Old Time Radio Downloads > Mystery > Suspense

With approximately 945 episodes 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.

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!

Suspense

Please enjoy these old time radio shows:

Air Date Title Synopsis
 1947-05-15  245 Death At Live Oak

CBS net. "Death At Live Oak". Sponsored by: Roma Wines, Cresta Blanca Wines. A story of murder and a case of mistaken identity. E. Jack Neuman (writer), Joseph Kearns (announcer), Mary Jane Croft, Robert E. Lee (producer), Robert Mitchum, Truman Bradley (commercial spokesman), Wally Maher, William Spier (producer, director, editor), Jerry Hausner, William Johnstone, Lucien Moraweck (composer), Lud Gluskin (conductor). 
 1947-05-22  246 Knight Comes Riding

+ CBS net. "Knight Comes Riding". Sponsored by: Roma Wines, Cresta Blanca Wines. A woman who dislikes her husband falls for a young handyman. They plan to kill the man of the house. The handyman however, has his own agenda! Pamela Wilcox (writer), Virginia Bruce, Wally Maher, Howard Duff, William Spier (producer, director), Truman Bradley (commercial spokesman), Joseph Kearns (announcer), Lucien Moraweck (composer), Lud Gluskin (conductor).
 1947-05-29  247 A Thing Of Beauty

+ CBS net. "A Thing Of Beauty". Sponsored by: Roma Wines, Cresta Blanca Wines. An actress finds herself in need of a quick alibi after the playwright of the drama in which she's performing is found murdered. The system cue has been deleted. The story was previously produced on "Suspense" on December 28, 1944 (see cat. #24098). Angela Lansbury, Cathy Lewis, Hans Conried, Joseph Kearns (announcer), Robert L. Richards (adaptor), Truman Bradley (commercial spokesman), William Spier (producer, director, editor), Elizabeth Hiestand (author), Lucien Moraweck (composer), Lud Gluskin (conductor). 
 1947-06-05  248 Make Mad The Guilty

+ CBS net. "Make Mad The Guilty". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. An out-of-work Shakespearean actor fakes his own death when his wife leaves him for her muscular lover. The system cue has been deleted. Hume Cronyn, William Spier (producer, director, editor), Truman Bradley (commercial spokesman), Gerald Mohr, Irving Moore (adaptor), Robert L. Richards (adaptor), Robert Ralston (author), Howard Duff, Wally Maher, Joseph Kearns (announcer), Lucien Moraweck (composer), Lud Gluskin (conductor), Robert J. Ross (? author).
 1947-06-12  249 Stand In

+ CBS net. "Stand-In". Sponsored by: Roma Wines (two of the commercials have been deleted). The stand-in for a movie star plots with her new husband to commit murder. The program closing has been deleted. June Havoc, Elliott Lewis, William Spier (producer, director, editor), Truman Bradley (commercial spokesman), Robert L. Richards (writer), Pamela Wilcox (writer), Hans Conried, Cathy Lewis, Wally Maher, Joseph Kearns (announcer), Lucien Moraweck (composer), Lud Gluskin (conductor). 
 1947-06-19  250 Dead Of Night

+ CBS net. "Dead Of Night". Sponsored by: Roma Wines, Cresta Blanca Wines. Here's an interesting way to get rid of a dead body...put a bathing suit on it and leave it on the beach! The story may be titled, "The Dead Of The Night." The story was previously produced on "Suspense" on November 16, 1944 (see cat. #48236). Elliott Reid, Cathy Lewis, Mel Dinelli (writer), Joseph Kearns (announcer), William Spier (producer), Truman Bradley (commercial spokesman), Wally Maher, Lucien Moraweck (composer), Lud Gluskin (conductor). 
 1947-06-26  251 Phobia

+ CBS net. "Phobia". Sponsored by: Roma Wines, Cresta Blanca Wines. Who shot Henry? The crippled millionairess with a hatred of the feel of metal, or her kleptomaniacal sister? Eva Le Gallienne, William Spier (producer, director, editor), Joel Hunt (writer), John McIntire, Jeanette Nolan, Berry Kroeger (announcer). 
 1947-07-03  252 Money Talks

+ CBS net. "Money Talks". Sponsored by: Cresta Blanca Wines, Roma Wines. A bank cashier spends almost three years planning the perfect bank job. His accomplice however, has plans of her own! Robert L. Richards (writer), Alan Baxter, Joseph Kearns (announcer), Cathy Lewis, Russell Thorson, William Spier (producer, director, editor), Berry Kroeger. 
 1947-07-10  253 Murder By The Book

