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1972 was another good year for Doctor Who merchandise collectors. There were some new pieces of exclusively Doctor Who merchandise, plus other collectible items that featured Doctor Who.
The Doctor Who theme, originally released as a 45 rpm single by Decca in 1964 was re-released in 1972. There is both a demo version published on the 4th February, followed by a commercially-available version. In November, Jon Pertwee released a novelty single titled “Who is the Doctor” on EMI’s Purple Records label. Early demo versions state that the song is “based on the BBC TV series ‘Dr. Who.’” This reference is struck-out in black marker on later demos and does not appear on the label of the production version. “Who is the Doctor” was accompanied by an in-store promotional poster and adverts in the music press. An unusual item for the record collector was also issued in 1972. This was a very limited edition 7” flexi disc produced by Electronic Music Studios which contains two Doctor Who tracks: “Axon Attacks” from The Claws of Axos and “Dover Castle” from The Mind of Evil.
Michael Stanfield Holdings Ltd. reissued the two Doctor Who jigsaws first available in 1971 and added two more to the collection. Doctor Who Jigsaw #3 features the Doctor, Daleks, and Ogrons, and #4 features the Doctor and Ogrons. Both images were taken from 1972’s Day of the Daleks. Personality Posters Ltd. issued a large poster showing an image from Colony in Space of the Doctor being threatened by a large claw. After release, it was determined that the photo projected the wrong image to young viewers and the poster was withdrawn. It was replaced by a poster showing the Doctor facing a Sea Devil. The Space Museum does not have a copy of the Sea Devil version in the collection. (Courtesy of Richard Bignell, you can see the letter from Jon Pertwee to his agent, Anthony Hayes at Richard Stone Management regarding the withdrawn poster HERE.)
The first factual reference book about the programme was released by Piccolo Books. “The Making of Doctor Who” was written by Malcolm Hulke and Terrance Dicks and was published on the 20th April 1972. Returning to its long tradition after a break the previous year, World Distributors published “The Dr Who Annual 1973” in September 1972.
Polystyle Publications’ Countdown comic continued to feature a Doctor Who strip; with several issues featuring cover blurbs and photos announcing the presence of the Daleks in the strip. Issue 58, dated 25th March 1972, was the final issue of Countdown. However, the series continued directly with the first issue of TV Action + Countdown published on the 1st April 1972 and numbered issue 59. This issue had a Doctor Who and the Daleks strip on the front cover.
TV Action + Countdown issue 60, dated 8th April 1972, opened a “Create an Enemy for Doctor Who” competition, with the winner, Ian Fairnington and his Ugrakks, announced in issue 72 on the 1st July 1972. The Ugrakks appeared in the Doctor Who strip beginning with issue 79 on the 19th August.
There was also a “TV Action + Countdown Holiday Special” published in June, and a “Countdown Annual for TV Action” published in September. Both included Doctor Who content.
1972 was an especially good year for Doctor Who content in the Radio Times. The issue dated 1st – 7th January had a cover illustrated by Frank Bellamy showing the Doctor and the Daleks and announcing that “The Daleks are back!” Bellamy provided small illustrations for each of the listings throughout the series and a larger illustration to accompany an omnibus repeat of The Sea Devils over the Christmas period. The two Dalek films starring Peter Cushing got their first television broadcasts as part of BBC1’s High Adventure film series: Doctor Who and the Daleks appeared in the Radio Times dated 1st – 7th July and Daleks – Invasion Earth 2150 AD was in the issue dated 19th – 25th August. More information about Doctor Who content in the Radio Times can be found HERE.
In the issue dated 1st – 7th January, the Radio Times announced a “Win a Dalek Competition.” The competition received coverage in several issues. Each competition entrant received a certificate and some entries, including the winner, were displayed at a Special Exhibition at the Celyon Tea Centre in London between March and April 1972.
BBC tv issued a new cast card of Jon Pertwee as Dr. Who. Their popular return, also led to the release of a new fan card showing a Dalek and a barely-visible Ogron from Day of the Daleks.
Public events became a greater part of the Doctor Who experience during 1972 and these too provide collecting opportunities. Jon Pertwee, as represented by Greshstyle, made a variety of personal appearances in character as the Doctor. The Observer Magazine reported in February 1972 of an appearance by Pertwee and a Dalek at a Fact or Fiction event at the London Planetarium.
Most importantly, Doctor Who featured prominently at the BBCtv Special Effects Exhibition that ran between December 1972 and May 1973 at the Science Museum in London. Jon Pertwee, with Katy Manning and Nicholas Courtney, officially opened the exhibition on 1st December. Visitors entered the exhibit through the TARDIS doors and could see a replica TARDIS console, two Daleks, and various monster costumes. Direct merchandise was limited, but visitors had a choice of two TARDIS Commander badges that they could purchase. The exhibition moved to Middlesbrough in July 1973.
Articles about Doctor Who and its stars continued to appear in newspapers and magazines, some of which are presented in the Gallery. Most interestingly, the American magazine, TV Guide, published a two-page article in the issue dated 10th – 16th June about The Sea Devils with several colour photos, and with mention of the programme being available for syndication in the US.
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