Burl Ives narrated this gem that heralds the start of all great Christmas programming, like the classic "Grinch," and "Charlie Brown's Christmas".

Etched forever in my heart is the classic Rankin/Bass effort from 1964: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

Burl Ives narrated this gem that heralds the start of all great Christmas programming, like the classic "Grinch," and "Charlie Brown's
Christmas".

This Christmas tale premiered on NBC back in 1964, and the Rudolph story has become one of the longest running, highest rated television specials ever.

Trivia time: TV producer Arthur Rankin had to perform Herculean efforts to get the rights to use the actual "Rudolph" Christmas song.

The tale, told by author and TV historian Rick Goldschmidt from "The Enchanted World of Rankin/Bass" goes that Rankin personally swayed "Rudolph" composer Johnny Marks. "He was very protective of the song. The song provided a very large income to Marks and he was afraid that over exposure of the hit song might interfere with it's success as a popular song. He was a neighbor of mine at the time and I eventually persuaded him to do the show and he wrote some very memorable songs in addition to Rudolph."

The navigational chops of 'the most famous reindeer of all' will illuminate Santa Claus' way into the Christmas season, "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" will be broadcast on CBS this Wednesday, Dec. 2

Read more: http://www.monstersandcritics.com/smallscreen/news/article_1516226.php/Rudolph-the-Red-Nosed-Reindeer-1964-classic-on-CBS-Dec-2#ixzz0YNCTFAT6