Suspense - Radio’s Outstanding Theater of Thrills

Dime a Dance: Murder on the Dance Floor

In this thrilling episode of Suspense, Lucille Ball stars as Ginger Allen, a red-headed taxi dancer at the Joyland Palace dance hall just off Broadway. When her close friend and fellow dancer Julie is found murdered, Ginger learns she's potentially next on the killer's list - the third victim in a string of murders targeting red-headed dance hall girls.
Enter Nick, a mysterious man who claims to be an undercover police officer assigned to protect her. As more details emerge about the killer's signature - including his obsession with the song "Poor Butterfly" and his habit of dancing with his victims post-mortem - Ginger must determine who she can trust before she becomes the next target in this chilling tale of obsession and revenge.
Originally Aired: January 13, 1944
Keywords: "Suspense Lucille Ball episode," "Dime a Dance radio drama," "1944 Suspense radio," "Broadway dance hall mystery," "taxi dancer murder mystery," "classic Roma Wines Suspense," "1940s thriller radio"
Cast: Lucille Ball (as Ginger Allen), with supporting cast
Sponsor: Roma Wines
Producer/Director: William Speer
Writer: Cornell Woolrich
Notable Elements: Features Lucille Ball in a dramatic role during her MGM years, with the episode airing during the theatrical run of "Madame Curie." The story effectively blends elements of Broadway life with noir thriller elements, creating a uniquely atmospheric tale of suspense.

One-Way Ride to Nowhere: A Fatal Roller Coaster Ride

This thrilling episode of Suspense stars Alan Ladd as Tom Dwyer, a shrewd private detective who stumbles upon a deadly mystery at Ocean City's amusement park. When a professor's body mysteriously appears on a roller coaster ride - in a seat that was empty when the ride began - Dwyer's instincts tell him something sinister is afoot.
The investigation leads him to Sheila Kennedy, a local performer whose photograph was found in the dead man's pocket, and to a suspicious exhibition featuring a bulletproof car from a notorious $400,000 mail robbery. As Dwyer digs deeper, he uncovers a conspiracy involving corrupt law enforcement, organized crime, and a killer known as "Wires" who has a signature method of disposing of his victims.
Racing against time and facing deadly adversaries, Dwyer must expose the truth behind the professor's murder and its connection to the missing robbery money before he becomes the next victim of the "one-way ride to nowhere."
Originally Aired: January 6, 1944
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Cast: Alan Ladd (as Tom Dwyer), with supporting cast (unnamed in transcript)
Sponsor: Roma Wines
Producer/Director: William Spear
Writer: Robert L. Richards
Notable Elements: Features a clever blend of noir detective elements with an amusement park setting, creating a unique atmosphere for this murder mystery. The episode showcases Alan Ladd in his prime, during what the announcer describes as his "sensational rise to stardom."

Finishing School: Deadly Lessons

This captivating episode of Suspense features an all-female cast, with Margo, Elsa Lanchester, and Janet Beecher leading the charge in a tale of manipulation, jealousy, and murder at the Nash School for Girls. Caroline Watts begins her new teaching position with excitement, only to uncover sinister undercurrents within the prestigious institution.
The formidable Dean Sterling exerts a chilling influence over the school, using seances and eerie predictions to manipulate the grieving Miss Nash, the school’s headmistress. As tensions rise, Miss Melody, the housekeeper, reveals Sterling’s dark ambitions to take over the school by orchestrating “accidents” to eliminate those in her way.
When a vulnerable student, Flora Nash, becomes Sterling’s latest victim, Caroline and Miss Melody race to expose the dean’s deadly schemes. The drama crescendos in a series of shocking twists, culminating in a violent showdown that unveils the true mastermind behind the school’s tragedies.
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Cast: Margo, Elsa Lanchester, Janet Beecher.

Back for Christmas: A Deadly Surprise

In this darkly humorous and chilling episode of Suspense, Peter Lorre stars as Hubert Schumacher, a mild-mannered professor who plans to murder his overbearing wife, Hermione, and bury her in the cellar beneath his "devil’s garden." Hubert’s meticulously crafted plan is designed to ensure no one suspects her disappearance while he embarks on a lecture tour in America.
Hubert’s plan seems flawless—until a letter from a contractor in Salisbury reveals Hermione’s own secret plans. As the chilling twist unfolds, Hubert realizes that despite his crime, Hermione's domineering influence might still haunt him, proving her unshakable control even from beyond the grave.
A tale filled with tension, irony, and Peter Lorre’s masterful performance, Back for Christmas examines themes of manipulation, desperation, and the lengths to which one man will go for freedom.
Keywords: "Suspense Back for Christmas episode," "Peter Lorre murder thriller," "December 1943 Suspense radio," "John Collier dark comedy drama," "devil’s garden plot," "Roma Wines suspense series," "classic radio suspense drama."
Cast: Peter Lorre, Bea Benaderet, William Spier.

