Every week, I get a couple of e-mails just because of an article I wrote about Soupy Sales. This is the piece Soupy reprinted in his autobiography, even though I got the name of his director wrong…and therefore, it's wrong in his autobiography, too. (It's corrected in my online version.)
Soupy was and is much-loved and a lot of folks ask me how to get in touch with him so they can send fan letters, and I have to tell them I can't help. Though I've met the man a few times, I don't really know Soupy and don't want to hand out the only contact info I have for him, which is apparently his home address. However, the other day on his radio show, Howard Stern said Soupy was in poor health. He gave out an address (the address of the publisher of the National Enquirer and the Globe) and said Soupy would welcome fan mail sent to him at that address.
A friend of Soupy's sent me that info and suggested I post it…and earlier today, I did. Soon after, another friend of Soupy's — apparently, a closer friend — wrote to say that Howard was outta line, that Soupy's health is not as bad as Stern suggested. In fact, just the other day, he made an appearance to receive an award at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Here's a link to an article about the event.
It's true that Soupy, who's usually seen in a wheelchair, is not as well as we'd all like…but there's poor health and then there's Poor Health, and I'm happy to see he's still out and around and especially that he's getting awards. Talk about a guy who inspired an entire generation…