Suspense | Old Time Radio

byOld Time Retro Radio

ArtsPerformingFictionDrama

Suspense | Old Time Radio brings you classic mystery, crime, psychological thrillers, and suspense from the golden age of radio. Enter gripping stories of murder, danger, deception, desperate choices, and unexpected twists performed by some of the era’s greatest stars. Each episode is an Old Time Retro Radio production, presenting the original broadcast with gently cleaned and mastered audio, a newly produced introduction and closing, and custom episode artwork. Suspense became one of radio’s most celebrated dramatic anthologies, known for exceptional performances, acclaimed writers, and unforgettable stories designed to keep listeners guessing until the end. Rediscover classic old time radi...

Episodes(40 episodes)

Suspense - "The Man Who Thought He Was Edward G Robinson" (Old Time Radio, 1948)

Suspense presents “The Man Who Thought He Was Edward G. Robinson,” listed in the supplied episode metadata as originally broadcast September 3, 1948. Episode number: 0.Edward G. Robinson stars as meek, put-upon Homer J. Hubbard, a man so captivated by Robinson’s hard-boiled screen persona in Little Caesar that he begins trying to live like a movie gangster. Written by Lesley Raddatz, this darkly comic, self-referential drama finds Robinson playing both Homer and himself.Suspense presents the original broadcast with a newly produced contextual introduction, a short closing announcement, and gently cleaned/mastered audio for a more consistent listen...

Published: Oct 3, 2026Duration: 30m 38s

Suspense - "Beware the Quiet Man" (Old Time Radio, 1948)

Suspense presents “Beware the Quiet Man,” originally broadcast August 12, 1948, as episode 302. Some archival listings identify this recording as episode 2 with an August 1, 1948 date.In a neighborhood bar, Margie awaits her date when private detective Lem Clewson shares details of a disturbing case involving a quiet bank teller. As the conversation grows more personal, an ordinary evening becomes a tense web of suspicion and fear. Ann Sothern stars as Margie, with William Conrad as Clewson; the drama was written by Toby Hall and directed by Anton M. Leader.Suspense presents the original broadcast with a newly produced cont...

Published: Oct 2, 2026Duration: 30m 35s

Suspense - "Deadline at Dawn" (Old Time Radio, 1948)

Suspense presents “Deadline at Dawn,” episode 5, originally broadcast May 1, 1948.Over one tense night in New York City, taxi dancer Bricky Coleman and troubled hometown acquaintance Quinn Williams find themselves drawn into a dangerous race against time before dawn. Helen Walker and John Beal star in this adaptation of Cornell Woolrich’s novel, written under the name William Irish.Suspense presents the original broadcast with a newly produced contextual introduction, a short closing announcement, and gently cleaned/mastered audio for a more consistent listening experience.Chapters:00:00 Victor Sterling Introduction00:45 Original Broadcast01:00:25 Closing<...

Published: Oct 1, 2026Duration: 1h 0m 43s

Suspense - "The Moonstone - Part One" (Old Time Radio, 1953)

Suspense presents “The Moonstone—Part One,” cataloged in this archive as episode 6 with an original date of November 1, 1953. Established episode logs identify the CBS broadcast as November 16, 1953, episode 526.In this first half of Wilkie Collins’s Victorian mystery, Franklin Blake brings a remarkable yellow diamond to Rachel Verinder’s Yorkshire home for her birthday—only to find the jewel’s unsettling history and unfamiliar visitors casting a shadow over the celebration. Peter Lawford stars as Franklin Blake in Richard Chandlee’s adaptation, produced and directed by Elliott Lewis.Suspense presents the original broadcast with a newly produced context...

Published: Sep 30, 2026Duration: 30m 37s

Suspense - "A Vision of Death" (Old Time Radio, 1951)

Suspense presents “A Vision of Death,” originally broadcast March 8, 1951. This archival presentation is identified as episode 8. Ronald Colman stars with Cathy Lewis in a CBS Radio thriller written by Walter Brown Newman from a story by Jerry Hausner.Judd and Aurora are a married nightclub mind-reading team whose apparent telepathy relies on a precise system of signals. When Aurora begins giving answers before Judd can cue her—and seems to anticipate events beyond their rehearsed act—their polished illusion becomes increasingly unsettling.Suspense presents the original broadcast with a newly produced contextual introduction, a short closing announce...

Published: Sep 29, 2026Duration: 29m 34s

Suspense - "Song of the Heart" (Old Time Radio, 1948)

Suspense presents “Song of the Heart,” originally broadcast on CBS on August 26, 1948, as episode 304. This Autolite-sponsored original drama was written by Elliott Lewis and stars Van Heflin, with Lurene Tuttle and Betty Lou Gerson.At a company picnic, a man living under the shadow of his overbearing aunt encounters the possibility of a new romantic connection. The meeting brings long-contained pressures and resentments to the surface in a compact, character-driven tale of psychological tension.Suspense presents the original broadcast with a newly produced contextual introduction, a short closing announcement, and gently cleaned and mastered audio for a mo...

