On this day in 1951, two songs at the top of the charts are now traditional seasonal favorites.

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, by Gene Autry was heard on radios all over America. The song was based on a story written by Robert L. May in 1939 for Montgomery Ward stores, as a Christmas book for their store Santas to hand out to kids. He nearly wasn’t named Rudolph; May initially christened him Rollo but store executives nixed that name and asked for another, and so, Rudolph was born and is now part of American Christmas tradition.

Bing Crosby scored what may be his most enduring hit with White Christmas. Originally introduced in the 1942 film Holiday Inn, it became the title of the 1954 holiday film White Christmas, featuring Bing, Danny Kaye and Rosemary Clooney. White Christmas is a holiday tradition as well, and can usually be viewed on a local television channel in most areas at this time of year.

Click the link below to see the original film clip of Bing crooning White Christmas for the first time.

Bing Crosby - White Christmas - Holiday Inn