Escape and Suspense!

Suspense - Too Little to Live On

In "Too Little to Live On," Ozzie and Harriet star as a husband and wife driven to despair by a crabby invalid.

Dave made a deal with his Uncle Ed that he and wife Myra would take care of him in his old age. In return, Uncle Ed promised to remember them in his will. After three years, that promise has worn thin. Uncle Ed is a constant, whiny burden, and they have no lives of their own.

One morning, Dave and Myra decide they can take no more. They want to be free of Uncle Ed, and the only way to achieve that, is to to make sure that he has an accident with his medications. Will it work? Or, has Uncle Ed been waiting for them to give that a try?

"Too Little to Live On" was written by Robert L. Richards and produced/directed by William Spier. This story was first presented on February 7, 1946 with Nancy Kelley and George Murphy in the starring roles. No recording of the broadcast is known to exist at this time.

This story was presented again on December 26, 1947. Ozzie Nelson and Harriet Hilliard starred in the first of their three appearances on Suspense. Also appearing were Joseph Kearns, Frank Albertson, Jerry Hausner, and Wally Maher.

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Suspense - The Card Game

In "The Card Game," Richard Widmark plays a gambler desperate for a change in his luck.

Chick doesn't keep a steady job because he thinks he is a big-time gambler. The other gamblers tell him that he is just a two-bit chiseler, but Chick doesn't hear them. 

Chick is convinced that he can win big and then stop. He knows other gamblers who have done it, so why can't it happen to him? Chick's wife, Jenny, has had enough. Their baby is due in a couple of weeks, but she wants to divorce him now. Jenny doesn't believe Chick will ever be able to stop gambling.

Will Chick's luck change, or is it hopeless for him?

"The Card Game" was written by E. Jack Neuman and produced/directed by Elliott Lewis. Richard Widmark starred. Also appearing were Cathy Lewis, Hy Averback, Eddie Fields, Joe Granby, Lou Krugman, Jay Novello, and Clayton Post. This episode aired on April 19, 1954.

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Suspense - The Man Who Knew How to Hate

The first lines of introduction for "The Man Who Knew How to Hate" speak for themselves:

Leon Janney: "Standing alongside the five year old station wagon was a woman. A woman?..The woman."

Narrator: "But...the woman wasn't his woman."

When Peter Friendly meets Albert Larabie on the train home one evening, he is unimpressed. When he meet's Albert's wife, Grace, he is smitten. How could such a beautiful woman be married to "a little creep" like Albert?

It doesn't take Peter long to get involved with Grace, but what are they going to do about Albert? They decide to arrange for him to have an accident, but what kind? Is Albert as unsuspecting as they think?

"The Man Who Knew How to Hate" was written by Walter Black and produced/directed by Bruno Zirato, Jr. Film and television actress Joan Lorring starred as Grace Larabie and Leon Janney starred as Pete Friendly. Robert Dryden played Albert. This episode aired on July 16, 1961.

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Suspense - The Mountain

In "The Mountain," two climbers deal with their trust issues as they ascend to the summit.

As the episode opens, a group of six mountain climbers divide into two teams to scale a large mountain. As the first group of climbers goes up the ridge, there is trouble, and one of the men falls to his death. 

Now, the two climbers must decide what to do. Bob wants to give up and go back, but Eldridge wants to continue. Eldridge knows that the others didn't want him on this expedition because they didn't trust his nerve. They can sense his fear of climbing. 

Eldridge wants to to prove that he can do it, and refuses to go back. Will they make it to the peak? Can Bob trust Eldridge?

"The Mountain" was written by Antony Ellis and produced/directed by Elliot Lewis. John Hodiak starred. Also appearing were Ben Wright, Joseph Kearns, Paul Frees, John S. Fraser, and James McCallion. This episode aired on March 16, 1953.

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This story was presented again on November 1, 1955. Antony Ellis produced/directed. Parley Baer and Ben Wright starred.

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Suspense - A Plane Case of Murder

No, that isn't spelled wrong. In "A Plane Case of Murder," John Lund stars as a bitter man with relationship issues.

Randy Judson returned from three years in a Philippine concentration camp to discover that his girlfriend, Marian, had married someone else. Now, he sees her as nothing more than a gold digger --but that doesn't stop him from wanting a measure of revenge.

Randy tells Marian a pack of lies and convinces her that she made a mistake by not sticking with him. After that, he waits for her to bring up the subject of their being together again.

Of course, the only way that they could be together would be if something were to happen to her rich husband. So, they arrange for something to happen to her rich husband.

"A Plane Case of Murder" was written by Robert L. Richards and produced/directed by William Spier. John Lund starred as Randy. Cathy Lewis played Marian. Also appearing were Hans Conried, Jerry Hausner, and William Johnstone. This episode aired on October 10, 1946.

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Suspense - The Flame Blue Glove

In "The Flame Blue Glove," Lana Turner plays a private eye who is asked to investigate her husband.

As the episode opens, Sarah "Shadow" Conway is describing her old boss, "Dutch," and how much she dislikes him. When Sarah married a rich widower, she gave up her job as a private investigator to become a housewife, but now "Dutch" has returned. 

She never liked working for him, but when "Dutch" asks her to come back, she feels obligated to accept.

Now, she must investigate the death of the first wife of...her own husband!

Sarah resents "Dutch" for making her take on this job... but she resents him anyway...and she doesn't let him forget it...and she wants to make sure that investigation is handled properly.

What will Sarah discover about her husband, his first wife, and the three other girls he was dating?

"The Flame Blue Glove" was adapted by E. Jack Neuman from a story by Lois Eby and John C. Fleming. William Spier produced and Norman MacDonnell directed. Lana Turner, in her second appearance on Suspense, starred. Also appearing were William Johnstone and Lou Merrill.  This episode aired on December 15, 1949.

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Suspense - This Will Kill You

In "This Will Kill You" a factory worker decides to get the better of his supervisor by setting him up on a murder charge.

