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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06.22.1958 | the last kilometer |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Last Kilometer". The program begins its 17th year on ... | |
06.29.1958 | rain tonight |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Rain Tonight". A prison break is planned with the unwilli... | |
07.06.1958 | rub down and out |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Rub Down and Out". A man who runs a gym is having an affa... | |
07.13.1958 | the long night |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Long Night". A chilling story about a lost pilot and ... | |
07.20.1958 | its all in your mind |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "It's All In Your Mind". Telepathy pills aren't all they'r... | |
07.27.1958 | steel river prison break |
+ "The Steel River Prison Break". + The prison break was planned for Friday but then on Tuesday a w... | |
08.03.1958 | the voice of company a |
+ "The Voice Of Company A". A missile scientist places aboard a military satellite a tape recordin... | |
08.10.1958 | diary of sophronia winters |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Bridge". An eternal triangle finds itself trapped in ... | |
08.17.1958 | the bridge |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Bridge". An eternal triangle finds itself trapped in ... | |
08.24.1958 | remember me |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Remember Me?". A murderer's old school chum has too good ... | |
08.31.1958 | the whole towns sleeping |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Whole Town's Sleeping". The famous story about the lo... | |
09.07.1958 | the wait |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Wait". A well-written story of revolution, honor, and... | |
09.14.1958 | command |
+ "Command". + This was a command the final moment of a cavalry soldiers heritage to stand ready to... | |
09.21.1958 | no hiding place |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "No Hiding Place". A woman's crazy ex-husband threatens to... | |
09.28.1958 | affair at aden |
+ "Affair At Aden". + A tale of trouble and oil and political ambitions overshadowed by romance. W... | |
10.05.1958 | the man who won the war |
+ One man’s war is another man’s history lesson yet was only in 1914 that the war before World W... | |
10.11.1958 | treasure chest of don jose |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Treasure Chest Of Don Jose". Buried treasure on old C... | |
10.19.1958 | three skeleton key |
+ "Three Skeleton Key". Sponsored by: Plymouth, Chrysler Corp., Four Way Cold Tablets, Fitch Shampo... | |
10.26.1958 | headshrinker |
+ "Headshrinker". Sponsored by: Plymouth, 4 Way Cough Medicine, Kent. Psychiatrist...healing thysel... | |
11.02.1958 | the dealings of mr markham |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Dealings Of Mr. Markham". The story about an antique ... | |
11.09.1958 | two for the road |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Two For The Road". Two television actors driving across t... | |
11.16.1958 | my dear niece |
+ "My Dear Niece". Sponsored by: 4 Way Cold Tabs, Fitch Shampoo, Lysol, Tums, Kent, Ex-Lax. A good ... | |
11.23.1958 | a statement of fact |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Statement Of Fact". An ambitious District Attorney gets a... | |
11.30.1958 | misfire |
+ "Misfire". A well-written story (by a CBS sound effects man) about an atomic-bomb test that fail... | |
12.07.1958 | tom dooley |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Tom Dooley". The story behind the Kingston Trio hit tune.... |
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