United States--1965-1969

Having successfully sold Doctor Who to countries around the world, it was time for the BBC to exploit the United States of America. It would take a while...

1967 Avon novelisation

• January 1965: Several US newspapers feature an article about the new sensation sweeping the UK: Dalek-Mania. In the 3 January 1965 Chicago Tribune, "From Beatleland – It's the Daleks", states: "With Christmas over, Britain is resounding to the footsteps of "things from outer space" – Daleks. And the United States could be next ... The Daleks might also invade the United States because the BBC is offering the series, called Dr. Who, for sale here".
• 7 July 1965: In a BBC memo dated 7 July 1965, "U.S.A" is listed as one of several countries to which a package of stories from seasons one and two had been offered. (It is thought that this may have been to NBC, which broadcast The Wonderful World of Disney; Disney was at the time interested in making an adaptation of the Doctor Who serial, Marco Polo.)

• A sale to the United States did not eventuate: in the 1960s, the BBC had found selling to the United States very tough because advertisers and sponsors were often frightened of offending minority groups, and non-US programmes often contained material that could be considered controversial. Also, the fact that the series was in black and white, and by 1965/1966 the major networks were shifting to colour broadcasts, certainly would have also been a key factor.

• December 1965: One of the earliest known exposures of Doctor Who to American audiences is in issue #36 (cover dated December 1965) of Famous Monsters of Filmland in the form of a photograph declaring "DR WHO as he appears in the British science-fiction TV series". The only trouble is, it's a photo of an insect-like Menoptra from The Web Planet!

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PETER CUSHING (DR. WHO)

Dr Who and the Daleks, Chicago, re-release December 1968

• The first of the Peter Cushing Dalek movies is released in the UK. Several US magazines carry reviews:
  • 7 July 1965: Variety magazine publishes a review of Dr Who and the Daleks.
  • 10 August 1966: Variety magazine publishes a review of Daleks Invade the Earth 2150AD (sic).
• April 1966: Famous Monsters of Filmland issue #38 (cover date April 1966) carries the feature "THE DALEKS INVADE ENGLAND!", which gives a brief overview of the series, and a report from the set of The Web Planet.
• July 1966: Dr Who and the Daleks is released on US screens, distributed by the Continental Group.
• 1966-1967: During the second half of 1966 and all of 1967, Terry Nation attempts to sell the concept of a Dalek spin-off series to American networks. The series never goes ahead, but a contractual condition during this period of negotiation is that the BBC can no longer sell Dalek stories to overseas broadcasters...
• November 1966: Dell Publishing Co Inc releases a comic adaptation of the first Dalek movie. It retails for 12c.
• March 1967: Famous Monsters of Filmland #44 (cover date May 1967) carries the article "THE DALEKS ARE COMING!", which previews the first Dalek movie.
• 1967: In the summer of 1967, the second feature, Daleks Invasion Earth 2150 AD hits theatres in the USA.
• July 1967: Avon books publishes a US edition of David Whitaker's novelisation, Doctor Who in an Exciting Adventure with the Daleks. It retails for 50c.
• October/December 1968: Dr Who and the Daleks is re-released in selected theatres (such as in Chicago), on a double bill with the debut release of George Romero's Night of the Living Dead.
• April 1969: Dr Who and the Daleks airs on channel 32 in Chicago.