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 |
---|---|---|---|
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... | |
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... | |
05.04.1950 | statement of mary blake |
+ "Statement Of Mary Blake". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A scientist poisons his wife and manages to h... | |
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... | |
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.... | |
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... | |
06.12.1947 | stand in |
+ "Stand-In". Sponsored by: Roma Wines (two of the commercials have been deleted). The stand-in for... | |
06.03.1962 | stand in for murder |
+ "Stand-In". Sponsored by: Roma Wines (two of the commercials have been deleted). The stand-in for... | |
02.23.1953 | st james infirmary blues |
+ "St. James Infirmary Blues". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. The story behind the song, a fine portrait ... | |
05.24.1959 | spoils for victor |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Spoils For Victor". An out-of-work actor marries the rich... | |
05.23.1946 | spoils for victor |
+ CBS net origination, AFRS rebroadcast. "Spoils For Victor". | |
12.08.1957 | speed trap |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Speed Trap". A story about a break-neck ride down a kille... | |
04.19.1955 | speed trap |
+ "Speed Trap". A gripping tale about two highway cops on a treacherous rain slicked road, chasing... | |
02.14.1960 | sorry wrong number |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Sorry, Wrong Number". An invalid woman battles the frustr... | |
10.20.1957 | sorry wrong number |
+ "Sorry, Wrong Number". Sponsored by: Kent, Johnson's Back Plasters (one commercial deleted). The ... | |
11.18.1948 | sorry wrong number |
+ "Sorry, Wrong Number". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. An invalid woman battles the frustrations of the ... | |
09.06.1945 | sorry wrong number |
+ "Sorry, Wrong Number". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. An invalid woman battles the frustrations of the... | |
02.24.1944 | sorry wrong number |
+ "Sorry, Wrong Number". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. An invalid woman battles the frustrations of the... | |
05.25.1943 | sorry wrong number afrs |
+ "Sorry, Wrong Number". The first broadcast of this thriller classic. Probably the best remember... | |
08.21.1943 | sorry wrong number 2nd |
+ "Sorry, Wrong Number". An invalid woman battles the frustrations of the telephone system after s... | |
08.26.1948 | song of the heart |
+ "Song Of The Heart". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. Boy meets girl and plans the murder of "Tante Alice... | |
03.29.1954 | somebody help me |
+ "Somebody Help Me". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A divorced loser commits a murder, but buys his vict... | |
08.27.1961 | sold to satan |
+ "Sold To Satan". Two partners are plagued by a blackmailing model. There's only one way to get r... | |
07.15.1962 | snow on 66 |
+ "Snow On 66". A motoring couple is being annoyed by LeRoy, a drunken yokel during a snowstorm. +... | |
03.23.1944 | sneak preview |
+ "Sneak Preview". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A Hollywood movie director joins the New York police i... |
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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