| The Avengers |
| Recording The Avengers at Sonovision Studios in South Africa. |
| Donald Monat And Diane Appleby |
| On Monday 6th December 1971 at 7:16pm, Sonovision's The Avengers made its radio debut in South Africa. The Avengers very quickly became a hit show. Its stars, Diane Appleby and Donald Monat, soon found themselves very much the center of attention, proving to be very popular in their roles. In South Africa at this time there was not a major television network set up. What they had was radio. While we watched John Steed and Emma Peel they only heard them. Hugh Rouse was narrator on this radio version. There is little information that could help form a broadcast order. I found this series by accident. If you were a fan of the TV show you may enjoy this also. Each episode is about fifteen minutes long. |
| Hugh Rouse |
| I will always remember when I was first introduced to John Stead and Emma Peel. They brought something to the television, a cross between an English gentleman and a modern woman. They were and still are the best Avenger mix ever. Thank you Patrick Macnee and Diana Rigg. |
| Michael Mayer, Diane Appleby and June Dixon record an early episode of The Avengers. |
The Avengers was not a household name in South Africa prior to the radio series. With no national
television service until 1976, thy were unable to show television programmes to mass audiences. While
many other countries loved the filmed adventures of John Steed and co., South Africa was not
equipped to join in the fun. The Avengers was able to gain a modicum of exposure in South Africa
through film rentals. Most South African suburbs in the 1960s and 1970s had rental libraries, which
offered 16mm film prints of films and television series for public hire. Many homes were equipped
with 16mm cine projectors, and film hire was effectively the only way in which South Africans could
see British and American TV programmes. This was not always an ideal system, however, as film
prints could often be seriously damaged by projection breakdowns or misuse. Prints reputedly had an
average life of no more than two years, and none of these prints are thought to exist today.
television service until 1976, thy were unable to show television programmes to mass audiences. While
many other countries loved the filmed adventures of John Steed and co., South Africa was not
equipped to join in the fun. The Avengers was able to gain a modicum of exposure in South Africa
through film rentals. Most South African suburbs in the 1960s and 1970s had rental libraries, which
offered 16mm film prints of films and television series for public hire. Many homes were equipped
with 16mm cine projectors, and film hire was effectively the only way in which South Africans could
see British and American TV programmes. This was not always an ideal system, however, as film
prints could often be seriously damaged by projection breakdowns or misuse. Prints reputedly had an
average life of no more than two years, and none of these prints are thought to exist today.
| The Avengers aired in a prime-time slot on one of South Africa's most popular commercial channels, Springbok Radio. Each Monday to Friday evening, listeners were able to tune in to The Avengers between 7.15 and 7.30pm on the station's evening frequencies - 4945kHz and 6195kHz. |
| "from the makers of Cold Water Omo" |
