Lunch with Soupy Sales

Going back to the '60's and coming home from school to watch Soupy Sales. The pie in the face, white fang (all you could see was an arm). Yes, Soupy did push the envelope for daytime TV, but he was spontaneous and a great comedian. As a 10 yr. old, he made me laugh, but my parents would have to think about what he said, lots of double meanings. Now as I think back on what was said, there brings a chuckle - how did he get away with it? But isn't that what "wit" is all about? Thanks for the memories of the mid 1960's when all you had to worry about was being home on time for dinner and was your homework done. - Oh, and yes, I did collect his trading cards. When you had a complete set, and you flipped the cards over, it had a large "Soupy Sez" comment.

If you were a kid in the 60s it didn't get any better than "The Soupy Sales Show", an improvisational-type comedy show for children that worked on several levels. Soupy appeared with puppet friends Pookie, White Fang and Black Tooth, but it weren't no Shari Lewis show. As best I can recall, show was single-set with a back door that Soupy often opened, only to be greeted by anything from a speeding locomotive to a pie in the face. Legend has it that joking request to kid viewers to open dad's wallet and send in pictures of the presidents led to untimely cancellation. As Black Tooth might say "Ruh Uh Ruh Uh". Watch it if it's ever shown again, it's classic early television.

I remember a skit where White Fang told Soupy that he was a magician and could make things appear and disappear. So Soupy says, "OK, make me a chocolate milkshake." White Fang waves his wand and in a puff of smoke, Soupy is turned into a milkshake.

At 8 years old, I thought this was the height of comedy. Edgy and provocative for a kid in the 60s.

I think that between Soupy Sales and Mad Magazine we were all prepared for the events of the late 60s.

Soupy Sales probably helped prepare the way for the later psychedelic era.

When i was growing up in New Jersey, one of the first shows I remember was The Soupy Sales Show on Channel 5 in the afternoon. He was so talented and so funny and while I remember little about his show, I do remember he had several puppets including Pookie the Lion, who always said "Hey Bubbie!" and White Fang the dog who never spoke, just grunted. One memory that has stuck with me for many years is that my mom use to refer to him as "Soupy Salesman." His show will always be remembered for the many pies he threw or got in the face and that was so funny. I never saw the incident where he told his young viewers to send him "those little green pieces of paper" but i've read about it in a number of books. Sadly, most of his shows from the WNEW era (they also aired in syndication) were erased but the ones that still survive are treasures of a very talented man. Let's not forget that he also created the dance "The Mouse" that was also a record. The Soupy Sales Show brings back memories of the 60s.

You couldn't have asked to meet a nicer person, we went to see one of his shows at the bottom line in NYC's village, when the show was over, he came out a spoke with his fans, I was first in line, we stood side by side and spoke like two old friends, he didn't try to give me the bum's rush away from him. My cousin had Polaroid camera, but when it came time to get my picture taken with soupy, the damn camera wouldn't work, so Soupy ad-libbed, how about a quick charcoal sketch? Sure his old shows had corny jokes and routines, but he was funny and every other word didn't have to be blocked out, ala Chris rock, whose only claim to fame is the word 'F**k I asked him about the episode that resulted in him being suspended, he said he received mostly Monopoly money and 2 bucks from a woman who said he should stay in Puerto Rico. I guess everyone has different tastes in comedy, but i like mine clean and sober, like Bob Newhart, etc. To the person that was born in 62, you missed a classic show, I only hope you grow up and give Soupy a chance, who knows, you may find yourself chuckling. He was playing to the crew as much as his audience.