I grew up in New Jersey in the mid 60s and remember The Soupy Sales Show on Channel 5. It was very funny and I still remember to this day my mom referring to him as "Soupy Salesman." May he rest in peace.
Nov. 10 2009 11:18 AM
Score: 0/0
Roy
To Mr. Lehrer:
Actually, the real reason Howard Stern didn't get along with Soupy Sales was Soupy was, at the time, collateral damage in the war between Stern and the WNBC radio management who wanted him to conform to the tone of the station. If you've seen "Private Parts: The Movie" or read the book, you'd know that it was a Captain Ahab vs. Moby Dick like relationship between both camps.
Oct. 26 2009 11:28 AM
Score: 0/0
Elaine
from LI
What was truly funny about Soupy was that he had a calm, quiet and gentle manner during the madness that made the insanity around him even funnier. If you watch clips of him you can see him really 'listening' to Whitefang. He was a gem of irreverence and class.
Oct. 26 2009 11:27 AM
Score: 0/0
Susan
from Somerset NJ
remembering Soupy Sales - Pookie's song "Pakalafaka" has been in my head since Friday (thanks for playing it!)... and the sight of White Fang and Black Tooth "visiting" Soupy, and so many other crazy moments infused my high-school days with really smart humor and absolute silliness!
Oct. 26 2009 11:27 AM
Score: 0/0
judy
from NYC
He was one of my childhood idols. He cracked me up every day by his laughing at everything even before he finished the joke. I have about 100 Soupy Sales cards that were sold with bubblegum and every time I look at them, I remember how much fun the show was. Pure fun like that doesn't come often.
Oct. 26 2009 11:26 AM
Score: 0/0
Nancy Dwyer Chapman
from Scarsdale, NY
I was a Detroit elementary schooler back in the 1950s-60s and thoroughly enjoyed Lunch with Soupy on weekdays. It was the prevailing custom back then for grade schoolers to go home for lunch, so we got to watch Soupy on TV regularly.
"Over the teeth, through the gums, look out stomach, here it comes!" Another of Soupy's admonitions.
He was a Detroit cultural icon for kids.
Regards,
Nancy Dwyer Chapman
Oct. 26 2009 11:23 AM
Score: 0/0
Bob Kern
from Avon
I remember one day when Soupy ad libbed walking back and forth from his front door to talk to White Fang but changing his mind and ping-ponging back and forth. After about the third or fourth time I could hear tortured footsteps that I realized was Frank Nastase (who did all the puppets and door visitors running back and forth. When Soupy finally stopped "White Fang" grabbed him by the shirt collar and shook him vehemently.
Oct. 26 2009 11:21 AM
Score: 0/0
John
from Bergen County NJ
It was Black Tooth. WHite Fang's alter ego.
Oct. 26 2009 11:18 AM
Score: 0/0
Hank
from Brooklyn
I think the other big character beside White Fang was Black Tooth.
Also I heard that he was kicked off the air for asking kids " what word begins with F and ends with uck ?'
- firetruck !
Oct. 26 2009 11:17 AM
Score: 0/0
michael
from new york
As a New Yorker by way of North Carolina, I was amazed (and proud) to learn that he was from the tiny town of Franklinton, NC. Whodathunkit.
Oct. 26 2009 11:17 AM
Score: 0/0
Leon Wynter
from New YORK
I've often said that I was a Jewish New Yorker before I was black. Now that I think about it, a big part of my pre-black sensibility came from the subversive, quasi-Borscht Belt anarchy of the Soupy Sales show.
What I most remember most fondly, actually, was not the show as much as the credit music. I would stay riveted through every last measure of that crazy stride piano solo. It sounded like the sound track of an insane clown show, and every time you thought it was done they raised the key a half-step and did it again. It was like climbing a musical staircase to madcap heaven. God bless you, Soupy!
Oct. 26 2009 10:47 AM
Score: 0/0
Vic
from Chester, NJ
Off the top of my head, what comes to mind.... "Let's do "The Mouse" ~> Besides the twist, this was one of the first dances I ever learned. Hey, and what ever happened to White Fang and Black Tooth ? If they're still around, I bet they would have some of the best behind the scene stories about Soupy. "Weh weh weee" (I'll say.)