Joe Jordan isn't the brightest worker at the plant, but he thinks he is. Joe is convinced that someday he will make it big, but in the meantime, he works at his factory job and makes things difficult for the foreman, Charlie Harris. Problem is that Charlie seems to be everything that Joe isn't.

Joe decides that the best way to resolve that problem is to use his smarts to get rid of Charlie. So, he commits a murder and tries to throw the blame on him. Will it work? Is Joe really as smart as he thinks?

"This Will Kill You" was produced/directed by William Spier. Dane Clark starred. Also appearing were Wally Maher and Elliott Lewis. This episode aired on August 23, 1945.

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This story was presented again on November 29, 1955. Peter Ashley wrote the script and Anthony Ellis produced/directed. Sam Edwards starred. Also appearing were Lillian Buyeff, Charles Seel, Victor Perrin, Barney Phillips, and Lennie Weinrib.

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Suspense - The Mystery of the Mary Celeste

In "The Mystery of the Mary Celeste," Suspense recreates one of the great mysteries of the seas, and gives us one explanation as to what might have happened onboard.

On December 9, 1872, the brigantine Mary Celeste  was found derelict and abandoned off the coast of North Africa. The ship, which had started its voyage a month earlier, was in good repair and had supplies for six months. Its cargo was in good condition.

Many theories have been advanced to explain the disappearance of the crew. Their valuables and personal possessions were still in place at the time the ship was discovered and there were no signs of violence. Yet, they were never seen or heard from again.

"The Mystery of the Mary Celeste" was written by Gil Doud and produced/directed by Elliott Lewis. Van Heflin starred. Also appearing were William Conrad, Paul Frees, Hal Gerard, Joseph Kearns, Jeannette Nolan, and Dan O'Herlihy. This episode aired on June 8, 1953.

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Suspense presented this story again on December 27, 1955. Antony Ellis produced and directed. John Dehner starred. Also appearing were Victor Perrin, Joseph Kearns, Paul Frees, Ben Wright, Joe Duvall, and Helen Kleeb.

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Suspense - The Day I Died

In "The Day I Died," Joseph Cotten stars as a murderer who makes the mistake of asking his wife to hide him.

Welles Gallaway was stealing from his law practice. He stole hundreds of thousands of dollars, but now he is broke. Welles doesn't have an answer to his troubles, but he goes up to his cabin with a revolver to figure it out. He doesn't bother to ask his wife, Leslie, to come because she is in love with another man.

Once there, his law partner, Red Tuttle, arrives and they fight. Soon, a kerosene lamp is knocked over and the cabin catches fire. Welles grabs his revolver and shoots Red.

When the authorities find the cabin, they assume the dead man inside is Welles, but it isn't. He has found his way back home, and he intends to hide until he can collect his life insurance money. The problem is Leslie, having once treated her so badly, can Welles trust her to help him?

"The Day I Died" was written by television writer Ken Pettus and Lou Scofield. Anton M. Leader produced and directed. Joseph Cottenstarred. The names of the supporting actors are not given. This episode aired on June 30, 1949.

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Suspense - No More Alice

In "No More Alice," a man shelters an escaped criminal in order to get him to commit a murder.

Frankie Tattum has just broken out of the state prison. Dr. Wright was driving through a lonely strech of road near the prison when he heard the news on his car radio. He stopped and decided to let the escaped murderer come to him. 

Frankie finds his car, and Dr. Wright offers to help him, but he wants something in return. The doctor tells him that he wants to study him, but that isn't what he really wants. 

The truth is that the doctor is in love with his wife's best friend, and he wants his wife out of the way. He plans to let Frankie take care of that for him.

"No More Alice" was written by Martin Ryeson and produced/directed by William Spier. Paul Henried starred. Also appearing were Cathy Lewis, Wally Maher, and Joseph Kearns. This episode aired on March 14, 1946.

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Suspense - Fly by Night

In "Fly by Night," Joseph Cotton stars as a man framed for murder and on the run from the law.

As the episode opens, Mickey Manning has been kept awake by the police for seventy-two  hours in order to sign a confession. They believe he murdered his business partner, Leo Garvin, and they have a witness named Venutti, who saw Manning the night of the murder. Manning signs the confession, but as they are on their way to the courthouse, he escapes from the police. 

First, he asks for help from his wife, but gets none. Next he turns to her cousin, an attorney named Charles Borden, who does offer to help.

Then, Manning visits the office of Venutti, only to find a drunken woman and Venutti's dead body. Next to Venutti's body, he finds his own gun.

Who killed Leo Garvin and Venutti, and why do they want to frame Manning?

"Fly by Night" was written by George Fass and Gertrude Fass and adapted for radio by Morton Fine and David Friedkin. Elliott Lewis produced and directed. Joseph Cotten starred. Also appearing were Cathy Lewis, Tom Bernard, and Jeannette Nolan. This episode aired on September 28, 1950.

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Suspense - Blood on the Trumpet

In "Blood on the Trumpet," William Holden plays a New Orleans musician who gets in trouble with the law.

As the episode opens, two police sergeants arrive at Victor's hotel room to arrest him for the murder of his wife, Sarah.  Victor is relieved to see them and not ...him.

This  story began when Victor met Luana at a nightclub in the French Quarter. She liked " his look" and his trumpet playing. They went out for coffee, and by early morning, the two of them were planning to run off together.

Not long after that, Victor's wife was found with her head beaten in by a trumpet.

Will Victor go to jail for the murder of his wife, or is there another suspect?

"Blood on the Trumpet" was written by Richard Pedicini and produced and directed by Elliott Lewis. William Holden starred as Victor. Also appearing were Cathy Lewis, Joseph Kearns, and Barton Yarborough. Trumpet music provided by Ziggy Elman. This episode aired on November 9, 1950.

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Suspense - John Barbie & Son

In "John Barbie & Son," a father goes on the run with his son to protect him from being sent to an institution.

Mr. Barbie promised his late wife that he would never let them put their son away, but when the boy accidentally harms a neighbor's pet, the authorities come to take the child to the home.  Rather than see his son insitutionalized, Mr. Barbie decides to escape.

