Rudolph & Santa Puppets, ca. 1964 | Extraordinary Finds 2 | ANTIQUES ROADSHOW | PBS

Official Website: www.pbs.org/wg... | #AntiquesRoadshow
Discover what happened to these Rudolph & Santa puppets after they appeared on ROADSHOW in a story that rivals the best holiday movie!
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[@tigergreg8]

Can you imagine having these in your attic, and everyone watching that program year after year, and you have them. That is unbelievable.

[@vipergts109]

Imagine knowing that and not properly be taking care of them, the horror 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@tigergreg8]

@@vipergts109 Yes, I was wondering the same thing. I mean, when you see that it's on year after year, do you not begin to see that the show is iconic. 🤷‍♂

[@rjyeezy76]

Just think of all the Christmas’ that poor Santa and Rudolph missed out on, sitting in a dark attic. Now that’s sad, actually..

[@FBIs]

yeah its crazy just to think about. something so priceless right in ur attic

[@lakojake4215]

Or using them as Christmas decorations.

[@axnyslie]

Imagine having all those original puppets as your home decorations around the Christmas tree as his family did.

[@DavidHBurkart]

...and it is all part of their history. Pretty awesome that these puppets gave Christmas joy in so many incarnations, and now will continue to do so. That is the definition of priceless.

[@ocaptainmycaptain6079]

Omg

[@siberwolf33]

Whoever donated these to that museum is a living embodiment of the meaning of Christmas and an inspiration to us all.

[@mrequi1]

I would have done the same thing if I could have afforded it.

[@nserpas]

I still want to know if the guy who found them in the attic if his mom stole all those puppets from Rankin and Bass.

[@velvetgardenia]

💯! ❤

[@wsuams]

@@nserpashis aunt got to take them home after the production.

[@nserpas]

@@wsuams that makes it sounds like they just gave it to her after production wrapped. I don’t think that’s true. These were displayed in New York in the years after production. She got them at some point when Rankin/Bass shut down, guessing by five finger discount.

[@frankwalker9276]

I'm 55 years old and I still watch them every year they are priceless

[@1982MCI]

I’m your age Frank and I still cry every-time I watch it! I didn’t get to see it this year tho since I don’t have cable anymore

[@calculatorman-mq7zd]

I’m so happy to hear they were restored! That makes me so happy.

[@WhatAboutTheBee]

The restoration, by the experts who did it kzbin.info/www/bejne/pZCXaYysaKqpqLs

[@MrILStatek]

Me too!

[@buyerofsorts]

55 year old guy here and I have to say watching this got me a bit emotional. Thank you to the generous person that bought them in order to donate for the world to see.

[@patunderhill35]

I was 9 years old in 64. Still enjoy watching now, great-grandchildren 😀. Merry Christmas Everyone.

[@kallen868]

🎄⛄🎅✌

[@floydiandreamscapes5145]

I turned 5 that October. I fondly remember watching Rudolph. Charlie Browns Christmas was another.

[@broella6493]

I was 9 in 1964 too.. But I must be much younger than you are because I don’t have any grandchildren yet, let alone great-grandchildren! Lol! Happy Holidays to you!

[@patunderhill35]

@@broella6493 Trying to convince young adults to get their own lives in order first is almost impossible 😃

[@nunyabiznez6381]

I was five and still remember watching that show for the first time. In my case, it was the main entertainment at my fifth birthday party. We all sat around the living room eating my birthday meal while we watched the special for the first time ever. Then they sang happy birthday and cut the cake. the cake and the song were actually a let down after watching the show. I then opened the usual assortment of gifts appropriate for a five year old boy in the 1960's and the last gift was, looking back, the best. It was my Dad's copy of the original Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer book by Robert May that he got for Christmas at the age of 7 in 1939. Unlike most children's books, it was in mint condition because it was always stored in a closet with the Christmas decorations and only taken out and read once each year. My Dad lost interest when he was around ten so that means it only got opened and read four times and then the fifth time was when it was presented to me. I then would have it put away every year and I too lost interest in it after about the age of 12 and my mother stuffed it in her closet until she passed away and I rediscovered it going through her old Christmas decorations after she died. The book is still in extremely good condition. I only ever added my name inside the front cover in pencil (thank god I didn't use crayon like most kids would have) and it is currently in a small glass case hung on the wall with my other highly prized Christmas collectibles. I haven't a clue what it is worth and don't care. It is profoundly special to me.

