Collectiblog

There have been a lot of high-profile deaths in the entertainment world lately. The news touches each one of us in a different way, yet generally brings back a stream of memories based on our association with that famous name. The name Dallas McKennon will not necessarily bring on the flood of emotion that other recent celebrity passings have caused, but for me, hearing that the voice of Gumby had passed made me more than a little sad.

Gumby was actually voiced by several different VO artists, starting with Norma McMillon (a.k.a. Casper the Friendly Ghost) and Dicky Beals (Speedy Alka-Seltzer), but McKennon was the classic voice from 1959 to 1964. When Gumby was revived in the '80s it was Dal McKennon who supplied the voice as well. McKennon also took on the voices of Pokey and Prickle, a task he shared with Gumby creator Art Clokey.

Gumby first debuted in 1957 and ever since has remained a pop culture favorite. The clay animation series had several resurgences in popularity over the years and spawned many products. The first, of course, was the bendy Gumby figures, which remain the staple of the Gumby collection. There have been dozens of variations on the Gumby figures over time and they're still available today (individually and in sets). In the '60s, you could buy some great action outfits to go with your Gumby, an idea that was revived in the '90s with "The Incredible Adventures of Gumby" line. There were board games, books, coloring books, puppets, bop bags and a long list of others.

The '80s saw a huge Gumby revival, possibly spurred by Eddie Murphy's characterization of Gumby on Saturday Night Live. Gumby T-Shirts, coffee mugs, stickers, plush dolls, watches, badges, buttons and videos were bought and sold as fast as they could be produced. To this day, you can still find current products featuring Gumby, plus his buddies Pokey, Prickle, Goo and the Blockheads. I personally remain ever vigilant on my search for any thing featuring Nopey, Gumby's contrarian pooch who could only say, well, "nope." Anyone out there got the goods?

Imagine, if you will, a pineapple. Not just any pineapple, but one that is located under the sea. Alright, if you've read this far, you've already know where I'm going: right to the sub-aquatic town of Bikini Bottom and the home of the world's most famous sponge, SpongeBob SquarePants.

It's hard to believe the ubiquitous sponge is celebrating his 10th year on the air. That not only represents a lifetime in kid years, but a hefty challenge for a collector with an appreciation for TV-inspired kitsch.

I first became interested in the effervescent yellow rectangle while seated in my dentist's chair. He has (and for the past decade HAS had) a shelf of SpongeBob SquarePants tchotchkes to give to the little ones for enduring their teeth cleanings. For years I've wanted to ask for the SpongeBob sippy cup, but have continually settled for the hopelessly generic floss samples saved for adults. Not surprisingly, saving face with my dentist lead me to the local toy store where a virtual tidal wave of SpongeBob products can be purchased for far less than the price of a hygienic cleaning.

SpongeBob was a hit with kids and adults alike from the time the series premiered on July 17, 1999. By 2000, kids (and less mature adults like myself) could start picking up plush SpongeBobs, T-shirts, key chains and a barnacle load of other trinkets. Today, a simple search turns up more than 350 separate items.

Since I am a lover of vintage items, some of my must-haves are boxed games and toys based on things I also loved as a kid; SpongeBob Ants in the Pants, SpongeBob Lego and the SpongeBob Plastigoop kits that remind me of my Mattel Fun Flowers with all the goofy faces and bright colors. SpongeBob Monopoly is a hoot whether it be the board game or the electronic version. And who can resist playing "Operation" with a SpongeBob theme?

I think the ultimate in all SpongBob tie-ins has to be the  SpongeBob roller coaster at the Mall of America. For those who can't make it out to the world's biggest indoor mall, SpongeBob bounce houses are available for your next party. Had I been asked to design it, I may have opted for a giant pineapple, shape but for pure bouncy fun, the rectangle shape will do.

After a decade of SpongeBob, there's a long list of items I'd like to add to my collection: camera, bedding, pajamas, costume and sno cone maker and, of course, the 10th Anniversary Play-Doh Playset.  I look forward to the challenge as   the list continues to grow, right along with the phenomenon of SpongeBob SquarePants.