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Gumby

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other uses, see Gumby (disambiguation).
Not to be confused with Gumbo or gumbly.

Gumby
Gumby in "Lost Treasure"
Created byArt Clokey[1]
Original workGumbasia (1953)
OwnerFox Entertainment[2]
Years1953–present
Films and television
Film(s)Gumby: The Movie (1995)
Short film(s)
  • Gumbasia (1953)
  • Adventures of Gumby: A Sample (1955)
Television series
  • Howdy Doody (1955–1956)[3]
  • The Gumby Show (1956–1969)
  • Gumby Adventures (1988)
Games
Video game(s)Gumby vs. the Astrobots (2005)
Gumby and Pokey figures

Gumby is a cartoon character and associated media franchise created by Art Clokey. Gumby is a blocky green humanoid made of clay.

Gumby stars in two television series, Gumby: The Movie, and other media. Upon his debut in 1953, he immediately became a famous example of stop motion clay animation and an American cultural icon, spawning tributes, parodies, and merchandising.

Overview

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The Gumby franchise follows Gumby's adventures through different environments and historical eras. His primary sidekick is Pokey, an anthropomorphic orange pony. His arch-nemeses are the Blockheads, a pair of silent antagonistic red humanoid figures with cube-shaped heads; one has the letter G on the side of his head, while the other has a J. Their creation was inspired by the trouble-making Katzenjammer Kids.[4][5] Other characters include Prickle, a yellow fire-breathing dinosaur who sometimes styles himself as a detective with pipe and deerstalker hat like Sherlock Holmes; Goo, a flying blue shapeshifting mermaid who spits blue goo balls;[6] Gumbo and Gumba, Gumby's parents;[7] and Nopey, Gumby's dog whose entire vocabulary is the word "nope". The 1988 syndicated series added Gumby's sister Minga, mastodon friend Denali, and chicken friend Tilly.[8][9]

History

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1953–1969: Origins

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Gumby was created by Art Clokey in the early 1950s after he finished film school at the University of Southern California (USC).[1]

Clokey's first animated film was a 1953 three-minute student film, titled Gumbasia, a surreal montage of moving and expanding lumps of clay set to music in a parody of Disney's Fantasia.[10] Gumbasia was created in the "kinesthetic" style taught by Clokey's USC professor Slavko Vorkapić, described as "massaging of the eye cells". Much of Gumby's look and feel was inspired by this technique of camera movements and editing.

In 1955, Clokey showed Gumbasia to film producer Sam Engel, who encouraged him to develop his technique by animating figures into children's stories.[11] On January 29, 1955, Clokey produced and filmed the first pilot episode starring Gumby, titled Adventures of Gumby: A Sample, but never aired.[12]

The name "Gumby" came from the muddy clay found at Clokey's grandparents' farm that his family named "gumbo".[13] Gumby's appearance was inspired by a suggestion from his wife, Ruth (née Parkander), that Gumby be based on the Gingerbread Man. Clokey saw the color green as both racially neutral and a symbol of life.[14] Gumby's legs and feet were made wide to pragmatically ensure that the figure would stand up during stop motion filming. Gumby's slanted head was based on the hairstyle of Clokey's father, Charles Farrington, in an old photograph.[15][16]

The pilot episode was seen by NBC executive Thomas Warren Sarnoff, who asked Clokey to make another one. The second episode, Gumby on the Moon, became a huge hit on Howdy Doody, so Sarnoff ordered a series in 1955 titled The Gumby Show.[17] In 1955 and 1956, 25 11-minute episodes aired on NBC.[18] In early episodes, Gumby's voice was provided by Ruth Eggleston, wife of the show's art director Al Eggleston, until 1957 when Dallas McKennon assumed the role.[19][20] Al Eggleston also invented Pokey, the little orange pony who was Gumby's best friend and was introduced during the earliest episodes.

