Fan Scene - 1979 October- December

 

October

That rumour of a Marvel Doctor Who publication becomes fact this issue with the news of the new Doctor Who Weekly which for 12p (cheaper than most fanzines!) will give you a professionally produced Doctor Who fix every seven days. The editor Dez Skinn is adamant it is not a comic but a magazine including a comic strip. Meanwhile, two of the three Convention organisers are now leaving meaning that there is no one to organise next years. In his column JVR talks about the event highlighting a move away from just guests to showing visual material. “The best part for me,” he writes, “was the incredible atmosphere during the showing of the old episodes.” He mentions guests not wanting to repeat themselves by attending every year though he chooses to mention Jon Pertwee who was of course something of serial repeater of anecdotes! At the end of his column outlining the latest Ref Dept releases, J Jeremy Bentham thanks people for their ideas and signs off by adding “part of that future could depend on reaction to Doctor Who Weekly`…” Watch this space...

The Ref Dept has a full page ad on the back for their special publication `Amazing Journeys` which is impressive enough but doesn’t actually tell you what is in it except “Researched text…Original Art…BBC stills.” Other publications vying for attention this month include, yes, a new issue of `Oracle` now on Volume 3. `Oracle` was alone of the most popular zines of the day yet it doesn’t seem to have nearly as many interviews as its rivals and at 36p is on the expensive end of a crowded market. `Spearhead from Space` offers volume 2 number 1 with `Talons of Weng Chiang` photos and a letter from Lalla Ward, issue 1 of `Inner Sanctum` reports from `Talons of Weng Chiang`. Guys, it was two and a half years ago! A somewhat incomprehensible advert for `Patriach` issue 1 asks the question `Who is Perry Rhodan?` Google tells me it’s a German space opera comic. I think he’s advertised in the wrong zine don’t you?

November

It would be fair to paint 1979 as somewhat troubled in the world of DWAS and wider Doctor Who fandom and November’s issue highlights several aspects of this.  `Wyndham Trauma` is the headline covering the news that Target Books, despite the massive schedule outlined just last month, have been closed. Publishers Wyndham have made the staff there redundant putting the future of the Doctor Who novels in doubt in the long term. The story reports that for the next fifteen months they will continue to publish them but some special publications planned have been cancelled. Its also not known if the books will continue under the Target imprint or fall under the banner of Star. John McElroy who writes this piece urges all members to write to protest about this development in the hope of saving the range for the future.

Meanwhile producer Graham Williams’ regular column, normally in `Tardis`, is moved to CT. He makes a statement regarding visitors to the studio during filming something which has been allowed provided they are accompanied by a BBC employee. However he says that “off the record conversations have been quoted verbatim, candid camera shots have been taken and artists and staff have been pressured in recording breaks.” He adds that there have even been accusations of items being taken from the studio. He says he doesn’t want to ban studio visitors but that if this behaviour continues may have to do so. He also reveals at the end of the piece he is leaving after this season.

Fan behaviour is something Jan Vincent Rudzki also muses on in his column especially members contacting outside bodies saying they are  ”from the DWAS” giving the impression they are officially representing the Society. There is also, he says, too much advance information about forthcoming stories. Yet more controversy brews in the Overseas department in which John McElroy again references a letter sent to North American members by Owen Tudor which McElroy says contained “ill informed” information. He goes into this in some detail but the issue again highlights a movement within DWAS dissatisfied with the way it is run.

Fanzines advertised in this otherwise somewhat sombre issue include the second issue of `The Doctor Who Review` which has what must be one of the last Malcolm Hulke interviews, `Spotlight on Who` which talks to Nigel Brackley, the operator of K9 and the debut issue of `Skaro`. Modest beginnings for Simon Lydiard’s zine which would go on to become one of the most successful Whozines as he starts with some fiction, cartoons and quite a bit about the film Alien. There is also the first issue of `Ark In Space` which includes a Q&A with Tom Baker or as the ad puts it “Typical TB answers to typical questions.”

December

1979 ends as it began with the announcement of the departure of a script editor. `Doug Adams to Leave` announces the final issue of the year reporting that after one season the script editor is moving on though largely due to the burgeoning popularity of Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy. The story also mentions that Graham Williams’ successor as producer has been chosen but “his name is not yet known.” Mmm I wonder who it could be? Tom and Lalla are staying on though it seems with Chris Dunk cheekily adding “since they have struck up a very good working relationship in the studio.” What can he mean?

The big news for many of us though was the departure of J Jeremy Bentham. I distinctly recall this being a topic of huge importance to our local group reflecting the fact that the Exec in those days were very prominent figures in fandom something that people can’t understand nowadays. Anyhow Jezza starts his column with this bombshell: “To get the worst over first, an offer has been extended for my resignation from the Society. I have elected to accept that offer and have given formal notice to that effect.” Only J Jeremy could phrase it like that and much of the rest of the column deals with him winding down the various projects the Ref Dept have on the boil before he dematerialises in his white suit. To find out the real story behind this, which naturally is not mentioned any more than the DWAS Democrats were, check out this blog’s history of the DWAS early years. Basically it stems from his working on Doctor Who Weekly. Jeremy did not fade away though. Like a guitarist who quits a top band he formed a new outfit the following year called Cybermark Services but that’s another story..

Zines to buy this month range from `Continuum` issue 3 (which apparently Krang would recommend). `Time Space Visualiser` (a photographic department special) Issue 7 of `Fendahl` (including an account of a Doctor Who Exhibition the editors set up in their local library) and `Matrix` issue 4 (a comic strip version of `Dalek Invasion of Earth`). And there you have 1979, a year of some changes and quite a bit of political argy bargy in the Doctor Who fan world.