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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12.02.1948 | the hands of mr ottermole |
+ "The Hands Of Mr. Ottermole". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A "strangler" is prowling the streets of L... | |
12.09.1948 | the sisters |
+ "The Sisters". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. Twin sisters live alone in a large house. One of them is ... | |
12.16.1948 | no escape |
+ "No Escape". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. An excellent story about the town's safest driver who becom... | |
12.23.1948 | back for christmas |
+ "Holiday Story". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A meek British botony professor plans a "Devil's Garden... | |
12.30.1948 | break up |
+ "Break-Up". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A good gangster story despite the predictable ending. Willia... | |
01.06.1949 | to find help |
+ "To Find Help". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. An old woman is terrorized by a madman that she has hire... | |
01.13.1949 | the too perfect alibi |
+ "The Too-Perfect Alibi". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A charming and wealthy guy from Croton decides ... | |
01.20.1949 | if the dead could talk |
+ "If The Dead Could Talk". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. They fly through the air with the greatest of ... | |
01.27.1949 | the thing in the window |
+ "The Thing In The Window". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A man sees a dead body sitting in a chair in ... | |
01.28.1949 | for the love of murder | ||
02.03.1949 | back seat driver |
+ "Backseat Driver". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. Fibber and Molly appear in a well-done thriller drama... | |
02.10.1949 | demortuis |
+ "De Mortuis". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A good story about an English doctor who tries his hand at... | |
02.17.1949 | catch me if you can |
+ "Catch Me If You Can". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. After a woman kills her husband, she is forced to... | |
02.24.1949 | where theres a will |
+ "Where There's A Will". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. An Englishman is plagued by gambling debts. He p... | |
03.03.1949 | lovebirds |
+ "The Lovebirds". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A wife is trying to kill her husband, while everyone is... | |
03.10.1949 | three o clock |
+ "Three O'Clock". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A man is tied to a time bomb, which set to explode. Th... | |
03.17.1949 | murder through the looking glass |
+ "Murder Through The Looking Glass". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. An interesting mystery about a schiz... | |
03.24.1949 | dead ernest |
+ "Dead Ernest". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. The classic radio drama of the cataleptic about to be emb... | |
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... | |
04.07.1949 | noose of coincidence |
+ "The Noose Of Coincidence". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A mild mannered bookseller meets a man who c... | |
04.14.1949 | murder in black and white |
+ "Murder In Black and White". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A mild little man carefully plans the murde... | |
04.21.1949 | the copper tea strainer |
+ "The Copper Tea Strainer". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A woman poisons her nagging mother, but is su... | |
04.28.1949 | the lie |
+ "The Lie". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A fine performance by Mickey as the recently expelled college... | |
05.05.1949 | death has a shadow |
+ "Death Has A Shadow". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A clever lawyer proves to be a bit too smart when ... | |
05.12.1949 | the light switch |
+ "Death Has A Shadow". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A clever lawyer proves to be a bit too smart when t... |
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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