“And now...another tale well-calculated to keep you in ... SUSPENSE!”
Quality generally attracts quality, and as William Spier brought all the pieces together, including thrilling stories turned into explosive scripts and the highest possible productions values, Suspense soon began to attract Hollywood stars to its microphones. But here as well, Spier differed from his radio colleagues. He knew that name talent would undoubtedly attract listeners, but he also knew that most movie actors and actresses had very seldom been given the chance to really flex their acting muscles on the air.
Appearances on such series as Hollywood Hotel, Screen Guild, and The Lux Radio Theatre usually meant recreating a previous film role and chatting personably with a host or hostess. But on Suspense, such stars as Robert Young, Gene Kelly, Cary Grant, Eddie Bracken, and Van Johnson would truly have to prove their mettle, frequently in roles that cast them against type. This wasn’t, however, stunt casting - the notion of, say, a screen villain like Laird Cregar or Vincent Price playing a romantic lead or Lucille Ball or Virginia Bruce being menaced just for the sake of publicity. Hollywood stars were required to deliver the same intense performances as their radio-based co-stars — and most not only delivered but were thrilled by the opportunity to do so. Enthusiastic participant Cary Grant, for example, was frequently quoted as saying that, if he ever did any additional radio work, it would be on Suspense “where I get a chance to act!”
Very few shows are as fondly remembered as one that left listeners sitting on the edge of their seats, biting their nails and even a bit afraid at times. Suspense provided its audience with not only chills, thrills, action and adventure, but also expertly written stories and some of the finest performances given by radio’s best actors, as you will hear in Suspense, Volume 20 from Radio Archives, restored to Sparkling audio quality by Radio Archives.
Death Sentence
Thursday, November 4, 1948 - 30:00 - CBS, Autolite commercials
Muddy Track
Thursday, November 11, 1948 - 30:00 - CBS, Autolite commercials
Sorry, Wrong Number
Thursday, November 18, 1948 - 30:00 - CBS, Autolite commercials
The Screaming Woman
Thursday, November 25, 1948 - 30:00 - CBS, Autolite commercials
The Hands of Mr. Ottermole
Thursday, December 2, 1948 - 30:00 - CBS, Autolite commercials
The Sisters
Thursday, December 9, 1948 - 30:00 - CBS, Autolite commercials
No Escape
Thursday, December 16, 1948 - 30:00 - CBS, Autolite commercials
Holiday Story
Thursday, December 23, 1948 - 30:00 - CBS, Autolite commercials
Break-Up
Thursday, December 30, 1948 - 30:00 - CBS, Autolite commercials
To Find Help
Thursday, January 6, 1949 - 30:00 - CBS, Autolite commercials
The Too Perfect Alibi
Thursday, January 13, 1949 - 30:00 - CBS, Autolite commercials
If The Dead Could Talk
Thursday, January 20, 1949 - 30:00 - CBS, Autolite commercials
The Thing in the Window
Thursday, January 27, 1949 - 30:00 - CBS, Autolite commercials
Backseat Driver
Thursday, February 3, 1949 - 30:00 - CBS, Autolite commercials
De Mortuis
Thursday, February 10, 1949 - 30:00 - CBS, Autolite commercials
Catch Me If You Can
Thursday, February 17, 1949 - 30:00 - CBS, Autolite commercials
Where There Is A Will
Thursday, February 24, 1949 - 30:00 - CBS, Autolite commercials
Lovebirds
Thursday, March 3, 1949 - 30:00 - CBS, Autolite commercials
Three O'Clock
Thursday, March 10, 1949 - 30:00 - CBS, Autolite commercials
Murder Through the Looking Glass
Thursday, March 17, 1949 - 30:00 - CBS, Autolite commercials
