For the boomers, Soupy Sales was like a member of the family, and even more so if you grew up in Detroit, like I did.

However, I appreciated this program for more global reasons. First, it provides a glimpse into what early TV was, how it operated more like radio, and the vast difference between broadcasting and broadband!

Secondly, in understanding in long ago and far away hindsight what Soupy really was (probably the first mainstream TV hipster by way of vaudeville), it dawns on me that it could be HIM that ignited my own appreciation of such American delights as jazz, blues, beats, Marx Brothers or Lenny Bruce, when, as an upper middle class kid in a Detroit suburb, I had little or no claim to any of those influences. Who realized?

The caveat here about the program is: I prefer production that does not depend so heavily on interviews conducted by telephone, knowing that it is unavoidable for many, but it can't complete with the production values of the better offerings. Secondly, the interesting points made in the program were made several times over by different speakers, from various angles. It sounded alittle bit like not working long enough on editing, or wanting to use ALL the tape, or not being sure how to fill an hour.

But despite all that, this was a very happy hour of listening for me.