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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12.10.1961 | and so to sleep my love |
+ "And So To Sleep My Love". A good story about a man determined to kill his wife for her money. +... | |
06.28.1959 | analytical hour |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Analytical Hour". A good story about a patient and his ps... | |
07.19.1959 | an occurrence at owl creek bridge |
+ "An Occurence At Owl Creek Bridge". Sponsored by: A. T. & T., Columbia Phonographs, Casite 3C, Gu... | |
12.15.1957 | an occurrence at owl creek bridge |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "An Occurence At Owl Creek Bridge". The shocking story abo... | |
12.09.1956 | an occurrence at owl creek bridge |
+ An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge is a weird and wonderful story of the civil war. "A man stood up... | |
08.05.1948 | an honest man |
+ "An Honest Man". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A psychotic's best friend isn't always his mother. 44 y... | |
07.04.1946 | an evening diversion |
+ "An Evening's Diversion". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A man overhears a murder plot and plans to fo... | |
07.21.1957 | americas boyfriend |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "America's Boyfriend". A murder is solved by a two-year-ol... | |
02.20.1947 | always room at the top |
+ "Always Room At The Top". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A good story about the dirty infighting that ... | |
07.07.1957 | alibi |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Alibi". A businessman hires an assassin to murder his par... | |
04.20.1958 | alibi me |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Alibi Me". A two-bit hoodlum murders his competitor and f... | |
01.04.1951 | alibi me |
+ "Alibi Me". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A two-bit hoodlum murders his competitor and finds himself i... | |
10.27.1952 | alan in wonderland |
+ "Allen In Wonderland". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A southern lawyer in New York quotes a bit of Lew... | |
09.06.1959 | after the movies |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "After The Movies". A juror finds $10,000 in a drugstore, ... | |
12.07.1950 | after the movies |
+ "After The Movies". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A good story with a surprise ending about a juror wh... | |
10.26.1943 | after dinner story |
+ "The After Dinner Story". Six men are trapped in an elevator; one of them has been murdered. Who... | |
03.23.1958 | affair at loveland pass |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Affair At Loveland Pass". An escaped killer, along with a... | |
09.28.1958 | affair at aden |
+ "Affair At Aden". + A tale of trouble and oil and political ambitions overshadowed by romance. W... | |
08.24.1944 | actors blood |
+ "Actor's Blood". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A very well-written murder story with a touch of ghost... | |
10.05.1953 | action |
+ "Action". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A good story about a man who believes himself slowly dying who... | |
10.13.1949 | account payable |
+ "Account Payable". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A meek book-keeper decides to bump off his boss and h... | |
01.05.1958 | a week ago wednesday |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "A Week Ago Wednesday". A dream of murder and counter-murd... | |
11.29.1945 | a week ago wednesday |
+ KQW, San Jose aircheck. "A Week Ago Wednesday". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A woman has a horroribl... | |
03.10.1952 | a watery grave |
+ "A Watery Grave". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. "The story of a man who craved power, position and mon... | |
06.01.1953 | a vision of death |
+ "A Vision Of Death". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. An interesting story about a couple with a nightclu... |
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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