Saying Goodbye to Soupy Sales

Baby boomers are saddened to learn of the death of childhood comedy icon Soupy Sales, who passed away yesterday in New York. He was 83 years old, and certainly was a bright and beloved figure in the annals of television comedy and kid shows particularly, although as you can see from the clips below, his were the hippiest supposedly children's programs around (except maybe for Paul Winchell's.)

I'd like to think that there were kids who preferred the gentler kiddy shows, and then there were the rest of us who grooved to the craziness of Soupy and his ilk. How a talented little Jewish kid from North Carolina became the legendary Soupy Sales is a wild ride, and you'll enjoy reading about his accomplished career in several great articles, including a wonderful series of several pieces from TV Party, an affectionate tribute from Mark Evanier on POV Online, another from Craig on his Flexitoon blog, a really good obituary from the L.A. Times, one from USA Today, and on Soupy Sales' MySpace page.

You'll enjoy watching this selection of clips, including an appearance by Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr. in one of them. There are lots of Soupy clips on YouTube and elsewhere, and there's at least one collection available for sale. Hip, handsome and hilarious, Soupy Sales was a boomer favorite who will be affectionately remembered as a television pioneer.






The Soupy Sales Show - Frank Sinatra & Sammy Davis jr

So long, Soupy! We loved you!