Gallifreyan Embassy

Greetings Friends,

It is my hope you all are well. As some of you may know over on my own blog "Comfy Chair"  I started sometime ago an archive of a Doctor Who fanzine "Morbius." I have a huge interest in fanzines as a whole but especially those regarding Doctor Who & Tolkien, even more specific fanzines from groups in the New York area. The Doctor Who fanzine "Morbius" is not entirely from the NY area but it is where I got my start in collecting Doctor Who fanzines.  

My post today is concerning the fanzine of the Gallifreyan Embassy "Ambassadors of Life," which ran until the mid-1990s if I am not mistaken. I have a few issues courtesy of Louis and Ken but wish to expand my personal archive. Ideally I would like to create a digital archive for my own collection and am not set to make it public unless I gain specific permission from Louis.  

This is what has become an annual posting here on the 18th of June each year… The Gallifreyan Embassy anniversary. Today marks 27 years since the organization was formed. What can I say that I haven't already said in my previous anniversary postings? Yeah, I can't believe so much time has passed… I believe I had said it before. Perhaps these photos that I took last week on the Long Island Raid Road say it all. We have come a long way since 1985. I never thought then that I would see train posters referencing Doctor Who in them as these do for BBC America.

Yes, once again fans of Doctor Who, Torchwood, Sarah Jane Adventures and alike are coming together for what has become the legendary Doctor Who: Podshock seasonal meet ups on Second Life. It is all happening on Saturday, the 20th of August 2011.

Doctor Who: Podshock - Episode 250
Running Time: 2:11:50

We review the Spring 2011 series of Doctor Who and celebrate the 26th anniversary of the Gallifreyan Embassy live over the net with live and recorded listener feedback (Brent Johnson, Kobo4747, Stuart Natelson, Adam Pearson, Michael, Carl, D Scott 750).

Hosted by Louis Trapani ( @LouisTrapani ) and Dave Cooper ( @daveac )

Today (June 18, 2011) was the 26th anniversary of the Gallifreyan Embassy. Today we also recorded a Doctor Who: Podshock episode live over the net reviewing the spring 2011 series of Doctor Who. In the show we briefly touched upon the anniversary of the Gallifreyan Embassy and we were privileged enough to have a long time member and now a Podshock Supporting Subscriber call into the show, Stuart Natelson to share some of his memories with the organization.

Doctor Who: Podshock will be once again be taking to the net this Saturday, 18 June 2011 for a live-over-the-net show reviewing the spring 2011 series.

Yes, once again fans of Doctor Who, Torchwood, Sarah Jane Adventures and alike are coming together for what has become the legendary Doctor Who: Podshock seasonal meet ups on Second Life. It is all happening on Saturday, the 21st of May 2011.

Date: Sunday, May 1st 2011
Time: 3:00pm - 7:00pm
Location: Eleanor Rigby's
133 Mineola Blvd, Mineola, NY

The Gallifreyan Embassy meet up returns to Eleanor Rigby's 133 Mineola Blvd. in Mineola, New York. Admission is free. Food and drink is available for purchase. Classic and new series episodes will be screened. Light mayhem may occur! Plus we pay tribute to Elisabeth Sladen and Nicholas Courtney. Ken Deep is your host.

Keeping with the theme of Gallifrey One's Catch 22: Islands of Mystery, our Post Gallifrey One Party which was our Doctor Who: Podshock and Gallifreyan Embassy seasonal meet up and party on Second Life taking place the following Sunday (27 February 2011) after Gallifrey One had a tiki feel to it. Victor Mornington @vic1st and his fellow owners of the land of Katrina (The Doctor Who Experience, which has recently changed its name the Doctor Who: Exposition) out did themselves once again flooding the area, making it a huge pool of water complete with inflatables to cruise on for the stage area of our party. The stage and dance floor were on a giant deck.

