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 |
---|---|---|---|
04.14.1949 | murder in black and white |
+ "Murder In Black and White". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A mild little man carefully plans the murde... | |
04.05.1951 | murder in g flat |
+ "Murder In G-Flat". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A meek piano tuner's bag of tools is switched in the... | |
08.20.1961 | murder is a matter of opinion |
+ "Murder Is A Matter Of Opinion". Sponsored by: Pepsi-Cola. Two brothers at college plan to fake a... | |
11.10.1949 | murder of aunt delia |
+ "Murder Of Aunt Delia". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A hitch-hiker has a perfect crime in mind. Can y... | |
11.15.1945 | murder off key |
+ "Murder Off Key". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A man can't stand the horrible singing of the obnoxio... | |
07.28.1957 | murder on mike |
+ "Murder On Mike". Sponsored by: Kent. A radio mystery writer, fired by the show's producer, plans... | |
02.16.1950 | murder strikes three times |
+ "Murder Srikes Three Times". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. Four years after her husband was electrocut... | |
03.17.1949 | murder through the looking glass |
+ "Murder Through The Looking Glass". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. An interesting mystery about a schiz... | |
01.24.1946 | my dear niece |
+ KQW, San Jose aircheck. "My Dear Niece". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A good story with a surprise e... | |
11.16.1958 | my dear niece |
+ "My Dear Niece". Sponsored by: 4 Way Cold Tabs, Fitch Shampoo, Lysol, Tums, Kent, Ex-Lax. A good ... | |
05.24.1945 | my own murderer |
+ CBS net."My Own Murderer". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A British solicitor is forced to shelter a mu... | |
10.19.1953 | my true loves hair |
+ "My True Love's Hair". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. Announcer Harlow Wilcox blows the show's opening ... | |
03.01.1945 | my wife geraldine |
+ "My Wife, Geraldine". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A charming story about a meek man who invents the... | |
12.14.1953 | mystery of the marie roget |
+ "The Mystery Of Marie Roget". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A fascinating work of detection. Who kille... | |
06.08.1953 | mystery of the mary celeste |
+ "The Mystery Of The Marie Celeste". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A well crafted reconstruction of wha... | |
03.16.1944 | narrative about clarence |
+ "Narrative About Clarence". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A good story about a homicidal hypnotist, o... | |
09.17.1951 | neal cream doctor of poison |
+ "Neil Cream, Doctor Of Poison". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. The story of the most notorious poisoner... | |
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... | |
02.01.1954 | never follow a banjo act |
+ "Never Follow A Banjo Act". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite ($100,000 Charity Giveaway). A mature caberet... | |
03.02.1958 | never follow a banjo act |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Never Follow A Banjo Act". A mature caberet performer is ... | |
08.10.1954 | never steal a butchers wife |
+ "Never Steal A Butcher's Wife". A clerk in a supermarket plays around with the wife of the big s... | |
12.29.1957 | never steal a butchers wife |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Never Steal A Butcher's Wife". A clerk in a supermarket p... | |
10.07.1948 | night cry |
+ "Night Cry". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. After a man is killed at a gambling club, a bitter detectiv... | |
08.14.1960 | night ferry to paris |
+ "Night Ferry To Paris". Sponsored by: Pepsi-Cola, General Motors Service, Kellogg's All-Bran. + I... | |
07.26.1959 | night man |
+ "Night Man". Sponsored by: Pepsi Cola, Kellogg's All-Bran. An excellent horror story. The credits... |
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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