Difference between revisions of "Doctor Who USA Tour"
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===8 May=== | ===8 May=== | ||
[[File:USABus.jpg|thumb|right|400px|The Doctor Who USA Tour Trailer leaves Elstree Studios, UK, to begin its voyage to the US...]] | [[File:USABus.jpg|thumb|right|400px|The Doctor Who USA Tour Trailer leaves Elstree Studios, UK, to begin its voyage to the US...]] | ||
| − | The '''Doctor Who USA Tour''' sets off on its two-year, multi-city journey... The inauguration is held on the National Mall beneath the Washington Monument in [[Washington DC]]. Controller of BBC One, [[wikipedia:Michael Grade|Michael Grade]], and Peter Davison attend the event. | + | The '''Doctor Who USA Tour''' sets off on its two-year, multi-city journey, starting with the eastern states... |
| + | |||
| + | The inauguration is held on the National Mall beneath the Washington Monument in [[Washington DC]]. Controller of BBC One, [[wikipedia:Michael Grade|Michael Grade]], and Peter Davison attend the event. | ||
<table><tr> | <table><tr> | ||
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It is hoped that most of the markets where '''Doctor Who''' is screened in America will be visited; some reports cite as many as '''181''' cities, while others state '''185''' - although it's clear that the actual number of stops made in the two-year period fell well short of that ambitious target. | It is hoped that most of the markets where '''Doctor Who''' is screened in America will be visited; some reports cite as many as '''181''' cities, while others state '''185''' - although it's clear that the actual number of stops made in the two-year period fell well short of that ambitious target. | ||
| − | There are no actors from the series traveling with the Tour | + | There are no actors from the series traveling with the Tour during 1986, but Brian Sloman from Lionheart / BBC Enterprises' New York office - and the principal planner and organizer of the exhibit - rendezvous with the trailer when it visits New York. |
Some of the city visits coincide with [[List of Conventions in the United States|organised conventions]] and other fan events. Guests at these conventions would sometimes visit the Tour, while guests traveling with the trailer would make appearances at conventions. | Some of the city visits coincide with [[List of Conventions in the United States|organised conventions]] and other fan events. Guests at these conventions would sometimes visit the Tour, while guests traveling with the trailer would make appearances at conventions. | ||
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On its first leg, the Tour (without any guests from the series) visits [[Maryland]], [[New Jersey]], [[Pennsylvania]], [[New York]], [[Connecticut]], [[Maine]], [[New Hampshire]], [[Massachusetts]], then back to [[New York]] and through to [[Ohio]]. | On its first leg, the Tour (without any guests from the series) visits [[Maryland]], [[New Jersey]], [[Pennsylvania]], [[New York]], [[Connecticut]], [[Maine]], [[New Hampshire]], [[Massachusetts]], then back to [[New York]] and through to [[Ohio]]. | ||
*On '''25 May 1986''', the Tour stops in New Brunswick, where the Whovent 86 convention is taking place. The Doctor Who guests take time out from the event to visit the travelling exhibition. While there, they also take part in the [[wikipedia:Hands Across America|Hands Across America]] event. | *On '''25 May 1986''', the Tour stops in New Brunswick, where the Whovent 86 convention is taking place. The Doctor Who guests take time out from the event to visit the travelling exhibition. While there, they also take part in the [[wikipedia:Hands Across America|Hands Across America]] event. | ||
| − | *'''28-29 June 1986''': The Tour reaches Central Park in [[New York]]. | + | *'''28-29 June 1986''': The Tour reaches Central Park in [[New York]]. Brian Sloman visits. |
**An interview with BBC Enterprises representative Brian Sloman (conducted in the Park) appeared in [http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Doctor_Who_Tours_U.S._During_Hiatus Starlog 113]. | **An interview with BBC Enterprises representative Brian Sloman (conducted in the Park) appeared in [http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Doctor_Who_Tours_U.S._During_Hiatus Starlog 113]. | ||
| − | + | *'''5-7 September 1986''': The Tour comes to Schenectady, [[New York]]. The trailer parks at the Latham Circle Mall. Brian Sloman and Louise Jameson visit the trailer on day two. | |
| − | *'''5-7 September 1986''': The Tour | + | **A reporter from the UK morning show "Breakfast Time" visits the Tour on its second day at the mall (see video below). Sloman talks of taking the exhibit to Australia and New Zealand! (The item doesn't air on "Breakfast Time" until 11 September.) |
| − | **A reporter from the UK morning show "Breakfast Time" visits the mall (see video below). Sloman talks of taking the | ||
<table><tr> | <table><tr> | ||
