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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12.14.1953 | mystery of the marie roget |
+ "The Mystery Of Marie Roget". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A fascinating work of detection. Who kille... | |
03.01.1945 | my wife geraldine |
+ "My Wife, Geraldine". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A charming story about a meek man who invents the... | |
10.19.1953 | my true loves hair |
+ "My True Love's Hair". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. Announcer Harlow Wilcox blows the show's opening ... | |
05.24.1945 | my own murderer |
+ CBS net."My Own Murderer". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A British solicitor is forced to shelter a mu... | |
11.16.1958 | my dear niece |
+ "My Dear Niece". Sponsored by: 4 Way Cold Tabs, Fitch Shampoo, Lysol, Tums, Kent, Ex-Lax. A good ... | |
01.24.1946 | my dear niece |
+ KQW, San Jose aircheck. "My Dear Niece". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A good story with a surprise e... | |
03.17.1949 | murder through the looking glass |
+ "Murder Through The Looking Glass". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. An interesting mystery about a schiz... | |
02.16.1950 | murder strikes three times |
+ "Murder Srikes Three Times". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. Four years after her husband was electrocut... | |
07.28.1957 | murder on mike |
+ "Murder On Mike". Sponsored by: Kent. A radio mystery writer, fired by the show's producer, plans... | |
11.15.1945 | murder off key |
+ "Murder Off Key". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A man can't stand the horrible singing of the obnoxio... | |
11.10.1949 | murder of aunt delia |
+ "Murder Of Aunt Delia". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A hitch-hiker has a perfect crime in mind. Can y... | |
08.20.1961 | murder is a matter of opinion |
+ "Murder Is A Matter Of Opinion". Sponsored by: Pepsi-Cola. Two brothers at college plan to fake a... | |
04.05.1951 | murder in g flat |
+ "Murder In G-Flat". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A meek piano tuner's bag of tools is switched in the... | |
04.14.1949 | murder in black and white |
+ "Murder In Black and White". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A mild little man carefully plans the murde... | |
07.20.1943 | murder goes for a swim |
+ "Murder Goes For A Swim". The program is introduced by, "The Man In Black." The first radio appe... | |
08.09.1945 | murder for myra |
+ "Murder For Myra". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A woman's lover is hiding in the closet with a hamme... | |
07.10.1947 | murder by the book |
+ "Murder By The Book". Sponsored by: Cresta Blanca Wines, Roma Wines. A murder mystery authoress i... | |
02.22.1954 | murder by jury |
+ "Murder By Jury". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite ($100,000 Charity Giveaway). A courtroom drama about a ... | |
07.24.1947 | murder by an expert |
+ "Murder By An Expert". Sponsored by: Roma Wines, Cresta Blanca Wines. A dancer plans a "perfect c... | |
02.17.1957 | murder and aunt delia |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Two Hundred and Twenty-Seven Minutes Of Hate". A man just... | |
08.21.1947 | murder aboard the alphabet |
+ "Murder Aboard The Alphabet". Sponsored by: Roma Wines, Cresta Blanca Wines. A tugboat with a mad... | |
11.11.1948 | muddy track |
+ "Muddy Track". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A horse player down on his luck gets a job with a bookie,... | |
05.11.1943 | mr markham antique dealer |
+ "Mr. Markham, Antique Dealer". A story about a blackmailer, a murderer, and a room full of clock... | |
01.26.1950 | mr diogenes |
+ "Mr. Diogenes". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A tobacco store weighing machine gives Ozzie a strange f... | |
03.16.1950 | motive for murder |
+ "Motive For Murder". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A dead salesman is found in a detective's apartment... |
Other "Thriller" Shows you may enjoy:
- Dr jekyll and mr hyde
- Armed Forces Radio Theater
- Vanishing point
- Mystery Award Theater
- Alfred hitchcock show, the
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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