"Anyway, since I bought the video in the early 90's, something has puzzled me that I didn't find on your site- Why does the chief elf's voice change just before the elves sing for Santa? I don't remember this from broadcasts in my youth. I can only assume that there was some kind of cut, and that they couldn't get a person to mimic the voice? A response would be most appreciated! (It's driving me crazy)."

- Sincerely, Dave Curry

- RICK REPLIES:
There is a change in the voice of the FOREMAN elf just before the elves perform "We Are Santa's Elves."

It has not been determined why that was done, BUT I am sure that the Canadian voice talent that was used for the special, was not available for last minute changes when it was redubbed in the USA.

It appears exactly the way it appeared on the original 1964 broadcast presentation on the new DVD.

AD FROM THE FIRST AIRING:

"I was born the year "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" made its premiere as a Christmas special, and I actually remember seeing it in those early years. The reason it sticks in my mind is because I remember seeing the NBC peacock introduce it, and I remember the GE commercials. One of them featured then-spokesman Mr. Magoo. I always wondered if GE didn't intend for Rudolph's nose to conjure up thoughts of their glass Christmas tree lights. I still think of those types of Christmas lights today when I see "Rudolph" even though they're no longer made due to safety considerations.

"I always liked the underlying theme that each person should be true to his/her self and not let anyone else get in the way of that. I thought it was interesting that Rudolph learns this lesson on his own, outside the family, and that his father learns the same lesson even later. Even Santa has his darker moments, in a special that's unusually anti-authority in places. Rudolph's girlfriend, on the other hand is a surprisingly strong female character for the time.

I was shocked to hear about the lost footage being restored, then taken back out. Who are they making these decisions for? It isn't for us, the viewers..."

- Dixon Hayes

Rick;

"I loved your article about the Rudolph TV special. It was so informative and interesting. My friends and I, an odd group to be sure, have more or less been obsessed with the Rudolph special for years, and certain phrases are trademark expressions in our lingo. (We are normal in most other ways, however.)

"It was fascinating to learn of these deleted sequences. I'm a little confused though. If I go to the store and buy the latest video tape of the special, will it have ALL the deleted scenes (the Peppermint scene and the Misfits song)? You mentioned that the Peppermint scene did not air on TV recently. I'd hate to buy it only to find out it's the same version I have.

"Here's a question that has puzzled me and perhaps you can find the answer. On the island we learn that one of the toys is a bird that can't fly--he swims. But at the end, one of the elves grabs the bird, looks at the umbrella that the other toys have received to ease their descent, and shoves the bird out without it, presumably to certain death, squashed on a rooftop.

"Was this an oversight, or bit of dark humor interjected for the amusement of people like me who spend too much time analyzing things? In either case, it does make me laugh each year."

- Bob Neubauer

- RICK REPLIES:
If you look hard, the misfit bird appears to be making a flying motion which leads the viewer (at least myself) to believe that the bird always could fly ala THE WIZARD OF OZ. OZ was, of course, fresh on the minds of Arthur Rankin and Jules Bass after the premiere of their first GE Special in early 1964 called RETURN TO OZ. I believe the song lyric goes "Oz never did give nothing to the Tinman, that he didn't already have."

Ironically, that lyric comes from an AMERICA song and AMERICA appeared in the soundtrack from RANKIN/BASS' THE LAST UNICORN.

When will THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF SANTA CLAUS and all the later RANKIN/BASS specials like THE LEPRECHAUN'S CHRISTMAS GOLD, THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY: Book 2, etc. be coming out on DVD?

- RICK REPLIES: WARNER BROTHERS along with NEW WAVE ENTERTAINMENT are planning RANKIN/BASS DVD Box sets for the 4th quarter of 2006 with RANKIN/BASS documentaries with my assistance. We are excited about this because there has never been a proper DOCUMENTARY done about the studio.

I do recommend the show ANIMAL ICONS: CHRISTMAS ANIMALS (Seen on ANIMAL PLANET) to date, this is the BEST Documentary on all the classic Christmas specials and it does mention and show RANKIN/BASS!

- Rick Goldschmidt
Author of THE ENCHANTED WORLD OF RANKIN/BASS and RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER

NEXT: Still More!
A look at some Rudolph rarities...
including the last page of the original script!
AND - Rudolph and Santa models are found and restored - see the results!

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