Seasons 3,4,5 in North America

[Robert Kenyon]

Just out of curiosity, were the Dr. Who seasons 3, 4 and 5 ever broadcast in the USA? If so, do we know when and in which states? Thanks for any info.

[John Andersen]

Jan 27, 2009 13:44:06 GMT Robert Kenyon said:

Just out of curiosity, were the Dr. Who seasons 3, 4 and 5 ever broadcast in the USA? If so, do we know when and in which states? Thanks for any info.

Some stories from season 3 were broadcast in the mid 80s, but none of the others were shown because the BBC managed to lose the other stories from seasons 4 and 5 at the time.

[Greg H]

I think its rumoured that missing material was shown across the border in Canada, but no one has ever managed to find any actual evidence of this so it remains rumour and nothing more!

[Daniel O'Brien]

I think 'Marco Polo' was shown in Canada. I don't know if any other missing stories were broadcast there.

Of course, Canada proved a valuable source for colour copies of Pertwee episodes that the BBC only held in b/w.

[Phillip Culley]

The only known 60's episodes shown in The US or Canada in the 60's were An Unearthly Child through to The Keys of Marinus, which were shown in Canada. There has been a rumour repeated by several people of The Celestial Toymaker being broadcast, however no-one's ever been able to provide evidence of it (of course, there's every chance it was shown as part of a larger show and so not listed).

However, of course, there were lots of episodes from Seasons 1 and 2 shown on Mexico

[Ash Stewart]

Jan 28, 2009 3:56:14 GMT Phillip Culley said:

However, of course, there were lots of episodes from Seasons 1 and 2 shown on Mexico

But of the episodes they screened, none are currently missing...

[Ash Stewart]

Jan 28, 2009 3:56:14 GMT Phillip Culley said:

The only known 60's episodes shown in The US or Canada in the 60's were An Unearthly Child through to The Keys of Marinus, which were shown in Canada. There has been a rumour repeated by several people of The Celestial Toymaker being broadcast, however no-one's ever been able to provide evidence of it (of course, there's every chance it was shown as part of a larger show and so not listed).

IIRC the episodes a couple of people remember go well in to the Troughtons; one person remembers The Underwater Menace, for example.

And, as you say, no one has been able to provide any documentary proof of any screenings beyond Marinus; and several people have tried. All it would take to prove is one article or listing in one contemporaneous newspaper. But such a thing has proven to be elusive.

[Rob Hutchinson]

Jan 28, 2009 3:56:14 GMT Phillip Culley said:

However, of course, there were lots of episodes from Seasons 1 and 2 shown on Mexico

Mexico doesn't seem to be on this list
unlimitedricepudding.com/MissingWhoList.html#Country

does anyone have an up to date link/info that actually has in detail which episodes went to which country?

[Richard Bignell]

Jan 28, 2009 3:56:14 GMT Phillip Culley said:

There has been a rumour repeated by several people of The Celestial Toymaker being broadcast, however no-one's ever been able to provide evidence of it (of course, there's every chance it was shown as part of a larger show and so not listed)

This seems to have been quite a long-standing rumour. However, there is no record at the BBC of The Celestial Toymaker ever having been sold and transmitted in Canada (unlike the earlier stories).

Richard

[Richard Bignell]

Jan 28, 2009 13:47:14 GMT Rob Hutchinson said:

Mexico doesn't seem to be on this list
unlimitedricepudding.com/MissingWhoList.html#Country

That's because Mexico didn't purchase any stories that are currently missing from the BBC archives.

Richard

[Rob Hutchinson]

Jan 28, 2009 13:55:30 GMT Richard Bignell said:

Jan 28, 2009 13:47:14 GMT Rob Hutchinson said:

Mexico doesn't seem to be on this list
unlimitedricepudding.com/MissingWhoList.html#Country

That's because Mexico didn't purchase any stories that are currently missing from the BBC archives.

