HOW the RUDOLPH LEGEND BEGAN: "Robert L. May created Rudolph in 1939 as an assignment for Montgomery Ward. The retailer had been buying and giving away coloring books for Christmas every year and it was decided that creating their own book would save money. May considered naming the reindeer "Rollo" and "Reginald" before deciding upon using the name "Rudolph".[ 2] In its first year of before deciding upon using the name "Rudolph" In its first year of publication, 2.4 million copies of Rudolph's story were distributed by Montgomery Ward. The story is written as a poem in the meter of "'Twas the Night Before Christmas". "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer" is loved by millions and still selling copies...." re the SONG: "ay's brother-in-law, Johnny Marks, decided to adapt the story of Rudolph into a song. Marks (1909–1985), was a radio producer and wrote several popular Christmas songs. He was born in a New York City suburb and graduated from Colgate University in Hamilton, New York, before traveling to Paris to study music. He had a heroic World War II combat record, winning the Bronze Star and four battle stars. The song was first sung commercially by crooner Harry Brannon on New York city radio in early November, 1949, before Gene Autry released it on November 25th, and has since filtered into the popular consciousness The lyric "All of the other reindeer" can be misheard in dialects with the cot– caught merger as the mondegreen "Olive, the other reindeer"...." (WIKIPEDIA) , for SPIRITUAL TRUTH, go to www.HEARINGtheWORD.posterous.com
