Robert L. May adaptation of Rudolph. Though the song was turned down by such popular vocalists as Bing Crosby and Dinah Shore, it was recorded by the singing cowboy Gene Autry. "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" was released in 1949 and became a phenomenal success, selling more records than any other Christmas song, with the exception of "White Christmas". In 1941, May married another Ward employee, Virginia, and had five children with her. She was a devout Catholic, and he converted to Catholicism during the marriage. May wrote two sequels to "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer". The first is mostly in prose (except that Rudolph
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