Richard

ah, I see they didn't show any of the hidtorical episodes. long shot but any chance they were sent something by mistake?

[LanceM]

I seem to remember a similar thread topic posted some time ago, which also mentioned sales/screening of early seasons of Doctor Who in the US,Mexico,and Canada.Though I do not remember the Mexico sales being discussed very much previously.

I had in fact contacted the CBC archive & information staff in regards to material possibly held still in their archives in the past. As they stated that the specific paperwork is unobtainable (paper records,cards,etc) at present, and that they do not have anything listed under any of the titles these stories were sold as, or labeled by nations as ("Journey to Cathay" ex).But that the material may be there, but would guess that most likely was returned to the appropriate broadcaster.Then there have been rumors of episodes existing in private hands in Canada,unsubstantiated rumors,however still very interesting prospects to be sure.

This would seem to make the most sense here, that if any material may still exist is simply uncatalogued,no record of having, or may of been pinched from the rubbish tips at work?May never know there, unfortunately.Seeing the amount of British TV that was screened in Canada, and the material that has yet been returned so far from a variety of broadcasters ( There were the two episodes of the 1961 ABC series of The Avengers which were found in UCLA, believed to be sent from the CBC at some point).

As was stated here, is always a possibility some episodes were sent to places by mistake, we have seen proof positive of this happening before.Will just have to keep asking around, and see what can be found.

Cheers,Lance.

[Jon Preddle]

Jan 28, 2009 16:31:02 GMT LanceM said:

I had in fact contacted the CBC archive & information staff in regards to material possibly held still in their archives in the past. As they stated that the specific paperwork is unobtainable (paper records,cards,etc) at present, and that they do not have anything listed under any of the titles these stories were sold as, or labeled by nations as ("Journey to Cathay" ex).But that the material may be there, but would guess that most likely was returned to the appropriate broadcaster.Then there have been rumors of episodes existing in private hands in Canada,unsubstantiated rumors,however still very interesting prospects to be sure.

This would seem to make the most sense here, that if any material may still exist is simply uncatalogued,no record of having, or may of been pinched from the rubbish tips at work?May never know there, unfortunately.Seeing the amount of British TV that was screened in Canada, and the material that has yet been returned so far from a variety of broadcasters ( There were the two episodes of the 1961 ABC series of The Avengers which were found in UCLA, believed to be sent from the CBC at some point).

Cheers,Lance.

With the fact that Canada was one of the first countries to buy and screen DW, it's more than likely that the CBC sent their prints on to another broadcaster. With over 20 countries screening the first season, there would have been quite a lot of bicycling of prints around the world back then.

Jon

[Nicholas Fitzpatrick]

Jan 28, 2009 18:37:52 GMT Jon Preddle said:

With the fact that Canada was one of the first countries to buy and screen DW, it's more than likely that the CBC sent their prints on to another broadcaster. With over 20 countries screening the first season, there would have been quite a lot of bicycling of prints around the world back then.

Given that back then, BBC Enterprises kept an office in Toronto (where some colour Pertwee's were found), then CBC likely shipped them a few blocks across Toronto back to BBC in 1965. Any record of what happened to the prints would likely lie in BBC's hand, if they still exist.

As for post Keys of Marinus episodes. Give it up ... there's no evidence. It takes no time at all to find many references to the 1965 CBC airings in newspapers across the country; these days you don't have to start poking through the microfilms in libraries across the country that many of us have poked through over the years. And not one word after. The chances anything else was ever aired are exceedingly remote.

[Rob Hutchinson]

it seems canada is not a likely source of episodes unless some slipped into private hands.

there is a canadian film institute
www.cfi-icf.ca/
... but its not apparent from their website if they archive film in the same way as the bfi and i'm guessing that someone has already explored this and the various film archives in canada?

i wonder what happened to the records of the bbc's canadian office? also i'm guessing this is a fairly small office. maybe some enquiries could be made with ex-employees?