Dr. Who is just what the doctor ordered for Lambs Farm coffers
- Publication: Chicago Tribune
- Date: 1991-12-02
- Author: Anthony DeBartolo
- Page: sec. 1, p. 20
- Language: English
Bob McLaughlin looked encouraged as he stood in the busy lobby of the Hyatt Regency O'Hare. It was Saturday, the second day of the three-day "Visions '91" science-fiction convention which he founded, and 2,200 registrants from across the country had paid $25 to $45 to attend.
Last year he began the British sci-fi/fantasy television show conventions for two distinct reasons. As a fan, he wanted to stage an event which gave people more for their money. Indeed, activities filled nine meeting rooms throughout the hotel, from autograph sessions with the 19 assembled celebrities to video screenings of rare episodes. But the second reason, he added, was strictly, personal.
"I have a son who lives at Lambs Farm [the residential facility for developmentally disabled adults in Libertyville]. And they've done great things for him," McLaughlin said. "He had nothing before he went there, no friends, nothing. Now he's with people who understand him. I wanted to pay them back"
To raise funds for the 30-year-old facility, which assists 152 physically and/or mentally challenged adults in leading purposeful lives in an open yet secure setting, the convention featured a charity auction of 150 donated posters, photographs and other memorabilia from such TV shows as "Dr. Who," "Blake's Seven," "Robin of Sherwood" and the not-so-British, but ever-so-popular "Star Trek" series, old and new. The three-hour event raised nearly $4,000.
Though many of the 300 people at the auction hadn't heard of Lambs Farm before that day, the auctioned items were as familiar to them as Capt. James T. Kirk's middle name.
But, as popular as the auction was, the most attention-getting event of the day occurred whenever and wherever Tom Baker appeared.
As the actor who starred on the BBC's "Dr. Who" show for seven years. he's something of a cult figure. Dozen of fans followed him around wearing 16-foot neck scarves, the Time Lord's trademark. The autographed script he donated raised $155.
"I'm very keen on anything that reclaims people from sadness and neglect," he said.
"Where would civilized society be without beggars? Where would the BBC be for that matter?"
Caption: Tom Baker, TV's 'Dr. Who,' looks at artwork with Lambs resident Dean McLaughlin
Keith Gartick, 12. and Michael Burger, 9, check out a model of E.T.'s home at "Visions '91" at Lambs Farm in Libertyville.
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.: DeBartolo, Anthony (1991-12-02). Dr. Who is just what the doctor ordered for Lambs Farm coffers. Chicago Tribune p. sec. 1, p. 20.
- MLA 7th ed.: DeBartolo, Anthony. "Dr. Who is just what the doctor ordered for Lambs Farm coffers." Chicago Tribune [add city] 1991-12-02, sec. 1, p. 20. Print.
- Chicago 15th ed.: DeBartolo, Anthony. "Dr. Who is just what the doctor ordered for Lambs Farm coffers." Chicago Tribune, edition, sec., 1991-12-02
- Turabian: DeBartolo, Anthony. "Dr. Who is just what the doctor ordered for Lambs Farm coffers." Chicago Tribune, 1991-12-02, section, sec. 1, p. 20 edition.
- Wikipedia (this article): <ref>{{cite news| title=Dr. Who is just what the doctor ordered for Lambs Farm coffers | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Dr._Who_is_just_what_the_doctor_ordered_for_Lambs_Farm_coffers | work=Chicago Tribune | pages=sec. 1, p. 20 | date=1991-12-02 | via=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=23 April 2024 }}</ref>
- Wikipedia (this page): <ref>{{cite web | title=Dr. Who is just what the doctor ordered for Lambs Farm coffers | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Dr._Who_is_just_what_the_doctor_ordered_for_Lambs_Farm_coffers | work=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=23 April 2024}}</ref>
