SUSPENSE
an introduction
Copyright Jim Widner (jwidner@infinet.com)
18 Oct 1994
On September 30, 1962 a major milestone in radio drama came to an end
with the final episode of the long running series, SUSPENSE.
Ironically, the episode was titled "Devil Stone" and was the last
dramatic radio play from a series that had its roots in the golden age
of radio.
What began as a "new series frankly dedicated to your horrification and
entertainment" took on a life of its own mostly due to the talents of
some outstanding producers and adaptations and original stories from
the cream of mystery writers of the time. The golden age of radio was
truly the golden age of SUSPENSE as show after show broadcast
outstanding plays which were "calculated to intrigue...stir [the]
nerves."
It was the series' first producer, William Spier, who set the framework
of rules that was to stay with the show for most of its run. Mr. Spier
determined that the series should deal with life-and-death situations
established near the beginning of each play and then through the use of
Bernard Herrmann's musical coloring and the writer's characterizations
slowly tighten the knot of SUSPENSE. Many of the early stories were
written by the mystery writer, John Dickson Carr. Others were by such
fine writers as Lucille Fletcher, whose SUSPENSE play, "Sorry, Wrong
Number" was turned into a major motion picture; Robert Arthur, Robert
L. Richards, Morton Fine and David Friedkin. The series also drew from
the mystery writers of the day as well as the horror writers of
literature; writers such as Edgar Allen Poe, H.P. Lovecraft, Cornell
Woolrich, Dorthy L. Sayers and H.G. Wells.
Many of the stories produced by Mr. Spier are now classics of the
genre. Listen to the likes of "The House in Cypress Canyon" as a young
couple encounters something in the closet of their new home, something
horrible and dangerous; or "The Hitchhiker" in which a man driving
cross-country seems to be haunted by an ominous figure, who keeps
reappearing trying to get a ride. But what foreboding does the
hitchhiker hold for the driver?
Another rule William Spier established was to make the series a place
to hear the talents of Hollywood's famous actors. There rarely was a
famous actor who did not appear on the series at some time. Jimmy
Stewart, Cary Grant, Humphrey Bogart, Lucille Ball, Olivia De Havilland
and many others all made at least one appearance. The series had a
generous budget from its network, CBS.
In 1948 the series had become popular enough that it was decided to
broadcast for a complete hour, instead of the former thirty minutes.
The actor Robert Montgomery was brought in to introduce the plays,
replacing the "Man in Black" character and occasionally star in them.
This format lasted only six months most probably due to the realization
that the show worked best within a thirty minute framework.
It was at this time that William Spier left and over the years others
came to produce the shows, each setting his own unique mark. Anton M.
Leader, who came from producing another horror radio program, MURDER AT
MIDNIGHT, added some lighter SUSPENSE stories which focused more on the
central characters. Jimmy Stewart appeared in an excellent story about
a paralysed war veteran who thinks he has found the man who imprisoned
and tortured him. Fibber McGee & Molly appeared in a tale about a
killer on the loose in "Backseat Driver."
Probably the biggest change in SUSPENSE came under the producing eye of
Elliott Lewis. Lewis brought in comic actors to play serious roles.
Actors such as Jack Benny, Red Skelton and Ozzie Nelson. He also was
not afraid to experiment using the series slot for classic "murder"
stories such as "Othello."
The series continued to produce high-quality drama, though there were
many repeats as well as borrowing of scripts from other radio shows.
While a number of film actors continued to star occasionally, many of
the stars were from radio and television since radio as a dramatic art
form was beginning to lose its popularity and budgets were tightened.
The show was on the air for a little over twenty years beginning in
January, 1942 and was rarely pre-empted. There were 947 performances.
Nearly all (approximately 895) are available to collectors. When
SUSPENSE left the air, radio was never to see the likes of such a
series again. Now the great medium of radio where imagination can run
free has been reduced to the occasional brilliant drama airing
sporadically in some corner of the world. SUSPENSE was a golden moment
in a golden age. A moment when the thrill of the nightime led the
listener along the path of intrigue, horror and dangerous adventure.