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Detectives on the Air

Presented by OTR.FM Network

Detectives on the Air: Classic Radio Sleuths from the Golden Age

Step into the world of shadowy alleys, smoky offices, and cunning criminals with Detectives on the Air—your portal to the greatest detective dramas from the golden age of radio. Join iconic sleuths like Johnny Dollar, Richard Diamond, Philip Marlowe, Philo Vance, and more as they solve thrilling mysteries and navigate the noir landscapes of classic crime. Each episode brings you a timeless tale of intrigue, suspense, and old-time detective work, perfect for fans of vintage radio and true crime. Rediscover these radio legends, and let their gripping stories captivate your imagination once more!

314 episodes

  1. The Salt City Matter Ep 4

    Nov 5, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: April 5, 1956 Johnny Dollar #364, "The Salt City Matter Ep 4," Johnny arrives in the ominous town of Salt City on behalf of insurance broker Samuel Rubin, tasked with bodyguarding Ed Julian and serving him a subpoena. After checking in at the Salt City Bar and Grill, he meets waitress Connie and the establishment's owner, Jim Reno, a man Johnny recognizes from a notorious Baltimore murder trial. Reno, who seems to own most of the town including the smelter works and taxi company, arranges transportation for Johnny to Ed Julian's cottage at the plant. When Johnny arrives at the darkened smelter works, he discovers Julian and another man named Chilly Winters sitting motionless in chairs, staring at each other in a drugged stupor. Before he can react, Johnny himself succumbs to drugs slipped to him earlier at the cafe. A man in gloves and dark glasses appears, takes Johnny's gun, and systematically shoots both Julian and Winters dead. The killer then plants the murder weapon on Johnny and explains the setup: Johnny will be framed for killing both men in self-defense, tried by Salt City's corrupt authorities, while the real murderers escape scrutiny from outside investigators. Become a supporter of this podcast

  2. The Salt City Matter Ep 3

    Nov 4, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: April 4, 1956 Johnny Dollar #363, "The Salt City Matter Ep 3," Johnny Dollar confronts the mysterious situation at the Skyline Apartments head-on, determined to locate the elusive Ed Julian. After a tense phone call with Look, Dollar faces off with Julian's muscle, Swifty and Luke, this time turning the tables with his own brand of persuasion. He makes his way upstairs where he meets Lorraine, Ed Julian's troubled wife, who reveals that her husband has disappeared with an ominous visitor from the East named Chilly Winters. The frightened woman hasn't seen her husband in days and warns Dollar that he's in over his head. Dollar investigates Chilly Winters' criminal background, discovering a rap sheet filled with violent felonies. His search seems futile until the Skyline's desk clerk arrives at his hotel room with valuable information. For a price, the nervous clerk reveals that Julian and Winters are hiding out at the Salt City Smelter Company, where a mysterious meeting with other dangerous men is planned. Dollar now has his lead, but the pieces of this puzzle are becoming increasingly dangerous. Become a supporter of this podcast

  3. The Salt City Matter Ep 1

    Nov 3, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: April 2, 1956 Johnny Dollar #361, "The Salt City Matter Ep 1," insurance investigator Johnny Dollar receives an urgent call from Sam Rubin, a Hartford insurance broker who's gotten himself into trouble. Sam has issued a $50,000 life insurance policy to Ed Julian, a notorious criminal operating under his real name, Eduardo Sarcovetti. Now word has reached Sam that several of Julian's old enemies have gathered in San Francisco, and he's terrified he'll have to pay out the policy before his lawyers can break it. Despite Johnny's initial reluctance to get involved with someone as dangerous as Julian, Sam persuades him with a $2,500 fee to fly to San Francisco and keep the man alive for a few days. Johnny arrives in fog-bound San Francisco and immediately heads to Julian's last known address on Nob Hill. There he encounters a property police officer who delivers troubling news: Julian and his wife moved out over a week ago, taking only what they could carry and leaving no forwarding address. With his quarry already vanished into the city and dangerous men potentially closing in, Johnny faces the challenge of locating a man who clearly doesn't want to be found. Become a supporter of this podcast

