Valley tradition continues
Scout Endmen or joke tellers, performing “MOTHER” as a Mother’s Day
tribute during the 2013 Scout Gang Show. / Contributed photo
DERBY - Housatonic BSA Cub Scout Pack 3, Boy Scout Troop 3 and Venture Crew 33 Scouts are preparing for their 90th Annual Scout Gang Show at 7:30 p.m. May 9 and 10 at the Derby Methodist Church Fellowship Hall.
The church is located at the corner of Fifth and Elizabeth Streets, near the Derby Green.
The
show is part old-time minstrel, part variety show and part Gang Show,
in the English Scouting tradition.
Longest-running gang show in the world
First performed in 1922, and annually except for two years during World War II, the Derby Scout Gang Show has the distinction of being the longest-running show of its kind in the world.
Longest-running gang show in the world
First performed in 1922, and annually except for two years during World War II, the Derby Scout Gang Show has the distinction of being the longest-running show of its kind in the world.
The
late local Scouting pioneer and Derby Hall of Fame member Edmund D.
Strang had several friends involved in English Scout Gang Shows and he
would attend
the shows when visiting there. He eventually merged the minstrel and
Gang Show concepts into an unique version of the Scout Gang Show, and
the rest as they say, is history.
Derby’s
Scout Gang Show has been written up in Yankee and Scouting Magazines
and in 1999, it was also featured on National Public Radio’s “Lost and
Found
Sounds” program.
When honoring Strang and the longevity of the show in 1985, President Ronald Reagan referred to the Gang Show as “Connecticut’s finest example of controlled chaos.”
When honoring Strang and the longevity of the show in 1985, President Ronald Reagan referred to the Gang Show as “Connecticut’s finest example of controlled chaos.”
The
term Gang Show goes back to 1932 when Ralph Reader was directing a
Scout show in London as a way to raise money for the local Scout camp
swimming
pool.
According to Reader, “One night during rehearsals word was
brought to me that the title of the show had to be decided that evening
so that posters could be got ready for the initial announcements to the
public. We had just broken for coffee. Then
1 told one of the boys to call the cast back to continue rehearsals. As
they all crowded back into the room I said to the youngster, "Are they
all back?"
He looked at me and in a Cockney voice said, "Aye, aye, Skip; the gang's all here." I stood rooted to the spot. "The gang's all here!" "THE GANG'S ALL HERE!' That's it! That was the title we had been looking for. We were a Gang and the Gang was all here. Yes sir, I thought, that's IT.”
Gang Shows immediately took off all over the United Kingdom, and Australia and some even in the U.S. Although shows are still performed by Scouts throughout the United Kingdom and former British colonies, the Derby Scout Gang Show is the only show of its kind still being performed in the U.S.
He looked at me and in a Cockney voice said, "Aye, aye, Skip; the gang's all here." I stood rooted to the spot. "The gang's all here!" "THE GANG'S ALL HERE!' That's it! That was the title we had been looking for. We were a Gang and the Gang was all here. Yes sir, I thought, that's IT.”
Gang Shows immediately took off all over the United Kingdom, and Australia and some even in the U.S. Although shows are still performed by Scouts throughout the United Kingdom and former British colonies, the Derby Scout Gang Show is the only show of its kind still being performed in the U.S.
Strang
was the Gang Show director, Interlocutor and driving force for 70
years.
Troop 3 Scoutmaster Randy Ritter has been directing the show for 20 years.
Ritter said, “The annual show allows our Cub Pack, Scout Troop and Venturer Crew to work together towards a common goal, the Scouts gain self confidence performing while learning traditional songs and we raise funds to support our Scouting activities.”
Troop 3 Scoutmaster Randy Ritter has been directing the show for 20 years.
Ritter said, “The annual show allows our Cub Pack, Scout Troop and Venturer Crew to work together towards a common goal, the Scouts gain self confidence performing while learning traditional songs and we raise funds to support our Scouting activities.”
Cooperative
Arts and Humanities High School Senior Jeremey Lombard will be
accompanying the Scout soloists and chorus as the pianist and Troop 3
Scout
Matthew Moran will serve as Chorus Director.
The "endmen" or fun men, who will be telling jokes for the show are: Michael McMahon, Steven Tracz, Dominic Livoti, Billy Kowarik, Andrew Devine, Colby McLiverty, Anthony Bartholomew, Justin Patten and Joseph Szewczyk.
The "endmen" or fun men, who will be telling jokes for the show are: Michael McMahon, Steven Tracz, Dominic Livoti, Billy Kowarik, Andrew Devine, Colby McLiverty, Anthony Bartholomew, Justin Patten and Joseph Szewczyk.
More
than 100 Scouts, leaders and parents will be performing. Rodman Kneen
Jr. has been directing the "stooges" who perform one-line run on gags,
for
more than 60 years. Kneen, whose first performance in the show was as a
Cub Scout in 1932, is celebrating a remarkable 82 years in Scouting.
Stooges in this year’s show include Crew 33 Venture Scouts Joshua Moscato, Caine Jimmo, Adam Sroka, Matthew Edwards, and Ben Grasso. It is the Stooges who will perform an ongoing gag bringing up an ever growing tree sapling throughout the show, searching for its owner, Mrs. Jones.
Stooges in this year’s show include Crew 33 Venture Scouts Joshua Moscato, Caine Jimmo, Adam Sroka, Matthew Edwards, and Ben Grasso. It is the Stooges who will perform an ongoing gag bringing up an ever growing tree sapling throughout the show, searching for its owner, Mrs. Jones.
The
theme for the show is "Ain’t We Got Fun" and will feature hit songs
from the show through the years. Highlights include the Endmen with a
medley of
“baby” songs, Cub Scout Jackson Kellogg performing “Dennis the Menace”,
Scout Michael Szewczyk singing “Carolina in the Morning” and Venture
Scout Michael Shea singing “Minnie the Moocher.”
In addition, the Scouts will be performing traditional Scout Gang Show classics such as “Bye Bye Blackbird,” “Hey Good Lookin’” and “When the Red, Red Robin Comes Bob Bob Bobbin’ Along.” Special guests include former Derby Mayor and current Town/City Clerk Marc Garofalo and Sarah Beth Widomski.
In addition, the Scouts will be performing traditional Scout Gang Show classics such as “Bye Bye Blackbird,” “Hey Good Lookin’” and “When the Red, Red Robin Comes Bob Bob Bobbin’ Along.” Special guests include former Derby Mayor and current Town/City Clerk Marc Garofalo and Sarah Beth Widomski.
In
addition to Garofalo, Center Stage director Gary Scarpa, former Ansonia
Mayor Bill Menna, and Shelton Aldermanic President John Anglace all
performed
in the show as youths.
The show's most famous alumnus is TV, stage, and
movie actor Brian Dennehy, who performed "Be A Good Scout" on the same
Derby Methodist Church stage in the 1948 show.
Tickets for the show are $8 and are available from any Pack 3, Troop 3 or Crew 33 Scout or by calling 203-732-0343.
A limited number of tickets will be
available at the door.
Proceeds help send Scouts to summer camp at Ed Strang Scout Reservation, Cub Scout Day camp and the Scouts’ upcoming three-week cross-country camping trek.
Proceeds help send Scouts to summer camp at Ed Strang Scout Reservation, Cub Scout Day camp and the Scouts’ upcoming three-week cross-country camping trek.
This is a press release from Troop 3 Scoutmaster Randy Ritter.
