Suspense - Radio’s Outstanding Theater of Thrills

Originally Aired: June 12, 1947

In Suspense #249, “Stand-In,” Diana Burke is used to living in the shadows—after all, she’s just the stand-in for Hollywood’s reigning screen diva, “Madame.” But when Diana falls for the star’s new husband, a charming but violent ex-lifeguard named Dennis, her off-screen role becomes a deadly performance. As tension mounts on the set and behind the scenes, a perfect plan for murder unfolds under the klieg lights. In the ruthless world of fame and ambition, who’s really pulling the strings—and who will take the final bow?

Cast:
June Havoc

Originally Aired: June 5, 1947

In Suspense #248, “Make Mad the Guilty,” Hume Cronin stars as Bertram Matthews, a failed Shakespearean actor turned meek department store floorwalker—until he uncovers his wife's affair and plots a theatrical revenge worthy of the Bard himself. Feigning suicide, Bertram orchestrates a chilling frame-up that sends his wife to death row. But as the clock ticks down to her execution, Bertram becomes desperate for recognition of his “performance,” spiraling into madness in search of applause. A darkly ironic tale of obsession, ego, and poetic justice.

Cast:
Hume Cronin

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Suspen...

Originally Aired: May 29, 1947

In Suspense #247, “A Thing of Beauty,” Angela Lansbury stars as Madeline Tremaine, a reclusive former stage actress whose legend lives on long after the curtain has fallen. When a young curate visits her remote estate during a storm, she begins to unravel the haunting tale of her rise to stardom, a backstage rivalry turned deadly, and the terrible secrets that led to her permanent seclusion. A chilling narrative unfolds, involving murder, betrayal, and a face destroyed—if not by acid, then by guilt. As the storm rages outside, so does the tempest within her memory...

Originally Aired: May 22, 1947

In Suspense #246, “Night Comes Riding,” Mildred Anderson endures a loveless, oppressive marriage, haunted by the mysterious death of her nephew. When a soft-spoken stranger named Duncan Shaw appears, offering comfort and kindness, she sees a chance at escape—and perhaps at love. But Duncan has secrets of his own, and a buried vendetta against her husband. As the shadows deepen and tensions mount, betrayal, murder, and madness converge in a tale that gallops toward a grim climax. A psychologically rich noir about guilt, manipulation, and the terrifying price of freedom.

Cast:
Virgin...

Originally Aired: May 15, 1947

In Suspense #245, “Death at Live Oak,” down-on-his-luck David Sutherland meets a mysterious woman who mistakes him for her estranged husband—and suddenly finds himself the centerpiece of a deadly scheme. When the husband turns out to be his doppelgänger, a chilling plan unfolds: impersonate him, kill him in a faked plane crash, and take his identity. But even the best-laid murder plots can unravel under the weight of guilt, missteps, and a single elevator boy’s memory. Robert Mitchum stars in this gripping tale of deception, identity, and poetic justice.

Cast:
Rober...

Originally Aired: May 8, 1947

In Suspense #244, “Dead Ernest,” Dennis Bowers is struck by a car and presumed dead. But Bowers suffers from catalepsy—a condition that mimics death—and he carries a letter and bracelet warning against embalming. When both go missing, his body is taken to the morgue with no one the wiser. As kids melt his ID bracelet for scrap and a secondhand shop sells his blood-stained jacket, Bowers inches closer to being embalmed alive. Only a nosy housewife, a smudged pair of glasses, and a twitch at the last second stand between life and a horrific...

Originally Aired: May 1, 1947

In Suspense #243, “Lady in Distress,” Evelyn Harris picks up a drifter on a stormy roadside—only to discover he's an escaped convict with a vendetta against her husband, police officer Ralph Harris. But Evelyn’s not so innocent herself. As she manipulates her dangerous passenger into carrying out her own deadly plan, the stakes spiral toward an explosive finale in a darkened garage. Ava Gardner and Howard Duff star in this twist-laden tale of betrayal, seduction, and revenge, where every turn in the road tightens the noose.

Cast:
Ava Gardner, Howard Duff

Originally Aired: April 24, 1947

In Suspense #242, “Win, Place and Murder,” down-on-his-luck private eye Chris Draper stumbles into a deadly horse-betting racket when a mysterious client named Pilsen pays him to retrieve a black bag. But Pilsen is no ordinary accountant—he’s just murdered a bookie and is on the run with the payroll. As Draper navigates crooked cops, jealous lovers, and one unforgettable filly named Mosquito, he finds that every lead comes with a catch and every favor costs more than it’s worth. Richard Conte stars in this wisecracking noir where money talks, but a bullet still has...

Originally Aired: April 17, 1947

In Suspense #241, “Green-Eyed Monster,” Michael Dawson seems like the perfect grieving widower—until he remarries, and his second wife begins to stir old obsessions. Haunted by jealousy and guilt, Michael spirals into paranoia, suspecting Judy of being a serial killer. But when she turns up dead in the same trunk where he once hid his first wife’s body, the twist cuts both ways. Lloyd Nolan delivers a riveting performance in this psychological shocker, where possession, madness, and misdirection meet a sharp brass letter opener.

Cast:
Lloyd Nolan, Cathy Lewis

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Originally Aired: April 10, 1947

In Suspense #240, “Community Property,” George Mason’s marriage is a powder keg of resentment, jealousy, and greed. When his ailing uncle promises him a $500,000 inheritance, George finally sees a future without his bitter wife Lois—and begins planning a way to cut her out entirely. Under California’s community property laws, divorce would mean splitting the windfall. So George goes another route: he fakes reconciliation, spikes her warm milk, and waits for the drugs to take effect. But a prescription swap, a meddling doctor, and a cruel twist of law leave George with blood on his han...

Originally Aired: April 3, 1947

In Suspense #239, “The Swift Rise of Eddie Albright,” elevator operator Eddie dreams of success and romance, but a white lie to impress a manicurist snowballs into a deadly misadventure. When Eddie recognizes a fugitive gangster from his days running the penthouse car, he tries to play hero—only to find himself framed, stripped of his uniform, and mistaken for the very killer he sought to expose. A body in a carpet, a swapped jacket, and a last-second shootout form the twists in this fast-talking noir starring Phil Silvers in a rare dramatic role.

Cast...

Originally Aired: August 12, 1942

In Suspense #9, “Suspicion,” respectable Englishman Hubert Mummery starts to feel unwell after breakfast—and can’t shake a creeping unease. His new young wife, Ethel, seems fine. The new housekeeper, Sutton, is all kindness. But then a neighbor mentions a notorious poisoner, Carolyn Andrews, still at large and possibly posing as a domestic servant. When Mummery finds newspaper clippings cut out and weed killer stored beside the soup, his stomach pain takes on a new dread. Charles Ruggles delivers a masterful performance in this quietly mounting tale of fear, deduction, and a finale that proves a...

Originally Aired: March 13, 1947

In Suspense #236, “You Take Ballistics,” Homicide Lieutenant Ed Harvey arrests Clarence Coleman for the murder of a bookie—but the case nearly collapses when ballistics reveals that Coleman’s gun doesn’t match the murder slug. While others are ready to let Coleman walk, Harvey’s instincts scream otherwise. When a cheap book of cigarette papers in Coleman’s suit sparks a wild theory, Harvey reconstructs the murder weapon with a sleight-of-hand bullet switch that stuns even the lab. Howard Da Silva delivers a gritty, relentless performance in this gripping police procedural from the pen of Cornell...

