“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” was first created in 1939 as a Christmas booklet story for the Montgomery Ward department store. The famous stop‑motion TV special that most people remember premiered later, in 1964.

Key dates at a glance

  • 1939 – Original story created
    Robert L. May, a copywriter for Montgomery Ward in Chicago, wrote the original Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer story as a free holiday booklet for shoppers.
  • 1949 – Hit song recorded
    Gene Autry’s recording of the “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” song turned the character into a mainstream Christmas icon.
  • 1964 – Classic TV special
    The Rankin/Bass stop‑motion animated TV special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer first aired on NBC in 1964 and became a perennial holiday favorite.

If you meant the song or special

  • If you’re asking “when was Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer made?” and thinking of:
    • The character/story → 1939.
* **The popular song** → recorded and released in 1949.

* **The TV special** → produced and first broadcast in 1964.

In everyday conversation, many people say “Rudolph was made in 1964,” because that TV special is the version they know best, but the character himself is actually a 1930s creation.

TL;DR: The character Rudolph was made in 1939, the famous song in 1949, and the classic TV special in 1964.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.