Episode 414 - Favorites from 1943

Episode 414 - Favorites from 1943

Author: Mean Streets Podcasts May 29, 2025 Duration: 3:07:29

Join me on a trip back to 1943 and my favorite episodes of Suspense from that year. It was the year production of the show moved from New York to Hollywood, which meant it was easier for film stars to make appearances, and it picked up a sponsor in the form of Roma Wines. We'll hear Maureen O'Hara as a debutante turned detective in "The White Rose Murders" (originally aired on CBS on July 6, 1943), and Warren William reprise his big screen role as The Lone Wolf - a reformed jewel thief turned sleuth - in "Murder Goes for a Swim" (originally aired on CBS on July 20, 1943). Agnes Moorehead cements her status as the "first lady of Suspense" in the legendary "Sorry, Wrong Number" (originally aired on CBS on August 21, 1943), and Orson Welles plays a hunter who tracks human prey in "The Most Dangerous Game" (originally aired on CBS on September 23, 1943). Finally, Charles Laughton is a patriarch whose family reputation may be sullied by murder in "Wet Saturday" (originally aired on CBS on December 16, 1943), and Peter Lorre finds his foolproof murder scheme had an unexpected complication in "Back for Christmas" (originally aired on CBS on December 23, 1943).


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 439 - Stars of "Casablanca" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Here's looking at you, kid. In honor of Valentine's Day, here's one of Hollywood's all-time great romantic dramas - one of the all-time great movies, period - Casablanca. The tale of a love triangle set against an exotic…
Episode 438 - Stars of "His Girl Friday" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:37:09
A month of classic Hollywood romances kicks off with Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell trading quips at a mile a minute in His Girl Friday. Howard Hawks' adaptation of the newspaper comedy The Front Page changes the two ba…
Episode 437 - Stars of "Winchester '73" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:35:48
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Episode 436 - Stars of "My Darling Clementine" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:31:00
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Encore - Wild West Suspense [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:02:06
No new episode this week due to some unexpected conflicts, but since we're celebrating classic western movies, here's a collection of western tales from "radio's outstanding theater of thrills!" Alan Ladd hunts for his b…
Episode 435 - Stars of "Shane" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:02:59
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Episode 434 - Stars of "'Til We Meet Again" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:36:58
We bid goodbye to the old year and ring in the new with 'Til We Meet Again, a tale of star-crossed lovers on an ocean liner with plans for a New Year's Eve rendezvous…if the fates don't conspire against them. We'll hear…
Episode 433 - Stars of "It's a Wonderful Life" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:08:56
We wrap up our series of classic holiday films with It's a Wonderful Life - the timeless tale from Frank Capra that proves no man is a failure who has friends. We'll hear three of its stars - Jimmy Stewart, Sheldon Leona…
Episode 432 - Stars of "The Bishop's Wife" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:08:34
Our December series of classic holiday films continues with the cast of The Bishop's Wife - the heavenly comedy about a beleaguered bishop, his supportive wife, and the angel who pays a visit to lend a hand. We'll hear i…
Episode 431 - Stars of "It Happened on Fifth Avenue" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01:18
A tycoon's vacant mansion hosts holiday hijinks in the classic comedy It Happened on Fifth Avenue. It's the story of a vagrant who makes himself at home in the house when the owner heads south for the winter, and of how…