Notably a classic of the Golden Age of Radio, Suspense did not start as the program it evolved into. Granted, the pilot episode of the program, debuting in 1940, was directed by none other than Alfred Hitchcock, but that was not even enough to earn the show a sponsor or a place on the CBS schedule. It took two years for the show to spark in the memory of Charles Vanda, a producer on some of the programs featured on Forecast, the try out show that Hitchcock’s Suspense debuted on. Vanda felt that the format could work, that listeners would not only tune in, but were ready for a program that didn’t focus on simply the stars performing in or directing them. Vanda believed that the radio audience would latch onto a show where the stories told were the main attraction and that Suspense could be such a vehicle.
Even with Vanda’s conviction, though, Suspense did not debut to a massive fanfare in June of 1942. It was a sustaining show, one without a sponsor, and, as it was originally in 1940, a summer replacement. Although it would be able to later claim to be one of the biggest draws for big time actors from Hollywood and the stage, Suspense began pretty much as any other show would, pulling together ensemble casts with little to no star power, which put the responsibility of show quality squarely where Vanda wanted it - on the stories.
Vanda left the show after a few weeks and it can be speculated that Suspense may have come to a quick end without his driving force, but fortunately someone followed Vanda that had similar thoughts and perhaps more passion for the program. William Spier took over as the producer and handler of Suspense and turned a summer program without a sponsor into one of the shining examples of Golden Age Radio.
Twelve outstanding shows of mystery, thrills, chills, action, and adventure await in Suspense, Volume 23, restored to Sparkling audio quality by Radio Archives.
The One Millionth Joe
Thursday, June 22, 1950 - 30:00 - CBS, Autolite commercials
Love, Honor, or Murder
Thursday, June 29, 1950 - 30:00 - CBS, Autolite commercials
True Report
Thursday, August 31, 1950 - 30:00 - CBS, Autolite commercials
Over the Bounding Main
Thursday, September 14, 1950 - 30:00 - CBS, Autolite commercials
The Crowd
Thursday, September 21, 1950 - 30:00 - CBS, Autolite commercials
Too Hot to Live
Thursday, October 26, 1950 - 30:00 - CBS, Autolite commercials
The Victoria Cross
Thursday, November 2, 1950 - 30:00 - CBS, Autolite commercials
Going, Going, Gone
Thursday, November 23, 1950 - 30:00 - CBS, Autolite commercials
The Lady in the Red Hat
Thursday, November 30, 1950 - 30:00 - CBS, Autolite commercials
After the Movies
Thursday, December 7, 1950 - 30:00 - CBS, Autolite commercials
A Killing in Abilene
Thursday, December 14, 1950 - 30:00 - CBS, Autolite commercials
Christmas for Carole
Thursday, December 21, 1950 - 30:00 - CBS, Autolite commercials
