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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09.06.1959 | after the movies |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "After The Movies". A juror finds $10,000 in a drugstore, ... | |
08.30.1959 | a matter of execution |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "A Matter Of Execution". An eleven year old boy hears a de... | |
08.23.1959 | headshrinker |
+ August 23, 1959. CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Headshrinker". A woman seeing a psychiat... | |
08.16.1959 | like man somebody dig me |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Like Man, Somebody Dig Me". The adventures of a beatnik, ... | |
08.09.1959 | everything will be different |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Everything Will Be Different". A story about a new bride ... | |
08.02.1959 | red cloud mesa |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Red Cloud Mesa". An Indian, mentally unbalanced from war ... | |
07.26.1959 | night man |
+ "Night Man". Sponsored by: Pepsi Cola, Kellogg's All-Bran. An excellent horror story. The credits... | |
07.20.1959 | its all in your mind |
+ For sometime Jack had had the feeling that their three lives, the Laramie’s and his were on a co... | |
07.19.1959 | an occurrence at owl creek bridge |
+ "An Occurence At Owl Creek Bridge". Sponsored by: A. T. & T., Columbia Phonographs, Casite 3C, Gu... | |
07.12.1959 | eyewitness |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Eyewitness". A newspaper reporter finds himself a hostage... | |
07.05.1959 | blood is thicker |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Blood Is Thicker". A planned murder during a boat race is... | |
06.28.1959 | analytical hour |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Analytical Hour". A good story about a patient and his ps... | |
06.21.1959 | ivy is a lovely name for a girl |
+ "Ivy Is A Lovely Name". Sponsored by: Mutual Of Omaha, A. T. & T., Casite Tune-Up. A race against... | |
06.14.1959 | drive in |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Drive-In". Hamburgers and a murderer-to-go. The story was... | |
06.07.1959 | the pit and the pendulum |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Pit and The Pendulum". Poe's tale of the Inquisition.... | |
05.31.1959 | the man who would be king |
+ "The Man Who Would Be King". Sponsored by: Longines Watches, Mutual Of Omaha, Look magazine. The ... | |
05.24.1959 | spoils for victor |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Spoils For Victor". An out-of-work actor marries the rich... | |
05.17.1959 | friend of daddys |
+ "A Friend Of Daddy's". Sponsored by: Mutual of Omaha (other ). A friend of Daddy's during the wa... | |
05.10.1959 | on a country road |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "On A Country Road". An escaped lunatic has killed five pe... | |
05.03.1959 | the amateur |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Amateur". The witness to a hit-and-run accident decid... | |
04.26.1959 | deep deep is my love |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Deep, Deep Is My Love". Rapture of the deep...with a merm... | |
04.19.1959 | see how he runs |
+ "See How He Runs". A good story about a blind man with larceny in his heart who's the fingerman ... | |
04.12.1959 | too hot to live |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Too Hot To Live". A drifter with a hole in his shoe comes... | |
03.29.1959 | john barbey and son |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "John Barbie and Son". A man and his strangely silent son ... | |
03.22.1959 | script by mark brady |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Script By Mark Brady". Who killed who? "I didn't know the... |
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