Wet Saturday: A Family’s Dark Secret

This sardonic tale of Suspense follows the Princy family on a rainy afternoon as they attempt to cover up a murder committed by their daughter, Millicent. When the body of Mr. Withers, a local curate and Millicent’s unrequited love, is discovered in their home, the family’s patriarch, Mr. Princy, devises a sinister plan to hide the crime and protect the family’s reputation.
The tension escalates when Captain Smollett, a nosy neighbor, pays an unexpected visit and becomes ensnared in the scheme. Through a series of manipulations and threats, Mr. Princy forces Smollett to assist in disposing of the body, while ensuring he has leverage to keep Smollett silent. However, the macabre plot takes a darkly ironic turn when the police arrive, unraveling the family’s carefully constructed lies.
With Charles Laughton delivering a chilling performance as Mr. Princy, Wet Saturday is a masterful exploration of moral decay, manipulation, and the lengths to which people will go to maintain appearances.
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Cast: Charles Laughton, Denis Green, Hans Conried, Beatrice Benaderet.

The Night Reveals: A Pyromaniac’s Obsession

In this haunting episode of Suspense, Robert Young stars as Harry Jordan, an investigator for a fire insurance company who begins to suspect that his wife, Marie (played by Margo), is responsible for a string of mysterious fires in their neighborhood. Harry’s unease grows as he uncovers troubling evidence, including matches hidden throughout their home and newspaper clippings detailing local blazes.
The tension reaches its peak when Harry discovers that Marie’s behavior is linked to her suppressed psychological trauma, which manifests in an uncontrollable compulsion to set fires. As Harry grapples with his suspicions, a devastating house fire forces Marie to confront her inner turmoil, culminating in a dramatic confession.
A gripping tale of psychological suspense, The Night Reveals delves into the complexities of love, trust, and the devastating effects of mental illness, delivering a story that keeps listeners enthralled until the chilling conclusion.
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Cast: Robert Young, Margo, William Spear, Hans Conried.

The Black Curtain: A Mind Shattered

In this gripping Suspense episode, Cary Grant delivers a masterful performance as Frank Townsend, a man plagued by amnesia who awakens on a snowy street with no memory of the last three years of his life. Haunted by the initials "D.N." on a hat and cigar case, Frank sets out to uncover the truth about his forgotten past.
As Frank retraces his steps to Tillery Street, he discovers he was once known as Daniel Nearing, a man wanted for the murder of his employer, John Dietrich. While fleeing from a relentless detective, Frank reunites with his former fiancée, Ruth, who reveals shocking details about his former life. Together, they return to the scene of the crime, where Frank confronts a paralyzed witness, a vindictive family, and a deadly conspiracy that threatens to destroy him.
With taut suspense and a stunning revelation, The Black Curtain explores themes of identity, memory, and the darkness of human nature, keeping listeners on the edge of their seats until the final moment.
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Cast: Cary Grant, William Spear, Hans Conried, Bea Benaderet, Wally Maher, Joseph Kearns.

The Strange Death of Charles Umberstein: A Spy's Double Life

In this gripping episode of Suspense, Vincent Price delivers a masterful performance as Charles Umberstein, an undercover operative embedded within Nazi Germany. Posing as an architect in a munitions factory, Umberstein's meticulous espionage activities are suddenly exposed, thrusting him into a dangerous game of cat and mouse with the Gestapo.
As Captain von Heinde, a chilling and relentless Gestapo officer, closes in, Umberstein reflects on his carefully constructed façade, questioning who betrayed him and how his flawless plan unraveled. The tension escalates to a shocking climax when Umberstein discovers the ultimate twist: the Gestapo officer pursuing him shares an uncanny connection to his own hidden identity.
Set against the backdrop of wartime Berlin, this tale of paranoia, betrayal, and survival explores the moral complexities of espionage and the devastating consequences of deception.
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Cast: Vincent Price, William Spear, Lud Gluskin, Lucien Moraweck.

Thieves Fall Out: Crime's Deadly Chain

This high-stakes episode of Suspense stars Gene Kelly as Art Kramer, a cunning black market operator whose shady dealings spiral into a tangled web of greed and murder. When Art's financial troubles push him to desperate measures, he plans an alibi for a deadly robbery, implicating a fellow criminal, Canelli. But as events unfold, fate has its own sinister plans, leading both men into a deadly trap.
The story follows Kramer's scheme to frame Canelli for the murder of a rival, only to have his plans unravel in a series of coincidences. Canelli, meanwhile, faces his own reckoning in a parallel crime. The two men are ultimately caught in a stunning twist, their lives converging in a shared downfall that highlights the inescapable consequences of their actions.
With a thrilling script by Robert L. Richards and standout performances, Thieves Fall Out is a gripping tale of betrayal, greed, and justice, delivered with the signature suspense and drama of this classic series.
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Cast: Gene Kelly, Hans Conried, William Johnstone.

Cabin B-13: A Murderous Deception

This classic episode of Suspense delivers a masterfully woven tale of intrigue, betrayal, and murder on the high seas. Anne Brewster boards the luxurious ocean liner Moravania for a honeymoon voyage with her new husband, Ricky. But when Ricky mysteriously disappears, and the crew denies his existence, Anne begins to question her own sanity.
Austrian doctor Carl Heinrich intervenes, piecing together a chilling conspiracy. As Anne struggles against deception and isolation, a shocking truth unfolds: Ricky is not who he claimed to be. His real identity, a ship's officer with sinister motives, reveals a plan to steal Anne's fortune and stage her "suicide."
The suspense builds to a dramatic climax as Dr. Heinrich confronts Ricky on a fog-covered deck, leading to a desperate struggle that exposes the deadly plot. With expert performances and a tense, atmospheric narrative, Cabin B-13 stands as a hallmark of radio's golden age.
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Cast: Margot, Philip Dorn, Dennis Hoye, William Johnstone.