Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer 1964 Guide: Watch, History & Value

Few television traditions have the staying power of the 1964 stop-motion classic Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Fifty-nine years after its debut, the special still sparks arguments about streaming rights, drives a six-figure collectibles market, and leaves some viewers wondering whether Rudolph is a boy or a girl — and this guide sorts out the facts you can watch, the history you can trust, and the merchandise that might be sitting in your attic.

Original air date: December 6, 1964 · Production cost (estimated): $500,000 · Original singer of theme song: Gene Autry · Auction record for Rudolph figures: $368,000 · Character gender: Male

The table below compiles the essential production and broadcast details that define the 1964 special’s identity.

Where can I watch the classic Rudolph movie?

The 1964 special is available, but you may need to look in more than one place. As of the 2024 holiday season, Amazon Prime Video holds the U.S. streaming rights — but it’s not the only option for viewing.

Is Rudolph available on Netflix?

No. The 1964 special is not currently streaming on Netflix in the United States. Amazon Prime Video is the sole subscription-streaming home for the classic (Blu-ray.com).

Can I watch Rudolph on Amazon Prime?

Yes. Amazon Prime Video includes the 1964 special in its library for all subscribers (Blu-ray.com). You can also purchase or rent it individually if you don’t have Prime.

How to watch Rudolph on TV this year

Each December, the special airs on NBC and often on Freeform (via the “25 Days of Christmas” lineup). Check local listings for exact dates and times. The annual broadcast continues a tradition that started in 1964 (History.com).

1. Check if you have an active Amazon Prime subscription — that is the simplest path to streaming.
2. Open Prime Video and search for “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” (1964).
3. If you do not have Prime, purchase or rent the special on Apple TV, Google Play, or Vudu.
4. For a traditional broadcast, consult local NBC listings or Freeform’s “25 Days of Christmas” schedule in December.
5. If you own vintage toys, verify markings (“Marx” or “Knickerbocker”) before selling — boxes double collector value.

When was the original Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer?

The iconic stop-motion special premiered on December 6, 1964 — not on its own, but as part of The General Electric Fantasy Hour on NBC, sponsored by GE (U.S. Copyright Office).

What year did the Rudolph TV special premiere?

1964. But the story itself is older: Robert L. May first wrote Rudolph in 1939 as a giveaway story for Montgomery Ward (Smithsonian National Museum of American History).

How much did it cost to make Rudolph in 1964?

Production cost is estimated at $500,000 (roughly $5 million in today’s dollars) — a substantial sum for a 52-minute television special in the mid-1960s (Smithsonian Magazine).

How much is the original Rudolph worth?

Vintage Rudolph memorabilia has become a serious collectibles category. The most famous sale to date: a 1962 Rudolph figure set sold at auction for $368,000 in 2022 (NBC Insider).

What old Christmas decorations are worth money?

Condition, rarity, and original packaging are the biggest drivers. Vintage Rudolph toys from the 1950s–1970s — especially the hard-to-find “Rudolph with light-up nose” figures — can fetch hundreds to thousands of dollars. A complete set in the original box multiplies that value significantly.

Did Rudolph figures sell for $368,000?

Yes. That record sale in 2022 involved a set of three original Rudolph figures (Rudolph, Hermey, and Yukon Cornelius) produced by the Marx Toy Company. The sale highlighted the booming market for mid-century holiday memorabilia (NBC Insider).

The pattern: as physical media becomes scarcer, the resale market rewards condition and provenance over mere rarity — making original packaging the single highest value multiplier.

Who originally sang Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer?

The song everyone knows was recorded by country-and-western star Gene Autry in 1949 — a full 15 years before the TV special aired. It became Autry’s biggest holiday hit (Library of Congress).

Who wrote the Rudolph song?

The song was written by Johnny Marks in 1949. Marks was the brother-in-law of Robert L. May, who created the original Rudolph story for Montgomery Ward in 1939 (Smithsonian National Museum of American History).

Is the song older than the TV special?

Yes — by 15 years. The 1964 special used an updated arrangement of Marks’ song, but the melody and lyrics had already been a Christmas radio staple for a decade and a half.

Was Rudolph a male or a female?

Rudolph is male. The original 1939 story and the 1964 TV special both use male pronouns. The confusion stems from the voice: Billie Mae Richards, a female actress, voiced Rudolph (Turner Classic Movies).

Why do some people think Rudolph is a girl?

Richards’ voice — bright and youthful — sounds androgynous to many modern viewers. Additionally, the special never explicitly states Rudolph’s gender within the first few minutes. By the time male pronouns appear (he joins Santa’s sleigh team as “one of the boys”), the initial impression has already been formed. The same phenomenon happens with other cartoon characters voiced by women (e.g., Bart Simpson, Ash Ketchum).

For the families who gather around the TV every December, the 1964 special is more than nostalgia — it’s a benchmark for how we share culture across generations. But the fragmented streaming landscape and soaring collectible prices also highlight a tension: what was once a universal broadcast experience is now a curated, paywalled, and speculative asset. Today’s viewer who wants to show Rudolph to a child must navigate Prime subscriptions, digital storefronts, and the occasional TV guide schedule — or pay collector prices for a physical copy. The catch: the special’s own success in the resale market has made physical copies less accessible. For the average family, the simplest path remains an Amazon Prime subscription, but that may change when the current streaming contract expires. The trade-off is clear: convenience now comes with a digital leash, and the free annual broadcast is no longer guaranteed on every channel.