  4. The Lamarr Matter Ep 5

    Nov 2, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: March 30, 1956 Johnny Dollar #360, "The Lamarr Matter Ep 5," Johnny zeros in on the murder weapon that killed Thomas Lamar: a toothbrush laced with the rare poison pyrodameron. His investigation leads him to confront Walter Marson, Lamar's personal secretary, whom Johnny suspects of murdering his employer. In Marson's room, Johnny discovers a stolen library book describing the deadly poison derived from an extinct Greek flower. He accuses Marson of marrying Vonnie Lamar to secure a share of the insurance money, but Marson reveals they're already divorced and produces the papers to prove it. The confrontation takes an unexpected turn when Marson suggests Vonnie herself might be responsible, revealing her ongoing gambling debts and troubles. Johnny's investigation intensifies as he checks library records and discovers Vonnie had previously checked out the very book describing the poison. With the local gardener Dimitri possibly holding crucial information about the rare flower, Johnny finds himself racing to piece together the final clues. As evidence mounts and Vonnie mysteriously disappears somewhere on the estate grounds, Johnny prepares to close this case with a shocking revelation about who really killed Thomas Lamar. Become a supporter of this podcast

  5. The Lamarr Matter Ep 4

    Nov 1, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: March 29, 1956 Johnny Dollar #359, "The Lamarr Matter Ep 4," Johnny Dollar's investigation into the death of wealthy manufacturer Thomas Lamar takes a dark turn when Dr. Edward Wilson confirms that Lamar was poisoned with pyridamerin, a rare and nearly untraceable drug. Dollar confronts Dr. Wilson, one of Lamar's closest friends and a beneficiary of his will, about potential motives for murder. The doctor reveals a shocking secret about Lamar's adopted daughter, Vonnie, whom Dollar has fallen for: she's married to Walter Marson, Lamar's personal secretary. Marson manipulated the grief-stricken Vonnie into marriage by offering to cover her massive gambling debts using funds secretly obtained from Lamar's investments. As Dollar digs deeper, he learns that pyridamerin comes from an obscure plant that was supposedly destroyed by the Greek government years ago, yet someone somehow obtained it to kill Lamar. Dollar pursues a hunch at the local library, searching for information about the mysterious poison. When the librarian reveals he's an amateur expert on rare drugs and poisons who enjoys detective fiction, Dollar may have found an unexpected lead in this murder case. Become a supporter of this podcast

  6. The Lamarr Matter Ep 3

    Oct 31, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: March 28, 1956 Johnny Dollar #358, "The Lamarr Matter Ep 3," Johnny Dollar finds himself torn between personal feelings and professional duty when he arrives in South Bend, Indiana to investigate the death of Thomas Lamar, foster father to Vonnie, the woman Johnny has fallen for during his recent California vacation. When Vonnie calls him to the house, questioning whether her father was murdered, Johnny must confront the reality that his romantic interest is now entangled with a million-and-a-half-dollar insurance investigation. Lawrence Comstock of Tri-Mutual Insurance reveals the disturbing circumstances surrounding Lamar's death: a man in perfect health who died instantly after taking what should have been a harmless sleeping pill. Dr. Ed Wilson suspects a rare, deadly drug replaced the sugar pills, capable of killing even a healthy young man. The case grows more complex when Comstock reveals his suspicions about Walter Marson, Lamar's personal secretary who secretly married Vonnie over a year ago. Comstock believes Marson holds some mysterious power over Vonnie and may have murdered Thomas Lamar to gain access to the insurance fortune through his wife, suggesting Vonnie married him not out of love but under duress. Become a supporter of this podcast

  7. The Lamarr Matter Ep 2

    Oct 30, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: March 27, 1956 Johnny Dollar #357, "The Lamarr Matter Ep 2," Johnny Dollar's vacation in La Jolla is abruptly cut short when Pat McCracken from the Universal Adjustment Bureau calls with an urgent new case. Thomas Renee Lamar has died, and there's a million and a half dollars in insurance at stake. The twist: Johnny has been vacationing alongside Lamar's daughter Vonnie, who hasn't yet learned that her father's death might be murder. Lawrence Comstock, the Tri-Mutual insurance representative who was actually present when Lamar died, specifically requested Johnny for the investigation, convinced that foul play was involved despite the apparent natural death of the fifty-nine-year-old industrialist. Johnny faces an uncomfortable dilemma as he accompanies the grieving Vonnie on the flight from California to South Bend, unable to reveal his true purpose or profession. He must investigate everyone connected to the case, even as he grows closer to the victim's daughter. Upon arriving at the impressive Lamar estate, Johnny leaves Vonnie with the household staff and heads to Chicago to meet with Comstock, ready to uncover why the insurance man believes his good friend was murdered. Become a supporter of this podcast

