Scout Show Approaching 84 Years!

From left, Matt Decho, Barry Howard and David Spinetti "clown around" with Pack 3 Cub Scout Naveen Madivala during the 2007 Scout Gang Show.

The more than 100 members of Cub Pack 3, Boy Scout Troop 3 and Venture Crew 33 will present their 84th Annual Scout Gang Show on May 9 & 10 at the Derby United Methodist Church. Part old time minstrel, vaudeville, and variety show, the longest running show of it's kind has been performed by the scouts since 1922. Scout Gang Shows are performed throughout the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, however the Derby Scout Gang Show, which has become a valley tradition, is the only one performed in the United States.

The show includes old time songs, skits and jokes. The stooges, who perform run-on skits in between the songs, are under the direction of Venture Crew 33 Committee Chairman Mr. Rodman Kneen, who has been involved with the show since 1932. Venture Crew 33 Scouts serving as stooges are Alex Neuendorf, Alex Oppel, Jim Anderson, Ray Veillette and Chuck Stankye.

Many of the songs being performed this year are war inspired tunes, such as "How ya going to keep them down on the farm" from WW1, "Ma, I miss your apple pie" from WWII and "The ballad of the Green Berets" from the Vietnam War. Long time Gang Show Performer Donald King will perform "God Bless the USA" as a tribute to those currently serving in the military at home and abroad. The scouts will also be offering the audience the opportunity to order Boy Scout Popcorn that will be shipped directly to the military serving in the Middle East.

In addition to King the other Endmen, or joke tellers include Matthew Decho, Al Palumbo, Barry Howard, Adam Cleri, Michael McMahon, Alec Hughes and Christopher Wentz. Marc Weissman is serving as the pianist and Troop 3 Assistant Scoutmaster John Spinetti is in charge of lights and sound.

Many local community leaders have performed in the show in their youth including former mayors Marc Garofalo, Bill Menna and Gene Micci, Shelton Aldermanic President John Anglace and Center Stage owner Gary Scarpa. Stage and screen star Brian Dennehy and 1960s Green Bay Packer captain Bob Skoronski also performed in the show as scouts under pioneer scout leader and Derby Hall of Fame member Edmund D. Strang, who directed the show for a remarkable 70 years. Troop 3 Scoutmaster Randy Ritter is in his 13th year of directing the show and Venture Scout Ryan Downs is serving as Chorus Director for his 2nd year. Ritter said "The show continues to be performed each year because it helps build self confidence for our scouts, it introduces old time songs to a new generation and provides financial support for our three scout groups".

Tickets to the show are available for $7 from Pack 3, Troop 3 and Crew
33 scouts, or by calling 732-0343. A limited number of tickets will be available at the door. Proceeds from the show benefit the scouts attending summer camp at Housatonic Council's Edmund D. Strang Scout Reservation, Cub Scout Day Camp and the Troop 3 trip to the Florida Keys High Adventure Sea Base.

Cub Scout Pack 3 Derby meets 7PM on Mondays at it's sponsoring organization, The Derby United Methodist Church. Venture Crew 33 is sponsored by the Derby-Shelton Rotary Club and Troop 3 Derby is sponsored by the Derby 2nd Congregational Church. Both the troop and crew meet on Wednesdays, 7PM at the Derby 2nd Congregational Church. All three scout groups are part of Housatonic Council BSA and welcome new members from throughout the Lower Naugatuck Valley.