wfn.org | ELCA Council Learns about the Return of 'Davey and Goliath'

[News News <NEWS@ELCA.ORG>]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

April 12, 2002

ELCA COUNCIL LEARNS ABOUT THE RETURN OF 'DAVEY AND GOLIATH'
02-081-MR

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America (ELCA) received an update on plans to produce 26 new
episodes of "Davey and Goliath," a popular children series created by
the Lutheran church and aired on commercial television in the 1950s
through the early 1980s.
     Davey and Goliath is a stop-motion animated series starring Davey
Hansen, his dog, Goliath, and other family and friends. The program was
geared toward children and is well-known to many of today's so-called
"baby boomers."  Each story contained a Christian-oriented moral or
theme.  Programs were produced through a partnership involving the
Lutheran church and Art and Ruth Clokey.  Sixty-five episodes and six
half-hour specials were created.
     "The new Daveys will continue to portray important religious and
moral values," said the Rev. Eric C. Shafer, director of the ELCA
Department for Communication.
     "Two ELCA television spot ads are currently in production at Art
Clokey's studio in California," Shafer said.
     Davey and Goliath may be revived following a licensing agreement
signed by the ELCA and Heat Licensing Co., Sequim, Wash.  The agreement
allows for the creation of Davey and Goliath merchandise to raise funds
for the development of new programs. Heat Licensing plans to work with
another organization to market existing Davey and Goliath episodes.
     "Our hope is to do a 30-minute new Davey and Goliath pilot and
have it ready in early 2003," Shafer told the council.  He presented
prototypes of the Davey and Goliath stuffed and "bobble head" toys.
"Stickers, magnets and bendable toys are forthcoming," he said.
     The ELCA will earn a commission on the sales of these products,
Shafer said.  "All commission funds will go into a reserved Davey and
Goliath account to be used for the production of new programs."
-- -- --
     Information about "Davey and Goliath" is maintained at
http://www.daveyandgoliath.org on the Internet.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html