Suspense - Radio’s Outstanding Theater of Thrills

The Story of Markham’s Death: Poe’s Lost Manuscript and a Fatal Alibi

Originally Aired: October 2, 1947
In Suspense #265, “The Story of Markham’s Death,” washed-up mystery writer Phil Martin (Kirk Douglas) stumbles upon what appears to be a lost manuscript by Edgar Allan Poe hidden in a bombed-out London house. Hungry for revival, Phil plagiarizes the work, passing it off as his own and winning literary acclaim. But his crime spirals into deeper deception when a Poe scholar confronts him, leading Phil to commit murder to preserve his secret. Ironically, in attempting to cover one killing, Phil builds the perfect alibi—only to be convicted of another. A sharp, ironic tale of ego, guilt, and poetic justice in the finest Poe tradition.
Cast:
Kirk Douglas
Tags:
Suspense, thriller, mystery, KirkDouglas, EdgarAllanPoe, literarycrime, oldtimeradio, plagiarism, psychological, MarkhamsDeath, fatalalibi, noir, vintagehorror, 1940sradio, classicdrama, suspensepodcast, metafiction

The Blue Hour: A Diamond, a Dancer, and a Deadly Game

Originally Aired: September 25, 1947
In Suspense #264, “The Blue Hour,” glamorous dancer Lois LaPaul arrives in New York riding a wave of scandal after the mysterious murder of her wealthy admirer, Jason White. Cast as the star attraction of the ultra-chic Blue Hour nightclub, Lois quickly realizes her newfound fame has made her a pawn in a dangerous game. When a priceless blue diamond—long coveted and soaked in blood—resurfaces hidden in a bottle of perfume, the stakes turn deadly. Caught between a ruthless nightclub owner, a relentless reporter, and killers closing in from all sides, Lois must risk everything in a daring bluff that could cost her life. A fast-paced noir thriller blending showbiz glamour, murder, and high-stakes deception.
Cast:Claire Trevor
Tags:Suspense, thriller, noir, crime, murder, diamondheist, nightclub, femmefatale, ClaireTrevor, oldtimeradio, mystery, classicradio, 1940sradio, vintagecrime, suspensepodcast

The Visitor: A Stranger Claims a Life Not His Own

Originally Aired: September 18, 1947
In Suspense #263, “The Visitor,” a teenage counterman named Bud is approached by a stranger who insists he’s a long-lost son from a wealthy town—and the resemblance is uncanny. When Bud agrees to play along, he finds himself welcomed back by a grieving mother, showered with affection, and even offered a fortune. But this small-town paradise hides a dangerous undercurrent. As suspicion brews and secrets unravel, Bud must figure out who’s fooling whom—and whether this second chance at life comes with a deadly cost. A masterfully layered identity thriller filled with deception, gaslighting, and an explosive confrontation.
Cast:Donald O’Connor
Tags:Suspense, thriller, identity, deception, imposter, DonaldOConnor, thevisitor, oldtimeradio, mystery, gaslight, inheritance, revenge, vintagehorror, 1940sradio, classicdrama, noir, suspensepodcast

The Twist: A Writer’s Scheme, A Partner’s Demise

Originally Aired: September 11, 1947
In Suspense #262, “The Twist,” struggling former cabbie Gus Green and acerbic gag writer Van Houser form a volatile comedy-writing duo—bound by mutual dependence and mutual loathing. When Van announces he's marrying Julie, a dancer with a shady past, Gus’s jealousy ignites a deadly plan. What begins as a ploy to preserve his lucrative partnership spirals into a clever frame-up and a horrifying twist of fate. Featuring sharp dialogue, psychological manipulation, and a chilling climax, this episode explores how ambition and resentment can breed the perfect crime—until it unravels.
Cast:Michael O'Shea, Sidney Miller
Tags:Suspense, thriller, radio drama, crime, writers, jealousy, frameup, MichaelOShea, SidneyMiller, oldtimeradio, 1940sradio, classicdrama, betrayal, revenge, suspensepodcast, thetwist

The Argyle Album: A Dead Man’s Secret and a Reporter’s Trap

Originally Aired: September 4, 1947
In Suspense #261, “The Argyle Album,” star reporter Harry Mitchell is summoned to the bedside of dying political columnist Alan Pearce, who promises an explosive exposé contained in a mysterious white-leather dossier known as the Argyle Album. But when Pearce dies suddenly—and a murder weapon appears in his chest—Mitchell is swept into a deadly manhunt involving secret documents, blackmail, and a tangled web of lies. Pursued by killers and the law alike, he must solve the mystery of the album before he joins the body count. A taut political thriller filled with double-crosses, deadly femmes, and a hard-hitting finale.
Cast:
Edmund O’Brien
Tags:
Suspense, thriller, political, blackmail, conspiracy, EdmundOBrien, argylealbum, oldtimeradio, murdermystery, vintagecrime, 1940sradio, classicdrama, noir, newspapernoise, suspensepodcast

