How to help Burbank’s TARDIS stand the test of time

A blue police box in Burbank has hosted wedding proposals, family Christmas photo shoots and countless excited smiles over the past 15 years — but now, it needs your help.

It’s a replica of a TARDIS, which stands for “Time and Relative Dimension in Space.” It’s one of the most recognizable and iconic inventions from the long-running TV series Doctor Who.

This box may not be able to travel through time and is just as big on the inside as the outside, but it was engineered by the late Grant Imahara, a roboticist best known for his work on Mythbusters and White Rabbit Project.

The creation has been in the care of Donna Ricci, friend and owner of Geeky Teas and Games, who is now looking for handy Whovian volunteers who can give the Burbank TARDIS an overdue facelift.

“She’s brought joy,” she told LAist.  ”I love it when people didn't expect her but then stumble upon her. For them, it's like a piece of magic. It's kind of a signal that magic exists somewhere in the world and possibilities are there.”

Grant Imahara poses inside the Burbank TARDIS. It used to make a roaring sound when the door opened.

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Courtesy of Donna Ricci

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The origin story

Ricci knew how important Doctor Who was to people even before she watched an episode.

She figured that the TARDIS, a strange ship that carries characters to parallel universes and alien worlds, would be a great addition for her store and community.

Imahara "got so excited when I told him I'm gonna build a TARDIS for people to enjoy outside,” she said. “And he's like, I have some friends at the BBC. Let me get you some plans to help you out.”

He brought back the dimensions from the BBC (the network that produces the show), drew up the rest of the plans from there and gave Ricci a “police telephone box” sign to put on the front door for when it was finished.

The TARDIS has traveled between various store locations over the years, even earning a visit from Doctor Who star John Barrowman. And Ricci still remembers when she realized it meant something to others too.

“ I was in my store late at night and ... I heard brakes on the car go slamming,” she said, her voice cracking slightly with emotion. “ People were just posing with her and having a great time and just so excited that they could open the door and, you know, act like they were coming out of the TARDIS. And that's when I knew.”

TARDIS needs a little TLC

The TARDIS got banged up at Geeky Teas and Games' last location, where it sat in the glaring SoCal sun for about five years.

The heat warped the doors and pulled pieces of wood away from itself. It’s been marred with graffiti and scratches, and someone even threw a full container of orange juice through one of the windows.

“She used to also light up and make the roaring noise when you open the door,” Ricci said. “She doesn't do that anymore.”

The TARDIS definitely needs some work.

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Makenna Sievertson

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LAist

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How you can help

The Burbank TARDIS needs a sonic screwdriver, or at least someone who can help give it a new lease on life.

Ricci is looking for volunteers who have experience in building, carpentry, woodworking or similar skills. Some pieces can be saved, she said, while others need to be rebuilt.

If you’re willing to help, you can reach out to Ricci by sending an email to: donna@geekyteas.com.

She’s hoping to have the TARDIS fixed up by July, the anniversary of Imahara’s death, so it can be part of a new memorial.

TARDIS under construction.

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Makenna Sievertson

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LAist

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The memorial plaque for Grant Imahara.

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Courtesy of Donna Ricci

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“ I don't think people knew how kind he was,” she said. “ I'm so grateful that he was always on board with anything I wanted to do and just constantly lending a hand, not to just me, but other people. He was always giving things ...  I wish more people could have known him.”

Ricci is also planning to hang a portrait of Imahara in the lobby of Geeky Teas and Games' new Alameda Avenue location, not far from their life-sized Dalek named Harvey.