[@stupidmovies85]

A few months ago my uncle whom was like a father figure to me, told me YEARS ago that he’d seen an episode of this show with these puppets on it. We looked everywhere and couldn’t find a clip. He soon after passed away from His battle with cancer. I miss him everyday and this brought a smile to my face. I only wish I could have shared this clip with him.

[@jcortese3300]

A museum is exactly where they belong, where they can be enjoyed by people who grew up watching them and of all other ages. Those things have pride of place in so many people's hearts. :-)

[@lualncol]

He nailed it when he said “time travelers”. That’s what makes them magic.

[@northshore1000]

YES! Imagine, Christmas shows that aren’t snarky, cynical, littered with innuendo, mean-spirited, crude or pushing a political agenda. I want to go back to a more innocent time!

[@glenngalli4741]

IM 61 AND NEVER MISS WATCHING RUDOLPH. AND TO HEAR THEY WERE SAVED MADE MY CHRISTMAS !!!!!!!!!!

[@larrylacalandra7153]

I am a 64 year old man and this brought a tear to my eye. What great memories this is! I’m so happy they will live on!

[@brandonmckittrick2822]

I'm happy that they were restored, sold to a respectful collector and donated into a museum (where they belong) for everyone to enjoy. My grandparents would play this film for me when I was growing up.

[@clararose1922]

I'm so happy to hear they ended up in the museum circuit! So we can all enjoy them :D

[@carsonkelly2123]

Kudos to the person that bought and donated these 2 timeless treasures for all to enjoy. Thank you.

[@pcbacklash_3261]

That little Santa and Rudolph will always be a part of my childhood. What a find!

[@neil4306]

Lots of memories with these. I watch the shows with these since I was 3. I am still watching them.

[@susanxyz5730]

Whoever bought them and then donated them. Thank you!

[@addamz3277]

You're very welcome

[@debbiel7736]

Bless the anonymous buyer who donated them. What a beautiful gesture. Now we know that they will be safe and enjoyed by many for years to come.

[@catharsisdaily8293]

I'm 48 yrs old, these objects warm my heart seeing them. This is who I have always imagined Santa & Rudolph to be. ❤❤❤

[@ingridarlington5745]

Brought tears to my eyes. So iconic. A beloved movie and childhood memories of watching it, year after year, with my Mom.

[@lancenewman4899]

My all-time Christmas favorites!

[@lisaakinlabi]

So iconic - a part of my life for 59 years. A treasure for so many people who continue to watch the show each and every Christmas.

[@floydiandreamscapes5145]

I'm going to watch Rudolph tonight. I remember as a kid watching it.

[@mystierayn1077]

This was the best episode ever! I grew up watching that cartoon and now watch it with my adult children! The museum was the perfect place for them to end up. Bless that anonymous person!

[@PatJones82]

So Cool! Well, I'm now saving my money up to take a trip to Atlanta. A bucket list item for sure to view these priceless memories from my childhood! Thank you to the buyer that donated them!!

[@creech444]

The Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta that has these puppets, does a fantastic live puppetry show of the Xmas special each year it's a great Xmas tradition now. It's so creative the way they recreate so many of the scenes from the special. They ended up recreating working (mostly rod) puppets based on the originals. It is amazing to watch the puppet show it's like the TV special coming to life. This museum is an incredible museum if you ever get a chance to visit it. There's a whole new wing dedicated to Jim Henson with sections on the Muppets, Sesame Street, Dark Crystal and many of his other shows and movies, he left most of his papers, working models, archives to the museum. He was a huge supporter of theirs through the years.

