Time-traveling Doc checks into Holyoke
- Publication: Holyoke Transcript-Telegram
- Date: 1986-07-31
- Author: Nick Johnson
- Page: 9
- Language: English
HOLYOKE — Rob Sale is a "Doctor Who junkie.
He got hooked when he was in the eighth grade, staying up until 11 p.m. every night without his mother knowing to watch the science fiction show on public television.
Now the Longmeadow 16-year-old watches the program religiously, collects "Doctor Who" memorabilia, subscribes to "Doctor Who Monthly" and hopes to attend one of the regional "Doctor Who" conventions in the near future.
"It's the greatest show in the world." he said.
He was one of many "Doctor Who" fans who came to the Holyoke Mall at Ingleside parking lot Wednesday to behold the Doctor Who Experience Theatre, a mobile exhibit of original monsters and villians from the British television show.
At 23 years, "Doctor Who" is the longest-running science fiction series in television history. The program is now shown in over 60 countries and boasts 110 million viewers — including 15 million in the United States. Public television stations — including WGBY in Springfield, which sponsored the exhibit's stops in Lenox and Holyoke — have broadcast "Doctor Who" since the late 1970s.
The show centers on the time-travelling doctor, his companions, and their skirmishes with various villians. Fans say it's exciting, witty, and lots of fun. It lacks convincing special effects, but that's apparently part of the charm that has given "Doctor Who" a cult status that rivals "Star Trek."
Mechanical problems on the road prevented the exhibit from opening here until about 3 p.m. But when it did, a line about 50 yards long formed in front.
"The American fans are probably the most intense in the world," said Brian Sloman, the BBC publicity staff member who dreamed up the mobile exhibit and is currently travelling with it around the country. Laughing, he added, "I think you're all crazy."
"It's corny science fiction and it's fun," said Ed Therrien, 28, of Easthampton, who has been a fan since 1979. "To me it looks a lot like some of the old science fiction I saw when I was little."
He added that it lacks the sex, violence, and special effects of much American television today.
Mark Parsons, 21, from Leeds, volunteered to work at the exhibit, selling t-shirts and buttons. He wore a 15-foot multi-colored scarf like the one Doctor Who wears in the show. "I had my grandmother knit it for me for Christmas," he said.
"People like to get out of their own minds," said Jane Byrdd, 19, of Longmeadow, a veteran of two "Doctor Who" conventions and a hard-core fan. "I think everybody wants to live forever and travel through time. I would."
The show, which Sloman described as a "gigantic thank-you to the fans in America," cost $250,000 to build, which Sloman said would probably never be recovered. The tour kicked off in Washington, D.C. two months ago, and has been travelling up the coast since then. It arrived in Holyoke Wednesday for a two-day visit, and will be open tonight until 9 p.m. before moving on to Worcester and Boston. Admission is $2 for adults and $1 for kids, and proceeds go to WGBY.
Who's here
Above, visitors prowl an exhibit heralding the popular British TV series "Dr. Who" outside the Holyoke Mall at Ingleside , while at left, Lois Zissell oversees sons Scott, left, and Michael as they work the console to the doctor's time-traveling craft. The exhibit will be in Holyoke until 9 tonight.
Disclaimer: These citations are created on-the-fly using primitive parsing techniques. You should double-check all citations. Send feedback to whovian@cuttingsarchive.org
- APA 6th ed.: Johnson, Nick (1986-07-31). Time-traveling Doc checks into Holyoke. Holyoke Transcript-Telegram p. 9.
- MLA 7th ed.: Johnson, Nick. "Time-traveling Doc checks into Holyoke." Holyoke Transcript-Telegram [add city] 1986-07-31, 9. Print.
- Chicago 15th ed.: Johnson, Nick. "Time-traveling Doc checks into Holyoke." Holyoke Transcript-Telegram, edition, sec., 1986-07-31
- Turabian: Johnson, Nick. "Time-traveling Doc checks into Holyoke." Holyoke Transcript-Telegram, 1986-07-31, section, 9 edition.
- Wikipedia (this article): <ref>{{cite news| title=Time-traveling Doc checks into Holyoke | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Time-traveling_Doc_checks_into_Holyoke | work=Holyoke Transcript-Telegram | pages=9 | date=1986-07-31 | via=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=8 June 2025 }}</ref>
- Wikipedia (this page): <ref>{{cite web | title=Time-traveling Doc checks into Holyoke | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Time-traveling_Doc_checks_into_Holyoke | work=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=8 June 2025}}</ref>