  8. The Lamarr Matter Ep 1

    Oct 29, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: March 26, 1956 Johnny Dollar #356, "The Lamarr Matter Ep 1," Johnny Dollar is enjoying a well-deserved vacation at the luxurious El Crescenta resort in La Jolla, California, when he becomes captivated by Vonnie Lamar, an attractive brunette staying at the hotel. The daughter of a wealthy South Bend industrialist who owns Lamar Metal Products, Vonnie is waiting for her father to join her on their annual vacation together. When she receives a telegram from her father claiming he must delay his arrival due to "doctor's orders," Vonnie becomes suspicious since he recently passed a clean insurance examination with Tri-Mutual. Though a phone call to her father reveals only a case of indigestion, something feels off about the situation. As Johnny and Vonnie spend three idyllic days together swimming, sailing, and enjoying the resort's amenities, their relationship deepens beyond a simple vacation romance. Vonnie expresses her disdain for the wealthy playboys who typically pursue her, preferring hard-working men of real character. Despite claiming not to believe in love at first sight, both find themselves falling for each other, though Johnny maintains his cover story about running a filling station back east. Become a supporter of this podcast

  9. The Jolly Roger Fraud Matter Ep 5

    Oct 28, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: March 23, 1956 Johnny Dollar #355, "The Jolly Roger Fraud Matter Ep 5," Johnny Dollar discovers a deadly booby trap wired to the ignition of Jan Penny's car, saving his life when he notices the hood isn't closed properly. His suspicions aroused, he overhears Jan making a mysterious phone call and realizes she may be working with Sanagian all along. When Johnny confronts her in her apartment, the cunning Sanagian and his gunman Artiz appear, holding Johnny at gunpoint. The mastermind behind the yacht fraud reveals that only Jan could have provided him with detailed information about Johnny's investigation, including his movements and conversations with witnesses. As Sanagian smugly confesses to sinking the Jolly Roger and murdering its crew to finance his return to Europe and access frozen assets worth millions, he attempts to recruit Johnny to his criminal enterprise. The insurance investigator finds himself trapped with a gun pointed at him, facing both a ruthless killer and the woman he trusted, while desperately stalling for time in hopes that Sergeant Franklin will arrive before Sanagian decides to eliminate him. Become a supporter of this podcast

  10. The Jolly Roger Fraud Matter Ep 4

    Oct 27, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: March 22, 1956 Johnny Dollar #354, "The Jolly Roger Fraud Matter Ep 4," Johnny Dollar finds himself deeper in a deadly conspiracy surrounding the suspicious sinking of the yacht Jolly Roger and its $460,000 insurance claim filed by international arms dealer Paula Zanagian. After consulting with Sergeant Franklin of the San Diego Police, Dollar pieces together the evidence: owner Zanagian, desperate for cash after having his European funds frozen, likely planted a time bomb aboard his own yacht. The captain would have escaped before the explosion, but was killed when a radar mast struck him. Two men who tried to help Dollar investigate, insurance adjuster Bert Parker and Coast Guard Lieutenant Smith, have already been murdered in hit-and-run incidents involving a black Buick sedan. Dollar grows increasingly paranoid as Zanagian seems to anticipate his every move, though the police have been watching Zanagian's known associates closely. Concerned for the safety of Jan Penny, Parker's secretary who has been assisting him, Dollar arranges police protection and heads to her apartment to review Parker's case files, hoping to find evidence that will crack the case wide open. Become a supporter of this podcast

