US NEWS/ ART CLOKEY DIES AT 89

Art Clokey, whose iconic Gumby toy entertained generations of children, has died in Los Osos, California, aged 89. Gumby, the slender, green clay character partly modeled after Clokey's father, was a fixture on television through the decades, starting with an appearance on the "Howdy Doody" show in 1956. Through the years, the stop-motion star, who lived in Los Osos, California, made several comebacks, including a new show in the '80s, after a "Saturday Night Live" skit with actor Eddie Murphy made the character popular again. Throughout Gumby's long run, Gumby toys have been a staple of toy stores everywhere. Gumby is often seen with his pal, the orange horse named Pokey. (SK COMMENT: Of course, I had a Gumby & Pokey as a child. I played with them for years. Although I no longer have the originals, I do have a pair I picked up at a garage sale several years ago. A toy that will always evoke childhood memories).