United States--1965-1969

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 (up to The Crusade) 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 to Doctor Who for 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...)

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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.