Suspense - Radio’s Outstanding Theater of Thrills

Portrait Without a Face: A Painted Confession

Originally Aired: March 2, 1944
Portrait Without a Face: A Painted Confession:
In this gripping episode of Suspense, a mysterious painting serves as both a trap and a confession, drawing a woman back into a deadly past. When Colette, a woman with a shadowy history, arrives at a New York art gallery desperate to see a particular painting, her reaction is one of fear rather than admiration. The painting, titled Portrait Without a Face, was created by Paul Degel, a man who knows far more about Colette than she realizes.
As the story unfolds, we learn that years earlier, in pre-war France, General Vauban was assassinated, and the killer was never found. But Paul Degel, through his art, has captured the moment of the crime in chilling detail. The faceless woman in the portrait is no figment of his imagination—she is Colette, and she has just walked straight into the snare.
With suspense mounting, Paul’s quiet obsession with justice leads to a dramatic showdown. Colette's manipulative husband, Charles Garveau, will stop at nothing to silence the artist. But the final confrontation reveals a shocking truth about who really pulled the trigger that night in Paris.
With its masterful blend of intrigue, psychological tension, and an unforgettable twist, Portrait Without a Face is a prime example of radio noir at its finest.
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Cast: Michelle Morgan, Philip Dorn, George Coulouris, William Spier.

Sorry, Wrong Number: A Desperate Call for Help

Originally Aired: February 24, 1944
Sorry, Wrong Number: A Desperate Call for Help:
One of the most famous radio dramas of all time, Sorry, Wrong Number is a chilling masterpiece of suspense starring Agnes Moorehead in a tour-de-force performance.
Mrs. Elbert Stevenson, a bedridden woman plagued by nerves, frantically tries to reach her husband’s office but is accidentally connected to a conversation between two men plotting a murder. As she listens in horror, she realizes the crime is set to occur that very night at 11:15—just when a train will be passing to mask the sound. Desperate to prevent the killing, she contacts the operator, the police, and anyone who will listen. But bureaucracy and indifference slow her efforts, leaving her feeling increasingly isolated and powerless.
As the tension builds, a terrifying revelation dawns upon her—the intended victim may not be some stranger, but her. Alone in her house, she hears the ominous sound of another phone clicking… an intruder is inside. Her desperate pleas go unheard as the killer closes in, and the episode ends with a chilling final moment of silence.
A masterful example of psychological terror, Sorry, Wrong Number remains one of the most iconic broadcasts in radio history, demonstrating how a simple wrong number can spiral into an inescapable nightmare.
Keywords: "Suspense Sorry Wrong Number episode," "February 1944 Suspense radio," "Agnes Moorehead thriller," "classic radio horror drama," "Roma Wines suspense series," "psychological suspense radio," "William Spier suspense direction."
Cast: Agnes Moorehead, William Spier, Joseph Kearns.

Life Ends at Midnight: A Fatal Deadline

Originally Aired: February 17, 1944
Life Ends at Midnight: A Fatal Deadline:
In this nerve-wracking episode of Suspense, Dane Clark stars as Walter Bates, a desperate man with only a few hours left to raise $1,500—or face certain death. His only hope? His aging mother, Mrs. Bates (Faye Bainter), who has already sacrificed everything for him. As Walter pressures her to come up with the money, he realizes there’s another way: Mr. Chalmers (Ralph Morgan), an elderly lodger with a life insurance policy that would solve all of Walter’s problems… if only he were dead.
As the clock ticks toward midnight, Walter sets a sinister plan in motion, rigging a gas heater in Chalmers’ room. But fate has other plans. A simple act of kindness—a quarter placed in the gas meter—turns Walter’s own deadly scheme against him. In a chilling final moment, as the clock strikes twelve, Walter’s own life comes to an end, sealing his fate in the most ironic twist of all.
This masterfully written episode of Suspense is a gripping tale of greed, fate, and poetic justice, keeping listeners on edge until the very last second.
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Cast: Dane Clark, Faye Bainter, Ralph Morgan, William Spier.

