Art Clokey

Animator / Show Creator
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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About
About this interview

In his three-hour Archive interview, Art Clokey (1921-2010) speaks of his work creating and producing the classic clay-animated character "Gumby," which debuted on Howdy Doody. He recalls "Gumby" soon having his own show on NBC and having many resurgences since his debut. He speaks about his work producing Davey and Goliath, a series created for the Lutheran Church and syndicated throughout the country. He details several other projects, including the toy for children "Moody Rudy," and a talk show co-hosted with this wife, Arthur and Guinevere. Karen Herman conducted the interview on July 19, 2001 in Los Osos, CA.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"It all came out of my subconscious...like a daydream. I'd write a story and the muse would come out. It's been a big miracle."

People Talking About ...
Art Clokey
Highlights
Art Clokey on creating Gumby
06:38
Art Clokey on the themes and religious elements of Davey and Goliath
01:38
Art Clokey on his realization about the power of the film medium, while studying at USC
02:14
Art Clokey on his early art film "Gumbasia"
07:13
Art Clokey on how he'd like to be remembered
01:42
Full Interview

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Chapter 1
On his early life and influences
On his family moving to California and leaving his family; on his interests as a child; on attending college
On his experience in World War II; on studying geology

Chapter 2
On working with film during World War II; on his realization about the power of the film medium while studying at USC
On creating commercials for Coca-Cola; on "Pixelation"; on his early art film "Gumbasia"

Chapter 3
On creating Gumby; on selling the Gumby pilot to NBC; on the debut of the "Gumby" character on Howdy Doody  
On the making of a Gumby episode and some specific episodes; on the framing device of Gumby and how the animation for the show worked; on the colors and character of "Gumby"

Chapter 4
On the heart emblem he used on Gumby and the philosophy behind the series; on the first Gumby series on NBC and its first host Pinky Lee; on dealing with NBC and Lorimar on producing Gumby
On the character of "Pokey" on Gumby; on the recording sessions for Gumby; on the characters of "Gumby's" parents on Gumby
On "The Blockheads" on Gumby and other characters on the show; on his favorite Gumby episodes; on creating Davey and Goliath and the premise of the show

Chapter 5
On opening a new studio and juggling producing Davey and Goliath and Gumby at the same time; on the themes and religious elements of Davey and Goliath; on the voice actors of Davey and Goliath
On his animators and the Gumby theme song; on working on The Dinah Shore Chevy Show; on bringing Gumby back in 1966 and the audience for Gumby
On the toy "Moody Rudy"; on his short-lived show Arthur and Guinevere; on the film "Mandala"
On Eddie Murphy's parody of "Gumby" on Saturday Night Live and the Gumby episode "Small Planets"; on the return of Gumby in 1986

Chapter 6
On the 1986 version of Gumby and the 1995 Gumby movie; on the enduring legacy of Gumby; on merchandising Gumby
On his advice to young producers; on career highlights and his father; on how he'd like to be remembered
On b-roll pictures from his career- in his studio in Topanga Canyon; picture of his father; his foster father; with his father and sister; still from Gumby; all of the characters from Gumby; the "cast" of Gumby around a Christmas tree; "King Arthur's" caste with "Gumby" from the Gumby movie; Ruth Clokey working on Davey and Golith; Ruth Clokey holding a "Goliath" puppet; set of Davey and Goliath; Gloria Clokey with Gumby and Pokey; working on the Gumby episode "Moon Trip"; with several "Gumbys"; storyboard of Gumby characters; with his children Joe and Ann
Shows

Davey and Goliath

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Art Clokey on creating Davey and Goliath
02:20
Art Clokey on the premise of Davey and Goliath
03:07
Art Clokey on the themes and religious elements of Davey and Goliath
01:38
Art Clokey on the voice actors of Davey and Goliath
00:35
Art Clokey on opening a new studio and juggling producing Davey and Goliath and Gumby at the same time
01:51

Dinah Shore Chevy Show, The

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Art Clokey on working on The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
02:44

Gumby

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Art Clokey on creating Gumby
06:38
Art Clokey on selling the Gumby pilot to NBC
03:23
Art Clokey on the making of a Gumby episode and some specific episodes
05:16
Art Clokey on the framing device of Gumby and how the animation for the show worked
03:31
Art Clokey on the colors of Gumby
02:52
Art Clokey on the character of "Gumby" on Gumby
05:15
Art Clokey on the heart emblem he used on Gumby and the philosophy behind the series: "an act of love to children"
01:41
Art Clokey on the first Gumby series on NBC and its first host Pinky Lee
01:48
Art Clokey on dealing with NBC and Lorimar on producing Gumby
01:41
Art Clokey on the character of "Pokey" on Gumby
02:54
Art Clokey on the recording sessions for Gumby
00:53
Art Clokey on the characters of "Gumby's" parents on Gumby
02:39
Art Clokey on "The Blockheads" on Gumby and other characters on the show
05:39
Art Clokey on his favorite Gumby episodes
03:40
Art Clokey on his animators and the Gumby theme song
00:51
Art Clokey on bringing Gumby back in 1966
02:05
Art Clokey on the audience for Gumby
00:59
Art Clokey on the return of Gumby in 1986
01:47
Art Clokey on the 1986 version of Gumby and the 1995 Gumby movie
05:37
Art Clokey on the enduring legacy of Gumby
04:33
Art Clokey on merchandising Gumby
03:22

Howdy Doody

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Art Clokey on the debut of the "Gumby" character on Howdy Doody
01:14

Saturday Night Live

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Art Clokey on Eddie Murphy's parody of "Gumby" on Saturday Night Live and the Gumby episode "Small Planets"
06:30
Topics

Advice

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Art Clokey on his advice to young animation producers
01:42

Historic Events and Social Change

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Art Clokey on working with film during World War II
11:13

Pop Culture

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Art Clokey on his animators and the Gumby theme song
00:51

TV Theme Songs

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Art Clokey on his animators and the Gumby theme song
00:51

Television Industry

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Art Clokey on his advice to young animation producers
01:42

War

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Art Clokey on working with film during World War II
11:13

World War II

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Art Clokey on working with film during World War II
11:13
Professions

Animation Executive

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Art Clokey on his advice to young animation producers
01:42

Animation Professionals

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Art Clokey on his advice to young animation producers
01:42

Animator

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Art Clokey on his advice to young animation producers
01:42
Genres

Animation

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Art Clokey on animated TV advertising campaigns he did for Coca-Cola
05:32
Art Clokey on creating and producing Gumby
28:08
Art Clokey on creating and producing Gumby
22:46
Art Clokey on creating and producing Davey and Goliath
05:27
Art Clokey on creating and producing Davey and Goliath
04:04
Art Clokey on the cultural impact of Gumby and its various returns
20:22
Art Clokey on later incarnations of Gumby and its legacy
13:31

Commercials

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Art Clokey on animated TV advertising campaigns he did for Coca-Cola
05:32

Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials

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Art Clokey on working on The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
02:44
People

Pinky Lee

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Art Clokey on the first Gumby series on NBC and its first host Pinky Lee
01:48

Eddie Murphy

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Art Clokey on Eddie Murphy's parody of "Gumby" on Saturday Night Live and the Gumby episode "Small Planets"
06:30

Dinah Shore

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Art Clokey on working on The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
02:44

All Interviews

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