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 (1948 film) Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1948 film) Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is a 1948 animated short film produced and directed by Max Fleischer based on the 1939 Robert L. May poem "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer", about a flying reindeer who helps Santa Claus. Rudolph is a reindeer, with an unusual red nose that shines (some would even say that it glows). Because of this, he is laughed at and told to go home by his peers. Saddened, he goes home, hangs his stocking and goes to bed. Meanwhile, at the North Pole, Santa Claus notices that the coming fog will be