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 |
---|---|---|---|
06.29.1943 | uncle henrys rose bush |
+ "Uncle Henry's Rosebush". What on earth is Aunt Julie up to? And where is Uncle Henry? The story... | |
06.22.1943 | man without a body |
+ "The Man Without A Body". A humdinger thriller set in rural England. What is the secret of the i... | |
06.15.1943 | last night |
+ "Last Night". The story of a corpse in the rumble seat and a debt-ridden dude ranch. Kent Smith,... | |
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... | |
06.01.1943 | banquos chair |
+ "Banquo's Chair". A detective, tracking down an elusive murderer, uses ghosts and the victim to ... | |
05.25.1943 | sorry wrong number afrs |
+ "Sorry, Wrong Number". The first broadcast of this thriller classic. Probably the best remember... | |
05.18.1943 | the abc murders |
+ "The A. B. C. Murders". A meek little man appears to be a homicidal maniac. A British chiller wi... | |
05.11.1943 | mr markham antique dealer |
+ "Mr. Markham, Antique Dealer". A story about a blackmailer, a murderer, and a room full of clock... | |
05.04.1943 | death flies blind |
+ "Death Flies Blind". A story about a Nazi spy who highjacks a plane carrying an American million... | |
04.27.1943 | the diary of sophronia winters |
+ "The Diary Of Saphronia Winters". A great horror story about a new bride, a madman, and an hotel... | |
04.20.1943 | moment of darkness |
+ "The Moment Of Darkness". A man is murdered in the midst of a seance conducted by a phoney mediu... | |
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... | |
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... | |
03.30.1943 | the dead sleep lightly |
+ "The Dead Sleep Lightly". A tingling ghost story about a rich old man and the ghost of his long ... | |
03.23.1943 | customers like murder |
+ "The Customers Like Murder". An English mystery writer and his secretary are kidnapped. They use... | |
03.16.1943 | cabin b13 | ||
02.23.1943 | will you walk into my parlor 1st half | ||
02.16.1943 | in fear and trembling |
+ "In Fear and Trembling". A hypochondriacal woman is sure that her husband and his lover want to ... | |
02.09.1943 | the hangman wont wait 1st half | ||
02.02.1943 | the doctor prescribed death |
+ "The Doctor Prescribed Death". The good doctor's theory is that a person about to commit suicide... | |
01.19.1943 | the devils saint |
+ CBS net."The Devil's Saint". The "Man In Black" introduces Peter Lorre playing a sinister noblema... | |
01.12.1943 | the pit and the pendulum |
+ "The Pit and The Pendulum". "The Man In Black" introduces the famous horror tale of the Spanish ... | |
01.05.1943 | nothing up my sleeve |
+ "Nothing Up My Sleeve". A suspenseful tale of robbery and missing money in a locked room. + Dor... | |
12.22.1942 | two sharp knives |
+ "Two Sharp Knives". A story about a bumbling small town assistant police chief who's not as dumb... | |
12.15.1942 | til death do us part |
+ ''Til Death Do Us Part". A well-written tale of a would be murder and suicide in a desolate Engl... |
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