when was rudolph the red-nosed reindeer written

The story of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was first published as a poem in 1939 by Robert L. May, who was a copywriter for Montgomery Ward department store. It was later adapted into a book in 1949 and then made into a stop-motion animation film in 1964, which has since become a classic Christmas special. The story has become a beloved part of Christmas tradition and is still enjoyed by many people around the world today.