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...

• On 4 December 1963, the US industry magazine Variety publishes a review of An Unearthly Child that had recently been broadcast on BBC TV. (Does the "Otta" credit at the foot of the review indicate the review itself was taken from an Ottawa (Canada) publication?)
• 23 January 1965 to 2 July 1965: Viewers in states along the border with Canada and who could pick up transmissions from the CBC stations would have been able to see broadcasts of the first five William Hartnell stories.
• During January and February 1965, several US newspapers carry sound bites from an article written by Maris Ross, first published in the British press (and syndicated to the US by the United Press International (UPI)), reporting on the new sensation Dalekmania that was sweeping the UK following the recently-completed screening of The Dalek Invasion of Earth. The article states that "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 there".

Variety reviews An Unearthly Child, Dec. 4, 1963

Cumberland Times, 3 January 1965

Chicago Tribune, 3 January 1965

• For the series to have been under consideration by January 1965, the BBC's offer must have been made in late 1964, which was also when New Zealand and Canada were both auditioning the new series... The BBC's sales office in New York would have handled all sales promotions and contracts.
• Americans living close to the border with Canada may have been able to view Doctor Who airing on CBC channels from 23 January to 2 July 1965.

"Dalek-Aid": One of the first promotional "ads" for Dr Who in a US TV journal; Broadcasting magazine, 12 April 1965

• 12 April 1965: That week's issue of US TV industry journal Broadcasting magazine carries a full page ad, declaring that the "The Daleks Take Over, [with] Mass audiences in Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand ... Dalek-Aid can help you round up top ratings with 52 (or more) half-hour programs in the out-of-this-world adventures of DR WHO". This is one of (if not the) first promotional print ads for the series we have located in a US publication.
• One of the first US stations to audition and consider buying the series is WFLD Channel 32 in Chicago. Program Director Cliff Braun screened the series in 1965 (or it may have been in 1966). He was rather keen, but for reasons unknown a sale did not eventuate.
• 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.
• Around this same time, Disney Studio's London office showed an interest 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 in why the series didn't sell.

• December 1965: 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" - but it's not a photo of the Doctor, but one of the Menoptra from The Web Planet!

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PETER CUSHING (DR. WHO)

• 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 (from the UK premier) of Dr Who and the Daleks.
  • 10 August 1966: Variety magazine publishes a review (from the UK premier) 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.

1967 Avon novelisation

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

• 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 WFLD Channel 32 in Chicago, the very same station that had looked at buying Doctor Who back in 1965!.

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