[@johnnygucci9]

Christmas not Xmas…the anti-Christmas and anti-Christ folks tried to make the word Xmas popular by “X”ing out the word “Christ” in Christmas

[@creech444]

@@johnnygucci9 Xmas goes back many centuries. The X here is from the greek letter that stands for Christ. Much like the fish symbol on many bumperstickers goes back to greek symbols for Jesus. So no, despite what uneducated culture warriors think, it doesn't stand for X-ing out or taking the Christ out. Though it's ironic you'd argue about Christmas when it is itself a coopting of the pagan Winter Solstice celebration some 300 years after Jesus's birth, and celebrated on a day most scholars admit has nothing to do with Jesus's actual birthdate, that no one seems to know when it actually was.

[@johnnygucci9]

@@creech444 wrong as usual. Don’t try to rationalize your ignorance

[@creech444]

@@johnnygucci9 I presented well documented historic evidence, you counter with an ad hominem attack, so yeah as usual, a sign that a person doesn't have an argument to make.

[@ajpetro1100]

Thank you for sharing this information! We will be in Atlanta in June and I just looked at the Center's website. I am a huge Muppets fan, so this will definitely be added to our itinerary!

[@jdtractorman7445]

What a great ending for those two characters. They belong in a museum for sure. Something like that is a part of history that needs to be preserved. They look amazing in their restored condition too. A special thank you to the high bidder who donated these, whoever you are, you are an amazing person. Bless you.

[@rickytoddbotelho9555]

One of the most wonderful pieces of art I've seen on this fantastic show 😛☺️

[@rickycollard9715]

No amount of money can buy my childhood memories of these two I was born in 63 and they were a big part of my life growing up every Christmas glad to see them once more

[@Kerry0101]

I can only imagine the person who bought and donated them to the museum had done so well that this movie was a part of the persons life and wanted others to have the joy of seeing them up close. As soon as it was shown on this KZbin, it brought back memories as well. Wow, what a nice person to do this. Such a lovely future this history will have.

[@mrequi1]

They didn't donate them. The original buyer got over $300,000 dollars for them.

[@Tonyrd3000]

@@mrequi1 At the end, they talked about the online auction where someone anonymously paid over $300K and then donated them to the Puppetry Museum in ATL.

[@mrequi1]

@@Tonyrd3000 But the original owners still made bank

[@panemetcircenses510]

Whoever bought them and then donated them, you are Awesome!

[@sefo6264]

Omg. I remember watching that cartoon..I was very young ...I was born 87 but yet got to watch it. just amazing

[@nathanielrobles3284]

It made me so happy that is was donated for anyone to see and not just for the buyers pleasure. Thank you so much whoever you are!

[@truthfinder10490]

Beautiful part of American History............PURE LOVE THIS

[@amiematthews6469]

Santa and Rudolph live in my town now! I can’t wait to go see them!!

[@clairewright8153]

OMG I’m showing my age but my brother and I watched this every Christmas Eve. It was our little tradition. Thanks for sharing

[@leeroyholloway4277]

This goes straight to the heart.

[@pamelawright3253]

This makes my heart happy. Santa & Rudolph are a part of my childhood and it's never Christmas until I watch them.🦌🎅

[@johnglover4453]

Everything to do with this wonderful 1964 Christmas classic, even this lil story years after the fact, makes one feel wonderfully young & like a child again :)

[@Supercruze]

What a great story. Such a beloved pair or puppets and a holiday tradition movie watching experience since I was a kid growing up in the late 60s and 70s. What memories.

[@billyquinn9378]

I am so happy that the person is sharing these iconic figures with us, instead of in his or her den.

[@Mattblaze1477]

This is just absolutely wonderful. This is what Antiques Roadshow is all about. Wow!

