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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 Fathom Five Matter Ep 3

    Oct 11, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: February 29, 1956 Johnny Dollar #338, "The Fathom Five Matter Ep 3," Johnny meets with Deputy District Attorney Barney Wilson to compare theories about the mysterious burning and sinking of the cruiser Fathom V. Wilson is convinced it's murder, believing that young Danny Haynes killed his employer William Markey to pursue Markey's attractive wife. According to Wilson's theory, Haynes took Markey out on the boat, knocked him unconscious during a confrontation, threw him overboard, then deliberately scuttled the vessel to cover his tracks. Wilson plans to arrest and interrogate Haynes until he breaks down and confesses. Johnny presents a starkly different theory based on evidence from New York investigators. He's discovered that Markey was financially ruined despite appearing prosperous, making the seventy-five thousand dollar life insurance policy extremely convenient. Johnny believes this is an elaborate insurance fraud, with Markey faking his own death by swimming ashore in the fog while Haynes innocently departed in the dinghy. Mrs. Markey's controlled demeanor and the suspicious absence of Markey's body support Johnny's suspicions. When Johnny requests a photograph of the supposedly deceased man, Mrs. Markey's hesitant response only deepens his doubts. Become a supporter of this podcast

  2. The Fathom Five Matter Ep 2

    Oct 10, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: February 28, 1956 Johnny Dollar #337, "The Fathom Five Matter Ep 2," Johnny Dollar continues his investigation into William Markey's mysterious death at sea as salvage crews prepare to raise the sunken cruiser. He meets with Special Deputy Barney Wilson, who invites him to witness the recovery scheduled for eight o'clock that evening. Dollar remains skeptical about whether Markey is truly dead, while Wilson confidently expects to introduce him to "the late William Markey." Before the salvage operation, Johnny visits the grieving widow at the Markey beach house. The beautiful Mrs. Markey has been living in shock since her husband's death, but the interview takes a tense turn when Dollar probes into the couple's relationship with young Danny Haynes, who was living with them and was present when the cruiser burned and sank. Dollar presses Mrs. Markey with uncomfortable questions about her husband's mental state, their finances, and any possible tension regarding Danny Haynes. She grows defensive and resentful until Johnny explains the hard truth: without Markey's body, the insurance company won't pay without proof of death. When he reveals that her husband's demise could only result from accident, suicide, or murder, Mrs. Markey suddenly realizes the implications regarding Danny, the only witness to what happened on that boat. Become a supporter of this podcast

  3. The Fathom Five Matter Ep 1

    Oct 9, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: February 27, 1956 Johnny Dollar #336, "The Fathom Five Matter Ep 1," Johnny Dollar receives a poetic summons from Ralph at the Hartford home office about a suspicious drowning case worth $75,000. William Markey, a 46-year-old consulting engineer from New York, allegedly died when a charter boat called the Fathom Five caught fire and sank off the coast of Miami Beach. The only witness to the incident is Danny Haines, Markey's young employee and friend, who claims he was fishing from a dinghy when he saw the cruiser burst into flames. Haines says he couldn't reach Markey in time, and no body has been recovered from the fifty-foot-deep waters. Deputy investigator Barney Wilson from the DA's office lays out the suspicious circumstances for Johnny. Markey had been vacationing in Miami Beach for a month with his wife of three years, age 30, and Haines. The three were inseparable, nightclubbing and spending all their time together. Wilson makes his suspicions clear: he believes this is a case of murder and plans to charge Danny Haines, calling it the old story of two men going out with only one coming back. Johnny must determine whether Markey is truly dead or if something more sinister occurred in the foggy morning waters off Miami Beach. Become a supporter of this podcast

