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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03.23.1944 | sneak preview |
+ "Sneak Preview". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A Hollywood movie director joins the New York police i... | |
03.30.1944 | cat and mouse |
+ "Cat and Mouse". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A story about two "hams" who are working on a secret d... | |
04.06.1944 | the woman in red |
+ "The Woman In Red". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A story about a femme fatale German spy and her nep... | |
04.13.1944 | the marvelous barastro |
+ "The Marvelous Barastro". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A great story with Orson doing his usual magn... | |
04.20.1944 | the palmer method |
+ "The Palmer Method". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A forger finds refuge (of sorts) from fighting the... | |
04.27.1944 | death went along for the ride |
+ "Death Went Along For The Ride". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A man driving across country (with a ... | |
05.04.1944 | the dark tower |
+ "The Dark Tower". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. Orson appears in several roles in a story about actor... | |
05.11.1944 | the visitor |
+ "The Visitor". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A young boy who was thought dead returns home. Or does h... | |
05.18.1944 | donovans brain ep01of02 |
+ "Donovan's Brain" Part one. Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A determined scientist plans to keep Mr. Do... | |
05.25.1944 | donovans brain ep02of02 |
+ "Donovan's Brain" Part two. Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A determined scientist plans to keep Mr. Do... | |
06.01.1944 | fugue in c minor |
+ "Fugue In C Minor". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A good ghost story about a huge pipe organ built th... | |
06.08.1944 | case history on edgar lowndes |
+ "Case History Of Edgar Lowndes". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A railroad magnate visits a psychiatri... | |
06.15.1944 | a friend to alexander |
+ "A Friend To Alexander". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. The story of a very personal reaction to the H... | |
06.22.1944 | the ten grand |
+ "The Ten Grand". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A story about a penniless dancer who has her empty pur... | |
06.29.1944 | walls come tumbling down |
+ "The Walls Came Tumbling Down". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. There's some nice detection by a newspap... | |
07.06.1944 | the search for henri lefevre |
+ "The Search For Henri LeFevre". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A man who has just finished writing a s... | |
07.13.1944 | the beast must die |
+ "The Beast Must Die". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A man vows to kill the hit and run driver who kil... | |
07.20.1944 | of maestro and man |
+ "Of Maestro and Man". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. Peter Lorre is typecast as "The Maestro," a prize... | |
07.27.1944 | the black shawl |
+ "The Black Shawl". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A good mood piece about a young girl kept in the man... | |
08.03.1944 | banquos chair |
+ "Banquo's Chair". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A detective tracking down an elusive murderer uses a ... | |
08.10.1944 | the man who knew how |
+ "The Man Who Knew How". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. An interesting story about a man who knows the ... | |
08.17.1944 | the diary of sophronia winters |
+ "The Diary Of Saphronia Winters". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A great horror tale about a new bride... | |
08.24.1944 | actors blood |
+ "Actor's Blood". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A very well-written murder story with a touch of ghost... | |
08.31.1944 | the black path of fear |
+ "The Black Path Of Fear". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. An excellent story about murder and revenge i... | |
09.07.1944 | voyage through darkness |
+ "Voyage Through Darkness". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. The "Blackout Killer" is hiding somewhere a... |
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Tommy
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Robert
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Jay
Russ
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Dale
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Kenneth
Jamie
Archie
Scott
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Annette
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