[@dmntuba]

Such a wonderful part of my childhood that I still watch today ( and I'm 56)

[@Erin-vu1tt]

What a beautiful story. 😭 I just love happy endings. 🥰 ❤❤❤

[@hlnr4817]

This is just too awesome! What wonderful memories they revoke in so many of us.

[@satelliteRadar]

Absolutely! Wow! Thank you whom ever did this

[@MrDjslav5]

It's a Christmas miracle! Props to everyone involved along the journey for these special treasures.

[@knowthycell]

Even in the mid 80s something about seeing those little guys would light up my heart knowing Christmas was right around the corner.

[@PatrickMichael2002]

I just watched the video on their restoration which brought me here. Glad to see they are safe and secure for ever more.

[@Scott-gn8yo]

Very cool. So glad that they have been restored and in a museum to be enjoyed!

[@myheartisinjapan3184]

This made me tearful! What an outstanding find! I’m still wiping my eyes. Childhood memories.

[@kayevans1720]

Aww I love it, Rudolph is my favorite Christmas movie/story 💜💜💜💜💜

[@johngarcia5396]

Great story!!! And great result...couldnt be a better outcome...and special thanks to the selfless generous and thoughtful anonymous buyer who donated it to be on display so others can view it and appreciate it..amazing!!!

[@milliehouston1089]

What a great story, so glad they were restored also. So many memories watching this movie as a kid 💕

[@poshko41]

Awesome story. What a hero for dropping $300k and then donating them for the world to enjoy.

[@verbotn]

My family name is Rudolph, so these characters have always felt pretty special to me for that obvious reason. Glad to see they wound up in a good home at that museum. I'm left to wonder if the generous donor is someone who has a connection to puppetry?

[@evamz9584]

My 2 year old and 3 year old watched this film for the first this Christmas 💕 You get such a fuzzy feeling watching your own kids fall in love with something you enjoyed so much as a child ☺🙏 ❄ 🎄 😍 ❤

[@westfield90]

I so loved this special. I hope they continue to air it every Christmas forever and every generation appreciates it as much as we did.

[@edjohnson2192]

Nice to see Santa and Rudolf were rescued from the Island of Misfit Toys too!!! How appropriate an ending! What comes around goes around. Amen.

[@annajackson5534]

Who brought them I am thankful that they chose to put them on display for all to enjoy Santa and Rudolph story made in 1964 what great times☃️🎄⛄❄️ it was😉

[@dsadik666]

Glad these made a final trip to a museum.

[@danieldonado6814]

This is what Christmas is all about. Very happy to see this :D

[@jean-yvesmartin6934]

Great Story...kudos to that rich guy.

[@buyerofsorts]

So many antiques and works of art are considered "Priceless" but if anything should be considered priceless, its these two puppets. After all, hundreds of millions of both children and adults alike from all over the world connect so many happy childhood moments with these puppets. There isn't a single antique/work of art that can make that same claim.

[@RJelly-fi6hd]

How awesome is that ending! Love these characters, as I am sure everyone watching this video do! Merry Christmas and Happy new year to all!

[@etiennebrownlee4071]

Even on the other side of the world here in asia, I've watched the show as a kid and thought they were so adorable they made me happy watching them. It made me tear up knowing the last buyer really knew the true message of the cartoon show, which is sharing and spreading joy to everyone..

[@eric_hates_the_poor]

I just relived so many years the second I saw them!

[@EverythingWavy]

Absolutely the best outcome. To be seen an enjoyed by ALL. Great Story

[@cjs5740]

This is as wholesome as it gets.

[@pjstatenisland1575]

I loved that movie and watched it every year growing up. Such a wonderful production!

[@LiveInSydney]

Merry Christmas all from Sydney australia

[@theexperiment8498]

Such an indelible part of my childhood. Very wonderous, joyous times.

[@Sydroo1969]

That is the best home for them. Grew up watching Rudolph. I was born in 1969. I still watch it every year. It will always be close to my heart. Feel like a kid every time I see it.

[@terrancebrown87]

Jesus thank you who ever the anonymous donor was! Spent $368,000 just to donate it! Big time baller move.

