Absent from all the Soupy obits I have seen is the most famous episode known among us (then) adolescents back in the days of his show. He is said to have been fired for holding up his hand, palm inward, to the camera, with the index, middle and ring fingers showing.
He lowered the index finger saying that it was for his producer, then the ring finger saying it was for his director. The middle finger, which he left standing in the classic configuration, he said was for the sponsor. I have no idea whether the story was true, but being high adolescent humor, of course, it circulated like wildfire among us at the time. It made the man a myth in our hearts.
THE TEXAS SCRIBBLER 