ccm@ut-ngp.UUCP (07/24/84)
The "friend" of the person who began this controversy in the net must have gone
to a different con in Chicago last November than Idid. First, my qualificationsfor taking an opposong stand: 1. I have many close friends who KNOW Tom person-
ally, and who had private conversations with him in Chicago, and KNOW the ar-
rangements for his accomodations--on stage and off, 2. I was in Chicago and I
HAVE his speech on tape (among many others), so I know how hw behaved and what
he really did say. 3. I've been a fan of his for far longer than his reign on
Dr. Who.
Second, I happen to know that Jean Diamond was responsible for his "seperate"
accommodations, and as for his wanting a seperate stge--he NEEDED IT! the
rooms couldn't possibly have held everyone if all the "Doctors" had been on
stage--the interest in Tom warrented that arrangement. Too, Tom likes to get personal with his fans, answering as many questions as possible, and having to share time with others would have made this nearly impossible. He hates to dis-
asppoin anyone, but especially children--of whom there were many in the crowd
I saw which came to his talk,
Third, re the Five Doctors--he did not "refuse to work with the other act-
ors"; I have on tape (in more than just the Chicago talks) his quote: "It was
just to near to me--I had just left the series, you must realize, when the
(show) was being filmed, and I was still feeling rather...ah...proprietorial
towards the series. I was still to close to it, and I wanted to do something different--I had been the Doctor for seven YEQRS! Don't you think that's long enough? ("NOOOOO!" the crowd yelled)" Add to that statment the facts that Tom
was just newlywed, as well as in pe--sorry--poor health (though he didn't men-
tion it then), and you have several very excellent reasons for his turning
down the part.
As for "holier than thou"!? Many who don't know Ton are quite surprised to
find he is an excruciatingly SHY person, on a one-to-one basis, that is. It
takes all his courage to meet anyone personally, and he often hides in corn-
ers to avoid contact. If you approach him just right, he will soon warm, and heis genuainely warm and gentle. Once he becomes comfortable, he talks very
animatedly with you, and goes out of his way to accomodate you--but he is dif-
ferent in crowds. There, the sheer mass of people make him comfortable, becauseit is less personal. He has a HUGE inferiority compplex! He is always
petrified of dissapointing anyone! He does think some of the other actors don't like him (and in two cases, he is correct--but one or two he is dead wromg
about). This *I* know for a fact, having spoken to and hearing from other
actors.
Disparaging someone famous--especially when one hasn't all the facts--is easy.
Especially if they are as vulnerable as Tom is, and if they are as gi--gullible
as he is in choosing agents. Diamond is as hard as her name, and that is as
polite a statement as yoou are likely to hear from anyone who has had to endure
several personal dealings with her, as I have. The more conmon opinions are,
as far as I'm concerned, unprintable.
No matter what "committee" your friend was on, such temporary knowlege
is no substitue for the insight gained from much longer contact and observ-
ation of Tom. Tom has problems--who doesn't (will you cast the firt stone?)?
But there are MANY wonderful things about this man, and I hate to see someone put him down when he tries so hard to please people.
But even without all the fatcs, I think your friend must have had some personal
problem coloring his/her vision and judgement in Chicago. Holier than thou?
A man who came backstage nearly in tears at the idea of his fans being cheated
out of all that time and money because they couldn't get through the lines?
Who loves to meet and hug each and every fan possible? Who actually jumped
odf stage to do so--at the consternation of "his" bodyguards? Who signed autographes ''til his arm was sore? Who arranged "so---special meetings" for small
fans when he knew they'd been left out? And outside of Chicago, the same man
who (secretly--Louise Jamison told about it once) donates large chunks of
his paycheck to handicapped children's causes, and who visits the same kids in
hospital? Who persona;ly sits down and in LONGHAND writes individual letters
to as many fans as he has time for (which is an amazing amount--this is one
BUSY man!)?
Check your facts, "friend". And you just might reassess this man whom you've
wronged, very deeply.
Cl.C