[@lexikareen6093]

This was so wholesome to watch. 💕 good ending indeed

[@nunyabiznez6381]

I am happy these were donated to a museum so we may all enjoy them. Were I a billionaire I'd have bid half a million. I'd have enjoyed having them in my own display for a few years thrilling my Christmas guests with the opportunity to see them up close as they watched the movie. Then eventually they would have been offered to the Smithsonian as a gift on condition they would be part of an annual Christmas related exhibit.

[@mrequi1]

They weren't donated. The original buyer got a price of over $300,000 for them.

[@ValleyoftheRogue]

@@mrequi1 You need to rewatch the video. The last buyer donated the pair, you know BUYER, not seller.

[@mrequi1]

@@ValleyoftheRogue Ok thx for that. I probably made this comment months or years ago and have no idea what you are referencing. But that's ok, sometimes I too make untimely comments on outdated posts too. Cheers 🥂😁

[@juniebugjune08]

Happy to hear that they have a home in a museum. I have a strong belief that important pieces such as the puppets belong in museums. This allows everyone to be able to enjoy them and to give them the appreciation they deserve.

[@onceIhadalove]

Of the most emotional moments on television. These are beloved family friends across the world. And they are so innocent and dear in their aged state. They haven't lost their spirit and joyful, lifelike presence.

[@shellycooper1210]

Thank you for sharing. And thanks for donating them

[@donnariggs1567]

HOLY MOLY what a super terrific ending to one of our most beloved Christmas stories and the characters that lived within them!! Thank you for sharing . my favorite story of 2021~.

[@donnariggs1567]

PS THANK YOU Anonymous DONOR!!!!! That's was an awesome way to share your wealth!

[@lakeerie5857]

Great memories of childhood Still watch as a great-grandma

[@carolmiller8811]

Omigoodness! I guess I am sappy, because I cried when he told the end of the story. I was 7 years old when Rudolph first aired - the perfect age. I have watched it over the past 6 decades with my children and grandchildren and never tire of seeing it. I was overjoyed that the first buyer had them restored. Whoever that person was must have been a fan also, because they look so beautiful and exactly like they did originally (our love for them overlooks any “aging” effects). Thanks so much for sharing this wonderful story about old characters that we think of as friends!

[@dorrainecrump3396]

I watched this with a big smile on my face. This was such a happy part of my childhood.

[@AndrewNowacki]

How wonderful they ended up somewhere for all to enjoy

[@MuRpHMaN64]

I was born in 64. Ive never known a Christmas without them. Does it get more Iconic?? I think maybe only the Original Star Trek could compete as far as cultural importance.

[@deborahhernandez1505]

To say he met them. Just so sweet.

[@peterr6177]

Fantastic story. These puppets are treasures

[@jmbutler5]

such a wonderful story for such fantastic treasures.💖

[@SledDog5678]

💕 Brought tears & choked me up. Bless the anonymous donor!!!!!

[@patrickdaly5068]

I have to go see that now! I can’t imagine getting to see a couple of actual Rudolph puppets!

[@RobD-jq7ry]

I wish so badly the other characters wouldve survived as well. So happy to hear the ended up at a museum where they truly belong.

[@patriciamaines-riggs1982]

Great i grew up myself with these guys since it came in on 1964.

[@LoriWolfeRealtor]

Omgosh what a treasure and an awesome blast from the past…

[@ebayerr]

I'm glad this was an episode of "Antiques Roadshow" and not "Pawn Stars"...

[@andrewlabat9963]

This was a wonderful part of history and thanks for bringing this to us.. 🥰

[@thetruthexperiment]

You can tell they’re real from the video. They’re so iconic there’s no way someone could have made a copy that good from a tv.

[@cturner7050]

What a wonderful story Thank you 🎄

[@alsan623]

What a great story. I ♥️ PBS!

[@sutats]

Wow! There cannot be a greater ending than sharing it with everyone as is the case here.