Gumby

Gumby is a dark green clay figure. He was in 233 episodes on American television series. He was also in a feature-length movie and other media.[1] He has become well known as an example of stop motion clay animation. He has become a cultural icon. There have been many tributes and parodies, including a video game and toys. Gumby Adventures aired on PBS Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network and Galavision

Origin

Gumby was started by Art Clokey in 1953.[2] The first 'episode' was a 3-minute short called Gumbasia. It showed moving lumps of clay set to music, and parodied Fantasia.[3] In 1955, Art showed Gumbasia to movie producer Sam Engel, who then paid him for a 15-minute movie called Gumby Goes to the Moon.

Gumby was given his own NBC series in 1957.[4] Female actress' voiced Gumby. New episodes were added in 1962, and Dallas McKennon became the voice of Gumby.

Characters

Gumby's main sidekick is Pokey, a talking orange pony. His enemies are the Blockheads. They are a pair of human-like, red-colored figures with block-shaped heads. The Blockheads were inspired by the Katzenjammer Kids, who were always getting into scrapes and causing discomfort to others.[5][6] Other characters are Gumby's dog Nopey. All he says is "nope". There is also Prickle, a yellow dinosaur who sometimes acts like a detective with pipe and hat like Sherlock Holmes.[7] Also on the series are Goo, a flying blue mermaid who spits blue goo balls and can change shape at will; Gumby's mother Gumba and father Gumbo. The later series in 1988 added Gumby's sister Minga and mastodon friend Denali.

1954

1956 - 1981

  • The Gumby Show (December 29, 1956 - June 13, 1981) - Episodes aired on NET.

1983 - current

List of Gumby episodes

Episode Date Run time DVD release / Notes
The Eggs and Trixie & Egg Trouble Dec 28, 1957 11 min. After finding egg, cut to "Egg Trouble" in 5 minutes.
Mirrorland & Lost and Found December 29, 1956 6 min. "Lost and Found" ending scene of the car then cut to the coin in Gumby's Fun Fling.
The Gumby Pilot Nov 28, 1954 Also on the Gumby 7 DVD Set
The Fantastic Farmer & Gopher Trouble Dec 29, 1956 11 min. Both films edited back into their original format.
Dragon Daffy April 8, 1967 7 min.
Goo for Pokey Feb 6, 1965
The Missile Bird Jan 2, 1965
Birthday Party in the Middle Ages Feb 13, 1982 8 min., 3 sec.
Mirror-Aculous Recovery Jan 3, 1981 6 min., 30 sec.
Of Clay and Critters April 8, 1967 5 min.
The Music Ball Nov 1, 1980 7:12
Prickle Turns Artist April 6, 1968 4:04
Stuck on Books September 2, 1967 Also in Gumby's Fun Fling (VHS).
Gabby Anne September 2, 1967 4 min.
Pokey a la Mode December 31, 1988 1:42
Train Trouble November 29, 1958 4:41 The episode of Gumby is 1958 version.
Gumby Business/Gumbasia: Baby Gumby/Toy Fun February 2, 1958 7 min. Both films edited back into their original format.
Lawn Party May 2, 1964 5:43 Also in VHS Gumby's Fun Fling.
The Big Eye May 2, 1964 5 min.
Gumbot May 2, 1981 5 min., 51 sec.
How Not to Trap Lions/The Mocking Monkey/Monkey Business February 2, 1958 Both films edited back into their format.
Gone Clayzy September 3, 1988 1:43
The Funny Bathtub Nov 25, 1995 4 min. Also in Gumby DVD Set
Chatter Box Nov 25, 1995 60 sec.
All Cooped Up August 1, 1981
Band Contest December 31, 1983 5:53
Clayfully Yours December 30, 1989 3:58 Also in The Very Best New Adventures of Gumby Vol. 1.
Lost Treasure April 4, 1981
The Gumby League April 1, 1967 3 min.
A Real Seal January 1, 1983 6 min.
The Beetle and the Caterpillar April 4, 1981
Guitar Magic May 2, 1981
Gumby's Circus August 1, 1981 6:13
The Groobee August 1, 1959 Also in Gumby Essentials Vol. 1.
The Witty Witch August 1, 1959
Merry-Go-Pumpkin December 3, 1983
Clay Play September 3, 1988 5:05
A Minar Affair August 1, 1981
Dolly for Minga November 2, 1992
Hidden Valley May 30, 1959 Also in Gumby Essentials Vol. 1.
Hot Rod Granny August 1, 1959
Chicken Feed May 30, 1959
Lost Arrow November 2, 1992
Tricky Ball April 8, 1967 4 min.
Even Stevens Apr 4, 1959 5 min.
The Zoops April 4, 1959
Motor Madness January 6, 1968
Puppy Dog School April 29, 1967 An episode of Gumby "Puppy Dog School" in Eastman Color in 16mm film.
The Search December 31, 1983
The Astrobots June 4, 1988
Grub Grabber Gumby April 6, 1968 4 min.
Wishful Thinking April 6, 1968
Geese Grief June 11, 1988
Fox Hunt June 11, 1988
Shrink-a-Dink November 1, 1980
Hatching Out November 1, 1980 6:10

Bonus Features

The Adventures of Gumby had 22 bonus episodes and 16 episodes with commentary.

