Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer to May's original story than Marks' song, which had not yet been written. It was reissued in 1951 with the song added. May's brother-in-law, Johnny Marks, adapted the story of Rudolph into a song. Gene Autry's recording of the song hit No. 1 on the "Billboard" pop singles chart the week of Christmas 1949. Autry's recording sold 2.5 million copies the first year, eventually selling a total of 25 million, and it remained the second best-selling record of all time until the 1980s. DC Comics, then known as National Periodical Publications, published a series of 13 annuals titled "Rudolph the
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Red-Nosed Reindeer" from 1950 to 1962. Rube Grossman drew most of the 1950s stories. In 1972, DC Comics published a 14th edition in an extra-large format. Subsequently, they published six more in that format: "Limited Collectors' Edition" C-24, C-33, C-42, C-50 and "All-New Collectors' Edition" C-53, C-60. Additionally, one digest format edition was published as "The Best of DC" #4 (March–April 1980). The 1970s Rudolph stories were written and drawn by Sheldon Mayer. In 1958, Little Golden Books published an illustrated storybook, adapted by Barbara Shook Hazen and illustrated by Richard Scarry. The book, similar in story to the Max