Eleventh Hour, The - SA

The Eleventh Hour was a South African thriller/suspense radio series with occasional science fiction plots. The series aired from 1941 to 1946, though the exact start and end dates are uncertain. While the majority of the surviving episodes are undated, one episode titled “Project XP112” is known to have aired on February 27, 1946, suggesting the series may have run for several years.

The show’s format was simple yet effective, opening with a chilling introduction: “Time - the silent herald of life and death, success or failure. The unseeing force that delivers man’s destiny, reaching its most fateful moments as it slowly strikes the eleventh hour.” This ominous narration set the tone for the dark and suspenseful tales that followed.

The Stars

The Eleventh Hour did not feature any regular cast members, instead relying on a rotating ensemble of actors for each episode. The series was produced in South Africa, so the voices and accents had a decidedly local flavor, though the stories and characters often had a more international or American feel. This blend of South African production values and global storytelling was part of what made the series unique.

Key Dates

• The series is known to have aired from at least 1941 to 1946, with the “Project XP112” episode confirmed for February 27th, 1946.

Other Information

While The Eleventh Hour was produced in South Africa, the series gained some international attention when the U.S. Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS) picked up several episodes for broadcast to troops stationed overseas. However, it’s unclear whether these were from the original Artransa Park Studios productions or the later Springbok Radio versions.

The series was known for its willingness to “borrow” script ideas from popular American thriller shows like Inner Sanctum Mysteries and Lights Out, but it managed to put its own unique spin on the material. The lack of a “horror host” character was one distinguishing feature, with the series instead relying on the chilling opening narration to set the mood.

Overall, The Eleventh Hour stands as an intriguing example of South African radio drama, blending local talent and production values with a global sensibility for suspense and the macabre.

While much of the series remains elusive, the surviving episodes offer a tantalizing glimpse into a forgotten corner of old-time radio history.