REMEMBERING SOUPY SALES
He was born in Franklin, North Carolina in 1926. His name was Milton Supman. He had two older brothers. His father died when he was six years old. In 1944 the family moved to Huntington, West Virginia. Soupy was in the Navy during W.W. 2. He started entertaining on the ship. When the war ended, he went to Marshall College and received a master's degree in journalism.
When he graduated college, he started writing comedy and got a job as a disc jockey. The new medium called television was becoming popular and Soupy wanted to be a part of T.V. His desire to be on television led him to an opportunity in Detroit, Michigan. In 1953 Soupy Sales launched his new T.V. show on WXYZ channel 7 called "Lunch Time With Soupy." Soupy and his show became a hit in Detroit.
Lunch Time With Soupy went on at 12 noon Monday through Friday. Kids who were to young for school, kids who came home at noon
and kids who stayed home from school with a cold watched the show. Soupy would write the next day's menu on a chalk board so Mothers could prepare the same lunch. He would show a short cartoon. He would then have a silly skit. There were, popular puppet characters. White Fang the meanest dog in the United States and Black Tooth the nicest dog in the United States not to mention "The words of wisdom" such as. "If you take good care of your teeth, your teeth will not be false to you."
In between there were always silly jokes and characters knocking at the back door.
Then finally the pie in the face that made Soupy famous.
Soupy also had a night-time show at the same time. Each evening at 11:00 P.M. also on WXYZ channel 7 in Detroit he had a one half hour variety show. This was before television decided there must be one half hour of bad news before everyone went to bed. This program geared for adults but still, a certain style of comedy that made him popular in Detroit. Soupy was popular with kids and adults.
In 1960 Soupy Sales moved on. California, New York. More of the afternoon show but syndicated nationally. This continued for a number of years before coming to an end. Soupy continued in show business for the rest of his life.
He was a regular on game shows A syndicated version of "What's My Line", and a regular on Hollywood Squares. Sometimes on the 'Match Game". Guest appearances on a number of situation comedies and variety shows such as Ed Sullivan
He moved to New York where he had an afternoon radio show for a few years.
He had parts in a number of movies
He had two novelty records that were popular.
He always traveled the country doing comedy at all types of venues.
He returned to Detroit many times through the years. Entertain at various venues, Substitute for popular morning Disc Jockeys who were on vacation and give interviews.
Soupy was always popular with those of us raised in Detroit in the 1950's
He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He remained active in show business his entire life.
He was married twice. He had two sons.
Soupy sales passed away on October 12,2009 in New York. He was 83.
WRITTEN BY
RON TURETT
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