Because of its variety format, The Gumby Show features Clokey's animations plus interviews and games. During this time, the show had two successive hosts, Robert Nicholson and Pinky Lee.[21][22]

In 1959, The Gumby Show entered syndication, and more episodes were produced in the 1960s.[23] Production started in Hollywood and in 1960 moved to a larger studio in Glendora, California, where it remained until production ended in 1969. During this time, Gumby was primarily voiced by Norma MacMillan and occasionally by Ginny Tyler.[19][24][25] The cartoon shorts introduce new characters including a blue mermaid named Goo and a yellow dinosaur named Prickle.[6]

Several sources claim that Dick Beals also voiced Gumby in the 1960s series.[25][26][19] However, Beals himself refuted this claim in a 2001 interview.[27]

1982–1989: Revival

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Beginning in 1982, Gumby was parodied by Eddie Murphy on Saturday Night Live.[28] In it, when the cameras are off, the sweet Gumby reverts to his true self of an irascible, cigar-chomping celebrity who is highly demanding of the production executives. Whenever they refuse his demands, Gumby asserts his star status by saying "I'm Gumby, dammit!" in an exaggerated Jewish accent.[29] According to Joseph Clokey, Art's son, he and Art "thought Eddie was a genius in the way he played that character".[30] In 1987, the original Gumby shorts were released on home video.[31] In 1988, Gumby appeared in The Puppetoon Movie.[32]

This renewed interest led to a new Gumby Adventures series of 99 seven-minute episodes, produced for television syndication in association with Lorimar-Telepictures in 1988.[33][34] Dallas McKennon voices Gumby in the new adventures, in which Gumby and his pals travels beyond their toyland setting as a musical band. Gumby Adventures includes new characters, such as Gumby's little sister Minga, a mastodon named Denali and a chicken named Tilly.[8]

The new series includes the 1950s and 1960s shorts, with new audio. The voices were re-recorded and the music was replaced by Jerry Gerber's new synthesizer score.[34] Legal issues prevented Clokey from renewing rights to the original Capitol Records production tracks.

1990–2021: feature film and reruns

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Starting in 1992, TV channels such as Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network aired reruns of Gumby episodes. In 1995, Clokey's production company produced an independently released theatrical film, Gumby: The Movie, as the character's first feature-length adventure, with John R. Dilworth, creator of Courage the Cowardly Dog, as animation consultant.[35] In it, the villainous Blockheads replace Gumby and his band with robots and kidnap their dog, Lowbelly. It has in-joke homages to science-fiction films such as Star Wars, The Terminator, and 2001: A Space Odyssey. In 1998, the Gumby episode "Robot Rumpus" was featured on Mystery Science Theater 3000.[36]

On March 16, 2007, YouTube announced that all Gumby episodes would appear in their full-length form on its site, digitally remastered and with their original soundtracks. This deal also extended to other video sites, including AOL.[37] In March 2007, KQED-TV broadcast an hour-long documentary Gumby Dharma in its Truly CA series.[38] It details Clokey's life and work, and has new animation of Gumby and Pokey.[39] For these sequences, animator Stephen A. Buckley voiced Gumby and Clokey voiced Pokey.[40]

In 2012, MeTV began airing Gumby in its weekend morning animation block[41] until the end of the year.[42]

In 2014, the VOD service Kabillion broadcast Gumby.[43]

In 2017, a comic series was published that seemingly takes place after the movie. The series was canceled after three issues.

2022–present: Fox ownership

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In February 2022, Fox Entertainment, the TV production division of the Murdoch family's Fox Corporation, announced it had acquired the Gumby intellectual property from the estate of Art's son, Joseph Clokey, encompassing all rights including "film, TV and streaming, consumer products, licensing, publishing and all other categories", with plans to launch new series across linear and digital platforms, while adding to the classic Gumby material available on its free streaming platform Tubi.[44][45] Before Fox took ownership of the series, Gumby made a cameo in the seventeenth season of The Simpsons; he appeared in the episode "The Girl Who Slept Too Little".

In June 2024, it was announced that two Gumby series are currently in the works: a 2D children's animated series titled Gumby Kids and an adult animated series. Both series will be produced by Bento Box Entertainment.[46]

