In 1956 he cooperated with Bjørn Sand to create the revue Med vinger på, as well as a new version of the comedy success Bare jatt me'n, both set up at Edderkoppen Teater.
With Alfred Næss, he presented the revue Ferske Fjes in 1957 at Chat Noir, where Schanke served as conductor, writer, composer and at times theatre manager.
[1] Early in his career, Schanke wrote revue classics such as "En dåre kan spørre" for Arvid Nilssen, and "Ro" for Kurt Foss and Reidar Bøe, as well as song texts for Wenche Myhre and Nora Brockstedt.
[1] Throughout the 1950s, Schanke became responsible for a new style of revue, performed entirely for the open stage without the traditional music numbers played before a closed carpet during scene shifts.
Schanke had an eye for talent, and was not only responsible for introducing many fresh pens and faces, but pulled many established names from theatre and popular music into his revues.