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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11.22.1945 | 19 deacon street |
+ "Nineteen Deacon Street". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A brash tie salesman arrives in Chicago and c... | |
01.26.1958 | 19 deacon street |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Nineteen Deacon Street". A brash tie salesman arrives in ... | |
01.21.1962 | 2462 |
+ "2462". A frightening story of the future, another "Brave New World." He woke up on the floor sh... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
| |
09.25.1956 | a case of identity |
+ "A Case Of Identity". A man takes out a $100,000 life insurance policy, then murders a bum whom ... | |
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... | |
08.15.1956 | a friend to alexander |
+ "A Friend To Alexander". The story of a very personal reaction to the Hamilton-Burr duel. The st... | |
06.02.1952 | a good and faithful servant |
+ "A Good and Faithful Servant". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. After thirty years on the job, a meek dep... | |
03.31.1957 | a good neighbor |
+ "A Good Neighbor". A well-written story with a fine performance by Jeff Chandler. A jewel thief ... | |
04.05.1945 | a guy gets lonely |
+ "A Guy Gets Lonely". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. An interesting story about an old man in a penny a... | |
12.14.1950 | a killing in abilene |
+ "A Killing In Abilene". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. An hombre rides into town to get the man who kil... | |
02.03.1955 | a killing in abilene |
+ "A Killing In Abilene". A Texan arrives in Pleasant Valley to bring the man who killed his broth... | |
02.25.1952 | a killing in las vegas |
+ "A Killing In Las Vegas". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A woman becomes convinced that her husband is ... | |
12.20.1959 | a korean christmas carol |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Korean Christmas Carol". the story of a strange G. I., hi... | |
09.30.1954 | a little matter of memory |
+ "A Little Matter Of Memory". A mad killer is loose on the English moors, but where is he...and w... | |
06.23.1957 | a load of dynamite |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "A Load Of Dynamite". A good story about a dynamite truck ... | |
08.30.1959 | a matter of execution |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "A Matter Of Execution". An eleven year old boy hears a de... | |
06.12.1956 | a matter of timing |
+ "A Matter Of Timing". A man hires a professional killer to bump off his partner, with surprising... | |
09.14.1953 | a message to garcia |
+ "A Message To Garcia". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. Shortly before the Spanish-American War, an agent... | |
03.24.1952 | a murder of necessity |
+ "A Murder Of Necessity" ("Frame Up"). Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. When a man kills his blackmailer, ... | |
12.03.1951 | a murderous revision |
+ "A Murderous Revision". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. The first murder by radio electrical transcripti... | |
09.23.1942 | a passage to beneris |
+ "A Passage To Benares". A beautiful Hindu maiden is beheaded in a temple on the island of Trinid... | |
10.10.1946 | a plain case of murder |
+ "A Plane Case Of Murder". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A scheming woman and her pre-war lover plan t... | |
12.13.1955 | a present for benny |
+ "A Present For Benny". A comedy/gangster story about two boxes. One box contains an ermine coat,... | |
09.04.1960 | a rest for emily |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "A Rest For Emily". A farmer has just murdered his wife an... | |
12.28.1950 | a ring for marya |
+ "A Ring For Marya". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. John plans to burn his store for the insurance money... |
Air Date | Title | Synopsis | Rating |
---|---|---|---|
01.21.1962 | 2462 |
+ "2462". A frightening story of the future, another "Brave New World." He woke up on the floor sh... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
|
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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