Posted on 12/23/2006 2:47:12 PM PST by mathprof
In Hollywood, a nip and tuck can often give an old star new life. So it is fitting that the puppets that starred in the 1964 stop-motion classic “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” are making a comeback after some cosmetic work.
Since Dec. 8, visitors have been flocking to see Rudolph and Santa Claus at the Center for Puppetry Arts here, where they will be on display until Jan. 13.
“The response has been overwhelming,” said Stacy Shaw, development director for the center. “People have been driving from Florida and places to see the puppets.”
The pair, made of wood, felted wool and wire, are thought to be two of the last surviving figures of the thousands made by Japanese puppet makers in the 1960s for the Rankin-Bass animated film production company, led by Arthur Rankin Jr. and Jules Bass.
Shortly after “Rudolph” was completed, the tiny Rudolph and Santa puppets were taken home by a Rankin-Bass employee. She gave them to her children, who fed Rudolph crayons and red Play-Doh. Over time, his glowing red nose was lost and his felt fur deteriorated. Santa’s fluffy white eyebrows and half his mustache vanished.
In 2005, the nephew of the original rescuer found the puppets in a family attic and brought them to be appraised on the PBS series “Antiques Roadshow.” Created for about $5,000 each in 1964, they were valued at $8,000 to $10,000 for the pair. The family sold both figures to Kevin A. Kriess, the president of TimeandSpaceToys.com and a lifelong fan of the Rankin-Bass films. Mr. Kriess declined to reveal the purchase price, but said he had promised the family he would restore the puppets and show them publicly.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
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MERRY CHRISTMAS, Everybody...
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Wonderful story, thanks for posting :D I'd go see them if they send them on a national tour.
I saw that episode of Antiques Roadshow rerun just the other day. The guy said they had more but they had melted in the attic.
Nice money find!
They looked pretty sorry on the AR. I'm guessing 90% new material to repair them.
Besides Charlie Brown this was my most favorite Christmas show growing up.
Me too. Merry Christmas!
I couldn't believe it on that Antiques Roadshow episode when they said the pair was worth $8,000 (%4,000 a figure).
There is more conventional junk that they appraise far higher. Pop culture or not, these are unique items and "a national treasure" as millions of Americans grew up with these "figures".
I imagine that the family did get more than that for them. I have to wonder if they tossed out the figures (like Burl Ives) that they said got damaged in their attic.
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