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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03.29.1959 | john barbey and son |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "John Barbie and Son". A man and his strangely silent son ... | |
12.08.1952 | jokers wild |
+ "Joker Wild". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. Harry's a very funny guy, and that's just the problem! He ... | |
04.06.1958 | just one happy little family |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Just One Happy Little Family". A lady poisoner marries a ... | |
07.12.1955 | kaleidoscope |
+ "Kaleidoscope". After a space ship explodes, the surviving crew members have a last conversation... | |
05.22.1947 | knight comes riding |
+ "Knight Comes Riding". Sponsored by: Roma Wines, Cresta Blanca Wines. A woman who dislikes her hus... | |
05.01.1947 | lady in distress |
+ "Lady In Distress". Sponsored by: Roma Wines, Cresta Blanca Wines. A woman picks up a hitch-hiker... | |
03.02.1950 | lady killer |
+ "Lady Killer". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A good story about a woman who is sure a man is trying to... | |
03.31.1952 | lady pamela |
+ "The Lady Pamela". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A crime drama about a clever woman jewel thief who is... | |
09.15.1949 | last confession |
+ "Last Confession". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A distraught woman is sure that she's the killer that... | |
05.10.1954 | last days of john dillinger |
+ "The Last Days Of John Dillinger". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. An excellent radio-noir portrait of a... | |
07.05.1945 | last detail |
+ "The Last Detail". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A complex plan to use a professor as a frame for mur... | |
08.15.1946 | last letter of dr bronson |
+ "The Last Letter Of Dr. Bronson". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A doctor who is slowly going insane, ... | |
11.04.1954 | last letter of dr bronson |
+ "The Last Letter Of Dr. Bronson". A doctor who is slowly going insane, tries to get someone to m... | |
06.15.1943 | last night |
+ "Last Night". The story of a corpse in the rumble seat and a debt-ridden dude ranch. Kent Smith,... | |
10.19.1943 | lazarus walks |
+ CBS net origination, AFRS rebroadcast. "Lazarus Walks". A good story about a man who came back fro... | |
10.31.1946 | lazarus walks |
+ "Lazarus Walks". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A man dies but came back to life after four minutes...... | |
05.30.1946 | leading citizen of pratt county |
+ "The Leading Citizen Of Pratt County". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A con-man plans to take a small ... | |
08.25.1957 | leinengen vs the ants |
+ "Leinengen vs. The Ants". Sponsored by: Kent, Jet Bon-Ami, Scott Towels, Look Magazine. A determi... | |
11.29.1959 | leinengen vs the ants |
+ The story centers on plantation owner called Leiningen, and his stubborn refusal to abandon his pl... | |
04.08.1962 | let there be light |
+ "Let There Be Light". Four people are in a snowbound cabin in the dark. The blind man welcomes t... | |
09.20.1945 | library book |
+ "The Library Book". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A silly story about a prudish librarian who deduces... | |
02.17.1944 | life ends at midnight |
+ "Life Ends At Midnight". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A throughly bad son returns to his mother for... | |
05.08.1948 | life ends at midnight |
+ "Life Ends At Midnight". An unusual Mother's Day story. A bad boy returns home to mom with a pre... | |
10.18.1955 | life ends at midnight |
+ Life Ends At Midnight is the story of a prodigal son’s return from prison but for no better reas... | |
05.25.1958 | like man somebody dig me |
+ "Like Man, Somebody Dig Me". The adventures of a beatnik, so cool that not even his own lynching ... |
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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