The father takes the boy and sneaks off in the night, but he has a difficult time hiding him without arousing suspicion. Will he succeed in his plan, or will the authorities catch up to him?

"John Barbie & Son" was written by Mel Dinelli and produced/directed by William Spier. Thomas Mitchell starred. Also appearing were Verna Felton, Elliott Lewis, Wally Maher, John McIntire, and Jeannette Nolan. This episode aired on February 22, 1945.

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Suspense presented this story again on March 29, 1959. William N. Robson produced and directed. John McIntire starred. Also appearing were Jack Kruschen, Ellen Morgan, Sam Pierce, and Karl Swenson.

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Suspense - Tree of Life

In "Tree of Life," a man accidentally walks in on two killers hired to murder his next door neighbor's wife.

Jimmy and Helen Dawson are moving into a lovely double bungalow. Helen is ecstatic because now, in their new home, they can really concentrate on "gracious living." Jimmy is sort of happy about it, but what he would like is a room where he can follow his dream...and paint. 

Helen squashes that idea right away by reminding him of the importance of "gracious living."  She explains that it will be good for him. 

Jimmy relents, but in his mind, he wants her dead.

By coincidence, their next door neighbor, Mr. Roxborough, has plans to kill his own wife. When Jimmy comes home one night, and can't remember which door is the one to his home, he accidentally walks in on the hitmen who were hired to kill Mrs. Roxborough. They think Jimmy is Mr. Roxborough, and to stay alive, he has to play along.

"Tree of Life" was written by J. Douglas Ware and produced/directed by William Spier. Mark Stevens starred. Also appearing were Cathy Lewis, Hans Conried, Elliott Lewis, Wally Maher, and Joseph Kearns. This episode aired on January 2, 1947.

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Suspense - The Missing Person

"The Missing Person" is a Suspense "based on fact" psuedo-documentary which tells the story of a symphony musician who mysteriously disappears shortly before a performance. (The true names and places were changed.)

A writer in Los Angeles is assigned to do a feature story on Joseph Ebner, who disappeared in March of 1948. Joseph Ebner was first violinist for the Los Angeles Symphony Orchestra.

One night, just before the evening's performance, Ebner got up from his chair to go downstairs to get something from his locker. He left the stage...and was never seen again.

How can a musician disappear without a trace between the stage and his locker?

(Given that this episode aired in 1952, and it is now over 50 years old, one wonders if there was ever a resolution to this true story...)

"The Missing Person" was written by Richard Pedicini and produced/directed by Elliott Lewis. MacDonald Carey starred as Phil Dexter. Also appearing were Joseph Kearns, Jay Novello, James Nusser, Irene Tedrow, Herb Vigran, and Paula Winslowe. This episode aired on May 12, 1952.

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Suspense - Uncle Henry's Rosebush

In "Uncle Henry's Rosebush," a young couple drops in on relatives unexpectedly and then learns that it is always better to call first.

Paul and Carol Linden are taking their first vacation in years. Carol thinks it would be fun to make a surprise visit to the farm of her beloved Aunt Julie and Uncle Henry. They haven't met Paul yet, and Paul loves farms, so it seems like a good idea.

When they arrive at the farm for their unannounced two week visit, Aunt Julie isn't pleased to see them. She asks them to leave, but they insist on staying. Paul and Carol then notice that the house is a mess and that Uncle Henry isn't there. 

Why does Aunt Julie want them to leave, and where is Uncle Henry?

"Uncle Henry's Rosebush" was written by Larry Roman, produced by William Spier, and directed by  Ted Bliss. Agnes Moorehead, Ellen Drew, and Ted Reid starred. This episode aired on June 29, 1943.

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Suspense - The Dead of the Night

In "The Dead of the Night," a brother helps his sister dispose of her dead husband's body.

Jimmy Barton was always close to his kid sister, Helen, but when he went away for a summer job at Lake Arrowhead, his sister made an impetuous decision to get married. 

Now, Jimmy has returned home just in time to find Helen running away from her abusive husband, Phil Armstrong.  She fears for her life and for Jimmy's,too, if he confronts Phil.

Reluctantly, Jimmy agrees to run away, too, but Phil catches up with them. One day, Jimmy comes home and finds Phil dead on the floor. Helen enters the room and starts screaming. Soon, their landlady, Mrs. Gordon is knocking on the door. Can Jimmy and Helen find a way to dispose of Phil so that neither of them will be blamed for his death?

"The Dead of the Night" was written by Mel Dinelli and produced/directed by William Spier. Robert Cummings, in the first of his two appearances on Suspense, starred as Jimmy. Also appearing were Lurene Tuttle, Wally Maher, and Walter Tetley. This episode aired on November 16, 1944.

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This story was presented again on June 19, 1947. William Spier produced/directed. Elliott Reid starred as Jimmy. Also appearing were Cathy Lewis and Wally Maher. (This time it was presented under the title "Dead of Night.")

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Suspense - A Guy Gets Lonely

In "A Guy Gets Lonely," Dane Clark stars as a homesick, struggling actor who gets scammed by a con artist.

Eddie Lewis is alone in New York City and feeling bad. As the episode opens, he is haunting a noisy penny arcade on Broadway to pass the time. Loneliness can cause a guy to do things that he wouldn't ordinarily do.

At the arcade, Eddie meets an old man named Horace who understands his problems. Horace convinces Eddie that he needs "a little diversion"...a girl! Eddie agrees, and Horace invites him to come along on a fishing trip the next day. He knows a nice girl he wants to set Eddie up with...

"A Guy Gets Lonely" was written by Don Paul Nathanson. William Spier produced and directed. Dane Clark starred. Also appearing were Joseph Kearns, Howard Duff, Wally Maher, and Lurene Tuttle.

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Suspense - The Strange Death of Charles Umberstein

In "The Strange Death of Charles Umberstein," Vincent Price stars as a spy who assumes the identity of a Nazi.

Charles Umberstein holds an important position in the Third Reich, but what his superiors don't suspect is that he is a spy. His mission seems to be going well, but he knows that one person has discovered him. He is being followed by someone...someone who knows.

