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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05.11.1953 | othello ep02of02 |
+ "Othello" Part two. Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. The program is announced as the first radio dramatiz... | |
05.04.1953 | othello ep01of02 |
+ "Othello" Part one. Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. The program is announced as the first radio dramatiz... | |
04.27.1953 | the man within |
+ "The Man Within". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A professional smuggler and an amateur coward are put ... | |
04.20.1953 | public defender |
+ "Public Defender". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. The program is interrupted for a Korean War |
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04.13.1953 | the great train robbery |
+ "The Great Train Robbery". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. An ordinary, everyday guy and his uncle decid... | |
04.06.1953 | around the world |
+ "Around The World". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. The program is broadcast live from the stage of the ... | |
03.30.1953 | tom dooley |
+ "Tom Dooley". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. The story behind the hit tune by the Kingston Trio...a pos... | |
03.23.1953 | the signalman |
+ "The Signalman". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A strange light has been seen at a lonely railroad outp... | |
03.16.1953 | the mountain |
+ "The Mountain". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. Three men are attempting an unclimbed mountain. When one... | |
03.09.1953 | the dead alive |
+ "The Dead Alive". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A fine story of the supernatural, set shortly after th... | |
03.02.1953 | the storm |
+ "The Storm". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. An egotistical dancer splits up with his partner and tries ... | |
02.23.1953 | st james infirmary blues |
+ "St. James Infirmary Blues". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. The story behind the song, a fine portrait ... | |
02.16.1953 | the love and death of joaquin murieta |
+ "The Love and Death Of Joaquin Murietta". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A well told story about the ri... | |
02.09.1953 | the man who cried wolf |
+ "The Man Who Cried Wolf". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A cipher clerk at the Russian embassy in Mexic... | |
02.02.1953 | plan x |
+ "Plan X". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. Zeno the Martian is sent to meet the first rocket from Earth t... | |
01.26.1953 | the spencer brothers |
+ "The Spencer Brothers". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. The story of three bank robbers and killers, and... | |
01.19.1953 | gold of the adomar |
+ "Gold Of The Adomar". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A well-written, exciting story about a treasure hu... | |
01.12.1953 | the mystery of edwin drood ep02of02 |
+ "The Mystery Of Edwin Drood" Part Two. Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. Where is Mr. Jasper's favorite ne... | |
01.05.1953 | the mystery of edwin drood ep01of02 |
+ "The Mystery Of Edwin Drood" Part One. Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A well-done adaptation of the fam... | |
12.29.1952 | melody in dreams |
+ "Melody In Dreams". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. When a father makes a citizen's arrest of his own da... | |
12.22.1952 | artic rescue |
+ "Arctic Rescue". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A well told chronicle of an early voyage of exploration... | |
12.15.1952 | man with two faces |
+ "The Man With Two Faces". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A three year old corpse found in a packing cas... | |
12.08.1952 | jokers wild |
+ "Joker Wild". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. Harry's a very funny guy, and that's just the problem! He ... | |
12.01.1952 | the big heist |
+ "The Big Heist". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. The best bank buster in the business takes on a new man... | |
11.24.1952 | mann alive |
+ "Man Alive". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. Paul Douglas gives an excellent performance in a cold war 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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