Cast

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  • Ruth Eggleston: Gumby (1955–1956), Gumba (1955), Additional voices
  • Dallas McKennon: Gumby (1957, 1960–1964, 1987–1989, 1995), Pokey (1960–1969), Gumbo (1960), Prickle (1964–1969), Professor Kapp (1964–1988, 1995), Denali (1988), Nopey (1964–1969), Henry (1987 re-dubbed), Rodgy (1987 re-dubbed), Additional voices
  • Norma MacMillan: Gumby (1964–1969), Pokey (1967–1968), Goo (1964–1969), Gumba (1967–1968)
  • Ginny Tyler: Gumby (1968–1969), Gumba (1957–1962), Granny (1960–1962), Witty Witch (1960–1962), Additional voices
  • Stephen A. Buckley: Gumby (1987–1991, 1996, 2007)[40]
  • Betty Hartford: Gumba (1956)
  • Art Clokey: Pokey (1955–1988, 1995, 2007), Prickle (1964–1969, 1987–1989, 1995), Gumbo (1955–1989, 1995), Additional voices
  • Don Messick: Henry (1963), Rodgy (1963), Additional voices
  • Paul Frees: Professor Kapp (1963), Additional voices
  • Gloria Clokey: Goo (1987–1989, 1995), Gumba (1987–1989)
  • Janet MacDuff: Gumba (1988, 1995), Granny (1988), Additional voices
  • Holly Harman: Minga (1988), Tilly (1987–1989), Additional voices
  • Hal Smith: Prickle (1964–1969), Dr. Zveegee, Nopey, Additional voices
  • Dick Beals: Naughty Boy (1960)
  • Pinky Lee: Host (1956)
  • Bobby Nicholson: Scotty McKee (host) (1956–1967)

Episodes

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Main article: List of Gumby episodes
SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast airedNetwork
PilotsSeptember 2, 1953 (1953-09-02)
January 29, 1955 (1955-01-29)		NBC
143May 1, 1956 (1956-05-01)November 9, 1956 (1956-11-09)
287January 1, 1960 (1960-01-01)July 9, 1968 (1968-07-09)Syndication
399January 2, 1988 (1988-01-02)December 31, 1988 (1988-12-31)

Reception and legacy

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In 1993, TV Guide named Gumby the best cartoon series of the 1950s in its issue celebrating 40 years of television.[47]

Beginning in 1994, the Library of Congress used Gumby as a "spokescharacter" for Adventures into Books: Gumby's World, a traveling exhibition promoting the Center for the Book's national reading campaign from 1997 to 2000.[48] By the end of the 1990s, Gumby and Pokey had also appeared in various commercials for Cheerios cereal, with Gumby voiced by Stephen A. Buckley.[49][40]

On August 4, 2006, the Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta opened Art Clokey's Gumby: The First Fifty Years. This exhibition featured many of the original puppets and sets, along with screening of Clokey's films. This event was conceived by David Scheve of T.D.A. Animation and Joe Clokey of Premavision, and was one of several exhibits that opened around the country, celebrating the 50th anniversary of The Gumby Show.[50] The children's book Gumby Goes to the Sun was also published that year to commemorate the anniversary. The book was originally created in the 1980s by Clokey's daughter, Holly Harman (who voiced Gumby's sister, Minga, in the 1988 series).[51]

In 2007, the Gumby comic book series was nominated for two Eisner Awards, Best New Series and Best Publication for a Young Audience, and won the latter.[52] A Gumby graphic novel titled Gumby: 50 Shades of Clay was released in 2017.[53][54]

On October 12, 2011, a Google Doodle acknowledged Art Clokey's 90th birthday. It was composed of a toy block with a "G" and five clay balls in the Google colors. Clicking each ball revealed the Blockheads, Prickle, Goo, Gumby, and Pokey.[55]

On December 21, 2019, Eddie Murphy reprised his role while hosting SNL during a sketch on Weekend Update.[56]

Merchandising

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The video game Gumby vs. the Astrobots

The most prominent of Gumby merchandise is the bendable figure set by Lakeside Toys. Several single packs and multi-figure sets were made by Jesco (later Trendmasters), and a 50th anniversary collection. There are plush dolls, keychains, mugs, a 1988 Colorforms set, a 1995 Trendmasters playset, and a Kubricks set by Medicom. A tribute album, Gumby: The Green Album, produced by Shepard Stern, was released in 1989.[57]

In August 2005, the first video game featuring Gumby, Gumby vs. the Astrobots, was released by Namco for the Game Boy Advance. The plot follows the Blockheads and their cohorts, the Astrobots capturing Pokey, Prickle, Goo, Gumbo and Gumba and placing them in books. With his friends and parents in trouble, Gumby sets out to rescue them and defeat the Blockheads.[58] The game is a sidescrolling platformer, where Gumby must navigate stages to reach the end, whilst avoiding enemies, pitfalls, and defeating a number of bosses from the game's various worlds. Gumby vs. the Astrobots received generally average reviews according to Review aggregator Metacritic, with an average score of 63 out of 100, based on four reviews.[59]