Could it be his landlady who had reason to doubt him? Could it be that one of the other spies gave him away? Who is following him and why?

"The Strange Death of Charles Umberstein" was written by E. Jack Neuman. William Spier produced and directed. Vincent Price starred. This episode aired on November 23, 1943.

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Suspense - Dream Song

In "Dream Song," a man moves into an apartment building that is plagued by a maniac.

Charles Kenyon is a writer who has just moved into a new apartment. One night, while he is trying to concentrate on his work, he is distracted by the music coming from the apartment next door. His neighbor seems fixed on playing the same record over and over again.

Not long afterwards, the janitor and a police detective visit Charles to tell him that one of his upstairs neighbors has been horribly murdered. Charles was home all night, but he didn't hear anything because he was working. The murder is distressing, but when Charles tries to sleep, the music starts up again from next door.

Soon, another neighbor is murdered, and the police return. Charles then begins to wonder about the mysterious man in the apartment next door. Who is he?  Why must he always play the same record?

"Dream Song" was written by George Bellak and Ben Kerner. William Spier produced and directed.  Henry Morgan, in his only appearance on Suspense, starred as Charles Kenyon. Also appearing were  Joseph Kearns and Wally Maher. This episode aired on November 6, 1947.

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Suspense - Self Defense

In "Self Defense," Marsha Hunt stars as a woman who marries for money but then decides she wants love.

As the episode opens, Barbara Newell runs into Fred Dexter, an old boyfriend that she hasn't seen in six years. Their relationship ended when Barbara dumped him to marry someone with money. Now, she isn't happy in her marriage, but she is happy to see Fred. 

That night, Barbara's husband annouces that he has to take an extended business trip. Barbara is glad to hear it!  She spends the next few weeks with Fred, even though she knows that is wrong. Then, at a party, she meets Alex Maynard. Suddenly, she is love! Will Barbara ever decide what she wants, or will fate decide for her?

"Self Defense" was written by Arthur Julian and Howard Leeds. William Spier produced and directed. Marsha Hunt starred. Also appearing were Wally Maher and Joseph Kearns. This episode aired on October 16, 1947.

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Suspense - Crisis

In "Crisis," Martha Scott stars as a mother who, while in a sleep-deprived haze, envisions her child's future and sees only the worst.

As the episode opens, a doctor arrives at the home of Mrs. Norquist. Her infant son, Kurt, has pneumonia, and she is caring for him by herself. No nurses are available to help because of a flu epidemic. The doctor tells Mrs. Norquist that she must stay awake all night and continue the baby's steam treatments.

Mrs. Norquist is exhausted, but she must stay awake. As she watches her baby inside of his steam tent, she begins to imagine what his future will be like, and what she imagines frightens her.

"Crisis" was written for Suspense by John Bagni and Gwen Bagni, but it is quite different from the kinds of episodes they wrote for Escape in later years. Anton M. Leader produced and directed. Martha Scott starred as Mrs. Norquist. Also appearing were Frank Lovejoy and Wally Maher. This episode aired on August 19, 1948.

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Suspense - Will to Power

In "Will to Power," Dan Duryea stars in a drama about a secretary who takes the life, the wife, and the estate of his boss without any trouble...until a blackmailer arrives. 

Charles is the private secretary to Mr. Donovan. He is love with Roseann,  Mr. Donovan's wife, but the only way they can be together is if the old man is out of the way. So, they decide to get the old man out of the way.

Charles murders his boss by poisoning him and then pushing him out the window. Then, he marries the young widow right after the funeral. Then, Charles sends his new wife to prison for her late husband's murder. Fortunately, a blackmailer turns up to slow things down a bit. Can Charles get rid of his blackmailer too?

"Will to Power" was written by Frank Talbuss and produced/directed by William Spier. Dan Duryea starred. Also appearing were Howard Duff, Cathy Lewis, Joseph Kearns, and Wally Maher. This episode aired on January 9, 1947.

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Suspense - The Bullet

In "The Bullet," Elliot Lewis plays an ex-con who is insanely jealous of his wife's success, and Ida Lupino stars as his long-suffering wife. 

As the episode opens, Harry Martin is threatening his wife, Ruth, with a gun. Is it loaded? Ruth knows but Harry doesn't...

Then, we flash back to how their problems started. Harry, just recently released from a three year prison stint, came home to find that his wife, Ruth, was a changed woman. She had taken over his business while he was incarcerated and increased company profits drastically. Now they were able to afford a nice home, new car, a cook, etc.

Harry appreciates her efforts but now he wants her to go back to the kitchen. Ruth doesn't like that arrangement and neither does the company. Harry becomes increasingly hostile and violent towards his wife, until he reaches the point of wanting to kill her.

Will the two of them find a way to overcome their differences? (Who knows? This episode concludes with an awkward ending.) 

"The Bullet" was written by Larry Marcus. Produced by William Spier and directed by Norman MacDonnell. Ida Lupino starred as Ruth Martin and Elliot Lewis played Harry. Also appearing were William Conrad, Hans Conried, John Dehner, and Sidney Miller. This episode aired on December 29, 1949.

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Suspense - Account Payable

In "Account Payable," two fathers don't react well to the news that they may soon be in-laws.

Timothy Baker has been a bookeeper for twenty-two years. John Waterbury has been his boss for twenty-two years. Their relationship is a little more than a routine. Mr. Waterbury is mean and condescending, and Mr. Baker puts up with it. When Mr. Baker isn't at the office, his pleasant life revolves around his daughter, Jessie.

The routine changes dramatically when Mr. Waterbury's son and Mr. Baker's daughter meet and fall in love. Mr. Waterbury thinks his son, Bill, is too good for Jessie. Mr. Baker disagrees and wants his daughter to be happy. Will true love win out for Jessie and Bill, or will their fathers ruin it for them?

"Account Payable" was written by Robert Flask. William Spier produced and Norman MacDonnell directed. Edward Arnold starred. Also appearing were Joseph Kearns and Lurene Tuttle. This episode aired on October 13, 1949.

