Tribute: Soupy Sales
Posted on October 23, 2009 at 1:00 pm
Kids’ television pioneer Soupy Sales died this week at age 83. Back before there were whole channels devoted to children’s programming, and back way before children’s television was certified wholesome and educational, Soupy Sales was just plain deliriously silly, pie-in-the-face fun with some first-class jazz accompaniment, and the children of the 1960’s loved his anarchy and the way he left a lot to the imagination (we only saw the paws of some of the characters). He said he had been hit with more than 25,000 pies. And it was funny every time.
Back in the late 1960’s, when Soupy was doing his Los Angeles show, the series that really vaulted Soupy into fame, I was President of The Soupy Sales Fan Club, along with co-presidents Ellen Bank and Ed Lissitz. I was only a teenager in High School then, but I regularly visited the KABC-TV studios in Hollywood where Soupy and his cohort Clyde Adler (White Fang and Black Tooth) did his shows. Soupy would be in the studio 2 days a week, doing the week’s 5 episodes. Two of the episodes on those days were done live. To be on the set was an exciting experience. It was a small stage (the same stage that another comedy great Ernie Kovacs did his classic shows on). The stagehands and the camera crew had a blast laughing at Soupy’s comedy.
Those were great days! I am posting a backstage photo of Soupy and me on my website http://www.rowby.com. Over the next few days I will scan some memorabilia from the fan club days and put it on my site for download, including Fan Club Newsletters “FLASH – POOKIE STOLEN!” is one of the headlines.
I’ll miss you Soupy. It’s great that many of his shows are still around for all to enjoy.
…Rowby Goren
What a wonderful memory, Rowby! Thanks so much for sharing it.
Even once we had moved into junior high school, we still had a Soupy Sales fan club. My parents did NOT allow afternoon TV, so my watching of “The Soup Man” had to be limited to the afternoons both parents were at work. The next day at the bus stop or waiting in line for some marvelous educational extravaganza we would replay skits and practice our voices, just like Soupy. Even some girls joined in with the fun! When he was no longer available, we moved onto classic 3 Stooges shows. But our hearts and fetid, fecund minds were always with the Awesome Mr. Sales!
God Bless You Pookie, wherever you are!! The next pie is for you!
here’s the tribue to Soupy I wrote in my blurb…
http://www.examiner.com/x-9764-Horror-Happenings-Examiner~y2009m10d23-So-long-Soupy-Sales-yes-he-was-in-one-monster-program?cid=examiner-email
Soupy was the best. He may have been the inspiration for Krusty on the Simpsons. I don’t know but Soupy was kinder than Krusty and I do like the Simpsons. Soupy ruled at lunch time on Saturdays and when he went off the air, I felt like my friend had left. Soupy was a genius at comedy and he will be very much missed.
Thanks for these great Soupy memories!