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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 Nick Shurn Matter Ep 2

    Aug 22, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: December 20, 1955 Johnny Dollar #287, "The Nick Shurn Matter Ep 2," Johnny Dollar continues his search for the missing nightclub singer Kathleen O'Dare, racing against time to reach her before dangerous men do. After learning that thug Benny Stark has already been to Mrs. Gottler's rooming house and broken the landlady's arm trying to find Kathy's whereabouts, Johnny helps the injured woman wrap Christmas presents while gently questioning her. Mrs. Gottler reveals that she helped Kathy pack and flee in the middle of the night, though the frightened girl refused to say where she was going for the landlady's own safety. When Mrs. Gottler produces an old photograph, Johnny spots a crucial clue: the photographer's address in Brambury, Michigan, Kathy's hometown. Johnny travels to the remote lumber village in the snow-covered pine hills, hoping a scared girl would run home for Christmas. However, the tight-knit community proves fiercely protective of their own. Both the telephone operator and hotel proprietor give Johnny the runaround when he asks about Kathy O'Dare, refusing to provide any information about the local girl to this stranger from New York. Become a supporter of this podcast

  2. The Nick Shurn Matter Ep 1

    Aug 21, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: December 19, 1955 Johnny Dollar #286, "The Nick Shurn Matter Ep 1," Johnny Dollar is called to New York by Don Wilkins of Tri-Mutual Insurance to investigate the murder of Mel Pryker, a former racketeer turned nightclub owner. Pryker's business partner, Nick Schearn, stands to collect a hundred thousand dollar policy and is the prime suspect. Lieutenant Ed Rafferty of the Homicide Division is convinced Schearn is guilty, but without solid evidence, he's been forced to release him. The only potential witness is Kathleen O'Dare, a hat check girl at their club, the Chez Colette, who was reportedly seen leaving shortly after gunshots rang out at 2:30 in the morning. Unfortunately, the terrified young mother has vanished with her eight-year-old daughter. As Johnny begins his investigation, the pressure mounts. Nick Schearn has covered his tracks carefully, establishing an alibi at a shooting gallery and securing loyal testimony from his manager and former triggerman, Benny Stark. When Johnny emerges from the police station, he finds Schearn and Stark waiting for him in a sedan, ready to have a conversation about the missing Miss O'Dare. Become a supporter of this podcast

  3. The Lansing Fraud Matter Ep 5

    Aug 20, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: December 16, 1955 Johnny Dollar #285, "The Lansing Fraud Matter Ep 5," Johnny Dollar arranges a midnight meeting with fugitive insurance agent Hillary Franks at the Mission San Javier, an ancient church in the Arizona desert. Franks, desperate and armed with a .38, emerges from the shadows to tell his story. He reveals how Arlene Kennedy, the sister of dying alcoholic James Lansing, manipulated his loneliness after his wife's death and exploited his love for her. She convinced him to arrange a $50,000 insurance policy on her brother by having another man take the physical examination in Lansing's place, promising marriage once they could collect on the inevitable death claim. As Franks pours out his confession, it becomes clear that Arlene Kennedy orchestrated the scheme while keeping herself legally clean, leaving Franks holding all the criminal liability. With Jim Carter's help, Johnny negotiates to have the charges against Franks dropped in exchange for a full written statement. The confession provides the leverage needed to prove attempted fraud and collusion against Mrs. Kennedy, offering the broken insurance agent a chance at redemption after his first mistake in seventeen years. Become a supporter of this podcast

