brown bag of popcorn and we'd get Kool-Aid (it was so rare we got to drink sugar drinks) but she relaxed the rules. We then put blankets and pillows on the floor in front of the tv, put on our pajama's and waited for it to start. We did the same routine for Wizard of Oz. I loved my childhood and I'm beyond grateful to have the parents and 7 siblings I had.
Same. But it would have been jiffy pop on stove and bottle of coke to split with my sister. Might even get to open another day on the xmas countdown calendar with the chocolate under each door.
Any existing puppets from the classic Rankin Bass stop-motion productions (whether it's the Christmas specials, Mad Monster Party, or anything) belong in a museum ... for fans and families to see. Those characters hold so much nostalgia, and have given immeasurable joy to people for decades. If I had the chance to just _touch_ one of these characters, I'd be in some kind of awe. Seems like there were a few of these Rankin Bass puppets floating around in the past, as in this clip from Antiques Roadshow (unless they are the same ones before restoration happened): ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-0t0GaNTdZA8.html
According to this video, after restoration the two puppets were put on display at the Center For Puppetry Arts in Atlanta. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-r3vaibEZs68.html
@@jenniferweston7621 Nice! And I love when the Antiques Roadshow features a find that is so nostalgic. One episode had a person with a few original comic strip panels made by Peanuts legend Charles M. Schultz. For me, a big of his, that would be some sort of "Holy of Holies" situation. :)
yes it appears that they are.. if you look at the stain on Santa's head, it's the same as in road show. glad to see the owners getting them restored to their previous glory.
It's like catching up with a couple of old friends. As a little boy (before home video made it easy), the annual showing of Rudolph was must-see viewing for me to kick of the Christmas season.
@@louieflash7190 I know. Kids today will never get that experience. Sure, you could only see it that one specific time every year, but watching it was an event.
I remember it was a little over a week before I turned five my parents moved the TV to the dining room so my baby brother and I could watch this. They told me it was a special TV show for kids and was about Christmas. I was very excited at the prospect. They made it seem like no one had ever made a TV special about Christmas. I was mesmerized throughout. It was the best show I had ever seen in my five year old opinion. A year later we found out they were going to run it again and I got excited again. My baby brother was now three and he understood a lot more of it. After that it became an annual tradition. The whole thing became an annual routine. Thanksgiving was followed by Decorating day which was followed by Rudolph Day then my birthday then Christmas then New years. By 1967 I think we were making it a sort of party day. Then Frosty and Charlie Brown Christmas Specials followed though I'm not sure of the time frame.
While my favorite as a child was always Charlie Brown, and for some reason I had good memories of Frosty - Rudolph is light years ahead of both of those in pure quality.
Thank you to the team who did the restorations! I’m 61. Grew up with Rudolph, part of my Christmas tradition, train set modeled around workshop, castle, and Island of misfit toys. Made me smile to know they are being preserved. God bless.
I've watched Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer for more years than I care to think about. I know every line and all the songs, and it's still magic. It's a time machine that transports me back to when I was 6, and I'll watch it every year until my time here is over.
Watching this almost brought me to tears...To see things like this that are carved deep into the stone that is my childhood memories is truly amazing...!!! Thank you...!!!
One of the sweetest Christmas shows that was done with that simple stop-motion puppetry way back in 1964, or coming up on 60 years ago, which is as hard to believe. Couldn't imagine privately owning them but if it were me, I'd donate them to the Smithsonian where iconic figures like that belong for all to see and enjoy. Merry Christmas all.
After reading the article about the restored ones, I think I would probably follow suit if that were me and also put them on “permanent loan“ to the most fitting place at that particular time. Who knows if The place you thought was best for them suddenly goes belly up or is being mismanaged etc. And maybe in a couple of decades when you’re not around to rethink your decision because other places are created (like that puppet museum where they are now), then you could have your future family members and others who are highly trusted on the board of directors of ownership for the puppets with the ability to vote to change the venue where they are stored/displayed if desired. But most definitely they should be on display for the public at all times, and at an institution (like the national parks) that have disability programs and passes criteria to where you do not have to pay anything to visit them finances prevent you from doing so. I mean, why shoulda generous person donate something to an institution that has a policy of forcing indigent people to pay money to upkeep the place when they just can’t afford it? Even cooler would be to take some of these items out on some kind of museum “Caravan“ bus where they can make arrangements to bring them to schools and secure venues across the country where children- because of where they live-may never get to see them at all?
