Soupy Sales Loses Battle with Cancer

Soupy Sales, born January 8, 1926 was an American comedian, actor, and radio-TV personality and host. Born Milton Supman, his trademark ending to many of his Lunch with Soupy show skits involved Sales receiving a pie in the face.

From 1968 to 1975, he was a regular panelist on the syndicated revival of What's My Line? and appeared on several other TV game shows. During the 1980s Sales hosted his own show on WNBC-AM in New York City.

Many that grew up in the era of Soupy Sales knew him only by that name and not by his given name of Milton Supman. He was nicknamed Soupy Sales by his family. His older brothers had been nicknamed "Hambone" and "Chicken Bone"; Milton was dubbed "Soup Bone," which was later shortened to "Soupy". When he became a disc jockey, he began using the stage name Soupy Hines. After he became established, it was decided that "Hines" was too close to the Heinz soup company, so he chose the surname Sales, after comedian Chic Sale.

Puppets were a big part of Soupy Sales' television shows. White Fang, Black Tooth, Pookie the Lion, and Hippy the Hippo were all puppets that became a familiar part of Sales' showmanship.

He joined WNBC-AM as a disc jockey in 1985, a stint best remembered because Sales filled the hours between shock jocks Don Imus and Howard Stern.

Soupy Sales is survived by his wife, Trudy, and two sons, Hunt and Tony, who are musicians who have played with David Bowie, Todd Rundgren and Iggy Pop.

Cheryl Phillips
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sources: Wikipedia, msnbc.com