Pie Guy Soupy Sales Dies at 83
TV legend dies after half-century comedy career
By DANIEL MACHT
Updated 3:34 AM EDT, Fri, Oct 23, 2009

The comedian from the golden age of television who built his career on 20,000 pies to the face and was the inspiration for TV character Pee Wee Herman died Thursday at age 83, The Associated Press reported.
Sales’ former manager, Dave Usher, confirmed the news of his friend’s death at Calvary Hospice in the Bronx, New York.
Back in the ‘50s and ‘60s, Sales’ rubber face was one of the most well-known, Usher told the AP.
"If President Eisenhower would have walked down the street, no one would have recognized him as much as Soupy," he said.
Born Milton Supman on Jan. 8, 1926 in Franklington N.C., Sales grew up in the only Jewish family in town. His parents used to sell sheets to the Klu Klux Klan from their dry-goods store, according to the AP.
The family later moved to West Virginia.
After starting his TV career in Cincinnati and Cleveland, he achieved success in Detroit and later ended up in Los Angeles and, finally, New York.
His original success was built on a signature act: pies on celebrities.
Hollywood stars Frank Sinatra, Tony Curtis and Shirley MacLaine were among those who signed up to take a hit on the face, the AP reported.
"I'll probably be remembered for the pies, and that's all right," Sales once said in an interview.
In 1964, the comedian secured his legacy with the debut of his children program “The Soupy Sales Show” -- a show grown-ups could appreciate too.
Often dressed in a signature bow tie and black sweater, Sales’ show was once suspended for a week after he told his audience to mail him all the pieces of green paper in their mothers’ purses.
His manic personality on the show would later influence Paul Reubens’ Pee Wee Herman character.
Sales’ wife Trudy, and two musician sons, Hunt and Tony, survive the late classic comic.

I remember watching the Soupy Sales Show as a kid. I'm sure it was reuns at that point, but I remember laughing my head off. It wasn't the typical funny. It was very corny, but for some reason I always laughed. RIP Soupy. Thanks for the laughs.

Jim

The crew from the Soupy Sales show sneak in an exotic dancer for Soupy's birthday.

Here is a *clean* version of the video.



That was back in the day, nobody at home saw the dancer behind the door, only Soupy having coniptions.

[This message has been edited by jetman (edited 10-23-2009).]

Hmm-I haven't thought of that name--Soupy Sales--in a long time. Thought he was already dead, but I do remember his tv show in the mid 60s. I thought it was dumb, tho my grandmother thought it was hilarious.

I always got a kick out of Soupy telling the the story of when he told the kids at home to send him all the green pieces of paper from their mothers purses.

Green Pieces of Paper

quote Originally posted by Gokart Mozart: Sales grew up in the only Jewish family in town. His parents used to sell sheets to the Klu Klux Klan from their dry-goods store, according to the AP.

ZOMG!! lol... this is just wrong on so many levels... LOL

RIP Sales, St Peter is gonna throw a pie at you now.

I remember him well.
He was on TV out of a station in Detroit when I lived in Brown City.
He had a dog character that grunted I believe instead of making another noise.
My Mom got mad when I started talking like that.
I am old now and that is the way I communicate...........kidding.