Doctor Who invasion
- Publication: Wausau Daily Herald
- Date: 1989-01-29
- Author: Trudy Stewart
- Page: 1A
- Language: English
Followers bid to keep show alive
NEWFODs invaded the corridors of Northcentral Technical College Saturday.
No, it wasn't another War of the Worlds, with little green Martians spilling out of spaceships to conquer Earth. There weren't even any Daleks or Sonarians.
There were just a lot of completely normal people who happen to be fanatics about the British series, Doctor Who, which airs at noon Sunday on Wausau's WHRM-TV Channel 20.
The NEWFODs (North Eastern Wisconsin Friends of the Doctor) were at NTC hosting a science fiction-fantasy auction to raise money for Wisconsin Public Television.
"Public Television's fund raisers get just enough money to keep Doctor Who on the air. So we decided we would organize an annual event in January, mainly to make sure Doctor Who stays on the air," said Debbie Brey of Stevens Point, who is a coordinator of NEWFOD.
Doctor Who was first telecast locally in March 1983, and quickly gained a loyal following, said Brey.
"I saw my first episode in April 1983 and I was hooked. In November, on the 20th anniversary of the series, we had our first NEWFOD meeting."
About 75 science fiction fans attended the auction to bid on Doctor Who memorabilia and collectibles. A variety of donated items were on the block, including a Tardis Tuner transitor radio and Doctor Who calendars, buttons, magazines and posters plus a 12-foot, multicolored scarf of the style made popular by the fourth Doctor, Tom Baker. Wisconsin Public Television sent a Doctor Who mug, Timelord album and a special 25th anniversary clock.
The auction also featured items from other science fiction and fantasy television shows and movies. There were Star Trek comic books, puzzles and games, a Beauty and the Beast calendar, and other promotional items from Willow, Goonies and Star Wars.
Most popular was the 25th anniversary clock which sold for $47. The Tom Baker scarf went for $35 while a poster of him as Doctor Who brought $10.75. Another bidder got a 50-cent Conan the Barbarian comic book for a quarter.
"The most surprising sale," said Debbi Wich, Schofield, NEWFOD's auctioneer, "was the film clips from the original Star Trek series. They sold for $40. They were just 3 inches long and had about two or three frames each. One of the clips was of Dr. McCoy."
Doctor Who, now in its 26th year, began in England as a children's show. Over the years, Brey said, it's become a favorite of children and adults alike.
The Doctor is now in his seventh regeneration. For the uninitiated, that means he has undergone a change in looks and character (due to a change in actors portraying the more than 700-year-old Time Lord.)
NEWFOD's bimonthly newsletter is mailed out to 90 subscribers including all the living doctors, who also are honorary members of the group.
Spelling correction: Sontarans
Caption: Who's Who? Auctioneer Debbi Wich, 2220 Cutoff Road, Schofield, shows the proper way to wear a Doctor Who scarf at the Science Fiction and Fantasy Auction Saturday at Northcentral Technical College, Wausau.
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- APA 6th ed.: Stewart, Trudy (1989-01-29). Doctor Who invasion. Wausau Daily Herald p. 1A.
- MLA 7th ed.: Stewart, Trudy. "Doctor Who invasion." Wausau Daily Herald [add city] 1989-01-29, 1A. Print.
- Chicago 15th ed.: Stewart, Trudy. "Doctor Who invasion." Wausau Daily Herald, edition, sec., 1989-01-29
- Turabian: Stewart, Trudy. "Doctor Who invasion." Wausau Daily Herald, 1989-01-29, section, 1A edition.
- Wikipedia (this article): <ref>{{cite news| title=Doctor Who invasion | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Doctor_Who_invasion | work=Wausau Daily Herald | pages=1A | date=1989-01-29 | via=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=21 December 2024 }}</ref>
- Wikipedia (this page): <ref>{{cite web | title=Doctor Who invasion | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Doctor_Who_invasion | work=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=21 December 2024}}</ref>