  11. The Jolly Roger Fraud Matter Ep 3

    Oct 26, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: March 21, 1956 Johnny Dollar #353, "The Jolly Roger Fraud Matter Ep 3," Johnny Dollar races to a Tijuana hospital to interview the sole survivor of the Jolly Roger yacht explosion, a cabin boy who may hold the key to proving the $460,000 insurance claim is fraudulent. However, Dr. Fernando Hernandez delivers devastating news: the boy has died under suspicious circumstances, murdered with a knitting needle while left alone momentarily after successful surgery. Dollar grows increasingly convinced that international racketeer Paula Zanagian, whose European bank accounts have been frozen, orchestrated both the yacht's destruction and the cabin boy's death to collect the insurance money. Working carefully to avoid Zanagian's surveillance, Dollar consults with Lieutenant Smith and yacht owner Jan Penny at Coast Guard headquarters. He arranges for a rental car under an assumed name and takes a circuitous route to Mexico, constantly watching for tails. Dr. Hernandez reveals that the cabin boy regained consciousness before the operation and shared crucial information about the sinking, which the doctor carefully documented in his notes. Just as he reaches for those notes to share them with Dollar, the tension mounts. Become a supporter of this podcast

  12. The Jolly Roger Fraud Matter Ep 2

    Oct 25, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: March 20, 1956 Johnny Dollar #352, "The Jolly Roger Fraud Matter Ep 2," Johnny Dollar races to comfort Jan Penny, secretary to the late Bert Parker, after she receives a chilling phone call threatening her life if she continues helping with the investigation. Jan reveals that the voice is the same one that warned Bert before his fatal "accident," though she cannot identify the caller. She explains that her boss had reluctantly insured the Jolly Roger for $460,000 because the company needed the premium money, but grew suspicious when owner Paula Zanagian personally submitted the claim after the ship burned and sank near the Coronado Islands. The next morning, Johnny visits police headquarters where Detective Sergeant Joe Franklin confirms they have no leads on Parker's hit-and-run death. When Johnny confronts the international criminal Zanagian at his penthouse suite, the smooth-talking shipowner reveals he has been having Johnny followed since his arrival. Zanagian claims it is for Johnny's protection, then attempts to bribe the investigator for a quick settlement. Johnny's suspicions intensify as the case begins to reek of fraud and murder. Become a supporter of this podcast

  13. The Jolly Roger Fraud Matter Ep 1

    Oct 24, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: March 19, 1956 Johnny Dollar #351, "The Jolly Roger Fraud Matter Ep 1," Johnny Dollar is all set for a relaxing skin diving vacation in La Jolla, California, when his boss Pat McCracken lures him into taking one more case. The Jolly Roger, a luxurious 110-foot diesel yacht owned by Paula Zaganian, a disreputable ex-rum runner and suspected wartime profiteer, has burned and sunk off the coast near San Diego. The total loss amounts to $460,000, and Southwest Maritime Insurance smells fraud. Pat assigns Johnny to work with adjuster Bert Parker, who handled Johnny's last successful West Coast case. When Johnny arrives in San Diego, he's met at the airport not by Bert but by Jan Penny, Bert's assistant. She delivers shocking news: Bert is in the hospital after what appears to be a deliberate hit-and-run. At the Queen of Mercy Hospital, a badly injured Bert warns Johnny about threatening phone calls he received for calling Hartford and requesting an investigation. Before he can reveal who's behind the threats, Bert suffers internal bleeding and dies, leaving Johnny with only one certainty: someone doesn't want this case investigated, and Johnny's life may be in danger too. Become a supporter of this podcast

  14. The Clinton Matter Ep 5

    Oct 23, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: March 16, 1956 Johnny Dollar #350, "The Clinton Matter Ep 5," Johnny Dollar continues his investigation into the suspicious school fire in Clinton, Colorado, uncovering a web of corruption that reaches deep into the town's leadership. Working with his operative Toby O'Brien, Johnny discovers that murdered building inspector Richard Hobb deposited twenty thousand dollars in the bank over six months, far exceeding his seventy-five hundred dollar annual salary. The deposits coincide perfectly with Hobb's inspection approvals on the school building, proving he was taking payoffs. Johnny confronts Hobb's widow, who despite her theatrical mourning act reveals that her late husband received the money from Roy Vickery's Clinton Gravel Company. She also discloses that Hobb was killed after leaving to see Johnny, having realized Vickery and the others planned to make him their scapegoat. The evidence against Vickery mounts when architect David Baines, consumed with guilt over his role in the fraud, provides Johnny with stolen purchase orders from Vickery's office proving substandard materials were used in the school construction. With witnesses placing Vickery at the scene of Hobb's murder and damning documentation in hand, Johnny prepares to expose the entire conspiracy through the local newspaper. Become a supporter of this podcast

