"On New Year's morning, Soupy said, 'Sneak into your dad's room, go in his pants pocket and send me those small pieces of green paper. I'll send you a picture postcard from Puerto Rico.' Some lady complained that we were teaching children to steal and we got suspended for ten days!"

    About This Interview

    In his hour-and-a-half interview, Frank Nastasi (1923-2004) speaks in great detail about his years working with Soupy Sales on WXYZ-TV Detroit's Lunch with Soupy and WNEW-TV New York's The Soupy Sales Show. He animatedly describes and demonstrates the "voice" of some of his most memorable characters from these series (including lion puppet "Pookie," dog puppet "White Fang," whose great white hairy arm was all that was seen, and gangster "Onions Oregano"). He recalls several aspects of the shows such as the ad-libbing and spontaneity, working with memorable guest stars, and the experience of doing the famous "pie in the face" gags. Finally, Nastasi outlines the incident that got him and Soupy Sales suspended from the New York show, when Sales told kids on the air to send their parents' money to him, care of the network. Charles Salzberg conducted the interview on July 24, 2002 at the Friars Club in New York, NY.

    All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.
    People Talking About ...
    Thumbnail of Frank Nastasi

    Frank Nastasi on the infamous "green pieces of paper" incident on The Soupy Sales Show

    04:59
    Thumbnail of Frank Nastasi

    Frank Nastasi on his friendship with Soupy Sales

    00:48
    Thumbnail of Frank Nastasi

    Frank Nastasi on the character "Onions Oregano" on Soupy Sales' Lunch with Soupy

    02:29
    Thumbnail of Frank Nastasi

    Frank Nastasi on Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis, Jr. appearing on The Soupy Sales Show

    04:40
    Thumbnail of Frank Nastasi

    Frank Nastasi on mentoring and how he'd like to be remembered 

    00:54
    Play Full Interview

    Chapter 1

    On his early life and influences; on his service in World War II; on the first time he saw television and his first time on television

    06:47

    On going to work on Lunch with Soupy;  on his friendship with Soupy Sales; on writing for Soupy Sales early on and the various characters on the show

    06:37

    On doing the voice for "Pookie" on Soupy Sales; on appearing on the show Barnaby and the Ranger;  on the production of Lunch with Soupy

    06:06

    On the live aspect of Lunch with Soupy;  on Soupy Sales' trademark pie in the face; on the characters he provided voice for on Lunch with Soupy

    09:19

    Chapter 2

    On the character "Onions Oregano" on Lunch with Soupy; on the character of "the nut at the door" on Lunch with Soupy; on the series Soupy's On

    08:04

    On the music of Soupy's On; on leaving Soupy's On; on the Hollywood Blacklist

    04:12

    On working on The Soupy Sales Show; on the various elements of The Soupy Sales Show; on The  Soupy Sales Show naked girl prank

    09:19

    On Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis, Jr. appearing on The Soupy Sales Show; on the guest stars of The Soupy Sales Show

    08:48

    Chapter 3

    On the infamous "green pieces of paper" incident on The Soupy Sales Show;  on the sponsors and commercials of The Soupy Sales Show;  on the end of The Soupy Sales Show

    10:22

    On his post-The Soupy Sales Show  activities; on the legacy of Soupy Sales; on career achievements and regrets and how he'd like to be remembered

    11:55

    Soupy Sales Show, The

    Frank Nastasi on working on The Soupy Sales Show

    02:06

    Frank Nastasi on the differences between Lunch with Soupy and The Soupy Sales Show

    01:26

    Frank Nastasi on the characters of The Soupy Sales Show

    01:15

    Frank Nastasi on the various elements of The Soupy Sales Show

    02:04

    Frank Nastasi on The  Soupy Sales Show naked girl prank

    02:29

    Frank Nastasi on Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis, Jr. appearing on The Soupy Sales Show

    04:40

    Frank Nastasi on the guest stars of The Soupy Sales Show

    02:18

    Frank Nastasi on the infamous "green pieces of paper" incident on The Soupy Sales Show