Suspicion: A Deadly Houseguest

In this chilling episode of Suspense, Charles Ruggles delivers a gripping performance as Hubert Mummery, a mild-mannered businessman whose life takes a terrifying turn when he begins to suspect his new housekeeper might be a killer. What begins as casual gossip about a notorious poisoner named Carolyn Andrews soon becomes a waking nightmare when Hubert realizes that his own cook, Sutton, may not be who she claims to be.
As mysterious illnesses, missing newspaper clippings, and unsettling coincidences pile up, Hubert’s paranoia grows. When he suddenly falls violently ill after drinking tea prepared by Sutton, he knows he must act fast. A desperate search of the house uncovers a nearly empty bottle of arsenic-laced weed killer and a burning pile of newspaper articles—all evidence pointing to Sutton’s deadly past.
With the help of Scotland Yard, Hubert’s fears are confirmed. The woman he and his wife had welcomed into their home is none other than the infamous poisoner herself. But in a final twist, the deception runs even deeper than he imagined.
This masterfully woven thriller keeps listeners on edge until the shocking final moments, proving that in the world of Suspense, nothing is ever as it seems.
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Cast: Charles Ruggles, William Spier, Agnes Moorehead, Joseph Kearns.

The Sisters: A Deadly Bond

Originally Aired: February 3, 1944
The Sisters: A Deadly Bond:
This eerie episode of Suspense stars Ida Lupino as Lydia Haskell and Agnes Moorehead as her mentally fragile sister, Ellie. When Lydia visits an undertaker to purchase an expensive casket—one she requests be held for three weeks—the request raises suspicions. But when asked who the casket is for, her chilling answer is: “It’s for me.”
As Ellie’s paranoia grows, she begins to suspect Lydia has sinister plans—not just for herself, but for Ellie as well. Convinced her sister intends to kill her and take her identity, Ellie’s mind unravels, leading to a harrowing psychological showdown. In a shocking conclusion, Lydia is the one who meets an untimely end, fulfilling her own grim premonition.
Blending psychological horror with masterful suspense, The Sisters is a chilling study of manipulation, madness, and the dark secrets that can fester within a family.
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Cast: Ida Lupino, Agnes Moorehead, William Spier.

The Locked Room: Secrets and Betrayal

Originally Aired: January 27, 1944
The Locked Room: Secrets and Betrayal:
In this twist-filled episode of Suspense, Virginia Bruce, Alan Jocelyn, and George Zuko star in a tale of murder, greed, and a seemingly impossible crime. When millionaire diamond dealer Francis Seaton is found unconscious in his locked study, the investigation uncovers a web of lies and deception among the four suspects in the house.
The discovery of a massive diamond heightens the stakes, with each character hiding motives tied to greed, jealousy, or survival. As tensions escalate, Dr. Charles Woodhall and Harold Mills are drawn into a dangerous game of manipulation, while Iris Lane works to outsmart the real culprit. The final confrontation reveals a shocking twist, with deadly consequences for the perpetrator.
Blending classic locked-room mystery elements with psychological suspense, The Locked Room keeps listeners guessing until its climactic resolution.
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Cast: Virginia Bruce, Alan Jocelyn, George Zuko, William Spier.

A World of Darkness: Witness to a Murder

In this compelling episode of Suspense, Paul Lukas delivers a riveting performance as Anton Rejak, a blind pianist who becomes the key witness in a cold-blooded murder. Despite his blindness, Anton’s heightened senses allow him to hear the events of a brutal stabbing in the rooming house where he lives. As the police investigate, Anton's extraordinary ability to perceive the world through sound leads him to identify the murderer, exposing the shocking truth in a series of tense revelations.
The drama crescendos as Anton’s testimony uncovers not only the identity of the killer but also the sinister motives behind the crime, rooted in greed and betrayal. With its intricate plot and masterful acting, A World of Darkness captivates listeners, showcasing the enduring tension and intrigue that defines the golden age of radio.
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Cast: Paul Lukas, William Spier, Hans Conried, Bea Benaderet.

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.