The BBC's long-running sci-fi fantasy series "Doctor Who" has spawned an American fan club, which is holding its first convention this weekend (Aug. 14-16) in Tulsa.
Called The North American Doctor Who Appreciation Society (NADWAS), the fan club hopes to get about 2,500 aficionados to attend the convention. The actor who has replaced Tom Baker in the title role, Peter Davison, will attend, as will the producer, John Nathan-Turner.
Barbara Elder, the director of NADWAS, which is based in Van Nuys, Calif., says no Los Angeles tv station runs "Doctor Who" so she has to subscribe to cable to get the imported signal of WOR-TV New York, which carries the show Saturdays from 9 to 10 a..m. Because of the time difference, Elder has to set her alarm clock at 6 a.m. to see the WOR telecast.
The new syndicators of "Doctor Who," Lionheart Television International, which took over the American distribution rights a few months ago after Time-Life Films folded its tv-syndication arm, hopes-to get the series into more markets by re-editing the 172 half-hours into 41 two-hour movies with such titles as "Planet Of Evil," "The Seeds Of Doom," "The Talons Of Weng-Chiang," "Horror Of Fang Rock," "The Stones Of Blood" and "The Creature From The Pit."
Frank Miller, executive v.p. of Lionheart, says T-L sold the series in its half-hour version to 39 stations. Lionheart, he continues, has added 10 markets in the last couple of months.
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