  15. The Clinton Matter Ep 4

    Oct 22, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: March 15, 1956 Johnny Dollar #349, "The Clinton Matter Ep 4," Johnny receives urgent news from his boss Al Davis, who is en route to Clinton with reinforcements after learning of building inspector Richard Hobbes' murder. When Sheriff Dougherty arrives for coffee, Johnny confronts him directly about the corruption plaguing Clinton, suggesting that Hobbes may have been killed because he was coming forward with information about the school fire. The sheriff warns Johnny to stay out of his way, but Johnny refuses to back down. Al Davis arrives with an impressive team of expert investigators including Toby O'Brand, Rob Schwartz, the Minks Twins, Todd Weaver, Lou Doniger, and Thad Thomas. Johnny assigns each investigator specific targets: some to investigate Hobbes' murder and background, others to dig into contractor Roy Vickery's finances, Fire Chief Hanley's activities, and the deceased janitor Julian Osborne. The goal is to guarantee protection to anyone willing to make statements against the corrupt officials. Soon after the team disperses through town, Johnny gets a mysterious call from construction foreman Earl Kennedy, who picks him up with newspaper editor Frank Ibsen and three construction workers, all ready to provide crucial testimony about Vickery's fraudulent practices. Become a supporter of this podcast

  16. The Clinton Matter Ep 3

    Oct 21, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: March 14, 1956 Johnny Dollar #348, "The Clinton Matter Ep 3," Johnny Dollar finally finds allies willing to break the wall of silence surrounding the suspicious school fire in Clinton, Colorado. School principal Florey Hawkins, overcome by guilt about the potential tragedy that could have killed 1,400 students, secretly meets Dollar at The Trader's Inn despite warnings from Sheriff Doherty. She reveals that Julian Osborne, who originally reported the building violations, told her the school wasn't built to specifications before he burned to death. With Johnny's encouragement, both Hawkins and architect David Baines agree to provide sworn statements about the construction irregularities, though Baines refuses to leave town for his own safety. When Dollar attempts to interview building inspector Richard Hobb, he discovers the man has fled during the fire. His bitter, intoxicated wife Lucille reveals that her husband abandoned her, though she claims not to know where he went. Dollar sends Hawkins to Denver for protection and mails the damning statements to himself at his hotel. When he informs Sheriff Doherty, Fire Chief Hanley, and contractor Roy Vickery about the sworn statements, they each dismiss him with contempt, setting the stage for a dangerous confrontation. Become a supporter of this podcast

  17. The Clinton Matter Ep 2

    Oct 20, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: March 13, 1956 Johnny Dollar #347, "The Clinton Matter Ep 2," Johnny Dollar continues his investigation into the suspicious school fire in Clinton, Colorado, hitting a wall of resistance from the town's power players. Fire Chief Hanley insists the blaze started from exploded boilers, but Dollar is skeptical—why would the boilers even be fired up when school wasn't in session? Sheriff Doherty and school principal Florie Hawkins also claim ignorance, while janitor Julian Osborne, who originally reported building irregularities, died in the fire. Dollar finds himself stonewalled at every turn by what appears to be a coordinated effort to shut down his investigation. Architect David Baines, still recovering from a beating, reveals the truth over breakfast: wealthy contractor Roy Vickery sent him to Europe during construction, then substituted cheap materials for the steel and proper systems Baines had specified. When Dollar tries to question Vickery at his estate, he finds Sheriff Doherty's men protecting the builder from an angry mob of citizens. Dollar cleverly turns the situation to his advantage, using the crowd's fury to pressure his way past the sheriff's blockade and confront the man at the center of the scandal. Become a supporter of this podcast