  4. The Bennet Matter Ep 5

    Oct 8, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: February 24, 1956 Johnny Dollar #335, "The Bennet Matter Ep 5," finds Johnny and Andy Cord waiting anxiously at the courthouse as the jury deliberates the fate of George Foley, the arsonist who torched Arnold Bennett's building. When the guilty verdict comes in, a desperate Foley summons Johnny to his cell, claiming he wants to help bring down Bennett. What follows is a frustrating interrogation as Foley's story constantly shifts. He claims Bennett hired him to burn the building for insurance money, but the details keep changing. Was the payment one thousand dollars or twenty-five hundred? Did they meet in person or arrange everything by phone? Did Bennett leave the money at a bus terminal checkstand, or did he hand it over in his car on Market Street? Johnny and Andy press Foley hard, catching him in contradiction after contradiction. While Foley consistently maintains that Bennett hired him for the arson job, his jumbled and conflicting accounts of when, where, and how they met make his testimony nearly worthless. Despite their frustration, Johnny remains confident they can still nail Bennett with or without Foley's cooperation. Become a supporter of this podcast

  5. The Bennet Matter Ep 4

    Oct 7, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: February 23, 1956 Johnny Dollar #334, "The Bennet Matter Ep 4," Johnny returns to San Francisco where the arson trial against George Foley is underway, but insurance investigator Andrew Cord worries they haven't yet connected Foley to their real target: Arnold Bennett. Despite compelling evidence, Defense attorney Jake Eggleston, described as one of the best in the business, threatens to derail the prosecution's case. Johnny takes the stand and delivers crucial testimony linking Foley to the Bennett building fire through his signature method of arson using a paraffin-soaked wick stuffed with celluloid. He details how paint smudges and metal filings found on Foley's clothing match samples from the building, and how witnesses placed Foley at the scene. The testimony reaches a critical moment when Johnny reveals that Bennett's niece, Elizabeth Bennett, informed him that her uncle hired Foley to torch the building for insurance money. Defense counsel Eggleston aggressively contests every point, attempting to get Johnny's remarks stricken from the record. As the case goes to the jury, Cord expresses his concern that without a conviction against Foley, their case against Bennett will crumble, potentially leaving them liable for the insurance claim. Become a supporter of this podcast

  6. The Bennet Matter Ep 3

    Oct 6, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: February 22, 1956 Johnny Dollar #333, "The Bennet Matter Ep 3," Johnny Dollar continues his investigation into the arson of Arnold Bennett's building, with suspect George Foley refusing to talk despite police interrogation all night. With insufficient evidence to tie Foley to Bennett, Johnny and insurance investigator Andy Cord search for a breakthrough. Johnny decides to track down Elizabeth Bennett, Arnold Bennett's niece and widow of Tony Midas, whom Bennett framed and sent to prison five years earlier. Following a lead, Johnny heads to the apartment of lawyer Marty Engel, who defended Midas in court. The confrontation turns violent when Elizabeth arrives at Engel's apartment armed and intent on revenge, believing the lawyer helped frame her husband. Johnny intervenes, preventing another shooting. The grief-stricken Elizabeth reveals that her husband Tony died of tuberculosis in prison just a month earlier, and she witnessed Bennett meeting with arsonist George Foley in a downtown bar. Despite her emotional confession about waiting five years for Tony only to lose him to prison, Elizabeth is arrested and charged with the assault on Bennett and Engel, while Johnny hopes her testimony will finally connect Bennett to Foley and break the case open. Become a supporter of this podcast

  7. The Bennet Matter Ep 2

    Oct 5, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: February 21, 1956 Johnny Dollar #332, "The Bennet Matter Ep 2," Johnny Dollar investigates a complex case that takes a violent turn when Arnold Bennett is shot at his home and rushed to the hospital with a 50-50 chance of survival. Fire investigator Bill Underwood confirms the Bennett building fire was arson, started by a professional using celluloid and a paraffin wick. Police are searching for Tony Midas, the ex-convict whom Bennett prosecuted for embezzlement, and for Midas's wife Elizabeth Bennett, Arnold's niece, who married Midas just before his conviction and called Johnny with information but has now disappeared. Johnny tracks down defense attorney Engel, who defended Midas at trial and believes the young man may have been framed. Engel reveals that Midas always maintained his innocence and suggested Bennett was covering up income tax shortages. As Johnny presses for answers about whether Midas could be responsible for the arson and shooting, dark implications emerge about Bennett's business practices and the true nature of the embezzlement case. Become a supporter of this podcast

