"And now...another tale well-calculated to keep you in...SUSPENSE!"
A man of both taste and ambition, William Spier began his tenure with Suspense by gathering his cast and crew together and giving them the word that, from now on, they would all play an intrinsic part in the creation of each show. For instance, Spier called upon musical director Bernard Hermann and, later, Lucien Moraweck to not only write and conduct cues for each show, but asked that their music play a role in each drama - almost as if it were another character. Sound effects man Berne Surrey, who was used to being giving a list of the necessary effects for each show just a few hours before the broadcast, now found himself working side by side with Spier to plot out where the various sounds would be most effective and just what they should be. With his actors, he expected nothing less than perfection, but was also willing to risk on-air disaster by often throwing them a curve at the last minute. Spier wanted a tense, edge-of-your-seat kind of show — and the best way to get this, in his opinion, was by keeping his entire cast and crew as tense and on-edge as the audience would be.
Roma Wines is probably best remembered as Suspense’s sponsor. During program breaks, listeners heard the narrator boast that the Fresno, California-based wine company was “America’s largest selling wine” and that Roma was “Made in California for enjoyment throughout the world.”
Heard today, Suspense remains a true radio classic — and one for which there are very few equals. As with any series, the programs have their ups and downs but, for the most part, it’s impressive just how well these “well calculated tales” still stand up to critical ears. And, in this Radio Archives collection, you’ll have the chance to hear twelve broadcasts from 1944. Tremendous storytelling coupled with finely crafted action and production value is what awaits you on Suspense, Volume 7 from Radio Archives.
Narrative About Clarence
Thursday, March 16, 1944 - 30:00 - CBS, sponsored by Roma Wines
Sneak Preview
Thursday, March 23, 1944 - 30:00 - CBS, sponsored by Roma Wines
Cat and Mouse
Thursday, March 30, 1944 - 30:00 - CBS, sponsored by Roma Wines
A Women in Red
Thursday, April 6, 1944 - 30:00 - CBS, sponsored by Roma Wines
The Marvelous Barastro
Thursday, April 13, 1944 - 30:00 - CBS, sponsored by Roma Wines
The Palmer Method
Thursday, April 20, 1944 - 30:00 - CBS, sponsored by Roma Wines
The Dark Tower
Thursday, May 4, 1944 - 30:00 - CBS, sponsored by Roma Wines
Donovan's Brain Part 1
Thursday, May 18, 1944 - 30:00 - CBS, sponsored by Roma Wines
Donovan's Brain Part 2
Thursday, May 25, 1944 - 30:00 - CBS, sponsored by Roma Wines
Fugue In C-Minor
Thursday, June 1, 1944 - 30:00 - CBS, sponsored by Roma Wines
The Case History of Edgar Lowndes
Thursday, June 8, 1944 - 30:00 - CBS, sponsored by Roma Wines
A Friend to Alexander
Thursday, June 15, 1944 - 30:00 - CBS, sponsored by Roma Wines
