Suspense is an American television anthology series that ran on CBS Television from 1949 to 1954. It was adapted from the radio program of the same name which ran from 1942 to 1962. Like many early television programs, the show was broadcast live from New York City. It was sponsored by the Auto-Lite corporation, and each episode was introduced by host Rex Marshall, who promoted Auto-Lite spark plugs, car batteries, headlights, and other car parts.
Some of the early scripts were adapted from Suspense radio scripts, while others were original for television. Like the radio program, many scripts were adaptations of literary classics by well-known authors. Classic authors such as Edgar Allan Poe, Agatha Christie, and Charles Dickens all had stories adapted for the series, while contemporary authors such as Roald Dahl and Gore Vidal also contributed. Many notable actors appeared on the program, including Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff, Franchot Tone, Robert Emhardt, Leslie Nielsen, Lloyd Bridges, and many more.
The program was a live television series, but most episodes were recorded on kinescope. However, only about 90 of the 260 episodes survive today.
- 1. This Way Out1951-09-04
- 2. Strange for a Killer1951-09-11
- 3. Merryman's Murder1951-09-18
- 4. Doctor Anonymous1951-09-25
- 5. Santa Fe Flight1951-10-02
- 6. High Street1951-10-09
- 7. The Fifth Dummy1951-10-16
- 8. The Train from Czechoslovakia1951-10-23
- 9. Court Day1951-10-30
- 10. Moonfleet (1)1951-11-06
- 11. Moonfleet (2)1951-11-13
- 12. Frisco Payoff1951-11-20
- 14. The Man Without a Face1951-12-04
- 15. Mediation in Mexico1951-12-11
- 16. Pier 171951-12-18
- 17. The Lonely Place1951-12-25
- 18. Routine Patrol1952-01-01
- 19. Flare Week1952-01-08
- 20. The Spider1952-01-15
- 21. The Red Signal1952-01-22
- 22. Death Drum1952-01-29
- 23. Betrayal in Vienna1952-02-05
- 24. North of Shanghai1952-02-12
- 25. Summer Night1952-02-19
- 26. Night Drive1952-02-26
- 27. Day of Infamy1952-03-04
- 28. Four Days to Kill1952-03-11
- 29. The Mystery of Edwin Drood (1)1952-03-18
- 30. The Mystery of Edwin Drood (2)1952-03-25
- 31. Black Panther1952-04-08
- 32. Night of Evil1952-04-15
- 33. Alibi Me1952-04-22
- 34. The Letter1952-04-29
- 35. The Mandarin Murders1952-05-06
- 36. Fingers of Fear1952-05-13
- 37. Hunted Down1952-05-20
- 38. The Debt1952-05-27
- 39. Murder of Necessity1952-06-03
- 40. House of Masks1952-06-10
- 41. Phantom of the Riviera1952-06-17
- 42. Night of Reckoning1952-06-24
- 43. Fifty Beautiful Girls1952-07-01
- 44. For the Love of Randi1952-07-15
- 45. The Crooked Frame1952-07-29
- 46. Death Cargo1952-08-05
- 47. Remember Me1952-08-12
- 48. Her Last Adventure1952-08-19
- 49. Woman in Love1952-08-26