  8. The Bennet Matter Ep 1

    Oct 4, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: February 20, 1956 Johnny Dollar #331, "The Bennet Matter Ep 1," insurance investigator Johnny Dollar heads to San Francisco with Four State investigator Andrew Cord to probe a suspicious fire that destroyed a ten-story office building owned by Arnold Bennett. The building, insured for half a million dollars by five companies, went up in flames just a month after completion. Arson inspector Bill Underwood is convinced it was a professional torch job—the fire burned too hot and too fast to be accidental. A mysterious dark-haired man was spotted loitering near the building before the blaze, then fled on a bus moments before the fire erupted. The trio of investigators divides the work: Underwood will comb through the ashes for evidence, Cord will investigate Bennett's precarious financial situation, and Dollar will go face-to-face with the contractor himself. Both Cord and Underwood warn Dollar about Arnold Bennett, a tough, intimidating character in his sixties with a colorful past as a sailor, soldier, bootlegger, and gunrunner who has never been beaten. When Dollar arrives at Bennett's office, he encounters the contractor's niece Elizabeth, a plain woman who hints that her uncle's temperament is formidable even on his good days. Become a supporter of this podcast

  9. The Cui Bono Matter Ep 5

    Oct 3, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: February 17, 1956 Johnny Dollar #330, "The Cui Bono Matter Ep 5," Johnny Dollar prepares to close his investigation into the death of Dan Parker, shot by his daughter Luann in what she claims was a tragic accident. Despite exhaustive investigation, Johnny finds himself unable to answer the central question: when Luann fired down those dark stairs, did she know she was shooting her own father? Ready to recommend payment of the hundred-thousand-dollar insurance claim, Johnny visits Sammy's Happy Hollow Roadhouse, where the cynical owner remains convinced that Luann coldly murdered her father for the money. Just as Johnny accepts defeat, a chance encounter with a traveling salesman provides an unexpected break in the case. The man had met Dan Parker on the train the night of his death and reveals that Parker's daughter had recently given him three novelty neckties. The salesman insists on showing Johnny something about one of these ties outside the roadhouse, hinting at a peculiar feature that Parker found amusing. This seemingly trivial detail may finally provide the answer Johnny has been searching for. Become a supporter of this podcast

  10. The Cui Bono Matter Ep 4

    Oct 2, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: February 16, 1956 Johnny Dollar #329, "The Cui Bono Matter Ep 4," Johnny Dollar faces mounting hostility from Tom Bates, the acting county attorney who's replaced the murdered Dan Parker. Bates insists on being present when Dollar finally gets to interview Lou Ann Parker, the daughter who shot her father thinking he was a prowler. Dollar turns the tables on Bates, suggesting that the attorney himself had motive to kill Parker: he got the job, can now run mobster Sammy Drake out of town without interference, and stands to benefit from the insurance money if he marries Lou Ann. The confrontation sets the stage for a tense interview. When Dollar finally meets Lou Ann, he finds her remarkably composed and mature beyond her years. She dismisses Bates from the interview despite his protests, demonstrating an independence that intrigues Dollar. Lou Ann speaks candidly about her relationship with her father, admitting their only disagreements centered on her desire to move to New York. She also reveals her complicated history with Sammy Drake, the one person in town who speaks against her, explaining how her playful deception turned into unwanted romantic attention. Become a supporter of this podcast

  11. The Cui Bono Matter Ep 3

    Oct 1, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: February 15, 1956 Johnny Dollar #328, "The Cui Bono Matter Ep 3," Johnny Dollar continues his investigation into the death of Dan Parker, despite mounting resistance from acting county attorney Tom Bates, who threatens to block Dollar's attempts to question the victim's adopted daughter, Luann Parker. Bates claims the young woman is too upset to be interrogated, but Dollar suspects there's more to her story than a simple case of mistaken identity. The investigation takes Dollar to Sammy Drake's Happy Hollow Roadhouse, a neon-lit dive on the highway north of town. At the roadhouse, Dollar confronts Sammy Drake, who quickly reveals he had no motive to harm Parker since the county attorney was on his payroll for fifteen hundred dollars a month, providing protection for Drake's illicit operations. Drake paints a picture of Luann as a spoiled, naive young woman desperate to escape small-town life for the glamour of New York City, despite her father's objections. She frequently visited Drake's establishment seeking information about big city life, much to the disapproval of both her father and Tom Bates, who harbors romantic feelings for her. Become a supporter of this podcast