  4. The Lansing Fraud Matter Ep 4

    Aug 19, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: December 15, 1955 Johnny Dollar #284, "The Lansing Fraud Matter Ep 4," Johnny Dollar confronts insurance broker Hillary Franks, laying out his case that Franks helped arrange for someone else to take James Lansing's physical examination two years ago. Lansing was already dying, making this a calculated fraud scheme orchestrated with his sister, Mrs. Arlene Kennedy, as beneficiary. When Johnny threatens to swear out a warrant for his arrest, the panicked Franks attacks him with a paperweight and flees. Despite having no hard admission of guilt, Johnny believes Franks won't run far because he doesn't know how. Johnny then confronts Mrs. Kennedy, who repeatedly denies knowing anyone named Hillary Franks. He warns her that the ruined broker, having lost his seventeen-year reputation, will likely turn on her in anger and may even want to kill her for dragging him into the scheme. Kennedy maintains her innocence, claiming her brother's insurance policy was his own business and she's merely the rightful beneficiary. As tensions escalate, Johnny must decide his next move in unraveling this deadly fraud. Become a supporter of this podcast

  5. The Lansing Fraud Matter Ep 3

    Aug 18, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: December 14, 1955 Johnny Dollar #283, "The Lansing Fraud Matter Ep 3," Johnny Dollar confronts Arlene Kennedy at her luxurious Catalina Vista home about her brother James Lansing's suspicious death. Mrs. Kennedy is hostile and defensive, insisting her brother drank himself to death and demanding her $50,000 insurance benefit immediately. She threatens to sue the insurance company and have her attorneys force a settlement. However, Johnny presents damaging evidence: an autopsy performed after Lansing collapsed on a public street reveals health conditions that would have made it impossible for him to pass the insurance physical examination two years earlier. Johnny accuses Mrs. Kennedy of fraud, suggesting someone else took the physical exam in her brother's place. Despite Mrs. Kennedy's fury and her demand that Johnny leave her property, he has laid out the facts and made clear the insurance company won't be intimidated by legal threats. Johnny later discusses strategy with Jim Carter over lunch, learning more about Mrs. Kennedy's financial situation. A widow with substantial debts and minimal income, she clearly needs the insurance money. Johnny predicts that rather than calling her lawyer, Mrs. Kennedy will contact Hillary Franks, the insurance agent who sold the policy, which will draw Franks directly into Johnny's investigation. Become a supporter of this podcast

  6. The Lansing Fraud Matter Ep 2

    Aug 17, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: December 13, 1955 Johnny Dollar #282, "The Lansing Fraud Matter Ep 2," Johnny Dollar continues his investigation into the suspicious death of James Lansing, a man who died of malnutrition just two years after passing an insurance physical examination with flying colors. Dollar pressures Dr. Mayhood to view Lansing's body at the morgue, hoping the physician can confirm whether this corpse is the same man he examined. The increasingly belligerent doctor claims he cannot recognize Lansing after two years, and when Dollar brings Mayhood's entire office staff to the morgue, none of them can identify the body either. The investigation takes a strange turn when the possibility emerges that someone else entirely might have taken Lansing's physical examination. Meanwhile, Dollar's colleague Jim Carter prepares to notify the State Insurance Commission about the potential fraud while investigating Lansing's beneficiary. Dollar visits Lansing's apartment building, where manager Anita Regan immediately recognizes the body at the coroner's office. Just as she begins to explain something peculiar about having seen Lansing lying down frequently, the episode ends on a cliffhanger, suggesting she may hold crucial information about the case. Become a supporter of this podcast

  7. The Lansing Fraud Matter Ep 1

    Aug 16, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: December 12, 1955 Johnny Dollar #281, "The Lansing Fraud Matter Ep 1," Johnny Dollar receives an urgent call from Jim Carter at Universal Adjustments about a suspicious death in Tucson, Arizona. A man named James Lansing, who held a $50,000 life insurance policy, has died under bizarre circumstances—he starved to death. According to the coroner's report, Lansing died of malnutrition despite being wealthy enough to afford substantial life insurance just two years earlier. The post-mortem also reveals chronic heart condition and lung problems that shouldn't have been present in someone who passed a standard insurance physical examination so recently. Dollar and Carter rush to Tucson to investigate before the state insurance commission starts asking uncomfortable questions. Lansing's sister, Arlene Kennedy, a woman of considerable wealth and influence, is pressing for payment of the claim. The case grows more mysterious when Dollar learns that Lansing died unidentified in a jewelry store doorway, with no witnesses to his death. Dollar begins interviewing key figures including Sergeant Younger of the Tucson Police and Dr. Carl Mayhood, the physician who conducted Lansing's original insurance examination, searching for answers to explain how a healthy man deteriorated so dramatically in just two years. Become a supporter of this podcast