Originally Aired: August 21, 1943

In Suspense #54, “Sorry, Wrong Number,” bedridden and increasingly frantic, Mrs. Elbert Stevenson tries to reach her husband’s office—only to overhear a chilling phone conversation between two men planning a murder at 11:15 that night. As she desperately tries to get help from uncaring operators, indifferent police, and even a nurses’ registry, her calls descend into terror and futility. With the sound of every ring, her isolation deepens—until the horror strikes home. Agnes Moorehead delivers one of radio’s most iconic performances in this tour de force written by Lucille Fletcher, a suspense classic that r...

Originally Aired: March 6, 1947

In Suspense #235, “Elwood,” mild-mannered gas station attendant Elwood Parsons lives quietly with his mother and sister—until the town is shaken by a series of strangulations. As suspicion falls on outsiders and local eccentrics, Elwood spirals inward, obsessed with stolen trinkets and a fantasy world built on respect and recognition he never received. His twisted logic, rooted in childhood trauma and repression, leads him to murder—again and again. Eddie Bracken delivers a chilling, sympathetic performance in this psychological noir that slowly unveils a killer hiding in plain sight.

Cast:
Eddie Bracken<...

Originally Aired: June 1, 1943

In Suspense #44, “Banquo’s Chair,” retired criminal investigator Sir William Brent lures an arrogant suspect back to the scene of the crime—an old Victorian mansion where an heiress was strangled two years earlier. Though the case went cold due to the suspect’s airtight alibi, Brent believes a ghost may succeed where logic failed. With two dinner guests as witnesses, Brent orchestrates a chilling hoax involving a “spirit” at the dining table. But when the woman they hired never arrives, the terrifying question remains: who—or what—did the suspect actually see? Donald Crisp and John Lod...

Originally Aired: May 18, 1943

In Suspense #42, “The ABC Murders,” a timid hosiery salesman named Alexander Bonaparte Cust believes he may be going mad—or worse, that he’s responsible for a string of killings. Each murder follows the alphabet: Andover, Bexhill, Churston. But the real twist lies in the typewritten notes sent to the police and the railway guide left at each scene. As the case unfolds, suspicion falls squarely on Cust—until one small inconsistency unravels the entire plot. Based on the Agatha Christie novel and featuring Charles Laughton as Hercule Poirot’s radio stand-in, this tale of misdirect...

Originally Aired: March 23, 1943

In Suspense #34, “The Customers Like Murder,” mystery writer Gerald Hockstone gets more than he bargained for when he’s mistaken for a doctor and kidnapped by two gangsters hiding out in the English countryside. Alongside his quick-witted secretary, Patricia, Hockstone is dragged into a bizarre blackmail plot involving the kidnapping of the Lord Chief Justice. With bombs falling overhead and thugs demanding medical assistance for their hostage, the author must use every ounce of his fictional crime knowledge to outwit real killers. Roland Young and Peggy Conklin shine in this witty, fast-paced tale of mistak...

Originally Aired: February 23, 1943

In Suspense #30, “Will You Walk Into My Parlor?” an English garden party turns sinister when American visitor Philip Lester’s fiancée insists on visiting the fortune teller’s tent. But the turbaned “seer” is no mystic—he’s a Scotland Yard inspector investigating a string of poison murders tied to a mysterious woman. When Mary Sherwood enters the tent, the inspector recognizes her face... and her pattern: three husbands, all dead. What follows is a tightly coiled blend of mistaken identity, charm, and sudden violence. Starring Geraldine Fitzgerald and Cedric Hardwicke, this tale by John Dickson C...

Originally Aired: March 2, 1943

In Suspense #31, “The Night Reveals,” fire insurance investigator Harry Jordan begins to suspect his wife Marie of sneaking out at night—coinciding eerily with a series of arson fires across the city. As inconsistencies in her alibis mount, Harry uncovers chilling clues: matchbooks hidden in her purse, suspicious newspaper clippings, and a scorched family locket found at a fire scene. But the truth proves more twisted than he imagines. Is Marie the arsonist—or is Harry himself losing his grip? A searing psychological drama by Cornell Woolrich, brought to life by Robert Young and Margot i...

Originally Aired: February 9, 1943

In Suspense #28, “The Hangman Won’t Wait,” a young woman named Helen Barton awakens in a prison cell with no memory—only to discover she’s been convicted of murder and scheduled for execution at dawn. Dr. Gideon Fell is called to investigate and slowly unravels a web of deceit, emotional trauma, and circumstantial evidence. With mere minutes to spare, Fell uncovers a critical forensic flaw involving a bullet's trajectory and a telltale waistcoat, turning the case on its head. Featuring Sidney Greenstreet as the brilliant sleuth, this masterful locked-room-style mystery proves that sometimes, a tiny det...

Originally Aired: February 27, 1947

In Suspense #234, “Three Faces at Midnight,” Brooklyn bruiser Sylvester "Muscles" Walters stumbles into a “job” that lands him in the middle of a political blackmail plot involving a governor, a suitcase stuffed with cash, and a setup that smells like week-old fish. Muscles must impersonate a man named John to frame a crooked official, while a mysterious woman films the deal from the shadows. But when bullets fly and bodies fall, Muscles and his reluctant partner find themselves fugitives with a briefcase full of danger—and a roll of film that could clear their names or d...

Originally Aired: February 20, 1947

In Suspense #233, “Always Room at the Top,” Helen Brandt is a sharp, determined advertising artist who claws her way into a top position after the sudden death of her predecessor in a mysterious fall from a skyscraper. But Helen's ascent is shadowed by whispers, hauntings, and a tightly wound secretary named Marie who knows far too much. When Helen discovers that her boss and new lover is entangled in an insurance fraud scheme involving the supposedly dead woman, the stakes turn lethal. Ann Baxter stars in this unnerving tale of ambition, deception, and a fina...

Originally Aired: February 13, 1947

In Suspense #232, “The Thirteenth Sound,” Mrs. Sally Skinner is the perfect widow: poised, respected, and seemingly heartbroken after her husband's mysterious shooting. But behind her calm demeanor is a cold-blooded killer—whose perfect murder begins to unravel not from evidence, but from a sound. At the coroner's inquest and again during a concert, a specific noise—a blackboard scratch, a dissonant tone—triggers a violent response in Sally, revealing cracks in her composure. Agnes Moorehead delivers a riveting performance in this psychological thriller where guilt echoes louder than any proof.

Cast:
Agnes Moor...

Originally Aired: February 6, 1947

In Suspense #231, “End of the Road,” automobile salesman Speed Evans falls for a mysterious, alluring woman named Sylvia—who happens to be married to a wealthy, limping older man named Ganlon. As Speed becomes entangled in a reckless affair, he’s drawn into Sylvia’s haunting past, where childhood trauma and a deadly mine explosion shape a dark destiny. Sylvia’s fractured psyche, laced with vengeance and violence, turns their romance into a nightmare. A chilling noir anchored by Glenn Ford’s intense performance, this tale unspools a twisted journey toward truth, love, and a fatal reckon...

