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 |
---|---|---|---|
08.28.1960 | the girl in the powder blue jag |
+ "The Girl In The Powder Blue Jag". Sponsored by: Pepsi-Cola, G. M. Guardian Maintenance Service. ... | |
08.21.1960 | truck stop |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Truck Stop". Two robbers use a diner to stage an armored ... | |
08.14.1960 | night ferry to paris |
+ "Night Ferry To Paris". Sponsored by: Pepsi-Cola, General Motors Service, Kellogg's All-Bran. + I... | |
08.07.1960 | the big dive |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Dive". A highdiver at a side show needs $10,000 a... | |
07.31.1960 | end game |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "End Game". A che... | |
07.24.1960 | cold canvas |
+ When Eugene Philips goes cold canvassing on the Fouches to sell them life insurance he manages to ... | |
07.17.1960 | memorial bridge |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Memorial Bridge". A man kills his wife and puts her body ... | |
07.10.1960 | report from a dead planet |
+ "Report From A Dead Planet". A spaceship lands on a beautiful world and finds that all the inhab... | |
07.03.1960 | bon voyage |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Bon Voyage". An embezzler with $200,000 and a boat to cat... | |
06.26.1960 | daisy chain |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Daisy Chain". A killer is on the loose in England, but it... | |
06.19.1960 | sixty grand missing |
"Sixty-Grand Missing". Sponsored by: Commercials deleted.. + A plain clothes detective is a man und... | |
06.12.1960 | elemental |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Elementals". Can a man and a woman go without food for on... | |
06.05.1960 | two came back |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Two Came Back". An eternal triangle in the jungle, compli... | |
05.29.1960 | perfect plan |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Perfect Plan". A couple has an unusual scheme to make a f... | |
05.22.1960 | out the window |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Out The Window". A dishonest politician almost quits thos... | |
05.15.1960 | deadmans story |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Dead Man's Story". An interesting story about an escaped ... | |
05.08.1960 | the legend of robbie |
+ "The Legend Of Robbie". Sponsored by: Commercials adeleted. A young supermarket clerk yields to t... | |
05.01.1960 | bitter grapes |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Bitter Grapes". A dying woman poisons her husband, record... | |
04.24.1960 | one more shot |
+ Bernie was in the newspaper photography business and was covering a motor cycle race and has just ... | |
04.17.1960 | tonight at five fifty five |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Tonight At 5:55". A good story of Armageddon. The U. S. m... | |
04.10.1960 | two horse parlay |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Two-Horse Parley". A man needs $4000 to pay his gambling ... | |
04.03.1960 | a shipment of mute fate |
+ "A Shipment Of Mute Fate". A deadly bushmaster snake has broken loose and is hiding somewhere on... | |
03.27.1960 | coffin for mr cash |
+ "Coffin For Mr. Cash". An easy "come" into $2,500,000, and an easy "go" too. + The target – a ... | |
03.20.1960 | talk about caruso |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Talk About Caruso". A mediocre prize fighter is also a me... | |
03.13.1960 | revolution |
+ "The Revolution". In a dictatorship, a honeymoon turns into an execution when a photo is taken o... |
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SUSPENSE
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