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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05.22.1960 | out the window |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Out The Window". A dishonest politician almost quits thos... | |
03.28.1946 | out of control |
+ "Out Of Control". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A blind detective with uncanny powers of deduction so... | |
12.21.1958 | out for christmas |
+ "Out For Christmas". Santa Claus has a gun and is out for revenge. He's really an ex-con out to ... | |
05.11.1953 | othello ep02of02 |
+ "Othello" Part two. Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. The program is announced as the first radio dramatiz... | |
05.04.1953 | othello ep01of02 |
+ "Othello" Part one. Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. The program is announced as the first radio dramatiz... | |
11.02.1953 | ordeal in donner pass |
+ "Ordeal In Donner Pass". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A docu/drama about the pioneers of a wagon trai... | |
01.23.1947 | one way street |
+ "One Way Street". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A touching story about a London slum boy's attempt to... | |
01.06.1944 | one way ride to nowhere |
+ "The One Way Ride To Nowhere". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A story about a dead body on a roller co... | |
04.24.1960 | one more shot |
+ Bernie was in the newspaper photography business and was covering a motor cycle race and has just ... | |
01.11.1954 | one man crime wave |
+ "The One Man Crime Wave". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. An overcoat with a missing button is the only ... | |
11.20.1947 | one hundred in the dark |
+ "One Hundred In The Dark". Sponsored by: Roma Wines, Cresta Blanca Wines. West coast version. Fiv... | |
09.30.1942 | one hundred in the dark |
+ "One Hundred In The Dark". A strange series of tales with no conclusive endings. The show actual... | |
02.16.1958 | one chef well done |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "One Chef Well Done". A comedy about a new French chef who... | |
03.23.1950 | one and ones a lonesome |
+ "One and One's A Lonesome". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A gambler and the wife of a lumber yard owne... | |
11.15.1955 | once a murderer |
+ "Once A Murderer". A cockney discovers the way to get away with murder...confess! + Once A Murde... | |
05.10.1959 | on a country road |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "On A Country Road". An escaped lunatic has killed five pe... | |
12.09.1954 | on a country road |
+ "On A Country Road". A couple runs out of gas during a storm while "the crazy woman" is chopping... | |
01.04.1954 | on a country road |
+ "On A Country Road". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A couple run out of gas during a storm while "The C... | |
11.16.1950 | on a country road |
+ "On A Country Road". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A melodrama about an escaped madwoman and a couple ... | |
12.31.1961 | old man |
+ "The Old Man". An amusing New Year's Eve story. Old man 1961 claims geriatric discrimination and... | |
09.08.1957 | old army buddy |
+ CBS net origination, AFRS rebroadcast. "Old Army Buddy". A pompous foreign correspondent is amazed... | |
07.20.1944 | of maestro and man |
+ "Of Maestro and Man". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. Peter Lorre is typecast as "The Maestro," a prize... | |
12.30.1954 | odd man out |
+ "Odd Man Out". An adaptation of the famous film about the Irish rebellion and its betrayal. The ... | |
02.11.1952 | odd man out |
+ "Odd Man Out". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. An adaptation of the famous film about the Irish rebellio... | |
01.05.1943 | nothing up my sleeve |
+ "Nothing Up My Sleeve". A suspenseful tale of robbery and missing money in a locked room. + Dor... |
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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