  12. The Cui Bono Matter Ep 2

    Sep 30, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: February 14, 1956 Johnny Dollar #327, "The Cui Bono Matter Ep 2," Johnny Dollar confronts Acting County Attorney Tom Bates about the suspicious death of longtime county attorney Dan Parker. Despite the official ruling of accidental death, Dollar presses Bates for cooperation, threatening subpoenas and legal action when the young attorney initially refuses to talk. Bates, who's in love with Parker's adopted daughter Luanne, grows defensive when Dollar questions the gentle handling of witnesses at the coroner's inquest. He insists the girl was half out of her mind with grief and that the facts are clear: she mistook her father for a prowler and shot him. As Dollar digs deeper, tensions rise. He learns about Bates' relationship with Luanne, his disagreements with Parker about prosecuting the Happy Hollow Roadhouse and its owner Sammy Drake, and the fact that Luanne is an expert marksman trained by her own father. When Bates claims not to understand Dollar's line of questioning, the investigator invokes the Latin principle "cui bono"—who benefits? While Luanne stands to collect $100,000 in insurance, Dollar suggests she may not be the only one who benefits from Dan Parker's death. Become a supporter of this podcast

  13. The Cui Bono Matter Ep 1

    Sep 29, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: February 13, 1956 Johnny Dollar #326, "The Cui Bono Matter Ep 1," Johnny Dollar heads to Green Pass, Virginia, to investigate a suspicious death that looks almost too convenient to be an accident. Dan Parker, the county attorney, was shot dead by his stepdaughter Lou Ann Parker, who claims she mistook him for a prowler when he returned unexpectedly from a business trip. The problem is, Lou Ann stands to benefit from a $100,000 double indemnity insurance policy. As Don Hancock at Surety Mutual puts it: Cui bono? Who benefits? Upon arriving in the quiet hill town, Johnny encounters a wall of resistance from the locals. From taxi driver Jake Digley to Sheriff Jim Peterson, everyone seems protective of Lou Ann, describing her as beloved by the entire community and devoted to her stepfather. The details raise questions: Dan Parker walked three miles home at midnight without notifying anyone, Lou Ann fired two perfect shots in complete darkness hitting him in the heart, and the coroner is ready to rule it an unavoidable accident. As Johnny begins digging into the case, Jake Digley warns him to "dig easy" or face trouble from the tight-knit community. Become a supporter of this podcast

  14. The Mcclain Matter Ep 5

    Sep 28, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: February 10, 1956 Johnny Dollar #325, "The Mcclain Matter Ep 5," Johnny Dollar races to a Los Angeles hospital after learning that Dr. Dave McClain has been shot three times by Riley, the devastated boyfriend of Teresa Corbett. Despite his critical injuries, McClain refuses to make any statement about the insurance fraud case, betting on his own survival rather than cooperating with Johnny's investigation. When McClain defies the odds and recovers, he and his wife are set to stand trial for defrauding an insurance company, with Mrs. McClain named as co-defendant. As the trial approaches, Johnny grows increasingly troubled by inconsistencies in the case. While Don Taylor returns to Hartford satisfied with the convictions ahead, Johnny can't shake his doubts about the tragic fate of Teresa Corbett and Riley's suffering. The day before trial, Johnny confronts Mrs. McClain in county jail, methodically dismantling her sworn statement. He reveals that crucial phone calls were never made and that Teresa Corbett was actually Dr. McClain's patient before the night she died, contradicting Mrs. McClain's claims. Johnny presses hard, convinced there's much more to this case than a simple insurance fraud scheme. Become a supporter of this podcast

