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Community Corner

City Gearing Up For 'Gumby Fest' This June

Event to celebrate Art Clokey's larger than life creation

There's a strong connection between a certain wholesome, green clay character and the city of Glendora.

For nearly two decades, famed animator and "Gumby" creator, Art Clokey, operated a studio in Glendora where 85 "Gumby" episodes were produced after moving operations from Hollywood. To celebrate the impact Clokey made with his characters Gumby, Pokey, Prickle and even those Blockheads, Glendora is organizing Gumby Fest, set for June 14.

Organizers, including the Glendora Public Library, Chamber of Commerce and the city's Community Services Department, are planning to have film screenings of Gumby episodes, hands-on animation demonstrations, and a Gumby museum are being planned for the event, said organizer and owner of Southland Properties, Gary Boyer.

Glendora began advertising Gumby Fest at the 2013 Glendora Christmas Parade. Clokey's son Joe Clokey and daughter-in-law Joan Rock Clokey were honored, along with Gumby, who was the grand marshall. Volunteers also handed out flyers promoting the future event.

The idea for Gumby Fest came from Jeff Kugel, Glendora city planner, during a meeting last year, Boyer said. Kugel made a casual comment that the city should hold an event celebrating the city's connection to Clokey's green, clay creation.

Soon enough, the idea was off and running.

"Growing up, I was always a Gumby fan. Somebody along the way mentioned to me the Clokey studios were in Glendora. There's a whole tie-in and interest in stop motion animation in general," Kugel said.

Clokey first launched Gumby in 1955. in 1960, Clokey and his wife, Ruth, moved production from Hollywood to larger facility in Glendora in 1960. There, production on 85 episodes of Gumby and 65 episodes of Clokey's other creation "Davey and Goliath," according to Gumbyworld.com.

The Glendora studio once stood in what is now an industrial area on Fleetwood Avenue near Grand Avenue and Arrow Highway.

Boyer felt that the wholesome attitude of Clokey's works were a great fit for Glendora to honor.

"This is such a great fit for the City of Glendora to celebrate this type of innocent children's programming," Boyer said.

The events are will take place on the City Hall grounds and in the Glendora Public Library Plaza, Boyer said.

Organizers are looking for sponsors to cover the cost of the event. The event's website, gumbyfestival.com, lists different donation levels organizers are seeking.

For more information, visit gumbyfest.com.

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