Nightfall


(4.7 stars; 84 reviews)

Nightfall is the title of a radio drama series produced and aired by CBC Radio from July 1980 to June 1983. While primarily a supernatural/horror series, Nightfall featured some episodes in other genres, such as science fiction, mystery, fantasy, and human drama. One episode was even adapted from a folk song by Stan Rogers. Some of Nightfall's episodes were so terrifying that the CBC registered numerous complaints and some affiliate stations dropped it. Despite this, the series went on to become one of the most popular shows in CBC Radio history, running 100 episodes that featured a mix of original tales and adaptations of both classic and obscure short stories. (Summary from Wikipedia)

This recording is part of the Old Time Radio collection.

Chapters

Nightfall-Buried Alive 29:18
Nightfall-In The Name Of The Father 29:14
Love and the Lonely One 25:22
Welcome to Homerville 28:27
Hands Off 26:47
The Telltale Heart 29:37
Late Special 26:22
Future Fear 25:22
The Body Snatchers 26:21
Willoughby Obsession 27:57
Wind Chill 28:27
The Repossession 30:49
The Stone Ship 25:19
Special Services 21:30
Buried Alive 24:42
Last Visit 26:39
Ringing the Changes 28:03
The Devil's Backbone 31:00
Deadly Developments 29:02
Dreamy 31:33
Guest of Honor 29:27
A Shortwave Goodbye 28:56
Welcome to Homerville 28:40
Late Special 28:59
The Monkey's Paw 28:49
Wildcats 29:34
The Room 28:20
Wind Chill 29:40
Angel's Kiss 31:00
Book of Hell 28:49
Mkara 31:00
The Repossession 23:51
The Fatal Eggs 26:58
Breaking Point 29:59
Future Fear 29:27
All Nighter 29:52
Carmilla 29:53
In the Eye of the Beholder 29:51
Cemetery Stop 23:51
In the Name of the Father 31:00
Baby Doll 27:44
Appetite of Mr Lucraft 32:51
Reunion at the Victory Cafe 31:00
Gerald 29:27
Mindrift 31:00
Teddy 31:00
Child's Play 27:32
The Thinking Room 26:26
The Porch Light 25:29
Volcano 29:32
The Monkey's Raincoat 29:02
The Old Post Road 25:23
The Debt 28:58
Harris and the Mare 25:52
The Jogger 26:14
The Screaming Skull 28:21
Mr Agostino 29:55
The Maid's Bell 26:03
A Glimpse of Eternity 31:00
Beyond the Law 29:43
Reverse Image 31:00
Tige O'Kane and the Corpse 25:49
They Bite 26:24
Wildcats 29:09
Angel's Kiss 27:29
The Book of Hell 27:59
The Thinking Room 26:29
Footsteps 30:06
Lifeline 30:05
The Tie That Binds 28:50
The Dentist 27:33
Assassin Game 28:18
Lazarus Rising 28:00
Young Goodman Brown 31:00
But, Oh! What Happened To Hutchings 31:00
Daddy's Girl 29:52
Cruel Husband 30:00
The Signalman 29:59
Weather Station Four 28:24
Brides of Olivera 27:35
The Contract 28:25
Beauty's Beast 26:39
Angel of Death 27:16
Semi-Detached 31:00
Glaze of Perfect Beauty 27:39
No Quarter 28:59
The Undertaker 31:00
Private Collection 28:57
The Hit 29:11
Walter's Dog 29:12
The Wedding 31:00
Hypnotized 29:55
After Sunset 27:12
The Chrysalids Part 1 30:14
The Chrysalids Part 2 31:00
The Chrysalids Part 3 29:52

Reviews

You need to listen!


(5 stars)

An experience everyone should have, otr is forever the best form of horror and sci-fi, and you will never regret lending an ear. Thank you, northern neighbors. Didn't know you had it in you! Bryan Adams, Alannis, Rush, BTO, and Lights Out. Man! Just take back Samantha Bee and we will call it good.

Captain Cool is right


(5 stars)

Wow, Canada rocks the radio, but yes, take back Colbert and Samantha Bee n all is forgiven.

Wrong Titles to Some Shows, etc.


(3 stars)

"Nightfall_CBC_81-02-20_34_The_Monkeys_Paw.mp3" is actually "The Book of Hell". A later "Book of Hell" on the list is titled correctly. "Nightfall_CBC_81-03-13_37_Wind_Chill" is actually called "Breaking Point". A later "Breaking Point" is titled correctly. "Nightfall_CBC_81-04-10_41_Repossession" is actually called "Cemetery Stuff". EDIT: It is "Stop" and not "Stuff", as OTRJunkie points out -- I was going by what I thought I'd heard the announcer say. These are pretty good shows, with some good writing and excellent acting. While I haven't heard the whole list yet, I'm willing to go out on a limb and say that at least 2/3 of the one I have listened to are worthy of a 2nd listen.

These are ACTUALLY scary!


(5 stars)

Once you get past the terrible synth music interludes, these stories are actually quite wonderfully disturbing. Necrophilia, murder, despair, desperation, severed hands, monstrous deeds, corruption, evil, madness... everything that makes a good horror story. The problem is getting there, this is a terrible site to find anything. BUT if you can find Nightfall, I can not recommend it highly enough. Who knew the CBC could actually be scary? I never heard these as a kid, too bad, it would have been vastly better than being forced to watch The Beachcombers. (Canadians will understand) :)

Little-known gems: Porch Light, Old Post Road


(5 stars)

I think some of these are as good as the better-known old radio shows of its genre. For example, Gerald, Child's Play, Late Special, Devil's Backbone, the Dentist, are all as good as 'suspense'. Check out another gem for plot summaries and reviews, like I do frequently: the old time radio plot spot, otrplotspot.com ... You will thank me later!

WHAT IS THE MATTER


(5 stars)

Nightfall is a great show. The cornyness in the opening is golden age Radio, even if it was in the 1980s. All great horrer shows had that kind of opening. Lights out, the Inner Sanctum, an on. So give it a try, you will get hook.

late era otr


(5 stars)

not sure if this actually counts as OTR ,being from the 80's. But this series is top notch and it's Canadian not the US

Oh so gooooood!


(5 stars)

Give me stormy nights and Nightfall!