  15. The Mcclain Matter Ep 4

    Sep 27, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: February 9, 1956 Johnny Dollar #324, "The McClain Matter Ep 4," Johnny Dollar confronts Dr. David E. McClain at his Pacific Palisades office about a patient who disappeared two years ago. Before the meeting, Dollar encounters George Riley, the heartbroken fiancé of Teresa Corbett, who has just learned from police that they're exhuming a body they believe to be his missing love. Riley, consumed with grief and rage, demands to know which doctor buried Teresa under a false name and collected insurance money. Dollar refuses to give him McClain's identity, warning Riley to go home while he investigates further. At McClain's office, the young, seemingly prosperous doctor claims no memory of Teresa Corbett and insists he has no patient file for her. When Dollar presses him, McClain blames his late wife's poor recordkeeping. The tension escalates when Dollar delivers a stunning revelation: McClain's wife isn't dead at all. She appeared in Hartford four days ago and told Dollar that Teresa Corbett died in McClain's office, and that the doctor identified her body as someone else. The confrontation intensifies as the truth about insurance fraud and a mysterious death begins to unravel. Become a supporter of this podcast

  16. The Mcclain Matter Ep 2

    Sep 26, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: February 7, 1956 Johnny Dollar #322, "The Mcclain Matter Ep 2," Johnny Dollar continues his investigation into Doris McClain's shocking confession that she faked her own death so her husband, Dr. David McClain, could collect her life insurance. While Don Taylor at Tri-State Insurance is eager to press charges based on her signed statement, Johnny isn't convinced she's telling the whole truth. He points out troubling inconsistencies in her story about how a stranger named Teresa Corbett died in the doctor's office and was buried under Doris's name. If the scheme was truly spontaneous, why didn't Dr. McClain call the Los Angeles police instead of tracking down the dead woman's New Jersey relatives? Johnny heads to New York to verify Doris's claims about living there under the alias Patricia Kennedy. Despite his suspicions, everything checks out perfectly. Her apartment manager, lab supervisor at Hyde Park Laboratories, and coworkers all confirm her story. Even the Jersey City coroner's records verify that Teresa Corbett's mother died days before, leaving no next of kin. As the evidence mounts supporting Doris's confession, Johnny remains troubled by the nagging feeling that something doesn't add up in this peculiar case of a woman who came back from the dead. Become a supporter of this podcast

  17. The Mcclain Matter Ep 1

    Sep 25, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: February 6, 1956 Johnny Dollar #321, "The McClain Matter Ep 1," Johnny Dollar is called to the office of Don Taylor at Tri-State Insurance to meet a woman with an extraordinary claim. Mrs. McClain, a well-dressed woman in her late twenties, reveals that she is legally dead and her husband, Dr. Dave McClain, collected ten thousand dollars on her insurance policy two years ago in Los Angeles. She explains how a transient woman named Teresa Corbett died of a heart attack in her husband's medical office, and Dr. McClain saw an opportunity for fraud. With no one to identify the body, he convinced another doctor, Dr. Reed, that the corpse was his wife, securing a death certificate under Mrs. McClain's name while she disappeared to Palm Springs. Mrs. McClain reveals that her husband promised to meet her in New York after collecting the insurance money, but after three months of letters, he stopped all communication. She never received a dime of the money and has carried the burden of this deception for two years. Now, tormented by guilt and abandonment, she has come forward to confess, leaving Johnny Dollar to investigate this bizarre case of fraud, betrayal, and a woman returning from the dead. Become a supporter of this podcast

  18. The Flight Six Matter Ep 5

    Sep 24, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: February 3, 1956 Johnny Dollar #320, "The Flight Six Matter Ep 5," Johnny Dollar's investigation in Acapulco takes a deadly turn when Marvel Terrence, the key witness who promised to reveal who caused the Flight 6 explosion, is murdered and her body pulled from the surf below her hotel. With his assistant Gino Romero, Johnny pursues a prowler on the hotel grounds, discovering suspect Don Serrano searching for his brother-in-law Ramon de Lagos, whom he accuses of the killing. Meanwhile, Bill Blakely, another suspect who was in love with Marvel, arms himself and stakes out Ramon's hotel room, intent on revenge. The situation intensifies when Ramon flees from police and becomes trapped on Coleta Beach. Armed and desperate, he knows the net is closing around him. As Johnny and Gino search the darkened beach, separating to cover more ground, Ramon emerges from hiding behind a boat and gets the drop on Johnny at gunpoint. With nothing left to lose and murder already on his hands, Ramon forces Johnny toward the boat, setting up a dangerous confrontation on the moonlit shore. Become a supporter of this podcast

