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 |
---|---|---|---|
03.01.1954 | the barking death |
+ "The Barking Death". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite (a salute to Studebaker). An infected dog escapes an... | |
12.13.1945 | the argyle album |
+ "The Argyle Album". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. Blackmail evidence causes multiple murders. The sto... | |
05.03.1959 | the amateur |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Amateur". The witness to a hit-and-run accident decid... | |
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... | |
04.26.1951 | the 13th sound |
+ "The Thirteenth Sound". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A woman who murders her jusband is plagued by a ... | |
02.13.1947 | the 13th sound |
+ "The Thirteenth Sound". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A woman who murders her husband is plagued by a... | |
05.27.1962 | that real crazy infinity |
+ "That Real Crazy Infinity". Sponsored by: Alpine Cigarettes. Two hep jazz musicians come across a... | |
07.20.1954 | telling |
+ "Telling". A weak son just back from Ceylon, gathers his courage and commits murder...but no one... | |
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... | |
05.12.1957 | tarawa was tough |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Tarawa Was Tough". A well-done dramatization of what it w... | |
03.29.1945 | taming of the beast |
+ "The Taming Of The Beast". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A scheming phoney doctor is delighted to dis... | |
03.20.1960 | talk about caruso |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Talk About Caruso". A mediocre prize fighter is also a me... | |
04.03.1947 | swift rise of eddie albright |
+ "The Swift Rise Of Eddie Albright". Sponsored by: Roma Wine. West coast broadcast. An elevator op... | |
04.03.1948 | suspicion |
+ "Suspicion". Who is the mysterious poisoner plaguing London? Evidence points to the new cook. Th... | |
02.10.1944 | suspicion |
+ "Suspicion". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A mad cook who poisons her employers is on the loose. A m... | |
05.04.1958 | sundown |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Sundown". A young boy grows up with only one desire...to ... | |
10.18.1945 | summer storm |
+ "Summer Storm". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. East coast broadcast. A simple man finds himself a kill... | |
07.15.1948 | summer night |
+ "Summer Night". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A good story about a mad "Lipstick Killer" on the loose ... | |
10.30.1947 | subway |
+ "Subway". Sponsored by: Roma Wines, Cresta Blanca Wines. An unsuccessful actress plans to kill th... | |
05.11.1958 | subway stop |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Subway Stop". A man mugged on a deserted subway station i... | |
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... | |
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... | |
06.15.1958 | strange for a killer |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Strange For A Killer". A trapped killer holding an entire... | |
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... | |
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 ... |
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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