Soupy Sales, Slapstick Comedian, Dies at 83

[Friday on my mind]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/23/arts/television/23sales.html?_r=1&emc=eta1

Soupy Sales, whose zany television routines turned the smashing of a pie to the face into a madcap art form, died Thursday night. He was 83.

Mr. Sales’s former manager, Dave Usher, said the entertainer died in a hospice in New York City after suffering from multiple health problems.

Cavorting with his puppet sidekicks White Fang, Black Tooth, Pookie the Lion and Hobart and Reba, the heads in the pot-bellied stove, transforming himself into the private detective Philo Kvetch, and playing host to the ever-present “nut at the door,” Soupy Sales became a television favorite of youngsters and an anarchic comedy hero for teenagers and college students.

Clad in a top hat, sweater and bow tie, shuffling through his Mouse dance, he reached his slapstick heyday in the mid-1960s on “The Soupy Sales Show,” a widely syndicated program based at WNEW-TV in New York.




R.I.P Soupy,you made me laugh growng up.

 

[Jagger69]

Damn....that really bums me out. When I was a kid back in the 60s, I couldn't wait for Soupy's show to come on the air. It was my favorite show without a doubt. Pookie and White Fang must be very upset tonight. RIP Soupy....I will miss you. I already do in fact.

 

[mrtrebus]

Never 'eard of 'im =

 

[biomech]

RIP Soupy. It is a shame.

 

[knowone]

>Then came an infamous moment. On New Year’s Day 1965, Soupy Sales asked youngsters to go through their parents’ clothing and send him little green pieces of paper with pictures of men with beards. He later reported receiving only a few dollar bills and said he donated them to charity, but Metromedia, the station’s owner, suspended him briefly after a viewer complained to the Federal Communications Commission that he was encouraging children to steal.

I remember that particular show it was very funny.

 

[Jagger69]

Never 'eard of 'im =

Then don't comment. Extremely poor taste to post that IMO....and incredibly disrespectful.

Very sad... He was before my time, but I remember seeing him on talkshows and the news. I remember reading years ago that he had a radio show on WNBC-AM during the 80's, when he was part of a line up that included Don Imus, Wolfman Jack and Howard Stern.

Yes and he was also a staple panelist on game shows in the '70s. Always very funny and witty....a charming man and great comic talent. I'm very saddened by his passing.

 

[YMIHERE]

He was actually after my time. When he got his show I was in my late teens. But I do know of him.


RIP Soupy Sales.

 

[holdol]

A pie in the face to you Soupy :glugglug:

R.I.P. Thanks for the laughs

 

[Skyraider22]

That is sad to hear my father use to talk about that show R.I.P

 

[Jagger69]

He was actually after my time. When he got his show I was in my late teens. But I do know of him.


RIP Soupy Sales.

Yeah you were more attuned to Dobie Gillis and Maynard G. Krebs by that time I would guess, Y! You were more from the Howdy Doody era for kid's shows. :1orglaugh

 

[Friday on my mind]

An almost porn like clip from Soupy's show lol.


Soupy Sales Show Blooper Practicle Joke
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ik1Aq8KaAjo

 

[Rey C.]

I mostly remember him from game shows in the 70's. But in looking at even older clips, he had a unique comedy style. Since I can remember guys (and gals) who were hella funny without cursing or grabbing their genitals every other second, that must mean that I'm officially "old".

R.I.P. Soupy.