What’s Happening in Ocean City

OCEAN CITY – Soupy Sale’s Famous Prank to Be Duplicated for Doo Dah:
On New Year’s Day, Jan. 1, 1962, famed comedian Soupy Sales was wrapping up his popular Children’s TV show when the program’s producer gave him the signal to improvise. In those days, the syndicated program was presented live, there was no videotaping. Nothing was edited or sanitized. What you saw was went over the airways.
What followed that New Year’s morning were a few moments of impish improvisation that made television history.
Soupy, realized that the majority of his fan’s parents were still asleep. So he advised his TV charges, most of whom were too young to read or write, to check out their parents’ wallets, find a picture of an old man on green paper, and to mail it to him. He gave no address.
What followed was a flurry of Monopoly and play money plus one dollar in bona fide U.S. Currency probably mailed in by an amused parent PLUS several tons of righteous indignation from folks upset about being aroused early on New Year’s Day.
“I never realized how powerfully TV affected people, until I experienced the explosion those off-the cuff remarks made back in 1965,” said the late, beloved comedian. One woman even contacted the Federal Government about conducting an investigation.”
Today, most TV historians consider the event an interesting and humorous foot note to the comedian’s career. They cite TV advertisers frequent attempts to promote sugar filled products that result in childhood obesity as promoting real harm.
Enter, the Board of Governors of the 2012 Doo Dah Parade, who have announced their intention of using Soupy’s Comedic genius to make a positive impact on the Community.
A proclamation of the board issued this week states,” Therefore, let it be known that a Doo Dah Comedy Show will be held on Fri., April 13 inside the Music Pier at 8 p.m. It will be a tribute to the late, great comedian Soupy Sales. Admission will be by green, pieces of paper (also known as legal tender, featuring engravings of old men most of them with beards).The program will include star of movies, TV sitcoms, Commercials, and Children’s TV Shows, Chuck McCann; impersonators of legendary comedians; Paul D’vers, Soupy’s musical director, who will narrate his videos and Soupy’ s widow, Trudy Sales, a former June Taylor dancer.
All pieces of paper with illustrations of old men with beards will be donated to the Ocean City Food Cupboard.
You may drop off your favorite president and/or presidents in exchange for admission tickets at the City Hall Information Desk, ground floor, 9th and Asbury Ave. or the Public Relations Office, second floor of City Hall. You can also bring your legal tender to the door. If you decide to drop off a thousand dollar bill please have it accompanied by an armed guard and several attack dogs.
Following is a schedule of Easter Weekend Events in Ocean City.
(Sat., April 7) Woofin’ Paws Pet Fashion Show, 11 a.m., Carey Stadium, 6th St. off Boardwalk. Pets compete in various categories including Best Dressed, Best Bonnet, Best Tail Wagger, Best Bathing Suit, Most Patriotic, Pet-owner Look-Alike and Intelligent Pet Tricks. A $5 entry fee benefits the Ocean City Humane Society, a No Kill Shelter. Spectator admission is free but visitors may make a donation to benefit the Society if they so choose. Best of Show wins the Dean Schofield Woofin’ Paws Plaque for Perfection, named after the late Dean Schofield who was a volunteer member of the Ocean City Public Relations Staff for many years. Call (609) 525-9300 for information.
(Fri.-Sun., April 6-8) Breakfast With The Easter Bunny: 8 a.m. till 2 p.m., April 6; 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 7 and 8 a.m. till noon April 8th at the Chatterbox, 9th and Central Ave. Order from menu. Take free photos with the Easter Bunny. Call (609) 399-0113 for reservations.
(Sat., April 7) Easter In the Downtown: Breakfast with the Easter Bunny (see above), free photos with the Bunny in a Lifeguard Stand, Candy filled eggs for children. Open an egg at the time of a sale for Eggstra Special Savings along the downtown, 6th to 11th Sts. on Asbury Ave. For information, call (609) 398-4662.
(Sat., April 7) The Great Easter Egg Hunt: This event is held at 2:30 p.m. from 11th to 14th Sts. on the Beach. There are 5 age groups: 0-2 years at 11th St., 3-4 years at 11th St., 5 years at 12 St. 6 years at 12 St. and 7 years at 13th St. Over 100,000 eggs will be given away filled with candy or toys.
(Sun., April 8) The Easter Sunrise Service: A traditional, non denominational service by the sea, held at the Music Pier, Boardwalk and Moorlyn Terrace at 6:30 a.m. Music will be provided by the Nancy Fox School. David Burke of Ocean Grove will be guest speaker. The public is invited, call (609) 525-9300.
(Sun., April 8) Easter Fashion Boardwalk Promenade: Starts 1 p.m. at the Music Pier, Boardwalk and Moorlyn Terrace. Prizes are awarded to Best Dressed Family, Children, Male, Female, Teen Male, Teen Female, Bonnet and Most Unusual Bonnet. Contestants should congregate in the vicinity of the Music Pier no later than 1 p.m. The Easter Bunny arrives and hands out Chocolate Bunnies to children and poses for photos starting 1 p.m. The event is free.
For information on Ocean City Easter events, call (609) 525-9300.
The Ocean City Humane society is making animal adoptions more affordable. The Shelter now offers an Alumni Discount Card. All animals adopted at the Society will be eligible for a 10 per cent discount on all veterinary services for life at its Medical Center.
This discount is retroactive for animals previously adopted from the shelter as well. Current pet owners should contact the Shelter to obtain their discount card.
The Society is one of the first in the State to offer this type of discount program. It is one of 25 in the country to operate a no-kill adoption center as well as full veterinary care, animal control services and educational community outreach programs.
“Our goal is to increase adoptions as well as make it more affordable for pet owners to give their animals the exceptional care they deserve.” said Bill Hollingsworth, Executive Director of the Society.
For information on programs, call the Shelter Manager (609) 399-2018. The adoption center is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Clinic hours are by appointment only, call (609) 399-2800. Check the shelter website for complete list of services www.HSOCnj.org.
Other news: Because it’s March date sold out the Ocean City Tabernacle is adding a second trip to Lancaster, Pa. to see the world famous Sight and Sound presentation of JONAH. The additional date is Thurs., April 26. The bus leaves the Tabernacle at 9:30 a.m. and returns about 9:15 p.m. Cost is $115 and includes coach bus, smorgasbord lunch, admission and all gratuities. Call (609) 399-1915 or access OCTabernacle.org.
Contestants are wanted for the N.J. National Teenager Pageant to be held at the Music Pier in April. This is a preliminary for a nation-wide competition to be held this summer in San Antonio, Texas. There are teen and pre-teen age groups with cash prizes awarded to winners and runners-up in all divisions. For information, call (609) 652-8216 or visit www.NJNationalTeen.com.
Can you sing? Can you dance? Can you play an instrument? If so, the Ocean City/Upper Township Rotaract Club invites you to its first South Jersey Talent Star Competition. Win cash prizes, trophies and “get your name out in the community.”
The event will be held 7 p.m. June 28th at the Ocean City Tabernacle. For an application, email southjerseytalentstar@gmail.com.
The Ocean City Library, 17th and Simpson Ave., offers many on-going events, activities and educational programs. Check out www.oceancitylibrary.org or consult newsletters@oceancitylibrary.org.