The show was broadcast live from New York City to stations on CBS's eastern and midwestern networks. Kinescope recordings were made for transmission via KTTV in Hollywood. It was sponsored by the Auto-Lite corporation,[2] and each episode was introduced by host Rex Marshall, who promoted Auto-Lite spark plugs, car batteries, headlights, and other car parts.
Romney Brent in the episode "A Cask of Amontillado" (1949)
The ninety existing episodes are available today on three DVD box sets. Tubi is also streaming episodes of the show.[3]
In 1949, Marvel Comics began publishing Suspense comics licensed from CBS; a box on the cover of the first eleven issues (out of 29 total issues) read "Based on gripping CBS radio - television series".[4]
Critical response
A review in The New York Times of the program's premiere episode, "Revenge", commended the "great technical skill" of mixing filmed segments with live studio shots, a technique that the review labeled a "novel aspect".[5] Beyond that, however, reviewer Jay Gould found little to like about the episode, which he wrote was "a badly contrived piece of trivia", described elsewhere in the review as having "a drab story and an inexcusably poor supporting cast".[5] Even so, he wrote that with improvements "the mystery show should be a serviceable staple on video."[5]
The trade publication Variety commented in a review of the same episode that "Suspense made an inauspicious debut" on television, comparing the episode to a B film.[6] The reviewer blamed a "weakly motivated" adaptation for causing the direction and acting to suffer.[6] Robert Stevens, who produced and directed, was cited for failing to add excitement to an already weak script.[6]
Departing New York by train, Mary Gardner (Meg Mundy), worries that a mysterious man (Gage Clarke) is following her while she waits for her husband, Ray. In a flashback, Mary returns to her apartment, and runs into the superintendent (Philip Coolidge), who demands the back rent. She manages to stall for time, but smells gas as she enters the apartment. Mary discovers Ray collapsed on the floor, but revives him. Ray cannot find work and has been blacklisted by his former employer. Wondering where Mary has gotten money for groceries, she reveals that she has pawned her wedding ring. Ashamed, Ray hurriedly leaves the apartment. Mary follows him but stops when she sees a suspicious-looking man eyeing her. Ray returns later that evening with $500. The next morning, the couple read about the murder of Ray's boss in the newspaper, and Mary, realizing what has happened, decides that they must leave the city. At Grand Central Station they board the train separately to avoid suspicion. Flashing forward to the present, Ray catches up with Mary on the train. The mysterious man is then revealed to be sitting in front of them, and as the tickets are being collected, he flashes a badge to the conductor.[7]
previously performed on Suspense radio on 8 August 1946, 8 May 1947, & 24 March 1949.[citation needed]
Ernest Bowers suffers an attack of catalepsy while crossing the street, lapsing into a coma that resembles death. Believing he was killed by a passing car, his body is sent to the city morgue. His coat, with a note in the pocket describing his medical condition, is taken by the owner of a secondhand clothing store and quickly sold. The couple who purchase the jacket finds the note and begins a race to save Ernest from a premature embalming.
previously performed on Suspense radio program on 4 April 1946.[citation needed]
Following the sudden death of her husband, Josie marries Doc Archer, the man named beneficiary of her husband's life insurance policy. Investigator Westcott is suspicious after learning the doctor has a history of collecting such payouts. Westcott informs Josie that she is in danger of becoming her husband's next heavily insured "accident." She doesn't believe him—until she's almost killed when Doc "accidentally" knocks a sunlamp into the tub while she's bathing.
Elderly Agatha Leighton returns from a trip to find her apartment on the thirteenth floor has been robbed. As she attempts to call the police, someone grabs her. Sally, who lives down the hall, attempts to visit the old lady as she'd promised, but finds she's been locked in her apartment and the phone is dead. Through the door's peephole, she sees the building's desk clerk leaving Agatha's apartment. Sally realizes something bad has happened to the old lady.
14 October 1952 - "The Blue Panther" Phyllis Brooks, Michael Strong, Erik Rhodes, Gene Anton Jr., Bruce Gordon, Michael Garrett, Tom Avera, Gina Petrushka[19]
21 October 1952 - "The Man Who Had Seven Hours" Robert Sterling, Gaby Rodgers, Walter Kohler, Ludie Claire, Susan Caubet, Marcel Hillaire, MacLean Savage[20]
28 October 1952 - "All Hallow's Eve" - Franchot Tone, Francis Compton, Romney Brent, Patricia Byrd, Penny Hays, Douglas Jay, Bobby Catanio[21]
11 November 1952 - "The Moving Target" Jamie Smith, Irja Jensen, Joseph Anthony, Wolfe Barzell, Rudy Bond, Kalle Ruusumen, Jan DeRuth, Nina Hansen[22]
^"Television Highlights". The Central New Jersey Home News. New Jersey, New Brunswick. October 17, 1950. p. 17. Retrieved April 30, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Suspense". Ross Reports. October 12, 1952. p. 10. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
^"Suspense". Ross Reports on Television including The Television Index. October 19, 1952. p. 10. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
^"Suspense". Ross Reports on Television including The Television Index. October 26, 1952. p. 8. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
^"Suspense". Ross Reports on Television including The Television Index. November 9, 1952. p. 10. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
^"Television Highlights". The Central New Jersey Home News. New Jersey, New Brunswick. January 13, 1953. p. 12. Retrieved April 21, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^An Evening in the Zone: Three Teleplays by Twilight Zone Creator Rod Serling dvd, S'More Entertainment, catalog no. SMO-7172 (2009).
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