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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12.29.1957 | never steal a butchers wife |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Never Steal A Butcher's Wife". A clerk in a supermarket p... | |
01.05.1958 | a week ago wednesday |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "A Week Ago Wednesday". A dream of murder and counter-murd... | |
01.12.1958 | the island |
+ "The Island". What is the secret of a hidden Japanese island, the most terrible weapon during th... | |
01.19.1958 | the crowded void |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Crowded Void". One public announcement has been delet... | |
01.26.1958 | 19 deacon street |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Nineteen Deacon Street". A brash tie salesman arrives in ... | |
02.02.1958 | silver frame |
+ "The Silver Frame". A man just out of prison plans to frame himself for revenge on the D.A. that... | |
02.09.1958 | long shot |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Long Shot". A cross-country drive with a $200,000 pot... | |
02.16.1958 | one chef well done |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "One Chef Well Done". A comedy about a new French chef who... | |
02.23.1958 | five buck tip |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Five Buck Tip". A very well-written story about a crimina... | |
03.02.1958 | never follow a banjo act |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Never Follow A Banjo Act". A mature caberet performer is ... | |
03.09.1958 | the chain |
+ "The Chain". A woman appears to be in desperate trouble when her husband leaves her and then her... | |
03.16.1958 | game hunt |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Game Hunt". A white hunter in Africa is not too sure of h... | |
03.23.1958 | affair at loveland pass |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Affair At Loveland Pass". An escaped killer, along with a... | |
03.30.1958 | the sisters |
+ "The Sisters". Twin sisters live alone in a large house. One of them is crazy; the sane one buys ... | |
04.06.1958 | just one happy little family |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Just One Happy Little Family". A lady poisoner marries a ... | |
04.13.1958 | win place or die |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Win, Place or Die". A book-keeper in debt to a book-maker... | |
04.20.1958 | alibi me |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Alibi Me". A two-bit hoodlum murders his competitor and f... | |
04.27.1958 | winner lose all |
+ "Winner Lose All". + Bobby went to a gambling joint with a proposition for gaining the establishm... | |
05.04.1958 | sundown |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Sundown". A young boy grows up with only one desire...to ... | |
05.11.1958 | subway stop |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Subway Stop". A man mugged on a deserted subway station i... | |
05.18.1958 | zero hour |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Zero Hour". The story of the game of "invasion" and a vis... | |
05.25.1958 | like man somebody dig me |
+ "Like Man, Somebody Dig Me". The adventures of a beatnik, so cool that not even his own lynching ... | |
06.01.1958 | rave notice |
+ "Rave Notice". Sponsored by: GMC Trucks. A actor commits murder then mounts the greatest performa... | |
06.08.1958 | invisible ape |
+ "The Invisible Ape". A young scientist decides to use his newly discovered secret of invisibilit... | |
06.15.1958 | strange for a killer |
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Strange For A Killer". A trapped killer holding an entire... |
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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
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Lynne
Dan
Bert
SM
Norma
Judy
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