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 |
---|---|---|---|
10.06.1949 | the defense rests |
+ "The Defense Rests". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. An ex-con trying to go straight gets a job in the s... | |
01.19.1943 | the devils saint |
+ CBS net."The Devil's Saint". The "Man In Black" introduces Peter Lorre playing a sinister noblema... | |
04.21.1952 | the diary of captain scott |
+ "The Diary Of Captain Scott". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. The story of the explorer who was second t... | |
02.28.1956 | the diary of captain scott |
+ "The Diary Of Captain Scott". A well-done story of a tragic journey to the South Pole. The story... | |
10.06.1952 | the diary of dr pritchard |
+ "The Diary Of Dr. Pritchard". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. The story of the most infamous poisoner th... | |
04.27.1943 | the diary of sophronia winters |
+ "The Diary Of Saphronia Winters". A great horror story about a new bride, a madman, and an hotel... | |
08.17.1944 | the diary of sophronia winters |
+ "The Diary Of Saphronia Winters". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A great horror tale about a new bride... | |
10.09.1956 | the digger |
+ "The Digger". Three men are in a mine shaft that's filling with smoke...and man-eating rats! + T... | |
02.02.1943 | the doctor prescribed death |
+ "The Doctor Prescribed Death". The good doctor's theory is that a person about to commit suicide... | |
10.23.1956 | the doll |
+ "The Doll". The first show of the program's 15th year on the air. This is the first show of the ... | |
11.01.1945 | the dunwich horror |
+ CBS net origination, AFRS rebroadcast. "The Dunwich Horror". A confusing story about a monster loo... | |
09.27.1945 | the earth is made of glass |
+ "The Earth Is Made Of Glass". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A man decides to commit a "laboratory mur... | |
06.15.1954 | the earth is made of glass |
+ "The Earth Is Made Of Glass". A laboratory experiment in murder? It's not as easy as it sounds! ... | |
10.25.1959 | the easy victim |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Easy Victim". A man $10,000 in debt to gamblers, deci... | |
09.21.1953 | the empty chair |
+ "The Empty Chair". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A story with a heavy-handed public service theme of s... | |
01.19.1950 | the escape of lacey abbott |
+ "The Escape Of Lacey Abbott". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A lunatic escapes from Bellevue with plans... | |
09.10.1951 | the evil of adelaide winters |
+ "The Evil Adelaide Winters". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. The program opening is slightly upcut. A go... | |
01.18.1954 | the face is familiar |
+ "The Face Is Familiar". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite ($100,000 Charity Giveaway). An innocent schnook ... | |
12.15.1949 | the flame blue glove |
+ "The Flame-Blue Glove". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. "Dutch" the detective is sure Eloise Conway was ... | |
10.15.1951 | the flame |
+ "The Flame". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A pyromaniac decides to help his best friend, in the only w... | |
05.29.1956 | the flame |
+ "The Flame". A pyromaniac decides to help his best friend, in the only way he knows how. The stor... | |
05.19.1952 | the flight of the bumblebee |
+ "The Flight Of The Bumblebee". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. An exciting ride on a crippled B-29, retu... | |
08.10.1943 | the fountain plays |
+ "The Fountain Plays". A delightfully British little murder. The story was subsequently produced ... | |
03.15.1955 | the game |
+ "The Game". An exciting story about two kids, a bottle and a game of Russian Roulette. A drama f... | |
05.03.1954 | the giant of thermopylae |
+ "The Giant Of Thermopylae". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A man framed for murder is trapped in an amu... |
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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