Suspense (radio drama)

Suspense
Lurene Tuttle (left) and Rosalind Russell
in "The Sisters" on Suspense (1948)
GenreDrama and suspense
Running time30 minutes or one hour
Country of originUnited States
Language(s)English
Home stationCBS Radio Network
Written by
Directed by
Produced by
Original releaseJune 17, 1942 (1942-06-17) –
September 30, 1962 (1962-09-30)
No. of episodes946

Suspense is a radio drama series broadcast on CBS Radio from 1940 through 1962.[1]

One of the premier drama programs of the Golden Age of Radio, was subtitled "radio's outstanding theater of thrills" and focused on suspense thriller-type scripts, usually featuring leading Hollywood actors of the era. Approximately 945 episodes were broadcast during its long run, and more than 900 still exist.

Suspense went through several major phases, characterized by different hosts, sponsors, and director/producers. Formula plot devices were followed for all but a handful of episodes: the protagonist was usually a normal person suddenly dropped into a threatening or bizarre situation; solutions were "withheld until the last possible second"; and evildoers were usually punished in the end.

In its early years, the program made only occasional forays into science fiction and fantasy. Notable exceptions include adaptations of Curt Siodmak's Donovan's Brain and H. P. Lovecraft's "The Dunwich Horror", but by the late 1950s, such material was regularly featured.

  1. ^ Suspense, Premiere Episode: 1940-07-22, Final Episode: 1962-09-30. http://otrrpedia.net/