Rudolph publicity vs screen used Animagic figures

This is the book that goes into the story behind the publicity Rudolph Animagic figures vs. the screen used Animagic figures.  I included a photograph I located of the NBC Rudolph display case (photos weren't allowed on studio visits), that confirms all the information. The display case was up at NBC in New York from 1964-1971, and then Rudolph went to CBS-tv.  The publicity Animagic figures were sent back to the Rankin/Bass New york office and eventually my friend Barbara Adams, Rankin/Bass secretary, took them home.  She couldn't remember which ones she took, but the case had a limited selection.  The Bumble wasn't part of the publicity photo cast, etc.  You can see Santa never had animatable legs, as he is sitting in the case.  This is because, they put pegs up through the snow base to pose him with the other characters. I discuss other details in the book. 🎅

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Weekend

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer publicity puppets

C. 2001 Miser Bros Press/Rick Goldschmidt Archives

I contacted Masaki Iizuka and he said, “Ichiro Komuro (known as Pinchan to Arthur) and Kyoto Kita created a separate puppet set at the request of Arthur Rankin Jr., that had to be flown to New York quickly for publicity photographs for the network. These photographs were used for regional TV Guide covers, articles, Burl Ives and Johnny Marks publicity shots, the Decca album cover, GE Ads, etc. They were never used for any of the actual animation, which was still in full production all the way up to shortly before the December 6, 1964 airing. These same puppets were leant to NBC and they put them on display in a case, at their Rockefeller Plaza studio, in New York. Eventually they were given back to Rankin/Bass Productions and Barbara eventually was gifted them.”

 

 

Have you wondered what Mrs. Claus looks like from Rankin/Bass' Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer today?

Look no further than page 125 of our book Rankin/Bass' Frosty the Snowman 50th Anniversary scrapbook (Miser Bros Press) available at www.miserbros.com

 

 The Animagic figure head is pictured third row back, second from the right!  Tad Mochinaga would often use the same Animagic bodies for various films, but different costumes and their heads were removable.   Many of the Animagic heads from 1960-1966 are pictured on page 125 in Excellent condition.

The Santa and Rudolph puppets, that were in the actual TV special, are in Japan! My son said he saw the you tube videos from Antiques Roadshow and restoring the puppets...let's just say they are not truthful to create a narrative. I have written about this several times in the last year and done many interviews.

We set Attendance records for an entire weekend in 2007 at the Brookfield Zoo's Holiday Magic! Remember this Kevin Kriess? This was so much fun! I did book signings in the day at Border's in Schaumburg and then the ZOO at night! I remember the ZOO driving us with Josh on one of their carts and the Lion roaring super loud! Lions seem to be more active in the Winter weather. The book signing line extended the entire tent.

This is going to be a busy and wonderful season! So many interviews and mail already! It more than made up for Cons being cancelled.

 

Writing about these guys tonight and the people behind the classic! Also thinking about appearing with them again at a few places!

10 years ago..

My pal Mike O' Reilly says this was 10 years ago at the Borders on Schaumburg, IL! #Rudolphtherednosedreindeer #animagic #Christmas #bordersbooksandmusic #animation #icons