Traditionally our meet ups start with TARDIS tours across various Doctor Who themed areas of Second Life led by Victor. This time we did things a bit different. Instead we had a Podshock TARIDS Mod Exposition taking place in that time period. I had the pleasure and honour of being one of the judges for it along with our own DWP Correspondent Ian Bisset @The6thDoctor and the owner of Hands of Omega (one of the leading TARDIS simulator providers in Second Life), Sen Pixie. Together we explored various TARDIS console mods along with the rest of their interior and chose the best within three categories.

Sunday, February 27th may be the week after Gallifrey One's Catch 22: Islands of Mystery, but we shouldn't let the party end there. Join us as once again we invade Second Life with scarves, bow ties, fezzes and all at our seasonal Doctor Who: Podshock meet up.

If you went to Gallifrey One this year, you are invited to continue the fun no matter where you live from the comfort of your home. If you couldn't attend Gallifrey One, you are welcome to get a little taste of the party atmosphere as we celebrate our favourite Time Lord in this virtual world. If you couldn't be our Doctor Who: Podshock Meet & Greet at Gallifrey One this year, now you have another chance to meet up.

Yes fans of Doctor Who, Torchwood, Sarah Jane Adventures and alike come together seasonally at what has become the legendary Doctor Who: Podshock meet ups on Second Life.

What does the title of this entry mean? It's simply a fushion of what about to speak about here:

First off, both Dave Cooper @daveac and Graeme Sheridan @The2ndDoctor joined in as co-hosts for this week's recording of Doctor Who: Podshock (235) and Hitchhiker's Guide to British Sci-Fi. Expect both episodes on your feeds soon.

Secondly, you can hear me in the most recent episode of The Chronic Rift podcast in which I speak about the Gallifreyan Embassy. See my post about it below on arttrap.com:

Riding The Chronic Rift -

DW Podshock Podcast Companion App - Episode 02
Exclusive App Episode
Running Time: 0:34:48

In this bonus exclusive episode for the DW Podshock Podcast Companion App we include a segment from the Q&A session with Daphne Ashbrook (Grace from the 1996 Doctor Who movie) from last month's 25th anniversary event for the Gallifreyan Embassy. The complete interview and Q&A from the event is included in Doctor Who: Podshock 229 - Extra Edition. Plus Ken and Louis talk about the origins of the Gallifreyan Embassy, and more.

Hosted by Louis Trapani ( @LouisTrapani ) and Ken Deep ( @kendeep ).

This episode appears in the "Exclusives" section of the app.

Note: The app is currently only available for the Apple iOS (iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad), there is an Android version in the works. Currently there is a bug in the iPad version in which prevents the episodes from being listed, they appear blank (in both the regular episodes section and exclusive section), but if you tap the topmost slot, you will hear the latest episode.

If you are a long time listener of Doctor Who: Podshock, you may recall segments by Joe Corallo ( @JoeCorallo ) some years ago. He mostly reviewed audio dramas such as the Cybermen story, Spare Parts by Big Finish. You may have met him at our recent 25th Anniversary Event for the Gallifreyan Embassy last month (see photo to left of him with Daphne Ashbrook).

"Grace, I came back to life before your eyes. I held back death."

Doctor Who: Podshock - Episode 229 EXTRA Edition
Running Time: 1:15:48

In this Extra Edition of Doctor Who: Podshock we include our interview and Q&A with Daphne Ashbrook (Grace from the 1996 Doctor Who movie) from last month's 25th anniversary event for the Gallifreyan Embassy.

Hosted by Louis Trapani ( @LouisTrapani ) and Ken Deep ( @kendeep ).

A heads up for those may not have caught the tweets from myself as well as @GEmbassy and @Podshock that there's another article in the Mineola Patch about our most recent 25th anniversary event for the Gallifreyan Embassy which was held last Tuesday at Eleanor Rigby's in Mineola, NY.