Originally Aired: January 30, 1947

In Suspense #230, “Three Blind Mice,” embittered publisher Arthur Lockwood hatches a ruthless scheme to reclaim control of his firm—and the affections of a colleague—by exploiting a partner’s terminal illness and framing another for murder. With timing, trickery, and a tampered suicide, Lockwood clears his path to power. But when his new bride turns out to be far more cunning than he anticipated, the manipulator becomes the manipulated. Starring Van Heflin, this twist-heavy tale of betrayal, blackmail, and poetic justice plays like a noir chess match with deadly stakes.

Cast:
Van He...

Originally Aired: January 23, 1947

In Suspense #229, “One Way Street,” young ex-convict George returns to the slums of London after a stint in prison, only to find his crooked Uncle Burt has married a kindly widow, Edna. But George suspects the union is a ruse for Burt to inherit her money—and when he finds rat poison stored ominously beside her medicine, the line between suspicion and complicity blurs. As Burt subtly draws George into a silent pact, the boy must decide whether to betray his last shred of morality. Roddy McDowall delivers a gripping performance in this dark tale o...

Originally Aired: January 16, 1947

In Suspense #228, “Overture in Two Keys,” the young and intense Mark Allen arrives to study music under a once-great conductor now nearly deaf. But when Mark begins an affair with his teacher’s wife, their passion turns into a deadly plan. After a tragic car accident leaves the husband dead, Mark and Franzie believe they’ve escaped justice—until Mark, now on the brink of his conducting debut, begins hearing a bell only he can hear. A story of guilt, madness, and music, anchored by a haunting performance from Joan Bennett.

Cast:
Joan B...

Originally Aired: January 9, 1947

In Suspense #227, “The Will to Power,” an ambitious secretary named Charles Ross schemes to eliminate his tyrannical employer and claim both his fortune and his wife. Poison, a staged accident, and a solid alibi set the plot in motion—but Charles doesn’t count on a blackmailing elevator man or the deadly fallout of a letter left behind. As lies compound and the body count rises, Charles’s perfect crime unravels under the weight of its own hubris. Starring Dan Duryea, this gripping noir descent into betrayal and comeuppance delivers one of Suspense’s most biting...

Originally Aired: January 2, 1947

In Suspense #226, “Tree of Life,” a pair of identical front doors leads to a deadly mix-up in a suburban duplex. Advertising man James Dawson returns home to find himself mistaken for his neighbor, Roxborough—by two professional killers who’ve just murdered a woman. Dawson is forced to play along, forging a confession and writing a payoff check, while plotting his escape. But a final twist reveals an ironic, chilling truth: it wasn’t Roxborough’s wife the hitmen killed... it was Dawson’s. Starring Mark Stevens, this taut thriller explores guilt, fate, and the cruel geom...

Originally Aired: December 26, 1946

In Suspense #225, “Philomel Cottage,” newlywed Alex Martin settles into a picturesque country home with her charming husband Gerald—but happiness turns to dread as unsettling clues hint at a dark secret in his past. An entry in his diary, rumors from the gardener, and the reappearance of a jilted suitor stir Alex’s suspicions. As 6 p.m. approaches, she discovers Gerald may be more than just mysterious—he may be a murderer. Adapted from a short story by Agatha Christie and starring Lily Palmer, this domestic thriller simmers with tension until a brilliantly twisted climax. Duration: 00:30:04

Originally Aired: December 19, 1946

In Suspense #224, “The Thing in the Window,” a reclusive actor named Martin Ames becomes obsessed with what he believes is a corpse seated in a chair across the street. Night after night, he watches the window, convinced he sees the lifeless body, despite reassurances from neighbors, the superintendent, and even the police that nothing is there. As the line between perception and paranoia blurs, Ames spirals deeper into obsession—until he takes chilling action to ensure his vision becomes real. A macabre psychological thriller from Lucille Fletcher, famed for “Sorry, Wrong Number,” starring Joseph Cotten in...

Originally Aired: December 12, 1946

In Suspense #223, “They Call Me Patrice,” a young divorcée named Helen assumes the identity of a deceased bride, stepping into the role of a wealthy family’s daughter-in-law after a tragic train accident. What begins as a desperate bid for comfort and security spirals into a web of deception, guilt, and blackmail. When her scheming ex-husband resurfaces, threatening her new life, Helen is forced to make a harrowing choice—one that leads to murder and a final, shattering twist. A haunting tale of identity, moral compromise, and the price of survival.

Cast:
...

Originally Aired: December 5, 1946

In Suspense #222, “The House in Cypress Canyon,” a grisly manuscript found in a newly finished house reveals a tale too terrifying to be true—until reality begins to mirror the story’s events. James and Ellen Woods move into a long-vacant California home, only to be haunted by inexplicable howls, a locked closet seeping blood, and a creeping madness that drives them to the brink. Is the manuscript fiction, or a premonition? A meta-horror classic that masterfully blurs the line between story and storyteller, culminating in a chilling twist that suggests the nightmare is only beg...

Originally Aired: November 28, 1946

In Suspense #221, “The Strange Death of Gordon Fitzroy,” Johnny Malone emerges from prison hideously disfigured and consumed by vengeance. Betrayed by his childhood friend Gordon Fitzroy during a botched jewelry heist, Malone’s only aim upon release is retribution. But his plan to destroy Fitzroy backfires catastrophically, leaving Malone mistaken for the very man he hates—and surgically reconstructed into his likeness. Haunted by his past and trapped in a stranger’s face, Malone spirals into psychological torment, questioning identity, justice, and whether revenge is worth the cost. A brutal noir tragedy wrapped in post-war p...

Originally Aired: November 21, 1946

In Suspense #220, “Drive-In,” Judy Garland stars as Mildred, a Hollywood carhop whose late-night shift turns into a nightmare when she serves one last customer—a man with blood on his hands and a dark past he’s desperate to escape. What begins as a seemingly harmless offer of a ride becomes a harrowing drive into the hills above Los Angeles, where secrets unravel, sanity frays, and survival hinges on a single moment of courage. A chilling blend of noir and psychological terror that showcases Garland in a rare and riveting dramatic role.

Cast: Duration: 00:29:58

Originally Aired: November 14, 1946

In Suspense #219, “The One Who Got Away,” Hume Cronyn stars as James Carroll, a weary bank auditor trapped in a soul-crushing marriage. Desperate for freedom, he crafts a perfect murder plot—backed by the coerced alibi of a compromised colleague. But when the plan succeeds and justice seems thwarted, fate has one more twist in store. A chilling portrait of psychological manipulation and poetic justice.

Cast:
Hume Cronyn

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Suspense, thriller, psychological, noir, murderplot, HumeCronyn, oldtimeradio, mystery, perfectcrime, alibi, betrayal, 1940sradio, classicdrama, suspensepodcast, justice

Originally Aired: November 7, 1946

In Suspense #218, “Easy Money,” struggling nightclub pianist Paul Bentley sees a path to freedom when he learns that his estranged, powerful wife, Martha Lathrop, has returned to America. Trapped in a marriage that ended in all but name, Paul’s desire to remarry is blocked—until he devises a chilling plan. But Martha, now a paranoid recluse surrounded by loyal staff and a sinister macaw, proves harder to manipulate than expected. As poison, paranoia, and a deadly parrot collide, Paul gambles on the perfect crime—only to find out that easy money can come with a dea...

