Rudolph, You’ll Go Down in History Behind the Evergreen Christmas Special You know Dasher and Dancer, and you definitely know Rudolph. Everyone’s favorite red-nosed reindeer was first born as a 1939 short story, but he truly shot to fame when his tale was adapted into a song by Gene Autry in 1949. Rivaling even the song’s fame is the Rankin/Bass stop-motion special that airs like clockwork every year around Christmas. Generations have now grown up with Rudolph, so it may be surprising to learn that his journey to the small screen started as a General Electric promotion. The company had a running television special on NBC called the “GE Fantasy Hour,”
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And Other Common Wi
Snow, slush, ice, and cold temperatures can make once- simple cross-town journeys perilous each winter, and without the proper vehicle care, you could be playing a risky game. This season, Bockman’s has you covered! We answer a few common winter driving questions below to help you navigate winter like a pro.
You have to run your vehicle before you drive it, right?
Prior to the early 1990s, all vehicles relied on carburetors, and these devices needed to be warm to function properly. So, for decades, warming up a vehicle in the cold weather was necessary. Today, nearly all vehicles use electronic fuel injection, which makes warming up your vehicle not only unnecessary but also environmentally unfriendly. Instead, turn your heat on medium as you start to drive, and your car should warm up quickly!
which they used to market their products directly to viewers. The better the story they told, the more viewers they got — and the more toasters they could sell.
The script introduced crucial new characters like Hermey the elf, Yukon Cornelius the prospector, and of course, Bumble the abominable snowman. GE hired innovative Japanese animators to create the film using stop-motion techniques that were highly advanced for the time. GE invested the modern equivalent of $4.5 million into the production of “Rudolph the Red- Nosed Reindeer,” and the special first aired in 1964. Those who are familiar with the film know that it ends with Rudolph enlisting Santa to save the Misfit Toys from earlier in the movie — but it didn’t originally. The version that aired in 1964 concludes with Rudolph leading Santa’s sleigh but forgetting all about his homeless friends. The backlash was swift, and viewers wrote in to express displeasure at the heartless resolution. GE decided the special had to be corrected and played again with the proper ending in 1965. And so, a tradition of annual airings was born. Today, “Rudolph” is the longest-running Christmas special in history, and our favorite misfit deer shows no signs of slowing down after 57 years. The movie has transformed into a marketing bonanza, with new Christmas decorations, figurines, and toys being produced each year. Though it’s somewhat shocking to our modern sensibilities to see Santa bullying his reindeer employees and their children, fond childhood memories mean that parents continue to pass the special down to their kids. Even as we recognize its flaws, the dazzling animation and famous songs continue to bring joy and Christmas spirit to households around the country. Just as sure as Santa comes every year, so does Rudolph.
Do you need sandbags in the trunk?
Like the aforementioned carburetor, many vehicles were once equipped with rear-
WORRIED
Consider Your N
We all know that cigarettes can damage our lungs and that a diet high in sugar can increase our risk of chronic conditions, but did you know that where you live can be just as detrimental
to your health?
That’s the conclusion of a 2017 report that was conducted by the Population Reference Bureau (PRB), a private research institute that examines
population, environment, and health effects. The organization found that areas with higher poverty rates also saw increases in health concerns, stress, and mobility issues. In 2021, the American Heart Association (AHA) corroborated these findings. In its report, the AHA highlighted a 2017 study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology that found that those who lived in “low socioeconomic” areas were 60% more likely to have a heart attack or stroke. A 2020 study found similar results. For older adults, these findings can be eye-opening. As we age, our body experiences natural wear and tear, and many health experts believe social factors expedite the natural aging process. For example, if you live near a
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