Episode 452 - Stars of "Citizen Kane"

Episode 452 - Stars of "Citizen Kane"

Author: Mean Streets Podcasts May 22, 2026 Duration: 3:00:25

Hailed by many as the greatest film ever made, Citizen Kane was the debut feature from Orson Welles and featured many of his colleagues from the Mercury Theatre productions of Broadway and radio. We'll hear Mr. Welles and his co-stars in radio thrillers: Ray Collins in "Marry for Murder" (originally aired on CBS on September 9, 1943); Welles in "Lazarus Walks" (AFRS rebroadcast from October 19, 1943); Joseph Cotten in "You'll Never See Me Again" (originally aired on CBS on September 14, 1944); George Coulouris in "The Long Shot" (AFRS rebroadcast from January 31, 1946); Agnes Moorehead in "The Evil of Adelaide Winters" (originally aired on CBS on September 10, 1951); and Everett Sloane in "Alibi" (AFRS rebroadcast from July 7, 1957).


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 428 - Stars of "The Killers" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:36:48
Ernest Hemingway's short story The Killers was memorably adapted and expanded for the big screen by director Robert Siodmak and an incredible cast. We'll hear the stars of that film - plus a radio recreation - as our "No…
Episode 427 - Stars of "The Maltese Falcon" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:53:10
Our celebration of "Noirvember" continues with the cast of The Maltese Falcon - the classic adaptation of Dashiell Hammett's celebrated novel. Peter Lorre plays a husband with a plot to dispose of his wife and her lover…
Episode 426 - Stars of "Laura" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:07:38
Beginning with this episode, Stars on Suspense goes to the movies and shines a spotlight on the cast of a Hollywood classic. Up first is Laura, the 1944 Oscar-nominated mystery that the American Film Institute hailed as…
Episode 425 - Horror's Heavy Hitters [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:45:26
Happy Halloween! We're celebrating with a spooky collection of some of the big screen's most famous monsters in old time radio thrillers. Orson Welles is the count who never drinks...wine in "Dracula," presented by the M…
Episode 424 - Final Favorites - 1955 to 1962 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:03:39
Our journey through the years of "radio's outstanding theatre of thrills" ends with my favorite installments from the final years of Suspense. Ray Bradbury presents a terrifying tale of a popular new kids' game in "Zero…
Episode 423 - Favorites from 1952 to 1954 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:30:33
Suspense enters its final decade on the air and loses its longtime sponsor as our journey through the years of the show continues. Between 1952 and 1954, Elliott Lewis remained at the helm of the series and continued to…
Episode 422 - Favorites from 1951 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:35:46
The first lady of Suspense, comedy legends, Oscar-winning stars, and some of radio's best character actors fill out the casts of my favorite Suspense shows from 1951. Agnes Moorehead races across town to save a stranger…
Episode 421 - Favorites from 1950 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:37:06
We enter the 50s as our journey through the years of Suspense continues with my favorite episodes from 1950. First, Dana Andrews is a cop on the trail of a killer in a radio adaptation of Ray Bradbury's "The Crowd" (orig…
Encore - Jack Benny: No Sillies, Just Suspense [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:37:19
As we head into the long Labor Day weekend, enjoy this encore episode featuring one of radio's greatest comedians trading laughs for thrills as Jack Benny stars on Suspense! First, he finds a bag of money and a pile of t…
Episode 420 - Favorites from 1949 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:36:04
Comedy legends, legendary leading men, and the first lady of Suspense - they're all here in my favorite episodes of 1949! Fibber McGee and Molly take the car ride from hell with an uninvited passenger in "Backseat Driver…