The Red-Nosed Reindeer’s Surprising Ties to Wisconsin

If you think about the holidays, you probably can’t help but hear the jingling melody of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. The 1964 animated classic remains a yearly tradition for millions of families. But what you may NOT know? There’s a strong Wisconsin connection to the TV special. And it revolves around the gifted composer who quietly made the Fox Valley his creative home.

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Maury Laws, the musical director behind the Rankin/Bass stop-motion special, wrote and arranged the music that helps give Rudolph its nostalgic charm. But after years of working in New York’s bustling television world, Laws and his family moved to Appleton in the early 1980s. He continued to arrange and compose from his home studio where he remained remarkably productive. He created and refined hundreds of additional musical pieces long after leaving the bright lights of Manhattan behind.

Emily Rock is with the Oshkosh Public Museum and considers Rudolph as the center of countless holiday memories. 

“It’s really where a lot of people’s core Christmas traditions come from,” she explains. “Families grew up gathering around the TV for Rudolph. The music is a huge part of why it still feels so magical.”

But Laws didn’t stop with Rudolph. He also worked on classics like Frosty the Snowman and The Little Drummer Boy — contributing the melodies that have become part of our cultural soundtrack. 

Yet also tucked into his long career is a surprising musical detour. It’s a quirky tune that became an instant hit.

Do you remember this one?

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It’s true!

The same composer who helped bring the characters of Rudolph and Frosty to life also delivered one of the catchiest novelty songs: Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini. This tune still pops up randomly at beach parties and throwback events.

Laws was inducted into the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters in 2011. He passed away in 2019 at the age of ninety-five. But his music lives on — not just as holiday nostalgia, but as a unique piece of our state’s cultural history. 

And every December, when Rudolph’s bright red nose glows on TV screens across the country, a little slice of Wisconsin shines — right there with it.