Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was written in 1949 by Johnny Marks, based on the 1939 story created by Marks brother-in-law, Robert L. May, for the Montgomery Ward department store. The story was about a young red-nosed reindeer who used his unique feature to light the way for Santa Claus during a snowstorm, ultimately earning the admiration of his fellow reindeer.