Gumby 3-D (1986)

Play-Doh was initially invented as a wallpaper cleaner by Noah McVicker of Cincinnati, OH, to fend off soot from coal burning furnaces. Technology moved on and oil furnaces became more prevalent.

By this time McVicker had died, leaving the family business to his son, Joe. He and his mother enlisted the aid of a brother-in-law/uncle and started marketing it as modeling clay for classrooms in 1955. Seeing the success of the product in a different application, Joe merged with his uncle in Rainbow Crafts Company, Inc. in 1956. He filed for a patent in 1958, though it wasn’t approved until 1965.

Gumby 3-D (1986

In 2006, the Toy Hall of Fame inductee was given its own day, National Play-Doh Day, by Hasbro.

Representing the clay is Gumby, modeled and created by Art Clokey in the early 1950s. The name came from the muddy clay found at his grandparent’s farm called “gumbo.” The clay used to “animate” Gumby was never Play-Doh, but we’re taking license for the day.

Gumby first hit the airwaves in 1955. Guest appearances eventually led to his self-titled The Gumby Show that same year. A total of 25, 11-minute episodes were prepared for NBC for the 1955-56 viewing season.

The Gumby Show entered syndication in 1959.

Original episodes ceased in 1969.

Comedian and actor Eddie Murphy brought Gumby back to the spotlight with live-action parodies on Saturday Night Live in the early 1980s.

Ninety-nine new animated episodes were prepared and aired in syndication beginning in 1987.

He was brought back in reruns for Nickelodeon and the Cartoon Network in 1992 and Gumby: The Movie was released in theaters in 1995.

Along the way, Gumby made his way into the four-color medium. Over time he has appeared in several titles over many years. No one seems to have chronicled his history in comic books, but it appears as if he first graced the cover of his own book in 1986.

Publishers Papercutz, Blackthorne, Comico and Wildcard have played host to his adventures.

To celebrate the day, participants are encouraged to find a stash of Play-Doh and let their imaginations do the rest.