This is how I saw him, on an old Black & White Sylvania TV in our 'TV room', that was actually my grandmother's bedroom when she was home. For a generation of kids growing up in the 1950s and '60s, Lunch with Soupy wasn’t just a show—it was a midday escape into joyful chaos.
Hosted by the wildly unpredictable and wonderfully funny Soupy Sales, this live-action whirlwind served up puppets, puns, surprise guests, and—of course—flying cream pies to the face. Every weekday, kids like me rushed home from Catholic school or public classrooms, unwrapped their sandwiches, and sat down in front of the TV to laugh with Soupy and his kooky crew.
The show was legendary for its spontaneity—and sometimes that led to moments no script could’ve written. One day, a pie was rigged to hit Soupy right in the face. But at the very last second, he ducked. The pie kept flying… off-screen… through the studio lot… and smack!—it hit a completely unsuspecting host on the set of a totally different show filming next door.
Only those watching both live feeds realized what had happened: the pie vanished from one show and magically landed in another.
That was the magic of Lunch with Soupy. It was messy, unpredictable, and absolutely delightful. A true circus of laughter that made early television something kids - and grownups, will never forget.
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Hey kids, what word starts with F and ends with UCK? Firetruck!
ReplyDeleteI know he didn't say it but I wish he did. Loved the show cuz you had no clue what was gonna happen.
maxx
His buds "Black Tooth" and "White Fang" were cool dudes! Even if you could only see their right (?) arm and hand when they conversed with Soupy.
ReplyDeleteThere is a legend that he did a skit: "Hey Kids, get mom and dad out of the room. Are they gone? Good! Now and get all that green stuff in mom's purse and send it to me!" And they did! And he got fired!
ReplyDeleteOne of my Dad's good friend and coworker looked just like Soupy. I fished with him many times on the Tennessee River. He was a pranksters as was Soupy. They were dead ringers. Great times to be a kid growing up on the Tennessee River!
ReplyDelete"My wife can't cook but she sure can make my banana..." or so I heard he'd said.
ReplyDeleteJpaul