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Chicago (ELCA)-MR — In an effort to produce more visibility for "Davey and Goliath" and help secure its return to television, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and DandG Licensing, LLC have entered into a new agreement effective Jan. 12.
Davey and Goliath is a classic stop-motion animated television series starring Davey Hansen and his talking dog, Goliath. Aired on commercial television in the 1960s and 1970s, Davey and Goliath is a property of the ELCA. The church's new mission with Davey and Goliath is to bring "moral and religious faith-based values to a new generation of children in lively and engaging ways."
The ELCA's agreement with DandG Licensing includes marketing and promoting Davey and Goliath. Mark Bannon, Animation Content, East Granby, Conn., is president of DandG Licensing, Simsbury, Conn. Bannon founded DandG Licensing exclusively for work on Davey and Goliath.
"We are counting on Mark Bannon's enthusiasm and expertise to carry Davey and Goliath in new product and licensing directions," said the Rev. Eric C. Shafer, director, ELCA Department for Communication.
"One of Bannon's first assignments is finding a commercial television outlet for the debut of 'Davey and Goliath's Snowboard Christmas,' our new holiday special," said Shafer.
In connection with Premavision, Inc. (Clokey Productions), Los Osos, Calif., the ELCA is producing the one-hour holiday special — the first new program production in nearly 30 years — for broadcast in November or December 2004.
According to Bannon, "Davey and Goliath is an extraordinary property that has had a profound and positive impact on millions of children and families for more than 40 years." His vision for Davey and Goliath is "to ensure that this remarkable property continues to inspire morality, peace and love in the hearts of children for generations to come."
With the start of the new licensing agreement, Bannon said the ELCA and DandG Licensing will "begin a massive revitalization and relaunch of the original classic animated episodes and specials, as well as the release of a modern-day version of this nostalgic property. The classic episodes consist of 65 original programs from the 1960s and 1970s and six original specials. The new release includes a modern-day holiday special and the development of a new ongoing television series."
Davey and Goliath products, such as lunch boxes, bobble-head dolls, bendable toys, ties, shirts and more are available at www.daveyandgoliath.org — the official Davey and Goliath Web site maintained by the ELCA. Revenue from the sale of these items is allocated for the development of new Davey and Goliath programs.
Bannon and Shafer will represent the ELCA and Davey and Goliath at the National Association of Television Program Executives (NATPE) 2004 Conference and Exhibition, Jan. 18-20, Las Vegas. Davey and Goliath will make a personal appearance at NATPE.
The ELCA is the fourth largest Protestant denomination in the United States with more than 5 million members across the country and Caribbean. The church produced a one-hour documentary, "Oh Davey! History of the 'Davey and Goliath' Television Series," that aired on the ABC television network last fall. The documentary is available at daveyandgoliath.augsburgfortress.org/store on the Internet.