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While watching the annual showing of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer on network television this weekend and realizing this was the 50th Anniversary for it, I wonder whether MTH erred by not issuing a 50th Anniversary Edition of their RTR Rudolph starter set to coincide with this film's milestone.

While not the theatrical release that Warner Brother's Polar Express was, the animated Rudolph has nonetheless withstood the test of time establishing itself as a classic holiday film that's been enjoyed by many generations. Being available in dvd, book, and record form, it's certainly endured to its Golden Anniversary this year.

Many owners of holiday trains consider this MTH set to have the best sound set of all holiday themed trains. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vl0XR8J4yFs

I won't speculate whether Target's tv sponsorship of this film might have possibly led to a promotional tie-in of such a 50th Anniversay edition of this set giving way to it being sold in their retail stores.

While Lionel has certainly capitalized on the 10th anniversary of the Polar Express, do you think MTH should have similarly issued a 50th anniversary edition of their Rudolph set?

Please share what your thoughts and opinions. Has MTH missed out on a great promotional and sales opportunity by not reissuing their Rudolph set this year?

Last edited by ogaugeguy
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I'm thinking it was a licensing issue.  Now that Lionel is offering Frosty-themed sets, I'm thinking the Rankin-Bass characters have been switched over to Lionel if it's a package deal.

 

But my main thought is that MTH had it licensed for only a short period of time, and when it was time to renew, it may have been too expensive or not enough sets sold to offset the licensing fee.

As an aside regarding licensing, I believe that all Ranklin-Bass films made prior to 1975 (which would include the Rudolph film in question) are now owned by DreamWorks Animation, and everything after 1974 are owned by Warner Brothers.  So in general, depending on the era, the licensing requirements will most likely be different between the two.

Originally Posted by John Korling:

As an aside regarding licensing, I believe that all Ranklin-Bass films made prior to 1975 (which would include the Rudolph film in question) are now owned by DreamWorks Animation, and everything after 1974 are owned by Warner Brothers.  So in general, depending on the era, the licensing requirements will most likely be different between the two.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was produced by Rankin/Bass Productions and is currently distributed by Dreamworks Classics. It first aired Sunday, December 6, 1964, on the NBC ttelevision network in the United States, and was sponsored by General Electric under the umbrella title of The General Electric Fantasy Hour. Since 1972, the special has aired on CBS, with the network unveiling a high-definition, digitally remastered version of the program in 2005. Rudolph no longer airs just once annually, but several times during the Christmas and holiday season and on several cable channels (including ABC Family). It has been telecast every year since 1964, making it the longest running Christmas TV special in history.

I rember watching frosty the snowman as a kid.I loved that show when they got on that train.Watching the steam locomotive spin off.Most likely ice on the tracks.Ranklin bass was kicking tail when it came to holidays.Years later they had another big hit on their hands.Thunder thunder thunder thundercats hooooo!!!!Those were the days!!I wouldn,t mind having a boxcar with frosty on it.

When Target sold the B&O Capitol Freight set and the G-Gauge A Christmas Story set a few years ago, I think it was a pretty big failure.  Tons of the sets left over marked on clearance for weeks after the holidays.  And Target has not sold Lionel since.  But I think it was a problem of the consumers not understanding what Lionel was.  And sitting next to $20 toys, a $200 train set was not very attractive.  Had the set been up running on a small layout, I know they would've sold a lot more.  I can't see MTH ever selling a set at Target because their prices are even higher.

 

But this is a great set.  If this was released today, I would be buying it.  The locomotive colors are uninspiring, but I agree the sound is great and of course, the great MTH smoke.  I really hope MTH releases more Christmas-themed sets in the future as the market seems to be increasing for these.  Look at how many more guys are posting theirs here each year. 

Towdog, it's not fair and equal to compare the past sale during the holiday season of a B&O Capitol Freight set with the potential selling of a Rudolph set. The Rudolph set would likely appeal to all demographics benefitting from both strong holiday and nostalgic sentimental favorite factors that the B&O set obviously could never capitalize on.

As for the failure of Lionel's G gauge Christmas Story, let's be honest about that set. Like it's Polar Express and Harry Potter Hogwarts G gauge cousins sets, they all suffered from numerous quality control factors and being all plastic it looked cheap and toylike to consumers, placing it in the eyes and minds of customers in the same category as other plastic but less expensive battery operated  large holiday train sets. Also, while having a holiday connection, the holiday appeal of a Christmas Story train set would be mainly for adults rather than children, and generally adults would likely prefer an O or HO size set over the larger (and in their minds,) more toylike appearance of a G scale train.

 

When was the Rudolf set first sold by MTH?  Somehow I missed it the first time around.  The first time I saw it was Scott's video on this forum.  I would buy a re-issue.  I would especially like it with PS-3.

 

I must say, however, that speciality sets seem to be high risk venture for the manufacturer.   I don't know anyone in my local TCA group that has a collection of Christmas cars or trains.  I seem to be the only person collecting and running O gauge holiday trains.  A couple of guys have LGB Christmas trains for around the tree.   The few members who run trains around the tree run their regular trains.  

 

Joe  

 

 

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