Double Ugly: A Tale of Loneliness and Unraveling Rage

Originally Aired: August 28, 1947
In Suspense #260, “Double Ugly,” Matthew Eberman has spent a lifetime tormented by his appearance and shunned by those around him. Growing up mocked and lonely, he finds a glimmer of connection in Sally, a woman who seems to look past his face and into his heart. But as their marriage unfolds in an isolated home filled with silence, frilly distractions, and a growing emotional chasm, Matthew’s long-buried pain festers. What begins as an awkward romance slowly spirals into a disturbing portrait of resentment, psychological isolation, and suppressed fury—culminating in a chilling, inevitable climax. A haunting character study in the tradition of noir tragedy.
Cast:Lloyd Nolan
Tags:Suspense, psychological, thriller, noir, loneliness, LloydNolan, oldtimeradio, murder, gaslight, vintagehorror, 1940sradio, classicdrama, suspensepodcast, domesticthriller, uglyduckling, characterstudy

Murder Aboard the Alphabet: Madness at Sea in a Tugboat Thriller

Originally Aired: August 21, 1947
In Suspense #259, “Murder Aboard the Alphabet,” a transatlantic voyage turns into a voyage of terror aboard the deep-sea tug Alphabet. Chief Officer Marshland quickly realizes that their commanding officer, Captain Walker, is a rigid and unstable man obsessed with order—so obsessed that he insists all ship duties follow an alphabetical sequence. But when crew members start vanishing one by one, beginning with “A” for Abercrombie, Marshland suspects more than eccentricity is at play. Is the Captain picking them off in alphabetical order? Or is someone else aboard with a darker purpose? A tense maritime mystery with psychological horror at its helm.
Cast:John Lund, Joseph Kearns
Tags:Suspense, thriller, psychological, maritime, JohnLund, JosephKearns, tugboat, madness, mystery, seahorror, alphabetticalmurders, oldtimeradio, vintagehorror, 1940sradio, classicdrama, suspensepodcast

Smiley: A Dishwashing Drifter’s Dark Descent

Originally Aired: August 14, 1947
In Suspense #258, “Smiley,” Donald O’Connor delivers a chilling performance as Gerald “Smiley” Smythe, a man whose easygoing nature masks a deep and growing darkness. After a false accusation sends him to prison, Smiley emerges changed—quiet, obsessed with his hands, and harboring a deadly grudge against women. Rehired at a diner by his old boss Curly, Smiley seems to be rebuilding his life—until a co-worker named Cookie stirs memories he can't suppress. A slow-burn psychological tale of vengeance, identity, and emotional decay, culminating in an unsettling climax.
Cast:Donald O’Connor, Sydney Miller, Vereen Tuttle
Tags:Suspense, psychological, thriller, DonaldOConnor, dinerdrama, madness, vendetta, noir, oldtimeradio, 1940sradio, darkdrama, twistedmind, revengeplot, suspensepodcast, classicthriller

Quiet Desperation: A Clerk’s Crime of Opportunity

Originally Aired: August 7, 1947
In Suspense #257, “Quiet Desperation,” Homer Bigelow, a mild-mannered bank clerk living a life of quiet despair, overhears a conversation that tempts him toward a bold escape from his drab existence. A rich man’s secret scheme to smuggle £20,000 worth of negotiables into the U.S. sparks Homer’s fantasy of reinvention—and crime. When he intercepts the young courier, Hester Vail, his plan spirals into deceit, murder, and a desperate attempt to vanish. A tightly plotted noir drama that probes the thin line between quiet desperation and explosive action.
Cast:Walter Abel, Cathy Lewis
Tags:Suspense, thriller, noir, psychological, crime, WalterAbel, CathyLewis, quietdesperation, oldtimeradio, mystery, smuggling, murder, desperation, 1940sradio, classicdrama, suspensepodcast

Mortmain: A Fatal Frame and a Lawyer’s Fall

Originally Aired: July 31, 1947
In Suspense #256, “Mortmain,” the ambition of attorney Sam Boston knows no bounds—nor scruples. When his charming partner George Perry unexpectedly lands a DA nomination and wins the heart of the woman Sam loves, Sam’s envy turns deadly. What begins as a calculated smear spirals into blackmail, betrayal, and murder. As George is sent to prison for a crime he didn’t commit, Sam's own deception metastasizes—until a twist of fate delivers a grim poetic justice. A darkly clever tale of corruption, conscience, and a dead man’s grip.
Cast:Jerome Cowan
Tags:Suspense, thriller, legaldrama, betrayal, JeromeCowan, Mortmain, oldtimeradio, courtroom, revenge, noir, blackmail, vintagecrime, 1940sradio, classicdrama, suspensepodcast