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In 1960 Robin Hall and Jimmy McGregor released their popular record 'Football Crazy'.The 'Folk Duo' were heard almost nightly on the BBC Television Programme 'Tonight' which was a News Magazine Programme.The two Scots Folk Singers certainly had a hit on their hands and it didn't take long for enterprising Boy Scout Troop Show Producers to 'pinch' the tune and some of the lyrics.This was at a time when many Shows outside London copied the London Show from the previous year.As a sketch with a song 'Netball Crazy' proved almost as popular as the original in 'Scouting Circles'.Similar in Structure to Ralphs 'Up Girls and at em' (1952).The "Girls School" Netball Squad comes 'Skipping' onto the Stage followed by the 'Gym Mistress' "Miss -----".The "School Girls" are all played by Boy Scouts and the "girls" line up across the Stage.There are only eight "Girls"."Miss" calls for a 'kit inspection' and the "girls" take it in turns to face the back of the Stage and bend over and lift their gym skirts.Just before we reach "girl" five there is a 'cry' as the hapless boy scout is about to reveal all.On to the Stage comes a boy scout carrying a pair of girls gym knickers "Skip said do these belong to any of your "Girls".The "Girls" 'Scrum up' Centre Stage including the Boy Scout Messenger.When the "Girls" resume their places and the young 'boy scout' leaves the Stage we find that "girl" number five is now indeed certainly wearing her knickers.This now obvious as "her" wig and her gym skirt has been removed and has left the Stage along with the 'boy scout' messenger.The business all happens before a note of the actual parody is sung.Although it is not clear who actualy wrote the piece. I have found various versions in archives as far apart as Perth and Tottenham in North London.The survival of Gang Show material is in most cases a matter of luck or good fortune.The idea that Gang Show Scripts are of the moment and are written for particular Shows,performed by particular Troops."Netball Crazy" was very funny,very scouty,very Gang Show.It used "gang show girls" the 'lost tribe' of gang show and will never be performed again.Dr.Stu..
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