Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (song) names of the eight reindeer which went: "You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen, Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen,<br> But do you recall The most famous reindeer of all?" The song was first sung by crooner Harry Brannon on New York City radio in early November 1949, before Gene Autry's recording hit No. 1 in the U.S. charts during Christmas 1949. The song was suggested as a "B" side for a record Autry was making. Autry rejected the song. His wife convinced him to use it. The success of this Christmas song by Autry gave support
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (TV special) alone and unloved, are suddenly cheered up when Santa arrives to pick them up. Santa wishes everyone a merry Christmas as he and Rudolph fly off into the night. The TV special, with the teleplay by Romeo Muller, introduced several new characters inspired by the song's lyrics. Muller told an interviewer shortly before his death that he would have preferred to base the teleplay on May's original book, but could not find a copy. Other than Burl Ives, all characters were portrayed by Canadian actors recorded at RCA studios in Toronto under the supervision of Bernard Cowan. After the script,