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
- Radio Shows
- Comments
- Photos
Please enjoy these 914 old time radio episodes:
Air Date | Title | Synopsis | Rating |
---|---|---|---|
01.06.1957 | a shipment of mute fate |
+ Christopher Warner has spent two months on the jungle trail where he was sent by the museum to ret... | |
04.03.1960 | a shipment of mute fate |
+ "A Shipment Of Mute Fate". A deadly bushmaster snake has broken loose and is hiding somewhere on... | |
10.25.1945 | a shroud for sara |
+ "A Shroud For Sarah". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A scheming double-crossing woman gets hers in the... | |
06.19.1956 | a sleeping draught |
+ "A Sleeping Draught". Revolt aboard a prison ship to Australia. The system cue is added live. Th... | |
11.23.1958 | a statement of fact |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Statement Of Fact". An ambitious District Attorney gets a... | |
09.18.1960 | a statement of fact |
+ The most lurid of crimes is the crime of passion. No mere bank robbery or stock swindle can compet... | |
09.13.1955 | a story of poison |
+ "A Story Of Poison". A British doctor, the infamous Neil Cream, poisons his wife...and a few oth... | |
09.09.1962 | a strange day in may |
+ "A Strange Day In May". An interesting story about an astronaut who returns to a very puzzling E... | |
08.16.1955 | a study in wax |
+ "A Study In Wax". A good story and fine performance by William Conrad, about two men trapped in ... | |
02.08.1945 | a tale of two sisters |
+ "Tale Of Two Sisters". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A madwoman takes revenge on the son of her hated... | |
06.07.1954 | a terribly strange bed |
+ "A Terribly Strange Bed". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. The famous horror tale about the bed that pres... | |
12.28.1944 | a thing of beauty |
+ "A Thing Of Beauty". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A good story about the rise and fall of a famous a... | |
05.29.1947 | a thing of beauty |
+ "A Thing Of Beauty". Sponsored by: Roma Wines, Cresta Blanca Wines. An actress finds herself in n... | |
03.08.1951 | a vision of death |
+ "A Vision Of Death". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite (the middle commercial has been deleted). A nightclu... | |
06.01.1953 | a vision of death |
+ "A Vision Of Death". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. An interesting story about a couple with a nightclu... | |
03.10.1952 | a watery grave |
+ "A Watery Grave". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. "The story of a man who craved power, position and mon... | |
11.29.1945 | a week ago wednesday |
+ KQW, San Jose aircheck. "A Week Ago Wednesday". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A woman has a horroribl... | |
01.05.1958 | a week ago wednesday |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "A Week Ago Wednesday". A dream of murder and counter-murd... | |
10.13.1949 | account payable |
+ "Account Payable". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A meek book-keeper decides to bump off his boss and h... | |
10.05.1953 | action |
+ "Action". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A good story about a man who believes himself slowly dying who... | |
08.24.1944 | actors blood |
+ "Actor's Blood". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A very well-written murder story with a touch of ghost... | |
09.28.1958 | affair at aden |
+ "Affair At Aden". + A tale of trouble and oil and political ambitions overshadowed by romance. W... | |
03.23.1958 | affair at loveland pass |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Affair At Loveland Pass". An escaped killer, along with a... | |
10.26.1943 | after dinner story |
+ "The After Dinner Story". Six men are trapped in an elevator; one of them has been murdered. Who... | |
12.07.1950 | after the movies |
+ "After The Movies". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A good story with a surprise ending about a juror wh... |
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
Leave a comment