@@ingridarlington5745 yes, I read that, the new owner put them on “permanent loan“ to the museum. And in that way, they are still the true owners with total control over those puppets that should they be abused, misused, or there is a better place for them, they can be moved anytime they want. Very smart move!
I loved watching these Rankin Bass specials as a kid. They were a holiday tradition every year. To this day - 30 some years old - I still watch them. I love watching these stop motion films. There's just something about the time and effort that goes into such a production that's always fascinated me. It makes me happy that not all of those figures have been lost to time and efforts are being made to take care of them for future generations.
That show is from 1964 and I think almost everybody in the Western world knows it, and many of us have seen it so many times we'd say we're sick of it if it was anything else. It's a defining moment of the lore of Christmas in the 20th century and now well into the 21st.
This is one of the most wonderful and happiest things I’ve seen the past few years!!! So happy these were found, cherished, saved, and will continue to go on and be loved!! 💞. Please make sure they are key in a fireproof, i breakable case on display 💞
I read an article about this restoration sometime ago. I'm three years older than Rudolf. He's been a part of my Christmas all my life. Always gets me emotional. Thank you for this labor of love.
Thank you for repairing Rudolph and Santa. Rudolph the red nosed reindeer is the most iconic American Christmas story that we watched year after year after year,,and quite honestly, still do after all these decades. I remember as a child being terrified of the abominable snowman. Lol. The innocence of children. Fond memories to share with all our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Thank you.
Just knowing the puppets are out there and being preserved makes me happy. Thank goodness whoever brought them in for restoration had the same feeling we all have about this story!! They are all SILVER AND GOLD to us. Merry Christmas…. Merry Christmas
THANK YOU THANK YOU FOR RESTORING THESE REAL LIFE LITTLE CHARACTERS who do NOT need computers to be ALIVE in EVERYONE's hearts! I LOVE them truly andremeber watching them EVERY YEAR whenI was little and STILL DO ON DVD!!! YES! they are all SO SWEET AND INNOCENT!!! BLESS THEM ALL and thank you to this fab competent crew for restoring them! Kimberly Wakeman
It’s Christmas Day 2021 and I’m laying in bed watching this video… with the biggest smile on my face! So glad this bit of my childhood is in the right hands. Wonder where all the other puppets are 🤔
They didn’t make it. They were melted in a heat wave. I remember that when I found that out last year, I cried over Hermey. He’s my other favorite and I think he’s Rudolph’s best friend…
Thanks for posting this great video! Im 61 and try to catch the Rudolph special every year. It so takes me back. Sure would like to see all the characters restored! I remember as a kid that Bumble scared the crap out of me when he first appeared from behind the mountain. I think I had nightmares. Nowadays, every Christmas season, I put a removable stick on mural of Bumble on the large machine i run at work. The owner of the company came by and seen it and the first think he said was that Bumble scared the crap out of him too when he was a kid too. LOL
Would have liked to see the restoration process, as well as finding out something about the "expression pieces" and other characters. Luckily, the two key characters were found, though. They certainly have a lot of historical significance in the art of cinema and animation.
They would have to make new ones in that case. Because aging processes are not kind to anything so further use from these two might place them at risk of breaking beyond repair. I think they could and should make them from the ground up and while they are at it, they should recreate the rest of the cast as well so that Rudolph doesn’t have to go on a display without his best friends…
Overall, they look lovely and kudos to the restoration team! That said, the LED replacement on Rudolph's nose appears the wrong shape and size. Meaning no disrespect to what appears to be excellent work but if you're going to restore something so iconic, that nose needs to be perfect.
I noticed that, too. I understand why they used an LED, but if they were going to all the time and effort to restore these, they could have at least made a correct nose shape.
I wonder where the rest from the other movies are. They seem to only describe the characters from the original Rupolph, but there are plenty other movies. They even changed the way Santa look. I would love to run across the Ice and Heat Misers.