  8. The Cronin Matter Ep 5

    Aug 15, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: December 9, 1955 Johnny Dollar #280, "The Cronin Matter Ep 5," As dawn breaks after a violent storm, Johnny Dollar faces a grim reality: both Jason Prell and the beloved Dolly Cronin are dead. When Dr. Bigby arrives at the estate, Johnny reveals his shocking discovery that Mrs. Cronin was murdered by Prell himself, who substituted deadly pills for her prescription before being killed during the storm. Johnny also exposes the web of deception surrounding the Cronin estate, including the revelation that Dolly's famous Circle of Fire necklace, which she willed to young Sylvia Atherton, is merely a copy worth a few hundred dollars. The real necklace was broken up years ago by her own husband Barnaby, who worked with Prell to systematically steal from Dolly's million-dollar estate while she remained blissfully unaware in her dream world. However, the case takes another dark turn when Dr. Bigby makes a haunting confession about the night Barnaby Cronin died. The remorseful doctor admits he was drunk when he signed the death certificate years ago, leaving Johnny to wonder what other secrets lie buried in the Cronin family's troubled past. Become a supporter of this podcast

  9. The Cronin Matter Ep 4

    Aug 14, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: December 8, 1955 Johnny Dollar #279, "The Cronin Matter Ep 4," Johnny Dollar finds himself in a deadly game of cat and mouse as a violent storm rages around the Cronin estate. When someone cuts the phone line, trapping Johnny and handyman Shorty Weber inside with no way to call for help, Jason Prell reveals his true intentions by taking shots at them through the darkness. Armed and desperate, Prell knows Johnny has figured out his scheme involving the half-million dollar necklace. Johnny ventures out into the storm-soaked grounds, using the thunder and lightning as cover while Shorty provides suppressing fire. As Johnny closes in on Prell's position near a tall pine tree, the confrontation reaches its violent climax. Back at the house, Johnny retrieves the hidden necklace and checks on the elderly Dolly Cronin, who remains blissfully unaware of the night's deadly events. She reminisces about her late husband Barnaby and speaks warmly of her trusted friend Jason Prell, creating a poignant contrast with the grim reality Johnny now faces. As Dolly admires her precious necklace one last time before drifting off to sleep, Johnny is left contemplating how the truth will shatter her cherished memories. Become a supporter of this podcast

  10. The Cronin Matter Ep 3

    Aug 13, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: December 7, 1955 Johnny Dollar #278, "The Cronin Matter Ep 3," Johnny Dollar finds himself stranded at the isolated Cronin estate as a storm approaches from the mountains. With Mrs. Cronin seriously ill and needing medical attention, Dollar discovers that the only local doctor, the disgraced Dr. Bigby, refuses to come to the house. When Dollar mentions the patient is Mrs. Cronin, Bigby's reaction is immediate and ominous: he urges Dollar to get her out of the estate before it's too late. Unable to secure a doctor or medicine locally, Dollar sends business advisor Jason Prell to Tupper Lake while he questions the austere housekeeper, Miss Atherton. Miss Atherton reveals disturbing information about the estate's dark history. She explains that Dolly Cronin, once a small-town girl who worked alongside her as a waitress, married wealthy Barnaby Cronin and had this mansion built. Most chillingly, she reveals that Barnaby himself died alone in this very house during a similar storm, suffering a fatal heart attack. As the current storm intensifies and the isolated guests pass a tense evening, Miss Atherton's cryptic warning echoes through the mansion: Dolly has come home to die. Become a supporter of this podcast

