Rudolph and Santa stop motion puppets *PICTURE HEAVY*

[animator]

The Rudolph and Santa stop motion puppets went on display at the Center For Puppetry Arts here in Atlanta today, so I took reference pictures in case anyone would like to try and make versions.

I'd like to thanks the generous owner who let these treasures be put on display for the public!

It was a real joy to see these! They are absolutely beautiful. I tried to get lots of picture angles! Enjoy!

Merry Christmas!

 

[Freedmeep1964]

These photos are Amazing!!! I finally have reference for Santa's back side! Thanks a bunch!!!

 

[animator]

These photos are Amazing!!! I finally have reference for Santa's back side! Thanks a bunch!!!

I have 4K (cell phone) video walking around the puppets as well. I'll post that soon.

I'll be going back in a couple of weeks if anyone needs pictures of anything specific.

 

[Grievous]

Thank you so much for sharing these pictures! Such fond memories.Christmas is not complete without Rankin and Bass Rudolph.

 

[animator]

Here is some video I took walking around the puppets.

 

[Freedmeep1964]

I have 4K (cell phone) video walking around the puppets as well. I'll post that soon.

I'll be going back in a couple of weeks if anyone needs pictures of anything specific.

When you return (This may sound silly), could you get some photos of -
-Santa's boots
-Santa's belt/belt buckle
-A clear side view of Santa
-A top view of the puppets (If possible).
I would love to get photos of more specific details for reference.
Thanks.

 

[animator]

When you return (This may sound silly), could you get some photos of -
-Santa's boots
-Santa's belt/belt buckle
-A clear side view of Santa
-A top view of the puppets (If possible).
I would love to get photos of more specific details for reference.

I'm trying to not double up on angles, but also include useful reference. Top down is sort of impossible with how the puppets are displayed and my camera set up. This is the best I can do top down. I'm also having some difficulty focusing on certain things. I need a new camera.

I took my kids to the Center for Puppetry Arts Rudolph puppet show. It is a very elaborate production and I highly recommend it if you are in the area.

I hope people enjoy these pictures!

 

[Freedmeep1964]

I'm trying to not double up on angles, but also include useful reference. Top down is sort of impossible with how the puppets are displayed and my camera set up. This is the best I can do top down. I'm also having some difficulty focusing on certain things. I need a new camera.

I took my kids to the Center for Puppetry Arts Rudolph puppet show. It is a very elaborate production and I highly recommend it if you are in the area.

I hope people enjoy these pictures!

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These shots are Spectacular!!! Thanks for taking the time to get more specific shots. Also thanks for that HD shot of the Rudolph structure.

 

[Pumpernickel]

Hi. Thanks for sharing your excellent photos. I was very glad to see Rudolph and Santa back on display at the Puppetry museum in Atlanta, especially since they've been off public display since 2006.

Pumpernickel

 

[Freedmeep1964]

*Terribly sorry. I accidentally posted a replica update on this thread. Thought I posted on the right one. Terribly sorry.

 

[mikid]

This brings back memories, this is so very Cool!

 

[UncleGranny]

I’m looking for a good maker of a replica of Santa and friends. If anyone is out there let me know please.

 

[Galactifan]

Animator, thanks for taking the time to not only take these fantastic photos, but to share them, too. Awesome!!!

 

[Rik1138]

I feel like this new bit of new hasn't gotten a lot of publicity... I stumbled across completely by accident while trying to find pictures of the restoration of these guys...

Apparently the Rudolph/Santa pictured here (and sold at PIH) were actually publicity puppets sent to the US in 1964 (while filming of the movie was still going on) so they could be photographed for magazine covers, ads, etc... The original, screen used puppets (apparently all of them) are on display in a museum in Japan (where the puppets and the film was made), and the ones there screen match perfectly while the ones that PIH sold do not (but they perfectly match all the publicity photos that were used for the show at the time...
Interesting revelation... The ones that supposedly melted in the person's attic (all the characters except Santa and Rudolph) were all publicity puppets...

Is the Mystery of “Screen-Used” Rankin/Bass Rudolph Puppets Solved?

Find out the history and mystery of those famous Rudolph and Santa puppets.

www.remindmagazine.com

 

[Freedmeep1964]

I feel like this new bit of new hasn't gotten a lot of publicity... I stumbled across completely by accident while trying to find pictures of the restoration of these guys...

Apparently the Rudolph/Santa pictured here (and sold at PIH) were actually publicity puppets sent to the US in 1964 (while filming of the movie was still going on) so they could be photographed for magazine covers, ads, etc... The original, screen used puppets (apparently all of them) are on display in a museum in Japan (where the puppets and the film was made), and the ones there screen match perfectly while the ones that PIH sold do not (but they perfectly match all the publicity photos that were used for the show at the time...
Interesting revelation... The ones that supposedly melted in the person's attic (all the characters except Santa and Rudolph) were all publicity puppets...

Is the Mystery of “Screen-Used” Rankin/Bass Rudolph Puppets Solved?

Find out the history and mystery of those famous Rudolph and Santa puppets.

www.remindmagazine.com

This was actually something I discovered when making my first Sam the Snowman replica in 2020. I did some more research on my (at the time) theory and was able to confirm my theory was correct. Once I shared my discovery with Rick Goldschmidt (The Rankin/Bass historian and writer of this article you shared) through instagram he shared it through his blog the next day. For the past years he has been claiming the discovery to be his own. I spent a lot of time researching for this discovery, only for him to say he discovered it by re-watching the special once? It's honestly kind of upsetting for me. I really wanted to be a part of discovering something game changing for Rankin/Bass and its history. I tried confronting him on the matter but ended up getting blocked through email as well as his socials. My apologies. I hate to be that guy, but I just wanted to share.

 

[Rik1138]

Ugh, that sucks... I definitely know how it feels to have someone take your information and claim they 'came up with it all on their own'... Though nothing as significant as this...
He's probably trying to save face as much as possible as I think he was the one that helped vet them in the first place as real screen used puppets....

 

[Treadwell]

I'm sure everyone here knows about the misfits song reprise being replaced with Fame and Fortune for the second year.
When one watches with that in mind, at the cut to the new footage it is quite apparent that a new Hermey puppet had been made for it.

If Japan still has all those originals still around, I wonder why the first Hermey was not available at the time.

 

[darthwhitey]

Seems like every year I revisit these Rankin Bass threads hoping someone might be making replicas!

Merry Christmas everyone!

 

[blewis17]

"Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" was the Montgomery Ward Christmas mascot, and my favorite childhood animated Christmas special. I looked for the closest prop to the original puppet(s), and purchased 2 of these little beauties several years ago. Mass produced by Memory Lane in the mid 2000s, this flocked posable figure is not perfect, but definitely still Rudolph. Stands 7.5 inches from hoof to tip of the ears. Probably the closest I will ever get to a screen used replica.

I don't own the Memory Lane Santa Claus (yet), but here's what he looks like:

 

[publiusr]

That’s nice.

I miss the holiday seasons of the late 60’s-70’s.