Art Clokey, 1921-2010

Animator Art Clokey, creator of Gumby, has died at the age of 88. Clokey also produced “Davey and Goliath,” which those of us of a certain age remember as “the only animated show on Sundays.” Clokey sounds like he had a hell of a life.

After his parents divorced when he was about 8, he lived with his father; when Art was 9, his father was killed in an automobile accident. Rejoining his mother in California, the boy was banished by her new husband and placed in a children’s home.

He was adopted two years later. Can you imagine? Then there is this: “A lifelong seeker of enlightenment, Mr. Clokey tried LSD — but only once, under medical supervision and not till long after he created Gumby, his son said in a telephone interview on Sunday.” And also this:

With the rise of slick, titillatingly violent cartoons in the 1970s, Gumby’s popularity waned. According to many published accounts, Mr. Clokey struggled financially. Then along came Mr. Murphy, and suddenly Gumby was everywhere.

Mr. Clokey adored Mr. Murphy’s performance, his son said. But he was also gratified that it was broadcast late at night, when no child was awake to see it.

Good for him.