If you’re looking for some holiday nostalgia with a touch of geology, we recommend you cozy up and watch the original 1964 stop action animation production of Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer.
While watching the classic you’ll meet Yukon Cornelius who we think is the most “geared up” prospector this side of the Hudson Bay! The crafty Yukon Cornelius has a pick axe, snowshoes, shovel, and a coat that has plenty of pockets for collecting rocks. He even has popular geology accessories—a proper toque and big beard to keep him warm! All those tools prepare Cornelius for the elements as he keeps Rudolph and Hermey the Elf safe along their voyage.
If Cornelius’ habit of licking his pick axe has you feeling lost in a “fog as thick as peanut butter”—you’re not alone. While we have yet to meet many geologists who prospect by taste, the habit has confused viewers throughout the generations. In a final scene cut only one year after the original air date, we learn that Yukon Cornelius was really prospecting for a peppermint mine! The scene was added to video releases of the classic but for time constraints and commercial timing is not currently included in the version aired on television. Check out the full movie and final scene below!
Full movie (available at time of publication): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97hbSpzK28U
Final Scene: https://www.air.tv/?v=txd_GoZWTCmehjZphLAChQ