Doctor Who USA Tour: Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox Exhibition
{{Infobox Exhibition
|image              = Trailer1.jpg
|image              = Trailer1.jpg
|exhibition features= Based within a [[truck]]-trailer, [[Andrew Skilleter]]-designed art on outside
|exhibition features = Based within a [[truck]]-trailer, [[Andrew Skilleter]]-designed art on outside
|exhibition location=
|exhibition location =  
|opening date      = [[9 May (production)|9 May]] [[1986 (production)|1986]] (UK press launch)<br />[[May]], [[1986]] (US press launch)
|opening date      = 9 May 1986 (UK press launch)
|closing date      = [[1987 (releases)|1987]]
|opening date2      = May 1986 (US launch)
}}After several years in the planning this £2 million venture, a co-operation between Lionheart Television International (the BBC USA Distributors) and Monarch International (the BBC's US Exhibition and Promotions Agent) finally came to fruition with the the '''Doctor Who USA Tour'''.
|closing date      = 1987
}}
The '''Doctor Who USA Tour''' was a travelling exhibition which toured the [[United States]] from [[1986 (releases)|1986]] to [[1987 (releases)|1987]].
 
After several years in the planning this £2 million venture, a co-operation between [[Lionheart Television International]] (the BBC USA Distributors) and [[Monarch International]] (the BBC's US Exhibition and Promotions Agent) finally came to fruition with the this exhibition.


== Overview ==
== Overview ==
The exhibition was primarily based within a 48 foot long truck trailer, with visitors walking through the length of the trailer. Both the entrance and exits were opened up and formed Police Box entrance/exits.  
The exhibition was primarily based within a 48 foot long truck trailer, with visitors walking through the length of the trailer. Both the entrance and exits were opened up and formed [[police box]] entrance/exits.
{{quote|"They'll adore it. They get the chance to see and almost touch the actual props and costumes from the programme."|[[Colin Baker]]<ref name="DWExhibUSA">[http://www.drwhoexhibitions.co.uk/usatour.htm Doctor Who Exhibitions - Dr Who USA Tour]</ref>}}
{{quote|"They'll adore it. They get the chance to see and almost touch the actual props and costumes from the programme."|[[Colin Baker]]<ref name="DWExhibUSA">[http://www.drwhoexhibitions.co.uk/usatour.htm Doctor Who Exhibitions - Dr Who USA Tour]</ref>}}
== Notable elements ==
== Notable elements ==
* The external mural was painted by [[Andrew Skilleter]] and featured the [[Dark Tower]] on [[Gallifrey]].
* The external mural was painted by [[Andrew Skilleter]] and featured the [[Dark Tower]] on [[Gallifrey]].
* Exhibits within the trailer included;


* Exhibits within the trailer included;
:* A three panelled [[TARDIS console]] (set into one corner), modelled on ''[[The Five Doctors (TV story)|The Five Doctors]]'' era TARDIS console.
:* A three panelled [[TARDIS console]] (set into one corner), modelled on ''[[The Five Doctors (TV story)|The Five Doctors]]'' era TARDIS console.
:* A ''[[Revelation of the Daleks]]'' era [[Dalek]]
:* A ''[[Revelation of the Daleks (TV story)|Revelation of the Daleks]]'' era [[Dalek]]
:* A [[Cyber-Leader (Mondas)|Cyber-Leader]] and [[Cyberman (Mondas)|Cyberman]] from ''[[Attack of the Cybermen]]''
:* A [[Cyber-Leader (Mondas)|Cyber-Leader]], [[Cyberman (Mondas)|Cyberman]] and [[Cryon]] from ''[[Attack of the Cybermen (TV story)|Attack of the Cybermen]]''
:* A Cyberman of the same design as ''[[The Wheel in Space]]''
:* A Cyberman of the same design as ''[[The Wheel in Space (TV story)|The Wheel in Space]]''
:* A ''[[Warriors of the Deep]]'' era [[Silurian]] and [[Sea Devil]]
:* A ''[[Warriors of the Deep (TV story)|Warriors of the Deep]]'' era [[Silurian]] and [[Sea Devil]]
:* A [[Sontaran]] of the same design as appeared in ''[[The Two Doctors]]''  
:* A [[Sontaran]] of the same design as appeared in ''[[The Two Doctors (TV story)|The Two Doctors]]''
:* A [[Mutt]]
:* A [[Mutt]]
:* A [[Marshman]]
:* A [[Marshman]]
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:* A [[Sandminer robot]]
:* A [[Sandminer robot]]
:* The [[Malus]]' face
:* The [[Malus]]' face
:* [[Sutek]]'s mask
:* [[Sutekh|Sutekkh]]'s mask
:* [[Styggron]]
:* [[Styggron]]
:* The headdress worn by the leader of the [[Hecate Cult]]
:* [[Mestor]]


* Bessie was on display on the outside of the trailer.  
* Bessie was on display on the outside of the trailer.


