Q 01/05

Who created the character of Rudolph, in 1939?

A) Gene Autry

B) Robert L. May

C) Johnny Marks

D) Clement Clarke Moore

Answer · why

B) Robert L. May

It was a work assignment: his employer wanted a Christmas giveaway booklet of its own.

Q 02/05

Which department store commissioned the original booklet?

A) Macy's of New York

B) Montgomery Ward

C) Sears and Roebuck

D) Woolworth Brothers

Answer · why

B) Montgomery Ward

The chain had been buying booklets to give away each Christmas and decided making its own would be cheaper.

Q 03/05

Which two names did the author consider before settling on Rudolph?

A) Reginald and Randolph

B) Rollo and Reginald

C) Roland and Rex

D) Rollo and Rufus

Answer · why

B) Rollo and Reginald

He picked a reindeer at all because his daughter loved the deer at Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo.

Q 04/05

How many copies did the store give away in the first year?

A) 2.4 million

B) 9 million

C) 120,000

D) 600,000

Answer · why

A) 2.4 million

It was written as a poem, in the same metre as 'A Visit from St. Nicholas'.

Q 05/05

What gave the author the idea for the glowing nose?

A) Fog off Lake Michigan

B) A lighthouse beam

C) A child's night light

D) A neon shop sign

Answer · why

A) Fog off Lake Michigan

He said it hit him at his office window: a nose that would shine through fog like a spotlight.