  18. The Clinton Matter Ep 1

    Oct 19, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: March 12, 1956 Johnny Dollar #346, "The Clinton Matter Ep 1," Johnny Dollar arrives in the remote mountain town of Clinton, Colorado to investigate a tip from Julian Osborne, a school janitor who reported building irregularities affecting multiple insurance companies. Before Dollar can make contact, disaster strikes when the new school building collapses and burns to the ground, killing Osborne in the fire. The $200,000 claim suddenly becomes much more serious, and Dollar finds himself investigating not just construction problems but a possible death under suspicious circumstances. Dollar's investigation immediately hits resistance from the locals. Sheriff Paul Doherty seems oddly uninterested in Osborne's concerns about the school, while principal Florrie Hawkins grows evasive after receiving a mysterious phone call from the sheriff during Dollar's visit. With Osborne dead, the school destroyed, and the townspeople closing ranks, Dollar faces an uphill battle to uncover the truth about what might be a racket rather than a simple insurance matter. Become a supporter of this podcast

  19. The Plantagent Matter Ep 5

    Oct 18, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: March 9, 1956 Johnny Dollar #345, "The Plantagent Matter Ep 5," Johnny Dollar finds himself in hot water when he finally turns over Amy Duran's gun to Lieutenant Aikens. The ballistics report confirms it's the murder weapon that killed auditor Clarence Belden, but Aikens surprisingly lets Dollar walk away despite his withholding of evidence. The case appears closed: Amy embezzled ten thousand dollars, shot the auditor when discovered, and took poison to end her life. However, a crucial discovery changes everything when Aikens reveals they found a certified check for ten thousand dollars in Amy's apartment, issued days before the murder. If Amy had the money to cover the shortage, why would she shoot Belden and kill herself? Dollar refuses to accept the neat explanation. While Aikens publicly maintains the suicide story to make the real culprit careless, Dollar begins his own investigation, interviewing people who knew the murdered auditor. Everyone agrees Belden was reasonable and would have listened to Amy's offer of reimbursement. When Paul Dameron invites Dollar into his office, claiming the case is finished, Dollar knows otherwise. Someone is lying, and the truth about Amy Duran's death remains hidden. Become a supporter of this podcast

  20. The Plantagent Matter Ep 4

    Oct 17, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: March 8, 1956 Johnny Dollar #344, "The Plantagant Matter Ep 4," Johnny finds himself in deep trouble when he realizes he's been withholding crucial evidence from the police. He calls attorney Samuel W. Oldfield from a police station pay phone, urgently requesting legal representation for potential charges of withholding evidence and possibly being connected to a murder. Johnny explains how he found a .38 Colt revolver in Amy Duran's purse, registered to a deceased bank guard named O'Connell, and the gun is missing three bullets. Meanwhile, Lieutenant Aikens is investigating the murder of an auditor named Belden, shot three times with a .38 caliber weapon. The case grows more complex when Aikens reveals that his prime suspect in the Belden murder is Amy Duran herself, who worked as chief accountant at Richmond Limited and apparently embezzled ten thousand dollars. Despite knowing Amy is already dead in the morgue, Johnny doesn't reveal this information or turn over the gun. Haunted by Amy's dying plea for help, he returns to Therese O'Connell's house to confront her about her sister's death and the mysterious weapon. Become a supporter of this podcast

  21. The Plantagent Matter Ep 3

    Oct 16, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: March 7, 1956 Johnny Dollar #343, "The Plantagent Matter Ep 3," Johnny investigates the mysterious 38 caliber automatic found in Jane Doe's purse, tracing the weapon through the Vicksburg police licensing division to Raymond W. O'Connell. When he arrives at the Polk Street address, he's greeted by Terry O'Connell, Ray's attractive young widow who mistakes him for one of her late husband's service buddies. She's eager to introduce him to her fiancé Paul Dameron, the man Johnny encountered arguing with the dead girl in the hotel parking lot the previous night. Before Paul arrives, Johnny spots a photograph on the mantle and realizes Terry's new love is the same mysterious man from the parking lot. When Paul shows up, Johnny confronts him about his connection to the dead woman. Paul reluctantly identifies her as Amy Duran, a coworker from his office. As tensions rise between the two men outside Terry's home, Johnny must decide whether to reveal what he knows about Amy's death and the gun that once belonged to Terry's deceased husband. Become a supporter of this podcast

