His Detroit shows were a lot looser and less overtly "hip", which made them seem even more hip: He played off of the technical crew, who were always heard very audibly laughing, cracking up at his shtick, and no effort was made at all to create the illusion that Soupy was on anything other than a cheap tv set in a studio. Later shows from New York and LA started altering his show, making it slicker and play more to a hipper audience, which took some of the charm away. PLus, at some point, his key man, Clyde Adler, decided to not follow Soupy on these changes. Adler was a big big part of the whole "Soupy thing", whatever that was, as was a fellow Detroit personality, Rube Weiss, who often showed up on Soupy's night show as "Shoutin' Shorty Hogan". Adler turned up on his night show too, often as a fellow gambler aboard the Mississippi riverboat, the S.S Kielbasa. God, were these shows silly!---and really hysterical. since they were done without the slightest bit of guile.
The best Soupy was when he was in Detroit, which this episode is close to. He usually always wore that top hat and a big bow tie (tho not as big as this one), and Pookie just whistled and did lip sync to pre-recorded shtick, like the "Old Philosopher". There was also a ridiculous character called Willy the Worm, who stuck his head out of a tiny house trailer window and did birthday wishes (a lot of which were fake made-up goofy names) before starting to cough and wheez. A really surreal children's show. And he was on every day in the morning, then, again, at night on a "nightclub"-type show at 11pm called "Soupy's On" which was just about as silly as his kid's show. We used to take still photos off of the tv screen and "wire-record" him off the air. Yes, a "wire-recorder", which was sort of pre-1/4" audio tape.
+RSEFX I wish the Detroit shows were available to see. Soupy was wonderful. I do remember the wire recorders but never had one. Thanks for your nice message and for watching
+WayBackMachineOne WXYZ TV in Detroit kept a couple brief tape (or kinescope) recordings, which is about all I recall seeing of those early, pre-New York shows we grew up with between 1953 and '59 or so. Since Soupy was on twice a day every day, we saw a LOT of Soupy in those years (our parents even let us watch his supposedly "adult" night show, which, as i say, was just as silly and innocent fun as his morning or afternoon shows. The only real difference is that he was a "normal" set and had a small sextet playing jazz and such. But the humor was just as nonsensical, the sketches maybe even more hilarious and silly as his daytime bits.
I remember these gags better than the multiplication tables. Always ate lunch with Soupy in Motown!
This is his Detroit show. He left Motown in 1960 for L.A. His Detroit shows were the best.
His Detroit shows were a lot looser and less overtly "hip", which made them seem even more hip: He played off of the technical crew, who were always heard very audibly laughing, cracking up at his shtick, and no effort was made at all to create the illusion that Soupy was on anything other than a cheap tv set in a studio. Later shows from New York and LA started altering his show, making it slicker and play more to a hipper audience, which took some of the charm away. PLus, at some point, his key man, Clyde Adler, decided to not follow Soupy on these changes. Adler was a big big part of the whole "Soupy thing", whatever that was, as was a fellow Detroit personality, Rube Weiss, who often showed up on Soupy's night show as "Shoutin' Shorty Hogan". Adler turned up on his night show too, often as a fellow gambler aboard the Mississippi riverboat, the S.S Kielbasa. God, were these shows silly!---and really hysterical. since they were done without the slightest bit of guile.
Clyde Adler was also "Pookie The Whistiling Lion"puppet on this first episode of"Lunch With Soupy Sales"on The ABC TV Network.
+Kevin Butler Yes Kevin that's true. Thanks
You're Welcome.
I loved Clyde and also Frank Nastisi. Both excellent
The best Soupy was when he was in Detroit, which this episode is close to. He usually always wore that top hat and a big bow tie (tho not as big as this one), and Pookie just whistled and did lip sync to pre-recorded shtick, like the "Old Philosopher". There was also a ridiculous character called Willy the Worm, who stuck his head out of a tiny house trailer window and did birthday wishes (a lot of which were fake made-up goofy names) before starting to cough and wheez. A really surreal children's show. And he was on every day in the morning, then, again, at night on a "nightclub"-type show at 11pm called "Soupy's On" which was just about as silly as his kid's show. We used to take still photos off of the tv screen and "wire-record" him off the air. Yes, a "wire-recorder", which was sort of pre-1/4" audio tape.
+RSEFX I wish the Detroit shows were available to see. Soupy was wonderful. I do remember the wire recorders but never had one. Thanks for your nice message and for watching
+WayBackMachineOne WXYZ TV in Detroit kept a couple brief tape (or kinescope) recordings, which is about all I recall seeing of those early, pre-New York shows we grew up with between 1953 and '59 or so. Since Soupy was on twice a day every day, we saw a LOT of Soupy in those years (our parents even let us watch his supposedly "adult" night show, which, as i say, was just as silly and innocent fun as his morning or afternoon shows. The only real difference is that he was a "normal" set and had a small sextet playing jazz and such. But the humor was just as nonsensical, the sketches maybe even more hilarious and silly as his daytime bits.
I wish we had more of those shows
From 1959 to 1961 Soupy's show was sponsored by Jello.
I was hoping this episode had Pookie, but I’ll take what I can get. Pookie used to just whistle instead of speak.
Yes, I was also hoping Pookie would be on it
Has any of the 'Philo Kvetch' story line survived ? As a New York kid the Detroit shows are new to me. Thanks
Unfortunately not that I know of.
I remember Philo kvetch in NYC in the 60s
@j3lny425,Yes,there are some of Soupys Philo sketches posted here which have Frank Nastasi as “Onions Oregano”.
There are a bunch of episodes of the Soupy Sales Show on Jewish Life Television (JLTV) I get it on DirecTV
It is good Soupy is back on tv. Too bad JLTV does not have many of the shows
Your Dean Martin Jerry Lewis video is out of sync! Please correct it!!!
Need to know the name of the show or who the guest is to be able to correct it
It was your post of the Jerry Lewis Dean Martin Comedy Hour with Buddy Rich...that is what is all out of sync.
Thanks. I will look into it
What happened to the theme song?
It was cut for some reason