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.

"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
Art Clokey on the themes and religious elements of Davey and Goliath
Art Clokey on his realization about the power of the film medium, while studying at USC
Art Clokey on his early art film "Gumbasia"
Art Clokey on how he'd like to be remembered
Full Interview

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
Art Clokey on the premise of Davey and Goliath
Art Clokey on the themes and religious elements of Davey and Goliath
Art Clokey on the voice actors of Davey and Goliath
Art Clokey on opening a new studio and juggling producing Davey and Goliath and Gumby at the same time

Dinah Shore Chevy Show, The

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Art Clokey on working on The Dinah Shore Chevy Show

Gumby

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Art Clokey on creating Gumby
Art Clokey on selling the Gumby pilot to NBC
Art Clokey on the making of a Gumby episode and some specific episodes
Art Clokey on the framing device of Gumby and how the animation for the show worked
Art Clokey on the colors of Gumby
Art Clokey on the character of "Gumby" on Gumby
Art Clokey on the heart emblem he used on Gumby and the philosophy behind the series: "an act of love to children"
Art Clokey on the first Gumby series on NBC and its first host Pinky Lee
Art Clokey on dealing with NBC and Lorimar on producing Gumby
Art Clokey on the character of "Pokey" on Gumby
Art Clokey on the recording sessions for Gumby
Art Clokey on the characters of "Gumby's" parents on Gumby
Art Clokey on "The Blockheads" on Gumby and other characters on the show
Art Clokey on his favorite Gumby episodes
Art Clokey on his animators and the Gumby theme song
Art Clokey on bringing Gumby back in 1966
Art Clokey on the audience for Gumby
Art Clokey on the return of Gumby in 1986
Art Clokey on the 1986 version of Gumby and the 1995 Gumby movie
Art Clokey on the enduring legacy of Gumby
Art Clokey on merchandising Gumby

Howdy Doody

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Art Clokey on the debut of the "Gumby" character on Howdy Doody

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"
Topics

Advice

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Art Clokey on his advice to young animation producers

Historic Events and Social Change

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Art Clokey on working with film during World War II

Pop Culture

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Art Clokey on his animators and the Gumby theme song

TV Theme Songs

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Art Clokey on his animators and the Gumby theme song

Television Industry

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Art Clokey on his advice to young animation producers

War

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Art Clokey on working with film during World War II

World War II

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Art Clokey on working with film during World War II
Professions

Animation Executive

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Art Clokey on his advice to young animation producers

Animation Professionals

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Art Clokey on his advice to young animation producers

Animator

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Art Clokey on his advice to young animation producers
Genres

Animation

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Art Clokey on animated TV advertising campaigns he did for Coca-Cola
Art Clokey on creating and producing Gumby
Art Clokey on creating and producing Gumby
Art Clokey on creating and producing Davey and Goliath
Art Clokey on creating and producing Davey and Goliath
Art Clokey on the cultural impact of Gumby and its various returns
Art Clokey on later incarnations of Gumby and its legacy

Commercials

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

Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials

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Art Clokey on working on The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
People

Pinky Lee

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

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"

Dinah Shore

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Art Clokey on working on The Dinah Shore Chevy Show

All Interviews

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