One of my dearest childhood Christmas memories is Rodney Reindeer. Rodney and his buddies (Ramona, Rhonda and Randy) were a creation of Hallmark back in the 1970s. I never knew the characters we so far back. Hallmark often does plush specials (“buy 3 cards get this exclusive Hallmark plush for half off” or whatever), but it is not through Hallmark that I remember Rodney — it is through Burger King, who offered Rodney & Co. for a number of years during the ’80s at an additional price whenever you bought a meal.
Of course, I had Rodney and my sister had Ramona. I’d love to get my hands on an original BK Rodney, but the idea of owning someone else’s 25 year old plush toy disgusts me. At least when I buy He-Man and G.I. Joes on eBay they’re plastic and haven’t absorbed all sorts of smells for over two decades!
If anyone is a fond of Rodney like myself, you’ll be happy to know he’s still around today. You can become a fan on Facebook, play some games at his official website and even hit up your local Hallmark store and buy him!
It was about two or three years ago I discovered Rodney was still around as I walked into the Hallmark store at the mall and saw a variety of Rodney plush toys. Big ones! Small ones! Some as big as your head!
In fact, I think I’ll go pick one up this week.
My mom still has Rodney and Rhonda! :-)
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I have four Burger King reindeers, they have been in a box all these years and look like new I ahve Rhonda, Rodney, Ramona and Randy
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I have ALL FOUR!! My parents got them three years before I was born!
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Saw a Rodney re-creation at Wal-Mart this year and bought two. One is now on the Christmas tree. The other is sitting with me here at work. I too remember Rodney as a child. My brother and sister and I used to throw our Rodney all over the place. The original Rodney is still at my mom’s house and still is used in her decorating each year. Good times!
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I saw that Walgreens had Rodney in the Hallmark section but it wasn’t the usual plush toy. He was a plush gift card holder. Went to a real Hallmark store and didn’t see ANY Rodney merchandise.
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My parents bought me Rhonda since that’s my name……then they figured they better just get them all! I still have them all, too :)
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The official Hallmark Rodney Reindeer website is now defunct. I hope they ressurrect it someday, as well as the Little Birdy character of theirs.
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Rodney and Rhonda were based on a family whose cousin worked for Hallmark. Rod is gone, leaving his wife, one son and three daughters. We were friends for years.
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