  19. The Flight Six Matter Ep 4

    Sep 23, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: February 2, 1956 Johnny Dollar #319, "The Flight Six Matter Ep 4," Johnny and Inspector Gino Romero discover that all the Flight 6 beneficiaries have fled Mexico City for Acapulco. Marvel Tearns, Bill Blakely, and Ramon de Lagos each took separate commercial flights, while the mysterious Don Serrano chartered a private plane. Despite Gino's superstitious dread that their own flight also bears the number six, they pursue the suspects to the tropical paradise of Acapulco. Johnny finds Marvel on a clifftop terrace at sunset, and their conversation reveals a woman haunted by guilt and loneliness. She admits to suspecting who caused the crash but refuses to name names, claiming she didn't know what was planned. As Marvel cryptically mentions feeling dirty and begs Johnny for one carefree evening before revealing what she knows, Johnny discovers that Don Serrano and Ramon de Lagos are both mysteriously absent from their hotels. He prepares to confront Bill Blakely, but fate intervenes when Blakely appears at his door first. Become a supporter of this podcast

  20. The Flight Six Matter Ep 3

    Sep 22, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: February 1, 1956 Johnny Dollar #318, "The Flight Six Matter Ep 3," Johnny Dollar receives an unexpected visit at his Mexico City hotel from Don Serrano de Almeida Ypico, the brother of crash victim Maria de Lagos. The aristocratic Don Serrano arrives with strong accusations, convinced that Maria's husband Ramon is a diabolical maniac who planted a bomb on Flight Six to kill his wife. According to Don Serrano, Ramon was a fortune hunter who married Maria for her wealth and had been carrying on an affair with an American woman named Marvel Terence. When Maria discovered the infidelity, Don Serrano arranged for her to fly back to Havana on the doomed flight, which Ramon knew about. However, Dollar quickly identifies holes in Don Serrano's story. The investigator points out that Don Serrano himself had plenty to gain from his sister's death, including half her estate and a $25,000 flight insurance policy naming him as beneficiary. When Dollar refuses to be manipulated into framing Ramon without solid evidence, the volatile Don Serrano erupts in anger. Dollar's subsequent investigation with Mexican federal police yields little progress, leaving him focused on his three primary suspects. Become a supporter of this podcast

  21. The Flight Six Matter Ep 2

    Sep 21, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: January 31, 1956 Johnny Dollar #317, "The Flight Six Matter Ep 2," Johnny investigates the wreckage of Flight 6, learning that dynamite planted in the baggage compartment brought down the plane. A suspicious baggage handler named Ramirez had insisted on loading one particular suitcase himself just before takeoff. At the crash site, Johnny encounters the enigmatic Marvel Terence, who learns she's the beneficiary of fifty thousand dollars in flight insurance policies taken out by two deceased passengers, Ed Palmer and Jim Rourke. Marvel's business partner Bill Blakely arrives, revealing the three men were engineering partners building roads around Mexico City. Tensions rise as Johnny pushes for answers about why Marvel came to the crash site and discovers she had been booked on Flight 6 herself but cancelled at the last minute at Blakely's urging. The mysterious woman admits to knowing Ramon Delagos, whose wife perished in the crash, adding another layer to the deepening conspiracy. Become a supporter of this podcast