Originally Aired: October 31, 1946

In Suspense #217, “Lazarus Walks,” Dr. Robert Graham, a psychiatrist, offers sanctuary to Roger Holcomb—a man once declared dead and revived after four minutes. But Holcomb has returned with a haunting gift: the compulsive ability to speak the truth, revealing dark secrets others would kill to keep hidden. As Roger becomes a psychic mirror to the subconscious guilt of those around him, including the troubled Isabel and her domineering husband, the line between healing and harm dissolves. What begins as a scientific curiosity spirals into a chilling confrontation with the cost of unfiltered truth. A psyc...

In Suspense #216, “Dame Fortune,” former stage actress Jean Marley—now Jean Nicholson—receives an unwelcome call from her past: Charlie Prescott, a bitter ex-con with a shared history, fresh out of prison and hungry for a cut of her wealthy husband's fortune. What begins as a blackmail threat turns into a deadly game of manipulation, deception, and calculated murder. As Jean struggles to maintain her façade, she spirals into a trap of her own making—one where even love can’t save her. A searing noir drama that twists the knife with every turn.

Cast:
Susan Hayward...

Originally Aired: October 17, 1946

In Suspense #215, “The Man Who Thought He Was Edward G. Robinson,” mild-mannered Homer J. Hubbard is trapped in a miserable marriage, mocked and henpecked by his domineering wife, Ada. But after seeing Little Caesar, he becomes obsessed with Edward G. Robinson—so much so that he starts mimicking the actor’s gangster persona and plotting murder. When fate hands him a chance to meet his idol, Homer’s delusion deepens… and so does the danger. A darkly comic psychological thriller about identity, repression, and a man pushed to the edge by fantasy.

Cast:
Ed...

Originally Aired: October 10, 1946

In Suspense #214, “A Plane Case of Murder,” war veteran Randy Judson returns home to find the woman he obsessed over during years of captivity married to someone else. When he re-enters Marion's life under the guise of wealth and success, she quickly reignites old feelings—and darker ambitions. Together, they plot to kill her husband in what seems like the perfect airborne alibi. But greed, deceit, and the taste for revenge turn the scheme into a deadly trap—with an ironic twist that not even Marion saw coming. A taut thriller that soars on treacher...

Originally Aired: October 3, 1946

In Suspense #213, “Three Times Murder,” Rita Hayworth stars as Laura, a woman whose charm hides a calculating will to survive—and profit. When her husband dies from a conveniently faulty electric razor, Laura stands trial and narrowly escapes conviction. She vanishes into a new life, complete with a wealthy chemist husband—until the past resurfaces in the form of Elmer, her original blackmailer and now her brother-in-law. As suspicion, manipulation, and poison swirl through the household, Laura’s final play is as daring as it is deadly. A psychological noir thriller in three acts of deceit...

Originally Aired: September 26, 1946

In Suspense #212, “Statement of Employee Henry Wilson,” Gene Lockhart stars as a mild-mannered office worker whose quiet hatred for his smug rival explodes into murder—and spirals into paranoia and delusion. After eliminating his foe with an iron vase and pinning the crime on the eccentric night janitor, Henry Wilson believes he’s committed the perfect crime. But as guilt gnaws and ghostly voices haunt him, the lines between reality and madness blur. A psychological descent into chaos unfolds, culminating in a shocking twist of justice—and insanity.

Cast:

Gene Lockhart<...

Originally Aired: September 19, 1946

In Suspense #211, “Till the Day I Die,” Dane Clark stars as Frankie, a hardened criminal on the run after a deadly heist. When he sees a newspaper photo of the man he murdered—someone who looks exactly like him—Frankie begins to unravel. Trying to escape his guilt, he crosses paths with the victim’s widow and child, discovering a shocking personal connection that redefines everything he thought he knew about himself. As Frankie’s conscience begins to crack, so does the carefully laid plan to evade justice. A brooding noir tale of identity, fate, and th...

Originally Aired: September 12, 1946

In Suspense #210, “Hunting Trip,” a casual reunion between two old friends, Stan and Eric, turns into a chilling psychological battle in the remote wilderness. When Eric invites Stan to his secluded mountain cabin, the trip seems like a peaceful getaway—until Stan begins to suspect Eric’s intentions aren’t friendly. Haunted by the mysterious death of Eric’s former love Karen—who was once Stan’s wife—paranoia builds as accidents and mind games escalate. Is Eric planning the perfect murder? Or is Stan's guilt twisting his perception of reality? A taut, nerve-racking tale of obsession...

Originally Aired: September 5, 1946

In Suspense #209, “You'll Never See Me Again,” newlywed Ed Bliss reports his wife Janet missing after she storms out during a quarrel. But his tale of innocence unravels as Detective Stillman uncovers disturbing clues—Janet’s clothes found burned in the furnace, lies from her stepfather, and a suspiciously altered room. As the truth emerges, a tangled plot of fraud, murder, and betrayal surfaces, revealing Ed’s chilling orchestration of his wife’s demise. But justice, and Janet’s fate, hinge on a desperate race against time in this pulse-pounding psychological thriller penned by Cornell Woolri...

Originally Aired: August 29, 1946

In Suspense #208, “Blue Eyes,” a mild-mannered accountant named Oliver Littlefield begins an ordinary day with a blue tie and a rosebud in his lapel—small gestures he hopes will draw the attention of his charming co-worker. But as friends and strangers alike start to question his health, Oliver spirals into paranoia, convinced his life is crumbling and his nagging wife Laura is to blame. Fueled by resentment and a box of pep pills, he concocts a deadly plan involving a bottle of cyanide. Yet fate has other ideas. This noir psychological thriller explores the fragil...

Originally Aired: August 22, 1946

In Suspense #207, “The Great Horrell,” Alma, the long-suffering assistant and wife of the famed mind-reader Martin Horrell, is desperate to reclaim her autonomy. When she begins to suspect her husband can truly read her mind—even across oceans—Alma spirals into paranoia, fear, and ultimately violence. But as her grip on reality unravels, a new and even more disturbing truth emerges. Who really holds power over her thoughts—and what price must she pay for freedom? A psychological thriller where performance and delusion collide.

Cast:
Joan Loring

Tags:
Suspense...

Originally Aired: August 15, 1946

In Suspense #206, “The Last Letter of Dr. Bronson,” a brilliant but disturbed psychiatrist turns himself into the subject of a macabre psychological experiment. Determined to prove that mankind refrains from murder due to five key internal checks, Dr. Bronson tempts five carefully chosen individuals with a chance to kill him for profit. But as the clock ticks toward midnight, and his would-be executioner awaits, Bronson discovers that some minds are beyond understanding—and some games should never be played. A chilling descent into the psychology of murder and madness, told entirely through a final, haunti...