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During the hiatus period, the name and branding for the Tour is changed to '''Doctor Who Celebration & Tour 87-88''' (although the trailer retains its "Doctor Who USA Tour" signage). | During the hiatus period, the name and branding for the Tour is changed to '''Doctor Who Celebration & Tour 87-88''' (although the trailer retains its "Doctor Who USA Tour" signage). | ||
| − | For the second year of its travels, | + | For the second year of its travels, the Tour is to visit western states for the first time; stops in '''70''' cities across '''36''' states are scheduled in that 12-month period. There is also a visit to Toronto planned for the end of May, but ultimately that trip over the border to [[Canada]] is dropped. |
| + | |||
| + | While none of the trips made during 1986 had permanent guests on board, all the stops in 1987 include at least one star from the series travelling with the exhibit. Lionheart's Brian Sloman would also visit the Tour on occasion. | ||
| − | + | [[File:USATourMap.jpg|left|thumb|600px|Map showing the stops planned for 1987, although several of these are dropped from the schedule]] | |
| − | [[File:USATourMap.jpg|left|thumb|600px|Map showing the | ||
{{clear}} | {{clear}} | ||
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===July to August=== | ===July to August=== | ||
| − | The trailer heads west, stopping in [[Michigan]] again, and on to [[Illinois]], [[Wisconsin]], [[Minnesota]] with McCoy (who has just completed work on [[Delta and the Bannermen]]), then [[North Dakota]], [[South Dakota]], [[Iowa]], [[Missouri]] with Janet Fielding taking over star duties, then [[Kansas]] and [[Colorado]] with JNT on board | + | The trailer heads west for the first time, stopping in [[Michigan]] again, and on to [[Illinois]], [[Wisconsin]], [[Minnesota]] with McCoy (who has just completed work on [[Delta and the Bannermen]]), then [[North Dakota]], [[South Dakota]], [[Iowa]], [[Missouri]] with Janet Fielding taking over star duties, then [[Kansas]] and [[Colorado]] with JNT on board for the next two and a half weeks; his last stop is in Salt Lake City [[Utah]]. |
*'''2 July 1987''': The Tour visits west [[Michigan]]; Janet Fielding makes appearances at locally-sponsored events. (The Tour is advertised on [[WGVU]] - see video clip above.) | *'''2 July 1987''': The Tour visits west [[Michigan]]; Janet Fielding makes appearances at locally-sponsored events. (The Tour is advertised on [[WGVU]] - see video clip above.) | ||
*'''4-5 July 1987''': Heading north west, the trailer stops at [[Chicago]]. (There are no guests during this leg of the Tour.) | *'''4-5 July 1987''': Heading north west, the trailer stops at [[Chicago]]. (There are no guests during this leg of the Tour.) | ||
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For the next four months, the Tour travels down the west coast (calling in at [[Washington]], [[Oregon]], and [[California]] (stopping in Redding, Sacramento and Los Angeles, with McCoy and/or Pertwee), then eastwards through [[Arizona]], [[New Mexico]], [[Oklahoma]] (with Fielding), then with Pertwee it went to [[Arkansas]], [[Texas]], [[Mississippi]], and back to where it had set out in [[Louisiana]]. Its final trip was down to Miami [[Florida]]. | For the next four months, the Tour travels down the west coast (calling in at [[Washington]], [[Oregon]], and [[California]] (stopping in Redding, Sacramento and Los Angeles, with McCoy and/or Pertwee), then eastwards through [[Arizona]], [[New Mexico]], [[Oklahoma]] (with Fielding), then with Pertwee it went to [[Arkansas]], [[Texas]], [[Mississippi]], and back to where it had set out in [[Louisiana]]. Its final trip was down to Miami [[Florida]]. | ||
*'''5-9 September 1987''': His work on season 24 now completed, Sylvester McCoy rejoins the Tour, and the trailer travels to [[Washington]] state, then south to [[Los Angeles]]. | *'''5-9 September 1987''': His work on season 24 now completed, Sylvester McCoy rejoins the Tour, and the trailer travels to [[Washington]] state, then south to [[Los Angeles]]. | ||
| − | *From mid-'''September''' to mid-'''December''' Jon Pertwee accompanies the Tour for the longest stretch taken by a single guest (albeit with a short break during October). | + | *From mid-'''September''' to mid-'''December''' Jon Pertwee accompanies the Tour for the longest stretch taken by a single guest (albeit with a short break during October). Aside from the Tour, Pertwee also performed his "cabaret show" in the evenings. |
*'''19-20 December 1987''': The Tour makes its final-ever stop in [[Miami]], [[Florida]] at the [[WPBT]] studios. Producer John Nathan-Turner is joined by Nicola Bryant, Eric Luskin, and Brian Sloman for a special live "farewell" broadcast during the day. | *'''19-20 December 1987''': The Tour makes its final-ever stop in [[Miami]], [[Florida]] at the [[WPBT]] studios. Producer John Nathan-Turner is joined by Nicola Bryant, Eric Luskin, and Brian Sloman for a special live "farewell" broadcast during the day. | ||
Revision as of 23:07, 26 May 2024
The following timeline is a summary of the route taken by the Tour, with just some of the significant moments and milestones highlighted.