+ CBS net. "Murder By The Book". Sponsored by: Cresta Blanca Wines, Roma Wines. A murder mystery authoress is asked to investigate the death of a real person. Gloria Swanson sounds as if a little more rehearsal wouldn't have hurt. Gloria Swanson, Robert L. Richards (writer), Joseph Kearns (announcer), William Spier (producer, director, editor), Berry Kroeger, Cathy Lewis, Lurene Tuttle. 
 1947-07-24  255 Murder By An Expert

+ CBS net. "Murder By An Expert". Sponsored by: Roma Wines, Cresta Blanca Wines. A dancer plans a "perfect crime" with the help of her lover, who happens to be the murderer of her husband and the framer of his brother. Hans Conried, Jack Webb, John Shaw (writer), Lynn Bari, Truman Bradley (commercial spokesman), Wally Maher, William Spier (producer, director, editor), Jerry Hausner, Sidney Miller, William Johnstone (announcer), Lucien Moraweck (composer), Lud Gluskin (conductor). 
 1947-07-31  256 Mortmain

+ CBS net. "Mortmain". Sponsored by: Cresta Blanca Wines, Roma Wines. A lawyer double-crosses his partner to send him to jail and steal his fiancee. A second attempt at a double-cross has a surprising result. Jerome Cowan, Truman Bradley (commercial spokesman), William Spier (producer, editor, director), George Fass (writer), Gertrude Fass (writer), Wally Maher, Cathy Lewis, Lucien Moraweck (composer), Lud Gluskin (conductor).
 1947-08-07  257 Quiet Desparation

+ CBS net. "Quiet Desperation". Sponsored by: Cresta Blanca Wines, Roma Wines. A bank employee living a life of "quiet desperation," decides that a visiting English woman is his path to wealth. A murder leads to desperation of quite another kind! Walter Abel, William Spier (producer, director, editor), Truman Bradley (commercial spokesman), Wally Maher, Cathy Lewis, Joseph Kearns (announcer), George Fass (writer), Gertrude Fass (writer), William Johnstone, Lucien Moraweck (composer), Lud Gluskin (conductor). 

 1947-08-14  258 Smiley

+ CBS net. "Smiley". Sponsored by: Cresta Blanca Wines, Roma Wines. A slow-witted but likable fellow is wrongly sent to jail. He returns hating all women...and no longer proud of his hands. Donald O'Connor, Sidney Miller, Lurene Tuttle, Charles Glenn (writer), Joseph Kearns (announcer), William Spier (producer, director, editor), Truman Bradley (commercial spokesman), William Johnstone, Lucien Moraweck (composer), Lud Gluskin (conductor). 
 1947-08-21  259 Murder Aboard The Alphabet

+ CBS net. "Murder Aboard The Alphabet". Sponsored by: Roma Wines, Cresta Blanca Wines. A tugboat with a mad captain is crossing the stormy Atlantic as the crew is being murdered...in alphabetical order! The story has a delightfully satisfying conclusion. John Lund, Joseph Kearns (announcer), Truman Bradley (commercial spokseman), William Spier (producer, director, editor), Charles Turrell (writer), Jerry Hausner, William Johnstone, Ben Wright, Lucien Moraweck (comoser), Lud Gluskin (conductor). 
 1947-08-28  260 Double Ugly

+ CBS net. "Double Ugly". Sponsored by: Roma Wines, the first two commercials have been deleted. An ugly boy grows up without a girl to love. Even after his marriage, his hatred drives him to murder. Lloyd Nolan plays both the lead and the first person narrator. Lloyd Nolan, June Havoc, Wally Maher, Truman Bradley (announcer), George Lloyd (writer), William Spier (producer, director), Lucien Moraweck (composer), Lud Gluskin (conductor). 
 1947-09-04  261 The Argyle Album

+ CBS net. "The Argyle Album". Sponsored by: Roma Wines. A good adventure yarn about a reporter who encounters broads, bulletins, and murder while trying to get the story of elusive "Argyle Album." The story was produced on "Suspense" previously on December 13, 1945 (see cat. #1764 and #60098). Cyril Enfield (writer), Edmond O'Brien, Hans Conried, Joseph Kearns (announcer), Lurene Tuttle, William Spier (producer, director), Truman Bradley (commercial spokesman), Lucien Moraweck (composer), Lud Gluskin (conductor). 

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 ABOUT OLD TIME RADIO
The buzz-term for Old Time Radio is "OTR". OTR usually means radio broadcasting from the golden age of radio, mostly before 1964.These shows from the pre-television age include adventure, comedies, mystery shows, western dramas and shows from World War II. These programs feature the best talent of the day and were broadcast nearly as widely as cable programs today. And just like TV today, families would gather around their crystal radio sets to enjoy the entertainment together.