BEYOND MIDNIGHT

[RADIO-SERIES]

This South African series was produced by Michael McCabe as an immediate follow-up to his

science-fiction programSF 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, 1968The 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, 1969Don’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, 1969Take 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, 1969October 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, 1968The Marble Knights

(Edith Nesbit; “Man-Size in Marble; “October 31st”)

November 8, 1968The 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, 1968Spider-Phobia

December 6, 1968The Late Mr Elsham

(prob. H. G. Wells, “The Late Mr. Elvesham”)

December 13, 1968Harry

December 20, 1968A Beautiful Viper

December 27, 1968Smee” (A. M. Burrage)

January 3, 1969 “Short Circuit

January 10, 1969No-Name Baby

January 17, 1969The Honeymooners

(“Honeymoon”)

January 24, 1969Lanceford House

January 31, 1969A Night in the Waxworks”(A. M. Burrage, “The Waxwork”;

“A Night in Murders Den”)

February 7, 1969Vulture People

February 14, 1969The Phantom Groom

February 21, 1969Insect Man

(“The Insects”)

February 28, 1969All at Sea

March 7, 1969Eloise’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, 1969The Evil Face

(poss. “Let Me See Your Face”)

April 18, 1969A True Ghost Story

April 25, 1969The Wedding

May 2, 1969Yarrow

May 9, 1969Hobart

(“A Man Called Hobard”)

May 16, 1969

May 23, 1969Little Happenthatch

May 30, 1969Borneo

June 6, 1969The Yellow Room

June 13, 1969Arsenic

June 20, 1969Sir Derminic’s Bargain

(prob. J. Sheridan le Fanu, “Sir Dominick’s Bargain”)

June 27, 1969The House

July 4, 1969Sammy

July 11, 1969The Paul Henry Expedition

(“A Smile to Drive You Mad”)

July 18, 1969The Jokester

(poss. “Don’t Joke in the Morgue”)

July 25, 1969Under 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, 1969The Werewolf

September 12, 1969

September 19, 1969Radiation

September 26, 1969Turning to Marble

October 3, 1969 “A Man’s Worth

October 10, 1969Something Haunts This House

October 17, 1969White Revised

October 24, 1969Storybook Man

October 31, 1969Uninvited Face

November 7, 1969The Cigarette Case

November 14, 1969Mexican Mario

November 21, 1969The Voice

November 28, 1969Rendezvous

December 5, 1969Watches by the Dead

December 12, 1969The Manor House

December 19, 1969Cliffs of Bembridge

December 26, 1969The Door in the Wall

January 2, 1970 “Sarah

January 9, 1970 “Rupert Orange

(“What Happened to Rupert Orange?”)

January 16, 1970The Thirteenth Elephant

January 23, 1970The Bonanza

January 30, 1970

February 6, 1970

February 13, 1970The Visitors

February 20, 1970The 56 G’s

February 27, 1970The Picture

March 6, 1970Impala

March 13, 1970 “The Incomplete Corpse

March 20, 1970 “Arthur’s Return

March 27, 1970

April 3, 1970

April 10, 1970Mr. McGraw and his Victim

(“McGraw shoots Stony”)

April 17, 1970An Evil Memory of Julia Wright

April 24, 1970The Specialty of the House

(prob. Stanley Ellin)

List Compiled by The Springbok Radio Preservation Society of South Africa. December, 2006