The Gumby Show (1957)
Gumby is the brain child of Art Clokey. Art showed an inclination for animation from an early age growing up in Michigan. From molding clay figurines as a kid to later making student films while in high school. After abandoning a career as a minister, Art moved to California and enrolled at USC where he further persued his interest in filmmaking culminating in 1953's "Gumbasia" (a nod to Disney's "Fantasia") a film involving clay geometric shapes morphing to Jazz music. "Gumbasia" attracted the attention of various studios and this led to the creation of Gumby who made it's debut in The Howdy Doody Show in 1956. The Gumby Show debuted on March 16, 1957 on NBC and run until November 16, 1957. The show was originaly hosted by Bob Nicholson (whom played "Clarabell the Clown" on the Howdy Doody Show) and later by comedian Pinky Lee. Lee's diminishing health and eventual heart attack in 1957 led to the show being canceled. After syndication, additional episodes were created in 1962, 1966-67, and 1988.