Soupy Sez!: My Zany Life and Times [Paperback]

Soupy Sales (Author), Charles Salzberg (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 15, 2003

In the 1960's Soupy Sales was a national phenomenon with his whimsical, live TV show and the hottest record in America.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Now 75, comedian Sales recollects a multimedia career in comedy clubs, movies, radio and television. The North Carolina native rose to international fame in the 1960s with a hit single ("The Mouse") and a TV series, The Soupy Sales Show, which by 1966 was syndicated in 50 markets. "By that time, I had made something like 5,370 live television appearances, more than anyone else in the history of the medium. I was, in short, the toast of New York. I don't know if it was rye or whole wheat, but it was fun." Since this is a typical Soupy joke, some might question whether his corny humor and burlesque bits translate to the printed page. But many from his fan base remain eager to learn more about the show's backstage antics, which are in abundance here. Despite management problems, Sales was a smash when he arrived in New York in 1964. Moving on to films and Broadway, he later appeared on game shows and performed as a regular on What's My Line? Salzberg, who wrote an oral history of the NBA (From Set Shot to Slam Dunk), has assembled this book in a similar structure, juxtaposing Soupy's words with memories from family, friends and associates, including wife Trudy Carson Sales, manager Dave Usher, cast member Ray D'Ariano, producer Peter Strand and others. Despite the book's jumpy format, Sales regales throughout with an endless stream of amusing anecdotes and madcap memories. Funny quips and quotes are inserted in sidebars, and the 70 b&w photos include plenty of pie-covered celebrities. (Nov.)Forecast: While young readers will surely walk past this one, Soupy's fans from earlier decades will be delighted, giving Sales the chance to climb on the sales charts.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Library Journal

The Soupy Sales Show thrilled millions of American kids watching TV during the mid-1960s. This is the story of Soupy's many years in show business. It's all here, from Soupy's formative broadcasting days in Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Detroit and the success of The Soupy Sales Show in Los Angeles and New York to the creation of the characters White Fang, Black Tooth, Pookie, and Philo Kvetch; the breakout of the hit song "The Mouse"; the New Year's Day, 1965, gag that caused national consternation (and nearly obliterated Soupy's career); his Seventies TV activity; and recollection of his WNBC radio gig during the 1980s, when he was sandwiched between Howard Stern and Don Imus. Fans will be thrilled to read the behind-the-scenes details of Soupy's creative successes and his frustrations with dealing with broadcast management. A handy chronology of Soupy's major TV output kicks off the book, and there are many vintage photographs. Soupy delivers his life story in a funny, playfully wisecracking manner, with many sidebars included from associates and friends. Soupy is in his seventies now and still appears with his nightclub act as well as in films. Highly recommended for media libraries and public libraries in the New York and Los Angeles areas. David M. Lisa, Wayne P.L., NJ
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: M.Evans & Company (January 15, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590770064
• ISBN-13: 978-1590770061
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #737,859 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An above average show biz bio from Soupy!!, November 25, 2001

By 

Joel L. Gandelman (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Soupy Sez!: My Life and Zany Times (Hardcover)

Soupy Sales was to kids growing up in the 50s and 60s what Ernie Kovaks was to adults: a comedian with attitude, a visual zaniness unmatched by other kids-show performers, a kids show host who just happened to do kids shows...but shows where he talked TO and never DOWN TO the kids. And his seemingly ad lib (a lot was planned), crazy, punny, pie-in-the-face and slapstick schtick won over may ADULT viewers too...such as Frank Sinatra, who asked to appear on his show -- and get a pie in the face (he DID, and Sales lived to talk about it..).

Today's question: could the former Milton Supman, now 75, write a show biz bio that goes BEYOND being a syrupy fanzine bio to a tell "all" book offering something of interest to those who want to go into comedy or show biz -- yet STILL be a FUNNY book?

The answer is YES.

I collect show biz bios and this is one of the few that I actually underlined. It is outstanding in its genre. It's a book that will be interesting to those who SAW Sales in his prime AND those who want to learn more about show business' realities, the importance of self-confidence, goal-setting, and comedy.

If you loved Soupy as a kid, you won't be disapppointed. It's all here: info about his shows in Ohio, L.A. and New York, his battles with corporate "suits" who tried to typecast and creatively stifle him, the (in)famous joke where he asked kiddies in his New York audience to sneak into their sleeping parents' rooms and send him those little green pieces of paper in their wallets with George Washington's picture on it (many did), his hit record (The Mouse), details about who played his characters White Fang, Black Tooth, Pookie, info about his other television, movie, and radio work...and more. A key secret revealed: his favored pie ingredient was...shaving cream.

If you like LOTS of puns and one liners, the book is crammed with them. In fact, Sales seems greatly influenced by the Marx Brothers' word play jokes (much as the late Steve Allen was).

But there are some other qualities in this bio that you do NOT see in other show biz bios -- and it is HIGHLY refreshing...and WORTH THE PRICE of this book. It makes the book a great GIFT for any aspiring young comedian, actor or kids performer who also wants to perform for adults (his secret here: he did NOT change his act for adults...long before it was fashionable, he appealed to -- and was appealing to -- the "inner child" in adults).

He talks about personal and career ups and downs with great candor. At an early age he was "addicted to the sound of applause" but upon entering show biz he admits he was "unprepared for the kinds of people I was going to meet in the business, the kinds of people who didn't know how to be straight with you, the kinds of people whose only interest in you would be what you could do for them."