Watching this video on Christmas Day 2021....so uplifting inspiring! Since I'm older 4 yrs. older than those puppets are, I wonder if these 3 people could restore ME so I can look younger? (Minus the LED bulb in my nose) Merry Christmas Everyone! : )
I had no idea these were puppets! Like the rest of you, they are a treasured part of my childhood; I never missed watching Rudolph. Now I’m 53 and still watch it while I’m baking cookies. I hope all the puppets are found so “the whole cast” can get back together. ❤️
That would rock!! But the rest of the cast got melted in a heat wave… I hate that I’m having to tell so many people in these comments the bad news… it just makes me feel more and more sad about Hermey!!! 😔
I’d love to see all the puppets restored and a reboot of the original using those puppets following the original script I’m sure most of the original voice actors are no longer around
Those movies are such an incredible, and magical part of my childhood! If those people that restored Rudolph and Santa ever read this, I would like to say:Thank You SOOO much for restoring those puppets, and I hope someday you are able to restore all the rest of the puppets!
AH! so you're the ones I read about who restored these! how MARVELOUS! I was absolutely amazed when I saw the photos of the restored puppets a few years ago, so grateful they're safe and looking their best!
"And we're off!" It's so wonderful and intriguing to see how our dedicated toy giver and unique gudier of the sleigh are restored.🎯🎄🎅❄⭐ Merry Christmas and stay safe everyone!
Some of my earliest Childhood Christmas Memories were The Rudolf the red nosed Reindeer series Late Sixties or early Seventies...My Parents used loved to watch us light up when those were on....Need tissues now...
I remember hearing on the radio the puppets were on sale, fast forward years later I now see who bought them. I was scared they'd go in the wrong hands but I'm so glad they went to fans of the original and being restored instead of left to rot
Wow. Seeing those puppets sure brings back memories. I haven't seen that show in at least 35 years. I'm sure I could track it down somewhere, but I haven't.
this show was the staple show of christmas time tv shows when i was growing up...as a kid anyhow.....so glad to see they wasnt just tossed away after the show was made because they was just "old puppets"......and even happier some one cared enough to save them and have them restored to the glory they deserve......
I collect Christmas specials and I own 2 versions of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. One is the version that comes on tv every year the other is the original un-edited version. Which I never knew existed until I found it at a thrift store. And I like that version better. I am a gramma but I still love Christmas specials and Rudolph is one of my favorites.
When people talk about collectables this is what I think about. Another video that is equally enjoyable is the restoration of Dorothy's red ruby slipper from Oz.
Back in the day, TV Guide was studied and memorized because you did NOT miss the seasonal cartoons. It was the talk of the neighborhood… “Rudolph, (Charlie Brown, Frosty, etc) is on tonight at 7!” You knew the date, time, and channel, and mom had the popcorn ready! There wasn’t a kid on the block outside when the toons hit prime time. A sea of abandoned bikes lying in front yards, empty chalk hop scotch lines in the street, kickballs all dropped in place at once and a mad rush of kids hauling ass inside for the big one that night. Waiting for the season cartoons was second in anticipation only to Christmas morning itself. Edit: I grew up in the deep South where Christmas’ were often 60-80 degrees out. Yes, we had Mr Heat Miser in my neck of the woods. In fact, it was a high in the upper 70s just today. Shorts and flip flops were a sometimes regular Christmas dress code and absolutely NO snow.
I always loved stop motion better than cartoons probably because of seeing Rudolph and gumby. I made several productions of my own over the years. One is on youtube with little Lulu called astroliner.
03JAN2022 - Aside from seeing "Rudolph" when it first aired, and even though in my mid-60s it still chokes me up when I watch it, and in addition to the joy I have that these puppets are being restored, I was not prepared to see Rudolf's head apart from his body, nor was I able to process the words "the severed head of Santa."
These weren't the screen used characters only publicity pieces used in a display in New York City at the time of the special's first airing. This information is according to Rick Goldschmidt a Rankin-Bass historian. All the stop motion was filmed in Japan and there aren't many screen used puppets from this or any Rankin-Bass specials that have survived. Tadahito Mochinaga who was one of the lead animators for Rankin-Bass had several puppets including Santa and some others that were on display in Japan a few years ago.
Could be. But why would display-only pieces have armature holes in the side of their bodies or electrical wiring inside. The original production pieces could have been shipped from Japan to a colleague in the states. Just a thought.
