Fifty years ago, if you were a kid growing up in New York City, Soupy Sales was the man.

If you never heard of him, you're forgiven for wondering how someone named Soupy could ever be considered the man. You're further forgiven if you scratch your head after learning that Soupy was an after-school children's TV show host who made his name by taking pies in the face (and tossing them at big name celebrities like Frank Sinatra).

But if you saw Soupy on TV, you know he was more than that.

Soupy had an adult patter that fit just perfectly into a young baby bommer's sensibility. He was a comic whose jokes, often filled with double-entendres, went over Mom and Dad's heads, but hit home with the kids.

Check him out on YouTube, where there are several clips of his work. In particular, look for the byplay between Soupy and his "pets" White Fang, Black Tooth and Pookie. Don't ask. Maybe he won't translate to those who don't know him. I say, just look back and enjoy.

Soupy Sales died last week. A part of my youth went with him.