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
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
