SOUPY SALES
(January 8, 1926-October 22, 2009)
Notable Roles: Donkey Kong, Professor Prophet/Sonny
Dey
Born Milton Soupman, he adopted the stage name “Soupy Hines”
from his childhood nickname of “Soup Bone”. He later changed it to “Sales” after
vaudeville comedian Chic Sale
as “Hines” made him sound too similar to the Heinz soup company.
Sales abandoned his interest in journalism to become a writer and disc jockey
for WHTN (now WVHU) in Wet Virginia
while also doing a comedy routine in clubs. After DJing in Cincinnati, Sales
went into television in 1950 as the host of Soupy’s Soda Shop, TV’s
first dance television program, followed by the talk show Club Nothing that
showcased his zany brand of comedy. In 1953, he began The Soupy Sales Show on
Detroit’s ABC-affiliate WXYZ-TV. Convinced by colleagues who performed
as clowns on television, Sales opted to abandon anonymity (and the ability to
be easily replaced) and chose a costume comprised of a sweater, a top hat and an
oversized polka-do bowtie. WXYZ expanded his work with the daily daytime kids’
show 12 O’Clock Comics, later renamed to Lunch
With Soupy Sales as he always ate lunch with his audience, and the
late-night show, Soupy’s On. ABC offered Sales the Saturday slot on the
network for Lunch. Sales continued to do variations of his show until
1966, with a revival attempt in 1979. Sales appeared in guest spots on various
programs, usually as himself but sometimes playing another character, minor
roles in several movies, and eventually carved out a second career as a
recurring guest on a variety of game shows; including being a regular on the revival
of What’s My Line?
and hosting Junior Almost Anything Goes. In 1983, he starred in his
first cartoon as the titular character of the Donkey
Kong segment of Saturday Supercade. Sales returned to radio on WNBC in New York from
1985-87. He died in 2009 from cancer.
Saturday Credits:
Lunch with Soupy Sales
Junior Almost Anything Goes
Saturday Supercade
No comments:
Post a Comment