For a much more detailed account of the Tour stops, dates, the guests travelling with the truck, and admission prices, visit our DEDICATED PAGE HERE. For newspaper clippings, visit the Doctor Who Cuttings Archive.
1986
8 May
The Doctor Who USA Tour sets off on its two-year, multi-city journey, starting with the eastern states...
The inauguration is held on the National Mall beneath the Washington Monument in Washington DC. Controller of BBC One, Michael Grade, and Peter Davison attend the event.
|
It is hoped that most of the markets where Doctor Who is screened in America will be visited; some reports cite as many as 181 cities, while others state 185 - although it's clear that the actual number of stops made in the two-year period fell well short of that ambitious target.
There are no actors from the series traveling with the Tour during 1986, but Brian Sloman from Lionheart / BBC Enterprises' New York office - and the principal planner and organizer of the exhibit - rendezvous with the trailer when it visits New York.
Some of the city visits coincide with organised conventions and other fan events. Guests at these conventions would sometimes visit the Tour, while guests traveling with the trailer would make appearances at conventions.
May to September
On its first leg, the Tour (without any guests from the series) visits Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, then back to New York and through to Ohio.
- On 25 May 1986, the Tour stops in New Brunswick, where the Whovent 86 convention is taking place. The Doctor Who guests take time out from the event to visit the travelling exhibition. While there, they also take part in the Hands Across America event.
- 28-29 June 1986: The Tour reaches Central Park in New York. Brian Sloman visits.
- An interview with BBC Enterprises representative Brian Sloman (conducted in the Park) appeared in Starlog 113.
- 5-7 September 1986: The Tour comes to Schenectady, New York. The trailer parks at the Latham Circle Mall. Brian Sloman and Louise Jameson visit the trailer on day two.
- A reporter from the UK morning show "Breakfast Time" visits the Tour on its second day at the mall (see video below). Sloman talks of taking the exhibit to Australia and New Zealand! (The item doesn't air on "Breakfast Time" until 11 September.)
|
|
October to December
The Tour moves from Ohio to Minnesota then Wisconsin.
- 5 October 1986: Colin Baker and Patrick Troughton are in Madison Wisconsin to attend the unrelated Doctor Who Festival convention at the Madison Civic Center. The Tour comes to town and stops at the convention venue for the weekend.
- The Tour moves east to West Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina.
- The Tour takes a break from mid-December for six weeks.
1987
During the hiatus period, the name and branding for the Tour is changed to Doctor Who Celebration & Tour 87-88 (although the trailer retains its "Doctor Who USA Tour" signage).
For the second year of its travels, the Tour is to visit western states for the first time; stops in 70 cities across 36 states are scheduled in that 12-month period. There is also a visit to Toronto planned for the end of May, but ultimately that trip over the border to Canada is dropped.
While none of the trips made during 1986 had permanent guests on board, all the stops in 1987 include at least one star from the series travelling with the exhibit. Lionheart's Brian Sloman would also visit the Tour on occasion.
January to February
For the 1987 leg of the Tour, the trailer starts in Louisiana, travels down to Florida, then up to Alabama.
- 21-25 January: The trailer makes its first appearance of 1987 in Louisiana, at the annual NATPE Television program showcase event held at the New Orleans Convention Center, with Peter Davison on board. (NATPE runs from 21-25 January, but the Tour is on site for only some of that time.)
- A lavish press-kit folder advertising the series and Tour is distributed at Lionheart's stand; surplus copies of the kit are available during the Tour.
- Davison and the trailer move on to Florida.
- 21-21 February 1987: The Tour - now with Jon Pertwee - comes to Walt Disney World in Orlando.
- 22-28 February 1987: The trailer heads northwards again: Pertwee makes stops in Louisiana, and Birmingham, Alabama (en route the trailer's roof is damaged when it passes under a low bridge).
March
The Tour with Pertwee heads northeast making its way through Georgia, Tennessee and the Virginias. For some of this leg, he is accompanied by Brian Sloman from BBC Enterprises / Lionheart.
