Frank Nastasi

Performer

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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About

About this interview

In his hour-and-a-half Archive 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.

"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!"

Highlights

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

04:59

Frank Nastasi on his friendship with Soupy Sales

00:48

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

02:29

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

04:40

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

00:54

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Shows

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

Topics

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

Genres

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

People

Sammy Davis, Jr.

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

04:40

Soupy Sales

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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

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

04:40