Posted on 01/10/2005 2:42:45 PM PST by Mister Sophisticate
Comedian Soupy Sales, who once said a pie in the eye was worth two in the sky, saw his proclivity for pie-tossing pay off with a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame.
“I appreciate this from the bottom of my heart and I appreciate you all coming here in the rain,” Sales, who was seated in a wheelchair, said Friday.
The rain forced the ceremony to be held inside the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, with Hollywood's honorary mayor, Johnny Grant, setting up the 79-year-old comic's classic schtick.
“Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr. had pies thrown in their face by Soupy Sales and I want to belong to that club,” Grant said. He then got down within Sales' reach and took a pie in the face.
The star was the walk's 2,274th. Celebrities attending included actor Peter Marshall and actress Nancy Allen.
Sales, whose given name is Milton Supman, was born in North Carolina. He got his start as a radio scriptwriter and standup comic, going on to host immensely popular local children's shows in Cincinnati, Detroit, New York and Los Angeles. He also has made guest appearances on numerous TV shows, occasionally appeared in films and twice had hit records, with the novelty songs “The Mouse” and “Spy With a Pie.”
Besides throwing cream pies, Sales also takes them in the face. He once estimated he had been hit 25,000 times
Former Huntington [WVA] resident Soupy Sales received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and reacted Friday in trademark comedic fashion -- he threw a pie in the face of Hollywood Mayor Johnny Grant.
Ana Martinez-Holler, vice president of media relations with the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, said laughter dominated the ceremony from beginning to end. She said Sales and several attendees, including fellow former Huntington resident Peter Marshall -- longtime host of "The Hollywood Squares" -- refused to let persistent rain dampen their spirits.
"It was pouring rain, so the order of the ceremony was reversed," she said. "We did the (star) unveiling first and shot photos."
Martinez-Holler reported that Sales said, "I appreciate it from the bottom of my heart," during the ceremony.
Born in Franklinton, N.C., Sales spent most of his boyhood and adolescent years in Huntington. He hosted several regional and national television shows and appeared on broadcasts with the likes of Bob Hope, Judy Garland, Carol Burnett, Dean Martin and Ed Sullivan.
A current resident of New York City, Sales perhaps became best known for his pie-throwing shenanigans. Among the recipients of his pies -- 1,900 at last count -- were Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr. and Tony Curtis.
"I want to belong to that elite club," Grant said during the ceremony.
Sales hurled a pie at Grant and said his 1,901st pie would be his last, according to Martinez-Holler.
We loves ya, Soupy! (And White Fang and Blacktooth, too!)
Now there's a name I haven't heard in a long time.
I hope White Fang was there.
He's still alive?
Wow
Yeah, but what about White Fang, Black Tooth, and Pookie? As usualy, they get left out.
Best wishes to Soupy Sales a funny, funny man who made part of my childhood more bearable. I wish him all the best and I'd be honored to take a pie in the face from him.
He added, all you little boys and girls, take the cash from mommy and daddy's wallet and send it to me.
Reh-oh-rehhhh.
I guess it was about 1960 when I was watching "Lunch with Soupy Sales" one Saturday and I had the elegant good fortune of hearing Soupy say " You know my girlfriend may not be able to bake a pie but she sure can make my banana cream" Ya gotta love the guy
I liked the show where he opened his door and there was a nude woman behind it.
You just don't see tv like that anymore.
Pooky will have his revenge.
So will Black Tooth.
Believe me.
(Muttly listen to Bafalafaka all the time, and watches episodes of Philo Kvetch too)
As a kid I loved to watch Soupy. Can he still be seen on TV anywhere?
It's about time!
Soupy Sales is an American Original.
Funniest stuff I ever saw when I was 12.
Still funny.
Words of Wisdom: "Effervescent if your fiddlestix."
Killer.
I guess the standard for giving out stars on the walk of fame is going way down. Who's going to get one next, Carrot Top?
I don't think so, but you can check out Billy Ingrams site www.tvparty.com to see some clips.
I don't think they are given out. I think the celebrity sends an application and then pays.
Prop comics aren't eligible for any honors...their coupons for soup are regularly rejected at supermarkets.
I thought there were standards. There must be. If not, I'll send in and get one.
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