Originally Aired: August 8, 1946

In Suspense #205, “Dead Ernest,” a simple traffic accident turns into a nightmarish chain of coincidences when cataleptic Ernest Bowers—alive but motionless—is pronounced dead and sent to the morgue. His medical warning bracelet and letter of explanation are lost, pawned, and sold for pocket change, while his frantic wife tries in vain to reach the doctor whose phone is off the hook. As two weary embalmers prepare to “start work” on Bowers, a faint breath fogs one man’s glasses—just in time. A macabre classic of bureaucratic neglect, irony, and narrowly averted horror.

C...

Originally Aired: August 1, 1946

In Suspense #204, “Commuter’s Ticket,” teletype repairman Bert Gavin (J. Carrol Naish) plans the perfect crime: kill his unfaithful wife during a passing train’s roar, then ride back into town unseen among thousands of daily commuters. But when the police close in, his carefully timed alibi collapses—every witness he counted on fails to remember him, and even the commuter’s ticket that could clear his name turns against him. A taut noir of anonymity and guilt, “Commuter’s Ticket” turns the everyday routine of a train ride into a nightmare of isolation and doom.

C...

Originally Aired: July 25, 1946

In Suspense #203, “Can’t We Be Friends,” Michael Gordon (Elliot Lewis) revisits his ex-girlfriend Fran to “make peace,” but rejection curdles into obsession and violence. What begins as a plea for forgiveness becomes a chilling confession of premeditated murder—only for fate to twist the knife one last time. When the police arrive, Michael learns his crime was pointless: Fran had died hours before he fired the gun. Written by and starring Elliot Lewis, this tense psychological study of guilt and delusion unfolds entirely through the killer’s narration, culminating in one of Suspense’s most darkly ir...

Originally Aired: July 18, 1946

In Suspense #202, “Photo Finish,” Joe Mooney—a wisecracking sidewalk photographer—snaps a passerby at the exact moment the man collapses, only to be “escorted” by faux cops who hijack his car, steal the corpse from the morgue, and drag him into a gang’s cover-up. A seductive “sister” lures Joe for the incriminating negative, a citywide chase follows, and the payoff twist lands like a flashbulb pop: Joe’s priceless evidence never existed—because he forgot to load film. Street-level noir with gags, gunmen, and a whiplash ending. Starring Michael O’Shea.    

Cast:

Michael O’Shea  ...

Originally Aired: July 11, 1946

In Suspense #201, “Feast of the Furies,” a simple-minded driver named Casey dutifully follows his employer’s chilling instructions—kidnap a frail man named Sam Bennett and deliver him to a lonely wharf by nightfall. As the tide rises and the truth unravels, Sam reveals a tragic history involving his paralyzed wife and her vengeful brother, Jake Larkin—the very man who hired Casey. What begins as a routine “job” turns into a grim reckoning of guilt, loyalty, and twisted justice, as Casey learns too late the meaning of blind obedience.

Cast:
Sheldon Leonar...

Originally Aired: July 4, 1946

In Suspense #200, “An Evening’s Diversion,” overworked executive Paul Edwards follows his doctor’s unusual advice for stress—“go out alone and see what happens." This leads him into a dangerous situation involving murder. A visit to a rundown café pulls Edwards into a world of crime, deception, and deadly attraction. When he hears two gangsters planning to kill a woman, his curiosity pulls him into the city’s underground—subways, back alleys, and a crucial apartment at 375 Highland Drive. As the night escalates and chaos ensues, Paul’s attempt at adventure turns into a nightmare, ending...

Originally Aired: June 27, 1946

In Suspense #199, “Return Trip,” a snowbound bus becomes a rolling death trap when news spreads that a killer has escaped from a nearby asylum. As driver Frank Keniston guides his passengers through a growing blizzard—an anxious young woman, a chatty salesman, and a brooding Englishman—paranoia mounts with every mile. When an avalanche buries them alive, suspicion turns to violence, and one terrifying truth emerges: the killer may have been at the wheel all along. A tense, claustrophobic thriller that twists through the white silence toward a shocking confession.

Cast:
Elliot R...

Originally Aired: June 20, 1946

In Suspense #198, “Your Devoted Wife,” Melissa Thornton, seemingly a caring spouse, secretly takes her sick husband Martin on an overnight train to a Chicago clinic, after quietly administering him sleeping pills. Her gentle act masks a cold, calculated plan linked to Martin’s upcoming 30th birthday and a significant inheritance. However, when the clinic finds no health issues and instead delivers a fatal diagnosis—“at most thirty days”—the balance of power shifts. What began as subtle domestic manipulation escalates into a chilling countdown, as love, greed, and mortality collide on the steel rails and within ste...

Originally Aired: June 13, 1946

In Suspense #197, “Too Many Smiths,” Charles Wallingford, an ambitious porter with a taste for easy money, stumbles onto a secret memo: the winner of a $25,000 toothpaste slogan contest is “Pat Smith of Boston.” Seizing his chance, he impersonates the unknown winner—only to discover there are far more Pat Smiths than he bargained for. As murder, imposture, and double-crosses pile up, fate twists cruelly: the real prize belongs to neither schemer nor victim, but to an unsuspecting Pat Smith in a tiny Georgia town. A darkly ironic tale of greed, coincidence, and deadly ambition.

Cast...

Originally Aired: June 6, 1946

In Suspense #196, “The High Wall,” Robert Young stars as Bob Lewis, a war-weary oil man who wakes in what seems like a hospital—only to learn he’s in an asylum for the criminally insane. Stricken with amnesia, Bob insists he’s innocent, but his blackout hides a darker truth: his wife is dead, and he may have killed her. As fragments of memory resurface, romance with a sympathetic nurse blurs with visions of his lost wife, leading to a harrowing finale where love, madness, and murder collide. A chilling psychological tale where the mind itsel...

Originally Aired: May 30, 1946

In Suspense #195, “The Leading Citizen of Pratt County,” a smooth-talking grifter, posing as Professor Alonzo P. Witherspoon, drifts into a dusty Midwestern town after double-crossing his partner. Spinning lies of political connections and geological expertise, he convinces locals that he can restore their lost river—and cashes in on their hopes. But when the scheme collides with the suspicions of an earnest college boy and the pull of an honest family, fate steers his con toward an unexpected legacy. What begins as a swindle for $50,000 evolves into something far grander: a man branded forever as Pra...

Originally Aired: May 23, 1946

In Suspense #194, “Spoils for Victor,” small-time racketeer Victor Rudiger thinks he’s hit the jackpot when a chance encounter lands him in the life—and the fortune—of wealthy heiress Madeline Rawlins. Backed by his old mob pals, Victor marries into riches with a deadly plan: six months of high living before his bride’s “accidental” death secures her millions. But when Victor discovers he’s fallen in love with his mark, the scheme curdles into a dangerous standoff between loyalty, greed, and passion. As betrayal closes in, the final gunshots decide whose spoils will be claimed—an...

Originally Aired: May 16, 1946

In Suspense #193, “The Plan,” newlywed Helen Anderson thinks she’s safeguarding her respectable life when her husband’s long-hidden, dangerous brother arrives unexpectedly—only to find herself ensnared in a scheme of mistaken identities, loaded dueling pistols, and a murder meant to erase the past. As Helen’s story unfolds under police questioning, the truth twists: the “brother” isn’t the real threat, and the careful plot to pass a corpse as someone else begins to crumble when madness resurfaces. A taut domestic noir where every reassurance is a setup and every alibi has a crack.

