BEYOND MIDNIGHT
[RADIO-SERIES]
This South African series was produced by Michael McCabe as an immediate follow-up to his
science-fiction program SF 68, which ran for 33 weeks from March 1 to October 18 of 1968.
“.Most of the cast were the same in both series… At a later stage he was also allowed to try his
hand with stories of mystery and suspense in the series “Suspense” and later “Hitchcock’s Half
Hour”.
“Many sources in the old time radio community list 45 to 46 episodes of this series in their
catalogues. The major problem with this series is the episode titles. Collectors tended to give their
own episode titles to this series. With the exception of 7 episodes, which might still be found we
can now list the original episode titles and broadcast dates for this series. It would appear that the
majority of the episodes in circulation worldwide originated from the South African collector
John Wright, who sent these recorded reel to reel tapes to a friend in the United States. The SABC
Transcription Service released 5 episodes for broadcast on International radio stations. The
transcription discs are as follows. 1) SABC LT14526/8 "The Visitors", 2) SABC LT14527/5 "A Time
for Thunder", 3) SABC LT14529/4 "The Picture", 4) SABC LT14522 "The Tangled Way", 5) SABC
LT14523 "The Room". In 2006, Neil Gesson, a avid Springbok Radio fan donated several
hundred reel to reel tapes of Springbok Radio programmes that he recorded since about 1955 to
this society. In this collection of reels a total of 71 episodes of “Beyond Midnight” were recorded
and also logged by him. For many months his logs were compared to the official Springbok Radio
logs, Neil’s log was spot on. Neil sadly passed away in 2006, but left behind many recorded
programmes from Springbok Radio, that in most cases are programmes that would have been lost
forever. This society and South Africa owe him hugely for his efforts. This series has been
scheduled for digital restoration and upon completion, a set will be donated to the SABC Sound
Archive in Johannesburg for National Preservation.
“We have tried various ways in trying to match the known episode titles with the official episode
titles, but after many moons and many hours we decided to make available these logs for
collectors and interested parties. In brackets are the episode titles given by collectors.
“If any other collectors match up any of the titles we could not, please be so kind as to contact us
so that we can keep this log updated.
“The list of episodes logged and currently in holding with the Springbok Radio Preservation
Society of South Africa Sound Archive is as follows”
ORIGINATION: Springbok Radio, Johannesburg (SABC).
DURATION: October 25, 1968-April 24, 1970.
PERSONNEL: Michael McCabe (scriptwriter, producer), Denis Smith (announcer).
CASTS: Marjorie Gordon, Michael McCabe, Hal Orlandini, Denis Smith, et al.
SPONSOR: BioTex Cleaning Solution, Grandpa Headache Powders.
EXTANT RECORDINGS: “The Room” (11/1/68), “Don’t Joke in the Morgue” (1/10/69), “The Man Who
Sold His Soul” (3/14/69), “Take Your Partners” (9/5/69), “Cataclysm,” “Dear Ghost,” “The Death Wish,” “An
Eye for an Eye,” “Fortieth Birthday,” “The Great Fellini,” “The Green Vase,” “The Happy Return,” “Harry,”
“The Honeymoon,” “The House at Brickenbottom,” “The Insects,” “The Janissaries of Emilion,” “Let Me See
Your Face,” “The Locked Room,” “Madeira Wine,” “A Man Called Hobard,” “The Marble Room,” “The
Monkey’s Paw,” “Mrs. Smiff,” “My Daddy Had No Gun,” “October 31st,” “The Party,” “The Phantom Coach,”
“The Picture,” “The Sailor’s Rest,” “The Sheriff’s Wife,” “The Shooting of Stoney,” “Short Circuit,” “The
Signal Man,” “A Smile To Drive You Mad,” “Something Haunts This House,” “Something on His Mind,”
“Tangled Way,” “Terror Killed the Laughter,” “Their Dreams Were Shattered,” “The Thing in Cabin 105,”
“Time for Thunder,” “Under the Han Tree,” “The Visitors,” “The Visits,” “The Waxwork,” “Whatever Became
of Rupert Orange,” “The Yellow Dressing Gown.”
[NOTE: Story titles were not always announced on the actual broadcasts. Some of the titles listed above are
suggested titles assigned by American OTR collectors. “The Waxwork” is listed in some dealers’ catalogs as
“A Night in the Murderers’ Den.” “The Signal Man” is sometimes listed as “Hello Below There.”]
[CHRONOLOGY]
BEYOND MIDNIGHT (SPRINGBOK RADIO, JOHANNESBURG)
[Friday—9:30-10:00 PM]
October 25, 1968
November 1, 1968 “The Room”
November 8, 1968
November 15, 1968
November 22, 1968
November 29, 1968
December 6, 1968
December 13, 1968
December 20, 1968
December 27, 1968
January 3, 1969
January 10, 1969 “Don’t Joke in the Morgue”
January 17, 1969
January 24, 1969
Janurary 31, 1969
February 7, 1969
February 14, 1969
February 21, 1969
February 28, 1969
March 7, 1969
March 14, 1969 “The Man Who Sold His Soul”
March 21, 1969
March 28, 1969
April 11, 1969
April 18, 1969
April 25, 1969
May 2, 1969
May 9, 1969
May 16, 1969
May 23, 1969
May 30, 1969
June 6, 1969
June 13, 1969
June 20, 1969
June 27, 1969
July 4, 1969
July 11, 1969
July 18, 1969
July 25, 1969
August 1, 1969
August 8, 1969
August 15, 1969
August 22, 1969
August 29, 1969
September 5, 1969 “Take Your Partners”
September 12, 1969
September 19, 1969
September 26, 1969
October 3, 1969
October 10, 1969
October 17, 1969
October 24, 1969
October 31, 1969 “October 31st” (?)
