Some Things in Life come with Pain: "A Christmas Story"

                                             
                                A Christmas Story: Pain is Sometimes Included


  "How do you know?," he asked, not sure he wanted an answer. He had been careful to make her life as comfortable as possible. Living on a meager salary while medical bills continued to pile up, the small, drafty apartment in Chicago offered little comfort to the pain Robert felt.
  As garland, Christmas trees, and Santa themes faded in the first few weeks of 1939, Mr. Robert May was forced to turn his thoughts on the next Christmas because his job description demanded so. Meanwhile, his parents came to live with him because Robert's ailing wife, Evelyn, requiring 24 hour assistance. His parents faced near poverty themselves resulting from the Great Depression, and with the rumors of another world war about to erupt, only added to Robert's difficulties.
  Employed by a large retailer, Montgomery Ward, Robert worked as a copyright at the headquarters in Chicago, overseeing designed ads for the mail order catalog. He loved to write and had earned a journalism degree from Dartmouth College, graduating with Phi Kappa honors in 1926. Still, at age thirty-seven years of age, he had not envisioned himself creating ads for men's shirts, women's dress, or children's clothing as part of his writing career. But, in early January of 1939, Robert received a new assignment.
  Montgomery Ward traditionally purchased and distributed free coloring books to children as part of their holiday promotion. This year however, the decision was made to produce Christmas coloring books in-house and lessen the costs of holiday expense
  One morning before leaving for work, Robert heard his four year old daughter, Barbara, say to his wife, "Mommy, why are you so different? I pray for you. I don't want you to die." Two years prior, his wife was diagnosed with cancer. Now bedridden, she lifted her frail, left arm and gently touched the side of Barbara's innocent face. Robert sat next to the bed in a long back, fabric torn chair, squinting his eyes trying to hold back tears. "Perhaps you might have time to take Barbara to the zoo on Saturday, Robert," Evelyn, spoke in a soft, yet weak voice. Barbara loved to visit the Lincoln Park Zoo.
  Robert had been called to the supervisor's office only a few days before to receive his new assignment. He was to create a children's coloring book that would be uplifting and cheery for the holidays. The supervisor advised Robert to include an animal as the main character, with various scenic outlines of children awaiting Santa's arrival interacting with their "new friend."
  As Robert walked with his daughter, Barbara, at the zoo on Saturday, they viewed the sea lions, the Kovler Lion House, "Bushman," the popular lowland gorilla, and reindeer.  His mind contemplated ideas about the type of animal for the coloring book.
  He remembered his supervisor mentioning the animal be meek and mild. He drifted back to his own childhood, facing rejection and bullying from his friends. He was small, not physically strong, and not good in sports. Robert experienced a hard time fitting in with others. Could he create an animal that faced...rejection?
  Evelyn had been the love of Robert's life dating back to their days at Dartmouth in the early 1920's. He would be lost without her. And Barbara...how could she grow up without a mother? Yet, in July of 1939, Evelyn lost her battle with cancer.
  A few days after her death, Robert's supervisor offered to take him off the assignment and give him time to adjust to the heart rendering loss. However, Robert refused. By late August he completed his assignment.
  The coloring book included a poem. Robert cleverly weaved the words of the poem throughout the book, yet before he submitted his finished product, he read the poem to his little girl, Barbara, to gather her thoughts and feelings on what he had written.
  He read;

"Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer,
  Had a very shiny nose.
  And if you ever saw him,
  You would even say it glows.

  "All of the other reindeer,
  Used to laugh and call him names.
  They never let poor Rudolph
  Join in any reindeer games.

  Then one foggy Christmas Eve,
  Santa came to say,
  'Rudolph, with your nose so bright,
  Won't you guide my sleigh tonight?'
 
  Then all the reindeer loved him,
  As they shouted out in glee,
  Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer,
  You'll go down in history."

  Montgomery Wars gave our over 2.4 million coloring during the holiday season of 1939. As World War ll began, paper was rationed and the company produced no Christmas books through 1945. Late in that year, Sewell Avery, the CEO of Montgomery Ward, called Robert to his office and gave him the rights to "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," free and clear! A company decision had been made stating the coloring book and poem had run its course. They decided to going in a different direction for 1947.
  Robert thought he would publish the poem, yet soon discovered most publishers were not interested. The reasoning was millions of free copies were already in households and the market was saturated. Finally, Maxton Publishers agreed to print an updated version of the "Rudolph" poem.
  In 1948, the idea of producing "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" in song might encourage sales. Bing Crosby and Dinah Shore were contacted, yet both politely declined. In the later part of the year, Gene Autry was approached. After singing the song in his studio a few times, he decided he would also decline. But, he faced resistance.
  His wife heard him playing the tune and loved the melody. Gene Autry changed his mind and accepted the offer. The recording was placed on side "B" of  a 45 record.
  "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" sold over 15 million records in the next few years and became the 2nd most popular song at Christmas. Only Being Crosby's "White Christmas," sold more.
  Although the success of "Rudolph" paid off Robert's medical bills and gave him a comfortable living for 5 years, he never became extremely wealthy.
  In 1951, Robert Mays returned to Montgomery Ward as a copyright and worked there until his retirement in 1971. he passed away in 1976, content with what "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," had provided.


Sources:

History Channel: "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" by Christopher Klein 12/19/2014

InterfaithFamily.com 12/20/2011