W. H. Ralph Reader born May 25, 1903 in Crewkerne, Somerset, United Kingdom

The inspiration for Gang Shows comes from Ralph Reader who started the London Gang Show in 1932. Ralph once said, "... every night of the year, somewhere in the world a Gang Show is playing." What a staggering thought!
Ralph was born the son of a Salvation Army bandmaster and began his theatrical career by putting on Scout Shows as a Patrol Leader in the 2nd Newhaven, Denton and Heighton Troop in Sussex.

He was orphaned as a boy and started work as a clerk before traveling to America to study for his true vocation, the stage. At the age of 21 he produced his first Broadway show and the New York Times wrote "Watch Ralph Reader". He later returned to England and within months of returning he was involved in several West End shows and triumph followed triumph at London's Drury Land and at the Hippodrome.

In 1932, still in his late 20's, at the Scala Theatre, London, Ralph staged his first "Scout Gang Show". His "stars" were Boy Scouts drawn mainly from London's down-to-earth East End. He was so worried that his image as a producer of sophisticated West End Revues might become blurred by his involvement with novices that he deliberately kept his name off of the programme. He needn't have worried . . . The show held three performances in late October and early November, 1932, a cast of 150, and an opening title of "The Gangs all here". Although many tickets for the first night were unsold, and there was disappointment when the Duke and Duchess of York were prevented at the last minute from attending the second, all three performances were rapturously received and prolonged cheering and singing marked the final night, with song after song encored. It was, the critics agreed, the biggest amateur success of the century.

The next year "The Gang Comes Back" at the Scala played to capacity houses, with hundreds turned away, and the public and press began referring to "The Gang Show". In 1934 that became the title and media pressure finally forced Ralph to confess to being the producer.

In 1937 "a bunch of Boy Scouts" as one writer described them, became the first amateurs to appear at a Royal Variety performance. They were in esteemed company - Gracie Fields, George Formby and Max Miller were all on the same bill - but they stole the show and had King George VI and Queen Elizabeth beating time in the Royal Box to "The Sun Breaks Through" and "Riding Down to Dixie".

Even the war didn't stop Ralph. He put on special performances for the British Expeditionary forces in France in 1939 and while serving in the RAF used airmen as "scouts". The first post-war performance of "Gang Show" ran for 3 weeks at the 3000 seat Blackpool Opera house in 1946 and broke all records.

In December 1950, Ralph opened a fresh show at the Kings Theatre in Hammersmith with a cast of 150 "old boys" and raw newcomers. This show was broadcast on both radio and television.

In 1954, the young Queen Elizabeth came specially to see the entire performance, rocking with laughter and slapping the side of the Royal Box. Other members of the Royal Family who became ardent fans were Princess Margaret, an ex-Brownie who at one performance heartily joined in with "Crest of a Wave", and the Queen Mother. Yet for all the honours and plaudits heaped upon him throughout his career, there were two he cherished most of all: his appointment to the post of Chief Scouts' Commissioner, and the granting in 1976 of the Bronze Wolf, World Scouting's highest honor.

In "Its Been Terrific", an autobiography published in 1953 he wrote: "The greatest influence for good in the whole of my life has been Scouting. The brothership it has given me, the richness of its ideals, in fact everything it stands for, have brought years of happiness I could never have enjoyed had it not been for the Movement".
The 18th of May 1982 was a day that marked the passing of a great man - one whose contribution to Scouting throughout the world is exceeded only that by Baden-Powell.

Ralph Reader is a theatre legend. In his lifetime he produced 19 shows on Broadway, 34 in London's West End and 50 shows in the Royal Albert Hall. He also wrote 15 books of plays, played in 5 films and composed over 400 songs.

Awarded CBE (1959) and MBE (Military Division) (1943) for service in RAF Intelligence.

Organised the Royal British Legion's Festival of Remembrance, at the Albert Hall,London.

In 1971 Reader was made a member of the UK entertainment charity, the Grand Order of Water Rats.

Reader was awarded the Bronze Wolf, the only distinction of the World Organization of the Scout Movement, awarded by the World Scout Committee for exceptional services to world Scouting, in 1975.
Choreographer, lyricist, director and producer (both theatre and television), Scouter.