November 7, 1969
November 14, 1969
November 21, 1969
November 28, 1969
December 5, 1969
December 12, 1969
December 19, 1969
December 26, 1969
January 2, 1970
January 9, 1970
January 16, 1970
January 23, 1970
January 30, 1970
February 6, 1970
February 13, 1970
February 20, 1970
February 27, 1970
March 6, 1970
March 13, 1970
March 20, 1970
March 27, 1970
April 3, 1970
April 10, 1970
April 17, 1970
April 24, 1970
Dates needed for the following titles:
“Cataclysm”
“Dear Ghost”
“The Death Wish”
“An Eye for an Eye”
“Fortieth Birthday”
“The Great Fellini”
“The Green Vase”
“The Happy Return”
“The Janissaries of Emilion” (by Basil Copper)
“Let Me See Your Face”
“The Locked Room”
“Madeira Wine”
“The Marble Room”
“Mrs. Smiff”
“My Daddy Had No Gun”
“October 31st”
“The Party”
“The Sailor’s Rest”
“The Sheriff’s Wife”
“The Signal Man”
“Something on His Mind”
“Tangled Way”
“Terror Killed the Laughter”
“Their Dreams Were Shattered”
“The Thing in Cabin 105” (The Upper Berth)
“Time for Thunder”
“The Visitors”
“The Visits”
“Official” log compiled by society:
November 1, 1968 “The Marble Knights”
(Edith Nesbit; “Man-Size in Marble; “October 31st”)
November 8, 1968 “The Paxton’s House”
(“The House at Brickett Bottom”
November 15, 1968 “The Monkey’s Paw” (W. W. Jacobs)
November 22, 1968 “The Phantom Coach” (Amelia B. Edwards)
November 29, 1968 “Spider-Phobia”
December 6, 1968 “The Late Mr Elsham”
(prob. H. G. Wells, “The Late Mr. Elvesham”)
December 13, 1968 “Harry”
December 20, 1968 “A Beautiful Viper”
December 27, 1968 “Smee” (A. M. Burrage)
January 3, 1969 “Short Circuit”
January 10, 1969 “No-Name Baby”
January 17, 1969 “The Honeymooners”
(“Honeymoon”)
January 24, 1969 “Lanceford House”
January 31, 1969 “A Night in the Waxworks”(A. M. Burrage, “The Waxwork”;
“A Night in Murders Den”)
February 7, 1969 “Vulture People”
February 14, 1969 “The Phantom Groom”
February 21, 1969 “Insect Man”
(“The Insects”)
February 28, 1969 “All at Sea”
March 7, 1969 “Eloise’s Whereabouts”
March 14, 1969 “The Dream”
March 21, 1969 “The House Was a Sphinx”
March 28, 1969 “The Train”
April 4, 1969
April 11, 1969 “The Evil Face”
(poss. “Let Me See Your Face”)
April 18, 1969 “A True Ghost Story”
April 25, 1969 “The Wedding”
May 2, 1969 “Yarrow”
May 9, 1969 “Hobart”
(“A Man Called Hobard”)
May 16, 1969
May 23, 1969 “Little Happenthatch”
May 30, 1969 “Borneo”
June 6, 1969 “The Yellow Room”
June 13, 1969 “Arsenic”
June 20, 1969 “Sir Derminic’s Bargain”
(prob. J. Sheridan le Fanu, “Sir Dominick’s Bargain”)
June 27, 1969 “The House”
July 4, 1969 “Sammy”
July 11, 1969 “The Paul Henry Expedition”
(“A Smile to Drive You Mad”)
July 18, 1969 “The Jokester”
(poss. “Don’t Joke in the Morgue”)
July 25, 1969 “Under the Hull Tree”
(“Under the Haw Tree”)
August 1, 1969 “The Crystal Ball”
(“The Yellow Dressing Gown”)
August 8, 1969 “Mrs. Taber’s Killer”
August 15, 1969 “Fellini the Great”
(“The Great Fellini”)
August 22, 1969 “The Happy Return”
August 29, 1969 “Take Your Partners”
September 5, 1969 “The Werewolf”
September 12, 1969
September 19, 1969 “Radiation”
September 26, 1969 “Turning to Marble”
October 3, 1969 “A Man’s Worth”
October 10, 1969 “Something Haunts This House”
October 17, 1969 “White Revised”
October 24, 1969 “Storybook Man”
October 31, 1969 “Uninvited Face”
November 7, 1969 “The Cigarette Case”
November 14, 1969 “Mexican Mario”
November 21, 1969 “The Voice”
November 28, 1969 “Rendezvous”
December 5, 1969 “Watches by the Dead”
December 12, 1969 “The Manor House”
December 19, 1969 “Cliffs of Bembridge”
December 26, 1969 “The Door in the Wall”
January 2, 1970 “Sarah”
January 9, 1970 “Rupert Orange”
(“What Happened to Rupert Orange?”)
January 16, 1970 “The Thirteenth Elephant”
January 23, 1970 “The Bonanza”
January 30, 1970
February 6, 1970
February 13, 1970 “The Visitors”
February 20, 1970 “The 56 G’s”
February 27, 1970 “The Picture”
March 6, 1970 “Impala”
March 13, 1970 “The Incomplete Corpse”
March 20, 1970 “Arthur’s Return”
March 27, 1970
April 3, 1970
April 10, 1970 “Mr. McGraw and his Victim”
(“McGraw shoots Stony”)
April 17, 1970 “An Evil Memory of Julia Wright”
April 24, 1970 “The Specialty of the House”
(prob. Stanley Ellin)
List Compiled by The Springbok Radio Preservation Society of South Africa. December, 2006