Volume 2 of Suspense! "Radio's Theater of Thrills" premiered in 1942 and, from the start, producer William Spier strived for a tense, edge-of-your-seat kind of program that would both grab and keep the attention of listeners. As it increased in popularity, "Suspense" began to attract Hollywood stars, most of whom had seldom been given the chance to really flex their acting muscles on the air. Spier would test their mettle, frequently casting them against type, but this wasn't a stunt; movie stars were required to deliver the same intense performances as their radio-based co-stars -- and most not only delivered the goods but were thrilled by the opportunity to do so. Heard today, it's impressive just how well the 20 "well-calculated tales" in this collection still stand up to critical ears.