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MEMORIES:
princessdiana remembers...I'm Gumby,damnit! I loved Eddie Murphy's impresonation of Gumby on SNL. He's a good Mr.Robinson,and of Course Donkey,of the Shrek,movies.I ... More »
Posted on 01/01/09
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Few animated characters, few Hollywood stars for that matter, have been privileged with the number of comebacks in a career as enjoyed by that loveable lump of green clay known as Gumby. With his trusty red steed, Pokey, by his side, he has captured the hearts of millions of kids over the past five decades. And like any beloved children’s character that reaches the height of popularity, the toy companies stood by eagerly, salivating at the potential marketing opportunities and ready to kick into overdrive. In Gumby’s case, it’s a scene that seems to repeat itself every few years. And each time, a new collection of toys appears. And by all indications, there is no end in sight to this phenomenon.
Using a technique dubbed “Claymation”, animator, Art Clokey, brought Gumby to life in 1955, the same year that Disneyland was opening its gates to the children of the world. Gumby’s first appearance was in a somewhat surreal animated short called Gumbasia – an obvious parody of the Disney film, Fantasia. The following year, he would make his television debut on The Howdy Doody Show, and the year after that, in 1957, he would be given his very own show, The Gumby Show. The toy companies took notice.
First was Lakeside, whose bendable action figures included Gumby, Pokey, and also a jeep (that is, incidentally, a very popular collectable today.) You could buy costumes for the characters as well, and other items like wind-up toys and drawing toys were released as well. By the mid-60s, Gumby was a star. His adventures were chronicled in a series of stories published by Whitman Books and various other toys, like modeling clay so you could make your very own, actual clay Gumby, just like the original! But only a year later, the TV show would end and Gumby’s career would start to fade. Only a few toys would remain on the shelves throughout the next decade, notably the rubber Gumby figures manufactured by a company called Perma.
At this point in the career, many a claymation figure might have thrown in the towel and retired into obscurity – but not Gumby, he was a survivor. He just needed some more exposure and it came in the early 80s, when comedian Eddie Murphy donned a Gumby suit on Saturday Night Live and played Gumby as an old curmudgeon. The audiences loved it and before you knew it, the original Gumby was back on the air with The New Gumby Show. Soon, the toy companies were once again lining up around the block for their fair share of the Gumbie Pie. Playskool, Hasbro, all the big guns went back into full time Gumby production and flooded the market with poseable figures, Colorforms, Shrinky Dinks, and any other item that could possibly have room for a Gumby picture on it.
Eventually another lull would follow but, as always, it would be short-lived. This time, the comeback year was 1995 and Gumby was ready for his close-up, Mr. DeMille. That’s right – it was time for the loveable lump of green clay to hit the big screen. And the marketing machine was ready to pick up right where it had left off. By now, they were quite familiar with the Gumby trend. Heck, you could practically set your watch to it.
And into the new millennium travels Gumby. Already, he has had his share of press - celebrating his 50th birthday in 2005 and in the same year, having the honor of being given his very own exhibit at the New York Museum of the Moving Image, entitled Gumby and the Art of Stop Motion Animation. A year later, a new comic book emerged and in 2007 an hour-long Gumby documentary was produced for television. Rumor has it that in 2008, a movie sequel will be released on DVD. Gumby’s schedule seems to be booked for foreseeable future, leading many other animated characters to wonder just who this guy’s agent is. And one thing is for certain; somewhere out there, a toy company is likely making plans for a whole new Gumby line. At this point, it is a trend just about as predictable as Halley’s Comet but far more frequent.
