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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09.27.1945 | the earth is made of glass |
+ "The Earth Is Made Of Glass". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A man decides to commit a "laboratory mur... | |
10.04.1945 | death on highway 99 |
+ "Death On Highway 99". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. When a man kills a stranger in a hit-and-run acc... | |
10.11.1945 | beyond good and evil |
+ "Beyond Good and Evil". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. An escaped convict murders a man and takes his ... | |
10.18.1945 | summer storm |
+ "Summer Storm". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. East coast broadcast. A simple man finds himself a kill... | |
10.25.1945 | a shroud for sara |
+ "A Shroud For Sarah". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A scheming double-crossing woman gets hers in the... | |
11.01.1945 | the dunwich horror |
+ CBS net origination, AFRS rebroadcast. "The Dunwich Horror". A confusing story about a monster loo... | |
11.08.1945 | the bet |
+ "The Bet". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. Can an artist do productive work for two years? It's worth $... | |
11.15.1945 | murder off key |
+ "Murder Off Key". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A man can't stand the horrible singing of the obnoxio... | |
11.22.1945 | 19 deacon street |
+ "Nineteen Deacon Street". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A brash tie salesman arrives in Chicago and c... | |
11.29.1945 | a week ago wednesday |
+ KQW, San Jose aircheck. "A Week Ago Wednesday". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A woman has a horroribl... | |
12.06.1945 | i wont take a minute |
+ KQW, San Jose aircheck. "I Won't Take A Minute". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A girl walks into an a... | |
12.13.1945 | the argyle album |
+ "The Argyle Album". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. Blackmail evidence causes multiple murders. The sto... | |
12.20.1945 | double entry |
+ KQW, San Jose aircheck. "Double Entry". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A comedy about a bookkeeper's b... | |
12.27.1945 | pink camellias |
+ "Pink Camellias". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A meek and quiet lady decides to poison her rich aunt... | |
01.03.1946 | angel of death |
+ KQW San Jose aircheck. "The Angel Of Death". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A super-intelligent murder... | |
01.17.1946 | the pasteboard box |
+ KQW San Jose aircheck. "The Pasteboard Box". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A man kills his twin broth... | |
01.24.1946 | my dear niece |
+ KQW, San Jose aircheck. "My Dear Niece". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A good story with a surprise e... | |
01.31.1946 | the long shot |
+ CBS net origination, AFRS rebroadcast. "The Long Shot". A cross-country drive with a $200,000 pot ... | |
02.14.1946 | the lucky lady east coast |
+ "The Lucky Lady". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A boarding house for young ladies is the scene of sev... | |
02.14.1946 | the lucky lady west coast |
+ "The Lucky Lady". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A boarding house for young ladies is the scene of sev... | |
02.21.1946 | consequence |
+ Maybe the costume was the decisive factor or maybe it would have happened anyway in any event the ... | |
03.07.1946 | black path of fear |
+ CBS net origination, AFRS rebroadcast. "The Black Path Of Fear". An excellent story about murder ... | |
03.14.1946 | no more alice |
+ "No More Alice". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A psychiatrist comes up with a novel way to kill his w... | |
03.21.1946 | lonely road |
+ "The Lonely Road". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A man plans to kill his wife at the urging of the be... | |
03.28.1946 | out of control |
+ "Out Of Control". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A blind detective with uncanny powers of deduction so... |
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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