Art Clokey 1921-2010 Creator of "Gumby" & "Davey and Goliath" - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 01-08-2010, 08:55 PM

Link

Art Clokey, whose iconic Gumby entertained generations of children, died Friday morning.

Gumby – the slender, green clay character partly modeled after Clokey’s father – was a fixture on television through the decades, starting with an appearance on the “Howdy Doody” show in 1956. Through the years, the stop motion star made several comebacks, including a new show in the 80s, after a “Saturday Night Live” skit with actor Eddie Murphy made the character popular again. Throughout Gumby’s long run, Gumby toys – most notably, the bendable – have been a staple of toy stores everywhere.

Clokey, who lived in Los Osos, was 89.

Despite Gumby’s positive demeanor, his origins stem from tragedy. When Clokey was 9, his father was killed in a car crash. He lived with his mother for a while, but when her second husband made her choose between him and her son, Clokey was sent to an orphanage. Fortunately, he was adopted by a good family. But Clokey wouldn’t forget his father, whose head shape – characterized by a cowlick hairdo – would later provide the inspiration for Gumby’s trademark lopsided head.

After studying film at USC, Clokey taught at a private military school, where he tutored the son of Sam Engel, a 20th Century Fox producer. After Engel invited Clokey to the studio, Clokey told Engel about a 3 ½-minute film he’d made called “Gumbasia,” featuring abstract clay objects changing shapes to jazz music.

“He said, ‘Art, we’ve got to go into business,’” Clokey told the Tribune in 2002. “I went back and experimented with clay to make a character, and I took into account the density of clay and figured out how the character would be shaped so it would be easy to animate and easy to duplicate.”

While Gumby’s head was modeled after Clokey’s late father, his walk was modeled after his infant daughter.

By the late 50s, Gumby was off the air, but the Lutheran Church paid Clokey to develop another kid’s show – “Dave and Goliath” – to promote morality themes. Clokey and is wife used proceeds from that to fund more Gumby episodes, which would air again in the 60s.

By that time, Gumby toys were already ubiquitous. But Clokey had mixed feelings about commercialization.

“I didn’t allow merchandising for seven years after it was on the air,” Clokey told the Tribune, “because I was very idealistic, and I didn’t want parents to think we were trying to exploit their children.”

Zoneboy · 01-08-2010, 08:58 PM

catlover79 · 01-08-2010, 09:03 PM

Marvo301 · 01-08-2010, 09:44 PM

Art Clokey

Pitooey · 01-08-2010, 10:33 PM

RIP Mr. Clokey.

steevo · 01-08-2010, 11:30 PM

I used to watch Davey and Goliath when I was a kid. I knew there was something different about this one and years later, I realize what that was.

Thank you, Art.

angiefan · 01-09-2010, 04:27 PM

I thought he died years ago.It's not nice to have to choose between your son and husband.

I mom thought Davey and Goliath was cute,all they talked about was God and Jesus Christ. Gumby was cute,too. I loved how Eddie Murphy made fun of him,I'm Gumby,

MrCleveland · 01-10-2010, 03:43 PM

Dammit, Clokey did Davey & Goliath?

01-08-2010, 08:55 PM	#1
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,384	Art Clokey 1921-2010 Creator of "Gumby" & "Davey and Goliath" Link Art Clokey, whose iconic Gumby entertained generations of children, died Friday morning. Gumby – the slender, green clay character partly modeled after Clokey’s father – was a fixture on television through the decades, starting with an appearance on the “Howdy Doody” show in 1956. Through the years, the stop motion star made several comebacks, including a new show in the 80s, after a “Saturday Night Live” skit with actor Eddie Murphy made the character popular again. Throughout Gumby’s long run, Gumby toys – most notably, the bendable – have been a staple of toy stores everywhere. Clokey, who lived in Los Osos, was 89. Despite Gumby’s positive demeanor, his origins stem from tragedy. When Clokey was 9, his father was killed in a car crash. He lived with his mother for a while, but when her second husband made her choose between him and her son, Clokey was sent to an orphanage. Fortunately, he was adopted by a good family. But Clokey wouldn’t forget his father, whose head shape – characterized by a cowlick hairdo – would later provide the inspiration for Gumby’s trademark lopsided head. After studying film at USC, Clokey taught at a private military school, where he tutored the son of Sam Engel, a 20th Century Fox producer. After Engel invited Clokey to the studio, Clokey told Engel about a 3 ½-minute film he’d made called “Gumbasia,” featuring abstract clay objects changing shapes to jazz music. “He said, ‘Art, we’ve got to go into business,’” Clokey told the Tribune in 2002. “I went back and experimented with clay to make a character, and I took into account the density of clay and figured out how the character would be shaped so it would be easy to animate and easy to duplicate.” While Gumby’s head was modeled after Clokey’s late father, his walk was modeled after his infant daughter. By the late 50s, Gumby was off the air, but the Lutheran Church paid Clokey to develop another kid’s show – “Dave and Goliath” – to promote morality themes. Clokey and is wife used proceeds from that to fund more Gumby episodes, which would air again in the 60s. By that time, Gumby toys were already ubiquitous. But Clokey had mixed feelings about commercialization. “I didn’t allow merchandising for seven years after it was on the air,” Clokey told the Tribune, “because I was very idealistic, and I didn’t want parents to think we were trying to exploit their children.”
	__________________ 'Twas The Night Before Christmas And All Through The Full House Not A Creature Was Stirring, Not Even Mighty Mouse. All My Children We're Nestled All Snug In Their Beds While Visions Of Sugarbakers Danced In Their Heads.

01-08-2010, 09:03 PM	#3
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

01-08-2010, 09:44 PM	#4
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,456	Art Clokey
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

01-08-2010, 10:33 PM	#5
Pitooey Member Forum Star Join Date: Feb 15, 2001 Location: Rocking in Transylvania. Posts: 15,042	RIP Mr. Clokey.
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01-08-2010, 11:30 PM	#6
steevo It is Green Senior Member Join Date: Dec 28, 2008 Location: Connecticut Posts: 1,475	I used to watch Davey and Goliath when I was a kid. I knew there was something different about this one and years later, I realize what that was. Thank you, Art.
	__________________ "God be gracious to us and bless us..." Psalm 67:1

01-08-2010, 08:58 PM	#2
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,384

01-09-2010, 04:27 PM	#7
angiefan happy labor day! Forum Regular Join Date: Apr 15, 2006 Location: grand blanc,michigan Posts: 618	Art Clokey 1921-2010 Creator of :Gumby &Davey and Goliath" I thought he died years ago.It's not nice to have to choose between your son and husband. I mom thought Davey and Goliath was cute,all they talked about was God and Jesus Christ. Gumby was cute,too. I loved how Eddie Murphy made fun of him,I'm Gumby,

01-10-2010, 03:43 PM	#8
MrCleveland Drew Carey from Hell Forum Star Join Date: Nov 10, 2007 Location: The City of Cleveland, in The State of Cleveland, in The United States of Cleveland Posts: 14,226	Dammit, Clokey did Davey & Goliath?
	__________________ Thank God for kids that love Obscure Things. Lee Hazlewood (1929-2007) You ARE Special to God! Rev. Ernest Angely (August 1921-May 2021)