When he was a young man, Gene received an offer from a professional baseball team to become a player. Gene turned down the offer because it would have meant a fifty-dollar-a-month pay cut from his telegrapher's job.

Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Audio Clips from Gene Autry's Melody Ranch Radio Show
Updated November 15, 2016

Gene Autry's very popular weekly radio show Melody Ranch aired on the CBS Radio network from 1940 through 1956. Gene and a musical group would sing songs, there would be comedy skits and laughter, and it was all followed by "story time" – a Western themed drama filled with action and adventure.

The first time that Gene performed the song Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer on Melody Ranch was on Saturday, October 8, 1949. This live broadcast originated from New York City, where Gene was appearing in person with his big championship rodeo at Madison Square Garden.

This recently restored performance features musician Johnny Bond asking "Say, who's Rudolph?" and Gene responding. Gene's musical performance is backed by Carl Cotner's Orchestra.

Gene Autry performed his Christmas hit songs Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane) and Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer many times on his Melody Ranch radio show but he did a medley of the two songs only once. Enjoy this live, rare musical treat from December 24, 1949.

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