With over 900+ broadcasts written by various authors and directors of their time, Suspense is a conglomeration of some of the most acclaimed old time radio shows that graced the airwaves from the years 1942 until 1962.
Suspense was a radio series broadcasted on the CBS Radio Network in the early 1940’s that featured many of the era’s famous Hollywood stars. Most notable among them are the highly talented Cary Grant, Humphrey Bogart, Orson Welles and Marlene Dietrich to name a few.
Living up to its name, majority of the program’s episodes were dedicated to the thriller and mystery genre wherein the protagonist was usually thrown into strange and unusual circumstances that seemingly had no resolution. Miraculously, a means of salvation would somehow manifest towards the finale to illustrate the triumph of good over evil.
Suspense is one of the classics of old time radio. Some fans have special favorites in the thriller/chiller/macabre genre, but all will agree that Suspense did it best. The guiding light of this show was William Spier, who developed the formula into a human drama that attracted the finest of Hollywood's elite as well as the cream of radio's great actors.
Orson Welles was in many episodes, and Cary Grant was quoted in 1943, "If I ever do any more radio work, I want to it on Suspense, where I get a good chance to act." Spier's method with his show's stars was to keep them under-rehearsed, somewhat uneasy. In Suspense, as it were. He got great performances, and the show gained greater and greater popularity.
The Roma Wine sponsorship in 1943 allowed the show to create works that are a lasting part of the old time radio entertainment experience. All the production values were first class. The great Bernard Hermann did the musical scores. He previously had worked with Orson Welles in his Mercury Theater series, and went on to do of Alfred Hitchcock film fame. Lucian Moraweck did many of the greatest episode scores.
The "Man in Black" is your host, reminding one of the many thriller show presenters, but Suspense was the best of the bunch, and never did the show lapse into over-the-top melodrama. William Spier was so deft in his weaving of the spell of Suspense, he was dubbed "the Hitchcock of the airwaves."
The Suspense anthology marked the end of the golden age of radio drama as the 1960’s gave birth to other forms of more colorful entertainment. Relive the glory days of old time radio and hear Suspense! Click here to read more about Suspense
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Please enjoy these 914 old time radio episodes:
Air Date | Title | Synopsis | Rating |
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06.14.1959 | drive in |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Drive-In". Hamburgers and a murderer-to-go. The story was... | |
06.21.1959 | ivy is a lovely name for a girl |
+ "Ivy Is A Lovely Name". Sponsored by: Mutual Of Omaha, A. T. & T., Casite Tune-Up. A race against... | |
06.28.1959 | analytical hour |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Analytical Hour". A good story about a patient and his ps... | |
07.05.1959 | blood is thicker |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Blood Is Thicker". A planned murder during a boat race is... | |
07.12.1959 | eyewitness |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Eyewitness". A newspaper reporter finds himself a hostage... | |
07.19.1959 | an occurrence at owl creek bridge |
+ "An Occurence At Owl Creek Bridge". Sponsored by: A. T. & T., Columbia Phonographs, Casite 3C, Gu... | |
07.20.1959 | its all in your mind |
+ For sometime Jack had had the feeling that their three lives, the Laramie’s and his were on a co... | |
07.26.1959 | night man |
+ "Night Man". Sponsored by: Pepsi Cola, Kellogg's All-Bran. An excellent horror story. The credits... | |
08.02.1959 | red cloud mesa |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Red Cloud Mesa". An Indian, mentally unbalanced from war ... | |
08.09.1959 | everything will be different |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Everything Will Be Different". A story about a new bride ... | |
08.16.1959 | like man somebody dig me |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Like Man, Somebody Dig Me". The adventures of a beatnik, ... | |
08.23.1959 | headshrinker |
+ August 23, 1959. CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Headshrinker". A woman seeing a psychiat... | |
08.30.1959 | a matter of execution |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "A Matter Of Execution". An eleven year old boy hears a de... | |
09.06.1959 | after the movies |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "After The Movies". A juror finds $10,000 in a drugstore, ... | |
09.13.1959 | death and the escort |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Death and The Escort". An honest citizen, willing to test... | |
09.20.1959 | the beetle and mr bottle |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Beetle and Mr. Bottle". A mild little man who enjoys ... | |
10.04.1959 | room 203 |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Room 203". A new bride sees a murder in a hotel room wind... | |
10.11.1959 | infanticide |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Infanticide". An eight year old asthmatic boy has been mu... | |
10.18.1959 | the crisis of dirk diamond |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Crisis Of Dirk Diamond". A comic-strip cartoonist cre... | |
10.25.1959 | the easy victim |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Easy Victim". A man $10,000 in debt to gamblers, deci... | |
11.01.1959 | re entry |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Re-entry". The first man to fly the X-15 rocket plane int... | |
11.08.1959 | the last trip |
+ When a husband leaves on an overseas business trip his loving wife is apt to slip a remembrance gi... | |
11.15.1959 | the companion |
+ "The Companion". Sponsored by: Winston, Fitch Shampoo, 4-Way Cold Tables, Kellogg's All-Brn. The ... | |
11.22.1959 | the thimble |
+ The Thimble is a story of murder with a motive for everyone. Written by: Eleazar Lipsky Adapted f... | |
11.29.1959 | leinengen vs the ants |
+ The story centers on plantation owner called Leiningen, and his stubborn refusal to abandon his pl... |
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SUSPENSE
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