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Suspense - The McKay College Basketball Scandal

In "The McKay College Basketball Scandal," Tony Curtis stars as a college athlete who is asked to throw a game.

In another one of Suspense's "stories taken from life," we meet Fred Hudson, the star player on the McKay College basketball team. He and his father think basketball will be his career, but his mother and his girlfriend can't see that far ahead. Fred's grades aren't good, but his history professor thinks he has potential as a history major.

Young Fred, who is caught in the middle of this confusion, is then approached by two men. They offer him a lot of money to throw the game. Fred needs the money, but will he do it?

"The McKay College Basketball Scandal" was written by Millard Kaufman and produced/directed by Elliott Lewis. Tony Curtis, in his only appearance on Suspense, starred as Fred Hudson. Also appearing were Joseph Kearns, Martha Wentworth, Jack Moyles, Lou Merrill, Barbara Eiler, and Jack Kruschen. This episode aired on September 24, 1951.

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Suspense - Of Maestro and Man

In "Of Maestro and Man," a boxing manager turns to murder when he has nothing left to lose.

Maestro has given Mr. Crip one too many I.O.U's to cover his gambling debts. This time, Mr. Crip wants his money. So, he offers Maestro the chance to pay off his debts by signing over the contract of his fighter, Ricky Martin. Reluctantly, Maestro agrees to sell the contract.

When the time comes to explain to Ricky that his contract has been sold, Maestro learns that Ricky has plans of his own.

"Of Maestro and Man" was written by Joe Eisinger and produced/directed by William Spier. Peter Lorre and Richard Conte starred. Also appearing were John McIntire and Lou Merrill. This episode aired on July 20, 1944.

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Suspense - Hunting Trip

In "Hunting Trip," two buddies take a hunting trip, but one of them has murder on his mind.

As the episode opens, Stan and Eric are driving up to the mountains to relax and to go hunting. Stan is nervous because it is a black night and Eric is driving too fast. Even though they have known each other for years, Stan  ponders how little he really knows about his friend...

Stan and Eric had grown up together, gone to school together, and even fallen in love with the same girl, Karen. Stan was the one who married her, but Eric appeared to have gotten over that. Did he? Perhaps they will find that out during their trip.

"Hunting Trip" was written by Paul Bernard and Lee Horton. Vincent Price and Lloyd Nolan starred as Eric and Stan. William Spier produced and directed. This episode aired on September 12, 1946.

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(The sound quality of this episode is not the best, and it is clipped at the beginning and end.)

Suspense - Photo Finish

In "Photo Finish," Michael O'Shea stars as a sidewalk photographer who snaps a picture that gets him into all kinds of trouble.

Joe Mooney is a roaming "candid camera" photographer who makes a living taking pictures informally and then selling them back for a buck. At the end of one hot afternoon, Joe takes a picture of a guy who appears to swoon and then fall to the ground. As it turns out, the guy was the target of a "hit," and Joe has unknowingly caught the event on film.

Joe then goes home and gets in trouble with his wife, Maude, for being late. When he tries to explain what kept him at work, he realizes that he left his camera downtown. Then, the police arrive at his door. Joe agrees to go downtown with them to get his camera, but soon realizes that these men aren't really homicide detectives. So, who are they and why do they want the film in Joe's camera?

"Photo Finish" was written by Roy Grandy and Robert L. Richards. William Spier produced/directed. Michael O'Shea starred as Joe. Cathy Lewis played Maude. Also appearing were Jeff Chandler, Jerry Hausner, Wally Maher, and Jay Novello. This episode aired on July 18, 1946.

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Suspense - Statement of Mary Blake

In "Statement of Mary Blake," Joan Bennett stars as a lab assistant who discovers that her boss isn't the wonderful scientist that she thought he was.

As the episode opens, Mary describes the recurring dream that has been plaguing her. In it, she is tormented by the sound of a blind man's cane, tapping and tapping and coming closer from somewhere in the darkness....

With swirls of violin music, we are transported back to the day Mary's troubles began, the day she went to work for the renowned scientist Dr. Gregory Martin. To her, it was a wonderful opportunity to work in Dr. Martin's private laboratory as his assistant, but she soon realized that it wasn't all perfect. Dr. Martin's wife, Lorna, was not a happy woman, yet her husband doted on her constantly.

After a seemingly successful day in the laboratory, Lorna suddenly turns up dead. Can Mary defend herself against the accusations that she is the murderer?

"Statement of Mary Blake" was written by Shirley Gordon. Norman MacDonnell directed and William Spier produced. Joan Bennett, in the second of her two appearances on Suspense, starred as Mary Blake. Also appearing were William Johnstone, John Dehner, Joseph Kearns, and William Conrad. This episode aired on May 4, 1950.

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Suspense - The Truth About Jerry Baxter

"The Truth About Jerry Baxter" stars Gregory Peck in a dramatic report about teenage narcotics use in the United States circa 1951. The story is "taken from life" and "suggested by actual events."

As the episode opens, a juvenile investigator named Mr. MacIntire is caught in a life or death struggle with a teenage criminal named Jerry Baxter. We then drift back in time, and Mr. MacIntire explains how the trouble began...

MacIntire met Jerry at the corrections school and asked the parole board to take a kinder view of the young man's situation. The parole board agreed to give him a chance, but the same day Jerry left the facility, he was again in trouble with the police! MacIntire believes he is innocent, but will anyone else?

"The Truth About Jerry Baxter" was adapted for radio by Antony Ellis from a story by Forest Barnes and Roxy Roth. Elliott Lewis produced/directed. Gregory Peck starred as Mr. MacIntire. Also appearing were Hy Averback, Joan Banks, John Dehner, Shepard Menken, Clayton Post, Joseph Kearns, and William Tracy. This episode aired on June 14, 1951.

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Suspense - Public Defender

In "Public Defender" a man must stand trial for a burglary charge -- while not letting on that he also murdered the wife of his public defender.

Phillip Penn murdered Mrs. Tyler for her purse while attending an Armistice Day parade. He skipped town for a month and when he returned, he went about his business as though nothing had happened. That is, until the police showed up at his door to ask him questions about a robbery. 

