Suspense - Radio’s Outstanding Theater of Thrills

Subway

Originally Aired: October 30, 1947
In Suspense #269, “Subway,” Paula Stevens is a struggling young actress whose dreams of stardom have withered into frustration and envy. Trapped in a crowded New York subway car beside her cheerful and seemingly fortunate friend Ruth, Paula’s thoughts spiral into dark obsession. Ruth has the job, the connections, the promising future—everything Paula believes should have been hers. As the train hurtles through the tunnels and Paula fingers a pair of sharp scissors in her purse, she contemplates a desperate solution: one quick shove, one fatal moment, and Ruth would be out of her way forever. In a suffocating portrait of jealousy and temptation, the roaring subway becomes the stage for a battle between impulse and conscience—where a single second could mean murder.
Cast:
June Havoc, Lurene Tuttle
Tags:
Suspense, thriller, psychological, JuneHavoc, Subway, oldtimeradio, jealousy, obsession, murdertemptation, innerconflict, 1940sradio, classicdrama, femmepsychology, citynoir, suspensepodcast

The X-Ray Camera

Originally Aired: October 23, 1947
In Suspense #268, “The X-Ray Camera,” John Lawrence is a man torn between love and hate for his estranged wife, Anna. Desperate to keep her from divorcing him—and enraged at the thought of losing her—Johnny devises a twisted scheme. Posing as a private detective, he tricks an innocent department store clerk named Joyce into carrying what he claims is a secret “x-ray camera.” In reality, the package contains a deadly grenade meant for Anna. But fate intervenes in an unexpected way when a subway thief steals the parcel before it reaches its intended victim. As Johnny dares to hope for reconciliation, the net tightens—thanks to one overlooked detail that leads police straight to his door. A tense tale of obsession, deception, and poetic justice.
Cast:
Dennis O’Keefe, Cathy Lewis, Lurene Tuttle
Tags:
Suspense, thriller, psychological, DennisOKeefe, TheXRayCamera, oldtimeradio, crime, obsession, deception, bombplot, twistending, 1940sradio, classicdrama, noir, jealoushusband, suspensepodcast

Self-Defense

Originally Aired: October 16, 1947
In Suspense #267, “Self-Defense,” Barbara Newell seems to have everything wealth can buy—except love. Trapped in a loveless marriage to the cold and controlling Jonathan Newell, Barbara finds herself drawn first to an old flame, Fred Dexter, and then hopelessly in love with a charming pianist, Alex Maynard. Desperate for freedom and convinced divorce is impossible, Barbara devises a chillingly clever plan: manipulate Fred into murdering her husband, then eliminate Fred and claim self-defense. But in a tale of passion, deceit, and fatal miscalculation, Barbara overlooks one crucial detail—Fred has never met her husband. In a stunning twist worthy of Suspense, love, greed, and murder collide with devastating consequences.
Cast:
Marsha Hunt
Tags:
Suspense, thriller, psychological, femmefatale, betrayal, MarshaHunt, SelfDefense, oldtimeradio, murderplot, jealouslover, twistending, 1940sradio, classicdrama, crimeofpassion, vintagehorror, suspensepodcast

The Man Who Liked Dickens

Originally Aired: October 9, 1947
In Suspense #266, “The Man Who Liked Dickens,” adapted from a chilling short story by Evelyn Waugh, Anthony Last joins an ill-fated expedition into the Amazon in search of a lost city. When the journey ends in disaster and his companion is lost to the river, Last is rescued by a mysterious settler named Mr. Todd—a solitary man living deep in the jungle with a strange obsession. Todd treasures a small library containing the complete works of Charles Dickens, books once read aloud to him by his father and a previous unfortunate guest. As Last recovers, he discovers that his rescuer’s hospitality hides a sinister condition: he must read Dickens aloud endlessly, with no hope of release. In this haunting psychological tale, literature becomes both comfort and cage, and the jungle closes in on a man trapped by another’s madness.
Cast:
Richard Nay, Joseph Kearns
Tags:
Suspense, thriller, psychological, jungle, captivity, CharlesDickens, RichardNay, JosephKearns, TheManWhoLikedDickens, oldtimeradio, mystery, obsession, survival, vintagehorror, 1940sradio, classicdrama, literaryadaptation, suspensepodcast

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