== Promotion ==
== Promotion ==
* The tour was given a press launch on the [[9 March (production)|9 March]] 1986 in the United Kingdom, Elstree prior to shipping to the United States. [[Colin Baker]], [[Nicola Bryant]] and [[Janet Fielding]] were all present and in costume for the press launch.<ref name="DWExhibUSA" /> Producer [[John Nathan-Turner]] and artist [[Andrew Skilleter]] were also present.{{fact}}.
* The tour was given a press launch on the [[9 March (releases)|9 March]] [[1986 (releases)|1986]] in the United Kingdom, Elstree prior to shipping to the United States. [[Colin Baker]], [[Nicola Bryant]] and [[Janet Fielding]] were all present and in costume for the press launch.<ref name="DWExhibUSA" />
 
* Also at the UK press launch were a [[Cyberman (Mondas)|Cyberman]] and a [[Cryon]].
* Also at the UK press launch were a Cyberman and a Cryon.
* Following the press launch the truck was loaded onto a ship bound for the United States in [[May (releases)|May]] 1986.
 
* Following the press launch the truck was loaded onto a ship bound for the United Sates in May 1986.
* Once it arrived in the United States it was given another press launch, this time attended by [[Peter Davison]] and [[Michael Grade]].<ref name="DWExhibUSA" />
* Once it arrived in the United States it was given another press launch, this time attended by [[Peter Davison]] and [[Michael Grade]].<ref name="DWExhibUSA" />
 
* In [[October (releases)|October]] [[1986 (releases)|1986]], the tour stopped in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area as part of a combined with the DWFCA (Doctor Who Fan Club of America), [[Colin Baker]] and [[Patrick Troughton]] were present for the events there.<ref name="DWUSATour">[http://www.michaell.org/who/conclips/whotour86.phtml Doctor Who USA Tour]</ref>
* In October 1986, the tour stopped in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area as part of a combined with the DWFCA (Doctor Who Fan Club of America), [[Colin Baker]] and [[Patrick Troughton]] were present for the events there.<ref name="DWUSATour">[http://www.michaell.org/who/conclips/whotour86.phtml Doctor Who USA Tour]</ref>
* In [[1987 (releases)|1987]] when the tour again stopped in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, [[Sylvester McCoy]] put in an appearance during a break in filming ''Doctor Who''.<ref name="DWUSATour" />
* In [[1987]] when the tour again stopped in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area [[Sylvester McCoy]] put in an appearance during a break in filming ''Doctor Who''.<ref name="DWUSATour" />


== Notes ==
== Notes ==
* The trailer used for the tour a 48 foot long trailer was too long to be legally driven on UK roads.
* The trailer used for the tour was a 48 foot long trailer, made by a firm called Vanplan in Warrington, and was too long to be legally driven on UK roads.
* Following the press launch the truck was loaded onto a ship bound for the United Sates in May 1986, however it was damaged upon loading at the docks at Liverpool.
* Following the press launch the truck was loaded onto a ship bound for the United Sates in May 1986, but it was damaged upon loading at the docks at Liverpool.
* The tour served three functions, to thank the American fans for their support, to promote the television series and to be a commercial venue in its own right.
* The tour served three functions: to thank the American fans for their support, to promote the television series and to be a commercial venue in its own right.
* The exhibition was intended to run for two years (on the road for 3 days a week<ref name="DWExhibUSA" />, sited for the rest at different venues), but ran short.  
* The exhibition was intended to run for two years (on the road for 3 days a week<ref name="DWExhibUSA" />, sited for the rest at different venues), but ran short.
* The trailer was damaged both on loading at the docks at Liverpool and also whilst on the road (due to in at least one case to a low bridge<ref>[http://www.richardwho.com/exhibitions/USATour/19870228/index.asp 1986 DOCTOR WHO - Celebration & Tour 28 Feb 1987]</ref>).
* The trailer was damaged both on loading at the docks at Liverpool and also whilst on the road (due to in at least one case to a low bridge<ref>[http://www.richardwho.com/exhibitions/USATour/19870228/index.asp 1986 DOCTOR WHO - Celebration & Tour 28 Feb 1987]</ref>).
* The trailer was made by a firm called Vanplan in Warrington.
* It was shipped into New York to begin the USA tour starting in Washington DC.
* It was shipped into New York to begin the USA tour starting in Washington.
* Some mistakes were made in the guide to the exhibition, such as stating the Cybermen had appeared alongside every doctor except Colin Baker (three exhibits were from a Cybermen story he starred in, ''[[Attack of the Cybermen (TV story)|Attack of the Cybermen]]''), saying the Cryons appeared in ''[[Revenge of the Cybermen (TV story)|Revenge of the Cybermen]]'' rather than Attack of the Cybermen, and calling Mestor 'Nestor'.
* After the tour ended, the truck was sent to a scrapyard in Derbyshire, and was discovered in a dilapidated state by a fan in 2001.


