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How I became a fan of "Doctor Who"...
Nov. 28th, 2023 11:13 pmThe year was 1983. My local PBS station -- WNED-TV -- was showing episodes of Doctor Who at 6pm on weeknights. At the suggestion of one of my mentors and friends (Tom Pellitieri), I gave it a try. There was a lighthouse, lots of dimly lit scenes, and floating cabbages ascending a staircase. I didn't understand what was going on, and thus didn't care for it. When I mentioned this to Tom, he said "Oh. Horror of Fang Rock. Not a good story. Try another episode." And I did. The second episode I saw was episode 3 from "The Face of Evil". The scenery was brighter, and featured a computer asking itself 'Who am I?"
The following year -- 1984 -- I met Jim Ramberg, who was another fan of the series. The Buffalo Time Council, a Doctor Who fan club, was formed. And I attended my first two conventions -- a Creation convention in Rochester featuring Terrance Dicks, and Panopticon West 1984, also known as the First North American Time Festival, in Columbus, OH. Colin Baker was the GoH. A running gag throughout the weekend was a fan dressed up as Sgt. Benton, delivering Colin orange juice. Early on, he spilled the glass of orange juice over Colin. The second time this happened, the top of the glass was covered with Saran wrap, so when the glass was tipped over, the juice didn't leave the glass. At the end, they poured pitchers of orange juice over each other.
Fans of the program called themselves "Whovians".
For the next few years, I was active in Doctor Who fandom, through the Buffalo Time Council, and attended a couple of conventions in the Buffalo area that were led by Dan Harris.
In 1989, I moved to Dayton, Ohio, and attended a convention in Columbus later that year. In 1995 and 1996, I attended the Visions conventions in Chicago, IL.
This year -- 2023 -- marks the 60th anniversary of the broadcast of the first Doctor Who episode, "An Unearthly Child". There are three specials airing in the next few weeks, but since I don't have Disney+, I may have to visit some who has that service, and watch them.
I don't watch as much TV as I used to, but it's not likely I'll turn down an opportunity to watch Doctor Who.
The following year -- 1984 -- I met Jim Ramberg, who was another fan of the series. The Buffalo Time Council, a Doctor Who fan club, was formed. And I attended my first two conventions -- a Creation convention in Rochester featuring Terrance Dicks, and Panopticon West 1984, also known as the First North American Time Festival, in Columbus, OH. Colin Baker was the GoH. A running gag throughout the weekend was a fan dressed up as Sgt. Benton, delivering Colin orange juice. Early on, he spilled the glass of orange juice over Colin. The second time this happened, the top of the glass was covered with Saran wrap, so when the glass was tipped over, the juice didn't leave the glass. At the end, they poured pitchers of orange juice over each other.
Fans of the program called themselves "Whovians".
For the next few years, I was active in Doctor Who fandom, through the Buffalo Time Council, and attended a couple of conventions in the Buffalo area that were led by Dan Harris.
In 1989, I moved to Dayton, Ohio, and attended a convention in Columbus later that year. In 1995 and 1996, I attended the Visions conventions in Chicago, IL.
This year -- 2023 -- marks the 60th anniversary of the broadcast of the first Doctor Who episode, "An Unearthly Child". There are three specials airing in the next few weeks, but since I don't have Disney+, I may have to visit some who has that service, and watch them.
I don't watch as much TV as I used to, but it's not likely I'll turn down an opportunity to watch Doctor Who.
