Did you know:Soupy Sales began his television career in 1949
on WKRC-TV, Cincinatti, Ohio with Soupy's Soda Shop, TV's first teen dance program! Sales moved to Cincinnati in 1949, where he worked as a morning radio DJ, performed in nightclubs and hosted Club Nothing!,
a late-night comedy/variety program. That's what I call a TV pioneer!
Soupy (born Milton Supman on January 8, 1926) got his unusual nickname from his family. His older brothers had been nicknamed "Hambone" and "Chicken Bone"; Milton was dubbed "Soup Bone," which was later shortened to "Soupy." When he became a disc jockey, he began using the stage name "Soupy Hines." After he became established, it was decided that "Hines" was too close to the Heinz soup company, so Soupy chose the surname "Sales," after comedian Chic Sale.
Soupy graduated from high school in Huntington, West Virginia in 1944. He then enlisted the U S Navy and served on the USS Randall in the South Pacific during the latter part of World War II. He entertained his shipmates by telling jokes over the ship's public address system. One of the characters he created was "White Fang," a dog that played outrageous practical jokes on the seamen.
Soupy Sales is best known for the Soupy Sales Show, his long-running improvised and slap-stick, daily children's TV show -- a rapid-fire stream of sketches, gags, and puns, almost all of which resulted in a pie in the face, which became the Soupy Sales trademark. Soupy claims to have been hit by over 25,000 pies during his career.
New Years Show Legend
Soupy Sales hosted the most outrageous TV kiddies show ever, filled with innuendo and double entendres, all-star celebrity guests, and a-pie-in-the-face, that became "must see TV" for hip adults. One of the most-repeated stories of the early days of "live" television is the tale of one Soupy Sales Show, telecast on WNEW-TV, Ch 5, New York in 1965. It is oft' repeated, along with Uncle Don's WOR radio blooper, "That should hold the little bastards." (See Below)
On New Year's Day 1965, miffed at having to work on the holiday, Sales ended his live broadcast by encouraging his young viewers to tiptoe into their still-sleeping parents' bedrooms and remove those "funny green pieces of paper with pictures of U. S. Presidents" from their pants and pocket-books. Put them in an envelope and mail them to me," Soupy instructed the children. "And I'll send you a postcard from Puerto Rico!"
He was then hit with a pie.
Several days later, a chagrined Soupy announced that money was unexpectedly being received in the mail. He explained that he had been joking and announced that unreturnable contributions would be donated to charity.
As parents' complaints increased, WNEW felt compelled to suspend Sales for two weeks. Young viewers picketed Channel 5. The uproar surrounding Sales' suspension only increased his allready soaring popularity. Soupy described the incident in his 2001 autobiography Soupy Sez! My Life and Zany Times.
Topless Dancer Prank
Soupy's most infamous show was caught on tape and is an outrageous prank pulled by the stage crew as an inside joke on Sales. The show's set included a door and during the "live" show, Sales would answer a knock at the door and interact with an actor seen only as an arm. One time during the Los Angeles years, he opened the door and saw a topless dancer gyrating with a balloon. Viewers saw only the balloon, although a second, non-broadcasting camera captured the uncensored version, and Sales was forced to try to keep the show going without revealing the risque' events backstage.
Did you know: Soupy Sales began his television career in 1949 