  22. The Plantagent Matter Ep 2

    Oct 15, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: March 6, 1956 Johnny Dollar #342, "The Plantagent Matter Ep 2," Johnny finds himself entangled with the Vicksburg Police Department after a mysterious young woman dies in his arms at the emergency hospital. Lieutenant Jim Aikens brings Johnny in for questioning, pressing him for details about the unidentified girl he met in the hotel parking lot the previous evening. Johnny can offer little help - he doesn't know her name, where she lived, or the identity of the man she was arguing with when he first encountered her. All he knows is that he bought her a drink, tried to cheer her up, and rushed her to the hospital when she collapsed. The investigation deepens when the toxicology report reveals she died from perimethol poisoning, a petrol-based drug. Aikens leans toward suicide, suggesting the girl was despondent over a failed romance, but Johnny bristles at the lieutenant's formulaic approach to the case. Critical questions remain unanswered: Who was the boyfriend in the parking lot? Where is the girl's purse? And most importantly, who is this mysterious Jane Doe whose death Johnny witnessed? Become a supporter of this podcast

  23. The Plantagent Matter Ep 1

    Oct 14, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: March 5, 1956 Johnny Dollar #341, "The Plantagent Matter Ep 1," Johnny Dollar flies to Vicksburg, Virginia, to investigate a burglary at the Plantagent Hotel for Eastern Seaboard Casualty Insurance. The case appears straightforward when hotel manager Mr. Costello reports that police have already caught the burglar and recovered all the stolen property. After wrapping up the routine investigation, Johnny heads to the hotel bar and steps outside for some fresh air, expecting to catch a flight back to Hartford the next day. In the parking lot, Johnny encounters a mysterious blonde woman in her thirties being accosted by a tall, aggressive man. After intervening and sending the man away, Johnny learns the woman is deeply troubled by something she won't explain. He buys her a drink to calm her nerves, and she thanks him for his kindness without revealing her name or her problems. When Johnny helps her into a cab to go home, something goes terribly wrong. The woman suddenly collapses in agony, writhing in pain and falling unconscious in Johnny's arms, transforming what seemed like a closed case into something far more sinister. Become a supporter of this podcast

  24. The Fathom Five Matter Ep 5

    Oct 13, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: March 2, 1956 Johnny Dollar #340, "The Fathom Five Matter Ep 5," Johnny faces a baffling twist when William Markey's body washes ashore, proving the insurance investigator wrong about his fraud theory. Detective Barney Wilson summons Dollar to the county morgue, where the medical examiner's autopsy reveals impossible findings: Markey has only been dead eighteen hours, not five days since the Fathom Five sank, and his lungs contain fresh water, not seawater. The discovery confirms Dollar's original suspicion that Markey survived the sinking, but raises new questions about who killed him and why. Wilson's team finally locates the car Markey purchased under an assumed name, parked outside an apartment building where he had been hiding as "Mr. Jones." When Dollar and Wilson discover that young Danny Haynes is inside the apartment collecting Markey's belongings, they attempt to question him. Haynes refuses to cooperate and makes a desperate escape attempt down the fire escape, forcing a confrontation that ends with Wilson's gun. Become a supporter of this podcast

  25. The Fathom Five Matter Ep 4

    Oct 12, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: March 1, 1956 Johnny Dollar #339, "The Fathom Five Matter Ep 4," Johnny Dollar confronts Edna Markey with his theory of an elaborate insurance fraud. He lays out the whole scheme: her supposedly dead husband William Markey, a champion long-distance swimmer facing bankruptcy, bought a car under an assumed name, then deliberately sank the Fathom Five in heavy fog and swam to shore. Dollar believes the Markeys planned to frame young Danny Haynes for murder while collecting on William's $75,000 life insurance policy. Despite Dollar's warnings that she'll end up in prison if she files a claim, Edna maintains her husband is dead and Dollar is wrong. After leaving the Markey house, Dollar notices a mysterious visitor arrived at Edna's door during their conversation. Suspicious about her nervous reaction, he heads to Danny Haynes' place and accuses the young man of being that visitor. Meanwhile, district attorney Barney Wilson has petitioned for a hearing to have William Markey declared legally dead, setting up a courtroom showdown for the following morning where Dollar must prove his fraud theory or watch the insurance payout proceed. Become a supporter of this podcast