Stars on Suspense (Old Time Radio)

Latest Episodes:

Episode 338 - Ellen Drew May 24, 2023

Show notes

Though her screen career never quite took off, Ellen Drew turned in memorable performances in movies like Christmas in July, Johnny O'Clock, and Isle of the Dead. We'll hear her co-starring with Agnes Moorehead in "Uncle Henry's Rosebush" (originally aired on CBS on June 29, 1943). Then, she stars in an adaptation of Charles Dickens' terrifying tale "The Signalman" (originally aired on CBS on February 15, 1959).

Episode 337 - Edward Arnold May 18, 2023

Show notes

Edward Arnold put his frame and booming voice to good use as heavies in classic films. He was a go-to bad guy for Frank Capra in pictures like Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and Meet John Doe, where he played colorfully corrupt characters. We'll hear him as a long-suffering employee who's finally had enough of his abusive boss in "Account Payable" (originally aired on CBS on October 13, 1949). Then, he stars in a tale from the life of one of America's commanders-in-chief in Mr. President (originally aired on ABC on November 7, 1948).

Episode 336 - Marsha Hunt (Part 2) May 08, 2023

Show notes

Actress and activist Marsha Hunt returns to Suspense in a pair of radio thrillers. First, she's a racecar driver's wife on a collision course with death in "The Last Kilometer" (originally aired on CBS on June 22, 1958). Then, she's convinced a murderer has escaped from prison with revenge on his mind in "The Night Man," a tale of terror from Lucille Fletcher (AFRS rebroadcast from July 26, 1959). Finally, we'll hear Ms. Hunt in "Birthday Present," a story from the syndicated series The Unexpected.

Click here for Marsha Hunt's previous appearances on "radio's outstanding theater of thrills."

BONUS - Best of Richard Widmark Apr 28, 2023

Show notes

For this month's bonus episode, I'm sharing my favorite Suspense shows starring Oscar-nominee Richard Widmark. First, he's an innocent man on the run in his bare feet in "Too Hot to Live" (originally aired on CBS on October 26, 1950). Next, Widmark plays a pitchman who has to make his biggest sale yet in order to stay alive in "Tell You Why I Shouldn't Die" (originally aired on CBS on April 30, 1951). Then, Widmark stars in the bloody true story of a Texas feud - a tale set to song - in "The Hunting of Bob Lee" (originally aired on CBS on October 29, 1951). Finally, he's a demented radio writer who plans to record a killing in "A Murderous Revision" (originally aired on CBS on December 3, 1951).

Episode 335 - John Dickson Carr Apr 27, 2023

Show notes

Master mystery writer John Dickson Carr was a key figure in the first year of Suspense. The creator of Dr. Gideon Fell and godfather of locked room puzzles penned nearly two dozen episodes of "radio's outstanding theater of thrills" between 1942 and 1943. We'll hear two of those thrillers - "The Devil in the Summer House" (originally aired on CBS on November 3, 1942) and "Will You Make a Bet with Death?" (originally aired on CBS on November 10, 1942). Plus, we'll hear "The Bride Vanishes," written by Carr for his own anthology series Cabin B-13 (originally aired on CBS on December 12, 1948).

Episode 334 - John Lund (Part 4) Apr 25, 2023

Show notes

John Lund returns to the podcast in a pair of radio thrillers. First, he's an ordinary man drawn into a dangerous adventure during Mardi Gras in "The Man Who Stole the Bible" (originally aired on CBS on November 25, 1956). Then, Lund narrates a Pacific wartime drama as soldiers prepare to hit the beachhead in "Tarawa was Tough" (AFRS rebroadcast from May 12, 1957). And as a bonus, we'll hear Lund as Johnny Dollar - America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator - in "The Kay Bellamy Matter" (originally aired on CBS on January 30, 1953).

Episode 333 - Gene Lockhart Apr 14, 2023

Show notes

Gene Lockhart wore many hats in his career: Oscar-nominee, stage star, acting teacher at Julliard, and songwriter. He played everyone from Bob Cratchit to villains to the judge trying to decide Kris Kringle's fate in Miracle on 34th Street. We'll hear him as an office worker who kills a workplace rival in "Statement of Employee Henry Wilson" (originally aired on CBS on November 2, 1943). Then, Lockhart stars in an adaptation of Jules Verne's "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea" from Family Theatre (originally aired on Mutual on April 22, 1953).

Episode 332 - Cornel Wilde (Part 3) Apr 06, 2023

Show notes

For his final appearance on the podcast, Cornel Wilde stars as C. Auguste Dupin - the master detective created by Edgar Allan Poe - in "The Mystery of Marie Roget" (originally aired on CBS on December 14, 1953). Inspired by a real-life unsolved murder case, it finds Dupin investigating the killing of a beautiful young woman in Paris. Then, Wilde dons the famous mask and cape in a Hollywood Star Time adaptation of The Mark of Zorro (originally aired on CBS on February 17, 1946).

Episode 331 - Sterling Holloway Mar 31, 2023

Show notes

The Cheshire Cat, Kaa the snake, and Winnie the Pooh. Sterling Holloway voiced them all and became a Disney legend for his years of work bringing beloved characters to life with his instantly recognizable voice. He lent that voice to one episode of Suspense as a mild-mannered cruise passenger who stumbles into an exotic adventure in "The Second Class Passenger" (AFRS rebroadcast from January 20, 1957). Plus, we'll hear him narrate the tale of a very special piece of currency in "The Story of Danny Dollar Bill" from Family Theater (originally aired on Mutual on November 7, 1951).

BONUS - Best of Claire Trevor Mar 29, 2023

Show notes

For this month's bonus episode, I'm sharing my favorite episodes of Suspense starring Oscar-winner Claire Trevor. First, she's trapped in her home with a madman in "The Plan" (originally aired on CBS on May 16, 1946). Then, she's a dancer trying to solve her boyfriend's murder and find a priceless diamond he was hiding in "The Blue Hour" (originally aired on CBS on September 25, 1947). Finally, she cooks up an explosive revenge plan on her cheating husband in "The Light Switch" (originally aired on CBS on May 12, 1949).

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