Ca...

Originally Aired: May 9, 1946

In Suspense #192, “The Clock and the Rope,” Henry Guilford awaits execution for a murder he swears was self-defense, insisting a mysterious girl can prove his innocence. With no trace of her, the jury convicts him, and as the clock ticks toward dawn, he relives the terror of death row—the ticking, the prayers, the trapdoor. A last-minute reprieve arrives, but too late: the rope has already tightened around his neck. Guilford survives, but not without scars—forever haunted by clocks, confinement, and the narrow margin between life and death. A harrowing tale of fate, timing...

Originally Aired: May 2, 1946

In Suspense #191, “Crime Without Passion,” New York criminal attorney Lou Hendricks thinks he’s killed his showgirl mistress in a violent quarrel—so he constructs a meticulous alibi, complete with planted “evidence” and timed sightings, to beat a murder rap. But when a hot-headed rival confronts him later that night, Hendricks fires a shot as the floor show begins…and sees the “victim” alive onstage. He’s crafted a flawless defense—only for a crime he hasn’t committed—while leaving himself utterly exposed for the one he just has. A razor-edged study in hubris, legal mind games...

Originally Aired: April 25, 1946

In Suspense #190, “Dark Journey,” Nancy Kelly and Kathy Lewis star in Lucille Fletcher’s haunting two-woman play. Anne Brody is consumed by obsessive love for Clyde Dexter, convinced her willpower alone can bind him to her. With her friend Alice as uneasy witness, Anne wills herself into his life—until Clyde’s domineering mother is struck dead by an “unknown assailant.” Anne believes her own psychic force killed the woman, yet the truth is darker: Clyde himself carries the murderous weakness. Years later, Anne has everything she dreamed—marriage, children, the Riverdale house—until fate reclaims her...

Originally Aired: April 18, 1946

In Suspense #189, “The Night Reveals,” Keenan Wynn stars as Harry Jordan, an insurance investigator whose job is to uncover the causes of fires—only to discover the flames burn far too close to home. Late-night wanderings, missing matches, and a melted locket found in the ashes convince Harry that his wife Marie is an arsonist. But as paranoia mounts, the truth twists: is Marie hiding a dangerous compulsion, or is Harry himself the fire-obsessed criminal? A searing psychological drama of suspicion, denial, and the consuming lure of destruction.

Cast:

Keenan Wynn...

Originally Aired: April 11, 1946

In Suspense #188, “The Name of the Beast,” Vincent Price stars as James Dorrance, a reclusive painter who finds his ultimate subject in Elmer Krebs, a waterfront drifter and murderer. Obsessed with capturing pure evil on canvas, Dorrance aids Krebs in covering up a pawnshop killing—only to fall deeper into a web of crime, manipulation, and doomed desire for a woman named Jeanie. As the portrait nears completion, it reflects not only the beastly soul of its subject but also the artist’s own descent into corruption. A haunting study of obsession, identity, and the mons...

Originally Aired: April 4, 1946

In Suspense #187, “Post Mortem,” Agnes Moorehead stars as Josie Archer, a former actress whose late husband unknowingly left her a winning sweepstakes ticket—buried with him in the suit he was laid to rest in. When Josie and her new husband Stephen retrieve the ticket, whispers of foul play begin to surface, pointing toward Harry Mead’s mysterious death. As suspicion grows, Josie’s theatrical confession and a reporter’s meddling bring the truth closer to light—until a “sunlamp accident” nearly makes her Stephen’s next victim. A tale of greed, duplicity, and a deadly domestic sc...

Originally Aired: March 28, 1946

In Suspense #186, “Out of Control,” Brian Donlevy stars as Captain Duncan McLean, a blind detective whose sharpened senses unravel one of the most ingenious murder methods ever devised. When blackmailer Walter Crane is found dead in a car crash near a mountain lodge, suspicion falls on Marsha Fillmore and her jealous husband Dennis. But McLean uncovers a chilling method: drug the victim, wedge a car’s wheels with blocks of ice, and let time and gravity finish the job—leaving no trace as the evidence melts away. With his police dog Dreist at his side, Mc...

Originally Aired: March 21, 1946

In Suspense #185, “The Lonely Road,” Gregory Peck stars as Stephen Gare, a man whose isolated country home becomes the stage for seduction and murder. When Jenny, a striking and predatory young housemaid, enters the household, she begins to manipulate Stephen into plotting his wealthy wife Helen’s death. But the plan unravels in blood and madness, with bear traps and butcher knives turning the would-be scheme on its makers. In the end, Stephen finds himself crushed between guilt, temptation, and a wife far more dangerous than he ever imagined. A gothic tale of obsession and de...

Originally Aired: March 14, 1946

In Suspense #184, “No More Alice,” Paul Henreid stars as Dr. Warren Rice, a psychiatrist trapped in a bitter marriage to his jealous wife, Alice. When escaped convict Frankie Tatum stumbles into his car, Rice seizes a dark opportunity: hide Tatum in his home and use him as the instrument of murder. But his plan to have Tatum kill Alice collapses when fate—and a storm—bring his lover Lisa back to the house. In the end, it is Lisa who lies dead, Alice who survives, and Rice who is exposed by his own butler. A chilli...

Originally Aired: March 7, 1946

In Suspense #183, “The Black Path of Fear,” Brian Donlevy stars as Bill Scott, a man who runs off to Havana with Eve, the wife of gangster Ed Spinelli. Their honeymoon bliss ends in Sloppy Joe’s café when Eve is stabbed to death during their first photograph together. Framed for her murder, Scott flees through Havana’s alleys, finding refuge with “Midnight,” a mysterious woman who helps him pursue the truth. A damning photograph holds the key, revealing Spinelli himself as the killer. But vengeance comes at a cost, leaving Scott haunted by love lost and the...

Originally Aired: February 21, 1946

In Suspense #181, “Consequence,” James Stewart stars as Dr. Philip Martin, a weary physician trapped in a loveless marriage to Gwen and secretly in love with another woman, Joe. When his old friend Ted Wolf visits, fate presents Martin with a chance to trade lives: a fire destroys his home, leaving Ted’s body mistaken for his own. Seizing the opportunity, Martin assumes Ted’s identity, escaping with Joe to begin anew. But their freedom is fragile—Gwen resurfaces, suspicion grows, and deception spirals into a web of guilt and inevitability. A haunting tale of passion, d...

Originally Aired: February 14, 1946

In Suspense #180, “The Lucky Lady,” Faye Bainter stars as Leonora Plim, a retired actress who runs a theatrical boarding house for young hopefuls—and fiercely protects her cat, Lady Susie, believed to bring luck. When aspiring stars Diane and Jane rise to fame after being scratched by Susie, their success is short-lived: both die mysteriously at the height of their careers. Suspicion falls on the sinister handyman George, but the truth is far darker. Miss Plim herself has orchestrated the “luck,” using poison beneath her cat’s claws to grant the girls eternal fame in death. A...

