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 |
---|---|---|---|
09.21.1958 | no hiding place |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "No Hiding Place". A woman's crazy ex-husband threatens to... | |
09.14.1958 | command |
+ "Command". + This was a command the final moment of a cavalry soldiers heritage to stand ready to... | |
09.07.1958 | the wait |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Wait". A well-written story of revolution, honor, and... | |
08.31.1958 | the whole towns sleeping |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Whole Town's Sleeping". The famous story about the lo... | |
08.24.1958 | remember me |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Remember Me?". A murderer's old school chum has too good ... | |
08.17.1958 | the bridge |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Bridge". An eternal triangle finds itself trapped in ... | |
08.10.1958 | diary of sophronia winters |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Bridge". An eternal triangle finds itself trapped in ... | |
08.03.1958 | the voice of company a |
+ "The Voice Of Company A". A missile scientist places aboard a military satellite a tape recordin... | |
07.27.1958 | steel river prison break |
+ "The Steel River Prison Break". + The prison break was planned for Friday but then on Tuesday a w... | |
07.20.1958 | its all in your mind |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "It's All In Your Mind". Telepathy pills aren't all they'r... | |
07.13.1958 | the long night |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Long Night". A chilling story about a lost pilot and ... | |
07.06.1958 | rub down and out |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Rub Down and Out". A man who runs a gym is having an affa... | |
06.29.1958 | rain tonight |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Rain Tonight". A prison break is planned with the unwilli... | |
06.22.1958 | the last kilometer |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Last Kilometer". The program begins its 17th year on ... | |
06.15.1958 | strange for a killer |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Strange For A Killer". A trapped killer holding an entire... | |
06.08.1958 | invisible ape |
+ "The Invisible Ape". A young scientist decides to use his newly discovered secret of invisibilit... | |
06.01.1958 | rave notice |
+ "Rave Notice". Sponsored by: GMC Trucks. A actor commits murder then mounts the greatest performa... | |
05.25.1958 | like man somebody dig me |
+ "Like Man, Somebody Dig Me". The adventures of a beatnik, so cool that not even his own lynching ... | |
05.18.1958 | zero hour |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Zero Hour". The story of the game of "invasion" and a vis... | |
05.11.1958 | subway stop |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Subway Stop". A man mugged on a deserted subway station i... | |
05.04.1958 | sundown |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Sundown". A young boy grows up with only one desire...to ... | |
04.27.1958 | winner lose all |
+ "Winner Lose All". + Bobby went to a gambling joint with a proposition for gaining the establishm... | |
04.20.1958 | alibi me |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Alibi Me". A two-bit hoodlum murders his competitor and f... | |
04.13.1958 | win place or die |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Win, Place or Die". A book-keeper in debt to a book-maker... | |
04.06.1958 | just one happy little family |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Just One Happy Little Family". A lady poisoner marries a ... |
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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