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
- Radio Shows
- Comments
- Photos
Please enjoy these 914 old time radio episodes:
Air Date | Title | Synopsis | Rating |
---|---|---|---|
04.03.1948 | suspicion |
+ "Suspicion". Who is the mysterious poisoner plaguing London? Evidence points to the new cook. Th... | |
04.03.1947 | swift rise of eddie albright |
+ "The Swift Rise Of Eddie Albright". Sponsored by: Roma Wine. West coast broadcast. An elevator op... | |
03.20.1960 | talk about caruso |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Talk About Caruso". A mediocre prize fighter is also a me... | |
03.29.1945 | taming of the beast |
+ "The Taming Of The Beast". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A scheming phoney doctor is delighted to dis... | |
05.12.1957 | tarawa was tough |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Tarawa Was Tough". A well-done dramatization of what it w... | |
06.07.1951 | tell you why i shouldnt die |
+ "Tell You Why I Shouldn't Die". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A pitchman tries to explain...to the man... | |
07.20.1954 | telling |
+ "Telling". A weak son just back from Ceylon, gathers his courage and commits murder...but no one... | |
05.27.1962 | that real crazy infinity |
+ "That Real Crazy Infinity". Sponsored by: Alpine Cigarettes. Two hep jazz musicians come across a... | |
02.13.1947 | the 13th sound |
+ "The Thirteenth Sound". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A woman who murders her husband is plagued by a... | |
04.26.1951 | the 13th sound |
+ "The Thirteenth Sound". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A woman who murders her jusband is plagued by a ... | |
05.18.1943 | the abc murders |
+ "The A. B. C. Murders". A meek little man appears to be a homicidal maniac. A British chiller wi... | |
05.03.1959 | the amateur |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Amateur". The witness to a hit-and-run accident decid... | |
12.13.1945 | the argyle album |
+ "The Argyle Album". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. Blackmail evidence causes multiple murders. The sto... | |
03.01.1954 | the barking death |
+ "The Barking Death". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite (a salute to Studebaker). An infected dog escapes an... | |
07.13.1944 | the beast must die |
+ "The Beast Must Die". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A man vows to kill the hit and run driver who kil... | |
09.20.1959 | the beetle and mr bottle |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Beetle and Mr. Bottle". A mild little man who enjoys ... | |
04.26.1954 | the bertillion method |
+ "The Bertillion Method". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. The scientific super sleuth of the French Suret... | |
11.08.1945 | the bet |
+ "The Bet". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. Can an artist do productive work for two years? It's worth $... | |
05.26.1957 | the big day |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Day". Which is the fastest car on Earth? The Stan... | |
08.07.1960 | the big dive |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Dive". A highdiver at a side show needs $10,000 a... | |
12.01.1952 | the big heist |
+ "The Big Heist". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. The best bank buster in the business takes on a new man... | |
12.02.1943 | the black curtain |
+ "The Black Curtain". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A man recovers from amnesia to find himself wanted... | |
11.30.1944 | the black curtain |
+ "The Black Curtain". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A man wakes up lying on a street, with no memories... | |
01.03.1948 | the black curtain |
+ "The Black Curtain". A man suddenly finds himself with a new identity: that of an accused murder... | |
11.19.1961 | the black door |
+ "The Black Door". The story of the search for "The City Of The Fire God," and the strange secret... |
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
Leave a comment