Here's how the Chicago Tribunedescribed Doctor Whobroadcasts from September 1975 through March 1982, and November 1986 through May 1987. Further entries will be forthcoming. Unless otherwise noted, entries are from that day's listings in TV Week,the Tribune'sTV listings magazine, published weekly in the Sunday paper.
Friday, October 10, 1975: "[Day of] The Daleks," Episode Four. Back in "our" time, the rebel humans are about to change history, and cause the very catastrophe they are trying to avert. As Dr. Who races to prevent this, the Daleks return to the same time zone for a showdown.
Friday, October 17, 1975: "Ambassadors of Death." Dr. Who finds the original Space Probe, but not the astronauts. Then he sees a huge alien spaceship approaching.
Friday, October 24, 1975: "The Terror of the Autons." The Autons distribute seemingly harmless plastic daffodils, which kill earth people. Jo is attacked by a plastic doll, and the plastic cords of Dr. Who's telephone begin to strangle him.
Monday, December 1, 1975: Colonists on a planet 500 years in the future are in danger of starvation when their crops mysteriously refuse to grow.
Monday, December 8, 1975: Concluding episode. The Master reveals his plan to gain control of the doomsday machine and use it to hold the entire galaxy for ransom.
Wednesday, December 10, 1975: Episode I. "The Time Monster." Dr. Who is transported hundreds of years into the future.
Monday, December 15, 1975: Part IV. Professor Sondergaard, a new ally, reveals to Dr. Who and his friends that mutation is a natural part of the Solos life cycle.
[Obviously, the last two entries describe "The Mutants," not "The Time Monster." I've chosen the latter on the Broadcasts page, though, on the (admittedly inconclusive) grounds that "The Mutants" had been shown already, according to listings on October 2 & 3.]
Thursday, December 18, 1975: Part I. Despite the warnings of a local witch, a team of archaeologists cut open a barrow in the village of Devil's End.
Friday, December 19, 1975: "The Daemons." Episode II. The Brigadier arrives with help, but cannot penetrate a fiery force field which surrounds Devil's End. Meanwhile the Master conjures up the daemon Azal and terrifying events begin to occur.
Tuesday, February 3, 1976: "The Silurians" (Part II). In the concluding episode the Silurians plan to destroy the Van Allan Belt, which protects Earth from the sun's intense heat. Will mankind be roasted into extinction? Will the Reptiles inherit the earth after all? Can Dr. Who save us all?
Monday, March 1, 1976: Dr. Who begins a new adventure when a rocket returns from Mars, but the astronauts are not in it.
Tuesday, March 2, 1976: Part II. The invincible Time Lord discovers who is trying to start an interplanetary war.
Monday, April 5, 1976: "The Inferno." Part I. Dr. Who is thrust into a world that is strangely parallel to ours-- and just a few hours ahead of it. A deep drilling project releases gasses which turn men into Primords and threaten to explode the planet.
Tuesday, April 6, 1976: "The Inferno." Part II. In the concluding episode Dr. Who rushes back to earth to thwart a dangerous drilling project.
Tuesday, May 4, 1976: "The Sea Devils." Dr. Who must battle two forces-- The Master and the Sea Devils --an impossible job which his fans never doubt he can handle.
Saturday, September 25, 1976: "The Claws of Axos." Dr. Who learns that the inhabitants of an alien spaceship which landed on Earth are organically grown parts of the vessel itself. Its nutrient exhausted, it will stay until it absorbs all Earth's living energy.
[Well, that saved the viewer the trouble of watching the first two episodes!]
Week of March 6, 1977: [from a full-page feature]
FESTIVAL '77 BEGINS ON WTTW [...]
MONDAY, MARCH 7 [...]
11:30pm -- Dr. Who. Dr. Who returns to battle his arch foe, "The Master" (nightly Monday through Thursday)
Week of June 21, 1981: [from "TV mailbag" column]
What can you tell me about mad, lovable "Dr. Who" on Channel 11? What else has actor Tom Baker appeared in? T.P., Palatine, Ill.
The 40-year-old British character actor has always specialized in spectacular or eccentric roles, his greatest being Rasputin in the 1971 film "Nicholas and Alexandra." After costarring in the filmed stage play "Luther," Baker descended to comic book characters in movies like "Vault of Horror," "The Mutations," and "Sinbad's Golden Voyage." His most popular role is in "Dr. Who," which seems like the perfect vehicle for his larger-than-life acting style.
