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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11.03.1952 | frankenstein |
+ "Frankenstein". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. The classic story about a scientist who creates a man, t... | |
05.22.1956 | fragile contents death |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Fragile, Contents Death". An interesting story about a Po... | |
02.01.1951 | fragile contents death |
+ "Fragile, Contents Death". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. An interesting story about a postmaster's att... | |
01.25.1959 | four of a kind |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Four Of A Kind". A hitch-hiker learns how to play "Licens... | |
01.12.1950 | four hours to kill |
+ "Four Hours To Kill". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A good story about a man who kills his brother and... | |
11.23.1944 | fountain plays |
+ "The Fountain Plays". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A delightfully British little murder. The script ... | |
06.10.1962 | formula for death |
+ Simon Templar is surprised when he arrives home to be greeted by a stranger in his home with a gun... | |
07.21.1940 | forcast the lodger audition |
+ CBS Presented The Lodger as its audition program of the hugely successful radio series Suspense. M... | |
01.28.1949 | for the love of murder | ||
12.14.1958 | for old times sake |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "For Old Time's Sake". An ex-banker robber, who is now ref... | |
12.08.1949 | for love or murder |
+ "For Love Or Murder". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A fine performance by Mickey as a piano player in ... | |
07.12.1945 | footfalls |
+ "Footfalls". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A good story about a blind cobbler and his no-good son who... | |
09.28.1950 | fly by night |
+ "Fly By Night". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. After being deprived of sleep, a murder suspect is force... | |
07.14.1957 | flood on the goodwins |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Flood on the Goodwins". A Nazi and a one-armed Englishman... | |
08.04.1957 | flesh peddler |
+ "Flesh Peddler". Sponsored by: Kent. A well-written, suspenseful story about a strange ventriloqu... | |
06.08.1943 | five canaries in the room |
+ "Five Canaries In The Room". A fun filled bachelor party turns serious when a dead body, a vanis... | |
02.23.1958 | five buck tip |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Five Buck Tip". A very well-written story about a crimina... | |
11.03.1957 | firing run |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Firing Run". Two kids are trapped in a drone "Flying Fort... | |
04.06.1943 | fire burn and cauldron bubble |
+ CBS net."Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble". The "Man In Black" (Ted Osborne) introduces Paul Lukas i... | |
12.30.1943 | finishing school |
+ "Finishing School". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A story of murder and mystery at a girl's school. T... | |
01.13.1955 | final payment |
+ "Final Payment". Two old army buddies plan the perfect insurance fraud. Nothing can go wrong...r... | |
01.14.1962 | feathers |
+ "Feathers". A predictable ghost story, as a gangster is forced to confess by the spirit of his v... | |
07.11.1946 | feast of the furies |
+ "Feast Of The Furies". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A friendly and somewhat stupid killer is about t... | |
05.03.1945 | fear paints a picture |
+ "Fear Paints A Picture". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. An heiress is being driven crazy by a painting... | |
04.13.1943 | fear paints a picture |
+ "Fear Paints A Picture". A young girl about to inherit a fortune, is going mad. A picture of a m... |
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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