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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07.04.1946 | an evening diversion |
+ "An Evening's Diversion". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A man overhears a murder plot and plans to fo... | |
06.27.1946 | return trip |
+ KQW, San Jose aircheck. "Return Trip". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. Four people are trapped in a sno... | |
06.20.1946 | your devoted wife |
+ "Your Devoted Wife". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A woman is bringing her insane husband to Chicago ... | |
06.13.1946 | too many smiths |
+ "Too Many Smiths". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A man kills the winner of a slogan contest so he can... | |
06.06.1946 | high wall |
+ "The High Wall". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A man wakes up in a hospital for the criminally insane... | |
05.30.1946 | leading citizen of pratt county |
+ "The Leading Citizen Of Pratt County". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A con-man plans to take a small ... | |
05.23.1946 | spoils for victor |
+ CBS net origination, AFRS rebroadcast. "Spoils For Victor". | |
05.16.1946 | the plan |
+ "The Plan". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A good story about a woman terrorized by her husband's insa... | |
05.09.1946 | the clock and the rope afrs |
+ CBS net origination, AFRS rebroadcast. "The Clock and The Rope". Time is running out for a man fac... | |
05.02.1946 | crime without passion |
+ "Crime Without Passion". Sponsored by: Roma Wine. After an attorney murders his chorus-girl lover... | |
04.25.1946 | dark journey |
+ "Dark Journey". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A thwarted woman plans a horrible revenge...and succeed... | |
04.18.1946 | the night reveals |
+ "The Night Reveals". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A fire inspector suspects his wife is a pyromaniac... | |
04.11.1946 | the name of the beast |
+ "The Name Of The Beast". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A good role for Vincent Price as a slightly ma... | |
04.04.1946 | post mortem |
+ "Post Mortem". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. Josephine Archer has a winning sweepstakes ticket...but ... | |
03.28.1946 | out of control |
+ "Out Of Control". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A blind detective with uncanny powers of deduction so... | |
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... | |
03.14.1946 | no more alice |
+ "No More Alice". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A psychiatrist comes up with a novel way to kill his w... | |
03.07.1946 | black path of fear |
+ CBS net origination, AFRS rebroadcast. "The Black Path Of Fear". An excellent story about murder ... | |
02.21.1946 | consequence |
+ Maybe the costume was the decisive factor or maybe it would have happened anyway in any event the ... | |
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... | |
01.31.1946 | the long shot |
+ CBS net origination, AFRS rebroadcast. "The Long Shot". A cross-country drive with a $200,000 pot ... | |
01.24.1946 | my dear niece |
+ KQW, San Jose aircheck. "My Dear Niece". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A good story with a surprise e... | |
01.17.1946 | the pasteboard box |
+ KQW San Jose aircheck. "The Pasteboard Box". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A man kills his twin broth... | |
01.03.1946 | angel of death |
+ KQW San Jose aircheck. "The Angel Of Death". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A super-intelligent murder... |
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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