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
- Radio Shows
- Comments
- Photos
Please enjoy these 914 old time radio episodes:
Air Date | Title | Synopsis | Rating |
---|---|---|---|
02.01.1954 | never follow a banjo act |
+ "Never Follow A Banjo Act". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite ($100,000 Charity Giveaway). A mature caberet... | |
01.25.1954 | want ad |
+ "Want Ad". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite ($100,000 Charity Giveaway). "A story based on fact" about a s... | |
01.18.1954 | the face is familiar |
+ "The Face Is Familiar". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite ($100,000 Charity Giveaway). An innocent schnook ... | |
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 ... | |
01.04.1954 | on a country road |
+ "On A Country Road". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A couple run out of gas during a storm while "The C... | |
12.28.1953 | the queens ring |
+ "The Queen's Ring". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. The tumultuous love story of Queen Elizabeth and Ess... | |
12.21.1953 | the night before christmas |
+ "'Twas The Night Before Christmas". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. The parents of a little girl aren't ... | |
12.14.1953 | mystery of the marie roget |
+ "The Mystery Of Marie Roget". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A fascinating work of detection. Who kille... | |
12.07.1953 | trents last case |
+ "Trent's Last Case". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A British reporter solves one last murder, and it v... | |
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... | |
11.23.1953 | moonstone ep02of02 |
+ "The Moonstone" Part two. Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. The conclusion of the story about the search f... | |
11.16.1953 | moonstone ep01of02 |
+ "The Moonstone" Part one. Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. Announced as the first (and some think the gre... | |
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... | |
11.02.1953 | ordeal in donner pass |
+ "Ordeal In Donner Pass". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A docu/drama about the pioneers of a wagon trai... | |
10.26.1953 | dutch schultz |
+ "Dutch Schultz". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A well-done drama/documentary about the famous gangster... | |
10.19.1953 | my true loves hair |
+ "My True Love's Hair". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. Announcer Harlow Wilcox blows the show's opening ... | |
10.12.1953 | the shot |
+ "The Shot". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A well-written story about an "affair of honor" during the C... | |
10.05.1953 | action |
+ "Action". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A good story about a man who believes himself slowly dying who... | |
09.28.1953 | hellfire |
+ "Hellfire". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A wildcat oil driller strikes it rich with an oil find, then... | |
09.21.1953 | the empty chair |
+ "The Empty Chair". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A story with a heavy-handed public service theme of s... | |
09.14.1953 | a message to garcia |
+ "A Message To Garcia". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. Shortly before the Spanish-American War, an agent... | |
06.08.1953 | mystery of the mary celeste |
+ "The Mystery Of The Marie Celeste". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A well crafted reconstruction of wha... | |
06.01.1953 | a vision of death |
+ "A Vision Of Death". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. An interesting story about a couple with a nightclu... | |
05.25.1953 | pigeon in the cage |
+ "Pigeon In The Cage". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A paper-hanger trapped in a residential elevator w... | |
05.18.1953 | vial of death |
+ "Vial Of Death". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A vial of cholera bacteria is loose in the city, and it... |
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
Leave a comment