    04:59

    Frank Nastasi on the sponsors and commercials of The Soupy Sales Show

    01:40

    Frank Nastasi on the end of The Soupy Sales Show

    02:01

    Frank Nastasi on the time slot of The Soupy Sales Show

    00:55

    Frank Nastasi on the popularity of The Soupy Sales Show

    00:46

    Bloopers

    Frank Nastasi on The  Soupy Sales Show  naked girl prank

    02:29

    Historic Events and Social Change

    Frank Nastasi on his service in World War II

    00:37

    Hollywood Blacklist

    Frank Nastasi on the Hollywood Blacklist

    01:44

    Industry Crossroads

    Frank Nastasi on the Hollywood Blacklist

    01:44

    Pop Culture

    Frank Nastasi on Soupy Sales' trademark pie in the face

    03:58

    Television Industry

    Frank Nastasi on the Hollywood Blacklist

    01:44

    Frank Nastasi on the then-current state of television 

    00:33

    War

    Frank Nastasi on his service in World War II

    00:37

    World War II

    Frank Nastasi on his service in World War II

    00:37

    Children's Programming

    Frank Nastasi on writing for and appearing on Lunch with Soupy

    22:02

    Frank Nastasi on writing for and performing on Lunch with Soupy (Part 2)

    04:41

    Frank Nastasi on writing for and performing on The Soupy Sales Show

    16:18

    Frank Nastasi on writing for and performing on The Soupy Sales Show  (Part 2)

    10:22

    Comedy Series

    Frank Nastasi on writing for and performing on Soupy's On

    05:52

    Sammy Davis, Jr.

    Frank Nastasi on Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis, Jr. appearing on The Soupy Sales Show

    04:40

    Soupy Sales

    Frank Nastasi on going to work on Lunch with Soupy

    01:22

    Frank Nastasi on the concept of Lunch with Soupy 

    01:34

    Frank Nastasi on his friendship with Soupy Sales

    00:48

    Frank Nastasi on writing for Soupy Sales' Lunch with Soupy  early on and the various characters on the show

    02:58

    Frank Nastasi on doing the voice for "Pookie" on Soupy Sales' Lunch with Soupy

    01:15

    Frank Nastasi on the production of Soupy Sales' Lunch with Soupy

    03:35

    Frank Nastasi on the live aspect of Soupy Sales' Lunch with Soupy

    03:52

    Frank Nastasi on Soupy Sales' trademark pie in the face

    03:58

    Frank Nastasi on the characters he provided voice for on Soupy Sales' Lunch with Soupy

    01:28

    Frank Nastasi on the character "Onions Oregano" on Soupy Sales' Lunch with Soupy

    02:30

    Frank Nastasi on the character of "the nut at the door" on Soupy Sales' Lunch with Soupy

    02:11

    Frank Nastasi on Soupy Sales' series Soupy's On

    03:24

    Frank Nastasi on the music of Soupy Sales' Soupy's On

    00:43

    Frank Nastasi on leaving Soupy Sales' Soupy's On

    01:45

    Frank Nastasi on working on The Soupy Sales Show

    02:06

    Frank Nastasi on the differences between Lunch with Soupy  and The Soupy Sales Show

    01:26

    Frank Nastasi on the characters of The Soupy Sales Show

    01:15

    Frank Nastasi on the various elements of The Soupy Sales Show

    02:04

    Frank Nastasi on The  Soupy Sales Show  naked girl prank

    02:29

    Frank Nastasi on Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis, Jr. appearing on The Soupy Sales Show

    04:40

    Frank Nastasi on the guest stars of The Soupy Sales Show

    02:18

    Frank Nastasi on the infamous "green pieces of paper" incident on The Soupy Sales Show

    04:59

    Frank Nastasi on the sponsors and commercials of The Soupy Sales Show

    01:40

    Frank Nastasi on the end of The Soupy Sales Show

    02:01

    Frank Nastasi on the time slot of The Soupy Sales Show

    00:55

    Frank Nastasi on the popularity of The Soupy Sales Show

    00:46

    Frank Sinatra

    Frank Nastasi on Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis, Jr. appearing on The Soupy Sales Show

    04:40

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