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
- Radio Shows
- Comments
- Photos
Please enjoy these 914 old time radio episodes:
Air Date | Title | Synopsis | Rating |
---|---|---|---|
04.10.1948 | crossfire |
+ "Crossfire". A murder mystery about a fanatical anti-Semite. Which of thre soldiers committed mu... | |
08.19.1948 | crisis |
+ "Crisis". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A well-written story about a mother's vision of the future. + ... | |
05.02.1946 | crime without passion |
+ "Crime Without Passion". Sponsored by: Roma Wine. After an attorney murders his chorus-girl lover... | |
02.21.1960 | crank letter |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Crank Letter". A doctor's life is being threatened by a v... | |
10.27.1957 | country of the blind |
+ "The Country Of The Blind". The classic tale set in ther land of the eyeless. The script was pre... | |
02.02.1950 | consideration |
+ "Consideration". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A woman suspects her husband is planning to kill her fo... | |
05.19.1949 | consequence |
+ "Consequence". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A doctor fakes his own death in order to run off with his... | |
02.21.1946 | consequence |
+ Maybe the costume was the decisive factor or maybe it would have happened anyway in any event the ... | |
06.09.1952 | concerto for killer and eyewitness |
+ "A Good and Faithful Servant". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. After thirty years on the job, a meek dep... | |
08.01.1946 | commuter ticket |
+ "Commuter's Ticket". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A commuter's attempt at murder with a great alibi ... | |
04.10.1947 | community property |
+ "Community Property". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A man with a huge inheritance and a bad case of g... | |
09.14.1958 | command |
+ "Command". + This was a command the final moment of a cavalry soldiers heritage to stand ready to... | |
07.24.1960 | cold canvas |
+ When Eugene Philips goes cold canvassing on the Fouches to sell them life insurance he manages to ... | |
03.27.1960 | coffin for mr cash |
+ "Coffin For Mr. Cash". An easy "come" into $2,500,000, and an easy "go" too. + The target – a ... | |
12.05.1947 | clock and the rope |
+ "The Clock and The Rope". A good story about a man to be hanged for murder because the only witn... | |
11.22.1955 | classified secret |
+ CBS net origination, AFRS rebroadcast. "Classified Secret". Spies and counterspies match wits on a... | |
03.08.1954 | circumstantial terror |
+ "Circumstantial Terror". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite (a salute to Nash). A good story about an unempl... | |
12.21.1950 | christmas for carole |
+ "Christmas For Carol". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. Dennis Day does very well in a serious drama abou... | |
04.21.1957 | chicken feed |
+ "Chicken Feed". Sponsored by: Kent. For want of a dime (a nickel in previous broadcasts of this s... | |
10.07.1954 | chicken feed |
+ "Chicken Feed". For want of a nickel, a great deal was almost lost. The story was produced on "S... | |
09.08.1949 | chicken feed |
+ "Chicken Feed". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. An exciting story about a man who has all kinds of excit... | |
05.05.1957 | celebration |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Celebration". A woman checks out of her "club"...which ha... | |
09.23.1948 | celebration |
+ "Celebration". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A man and his "hypo-maniac" wife "celebrate" their eighth... | |
02.17.1949 | catch me if you can |
+ "Catch Me If You Can". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. After a woman kills her husband, she is forced to... | |
03.30.1944 | cat and mouse |
+ "Cat and Mouse". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A story about two "hams" who are working on a secret d... |
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
Leave a comment