Escape - Zero Hour

Escape's "Zero Hour" is an adaptation of a Ray Bradbury story about a peculiar game played by young children.

It is a typical day in the New York home of the Morris family, and Mrs. Morris is busy with her usual routine. Her daughter, Mink, as well as all of the other young children, are intensely occupied by new, mysterious game called "Invasion." Mrs. Morris isn't bothered by the game until she gets a call from her friend in Connecticut and finds out that all of the kids are playing it there as well. When she learns that the game's "zero hour" is to be at 5:00 p.m. that day, she does begin to wonder what the kids are really up to. None of the other parents are worried about it, but they should be. The children have learned the game from the Martians that are planning to take over the Earth.

Escape's "Zero Hour" was adapted for radio and directed by Anthony Ellis. Paula Winslowe played Mrs. Morris and Isa Ashdown played Mink. John Dehner narrated. This episode aired on October 4, 1953.

. Download Escape_1953.10.04_Zero Hour.mp3

According to Martin Grams in Suspense: Twenty Years of Thrills and Chills, "Zero Hour" disturbed many listeners when it aired on Escape and CBS received thousands of letters and phone calls in response. Suspense brought the story back to the airwaves two years later on April 5, 1955. Isha Ashdown and Paula Winslowe returned to play the same roles. John Dehner again appeared as the narrator. Antony Ellis again produced/directed.

.  Download Suspense_1955.04.05_Zero Hour.mp3

Suspense aired the story again on May 18, 1958. William N. Robson produced/directed. Evelyn Rudie played Mink and Lillian Buyeff played Mrs. Morris.

. Download Suspense_1958.05.18_ZeroHour.mp3

Suspense aired this story for the last time on January 3, 1960. Francie Meyers played Mink and Ginger Jones played Mrs. Morris. Stuart Metz was the narrator and Paul Roberts produced/directed.

. Download Suspense_1960.01.03_Zero Hour.mp3   

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Comments

[Christopher]

Versions of "Zero Hour" were also done for "Dimension X," "X Minus One" and another one of those anthology shows which I cannot recall at the moment. It was one of those scripts that sold to different shows over the years.

[Grigs]

I heard one of the Suspense versions a few years ago and it was an absolute classic. I can see why some people would be disturbed!

I have to go. I play Invasion on Monday nights and I mustn't keep Trill waiting! :)

[Gary Digital Williams]

I believe the other anthology series might have been NBC Short Story.

[Grigs]

There was also a story called "Zero Hour" on The Mysterious Traveler, but it was totally different than this one and not as good. It was worth listening to, though.

[Grigs]

I could have sworn that the kid's "imaginary friend's" name was Trill, but in the episode that I downloaded(the Suspense episode from '58), they were callin him "Drill". Either I misheard the first time or they changed it....

Regardless, this was a very chilling program. Thanks for posting it for us.

[Dennis W.]

By the way, it was none other than Parley Baer who played the husband/daddy in the 1955 repeat version on Suspense. He was a long time character actor in radio, TV and film who may be best remembered today as the mayor on The Andy Griffith Show during the '60s. He also acted in the theatrical feature Two On A Guillotine, directed by old Escape regular William Conrad.

A huge thanks for clearing up that reference in Dehner's opening comments for the 1955 show to the previous broadcast of Zero Hours having caused an uproar. I had looked for years for the first Suspense presentation, and could never find no earlier one than the 1955. ...But of course! It was first on Escape!

Thanks again for the post and the nice clarification.