Indie Street Reads #39 • 07/29/10
SOUPY SEZ
EVANS
Sitting down with this book is really much more like sitting across from an old storyteller. We’ve all had experiences with someone like this: the stranger who loves telling their story to everyone they meet. Sometimes, the stories are more interesting than others. In this case, you really do want to hear all of them… there’s no feigned interest. Soupy Sales hearkens from a time in media history that is basically a foreign entity today. Show biz was full of talented people that everyone looked up to and adored. You’ll also notice that I put the word ‘talented’ in there. That’s kind of critical. It’s what made these entertainers members of an elite bunch rather than just an enormous hodge-podge of well-to-do socialites. Throughout this autobiography, the reader develops an appreciation and fondness for “the olden days”. It’s also a lesson in media history. You get an insider’s account of how television and radio evolved when they were both struggling to find an identity and adapt to shifts in attitudes and technology. Much like the Ed Sullivan book reviewed in an earlier ‘Reads’, I recommend this one for any of our readers/listeners and probably their parents and grandparents, too. If you’re looking for a meaningful gift that’s put out by a smaller press about simpler times, look no further.
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What To Listen To While Reading This Book:
Tim Hecker
