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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11.02.1953 | ordeal in donner pass |
+ "Ordeal In Donner Pass". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A docu/drama about the pioneers of a wagon trai... | |
11.09.1953 | needle in the haystack |
+ "Needle In The Haystack". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A radio portrait of the U. S. Navy, aboard a m... | |
11.16.1953 | moonstone ep01of02 |
+ "The Moonstone" Part one. Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. Announced as the first (and some think the gre... | |
11.23.1953 | moonstone ep02of02 |
+ "The Moonstone" Part two. Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. The conclusion of the story about the search f... | |
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... | |
12.07.1953 | trents last case |
+ "Trent's Last Case". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A British reporter solves one last murder, and it v... | |
12.14.1953 | mystery of the marie roget |
+ "The Mystery Of Marie Roget". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A fascinating work of detection. Who kille... | |
12.21.1953 | the night before christmas |
+ "'Twas The Night Before Christmas". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. The parents of a little girl aren't ... | |
12.28.1953 | the queens ring |
+ "The Queen's Ring". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. The tumultuous love story of Queen Elizabeth and Ess... | |
01.04.1954 | on a country road |
+ "On A Country Road". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A couple run out of gas during a storm while "The C... | |
01.11.1954 | one man crime wave |
+ "The One Man Crime Wave". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. An overcoat with a missing button is the only ... | |
01.18.1954 | the face is familiar |
+ "The Face Is Familiar". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite ($100,000 Charity Giveaway). An innocent schnook ... | |
01.25.1954 | want ad |
+ "Want Ad". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite ($100,000 Charity Giveaway). "A story based on fact" about a s... | |
02.01.1954 | never follow a banjo act |
+ "Never Follow A Banjo Act". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite ($100,000 Charity Giveaway). A mature caberet... | |
02.08.1954 | death at skreikerodd pond |
+ "Death At Skirkerud Pond". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite ($100,000 Charity Giveaway). An elderly couple... | |
02.15.1954 | the outer limit |
+ "The Outer Limit". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite (a salute to Dodge). A warning to mankind from "The Gu... | |
02.22.1954 | murder by jury |
+ "Murder By Jury". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite ($100,000 Charity Giveaway). A courtroom drama about a ... | |
03.01.1954 | the barking death |
+ "The Barking Death". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite (a salute to Studebaker). An infected dog escapes an... | |
03.08.1954 | circumstantial terror |
+ "Circumstantial Terror". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite (a salute to Nash). A good story about an unempl... | |
03.15.1954 | the girl in car 32 |
+ "The Girl In Car Thirty-Two". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite ($100,000 Charity Giveaway). A plainclothes... | |
03.22.1954 | the guilty always run |
+ "The Guilty Always Run". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite (a salute to Kyser-Fraser). When a man is accuse... | |
03.29.1954 | somebody help me |
+ "Somebody Help Me". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A divorced loser commits a murder, but buys his vict... | |
04.05.1954 | grand theft |
+ "Grand Theft". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A gentleman planning insurance fraud files a claim on a j... | |
04.12.1954 | parole to panic |
+ "Parole To Panic". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. An ex-con trying to go straight is tracked down and s... | |
04.19.1954 | the card game |
+ "The Card Game". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A good suspenseful story about a compulsive gambler out... |
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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