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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03.06.1960 | sleep is for children |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Sleep Is For Children". A killer specializes in women who... | |
02.28.1960 | lt langers last collection |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Lieutenant Langer's Last Collection". A rotten cop "on th... | |
02.21.1960 | crank letter |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Crank Letter". A doctor's life is being threatened by a v... | |
02.14.1960 | sorry wrong number |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Sorry, Wrong Number". An invalid woman battles the frustr... | |
02.07.1960 | the mystery of marie roget |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Mystery Of Marie Roget". Who killed the beautiful Fre... | |
01.31.1960 | end of the road |
+ "End Of The Road". An unusual "beauty-and-the beast" story; well-written. No open or close, body... | |
01.24.1960 | turnabout |
+ The thing was done, consummated, sleep was now death and nothing could mark the transition, not a ... | |
01.17.1960 | the time the place and the death |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Time, The Place and The Death". A gypsy tells a wealt... | |
01.10.1960 | the long night |
+ George Porter is armed and dangerous and has escaped from the insane hospital. A man turns up late... | |
01.03.1960 | zero hour |
+ Only with love, discipline and luck can the helpless parents hope to lead the bewildered child tow... | |
12.27.1959 | moonlight sail |
+ "Moonlight Sail". Sponsored by: Winston, 4-Way Cold Tablets, Kellogg's All Bran, Fitch shampoo. A... | |
12.20.1959 | a korean christmas carol |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Korean Christmas Carol". the story of a strange G. I., hi... | |
12.13.1959 | the country of the blind |
+ "The Country Of The Blind". Sponsored by: Winston, Yardley, Four Way Cold Tablets, Fitch Shampoo,... | |
12.06.1959 | dynamite run |
+ "Dynamite Run". A last truckful of dynamite is complicated by an escaped killer. + If he goes on... | |
11.29.1959 | leinengen vs the ants |
+ The story centers on plantation owner called Leiningen, and his stubborn refusal to abandon his pl... | |
11.22.1959 | the thimble |
+ The Thimble is a story of murder with a motive for everyone. Written by: Eleazar Lipsky Adapted f... | |
11.15.1959 | the companion |
+ "The Companion". Sponsored by: Winston, Fitch Shampoo, 4-Way Cold Tables, Kellogg's All-Brn. The ... | |
11.08.1959 | the last trip |
+ When a husband leaves on an overseas business trip his loving wife is apt to slip a remembrance gi... | |
11.01.1959 | re entry |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Re-entry". The first man to fly the X-15 rocket plane int... | |
10.25.1959 | the easy victim |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Easy Victim". A man $10,000 in debt to gamblers, deci... | |
10.18.1959 | the crisis of dirk diamond |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Crisis Of Dirk Diamond". A comic-strip cartoonist cre... | |
10.11.1959 | infanticide |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Infanticide". An eight year old asthmatic boy has been mu... | |
10.04.1959 | room 203 |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Room 203". A new bride sees a murder in a hotel room wind... | |
09.20.1959 | the beetle and mr bottle |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Beetle and Mr. Bottle". A mild little man who enjoys ... | |
09.13.1959 | death and the escort |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Death and The Escort". An honest citizen, willing to test... |
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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