== Gallery ==
== Gallery ==
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[[Category:Doctor Who exhibitions]]
[[Category:Doctor Who exhibitions]]
[[Category:Real world events]]

Latest revision as of 20:40, 11 January 2024

RealWorld.png

The Doctor Who USA Tour was a travelling exhibition which toured the United States from 1986 to 1987.

After several years in the planning this £2 million venture, a co-operation between Lionheart Television International (the BBC USA Distributors) and Monarch International (the BBC's US Exhibition and Promotions Agent) finally came to fruition with the this exhibition.

Overview[[edit] | [edit source]]

The exhibition was primarily based within a 48 foot long truck trailer, with visitors walking through the length of the trailer. Both the entrance and exits were opened up and formed police box entrance/exits.

"They'll adore it. They get the chance to see and almost touch the actual props and costumes from the programme."Colin Baker[1]

Notable elements[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Bessie was on display on the outside of the trailer.

Promotion[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • The tour was given a press launch on the 9 March 1986 in the United Kingdom, Elstree prior to shipping to the United States. Colin Baker, Nicola Bryant and Janet Fielding were all present and in costume for the press launch.[1]
  • Also at the UK press launch were a Cyberman and a Cryon.
  • Following the press launch the truck was loaded onto a ship bound for the United States in May 1986.
  • Once it arrived in the United States it was given another press launch, this time attended by Peter Davison and Michael Grade.[1]
  • In October 1986, the tour stopped in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area as part of a combined with the DWFCA (Doctor Who Fan Club of America), Colin Baker and Patrick Troughton were present for the events there.[2]
  • In 1987 when the tour again stopped in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, Sylvester McCoy put in an appearance during a break in filming Doctor Who.[2]

Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • The trailer used for the tour was a 48 foot long trailer, made by a firm called Vanplan in Warrington, and was too long to be legally driven on UK roads.
  • Following the press launch the truck was loaded onto a ship bound for the United Sates in May 1986, but it was damaged upon loading at the docks at Liverpool.
  • The tour served three functions: to thank the American fans for their support, to promote the television series and to be a commercial venue in its own right.
  • The exhibition was intended to run for two years (on the road for 3 days a week[1], sited for the rest at different venues), but ran short.
  • The trailer was damaged both on loading at the docks at Liverpool and also whilst on the road (due to in at least one case to a low bridge[3]).
  • It was shipped into New York to begin the USA tour starting in Washington DC.
  • Some mistakes were made in the guide to the exhibition, such as stating the Cybermen had appeared alongside every doctor except Colin Baker (three exhibits were from a Cybermen story he starred in, Attack of the Cybermen), saying the Cryons appeared in Revenge of the Cybermen rather than Attack of the Cybermen, and calling Mestor 'Nestor'.
  • After the tour ended, the truck was sent to a scrapyard in Derbyshire, and was discovered in a dilapidated state by a fan in 2001.

Gallery[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Andrew Skilleter's original design

    Andrew Skilleter's original design

  • Andrew Skilleter's original murial design

    Andrew Skilleter's original murial design

  • Tour brochure

    Tour brochure

  • Tour bag

    Tour bag

  • Trailer c.1986

    Trailer c.1986

  • Trailer c.2001

    Trailer c.2001

  • Flyer given at tour

    Flyer given at tour

  • Map of tour

    Map of tour

Footnotes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Doctor Who Exhibitions - Dr Who USA Tour
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Doctor Who USA Tour
  3. ↑ 1986 DOCTOR WHO - Celebration & Tour 28 Feb 1987

External links[[edit] | [edit source]]

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