Dr Who preview links (60s)

[John Miller]

'Dalek invasion Earth' has a preview link which has survived. In addition there was apparently, one for 'Web planet' where a Zarbi checks in to BBC centre for its 'room keys'.

I recall the following: FACELESS ONES 5 or 6 (?) (Jul 67) - End of episode, Jamie and Doctor return to Gatwick airway to get into Tardis. As they approach they see it being loaded onto the back of a pick up lorry. The Doctor shouts 'Oh no!!' as the lorry begins to drive off. Fade and mix to black, end credits roll.

Fade to black. Fade up from black (2 or 3 secs). A film insert showing Jamie and the Doctor chasing the Tardis, stopping out of breath. A male announcer says 'Next week, Doctor Who begins a new adventure..' Dialogue between Doctor and Jamie discussing loss of Tardis mixed up. Think there was a cut to the sequence where a Dalek materialises on the wall in time machine field (episode 1 EVIL OF THE DALEKS). The title appeared with the time - 5.15, I think in white capitals, at bottom of screen.

TOMB OF THE CYBERMEN. (episode 1). The week before, a special preview tape showed close ups of several cybermats scuttling from the right off screen to left off screen, a grey studio floor. This footage did not appear in the serial. It was VT, and announcer said 'Next week Doctor Who faces a new threat in the form of the deadly Cybermats'. The title 'DOCTOR WHO - 5.15' appeared in white capitals, fade and mix again bottom of screen before a fade and mix to black.

ABOMINABLE SNOWMEN (1). The shot showing a sudden zoom into yetis face standing by Tardis (episode 4) was used as a preview, with again 'DOCTOR WHO - 5.15' below.

WHEEL IN SPACE (1) - The sequence where a solarized cyber silhouette is seen materialising inside reptilian egg (episode 3) was shown, after a shot of the wheel. The preview ended on the hand emerging from the egg. I didn't recognise the new cyber hand design, but a voice over identified the cybermen. 'DOCTOR WHO - 5.15' or similar again appeared as before.

FURY FROM THE DEEP (1) - A film sequence showing the Doctors trio walking along a beach was shown. This was followed by the Doctor, I'm sure examining the pipeline and hearing a heart beat. The heart beat remained over a shot of waves crashing in on the shore, as appeared at the beginning of one episode (ep 2)? 'DOCTOR WHO - 5.15' was faded at the bottom of the shot of the waves, which faded to black.

THE DOMINATORS. (1) A shot of Ronald Allen, with the humped back appeared, followed by shot going into close up of a quarks head as it loomed up over a hill top (film stock). Not sure what the type face said, it acted as the season preview. Quarks referred to by voice over. 'The Dominators and the Quarks'..

These don't exist but I thought a documentation might be of interest to all?

[Brad Phipps]

Very much of interest. Thanks for posting these John.

[yorkshire]

You can listen to the soundtrack of the Abominable Snowmen-episode 1 trailer on the DVD release of "the tomb of the cybermen". It may be on the on the feature which includes stereo/mono soundtracks on the main menu. Simply push the up or right button to highlight the doctor who logo & press "select"/"OK"/"enter" on the remote control. if it isn't on here, then try the same thing on the "audio commentary" & "subtitles" features on the disc.

[madman]

This is very interesting. Thanks, Mr Miller. It sounds like some trailers were specially shot rather than just made with clips like the one for The Power of the Daleks that recently showed up – so they were the sort of TARDISODES of their day! Come to think of it, there is a famous specially made trailer for The Web of Fear that exists in audio but originally had Troughton breaking the fourth wall on the London Underground set. It's on the CD release of The Enemy of the World. Great stuff!

[Brad Phipps]

Have updated my website with this info.

[John S Miller]

madman said:

This is very interesting. Thanks, Mr Miller. It sounds like some trailers were specially shot rather than just made with clips like the one for The Power of the Daleks that recently showed up – so they were the sort of TARDISODES of their day! Come to think of it, there is a famous specially made trailer for The Web of Fear that exists in audio but originally had Troughton breaking the fourth wall on the London Underground set. It's on the CD release of The Enemy of the World. Great stuff!

It seems the earlier series' previews ('63 - '66) utilised material; as far as I know; drawing upon filmed material for the serials rather than VT content. As this was in the pre electronic duplication of tape period, this would make sense.

When an episode recap was used as late as 'the Krotons' any direct repeat of footage (rather than restaged cliffhanger); was on a film T/R segment.

If you look at the 'Dalek Invasion Earth' trailers, both seem to draw upon material which was either made on film inserts; (i.e. Daleks in location, Westminster); or from the episode transmitted from a 35mm T/R ('The waking ally').

Where VT was used, these seem to be the specially made material. In addition to the one I recall, where cybermats silently glide across one side to the other of the screen; there were the 'Ice warriors' and the 'Web of fear' one.

Various publications I seem to recall described the following: 'The Ice warriors'. Peter Barkworth played a solo address to camera in character and costume as in the serial. He introduced himself and described his job and role at the ice base.

At the end of the address, a zoom in shot to a silhouette of Vargas head and shoulders encased in Ice was shown. Presumably all of this material was shot dutring shooting of the relevant epsiode. No information was included to indicate which 'Varga' head was seen; the bigger ('Turoc') head used in episode 1 when the slimmer head wasn't ready; or the 'Zondal' style, (which puzzled me as a kid as the eye visors were different and he suddenly had a nose!)

It doesn't say whether the warrior was lying down in the ice block; as in episode 1 or standing (as the others in episode 3).

In 'web of fear', the platform set was used. Troughton stumbled from offscreen saying 'Oh THERE you are, I've been looking for you!' He then sat down, the one and only time he stepped out of the suspension of disbelief to talk directly to the audience.

Sitting down on the edge, mopping brow with his handkercheif he described the up and coming serial. 'I just wanted to tell you that the next week I meet the Yeti again, and this time they will be a little more frightening. So if Mummy or Daddy are scared, just tell them to hold your hand!'

I vaguely remembered these but the earlier 'Tomb' period trailers
seem to be the ones that stuck in my mind.