Milton Supman, known professionally as Soupy Sales, was an American comedian, actor, radio-television personality, and jazz aficionado. He was best known for his local and network children's television series, Lunch with Soupy Sales (1953–1966), a series of comedy sketches frequently ending with Sales receiving a pie in the face, which became his trademark. From 1968 to 1975, he was a regular panelist on the syndicated revival of What's My Line? and appeared on several other TV game shows. During the 1980s, he hosted his own show on WNBC in New York City.
Sales on Lunch With Soupy Sales in 1960
A hand puppet featuring a likeness of Sales
As Sales' guest, Frank Sinatra was no more immune to a pie in the face than his host.
Sales with White Fang in 1957
Pieing or a pie attack is the act of throwing a pie at a person. In pieing, the goal is usually to humiliate the victim while avoiding actual injury. For this reason the pie is traditionally of the cream variety without a top crust, and is rarely if ever a hot pie. In Britain, a pie in the context of throwing is traditionally referred to as a custard pie. An aluminium pie pan or paper plate filled with whipped cream or more typically, shaving cream can substitute for a real pie.
Taking a cream pie for charity.
In Fred Karno's "Mumming Birds" sketch (1904), a pie in the face appears in the 'Frivolity music hall scene'.
Frank Sinatra and Soupy Sales covered in pie.
Pie smash to Yolanda Barcina in Toulouse