A '60s Childhood in NYC: Soupy, Sandy, and Chuck

I was born just a few years too late to have experienced these gents when they were doing their insanely mod, anarchic thing on local NYC TV stations, but they definitely elevated the kiddie show into the status of cult viewing for college age and older. They used vaudeville and burlesque bits, had a tech-crew in-studio that seemed to adore them, and they never, ever talked down to their viewers, whether they were 6 or 60. They acknowledged the hoariness of some of their gags, but in some cases they stole from the best (from Laurel and Hardy to Kovacs), and that's why you can watch their "children's shows" today and still be amused and amazed at what they did with no budget.

Here's an interview the late, much missed cranky Ch. 5 reviewer Stewart Klein did with Sandy, Soupy, and the "commercial ranger" on Captain VIdeo (with some awesome clips!):

Click here if the above doesn't work.

Here's just one sample of the SOUP, how we love him in the Funhouse (one rendition of the "Mouse," babies!). Why won't this one be appearing on DVD anytime soon? The Bela Lugosi mask sported by an onlooker (betcha Bela Jr. would want a clearance on that!):

Click here if the above doesn't work.

here's a sample of Sandy

Click here if the above doesn't work.

and one of the Chuckster, a man among men, and a gagster supreme:

Click here if the above doesn't work.

And here's the contributions of the gent who posted all these lovely material (full shows of all three of the above):
http://www.youtube.com/user/sandysoup


And, finally, let's hear it for the '70s, the decade where I grew into some kind of youth. A clip from Bob McAllister's Wonderama. This stuff was really intended for kids, as you'll see:

Click here if the above doesn't work.