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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03.30.1943 | the dead sleep lightly |
+ "The Dead Sleep Lightly". A tingling ghost story about a rich old man and the ghost of his long ... | |
04.06.1943 | fire burn and cauldron bubble |
+ CBS net."Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble". The "Man In Black" (Ted Osborne) introduces Paul Lukas i... | |
04.13.1943 | fear paints a picture |
+ "Fear Paints A Picture". A young girl about to inherit a fortune, is going mad. A picture of a m... | |
04.20.1943 | moment of darkness |
+ "The Moment Of Darkness". A man is murdered in the midst of a seance conducted by a phoney mediu... | |
04.27.1943 | the diary of sophronia winters |
+ "The Diary Of Saphronia Winters". A great horror story about a new bride, a madman, and an hotel... | |
05.04.1943 | death flies blind |
+ "Death Flies Blind". A story about a Nazi spy who highjacks a plane carrying an American million... | |
05.11.1943 | mr markham antique dealer |
+ "Mr. Markham, Antique Dealer". A story about a blackmailer, a murderer, and a room full of clock... | |
05.18.1943 | the abc murders |
+ "The A. B. C. Murders". A meek little man appears to be a homicidal maniac. A British chiller wi... | |
05.25.1943 | sorry wrong number afrs |
+ "Sorry, Wrong Number". The first broadcast of this thriller classic. Probably the best remember... | |
06.01.1943 | banquos chair |
+ "Banquo's Chair". A detective, tracking down an elusive murderer, uses ghosts and the victim to ... | |
06.08.1943 | five canaries in the room |
+ "Five Canaries In The Room". A fun filled bachelor party turns serious when a dead body, a vanis... | |
06.15.1943 | last night |
+ "Last Night". The story of a corpse in the rumble seat and a debt-ridden dude ranch. Kent Smith,... | |
06.22.1943 | man without a body |
+ "The Man Without A Body". A humdinger thriller set in rural England. What is the secret of the i... | |
06.29.1943 | uncle henrys rose bush |
+ "Uncle Henry's Rosebush". What on earth is Aunt Julie up to? And where is Uncle Henry? The story... | |
07.06.1943 | the white rose murders |
+ "The White Rose Murders". A good story about a maniacal murderer, one who kills only young girls... | |
07.20.1943 | murder goes for a swim |
+ "Murder Goes For A Swim". The program is introduced by, "The Man In Black." The first radio appe... | |
07.27.1943 | the last letter of dr bronson |
+ "The Last Letter Of Dr. Bronson". A scientist has an interesting theory about "The Five Checks T... | |
08.03.1943 | friend to alexander |
+ "A Friend To Alexander". A man has a recurring dream about the Hamilton-Burr duel. The story was... | |
08.10.1943 | the fountain plays |
+ "The Fountain Plays". A delightfully British little murder. The story was subsequently produced ... | |
08.21.1943 | sorry wrong number 2nd |
+ "Sorry, Wrong Number". An invalid woman battles the frustrations of the telephone system after s... | |
08.28.1943 | the kings birthday |
+ "The King's Birthday". A touch of voodoo in Nazi occupied Denmark? The program has a surprise en... | |
09.02.1943 | the singing walls |
+ "The Singing Walls". A man has committed murder, or has he? Where does that music come from? The... | |
09.09.1943 | marry for murder |
+ "Marry For Murder". A couple living out on the Cape with the sound of constant foghorns are head... | |
09.16.1943 | the cross eyed bear |
+ CBS net origination, AFRS rebroadcast. "The Cross-Eyed Bear". A continuously twisting adventure in... | |
09.23.1943 | the most dangerous game |
+ "The Most Dangerous Game". The definitive version of the classic confrontation story...man hunti... |
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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