BONUS - Columbo Killers

BONUS - Columbo Killers

Author: Mean Streets Podcasts December 15, 2024 Duration: 2:37:02

It's another TV-radio crossover as we hear four Suspense stars who also played murderers on the classic detective series Columbo: Anne Baxter ("Requiem for a Fallen Star") in "The Death of Barbara Allen" (originally aired on CBS on October 20, 1952); Richard Basehart ("Dagger of the Mind") in "The Perfectionist" (originally aired on CBS on January 21, 1952); Jose Ferrer ("Mind Over Mayhem") in "The Pit and the Pendulum" (originally aired on CBS on November 27, 1947); and two-time Columbo guest star Ray Milland (killer in "The Greenhouse Jungle" and the victim's husband in "Death Lends a Hand") in "Chicken Feed" (originally aired on CBS on September 8, 1949) and "After the Movies" (originally aired on CBS on December 7, 1950).


Step back into an era where the crackle of a radio dial promised an evening of expertly crafted tension, brought to life by the most iconic voices ever captured on tape. Stars on Suspense (Old Time Radio) from Mean Streets Podcasts is a weekly double feature dedicated to preserving and celebrating this specific golden age artifact. The focus here is on the thrilling convergence of A-list Hollywood talent with the masterful sound production of the classic "Suspense" radio series. You'll hear legends like Orson Welles, Agnes Moorehead, or Cary Grant not in their familiar cinematic roles, but using only their voices to paint pictures of desperation, mystery, and impending doom. Each episode presents two complete, original broadcasts, allowing the listener to fully immerse in the narrative craftsmanship and atmospheric sound design that held a nation captive. This podcast isn't just about nostalgia; it's an archival showcase of performance art, highlighting how these stars built entire worlds and complex characters through vocal nuance alone. The collection spans the show's long run, offering everything from psychological noir to supernatural tales, all united by that signature spine-tingling "Suspense" mood. For anyone interested in the roots of modern audio drama, the history of performance, or simply a brilliantly told story, this curated journey provides a direct line to a time when imagination was the ultimate special effect. Tune in for a masterclass in tension, starring the very best.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Stars on Suspense (Old Time Radio)
Podcast Episodes
Episode 391 - Eva Le Gallienne [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:34:13
Eva Le Gallienne was a legend of the American stage - not only for her performances on Broadway but for her support of the development of off-Broadway and regional theatrical companies across the country. She made only o…
Episode 390 - June Havoc (Part 2) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:12:37
June Havoc - actress, singer, and younger sister of Gypsy Rose Lee - returns to the podcast in a sixty-minute adaptation of Cornell Woolrich's "The Black Angel" (originally aired on CBS on January 24, 1948). She plays a…
Episode 389 - Small Screen Stars [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:25:10
We'll turn on the TV this week with three radio thrillers featuring future television stars. Before he was Bart Maverick, Jack Kelly led the frantic search for a deadly snake on a boat in "A Shipment of Mute Fate" (origi…
BONUS - Holy Guest Villains, Batman! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:37:04
To the Batcave! In this bonus episode, we'll hear five Suspense stars who played Gotham City bad guys opposite Adam West and Burt Ward on Batman. We'll hear Vincent Price (Egghead) and Ida Lupino (Dr. Cassandra Spellcraf…
Episode 388 - John Dickson Carr (Part 2) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:07:39
John Dickson Carr - one of the giants of the golden age of mystery fiction - penned dozens of scripts in the early years of Suspense with stories ranging from historical crime drama to international espionage to good old…
BONUS - Singers in the Spotlight [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:25:10
In this bonus episode, we salute some of the singers who stepped up to the Suspense microphone and traded trills for thrills. Lena Horne is caught up in wartime espionage in "You Were Wonderful" (originally aired on CBS…
Episode 387 - Shirley Mitchell [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:00
Best known to radio fans as Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve's on again/off again fiancee, Shirley Mitchell had a long career on the air and the big and small screens. We'll hear her meet a man and his knife in "Blind Date"…
Episode 386 - John Dehner (Part 3) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:49:58
The great character actor John Dehner signs off with his final starring role on Suspense. He plays a husband and father who tries to keep his family safe after an armed fugitive breaks into their home in "Strange for a K…
BONUS - Alfred Hitchcock (Part 7) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:53
Happy Birthday, Hitch! This month, we celebrate the birthday of the big screen master of suspense with the audition recording for The Alfred Hitchcock Show - a series that would have featured the director as narrator of…
Episode 385 - Sam Edwards [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:36:05
A busy character actor on the big and small screens, Sam Edwards was also a versatile radio performer. Even in his 30s, he could still play teens - to comedic effect on Meet Corliss Archer or in dramas like Gunsmoke and…