Nownwe call it “claymation.” Back when Art Clokey started hisncareer, they called it brand new.
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n(Andnthey also called it “Gumby”!)
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nArtnClokey, born on this date in 1921, was a pioneer in stop-motion claynanimation. His 1953 film experiment was called Gumbasia, andnlater Clokey and his wife came up with the characters Gumby and hisnhorse Pokey. n
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nInshuddered when I read about Clokey’s childhood. He was born ArthurnFarrington, in Detroit, Michigan, and his parents divorced when henwas 9. He stayed with his father—but then his father died.nTragic—but he still had his mother, right? Apparently not; she hadnremarried, and her new husband didn’t want to raise another man’snson, so Clokey went to an orphanage! Yikes!
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Butnhere’s the wonderful part: When Art was 11 or 12, a man named JosephnClokey adopted him. His new father was a classical music composer andnorganist and college professor. He taught at Pomona College innClaremont, California—a town just a few minutes away from where Inlive! Art learned music, art, and film making from his adoptivenfather, and he went on trips to Canada and Mexico. Art went to thenwonderful Webb School, where he went on fossil-digging expeditions.nHe attended at least three universities, too (as well as serving innthe military during World War II); his stop-motion experiment wasninfluenced by a film professor at USC.
Butnhere’s the wonderful part: When Art was 11 or 12, a man named JosephnClokey adopted him. His new father was a classical music composer andnorganist and college professor. He taught at Pomona College innClaremont, California—a town just a few minutes away from where Inlive! Art learned music, art, and film making from his adoptivenfather, and he went on trips to Canada and Mexico. Art went to thenwonderful Webb School, where he went on fossil-digging expeditions.nHe attended at least three universities, too (as well as serving innthe military during World War II); his stop-motion experiment wasninfluenced by a film professor at USC.n
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Gumbynwas a star of his own TV show in the 1950s and 1960s. A revival ofnpopularity occurred in the 1980s, partly thanks to comedian EddienMurphy’s parody of Gumby. In the 1990s, even more fame came to Gumbynand Clokey: a full-length movie, a gig as spokescharacter for thenLibrary of Congress, appearances in Cheerios commercials, videongames, and toys. In 2007 Gumby got a YouTube deal, and a website, and in 2011,nGoogle played tribute to Gumby and Clokey.
Gumbynwas a star of his own TV show in the 1950s and 1960s. A revival ofnpopularity occurred in the 1980s, partly thanks to comedian EddienMurphy’s parody of Gumby. In the 1990s, even more fame came to Gumbynand Clokey: a full-length movie, a gig as spokescharacter for thenLibrary of Congress, appearances in Cheerios commercials, videongames, and toys. In 2007 Gumby got a YouTube deal, and a website, and in 2011,nGoogle played tribute to Gumby and Clokey.n
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nClokeynhad a good, long life and managed to see most of the popularity ofnhis character. He died at age 88 in 2010. n
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nAlsonon this date:
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Columbus Day, aka Discovery Day
Columbus Day, aka Discovery Day n
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nNational Day of Mourning, aka Indigenous People’s Day, aka Dia de la Raza
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nAnniversary of the death of nurse and heroine Edith Cavell