Penn claimed to know nothing about it, but the officers didn't like his answers or his dodginess. Later, when he was charged with burglary, the court appointed an attorney for him-- the husband of the woman he murdered. Could Penn hide the truth from his own attorney? 

"Public Defender" was written by E. Jack Neuman and produced/directed by Elliott Lewis. Frank Lovejoy starred. Also appearing were Joseph Kearns, Herb Butterfield, Charles Calvert, Whitfield Connor, Lou Krugman, and Paula Winslowe. This episode aired on April 20, 1953.

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Suspense - To None a Deadly Drug

In "To None a Deadly Drug," a prescription goes wrong and endangers the life of a young boy.

As the episode opens, Cal Foster is about to close his pharmacy for the evening. His wife, Marian, impatiently waits for him to finish. She is eager to get him to a dinner dance, the first she has been able to drag him to in two years.

Before they can leave, a mother comes in to fill a prescription for her son, Tippy. Her husband is in the service and they are on their way to meet his ship. Cal fills the prescription, but while he steps away to take a call, Tippy and his mother walk away with the wrong medicine.

After they have driven away, Cal realizes the mistake. Tippy and his mother are on the road somewhere in California's Central Valley, but they didn't say where they were headed. Can Cal find them before it is too late?

"To None a Deadly Drug" was written by Hank Searls and produced/directed by Antony Ellis. Harry Bartell starred. Also appearing were Charlotte Lawrence, Hy Averback, Barbara Eiler, Jack Kruschen, Eve McVeagh, Sam Ogg, and John Stevenson. This episode aired on October 25, 1955.

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Suspense - Bitter Grapes

In "Bitter Grapes" a dying wife gets revenge on her cheating husband by poisoning his food  Then she finds out she isn't dying right away.

Lorna Blake, a woman with a heart problem, is certain that she is going to die.  Nevetheless, she takes her prescription to the drug store to be filled. While Lorna waits, she records a message for her husband, Warren, using the drug store's record-making machine. On it, Lorna tells Warren that she knows he has been cheating on her and that she has poisoned his food.

When Lorna picks up her prescription, she notices that she has been given enough medication for a year. When she calls her doctor, she discovers that she isn't on death's door and could live to an old age.

Realizing that recording a confession was a mistake, Lorna now has to find a way to get it back.

"Bitter Grapes" was written by Milton Geiger and produced/directed by Paul Roberts. Rita Lloyd played Lorna and Phil Meader played Warren. Also appearing were Arthur Cole, Teri Keane, John Seymour, Edgar Stehli, and Edwin Wolfe. This episode aired on May 1, 1960.

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Suspense - The Face is Familiar

In "The Face is Familiar," Jack Benny stars as a man so common, so forgettable, that no one can remember his face or his name.

As the episode opens, Tom Jones is milling around the train station when he suddenly recognizes Harry Edmonds, an old friend from childhood. Harry has no memory of Tom and thinks he is a nuisance, but then Harry realizes that his forgettable friend just may be the perfect person to help him pull off a bank job.

"The Face is Familiar" was written for Suspense by Arthur Ross and produced/directed by Elliott Lewis. Jack Benny, in his fourth and last appearance on Suspense, played Tom Jones. Sheldon Leonard played Harry and Clayton Post played Joe. Also appearing were Hy Averback, Herb Butterfield, Stanely Farrar, Joseph Kearns, and Jeane Wood. This episode aired on January 18, 1954.

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This story was also presented on the television on General Electric Theater later that same year, and the results were much better. The radio version of this story is a bit flat, but the comedy is played up in the television version. (The gangsters get most of the laughs.) One of the highlights is the appearance of Joseph Kearns, who plays the bank teller that Jack Benny robs. Despite the annoying laugh track, this television version is fun to watch.

Here is a clip of scene that includes Joseph Kearns. If you want to watch this episode in its entirety, you will find it at the Internet Archive.

Suspense - Spoils for Victor

In "Spoils for Victor," a handsome actor is obligated to murder his rich wife to pay off his unscrupulous agent. 

Victor is an out-of-work Hollywood actor who accidentally meets Madeleine, a wealthy sugar heiress. When Victor learns that she is one of the wealthiest women in the world, he doesn't think he has a chance, but his agent, Barney, thinks otherwise. 

Barney advances Victor the money so that he can impress his new girlfriend, but he also expects Victor to make the most of this opportunity. If the two of them were to get married, then Victor would get half of her estate. If Madeleine were to then have an accident, Victor would get it all. Barney wants Victor to get it all-- so that he can take his ten percent.

Can Victor make it happen. Does he want to?

"Spoils for Victor" was written by Robert L. Richards. Suspense first presented this story with Dane Clark in the lead role on May 23, 1956, but there are no known recordings of that broadcast at this time.

Suspense presented this story again on May 24, 1959.  Robert Horton played Victor and Berry Kroeger played Barney. Also appearing were Joan Banks and Georgia Ellis. William N. Robson produced and directed.

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Suspense - See How He Runs

In "See How He Runs," Jim Backus plays a blind man who tries to escape from a syndicate that is out to kill him.

Poppy is the owner of a friendly neighborhood newspaper stand. He seems like a harmless blind man, but his past record tells a different story. He runs numbers on the side, but he doesn't have any trouble with the police until one of his customers is murdered by gunman after leaving his stand. Was Poppy involved in setting up the hit?

The police pull Poppy in to question him, but he won't talk. He wants no part of it, but the word on the street is that Poppy was involved. Now, "the syndicate" has put out a hit on him. The police tell Poppy that he is on his own; they have no reason to help him.

Without eyes to see who is after him, can Poppy navigate his way to safety?

"See How He Runs" was written by George Bamber and produced/directed by William N. Robson. Jim Backus starred as Poppy. Also appearing were Norm Alden, Dick Beals, Barney Phillips, Sam Pierce, Gail Bonney, and Lou Krugman. This episode aired on April 19, 1959.