  22. The Flight Six Matter Ep 1

    Sep 20, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: January 30, 1956 Johnny Dollar #316, "The Flight Six Matter Ep 1," Johnny Dollar is pulled into a high-stakes investigation when Pete Codley of Guaranteed Transport summons him to Mexico City. Flight 6 of the Aztec Caribbean line, traveling from Mexico City to Havana, has exploded in mid-air and crashed into the mountains, killing all seven passengers and three crew members. Three passengers purchased flight insurance at the airport, leaving the company liable for $75,000. Pete is convinced this was no accident—someone deliberately sabotaged the plane—and he needs Johnny to find out who and why. Upon arriving in Mexico City, Johnny meets Mac McLean, the colorful Chicago-born Inspector General overseeing the investigation, who confirms that a bomb in the baggage compartment likely caused the tail to blow off. The investigation takes a personal turn when Ramon de Lagos appears at the office, desperate for information about his wife Maria, one of the victims who purchased insurance. Strangely, she named her brother Don Serrano as beneficiary rather than her husband. As Johnny prepares to head up the mountain to examine the wreckage with investigator Gino Romero, the pieces of a cold-blooded murder plot begin to emerge. Become a supporter of this podcast

  23. The Duke Red Matter Ep 5

    Sep 19, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: January 27, 1956 Johnny Dollar #315, "The Duke Red Matter Ep 5," Johnny pushes deeper into the mystery surrounding the death of the racehorse Duke Red and the disappearance of trainer Thomas Warner. After reporting Warner missing to Constable Tad Polk, Johnny confronts veterinarian Dr. Gorey with a stark choice: cooperate now or face perjury charges in court. Under pressure, Gorey finally reveals the truth: Ben Abbott shot Duke Red in anger because the horse wouldn't run, and Thomas Warner witnessed the killing. Abbott paid Warner money to disappear, but Johnny discovers a troubling discrepancy when he checks Abbott's bank records and finds no payment to Warner recorded. When Johnny arrives at Abbott's farm to confront him with the evidence, darkness has fallen and tension hangs in the air. Stable hand Kelly warns that Abbott flew into a rage after Constable Polk's afternoon visit. As Johnny enters the house, Abbott's daughter Terry appears with an ominous warning, setting the stage for a dangerous confrontation with the unstable horse breeder. Become a supporter of this podcast

  24. The Duke Red Matter Ep 4

    Sep 18, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: January 26, 1956 Johnny Dollar #314, "The Duke Red Matter Ep 4," Johnny Dollar continues his investigation into the suspicious death of the racehorse Duke Redd at the Abbott Ranch in San Pietro, California. The key to solving the case appears to be finding Thomas Warner, the missing horse trainer who was supposedly responsible for the accident that led to Duke Redd's destruction. Warner disappeared immediately after the incident without collecting a month's back pay or saying goodbye to anyone, which strikes Johnny as highly suspicious. With help from Cully, a loyal stable hand who has worked for Ben Abbott for twenty-three years, Johnny learns that no one actually saw Warner leave the premises, and that Abbott's daughter Terry had been romantically involved with the trainer against her father's wishes. The tension escalates when Johnny confronts Terry Abbott, who admits she made earlier accusations against her father and Dr. Gorey out of spite over their disapproval of her relationship with Warner. Johnny warns her that if there's any truth to her claims about her father lying, Ben Abbott could face criminal charges. The investigation deepens as Johnny pieces together the mysterious circumstances surrounding both Warner's disappearance and Duke Redd's death. Become a supporter of this podcast

  25. The Duke Red Matter Ep 3

    Sep 17, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: January 25, 1956 Johnny Dollar #313, "The Duke Red Matter Ep 3," Johnny Dollar continues his investigation into the suspicious death of the racehorse Duke Red, a champion thoroughbred insured for $65,000. After being thrown off Benjamin Abbott's racing farm, Johnny receives help from a worker named Cully to secretly meet with Abbott's daughter, Terry. The encounter proves frustrating as Terry contradicts her earlier claim that the horse didn't need to be destroyed, now attributing her statements to emotional upset over losing their best prospect in five years. She reveals that Abbott recently fired two key employees: office manager Howard Monroe, who mentioned something cryptic about letting Abbott handle his own dirty business, and trainer Tom Warner, who was blamed for the accident that killed Duke Red. Following these leads, Johnny sends telegrams to track down Warner and requests a financial investigation of Abbott from his Hartford office. When he checks Abbott's credit standing at the local bank, banker Dale O'Ryan paints a picture of substantial wealth, with Abbott maintaining a $100,000 balance and running a million-dollar operation. The question looms: would such a wealthy man risk fraud over a relatively small insurance claim? Become a supporter of this podcast