Suspense – “Lady Killer” (Jan 23, 1947)

Suspense – “Lady Killer” (Jan 23, 1947)

Suspense takes us on a train ride where romance, charm, and menace travel side by side. In “Lady Killer,” a seemingly ordinary meeting between a young woman and a polite stranger quickly becomes something darker. As the journey unfolds, the man reveals a little too much about his “past wives” — and the listener is left to wonder: is she seated across from a harmless raconteur, or a predator planning his next victim?

First broadcast January 23, 1947, “Lady Killer” is a prime example of the series’ ability to transform everyday settings into theatres of terror. A cozy train compartment, polite conversation, and casual charm become tools of suspense as the tension builds with each passing mile. By the time the story reaches its climax, the air is thick with dread and the sense that escape may be impossible.

This episode highlights Suspense’s genius for psychological storytelling. There are no ghosts, no elaborate schemes — just words, tone, and suggestion. The most frightening moments come not from what we hear, but from what we imagine might happen when the lights go down and the train whistle fades into the distance.

Cast & Production

Produced by William Spier, the man who turned Suspense into appointment listening on CBS.

Musical score by Lucien Moraweck, whose cues underscore the creeping tension of a conversation gone wrong.

Starring George Coulouris and Margaret Phillips, both lending nuance and realism to their roles.

Why It Matters
“Lady Killer” sits alongside other fan-favorite psychological thrillers like “The House in Cypress Canyon” and “The Hitch-Hiker.” It demonstrates how Suspense could take a small, intimate story and make it resonate more deeply than any grand spectacle. This isn’t about who pulls the trigger — it’s about the realization that you might be sitting across from someone who has already pulled it before.

Bobby Jay’s Take
Episodes like “Lady Killer” remind us why Suspense was called “radio’s outstanding theater of thrills.” There’s no elaborate set, no special effect — just a conversation, a confined space, and the terrifying suspicion that you’ve let the wrong person into your life. That’s pure radio magic.

Presented by OTA Music Group as part of B4TV: Before Television — preserving the theatre of the mind for a new generation of listeners.