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Suspense - The Big Shot

In "The Big Shot," a baby-faced engineer takes a job with an illegal mining operation in Mexico.

As the episode opens, Charlie Morton arrives by bus in a remote Mexican village. Morton is happily greeted by Quinn, the boss of the mining operation that hired him. 

Quinn soon discovers that his new engineer is qualified for the job but touchy about his youthful appearance. Very touchy.

Quinn already has his crew mining a rich vein of gold quartz up in the mountains, and Morton's job is to set up a stamping mill. Their objective is to quickly mine the gold and then quietly smuggle it of Mexico. The trick is, that they have to do this without the locals, the bandits, or the government discovering their operation. 

"The Big Shot" was based on a story by Brett Halliday and adapted for radio by Lawrence Goldman. Burt Lancaster, in the first of his two appearances on Suspense, starred as Charlie Morton. Also appearing were Gerald Mohr and Cathy Lewis. This episode aired on September 9, 1948.

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Suspense - America's Boyfriend

In "America's Boyfriend," the wife of a former Hollywood star tries to find the "pretty lady" their two year old son keeps mentioning to her.

Dickie Keith is a former child-star who is now a washed-up actor. His wife works and pays all of the bills, while Dickie takes care of their son during the day. She is resentful, but her thirty-three year old husband continues to believe that he is convincing as a teenage actor.

During an unpleasant meeting with his agent, Dickie is finally told that he has become unemployable. Dickie then assaults his agent, Harry Landman, but not very effectively. 

Later, when Landman's murdered body is discovered, the police quickly suspect Dickie. He seems to have disappeared, but perhaps the "pretty lady" their son talks about can help.

"America's Boyfriend" was written by Sydney Renthal and produced/directed by William N. Robson. Mercedes McCambridge starred.  This episode aired on July 21, 1957.

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Suspense - Waiting

In "Waiting," a wife spends an evening with her religious mother and her suspicious sister-in-law while waiting for her husband's impending execution.

Eileen is the wife of Norman Landon, a man sentenced to death for murder. Norman's marriage to Eileen was unhappy, so he turned to another woman. When his girlfriend was found murdered, Norman was convicted of the crime although several witnesses said they saw another person at the scene.

As the clock ticks towards the hour of his execution, Norman's wife, mother-in-law, and sister argue over his guilt and his faults. Did he really do it?

"Waiting" was written, produced, and directed by Antony Ellis. Vivi Janiss, Helen Kleeb, and Charlotte Lawrence starred. This episode aired on February 22, 1955.

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This story was aired again on October 2, 1956. Vivi Janiss, Paula Winslowe, and Charlotte Lawrence starred.

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Suspense - Truck Stop

In "Truck Stop," two thieves case a diner in order to rob the armored truck that regularly stops there.

Maggie is a waitress at the diner, and her boyfriend, Charlie, is an armored truck driver. Watching them very carefully are two robbers, who think that Maggie's and Charlie's regular routines could be used to rob the truck.

After weeks of careful planning, the two robbers decide to strike. They take over the diner and wait for the truck to arrive. They think they have every detail covered, but do they?

"Truck Stop" was written by Peter Fernandez and produced/directed by Paul Roberts. Larry Haines  Frank Butler, Teri Keane, Mandel Kramer, Robert Readick, and Dan Ocko appeared. This episode aired on August 21, 1960.

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Suspense - The Man Who Couldn't Lose

In "The Man Who Couldn't Lose," a gambling man finds himself on a run of good luck that seemingly has no end.

Leonard Snell is a lazy insurance agent who gambles all of his money and treats his hard-working wife badly. She works, cleans, cooks, and pays all  the expenses while her husband does little else. As the episode opens, Mrs. Snell is reminding Leonard of all of this, but he doesn't want to hear it.

Leonard tells her that he has been working hard, but now he is in trouble. He has to cover his gambling debts and he needs the money she has put away in her safe-deposit box. She refuses, and so he kills her to get it.

Shortly afterwards, he finds himself on an incredible run of good luck. Will it last long enough for him to escape a conviction for murder?

"The Man Who Couldn't Lose" was written by Emile C. Tepperman and produced/directed by William Spier. Gene Kelly, in the third of his four appearances on Suspense, starred as Leonard Snell. This episode aired on September 28, 1944.

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This story aired again on December 12,1947. Dan Duryea starred. Also appearing were Joseph Kearns  Hans Conried, Frank Albertson, Jerry Hausner, Frank Goss, Jack Kruschen, Cathy Lewis, Elliott Lewis, John McIntire, Edwin Max, Lucille Meredith, Jeannette Nolan, Dick Ryan, and Jack Webb.

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Suspense - The Kandy Tooth

In "The Kandy Tooth," detective Sam Spade is reunited with his old rivals, Joe Cairo and Kaspar Gutman, on a hunt for a missing religious relic. The plot is similar in design to The Maltese Falcon,  but the entertaining writing, ridiculous plot, and good acting overcome the similarity.

As the episode opens, Sam Spade receives a telegram from Kaspar Gutman warning him about the unscrupulous duo of Lawrence LaVerne D.D.S. and his sister, Hope LaVerne. He tells Spade to "beware the hidden tooth" if either of them approach him. Gutman warns Spade not to believe anything those two may say.

Shortly afterwards, they do both approach him. Lawrence LaVerne is a dentist who is upset with a man named Herman Julius for not paying him for the bridgework he did. His sister, Hope, arrives later, and says that her brother often impersonates a dentist and that she doesn't know where he is.

When Spade gets the truth out of Lawrence LaVerne, he tells him that Gutman paid him to put an old tooth into the mouth of Herman Julius, one that was stolen from a corpse. Why would he do that? Does Herman Julius really have something valuable hidden in his mouth?

"The Kandy Tooth" was written by Jason James and Robert Tallman. This story first presented as two 30 minute episodes of The Adventures of Sam Spade on November 24, 1946, and December 01, 1946. William Spier, who was also the producer of The Adventures of Sam Spade, produced/directed this hour-long episode and makes an appearance at the end of the broadcast.