Originally Aired: February 7, 1946

In Suspense #179, “Too Little to Live On,” a struggling young couple, David and Myra O’Connor, care for Myra’s miserly Uncle Ed, who controls their future with the promise of a $30,000 inheritance. Bitter, trapped, and desperate, they begin to fantasize about ending his life—until desperation turns to action with a fateful switch of medicine bottles. But Uncle Ed proves far from helpless, revealing a cruel wit and a trap of his own making. A bleak and harrowing portrait of greed, dependence, and the crushing weight of confinement, culminating in a grim twist of irony a...

Originally Aired: January 31, 1946

In Suspense #178, “The Long Shot,” down-and-out gambler Kelly Raymond seizes a dangerous opportunity when he answers an ad for a wealthy Englishman’s cross-country chauffeur. As they travel west, Raymond hatches a plan to murder his employer and assume his identity, lured by the promise of a vast inheritance in San Francisco. But as the journey unfolds—with endless tests of his supposed “London” knowledge and the watchful eyes of the law—Raymond discovers he’s not the only one playing a role. A razor-edged tale of imposture, greed, and the fatal odds of a long gamble.<...

Originally Aired: January 24, 1946

In Suspense #177, “My Dear Niece,” Dame Mae Whitty stars as Emily Rogers, a lonely widow who answers a seemingly harmless newspaper ad offering part-time work. Soon she is drawn into a shadowy scheme involving a fugitive masquerading as a writer, a dead man named Paul Stevens, and a criminal mastermind hiding behind the alias “Mr. Bruce.” Told as a chilling letter to her niece, Emily recounts how she unknowingly harbored a murderer in her home, only to discover that family ties, betrayal, and deception were far closer to her than she ever imagined. A cleverly...

Originally Aired: January 17, 1946

In Suspense #176, “The Pasteboard Box,” identical twins Jack and Walter Parcell embody Cain and Abel reborn. After staging his own “suicide,” Jack murders Walter and slips into his life—his wealth, his identity, even his fiancée. But while Walter’s body proves hard to dispose of, his head remains an especially grim problem, hidden in a pasteboard box that seems to follow Jack everywhere. When police come calling with questions about a murdered woman, Jack’s frantic lies collapse in a final, cruelly ironic twist. A grim tale of greed, identity, and justice inescapable. Duration: 00:29:44

Originally Aired: January 3, 1946

In Suspense #174, “The Angel of Death,” John Forsythe (Paul Henreid) believes his intellect makes him untouchable—even as he manipulates fellow prisoners and boasts of his ability to commit the perfect crime. Convicted for the murders of his wife and best friend despite the absence of bodies, Forsythe serves his sentence smugly, conducting chilling psychological experiments behind bars. But upon release, he sets out to finish what he once began—only to discover that fate, vengeance, and madness take forms even he cannot predict. A dark meditation on arrogance, obsession, and justice deferred.

Cast:<...

Originally Aired: December 27, 1945

In Suspense #173, “Pink Camellias,” dutiful niece Martha tends her tyrannical Aunt Abby and falls for smooth-talking cousin Neil—then coolly decides murder is the only path to freedom. Arsenic, teacakes, and greenhouse strawberries become instruments of fate as Martha outmaneuvers Neil and the household…until a final, chilling realization turns her triumph into doom. A sleek, lethal character study with a sting in its tail.  

Cast:

Marsha Hunt

Tags:

Suspense, thriller, psychological, poison, murder, MarshaHunt, pinkcamellias, oldtimeradio, mystery, femmehorror, arsenic, gothic, vintagecrime, 1940sradio, classicdrama, radioanthology

Originally Aired: December 20, 1945

In Suspense #172, “Double Entry,” a weary bookkeeper named Sam Crockett discovers that balancing ledgers isn't the only gamble he's made—especially when his friend Eddie tries to bail him out with a bet on a 100-to-1 longshot. As the office audits close in, Sam confesses to years of embezzlement, only to be overshadowed by Eddie’s misguided loyalty and a lucky win that turns everything upside down. But when the windfall vanishes, and the real thief is exposed, the story turns from criminal drama to ironic tragedy. A sharp, darkly comic tale about loyalty, crime, a...

Originally Aired: December 13, 1945

In Suspense #171, “The Argyle Album,” hard-nosed reporter Harry Mitchell (Robert Taylor) stumbles into the story of a lifetime when famed columnist Alan Pierce dies under mysterious circumstances. Pierce had been preparing to expose the contents of the so-called Argyle Album—a white leather book filled with incriminating evidence of wartime profiteering and treachery. Soon Mitchell finds himself framed for murder, hunted by police, and entangled with a sultry adventuress, ruthless blackmailers, and a shadowy power broker who will kill to keep the truth buried. Packed with double-crosses, shocking deaths, and a sinister locked-room mystery, this t...

Originally Aired: December 6, 1945

In Suspense #170, “I Won’t Take a Minute,” Kenny waits outside a dingy apartment house while his bride-to-be, Steffie, runs a quick package up to 4B—and never comes back. Minutes turn to terror as the bell rings, the elevator sighs, and a stranger in Steffie’s clothes walks past him without a flicker of recognition. With the police skeptical, Kenny claws through a maze of empty rooms, rooftop chases, and planted clues, uncovering a ruthless plot to erase Steffie’s identity and replace her with an impostor tied to her boss. Based on a tense tale...

Originally Aired: November 29, 1945

In Suspense #169, “A Week Ago Wednesday,” Maud Haskin is just another working woman—until a rainy night and a quarrel with her husband Harry hurl her into a psychological spiral. After seemingly witnessing a future where she is murdered by Harry, Maud wakes to find herself alive, but haunted. Was it only a dream, or a chilling warning? When a series of eerie coincidences begin to mirror the vision, Maud becomes convinced she must strike first—or become a victim. But fate has its own design in this gripping tale of premonition, paranoia, and tragic m...

Originally Aired: November 22, 1945

In Suspense #168, “Nineteen Deacon Street,” tie salesman Maury Swartz rents a theatrical rooming house in Chicago, only to find himself haunted by the presence of a vanished blonde named Laverne. Her untouched room, her photograph, and his dreams all lead him deeper into a mystery that stretches back ten years. A key marked “9” and a phone number scrawled in eyebrow pencil drive Maury into the orbit of Jasper Florenz, a powerful producer guarding a dark secret inside the shuttered Florenz Theater. What begins as curiosity unravels into a deadly confrontation amid stage lights an...

Originally Aired: November 15, 1945

In Suspense #167, “Murder Off Key,” Frederick Carlson arrives in New York to stay at a friend’s apartment, only to be tormented by the nightly shrieks of a delusional would-be soprano, Violet Pondecker. But when Violet is found strangled and her jewels stolen, Carlson becomes the prime suspect—trapped by circumstantial evidence, a vanished dog, and a cunning detective with a soft voice. As Carlson fights to clear his name, he discovers that his host Morley has orchestrated a perfect frame-up, using even Violet’s dreadful “Roses of Picardy” scales as a weapon. A tense...

Originally Aired: November 8, 1945

In Suspense #166, “The Bet,” artist Scott Turner accepts a $50,000 challenge from wealthy sugar magnate Paul Barton: to endure two years of monotonous lab work in Trinidad. But Barton’s wife, Ada—a woman drawn to destruction—soon ensnares Scott in a dangerous triangle of temptation and deceit. As rain pounds endlessly on the cane fields, Scott discovers Ada’s plan to turn their bet into murder, with typhoid and amoebas as her chosen weapons. The tale spirals into betrayal, revelation, and a shocking end when Scott reveals his true identity. A sultry, atmospheric t...

