Drama
United States of America
on the show's format and notable episodes.
The format of Suspense involved presenting a self-contained story each episode, often in the form of a thriller or horror story. The stories were typically set in modern times but sometimes featured historical or fantasy settings. The show's tagline was "tales well calculated to keep you in suspense."
One notable episode of the series, titled "The Hitch-Hiker," aired on November 17, 1941, and was adapted from a radio play of the same name. It featured a young woman who, while driving cross-country alone, keeps encountering the same hitchhiker no matter where she is. The episode is considered a classic of suspenseful storytelling and has been adapted into various forms of media over the years.
Another memorable episode, "On a Country Road," aired on October 8, 1950. It was adapted from a short story by Hugh Pentecost and starred Frank Lovejoy and Nancy Coleman. The story follows a couple who are stranded on a deserted country road and must fend off a group of escaped convicts who are hunting them down. The episode is notable for its tense atmosphere and high-stakes action.
In addition to adapting literary classics and popular stories of the time, Suspense also occasionally featured original scripts. One such episode, "Nightmare at Ground Zero," aired on October 5, 1952. It was written by Rod Serling and starred James Gregory and Jack Klugman. The story follows a soldier who is stationed at a nuclear testing site and begins to experience terrifying hallucinations.
Overall, Suspense remains a beloved series for fans of classic television and suspenseful storytelling. Despite only a fraction of its episodes surviving, its impact on the genre is still felt today.