The Gumby images and toys are registered trademarks of Fox Entertainment. Premavision owned the distribution rights to the Gumby cartoons, having been reverted from previous distributor Warner Bros. Television in 2003, and had licensed the rights to Classic Media until September 30, 2012.[60] At this time, Classic Media was officially acquired by DreamWorks Animation and branded as DreamWorks Classics, which became a subsidiary of NBCUniversal in 2016.[61] As of April 2015, NCircle Entertainment owns home video and digital distribution rights to the cartoons.[62]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Felch, Jason (January 9, 2010). "Art Clokey dies at 88; creator of Gumby". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 7, 2010.
  2. ^ Otterson, Joe (February 8, 2022). "Fox Entertainment Acquires Rights to Gumby Franchise". Variety. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  3. ^ As a recurring segment in this series.
  4. ^ "The Blockheads". Gumbyworld.com. Archived from the original on October 4, 2011. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
  5. ^ "Pokey: Gumby's Best Pal". Gumby.com. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
  6. ^ a b "Prickle and Goo". Gumby.com. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
  7. ^ Lloyd, Robert (July 9, 2006). "Even now, Gumby has that special dimension". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 7, 2010.
  8. ^ a b Gladstone, Jim (October 12, 1989). "Musical Feat Of Clay: A Gumby-based Album". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Interstate General Media. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  9. ^ Harary, Keith (October 1994). "The World According to Gumby". Omni.
  10. ^ "Gumbasia". KQED. Archived from the original on December 30, 2009. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
  11. ^ "History of the Studio – 1950s". Premavision. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
  12. ^ Hank, Melissa (January 28, 2015). "Gumby turns 60: Creator's son reflects on green guy's legacy". Canada.com. Postmedia News. Retrieved March 3, 2015.
  13. ^ Gaylord, Chris (October 12, 2011). "Art Clokey: How Gumby got his name". The Christian Science Monitor. Christian Science Publishing Society. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  14. ^ Marchesi, Robina (Director) (2006). Gumby Dharma (Documentary). Archived from the original on December 11, 2021.
  15. ^ Schneider, A. (March 25, 2002). "Gumby, a segment of NPR's "Present at the Creation" series". NPR. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
  16. ^ Quintanilla, Michael (August 13, 1993). "Feat of Clay : Pop culture: Who would have thought a stretchy green blob could entertain generation after generation? Don't look now, but lovable Gumby is 40 years old". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  17. ^ "Art Clokey Interview". Emmy TV Legends. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation. July 19, 2001. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
  18. ^ "Art Clokey". KQED Public Media for Northern California. Archived from the original on March 7, 2009. Retrieved February 6, 2009.
  19. ^ a b c "Gumby's Name, Personality and Voice". GumbyWorld.com/Premavision. Retrieved June 3, 2012.
  20. ^ "Dallas McKennon dies at 89; voice actor gave voice to many animated characters". Los Angeles Times. July 18, 2009. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  21. ^ Butler, Kevin S. "Gumby on TV". Retrieved April 6, 2011.
  22. ^ Woolery, George W. (1985). Children's Television: The First Thirty-Five Years, 1946-1981, Part II: Live, Film, and Tape Series. The Scarecrow Press. pp. 207–208. ISBN 0-8108-1651-2.
  23. ^ Perlmutter, David (March 18, 2014). America Toons In: A History of Television Animation. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company. p. 104.
  24. ^ Dennis Hevesi (June 1, 2012). "Dick Beals, Actor Who Gave a Voice to Gumby and Speedy, Is Dead at 85". The New York Times.
  25. ^ a b McLaughlin, Erin. "Dick Beals, Voice of Speedy Alka-Seltzer, Gumby Is Dead". ABC News. Retrieved June 1, 2012.
  26. ^ Dennis Hevesi (June 1, 2012). "Dick Beals, Actor Who Gave a Voice to Gumby and Speedy, Is Dead at 85". The New York Times.
  27. ^ "Dick Beals: He Fizzes But Never Pops". The National Lum and Abner Society. Archived from the original on August 6, 2012. Retrieved May 19, 2019.
  28. ^ Tomashoff, Craig (April 2, 2013). "Celebrate Eddie Murphy's Career With A Streampix Salute". Xfinity. Comcast. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  29. ^ "82i: Eddie Murphy / Lionel Richie". Saturday Night Live Transcripts. Retrieved February 26, 2015.
  30. ^ gumbycentral (July 31, 2017). "In the book we're wr…". r/IAmA. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
