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 |
---|---|---|---|
11.30.1953 | wreck of the maid of athens |
+ "The Wreck Of The Maid Of Athens". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A sailing ship sinks, leaving the cre... | |
07.29.1948 | yellow wallpaper |
+ "The Yellow Wallpaper". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A madwoman suspects that things are coming out o... | |
07.30.1961 | you can die laughing |
+ "You Can Die Laughing". Sponsored by: Pepsi Cola, Chase and Sanborn Coffee, NP-27. A woman and he... | |
03.31.1949 | you cant die twice |
+ "You Can't Die Twice". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. An interesting drama about a man declared dead in... | |
04.01.1962 | you died last night |
+ "You Died Last Night". An Earthman must convince an alien not to destroy the Earth. Atomic Energy... | |
03.13.1947 | you take ballistics |
+ "You Take Ballistics". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A good police drama with Jack Webb playing a har... | |
11.09.1944 | you were wonderful |
+ "You Were Wonderful". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A west coast repeat broadcast. A wartime nightclu... | |
09.14.1944 | youll never see me again |
+ "You'll Never See Me Again". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. Wifey goes home to mother... with a surpri... | |
09.05.1946 | youll never see me again |
+ "You'll Never See Me Again". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A new bride "goes home to mother" after a ... | |
06.20.1946 | your devoted wife |
+ "Your Devoted Wife". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A woman is bringing her insane husband to Chicago ... | |
12.17.1961 | yuletide miracle |
+ "Yuletide Miracle". A very well-written, heartwarming Christmas story, Sir Benjamin being a most... | |
04.05.1955 | zero hour |
+ "Zero Hour". The classic tale about "Drill" and the game of "Invasion." The script was previousl... | |
05.18.1958 | zero hour |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Zero Hour". The story of the game of "invasion" and a vis... | |
01.03.1960 | zero hour |
+ Only with love, discipline and luck can the helpless parents hope to lead the bewildered child tow... |
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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