Bonus Episodes

Episode Date Run time Notes
Weight and See January 6, 1968
Magic Mystic January 6, 1968
Ricochet Pete December 2, 1961 Also in Gumby Essentials Vol. 1.
Northland Follies December 2, 1961 Audio episode in 1995.
The Small Planets December 2, 1961 Also in Gumby Essentials Vol. 1.
Turnip Trap November 30, 1968
The Indian Challenge November 30, 1968
Wild Girls January 3, 1981
Gumby Baby-sits May 6, 1967 Also in VHS Gumby's Fun Fling.
Dopey Nopey April 29, 1967
Pilgrims on the Rock December 4, 1964
The Blue Goo February 6, 1965
A Hair-Raising Adventure February 6, 1965
Pokey Express June 7, 1958 11 min. 1958 episode edited back to original 11 minutes.
Pokey Minds the Baby March 4, 1967
The Moon Boggles March 4, 1967
Hot Ice March 4, 1967
My-O-Maya December 3, 1988
Pokey a La Mode December 3, 1988
Balloonancy April 23, 1988
Wild Train Ride May 7, 1988
Minga Sitting Feburary 27, 1982 6 min Also on Cartoon Network.

Gumby episodes w/Commentary

Episode Date Run time Notes
Foxy Proxy September 2, 1967
The Lost Birthday Present March 4, 1989
Minga's Folly June 11, 1988
Little Denali Lost September 3, 1988
Just Train Crazy March 4, 1989
Wickiups and Bulrushes March 4, 1989
Kangaroo Express March 11, 1989
For the Graduate March 11, 1989
Sad King Ott's Daughter December 1, 1962
King for a Day December 1, 1962
Rain for Roo December 1, 1962
Candidate for President February 13, 1965
A Groobee Fight March 4, 1967
Piano Rolling Blues March 11, 1967
Time Kapp-Sule December 3, 1983
A Gumby Day April 7, 1984

Gumby Featurettes

Episode Date Run Time Notes
Moon Trip December 31, 1955 18 min. Also in Gumby Vol. 1 (VHS and DVD) and Gumby Essentials Vol. 1 (DVD).
Goo and the Queen August 6, 1988 13 min. 1988 episode edited back to 1980's 13 minutes length.
The Forbidden Mine January 7, 1989 13 min. 1989 episode edited back to 1980's 13 minutes length.
Space Oddity January 14, 1989 13 min. 1989 episode edited back to 1980's 13 minutes length.

Premavision History

  • 1950's (1950-1959)
  • 1960's (1960-1969)
  • 1980's (1980-1989)
  • 1990's (1990-1999)
  • 2000's (2000-2009)

Games

  • Clayzy Game
  • Make the Gumby Scene

Deleted Episode

Gumby Bumpers

Gumby Bumpers in 2 minutes is released in January 4, 1980 starring Gumby, Pokey and cameo appearance of Blue Mermaid Goo.

Mary Had a Little Lamb

Was released on February 13, 1982. It is 6 minutes long.

1967 version

In 1967 version, an episode of Gumby Train Trouble is released in January 7, 1967 starring Gumby and first appearance of Nopey. This episode in 1967 is the version of 1958.

References

  1. Lloyd, Robert (July 9, 2006). "Even now, Gumby has that special dimension". The Los Angeles Times. http://articles.latimes.com/2006/jul/09/entertainment/ca-gumby9. Retrieved November 7, 2010. 
  2. Felch, Jason (January 9, 2010). "Art Clokey dies at 88; creator of Gumby". The Los Angeles Times. http://articles.latimes.com/2010/jan/09/local/la-me-art-clokey9-2010jan09. Retrieved November 7, 2010. 
  3. "Gumbasia". KQED. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
  4. King, Susan (April 9, 2002). "Feet of Clay? Sure, but as DVD Debut Shows, He's Still Got Legs". The Los Angeles Times. http://articles.latimes.com/2002/apr/09/entertainment/et-king9. Retrieved November 7, 2010. 
  5. "The Blockheads". Gumbyworld.com. Archived from the original on October 4, 2011. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
  6. "Pokey: Gumby's Best Pal". Gumby.com. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
  7. "Prickle and Goo". Gumby.com. Retrieved July 27, 2011.

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