Gang Show

In 1931, Ralph Reader, a Rover Scout trying to make his mark in theatre in the United States and London, was asked to write a Scout-based variety show to raise money for a swimming pool at Downe Scout Camp (now a Scout Association National Activity Centre). Rehearsals began under Reader's direction on 25 May 1932, his 29th birthday. Initially the show did not have a title, but during a rehearsal break, Reader recalled, he asked a cast member if everyone was ready, to which the response was "Aye, aye Skip, the gang's all here". The first production, ''The Gang's All Here'', ran between 30 October and 1 November 1932 at the Scala Theatre in central London. and in New York in December 1938. Following the Second World War, the London Gang Show restarted in December 1950 at the King's Theatre, Hammersmith, in the presence Princess Margaret. In 1952, the show moved to the larger Golders Green Hippodrome and in 1954, Queen Elizabeth II was the guest of honour. 1972 was the 40th anniversary of the Gang Show and was attended by the Queen and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh; highlights of the show were televised by the BBC and famous former cast members, Dick Emery, Graham Stark, David Lodge and Brian Johnston were interviewed. ==Gang Shows around the world==

Since the first show in London, productions have been organised around the world, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. In 1958 Reader went to Chicago to produce and direct the first Gang Show in America. He returned to Chicago next year to guide the second. Reader first went to Chicago in 1920 as a teenager and began his stage career there. Newcastle Gang Show started in April 1937 followed by Peterborough Gang Show in November 1937 and apart from the war years has run ever since. Harpenden Gang Show has performed every year since 1949, making it the longest continuously running Gang Show in the world. It is often said that every night, a Gang Show is performing around the world. == Gang Show spin-offs ==

In Melbourne, Australia, the Showtimes came out of the strong theatre culture of the area. These are smaller than the local Gang Show, with the exception of Whitehorse Showtime which is the largest show in the Southern Hemisphere, originally pulling from a single district to produce a show. Currently, there are four of these shows; Whitehorse Showtime, South Metro Showtime, Camberwell Showtime and Strzelecki Showtime. Because these showtimes are not Gang Shows, they do not have the red scarf instead choosing a different colour, such as Strzelecki Showtime's gold scarf or Whitehorse Showtime’s lilac scarf . ==See also==