- 7 March 1987: The Tour stops at Mercer University in Macon near Atlanta, Georgia. Live from Atlanta is broadcast that evening. Pertwee and Sloman are joined by new Doctor Sylvester McCoy and producer John Nathan-Turner, who are in town for the Whovian Festival Tour convention. Eric Luskin hosts an interview session with the four guests.
|
|
April to June
Janet Fielding joins the Tour for this leg, accompanied by Sarah Sutton or Anthony Ainley for part of the journey to Maryland, and Connecticut.
McCoy returns in May (having just completed recording Time and the Rani), traveling to Maine, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. John Nathan-Turner is picked up in New York. Janet Fielding rejoins in Ohio, while Sarah Sutton takes over in Pennsylvania, traveling through Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana.
- 13-14 May 1987: McCoy is interviewed by WVIA during the stop in Scranton, Pennsylvania (see video clip below)
- 15-17 May 1987: The Tour stops at the WGBH studios in Boston with Sylvester McCoy. On the night of 15 May, a special "Dinner With the Doctor" is held. McCoy and Brian Sloman attend.
|
|
TV spot on WGVU for Michigan visit (2/3 July 1987) |
July to August
The trailer heads west for the first time, stopping in Michigan again, and on to Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota with McCoy (who has just completed work on Delta and the Bannermen), then North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Missouri with Janet Fielding taking over star duties, then Kansas and Colorado with JNT on board for the next two and a half weeks; his last stop is in Salt Lake City Utah.
- 2 July 1987: The Tour visits west Michigan; Janet Fielding makes appearances at locally-sponsored events. (The Tour is advertised on WGVU - see video clip above.)
- 4-5 July 1987: Heading north west, the trailer stops at Chicago. (There are no guests during this leg of the Tour.)
- 11 July 1987: McCoy stops in Green Bay, Wisconsin -- see flyer and entry ticket at right.
- 12 July 1987: McCoy stops in St Paul, Minnesota -- see video clip below.
- 1-2 August 1987: The Tour comes to Des Moines Iowa with Janet Fielding, and features on a local TV news report - see video clip below.
|
The Tour with McCoy in Minnesota, 12 July 1987 |
|
The Tour with Janet Fielding in Iowa, Aug. 1, 1987 |
September to December
For the next four months, the Tour travels down the west coast (calling in at Washington, Oregon, and California (stopping in Redding, Sacramento and Los Angeles, with McCoy and/or Pertwee), then eastwards through Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma (with Fielding), then with Pertwee it went to Arkansas, Texas, Mississippi, and back to where it had set out in Louisiana. Its final trip was down to Miami Florida.
- 5-9 September 1987: His work on season 24 now completed, Sylvester McCoy rejoins the Tour, and the trailer travels to Washington state, then south to Los Angeles.
- From mid-September to mid-December Jon Pertwee accompanies the Tour for the longest stretch taken by a single guest (albeit with a short break during October). Aside from the Tour, Pertwee also performed his "cabaret show" in the evenings.
- 19-20 December 1987: The Tour makes its final-ever stop in Miami, Florida at the WPBT studios. Producer John Nathan-Turner is joined by Nicola Bryant, Eric Luskin, and Brian Sloman for a special live "farewell" broadcast during the day.
End of the Road...
- Although it had been hoped to continue the Tour into 1988 (when the series celebrated its 25th anniversary), the December 1987 leg is to be its final stretch.
- After some 20 months on the road with over 90 locations visited (less than half the originally planned 180+) the trailer and exhibits are shipped back to the UK.
- The trailer is later sold to the owner of a fair-ground in New Mills in the High Peak district of central England - and used as a workshop shed!
- The rusting shell of the vehicle stood on the property for nearly 30 years, but when the land was sold for a new housing development in 2018, the wreck was removed and sold for scrap.
General coverage of the tour (External links)
- FACEBOOK Group dedicated to the trailer Tour
- USA TOUR 1986 PHOTOS 1
- USA TOUR 1986 PHOTOS 2
- USA TOUR 1986 PHOTOS 3
- USA TOUR OVERVIEW - and the sad fate of the Trailer...
| United States Chronology | |
| 1963-1969 | 1971-1972 | 1973-1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991-2020s | |
| Related articles | List of conventions | List of fan clubs | References to the USA in Doctor Who | Doctor Who USA Tour | USA Tour stops | Documentaries and specials | TV Guide | Saturday, March 12, 1988 | First airings by episode | Search by episode title or date | United States by the numbers | Chicago chronology | Time-Life Television |
