No More Pies in the Face For Soupy Sales

Sylvia Craig of Campbell, Calif., asks: "Whatever happened to Soupy Sales?"

Though he's no longer getting his face smothered with pies, Soupy Sales, the pie-in-the-face host of a 1960s televised children's show, "The Soupy Sales Show," is still making people laugh.

Celebrating his 50th year of professional clowning, the comedian, who estimates he has had at least 20,000 face-to-pie encounters, is as active as ever.

When asked why he has not retired, Mr. Sales frequently answers with the question: "What else would I be doing?" says his agent Jeff Schwartz.

Returning to television, Sales is starring in the PBS kids' show "Camp Itchy Fish" scheduled to air in January.

But his wit can also be experienced on the big screen. He is featured in the movie "Behind the Seams" with Danny Aiello and Tony Randall, to be released in September.

Sales also has taken his love for performing to comedy clubs in states including California, Florida, New Jersey, and Michigan. And he will be entertaining at the Riviera Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas at the end of this month.

In recognition of his 50 years of making people laugh, he was awarded the Silver Circle last year by Sony. The award honors those who have contributed to television for at least 25 years.

Born in rural Franklinton, N.C., Sales was nicknamed Soupy because his birth name Hines sounded like the canned-food company, Heinz.

A Manhattanite for 32 years, Sales lives with his wife, Trudy Carson Sales, on the East Side.