Published: Sep 28, 2026Duration: 30m 24s

Suspense - "Formula for Death" (Old Time Radio, 1962)

Suspense presents “Formula for Death,” originally broadcast on CBS on June 10, 1962, as episode 929. The local archival recording is labeled episode 0 with a June 1, 1962 date.A crucial defense project rests on the work of the brilliant, reclusive Dr. Hoffman, whose complex optical formula must be delivered under tight security. As Colonel Humboldt and Dr. Fernald try to safeguard the handoff, Hoffman's fears of espionage—and his beliefs about psychic phenomena—heighten the tension. Written by Jack Johnstone, the episode stars Luis Van Rooten, Walter Greaza, and Ivor Francis.Suspense presents the original broadcast with a newly produced contextu...

Published: Sep 27, 2026Duration: 24m 12s

Suspense - "Death of an Old Flame" (Old Time Radio, 1961)

Suspense presents “Death of an Old Flame,” episode 9, originally broadcast October 2, 1961.Cocktail-lounge pianist Ronnie Warren is pulled back toward Anna, the wife who left him years ago, when a lucrative fur robbery offers money—and a dangerous chance to revive the past. Larry Haines stars as Ronnie, with Teri Keane as Anna, in a script by George Bamber.Suspense presents the original broadcast with a newly produced contextual introduction, a short closing announcement, and gently cleaned/mastered audio for a more consistent listening experience.Chapters:00:00 Victor Sterling Introduction00:55 Original Broadcast24:59 Closing<...

Published: Sep 26, 2026Duration: 25m 10s

Suspense - "Three Times Murder" (Old Time Radio, 1946)

Suspense presents “Three Times Murder,” originally broadcast October 3, 1946. This archival recording is identified as episode 3.Rita Hayworth stars as Laura Williams, a woman who has rebuilt her life under a new name after being acquitted in the death of her first husband. Her security is shaken when her new family connection brings her face-to-face with Elmer Garner, the prosecutor who once tried to convict her. Hans Conried co-stars in this CBS drama, written by John DeWitt and Robert L. Richards and directed by William Spier.Suspense presents the original broadcast with a newly produced contextual introduction, a sh...

Published: Sep 25, 2026Duration: 30m 32s

Suspense - "The Moonstone - Part Two" (Old Time Radio, 1953)

Suspense presents “The Moonstone - Part Two,” episode 3, originally broadcast November 2, 1953.In the conclusion of this adaptation of Wilkie Collins’s classic detective novel, Franklin Blake and Sergeant Cuff continue their investigation into the disappearance of the fabled yellow diamond known as the Moonstone. As suspicion falls across the Verinder household, loyalties and secrets complicate the search. Peter Lawford stars as Franklin Blake.Suspense presents the original broadcast with a newly produced contextual introduction, a short closing announcement, and gently cleaned/mastered audio for a more consistent listening experience.Chapters:00:00 Victor Sterling Introduction0...

Published: Sep 24, 2026Duration: 30m 32s

Suspense - "Will You Make a Bet with Death" (Old Time Radio, 1942)

Suspense presents “Will You Make a Bet with Death,” identified in the supplied archival source as episode 0, originally broadcast November 1, 1942.At Coney Island’s Haunted Mill, Betty Andrews encounters Bob Penderel, a terrified young man racing to survive a deadly wager with his uncle. Written by John Dickson Carr and directed by Marx B. Loeb, this tense thriller features Michael Fitzmaurice, Lesley Woods, and Nicholas Joy.Suspense presents the original broadcast with a newly produced contextual introduction, a short closing announcement, and gently cleaned/mastered audio for a more consistent listening experience.Chapters:00:00 Victor...

Published: Sep 23, 2026Duration: 30m 50s

Suspense - "The Death Parade" (Old Time Radio, 1951)

Suspense presents “The Death Parade,” episode 5, originally broadcast February 1, 1951.Amid the noise and crowds of a downtown parade, Ellen Johnson finds an alarming letter warning that a woman she has never met may be in danger. With only a name and a cryptic reference to “Jack,” she races to find help before time runs out. Agnes Moorehead stars in this tense urban mystery.Suspense presents the original broadcast with a newly produced contextual introduction, a short closing announcement, and gently cleaned/mastered audio for a more consistent listening experience.Chapters:00:00 Victor Sterling Introduction00...

Published: Sep 22, 2026Duration: 29m 47s

Suspense - "Dead of Night" (Old Time Radio, 1947)

Suspense presents “Dead of Night,” episode 9, originally broadcast on June 1, 1947. This archival edition is drawn from a local surviving recording of the classic radio suspense series.The supplied archival listing does not include a plot synopsis or verified production credits, leaving the story’s setup to unfold in the original broadcast. Suspense presents the program with a newly produced contextual introduction, a short closing announcement, and gently cleaned and mastered audio for a more consistent listening experience.Chapters:00:00 Victor Sterling Introduction00:23 Original Broadcast30:09 ClosingBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.sp...

