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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05.29.1960 | perfect plan |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Perfect Plan". A couple has an unusual scheme to make a f... | |
06.05.1960 | two came back |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Two Came Back". An eternal triangle in the jungle, compli... | |
06.12.1960 | elemental |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Elementals". Can a man and a woman go without food for on... | |
06.19.1960 | sixty grand missing |
"Sixty-Grand Missing". Sponsored by: Commercials deleted.. + A plain clothes detective is a man und... | |
06.26.1960 | daisy chain |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Daisy Chain". A killer is on the loose in England, but it... | |
07.03.1960 | bon voyage |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Bon Voyage". An embezzler with $200,000 and a boat to cat... | |
07.10.1960 | report from a dead planet |
+ "Report From A Dead Planet". A spaceship lands on a beautiful world and finds that all the inhab... | |
07.17.1960 | memorial bridge |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Memorial Bridge". A man kills his wife and puts her body ... | |
07.24.1960 | cold canvas |
+ When Eugene Philips goes cold canvassing on the Fouches to sell them life insurance he manages to ... | |
07.31.1960 | end game |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "End Game". A che... | |
08.07.1960 | the big dive |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Dive". A highdiver at a side show needs $10,000 a... | |
08.14.1960 | night ferry to paris |
+ "Night Ferry To Paris". Sponsored by: Pepsi-Cola, General Motors Service, Kellogg's All-Bran. + I... | |
08.21.1960 | truck stop |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Truck Stop". Two robbers use a diner to stage an armored ... | |
08.28.1960 | the girl in the powder blue jag |
+ "The Girl In The Powder Blue Jag". Sponsored by: Pepsi-Cola, G. M. Guardian Maintenance Service. ... | |
09.04.1960 | a rest for emily |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "A Rest For Emily". A farmer has just murdered his wife an... | |
09.11.1960 | rakovskys rubles |
+ "Rakowski's Rubles". Sponsored by: Pepsi, GM Guardian Maintainance. A poor Russian peasant decide... | |
09.18.1960 | a statement of fact |
+ The most lurid of crimes is the crime of passion. No mere bank robbery or stock swindle can compet... | |
09.25.1960 | time on my hands |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Time On My Hands". A middle aged couple go back in time t... | |
10.02.1960 | ivy is a lovely name for a girl |
+ "Ivy Is A Lovely Name For A Girl". Sponsored by: Kellogg's All-Bran. A race with the stork along ... | |
10.09.1960 | witness for death |
+ "Witness For Death". Sponsored by: Pepsi, Kellogg's All-Bran. A well-written story about a man wh... | |
10.16.1960 | inferno |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Inferno". A couple driving across the desert are waylaid ... | |
10.23.1960 | night man |
+ "Night Man". Sponsored by: Pepsi, Kellogg's All-Bran. A woman is convinced that the elevator oper... | |
10.30.1960 | the city that was |
+ "The City That Was". Sponsored by: Sylvania Flash, French's Worcestershire Sauce, Kellogg's All-B... | |
11.06.1960 | green lorelei |
+ "The Green Lorelei". An impoverished mystery writer hears a beautiful woman's voice coming from ... | |
11.13.1960 | the man who murders people |
+ "The Man Who Murders People". Sponsored by: Kellogg's. A good story about a commuter train ride i... |
Mike
Jerry
John
Peggie
Dave
Daniel
Daniel
John
Michael
Kristi
Travis
Dan
Michael
Tommy
Jim
Robert
Joe
Jay
Russ
David
Dale
David
Kenneth
Jamie
Archie
Scott
David
Mark
Rick
Annette
John
Mike
Damian
Randy
Kim
Joe
Steve Hodel
SUSPENSE
Martin
Lynne
Dan
Bert
SM
Norma
Judy
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