Rudolph the
Red-Nosed Reindeer

"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" — The Longest-Running Christmas Special in History

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer aired on NBC on December 6, 1964 — produced by Rankin/Bass Productions using stop-motion animation (a technique they called "Animagic"), it told the story of a misfit reindeer with a glowing nose, a misfit elf who wants to be a dentist, and a prospector named Yukon Cornelius searching for silver and gold. The special won the 1964 Emmy for Outstanding Program Achievement in the Field of Children's Programming and has aired every year since its debut — making it the longest continuously broadcast holiday television special in history. It introduced a generation to Sam the Snowman (voiced by Burl Ives, who also sang "A Holly Jolly Christmas"), the Bumble the Abominable Snow Monster, Clarice, and the Island of Misfit Toys — Charlie-in-the-box, Dolly, the polka-dotted elephant, and Rudolph's vow to return for them all.

Hallmark began honoring the special with Keepsake ornaments in 1989 — 25 years after the original broadcast — and released entries regularly through 2021, a 32-year span covering nearly every significant character and scene from the 22-minute special. The collection ranges from a 1989 QLX Magic ornament with Rudolph's nose blinking (plugged into a light string) to a 2019 Magic record player playing "A Holly Jolly Christmas" to a 2021 miniature Rudolph and Clarice. The 2007 Island of Misfit Toys ornament — Artist: Robert Chad, 3½" H — is in The Henry Ford museum collections, recognized as culturally significant alongside the Hot Wheels and Power Rangers entries in Hallmark's Keepsake canon.

Tips for the Complete Collection

• 01
  The 1989 QLX blinking nose ornament needs a light string socket — position it near a strand. The QLX7252 is a light-operated Magic ornament: plug it into any socket on a miniature light string and Rudolph's nose blinks red. Position it close to the light strand during tree setup. When it blinks it is the most interactive ornament in the collection — the one most guaranteed to get a reaction from anyone who sees it. Position at eye level where the blinking is visible.
• 02
  The 2007 Island of Misfit Toys is in The Henry Ford — display it with the prominence it deserves. Robert Chad's 3½" Island of Misfit Toys ornament (QXI7219) is recognized as culturally significant by the same institution that holds the Rosa Parks bus. Charlie-in-the-box, Dolly, the polka-dotted elephant. Display it prominently at eye level where the full cast of Misfit Toys can be seen and examined up close.
• 03
  Organize by character groupings for the full display — the collection covers eight distinct characters. Group the Rudolph-solo entries, the character-duo entries (Rudolph & Santa, Rudolph & Clarice, Rudolph & Bumble, Yukon & Rudolph), the Island of Misfit Toys entries, and the music entries (Run Rudolph Run guitar, Record Player) in separate clusters. The collection is large enough that character clustering makes it more navigable for visitors.
• 04
  The 2014 Misfit Toys 50th Anniversary entry is the collection's most historically specific piece. The 1964 Rankin/Bass special celebrated its 50th birthday in 2014 — and Hallmark honored it with the Misfit Toys 50th Anniversary ornament (QXI2703). It is the one entry in the collection explicitly commemorating the original broadcast rather than simply celebrating the characters.
• 05
  All 24 Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Hallmark ornaments — 1989 through 2021 — are at Already Christmas. Every character from the 1964 special. Every format from blinking nose to record player. The most complete Rudolph Keepsake collection anywhere. His nose so bright.