  31. ^ Solomon, Charles (December 17, 1987). "Cartoon Cassettes To Animate The Holidays". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 7, 2010.
  32. ^ James, Caryn (June 12, 1987). "Movie Review – The Puppetoon Movie (1987)". The New York Times. Retrieved February 26, 2015.
  33. ^ Lenburg, Jeff (June 1, 2006). Who's Who in Animated Cartoons: An International Guide to Film and Television's Award-Winning and Legendary Animators. Applause Books. p. 51.
  34. ^ a b Meyers, Paul (1989). "The return of Gumby". Post Magazine. Archived from the original on October 10, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
  35. ^ Quintanilla, Michael (November 27, 1993). "For Feat of Clay, He's Left a Lasting Impression". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 7, 2010.
  36. ^ "Episode 912- The Screaming Skull". Satellite News. Retrieved February 26, 2015.
  37. ^ Arrington, Michael (March 16, 2007). "YouTube Troubles Are Over: They Got Gumby". TechCrunch. Retrieved March 16, 2007.
  38. ^ "Gumby Dharma: Truly CA". KQED Public Media. March 27, 2007. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
  39. ^ "SFC: "Gumby Dharma" Documentary looks at tumultuous life of Art Clokey". IndieWire. August 3, 2007. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
  40. ^ a b c "Stephen Buckley - Senior Character Animator". LinkedIn. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  41. ^ Miller, Mark K. (January 23, 2012). "Me-TV and Broadcast Partners Set Deal". TVNewsCheck. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  42. ^ "AniMe-TV". ME-TV Network. Weigel Broadcasting. Archived from the original on January 4, 2013. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  43. ^ "Kabillion Signs Deal with Clokey Productions for 'Gumby'". Animation World Network. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  44. ^ White, Peter (February 8, 2022). "Gumby Universe, Including Classic Kids Clay Character, Acquired By Fox With Plans To Create New Series". Deadline. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  45. ^ Milligan, Mercedes (February 8, 2022). "FOX Welcomes Gumby to the Family in Clokey IP Acquisition". Animation Magazine. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  46. ^ White, Peter (June 6, 2024). "'Gumby Kids' In The Works With Fox's Bento Box Alongside Adult Animated Series". Deadline. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
  47. ^ TV Guide. April 17–23, 1993. p. 74.
  48. ^ "Exhibit Supports 'Building a Nation of Readers'". Library of Congress Information Bulletin. 57 (1). January 1998.
  49. ^ Frosted Cheerios commercial (Television advertisement). General Mills. 1996. Event occurs at 0:20. Archived from the original on January 2, 2016. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  50. ^ Frye, Shannon (July 2006). "Center for Puppetry Arts & Joe Clokey Celebrate Gumby's 50th Birthday" (PDF). Center for Puppetry Arts. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 20, 2007. Retrieved February 26, 2015.
  51. ^ "Gumby Goes to the Sun". ISBN.Directory. Archived from the original on October 25, 2017. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  52. ^ "2007 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards". Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac. Retrieved May 2, 2012.
  53. ^ "GUMBY 50 SHADES OF CLAY Graphic Novel". www.actionfigureinsider.com. September 24, 2017.
  54. ^ Shannon, Hannah Means (September 26, 2017). "Yes, There's A Gumby Graphic Novel Called '50 Shades Of Clay'". comicon.com.
  55. ^ "Art Clokey 90th Birthday – Google Doodle". October 12, 2011. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  56. ^ "SNL Video: Gumby Returns During Eddie Murphy Comeback Episode". December 21, 2019. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
  57. ^ Ehrbar, Greg (2006). Mouse Tracks: The Story of Walt Disney Records (First ed.). Jackson, Mississippi: University Press of Mississippi. pp. 182–183. ISBN 9781617034336.
  58. ^ "Gumby vs. the Astrobots – Gameboy Advanced". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  59. ^ "Gumby vs. the Astrobots critic reviews". www.metacritic.com. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  60. ^ Lieberman, David (July 23, 2012). "DreamWorks Animation Agrees To Pay $155M For Classic Media". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  61. ^ Breznican, Anthony (July 23, 2012). "DreamWorks buys rights to 'He-Man,' 'Fat Albert,' 'Gumby,' 'Casper the Friendly Ghost' and other Classic titles". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  62. ^ "NCircle Entertainment Acquires DVD and Digital Distribution Rights for the Iconic and Timeless Series, The Adventures Of Gumby". PRWeb. April 22, 2015.
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Wikiquote has quotations related to Gumby's creator, Art Clokey.
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