Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer TV Special Outtakes

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the first airing of Rankin/Bass's Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Coincidentally, there are a couple of rare pieces cut from earlier airings that I've come across recently.

First, here (in black and white, unfortunately) are the original closing credits for the special, featuring an elf sending out packages adorned with the names of the show's creators. This differs starkly from the usual sequence of the Misfit Toys being delivered to children. That later sequence was created due to viewer demand. They didn't just want to hear Santa promise to find homes for the Misfits, they wanted to see it! The more familiar credits began airing with the second airing in 1965 and have remained ever since.

Here is another scene excised from the original airing due to the later credits sequence--Yukon Cornelius finding a peppermint mine--what he was really looking for the entire special (hence the creepy licking of his pick ax).




Finally, here is an ad that appeared in TV Guide to announce the first airing of the special in 1964.

Thanks!