'Doctor Who' Actress Visits Mineola for Fan Club’s 25th Anniversary - Mineola, NY Patch:

"'What started in 1985 with newsletters and meetings, in 2010 is now an online presence like the website or podcasts and things,' Louis Trapani told fellow fans of the 40-plus year British sci-fi series 'Doctor Who' gathered at Eleanor Rigby's Tuesday night. 'But there's still nothing better than good old-fashioned people getting together and having a good time and we have a great community of Doctor Who fans on Long Island.'

Along with fellow fan Ken Deep, Trapani is head of the 'Gallifreyan Embassy,' billed as the largest 'Doctor Who' fan club on Long Island, and which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Deep said that it was 'fitting' that the group was in Mineola because club member Beth Trekman had been working at the Mineola post office where the original club newsletters were mailed. 'You used to see Mineola as our paid postage meter-thingy from the post office,' Deep said. 'Mineola has a special place in our hearts.'

Trapani said he decided to start a 'Doctor Who' fan club on Long Island in 1985 'since there was nothing there at that time, (and) since there was nothing there I said 'hey, I'll start it' and little did I know 25 years later they're still talking about it.'"

(Via mineola.patch.com - read the rest here)

"Waiting for this mysterious scientific advisor of yours to turn up?"

Doctor Who: Podshock - Episode 228
Running Time: 1:43:01

Part 1 of our Interview with Paul Scoones @paul_scoones (responsible for Doctor Who DVD info text) by Ian Bisset @The6thDoctor , Amy Krell @amykrell joins us with her new segment, 'Amy's Choice', Anthony S Burdge @MythicDocWho interviews long time Gallifreyan Embassy member Tim Grogan @whoviangrande on Doctor Who fandom in the 1980s, feedback, news, and more.

Hosted by Louis Trapani ( @LouisTrapani ), Ken Deep ( @kendeep ), James Naughton ( @JamesNaughton ), and Amy Krell ( @amykrell ).

In case you missed my tweets earlier about it, there is a nice write up about the 25th anniversary event for the Gallifreyan Embassy in the Mineola Patch:

Gallifreyan Embassy Celebrates 25 Years in Mineola - Mineola, NY Patch:

"Straight from another world, the Gallifreyan Embassy will celebrate its 25th anniversary at Eleanor Rigby's in Mineola on Nov. 16.

The Gallifreyan Embassy is the home of 'Doctor Who: Podshock,' an internet podcast dedicated to all things 'Doctor Who,' the British sci-fi TV show about a time-traveling alien and his human companion. Podshock host Louis Trapani said Doctor Who actress Daphne Ashbrook will be the featured guest. "

(Via Mineola Patch)

It's that time again when Doctor Who, Torchwood, Sarah Jane Adventures fans come together under one virtual sky at what has become the legendary Doctor Who: Podshock meet ups on Second Life.

The last events we held on Second Life were to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Gallifreyan Embassy and the 5th anniversary of Doctor Who: Podshock. This time we are coming together to celebrate 47 years of Doctor Who itself! Yes, it is the anniversary of Doctor Who!

Come and join Doctor Who: Podshock hosts, correspondents, friends, and listeners in celebrating 47 years of the longest running science fiction series on television all without leaving the comfort of your home!

There are no secret locations or handshakes needed. No long car or train rides. No worrying about parking or finding a seat. No worrying about what to wear (at least not in the physical sense). No worrying about travel fares, dinner checks, tips, or who paid for the last round. Just kick back in front of your computer with your favourite beverage and/or snack and join other Doctor Who, Torchwood, and alike fans coming together on Second Life. All at no extra cost to you.

It's our summer Second Life meet up taking place on Saturday, 20 November 2010 and what better way to celebrate Doctor Who's anniversary. Come together with other Doctor Who and Torchwood fans no matter where you are geographically located, all you need is broadband internet and a computer capable of running the free Second Life software.

Our seasonal meet ups are a fun and fantastic way to connect with other fans without even leaving the comfort of your own home. Each meet up has been grown larger and larger.