Difference between revisions of "United States--1965-1969"

From BroaDWcast
Jump to navigationJump to search
Line 2: Line 2:
  
  
Having already successfully sold '''Doctor Who''' to several countries around the world, by late 1964 the BBC had turned its attention to the United States of America. But finalising a sale to the USA would take a while...  
+
Having already successfully sold '''Doctor Who''' to several countries around the world, by late 1964 the BBC turned its attention to the United States of America. But finalising a sale to the USA would take several years...  
 
[[File:Dr Who Daleks novel.jpg|200px|right|thumb|1967 Avon novelisation]]
 
[[File:Dr Who Daleks novel.jpg|200px|right|thumb|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".  
+
* '''January 1965''': Several US newspapers feature articles 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".
 +
*For the series to have been under consideration by 3 January 1965, the offer itself must have been made in late 1964, which was when [[New Zealand]] and [[Canada]] were both auditioning the new series...
 
* '''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]].)  
 
* '''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.   
 
* 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]]!   
+
* '''December 1965''': One of the earliest known exposures of '''Doctor Who''' to American audiences is in the pages of ''Famous Monsters of Filmland'': issue #36 (cover dated December 1965) has a photograph showing "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]]!  (It is possible that this photo - a request from a reader who, it would seem, is fully aware of the fledgling series - is a reprint from an even earlier issue...)
  
 
{{Blank lines|3}}
 
{{Blank lines|3}}

Revision as of 05:42, 13 May 2012


Having already successfully sold Doctor Who to several countries around the world, by late 1964 the BBC turned its attention to the United States of America. But finalising a sale to the USA would take several years...

1967 Avon novelisation
  • January 1965: Several US newspapers feature articles 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".
  • For the series to have been under consideration by 3 January 1965, the offer itself must have been made in late 1964, which was when New Zealand and Canada were both auditioning the new series...
  • 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 the pages of Famous Monsters of Filmland: issue #36 (cover dated December 1965) has a photograph showing "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! (It is possible that this photo - a request from a reader who, it would seem, is fully aware of the fledgling series - is a reprint from an even earlier issue...)
blank line
blank line
blank line

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.