Originally Aired: November 1, 1945

In Suspense #165, “The Dunwich Horror,” Dr. Henry Armitage broadcasts from Sentinel Hill as he recounts Wilbur Whateley’s blasphemous origins, a doomed raid on Miskatonic’s Necronomicon, and the ravenous, invisible twin that finally storms loose across Dunwich. As Halloween night peaks, Armitage and Dr. Rice confront the thing with arcane powders and a perilous incantation—forcing the unimaginable into view for one harrowing moment. 

Cast:

Ronald Colman

Tags:

Suspense, thriller, cosmic, lovecraft, eldritch, Dunwich, YogSothoth, Necronomicon, RonaldColman, HPLovecraft, oldtimeradio, mystery, monst...

Originally Aired: October 25, 1945

In Suspense #164, “A Shroud for Sarah,” Lucille Ball stars as Sarah Martell, a woman whose ambition knows no bounds—not even murder. As her husband Peter campaigns for governor, Sarah secretly plans to betray him, striking deals with a political rival and a corrupt doctor, and rekindling a romance with an ex-con fresh off a heist. But when her manipulations spiral out of control, three men each take justice into their own hands—with fatal consequences. A political noir brimming with double-crosses, blackmail, and the ultimate comeuppance.

Cast:

Luc...

Originally Aired: October 18, 1945

In Suspense #163, “Summer Storm,” Eddie, a solitary man who talks to himself, finds his world spiraling after a tense altercation with his slovenly landlord, Mr. Waters. Believing he’s accidentally killed Waters during a scuffle, Eddie hides in the attic as paranoia and inner voices begin to consume him. With a thunderstorm raging outside and a murder he thinks he committed weighing heavily on him, Eddie tries to escape—only to learn that the real cause of death wasn’t violence, but bad pigs’ knuckles. A clever twist on guilt, misperception, and human frailty set against...

Originally Aired: October 11, 1945

In Suspense #162, “Beyond Good and Evil,” an escaped convict named Philip Gentry assumes the identity of a country preacher to hide in plain sight. Taking the name Dr. Howard Pierce, he infiltrates a small-town church, earns the trust of its congregation, and even wins the heart of the paralyzed pastor’s daughter. But Gentry’s plans for a final heist are complicated by unexpected attachments—and a paralyzed man who hears everything. Written by Ben Hecht and Douglas Whitney, this moral chess game delivers one of the series’ most psychologically layered portraits of redemption, deception, a...

Originally Aired: October 4, 1945

In Suspense #161, “Death on Highway 99,” Morton “Speed” Blake pens a final letter to his high school crush Julie—his last confession before the law catches up to him. What starts as a desperate, reflective monologue quickly turns into a chilling narrative of murder, manipulation, and a failed cover-up. When a hit-and-run accident spirals into blackmail and bloodshed, Morton must choose between surrender and silence. But the past—and one barely surviving witness—won’t stay buried. A tense, character-driven noir anchored by George Murphy’s gripping performance.

Cast:
George Murphy

Tags:
Suspen...

Originally Aired: January 26, 1943

In Suspense #026, “Death Went Along for the Ride,” George Avery finds himself pursued across the country by mysterious figures after agreeing to help a man he barely knows. What begins as a casual encounter turns into a deadly cross-country chase involving shadowy phone calls, a menacing photographer, and a series of near-misses at carnivals, clubs, and hotels. As Avery seeks refuge in Chicago and then New York, he begins to suspect a sinister double is using his identity—and placing a target on his back. When the true purpose of this impersonation is fina...

Originally Aired: September 27, 1945

In Suspense #160, “The Earth Is Made of Glass,” a brilliant but disturbed intellectual, Richard Steele, attempts to prove Emerson’s concept of karmic justice wrong—by committing a “laboratory murder” without motive, connection, or consequence. But even as he believes he’s escaped detection, his own mind becomes the battlefield, haunted by phantom rhythms, distant voices, and the unshakable image of his supposed victim. Starring Joseph Cotten in a cerebral descent into obsession, guilt, and the inescapable law of cause and effect, this episode is a haunting meditation on conscience and cosmic justice.

Cast:
Jo...

Originally Aired: September 20, 1945

In Suspense #159, “Library Book,” librarian Prudence Roberts discovers more than just overdue fines when a vandalized copy of Gone with the Wind reveals a hidden ransom note. Her amateur sleuthing leads her deep into a kidnapping plot involving a missing girl named Melanie, a string of cryptic clues, and a sinister pair of criminals. Starring Myrna Loy in a rare radio thriller role, this fast-paced, mystery-laced episode unfolds like a blend of detective novel and screwball noir, culminating in a fiery climax and a surprisingly cheeky romantic twist.

Cast:
Myrna Loy

In Suspense #16, “The Devil in the Summer House,” attorney Joe Parker returns to a shuttered Hudson River home with Captain Burke after receiving a freshly mailed letter—dated 1918—hinting that Major Jerry Kenyon’s long-ago “suicide” was murder. In the vine-choked summer house and lamplit library, they uncover a hidden phonograph record that coolly explains a perfect fake-suicide: a long-range shot from a back window, a duplicate cap scorched with powder, and alibis all around. But the final twist snaps tight: the recorded confession isn’t from the grieving wife at all, and the true killer—an ambitious maid with a gift for im...

In Suspense #7, “Philomel Cottage (Part 2),” newlywed Alex Martin begins to fear that her charming husband Gerald is hiding a murderous past—until she turns the tables with a chilling confession over evening coffee. As the clock ticks toward six, a tense duel of wits unfolds on the cottage porch, phone calls are cut short, and Alex’s tale of prior “accidents” becomes a weapon in a battle for survival. Based on Agatha Christie’s story, this conclusion twists the knife with a final reveal at Philomel Cottage. 

Originally Aired: September 13, 1945

In Suspense #158, “The Furnished Floor,” a grieving widower named Mr. Jennings returns to his former apartment, seeking to restore every detail of his married life with his late wife, Mabel—even down to the canary and the exact placement of the furniture. As the new landlady begins to suspect something is terribly off, Jennings reveals an unnerving truth: he believes he’s brought his wife back from the dead. Written by Lucille Fletcher (Sorry, Wrong Number), this is a masterful tale of obsessive love, spectral presence, and eerie domesticity.

Cast:
Mildred Natwick...

Originally Aired: September 6, 1945

In Suspense #157, “Sorry, Wrong Number,” a bedridden woman named Mrs. Elbert Stephenson becomes the accidental eavesdropper on a chilling murder plot when a crossed phone line connects her to two men planning a killing. As she frantically tries to alert the authorities and reconnect with her absent husband, the line between fear and paranoia tightens with each unanswered call. Agnes Moorhead delivers a tour-de-force performance in Lucille Fletcher’s iconic psychological thriller, widely regarded as one of the finest radio dramas ever produced.

Cast:
Agnes Moorhead

Tags:
Suspense, thrill...