He learned that when he was on top, everyone wanted him around, wanted to swim in his pool, eat his food, and drink his booze. When he wasn't on top, many of his show biz "friends" wouldn't return phone calls. In the end, Sales may not have received the recognition comedians such as Abbott and Costello, or even kids show performers like Buffalo Bob Smith, got. But he did his comedy HIS way with integrity -- usually walking away rather than compromising with the typcasting, penny-pinching corporate suits. So he never really compromised the kind of crazy comedy HE loved -- and his fans loved.

Sales has had some physical ailments recently, but still performs and attends autograph shows, etc. His book was a LOT more enjoyable, meatier, and informative than I ever expected...and it's a great book or gift for his fans, comedy lovers, aspiring comedians -- or anyone who just wants to read an inspirational story about a guy who loved applause and kept plugging away, no matter what.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Soupy's book is a winner . . . just like he was AND is!, January 26, 2002

By 

Blaine Greenfield "eclectic reader" (Belle Meade, NJ) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Soupy Sez!: My Life and Zany Times (Hardcover)

Read SOUPY SEZ! by Soupy Sales with Charles Salzberg, the
tale of the TV/Radio personality that helped me grow up . . . before reading the book, I had the impression that Soupy was a real nice guy . . . I'm now convinced.

I never felt he talked down at me . . . rather, he invited me
into his world . . . and what a world it was!

This book gave me a better feel for what I saw on an almost
daily basis . . . Soupy had been and still is one of my heroes . . . in fact, he helped teach me the one dance that I could do without making too much of a fool of myself: the mouse.

I liked his tales of showbiz, as well as the recollections of
several of his friends and colleagues . . . the many pictures
were an added "plus."

There were several memorable passages; among them:
There is a definite art to pie-throwing. You can use whipped
cream, egg whites or shaving cream, but shaving cream is
much better because it doesn't spoil. And no tin plates. The
secret is you just can't push it and shove it in somebody's
face. It has to be done with a pie that has a lot of crust
so that it breaks up into a thousand pieces when it hits you.

[his infamous request of kids that got him suspended]
So I moved up as close to the camera as I could, and I
said, "Hey, kids, last night was New Year's Eve and your
mom and dad were out having a good time and it's only right,
since they work hard all year long. And they're probably still
in the bedroom asleep. Now, what I want you to do is tiptoe
into the bedroom and don't wake them up and you'll probably
see your mom's pocketbook on the floor along with your dad's
pants. Now, be real careful, because we don't want to wake
them up, but I want you to go into your mom's pocketbook
and your dad's pants and you'll find some little green pieces
of paper with pictures of guys with beards on them. Now,
what I want you to do is take those little pieces of green
paper and put them into an envelope, and on the envelope,
I want you to write Soupy Sales, Channel 5, New York,
New York, and you know what I'm gonna send you in
return? A postcard from Puerto Rico."

Soupy's Definitions:
Apple turnover--a command a fruit peddler uses when training
an apple.

Bacteria--the back door of a cafeteria.

Bewithces--the way people in Brooklyn say, I'll be right
there"--I'll bewitches in a second!"

Blue jeans--tight pants that tell dirty jokes.

Chestnuts--people who are crazy about Dolly Parton.

Dialogue--how you make a phone call to a tree.

Operating room--Warren Beatty's bedroom.

Stopwatch--the command a policeman gives to a Rolex
who's going too fast.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Soupy Gives Us His Story with his own warm but crazy Spin!, October 14, 2003

By 

Kevin S.Butler (Mamaroneck,New York,USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Soupy Sez!: My Life and Zany Times (Hardcover)

Here for the first time in print.Soupy Sales gives his fans his life story.As he takes his fans thru his early days in Franklinton,N.C.to his formative years in Huntington,West,Virgina.(The place that he still calls his home town),where he developed his talents as a radio broadcaster and as an entertainer.To his work in Cincinatti and Cleveland ,Ohio.Where he not only continued to work as a radio broadcaster and nightclub performer.But where he was introduced to the medium that would make him famous:Television.The book also looks at the creation of the kidult tv comedy show( on WXYZ TV Ch.7 in Detroit,Mi.,on KABC TV Ch.7 in L.A.,Ca. and on WNEW TV Ch.5 in NYC) for which he is still remembered.That was seen on Network and on local tv and his constant fighting with network and local station execs for creative freedom.Which he eventually lost and he was forced to work in other ventures.

While Soupy's memiors are not written in the tell all vein.He does gives us insight into the development of his many show business ventures and he allows us all to share in the memories of his childhood and his love for his family,his friends,his fans, for his hometowns:Huntington,West, Va. and NYC and for his work.

The book also recalls the recent accident that has impaired his physical stammina but not his ability to perform for his audiences and the love that has been expressed to him
at a recent Birthday Tribute that was held for Sales at The NYC
Frair's Club a few years ago.Where he still was able to maintain
a successful rapport with his fans.

The book also has some rare photos from Soupy's private
collection and a complete videography of his tv work(Which I have complied for the manuscript)that not only looks at his most
famous tv shows:"Lunch With Soupy Sales"/"The Soupy Sales Shows".The Tv Ography also recalled his guest appearances on many tv series and specials and his appearances at NYC's Macy's
Thanksgiving Day Parades on NBC TV In the mid 1960's.

If you're looking for a truly enjoyable and informative
autobiography? This is the best gift to have for Christmas and/or Hankakah! BTW:"Soupy Sez!:My Life & Zany Times!" is also
available in both hardcover and in paperback. Kevin S.Butler.