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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09.30.1943 | the lost special |
+ CBS net origination, AFRS rebroadcast. "The Lost Special". A fascinating story and Orson is excell... | |
10.07.1943 | philomel cottage |
+ "Philomel Cottage". A couple living in the English countryside has a few secrets to hide, from e... | |
10.19.1943 | lazarus walks |
+ CBS net origination, AFRS rebroadcast. "Lazarus Walks". A good story about a man who came back fro... | |
10.26.1943 | after dinner story |
+ "The After Dinner Story". Six men are trapped in an elevator; one of them has been murdered. Who... | |
11.02.1943 | statement of employee henry wilson |
+ "Statement Of Employee Henry Wilson". An office murder starts to prey of the mind of the killer.... | |
11.09.1943 | cabin b13 |
+ "Cabin B-13". A very well-done and suspenseful drama about a new bride whose husband disappears ... | |
11.16.1943 | thieves fall out |
+ "Thieves Fall Out". A confused mystery about black marketeers and double murder. + Gene Kelly pl... | |
11.23.1943 | the strange death of charles umberstein |
+ "The Strange Death Of Charles Umberstein". An Allied spy undercover in Berlin feels the noose of... | |
11.30.1943 | the lady in the red hat |
+ The police department contacted journalist Mitchell to ask him to stop his article about the kille... | |
12.02.1943 | the black curtain |
+ "The Black Curtain". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A man recovers from amnesia to find himself wanted... | |
12.09.1943 | the night reveals |
+ "The Night Reveals". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. An insurance investigator is convinced that his wi... | |
12.16.1943 | wet saturday |
+ "Wet Saturday". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. Who killed the curate? Almost everybody, it seems! A ve... | |
12.23.1943 | back for christmas |
+ "Back For Christmas". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A meek British botany professor plans a "Devil's ... | |
12.30.1943 | finishing school |
+ "Finishing School". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A story of murder and mystery at a girl's school. T... | |
01.06.1944 | one way ride to nowhere |
+ "The One Way Ride To Nowhere". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A story about a dead body on a roller co... | |
01.13.1944 | dime a dance |
+ "Dime A Dance". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A madman has been murdering dance hall girls and then d... | |
01.20.1944 | world of darkness |
+ "A World Of Darkness". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A young girl has been murdered, but the foul dee... | |
01.27.1944 | the locked room |
+ "The Locked Room". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. Introduced by "The Man In Black." Murder stalks the ... | |
02.03.1944 | the sisters |
+ CBS net origination, AFRS rebroadcast. "The Sisters". Twin sisters live alone in a large house. On... | |
02.10.1944 | suspicion |
+ "Suspicion". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A mad cook who poisons her employers is on the loose. A m... | |
02.17.1944 | life ends at midnight |
+ "Life Ends At Midnight". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A throughly bad son returns to his mother for... | |
02.24.1944 | sorry wrong number |
+ "Sorry, Wrong Number". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. An invalid woman battles the frustrations of the... | |
03.02.1944 | portrait without a face |
+ "Portrait Without A Face". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. Who is the model for this strange painting, ... | |
03.09.1944 | the defense rests |
+ "The Defense Rests". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A story about an ex-con, framed for murder, who ge... | |
03.16.1944 | narrative about clarence |
+ "Narrative About Clarence". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A good story about a homicidal hypnotist, o... |
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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