After watching Gumbasia , movie producer Sam Engel decided to give Clokey money to make a 15 minute movie that became the first Gumby movie -- Gumby Goes to the Moon . When Clokey showed Gumbasia to film producer Sam Engel in 1955 , Engle decided to fund a 15-minute short film that became the first Gumby episode -- Gumby Goes to the Moon .