Figure 1.--Skits and comedic exchanges are a popula part of most Gang Shows in the Vaudeville tradition. This is a scene from an English Gang Show in 1999.

Gang Shows then spread quickly to many other countries around the world. It was perhaps the biggest hit in Australia, but it has become a treasured facit of Scouting in many countries around the world. It is often said that a Gang Show is playing somewhere in the world every night of the year! It was especially popular in British Empire countries. For some reason in never caught on in America.

America

Scout Gang Shows never proved very popular in America. I'm not sure why this was. We do not have any information at this time on specific American productions.

Australia

The English Scout Gang Show was no where as popular outside England as it was in Australia. I am not sure when the Gang Show was first produced in Aistralia. We note a production as late as 1999.

England

The English Scout Gang Show was conceived in England and became a bloved part of the Scouting program there. The London First Gang Show's curtain went up in 1932 and made its way into Scouting History. It was the brains of Ralph Reader that produced and directed the first Gang Show, which ran for three nights at Londons Scala Theatre and was a immediate success. Ralph not only produced the shows, but also wrote over four hundred songs and over three hundred sketches that put them together. One of the most famous, Crest of a Wave, was one of the first and can be heard in almost every Gang Show across the world.

New Zealand

New Zealand Scouts, like those in Australia, have developed a wonderful tradition of Scout Gang Shows in the finest traditions of those first presented by English Scouts. The first Gang Show was produced in 1956 and there have since been many successful Gang Shows produced by Scout Groups all over New Zealand. Scout Gang Shows are popular events in New Zealand. We have noted Gang Shows being held throughout New Zealand by Scouts and Guides working together. Perhaps the most important is the Central Gang Show held at Auckland Grammar School. Other recent shows have been held in Christchurch, Hawera, Hawkes Bay (Hastings), Hutt Valley, Kapiti (Otaki), Manuatu (Pamerston North), North Shore Gang Show (Takapuna, Auckland), Otago Gang Show (Dunedin), and Wairarapa. An especially well done one was produced by Scouts in the Christchurch area during 1996.

Scotland

One of the most established Scottish Scout Gang Shows is in Edinburg. The show there began in 1959, quite a bit after the first English show. We also notice gang shows in Glasgow. Of course skits and gags with kilts were a perenial favorite. We're not sure if they are still produced.