[Tom Baker was actually 47 at this time.]
Week of February 28, 1982: [from "TV mailbag" column]
I suppose it is obvious that Tom Baker has put in his last performance as the Time Lord on "Doctor Who." Being heart-stricken, as I am sure countless other Chicagoans are, could you please tell me where to write the Good Doctor? -- Gerald Kowalski, Chicago
Baker's mail is handled by London Management, 235 Regent St., London W1, where you can also get the scoop on the Good Doctor's next project.
November 2, 1986: "The Krotons" Crystalline beings are controlling a planets' [sic] population while breeding them for energy.
Week of November 9, 1986: [from "TV mailbag" column]
We're avid "Dr. Who" fans and were disappointed in the new "Dr. Who." We prefer the original, Tom Baker. Why did he leave? -- C.W.
Six actors have played the great Who in the years since the show bowed in Great Britain in 1963. Baker was number four (1974-81). It just happens that in 1978, when the U.S. caught up with the British-made series for the first time [sic], Tom Baker episodes were seen. He left for other roles. Peter Davison followed him in 1981 and Colin Baker in 1984.
November 23, 1986: "War Games" TARDIS is on a warlike planet. (Part 1 of 2) [sic]
November 30, 1986: "War Games" When the TARDIS emerge on a planet [huh?] the Doctor calls for Time Lords. (Part 2 of 2) [sic]
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Week of December 7, 1986:
See full-page "This Week on 11" ad
[Note that the times for "Ambassadors" and "Inferno" are different from the Broadcasts page. This is because the times in the actual listings are different, and the fact that my recording of "Ambassadors" is in two parts suggests they are the correct ones.]
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December 7, 1986: "War Games" The Doctor seizes the alien HQ and calls for the Time Lords' help. (Part 3 of 3)
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December 8, 1986: "Spearhead from Space" Plastic androids replace leaders as the Doctor tries to prove his identity.
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December 9, 1986: "Silurians" Strange deaths at an atomic research center draw the Doctor into the caves of Derbyshire. (Part 1 of 2)
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December 10, 1986: "Silurians" Creatures try to destroy mammals. (Part 2 of 2)
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December 11, 1986: "Ambassadors of Death" A rescue ship is sent into space after a missing probe. (Part 1 of 2)
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December 12, 1986: "The Inferno" The Doctor winds up in a parallel world.
[chart continues on facing page] "The Inferno" The Doctor is projected into a parallel world.
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December 14, 1986: "Terror of the Autons" Everyday objects are turned into lethal traps in a plot of the Master's. With Jon Pertwee, Roger Delgado, Katy Manning.
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December 21, 1986: "Mind of Evil" The Master poses as a professor who can cure criminals. (Part 1)
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December 28, 1986: "Mind of Evil" The Doctor investigates a strange machine. (Part 1 [sic] of 2)
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January 4, 1987: "The Claws of Axos" The Master betrays Earth to the golden Axons.
January 18, 1987: "Colony in Space" Jo is taken by the Primitives. (Part 2 of 2)
January 25, 1987: "The Daemons" The Master releases an immensely powerful alien being whose spaceship has been buried under peaceful English countryside for many years.
March 1, 1987: "Mutants" Time Lords send the Doctor to a future colony. (Part 1)
March 8, 1987: "Mutants" The Master offers a trade. (Part 2)
[Obviously, the Tribune was a little confused about this story...]
March 22, 1987: "Time Monster" The Doctor and the Master race to Atlantis for the crystal of Kronos. (Part 2)
March 29, 1987: "The Three Doctors" in a tenth anniversary special, William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton and Jon Pertwee join to battle Omega.
April 5, 1987: "Carnival of Monsters" Jo and the Doctor are trapped in a time loop on a cargo steamer in the Indian Ocean.
April 12, 1987: "Frontier in Space" Doctor is accused & hunted by both sides.
April 19, 1987: "Frontier in Space" Doctor is accused & hunted by both sides.
April 26, 1987: "Planet of the Daleks" The invisible Spirodons oppose the Doctor as he tries to stop the Daleks. With Jon Pertwee.