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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10.29.1951 | hunting of bob lee |
+ "The Hunting Of Bob Lee". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A story based on the true incidents of 1868, a... | |
12.02.1951 | log of the marne |
+ The Log Of The Marne is a true story concerning a British gun boat trapped by communist fire 141 m... | |
12.03.1951 | a murderous revision |
+ "A Murderous Revision". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. The first murder by radio electrical transcripti... | |
12.10.1951 | black jack to kill |
+ "Blackjack To Kill". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. An assassin is sent to Havana to kill an old enemy.... | |
12.17.1951 | the case history of a gambler |
+ "The Case History Of A Gambler". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A nineteen twenties melodrama about the... | |
12.24.1951 | twas the night before christmas |
+ Cathy was expecting her parents home that day at six in the morning. When she arises in the morni... | |
12.31.1951 | rogue male |
+ "Rogue Male". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. An Englishman, who had Hitler in his gunsights, finds hims... | |
01.07.1952 | the case against loo doc |
+ "The Case Against Loo Doc". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A well-written story of the San Francisco To... | |
01.14.1952 | fall river tragedy |
+ "The Fall River Tragedy". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. Lizzie Borden tells her side of the story! + T... | |
01.21.1952 | the perfectionist |
+ "The Perfectionist". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A killer who considers himself a perfectionist has ... | |
01.28.1952 | the carnival |
+ "Carnival". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. Rene, a side show "mechanical man," has very human feelings ... | |
02.04.1952 | treasure chest of don jose |
+ "The Treasure Chest Of Don Jose". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. An impoverished Floridian moves to Cap... | |
02.11.1952 | odd man out |
+ "Odd Man Out". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. An adaptation of the famous film about the Irish rebellio... | |
02.18.1952 | the track of the cat |
+ "The Track Of The Cat". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A hunt for a killer mountain cat in the snow is ... | |
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 ... | |
03.03.1952 | the thirty nine steps |
+ "The Thirty-Nine Steps". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A good movie adaptation, albeit severely abridg... | |
03.10.1952 | a watery grave |
+ "A Watery Grave". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. "The story of a man who craved power, position and mon... | |
03.17.1952 | the wreck of the old 97 |
+ "The Wreck Of The Old 97". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A great piece of radio writing, telling a pos... | |
03.24.1952 | a murder of necessity |
+ "A Murder Of Necessity" ("Frame Up"). Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. When a man kills his blackmailer, ... | |
03.31.1952 | lady pamela |
+ "The Lady Pamela". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A crime drama about a clever woman jewel thief who is... | |
04.07.1952 | remember me |
+ "Remember Me?". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A robber shoots an old Jewish shopkeeper and then is for... | |
04.14.1952 | mate bram |
+ "Mate Bram". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A triple ax murder on the high seas, and a mate with a bad ... | |
04.21.1952 | the diary of captain scott |
+ "The Diary Of Captain Scott". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. The story of the explorer who was second t... | |
04.28.1952 | the shooting of billy the kid |
+ "The Shooting Of Billy The Kid". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. The well told story of the life and vio... | |
05.05.1952 | frankie and johnny |
+ "Frankie and Johnny". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. They were lovers, oh lordy, how they could love! A... |
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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