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Vintage Portal Main >> Articles >> Toys
The Green Figurine - Gumby
There is a lovable green character that many around the world have grown to
love. For nearly five decades, Gumby has been a profound presence in
American icon history. This vintage figurine has definitely has a great
impact on many people.
At the beginning of the 1950's clay master Art Clokey made commercials for a
brand called Andersen's Pea Soup. His live action claymation caught the eye
of Coca Cola and Budweiser, both of which later had Art produce commercials
for them. As a student at USC Film School, Art created his first student
film, titled "Gumbasia". Art was fortunate enough to show this film to an
executive for 20th Century Fox, Sam Engel. Mr. Engel saw the potential that
Art had with his clay animation, and took his Gumbasia video to the other
executives with the company. It was a great surprise to Art when he was
offered his own children's television show. Thus began the history of
Gumby.
To see how well the show would do, there was a test pilot shown
during the Howdy Doody Show. From this test pilot, the Gumby show was
picked up by NBC. Gumby was also known to have his lovable friend horse,
Pokey. Both the Gumby show, as well as another claymation show, Davey and
Goliath, the Clokey's, and executives at NBC knew that they had struck a
positive nerve in many people. The values and morals that were shown in
every episode of Gumby, and Davey and Goliath, were well loved by not only the
children, but my parents also.
Art and his wife Ruth, waited for seven years to bring Gumby merchandise to
the public. It is reported that over 13 million Gumby and
Pokey bendable figurines were sold world wide in the first years of
production. Given that time frame, and even by today's standards, that was
a remarkable feat.
Vintage Gumby dolls make for great collectors items. Many Gumby and Pokey
dolls can be found in their original unopened packaging via antique toy
dealers. Online resources prove beneficial in such searches. One thing is
for certain; no matter how old Gumby may be, he will forever be young in our
hearts.
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