Suspense, in many ways, is one of the only ‘perfect storms’ from Radio’s Golden Age. Thanks largely to the guiding hand of producer William Spier, the program grew into the ideal marriage of fantastic storytelling, top talent, amazing production values, and even stunning music and sound effects.
Acclaimed mystery novelist John Dickson Carr was one of the regular scriptwriters for Suspense. Carr is generally regarded as one of the greatest writers of Golden Age mysteries - complex, plot-driven stories in which the puzzle is paramount. He was influenced in this regard by the works of Gaston Leroux and by the Father Brown stories of G. K. Chesterton. Carr was a master of the locked room mystery, in which a detective solves apparently impossible crimes. He also created Dr. Fell, who various literary critics and scholars have dubbed as one of the three great successors to Sherlock Holmes - the other two being Father Brown and Nero Wolfe. His 1943 half-hour radio play Cabin B-13 was expanded into a series on CBS in 1948-49 for which Carr wrote all 25 scripts.
"If I ever do any more radio work, I want to do it on Suspense, where I get a good chance to act," Cary Grant was quoted as saying back in 1943. Grant’s great love for Suspense was due to William Spier. Spier was chief of the writers' department and director of development at CBS in 1940. As co-producer of Suspense, Spier developed the show’s thriller/chiller/macabre genre into a formula with human drama that attracted the finest of Hollywood's elite as well as the cream of radio's great actors – including Grant, Orson Welles, and many others.
Considered a true classic and a hallmark of entertainment from Radio’s Golden Age, Suspense still thrills and chills listeners today. Find hours of mystery, terror, and enjoyment in Suspense Volume 16, restored to Sparkling audio quality by Radio Archives.
The Man Who Thought He Was Edward G Robinson
Thursday, October 17, 1946 - 30:00 - CBS, sponsored by Roma Wines
Dame Fortune
Thursday, October 24, 1946 - 30:00 - CBS, sponsored by Roma Wines
Lazarus Walks
Thursday, October 31, 1946 - 30:00 - CBS, sponsored by Roma Wines
Easy Money
Thursday, November 7, 1946 - 30:00 - CBS, sponsored by Roma Wines
The One Who Got Away
Thursday, November 14, 1946 - 30:00 - CBS, sponsored by Roma Wines
Drive-in
Thursday, November 21, 1946 - 30:00 - CBS, sponsored by Roma Wines
The Strange Death of Gordon Fitzroy
Thursday, November 28, 1946 - 30:00 - CBS, sponsored by Roma Wines
The House in Cypress Canyon
Thursday, December 5, 1946 - 30:00 - CBS, sponsored by Roma Wines
They Call Me Patrice
Thursday, December 12, 1946 - 30:00 - CBS, sponsored by Roma Wines
The Thing in the Window
Thursday, December 19, 1946 - 30:00 - CBS, sponsored by Roma Wines
Philomel Cottage
Thursday, December 26, 1946 - 30:00 - CBS, sponsored by Roma Wines
The Tree of Life
Thursday, January 2, 1947 - 30:00 - CBS, sponsored by Roma Wines
The Will to Power
Thursday, January 9, 1947 - 30:00 - CBS, sponsored by Roma Wines
Overture in Two Keys
Thursday, January 16, 1947 - 30:00 - CBS, sponsored by Roma Wines
One Way Street
Thursday, January 23, 1947 - 30:00 - CBS, sponsored by Roma Wines
Three Blind Mice
Thursday, January 30, 1947 - 30:00 - CBS, sponsored by Roma Wines
The End of The Road
Thursday, February 6, 1947 - 30:00 - CBS, sponsored by Roma Wines
The Thirteenth Sound
Thursday, February 13, 1947 - 30:00 - CBS, sponsored by Roma Wines
Always Room at the Top
Thursday, February 20, 1947 - 30:00 - CBS, sponsored by Roma Wines
Three Faces for Midnight
Thursday, February 27, 1947 - 30:00 - CBS, sponsored by Roma Wines