Howard Duff starred as Sam Spade and Lurene Tuttle played Effie. Wally Maher played Lawrence LaVerne and Cathy Lewis played Miss LaVerne. Joseph Kearns played Kaspar Gutman. Also appearing were Hans Conried, Jay Novello, William Johnstone, Jeannette Nolan, Jack Edwards, Jr., and Sydney Miller. This episode aired on January 10, 1948.

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Suspense - Celebration

In "Celebration," a married couple commemorates their anniversary the hard way.

Emily Ward had an accident a while back, and now she lives in a care facility. Tonight, her husband, Todd, is taking her out to celebrate their eigth anniversary. Emily is waiting, with her suitcase packed, because she has also decided that she is going home with him.

What Emily doesn't know is that her doctor thinks that her condition has worsened, and that she should be transferred to a more suitable facility. Todd arrives and promises Emily a great evening out, but then spends the evening trying to maneuver her towards isolated locations. When she finds a box of bullets in his car, she is confused. What is he planning?  

Celebration" was written by Arnold Marquis and Phyllis Parker. Anton M. Leader produced/directed. Virginia Bruce and Robert Young starred as Emily and Todd. Also appearing were Berry Kroeger and Paula Winslowe. This episode aired on September 23, 1948.

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Suspense presented this story again on May 5, 1957, but with a very different ending. William N. Robson produced/directed. Joy LaFleur starred. Also appearing were Shepard Menken, Jack Moyles, Joe DiSantis, and Irene Tedrow.

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Suspense - For Old Time's Sake

In "For Old Time's Sake," a former bank-robber must protect his family from an old buddy.

Mr. Burt Winterfield and his wife are at the bank signing papers for a home loan. Burt doesn't like banks. They make him nervous. He used to rob banks, but then he went to prison for it. He has since reformed, but he never told his wife or anyone else about his time in prison.

Suddenly, the bank is robbed! Burt starts to hear voices from the past in his head, but then he realizes that it is his old pal "Pinky" speaking to him. Pinky and Burt chat about old times, while Pinky's gang robs the bank. Burt tells him that he has gone straight, and that he doesn't want any trouble. Pinky agrees, and tells Burt not to talk to the police after they make their getaway. If he does, Pinky will go after Burt's kids.

"For Old Time's Sake" was written by Gordon Christian and produced/directed by William N. Robson. John Lund starred. Also appearing were Virginia Gregg, Joe Di Santis, and William Quinn. This episode aired on December 14, 1958.

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Suspense - The X-Ray Camera

In "The X-Ray Camera," a husband wants to reunite with his estranged wife, but she wants a divorce. So, he arranges to have his girlfriend blow her up.

Johnny loves Anna, but she hates him. He knows that, but he still doesn't want to give her up.  Johnny asks Anna to meet him just one more time to talk it over, and she reluctantly agrees. He hopes that he can convince her to take him back, but if she doesn't, he is prepared to take more drastic measures.

Johnny then goes down to a local department store to buy Anna a present. In doing so, he becomes friendly with the salesgirl and makes a date with her for that later that night--just in case things don't work out with Anna.

When he does meet with Anna, she tells him that she still wants a divorce. So, Johnny enlists the aid of the unwitting salesgirl to help him get rid of his wife.

"The X-Ray Camera" was written by George and Gertrude Fass. William Spier produced and directed. Dennis O'Keefe starred. Also appearing were Cathy Lewis, Wally Maher, and Lurene Tuttle. This episode aired on October 23, 1947.

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Suspense - The Light Switch

In "The Light Switch," a wife decides to get revenge on her husband and his girlfriend by blowing them up.

As the episode opens, Mrs. John Winston is in the apartment of her husband's girlfriend. She has turned on the gas and broken the glass of a light bulb. When her husband and his girlfriend arrive, they will turn on the light and everything will go --boom!

After Mrs. Winston has prepared everything, she realizes that she can't leave the apartment because there are people in the hallway who might see her. While she waits, with the gas still on, she remembers how she came to this moment. How she hired a private investigator named Skip Webb to follow her husband...

"The Light Switch" was written by Richard Bodra and produced/directed by Anton M. Leader. Claire Trevor starred. Also appearing were Verna Felton and Wally Maher. This episode aired on May 12, 1949.

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Suspense - Cold Canvas

In "Cold Canvas" a life insurance agent makes his first big sale, but is it as good as it seems?

Bud Phillips is new at his job at the insurance agency, and he is determined to do well. After a pep talk from his boss, he goes door-to-door cold canvassing for prospects. When he rings the bell of one particularly swanky home, Bud is able to convince the lady of the house, Mrs. Fouche, into considering a policy for her husband. Shortly afterwards, her husband does insure his life for a large sum, and Bud is a hero at the office. Unfortunately, the husband then has a terrible accident and the company has to pay out. Was that just what Mrs. Fouche had in mind from the start?

"Cold Canvas" was written by Walter Black and produced/directed by Paul Roberts. William Redfield,  Ginger Jones, Les Damon, and Guy Repp starred. This episode aired on July 24, 1960.

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Suspense - Death of an Old Flame

In "Death of an Old Flame," a piano player agrees to help his wife and her boyfriend steal a fortune in furs.

As the episode opens, Ronnie Warren is playing piano at a nightclub and fending off advances from the lady customers. He is jaded and bored by it all, until he looks up from the keys and sees...his wife.  Anna left him for another man five years ago, but now she needs his help.

Anna tells him that she and her boyfriend, Frank, are having a hard time financially, but they have a plan to steal a stash of valuable fur coats. She asks Ronnie to help them, and incredibly, he agrees. Ronnie thinks that stealing the furs is all there is to it, but he soon realizes that Frank didn't tell him the real plan. Frank soon realizes that Anna never told him about Ronnie's karate skills.

Is it ever a good idea to help your wife steal for her boyfriend?

"Death of an Old Flame" was written by George Bamber and produced/directed by Bruno Zirato, Jr. Larry Haines and Teri Keane starred. Also appearing were Ralph Bell, Robert Donley, and Evelyn Juster. This episode aired on October 29, 1961.

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