Stars On Suspense (old Time Radio)

Before I Love Lucy, Lucille Ball delighted audiences on radio in comedies and dramas, including six appearances on Suspense. The red-headed comedienne took a break from her radio sitcom My Favorite Husband to visit “radio’s outstanding theater of thrills.” We’ll hear her in “Dime a Dance” (originally aired on CBS on January 13, 1944) and “A Little Piece of Rope” (originally aired on CBS on October 14, 1948).

Cary Grant once said "If I ever do any more radio work, I want to do it on Suspense." The legendary leading man made five appearances on "radio's outstanding theater of thrills," and he always gave a wonderful performance. We'll hear him first as an amnesia victim in "The Black Curtain" (originally aired on CBS on November 30, 1944). Then, leave the lights on for Grant in "On a Country Road" (originally aired on CBS on November 16, 1950) - one of the scariest old time radio shows of all time.

Radio’s stingiest would-be violin virtuoso Jack Benny traded puns for peril when he visited Suspense. Benny was the star of one of radio’s most popular comedies, but he proved himself quite adept in the dramatic world when he guested on radio’s outstanding theater of thrills. We’ll hear him in “Murder in G-Flat” (originally aired on CBS on April 5, 1951) and “A Good and Faithful Servant’ (originally aired on CBS on June 2, 1952).

Before he was a big screen horror icon, Vincent Price was a busy actor in Hollywood – both on screen and on the air. In his 13 appearances on “radio’s outstanding theater of thrills,” Price played both heroes and crazed villains, and he starred in one of the scariest radio plays of all time. We’ll hear him in “The Strange Death of Charles Umberstein” (originally aired on CBS on November 23, 1943) and in “Hunting Trip” (originally aired on September 12, 1946).

Hailed as “the first lady of Suspense,” Agnes Moorehead appeared on radio’s outstanding theater of thrills more than any other star. She is most famous for her performance in “Sorry, Wrong Number,” but this Emmy and Golden Globe-winning actress turned in dozens of memorable turns over the years on Suspense. We’ll hear Agnes Moorehead in “The Diary of Saphronia Winters” (originally aired on CBS on August 17, 1944) and “The Death Parade” (originally aired on February 12, 1951).

An actor who could play both mysterious heroes and dastardly villains, Peter Lorre was able to employ the full range of his talents when he appeared on Suspense. We’ll hear the star of The Maltese Falcon and Casablanca as a jealous husband with murder on his mind in “Till Death Do Us Part” (originally aired on CBS on December 15, 1942) and as a medium who may not be what he appears in “The Moment of Darkness” (originally aired on CBS on April 20, 1943).

We launch our show with the one and only Orson Welles. The legendary actor, writer, and director made nine appearances on Suspense, beginning with “The Hitch-Hiker.” We’ll hear that tale of terror on the highway (originally aired on CBS on September 2, 1942). Then, we’ll hear Mr. Welles as both a master magician and his young rival in “The Marvelous Barastro” (originally aired on CBS on April 13, 1944).