Published: Sep 21, 2026Duration: 30m 15s

Suspense - "Death on My Hands" (Old Time Radio, 1951)

Suspense presents “Death on My Hands,” an archival episode listed with an original broadcast date of May 1, 1951, and episode number 0. Phil Harris and Alice Faye, better known for comedy, take on dramatic roles in this tense small-town story.Touring dance-band leader Dixie arrives for a one-night high-school engagement and reunites with Julia, his former singer and fiancée. When a tragic accident stirs suspicion and anger in the mill town, Dixie finds himself facing a community determined to deliver its own justice. Written by John Michael Hayes and E. Jack Neuman, and produced and directed by Elliott Lewis....

Published: Sep 20, 2026Duration: 30m 42s

Suspense - "Dead of the Night" (Old Time Radio, 1944)

Suspense presents “Dead of the Night,” documented as episode 118, originally broadcast on November 16, 1944. Local archival metadata lists the recording as episode 6, dated November 1, 1944.In this tense crime thriller by Mel Dinelli, Jimmy Barton returns to Los Angeles to find his sister Helen terrified of her violent husband. As fear, family loyalty, and police scrutiny mount, the siblings are drawn into a desperate night of uncertainty. Robert Cummings and Lurene Tuttle star.Suspense presents the original broadcast with a newly produced contextual introduction, a short closing announcement, and gently cleaned/mastered audio for a more consistent listening expe...

Published: Sep 19, 2026Duration: 30m 46s

Suspense - "The Story of Markham's Death" (Old Time Radio, 1947)

Suspense presents “The Story of Markham’s Death,” originally broadcast on CBS on October 2, 1947. This local archival recording is identified as episode 2. Kirk Douglas stars in a drama written by Robert Platt and directed by producer William Spier.Mystery novelist Phil Markham, trapped in writer’s block, travels to postwar London in search of inspiration. Amid the city’s bomb-damaged streets, he finds a cache of papers linked to Edgar Allan Poe—an discovery that draws him into a tense story of ambition, secrecy, and literary temptation.Suspense presents the original broadcast with a newly produced contextual i...

Published: Sep 18, 2026Duration: 30m 47s

Suspense - "Dead Ernest" (Old Time Radio, 1947)

Suspense presents “Dead Ernest,” originally broadcast May 8, 1947. This local archival recording is identified as episode 8. Written by Seeleg Lester and Merwin Gerard, the CBS thriller features Wally Maher as Lieutenant Steve Healey, with Junius Matthews as Ernest Bowers.After a street accident, a man prone to cataleptic attacks is mistaken for dead when the safeguards identifying his condition are separated from him. As police and medical officials follow routine procedures, Lieutenant Healey races to piece together the clues in this darkly comic, time-sensitive suspense story.Suspense presents the original broadcast with a newly produced contextual introduction, a sh...

Published: Sep 17, 2026Duration: 30m 40s

Suspense - "Report on the Jolly Death Riders" (Old Time Radio, 1951)

Suspense presents “Report on the Jolly Death Riders,” identified in this archival source as episode 7, with an original broadcast date of August 2, 1951. Other episode listings date the broadcast to August 27, 1951 and catalog it as Suspense #436.In this fact-based traffic-safety drama, a San Francisco police lieutenant investigates a hit-and-run connected to reckless hot-rod driving around the Oakland Bay Bridge. William Holden stars, with Jack Kruschen and Cathy Lewis among the supporting cast, in a CBS presentation sponsored by Auto-Lite.Suspense presents the original broadcast with a newly produced contextual introduction, a short closing announcement, and gently cleaned/mast...

Published: Sep 16, 2026Duration: 30m 38s

Suspense - "The Strange Death of Gordon Fitzroy" (Old Time Radio, 1946)

Suspense presents “The Strange Death of Gordon Fitzroy,” originally broadcast November 2, 1946, as episode 8.Chester Morris stars as Johnny Malone, a recently released prisoner determined to confront the former partner he blames for a disastrous safe robbery. On a cold city night, old associates and painful memories draw him toward a reckoning. The radio adaptation is by Robert L. Richards, from an original story by Bruce Cassiday.Suspense presents the original broadcast with a newly produced contextual introduction, a short closing announcement, and gently cleaned and mastered audio for a more consistent listening experience.Chapters:<br...

Published: Sep 15, 2026Duration: 31m 44s

Suspense - "The Dead Sleep Lightly" (Old Time Radio, 1943)

Suspense presents “The Dead Sleep Lightly,” identified in this archival recording as episode 0, originally broadcast March 3, 1943.In John Dickson Carr’s supernatural-tinged thriller, a wealthy elderly man fears that his long-dead wife has returned to haunt him after an impossible telephone call to her grave. Susan Hayward, Walter Hampden, and Lee Bowman star in this compact tale of cemetery shadows and mounting dread.Suspense presents the original broadcast with a newly produced contextual introduction, a short closing announcement, and gently cleaned/mastered audio for a more consistent listening experience.Chapters:00:00 Victor Sterling Introduction0...

Published: Sep 14, 2026Duration: 30m 37s