Oct. 26 2009 10:28 AM
Score: 0/0
Don Brockway
from Centerport, NY
I visited Soupy on the set of his Metromedia Channel 5 show - and took some nice pictures. They are at http://www.isntlifeterrible.com/labels/Soupy%20Sales.html - Brian, if you want any of them for WNYC, you're welcome to post them. Also on the site is a Stewart Klein interview with Soupy, Sandy Becker, and "Uncle" Fred Scott - and an early 90's interview with Soupy from Tom Snyder's syndicated radio show. My site, which usually has 200-300 visitors per day, had well over 2,000 on Friday because of all this Soupy material which I posted long ago. And yes, Soupy was as wonderful in person as you'd expect him to be.
Oct. 26 2009 10:26 AM
Score: 0/0
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Comments [13]
I grew up in New Jersey in the mid 60s and remember The Soupy Sales Show on Channel 5. It was very funny and I still remember to this day my mom referring to him as "Soupy Salesman." May he rest in peace.
To Mr. Lehrer:
Actually, the real reason Howard Stern didn't get along with Soupy Sales was Soupy was, at the time, collateral damage in the war between Stern and the WNBC radio management who wanted him to conform to the tone of the station. If you've seen "Private Parts: The Movie" or read the book, you'd know that it was a Captain Ahab vs. Moby Dick like relationship between both camps.
What was truly funny about Soupy was that he had a calm, quiet and gentle manner during the madness that made the insanity around him even funnier. If you watch clips of him you can see him really 'listening' to Whitefang. He was a gem of irreverence and class.
remembering Soupy Sales - Pookie's song "Pakalafaka" has been in my head since Friday (thanks for playing it!)... and the sight of White Fang and Black Tooth "visiting" Soupy, and so many other crazy moments infused my high-school days with really smart humor and absolute silliness!
He was one of my childhood idols. He cracked me up every day by his laughing at everything even before he finished the joke. I have about 100 Soupy Sales cards that were sold with bubblegum and every time I look at them, I remember how much fun the show was. Pure fun like that doesn't come often.
I was a Detroit elementary schooler back in the 1950s-60s and thoroughly enjoyed Lunch with Soupy on weekdays. It was the prevailing custom back then for grade schoolers to go home for lunch, so we got to watch Soupy on TV regularly.
"Over the teeth, through the gums, look out stomach, here it comes!" Another of Soupy's admonitions.
He was a Detroit cultural icon for kids.
Regards,
Nancy Dwyer Chapman
I remember one day when Soupy ad libbed walking back and forth from his front door to talk to White Fang but changing his mind and ping-ponging back and forth. After about the third or fourth time I could hear tortured footsteps that I realized was Frank Nastase (who did all the puppets and door visitors running back and forth. When Soupy finally stopped "White Fang" grabbed him by the shirt collar and shook him vehemently.
It was Black Tooth. WHite Fang's alter ego.
I think the other big character beside White Fang was Black Tooth.
Also I heard that he was kicked off the air for asking kids " what word begins with F and ends with uck ?'
- firetruck !
As a New Yorker by way of North Carolina, I was amazed (and proud) to learn that he was from the tiny town of Franklinton, NC. Whodathunkit.
I've often said that I was a Jewish New Yorker before I was black.
Now that I think about it, a big part of my pre-black sensibility came from the subversive, quasi-Borscht Belt anarchy of the Soupy Sales show.
What I most remember most fondly, actually, was not the show as much as the credit music. I would stay riveted through every last measure of that crazy stride piano solo. It sounded like the sound track of an insane clown show, and every time you thought it was done they raised the key a half-step and did it again. It was like climbing a musical staircase to madcap heaven.
God bless you, Soupy!
Off the top of my head, what comes to mind....
"Let's do "The Mouse" ~>
Besides the twist, this was one of the first dances I ever learned.
Hey, and what ever happened to White Fang and
Black Tooth ? If they're still around, I bet they would have some of the best behind the scene stories about Soupy.
"Weh weh weee" (I'll say.)
I visited Soupy on the set of his Metromedia Channel 5 show - and took some nice pictures. They are at http://www.isntlifeterrible.com/labels/Soupy%20Sales.html - Brian, if you want any of them for WNYC, you're welcome to post them. Also on the site is a Stewart Klein interview with Soupy, Sandy Becker, and "Uncle" Fred Scott - and an early 90's interview with Soupy from Tom Snyder's syndicated radio show. My site, which usually has 200-300 visitors per day, had well over 2,000 on Friday because of all this Soupy material which I posted long ago. And yes, Soupy was as wonderful in person as you'd expect him to be.
Leave a Comment
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Please stay on topic, be civil, and be brief.
Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments. Names are displayed with all comments. We reserve the right to edit any comments posted on this site. Please read the Comment Guidelines before posting. By leaving a comment, you agree to New York Public Radio's Privacy Policy and Terms Of Use.