Rudolph and Santa restoration

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.... which means it's time for the story of the Prop restoration of one of the original stop-motion Rudophs and Santas from the TV Special.

It's a GREAT story how these screen used pieces survived, even as good as the story behind the survival of the Death Star model, imho.

Screen Novelties News: Rankin/Bass Puppet Restoration

Here are some pics of our dishelveled heros in their former owner's home... played with/displayed for decades!

http://timespacetoys.stores.yahoo.net/rusasu80.html



I love the way they PRESERVED as much of the original armature as possible, and did not try to make the pieces look pristine.

Go here to listen to the NPR broadcast on the restoration.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17024572


And here they are, after restoration:





Maybe Tom Spina can give us a little insight?

Awesome!

That's great!

Awesome story I can't believe those are still in existance, those two characters on display are probably worth thousands.

The TV Party site has an article on this: Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer Today

For the last couple of years, around Christmas they usually have the history of the Rudolph special, including a description of the show's original ending.

David.

Lots of fun stuff and info on the original Rudolph puppets and replicas in this thread:

http://www.therpf.com/f9/rankin-bass-rudolph-puppets-re-creations-54575/

Also, Atlanta's Center for Puppetry Arts (home of the original Rudolph and Santa puppets at an exhibit there in 2006) are staging an elaborate Rankin-Bass Rudolph puppet production beginning next week and it runs through January 2, 2011.

Center for Puppetry Arts_Performances

Pumpernickel

Thank God someone took them and brought them back.This is beautifull work.