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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02.14.1960 | sorry wrong number |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Sorry, Wrong Number". An invalid woman battles the frustr... | |
04.19.1955 | speed trap |
+ "Speed Trap". A gripping tale about two highway cops on a treacherous rain slicked road, chasing... | |
12.08.1957 | speed trap |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Speed Trap". A story about a break-neck ride down a kille... | |
05.23.1946 | spoils for victor |
+ CBS net origination, AFRS rebroadcast. "Spoils For Victor". | |
05.24.1959 | spoils for victor |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Spoils For Victor". An out-of-work actor marries the rich... | |
02.23.1953 | st james infirmary blues |
+ "St. James Infirmary Blues". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. The story behind the song, a fine portrait ... | |
06.03.1962 | stand in for murder |
+ "Stand-In". Sponsored by: Roma Wines (two of the commercials have been deleted). The stand-in for... | |
06.12.1947 | stand in |
+ "Stand-In". Sponsored by: Roma Wines (two of the commercials have been deleted). The stand-in for... | |
02.22.1959 | star over hong kong |
+ "Star Over Hong Kong". Sponsored by: 4-Way Cold Tablets, Fitch Shampoo, Tums. A comedy about a du... | |
11.02.1943 | statement of employee henry wilson |
+ "Statement Of Employee Henry Wilson". An office murder starts to prey of the mind of the killer.... | |
09.26.1946 | statement of employee henry wilson |
+ "Statement Of Employee Henry Wilson". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A perfect murder of a man's co-wo... | |
05.04.1950 | statement of mary blake |
+ "Statement Of Mary Blake". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A scientist poisons his wife and manages to h... | |
07.27.1958 | steel river prison break |
+ "The Steel River Prison Break". + The prison break was planned for Friday but then on Tuesday a w... | |
06.21.1945 | story of ivy |
+ "The Story Of Ivy". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. The story of the career of lovely Ivy...about to be... | |
03.15.1951 | strange for a killer |
+ "Strange For A Killer". Unedited tape. A killer trapped by the cops is holding a man's wife and ... | |
09.06.1955 | strange for a killer |
+ Strange For A Killer is the story of a killer and the family which he held in a night of fear. Hen... | |
06.15.1958 | strange for a killer |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Strange For A Killer". A trapped killer holding an entire... | |
07.23.1961 | stranger with my face |
+ "Stranger With My Face". Sponsored by: Pepsi Cola, NP-27. A man finds himself four years in the f... | |
01.20.1955 | study of a murderer |
+ "The Case Study Of A Murderer". "The study of a man who was determined to finish a murder he nev... | |
05.11.1958 | subway stop |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Subway Stop". A man mugged on a deserted subway station i... | |
10.30.1947 | subway |
+ "Subway". Sponsored by: Roma Wines, Cresta Blanca Wines. An unsuccessful actress plans to kill th... | |
07.15.1948 | summer night |
+ "Summer Night". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A good story about a mad "Lipstick Killer" on the loose ... | |
10.18.1945 | summer storm |
+ "Summer Storm". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. East coast broadcast. A simple man finds himself a kill... | |
05.04.1958 | sundown |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Sundown". A young boy grows up with only one desire...to ... | |
02.10.1944 | suspicion |
+ "Suspicion". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A mad cook who poisons her employers is on the loose. A m... |
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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