Anthology series Suspense aired on CBS in the United States from 1949 to 1954. From 1942 through 1962, it was broadcast on radio under the same title. The show was transmitted in real time from New York City, as was the case with many early television programs. The Auto-Lite company sponsored the show, and host Rex Marshall advertised Auto-Lite spark plugs, automobile batteries, headlights, and other auto equipment in each episode's introduction. There were some adaptations from radio shows like Suspense, while others were written from scratch for television. Many scripts, like the radio show, were based on well-known authors' works of literature. In addition to classic authors like Edgar Allan Poe, Agatha Christie, and Charles Dickens, contemporary authors like Roald Dahl and Gore Vidal were also involved in the series' stories. Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff, Franchot Tone, Robert Emhardt, Leslie Nielsen, Lloyd Bridges, and a slew of other legendary actors participated on the show. Many episodes of the show were recorded on kinescope, despite the fact that it was a live television show. As of now, just roughly 90 of the show's 260 episodes are still available for viewing.
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