Sail on ARTHUR C. Clokey, Gumby creator

[ph4ever]

Gumby creator Art Clokey dies at 88

RTHUR C. Clokey, the creator of Gumby, has died aged 88.

"Art" Clokey, who lived in Los Osos, California, passed away in his sleep.

He is best known for popularizing stop-motion claymation with his children's series Gumby.

At age 9, Clokey was sent to an orphanage following the death of his father and rejection by his stepfather. He was adopted at age 12 by composer Joseph W. Clokey, who later provided music for the artist's work.

Clokey's first foray into claymation was a 1950s student film titled Gumbasia, a parody of Disney's famous Fantasia.

This film attracted the attention of broadcaster NBC, which featured Clokey's work on the Howdy Doody Show before making Gumby a series in 1957.

Clokey reportedly named Gumby after the sticky mud he used to play with as a child, known in Michigan as "gumbo".

Gumby's look was inspired by the Gingerbread Man – first suggested by Clokey's wife, Ruth – and the cowlick hairstyle of Clokey's father in an old photograph, according to National Public Radio.

The show became popular again in the 1980s following a skit by comedian Eddie Murphy on Saturday Night Live.


Clokey is survived by his son, Joe, who is also an animator.

http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/te ... 5817677007

[East Texas Parrothead]

I'm Gumby, dammit!

[alphabits]

I'm Gumby, dammit!

That was exactly my first thought when I saw this thread.

Sail on, Mr. Clokey ..... thanks for the smiles.

[dnw]

Sail on.

[rich_big]

I read this in today’s obits as well. I didn’t know the man’s name or story but he did have a significant part of my childhood. He was also the guy behind Davey and Goliath. I loved that show as a kid and never realized that it was all religion.

Sail on, Mr. Clokey….

[Karacal]

I remember watching Davey and Goliath. Thanks for the reminder, Rich.

Sail on, Mr. Clokey........

[jayparrot46]

sail on