  11. The Cronin Matter Ep 2

    Aug 12, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: December 6, 1955 Johnny Dollar #277, "The Cronin Matter Ep 2," Johnny continues his investigation into protecting the priceless Circle of Fire necklace for former Broadway star Dolly McLean Cronin's Roaring Twenties party in the Adirondacks. Jason Prell, Mrs. Cronin's longtime business manager and trust fund administrator, urgently warns Johnny not to retrieve the half-million-dollar necklace from the bank, expressing deep concern about Mrs. Cronin's mental state. Prell reveals that the aging Dancing Darling lives in a fragile dream world where she believes all her old friends are loyal, when in reality most were opportunists who would do anything for money. Despite Prell's warnings that someone will surely try to steal the necklace and shatter Mrs. Cronin's illusions, Johnny has already collected it. As the chartered train departs for the Adirondacks, only six guests board out of the hundreds of friends from Mrs. Cronin's glory days. Among them are magazine writer Sylvia Blake and the mysterious, overly enthusiastic Laura Dean. Johnny begins to wonder about the true motives of each passenger on this isolated journey with a fortune in jewels. Become a supporter of this podcast

  12. The Cronin Matter Ep 1

    Aug 11, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: December 5, 1955 Johnny Dollar #276, "The Cronin Matter Ep 1," insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is summoned by Joe Parker to protect an extraordinary prize. Dolly McLean, the legendary "Champagne Dream Girl" of the 1920s, is emerging from ten years of seclusion following her husband Barnaby Cronin's death. For her grand finale party in the Adirondacks, she plans to wear the Circle of Fire, a spectacular diamond and emerald necklace worth half a million dollars. Dollar visits the reclusive widow in her modest New York apartment, where he encounters Sylvia Blake, a magazine writer who specializes in jewel thefts and seems unnervingly confident that someone will steal the necklace during the party. The situation grows more suspicious when Shorty Weber, an old-time song and dance man from Dolly's past, arrives with a party invitation. While saying his goodbyes, Dollar catches Weber rifling through Mrs. Cronin's desk, clearly searching for something specific. With hundreds of invitations sent to people from Dolly's glamorous past and a fortune in jewels about to be displayed at a champagne-soaked celebration, Dollar faces a weekend where everyone seems to have their eye on the Circle of Fire. Become a supporter of this podcast

  13. The Henderson Matter Ep 5

    Aug 10, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: December 2, 1955 Johnny Dollar #275, "The Henderson Matter Ep 5," Johnny becomes convinced that George Henderson's death was not accidental and that his young widow Pauline lied under oath about her husband drinking the morning he died. When Johnny's supervisor Tim Connors flies in from Hartford, Johnny argues forcefully for denying the insurance claim and even filing a murder complaint, but Connors remains skeptical, demanding more evidence than just the missing bottle. Sheriff Holton joins the investigation, and together they begin uncovering troubling details about Pauline Henderson's background. Their investigation leads them to question servants at the Henderson ranch, who reveal that Pauline made mysterious trips out of town to visit an unnamed man, trips that caused heated arguments between the Hendersons. As Sheriff Holton's team identifies three men who've been seen with Pauline, attention focuses on Noah Baxter, a wealthy local rancher who owns the hotel where Johnny is staying. When Johnny and the sheriff confront Baxter at his ranch, he admits to being friends with both Pauline and George, but denies any improper relationship. The tension builds as they prepare to question Baxter's employees about Pauline's visits. Become a supporter of this podcast

  14. The Henderson Matter Ep 4

    Aug 9, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: December 1, 1955 Johnny Dollar #274, "The Henderson Matter Ep 4," Johnny arranges to meet the widow Pauline Henderson at the elegant Bighorn Lodge restaurant to discuss her late husband's death. On his way there, he encounters Maddie Knickerbocker, a gentle schoolteacher in her mid-forties, visiting George Henderson's snow-covered grave. Johnny is startled to recognize her name, as insurance agent Thurber had told him that George named Maddie as his beneficiary shortly before his death, only to change it back to his wife minutes later. Maddie speaks warmly of George, remembering him fondly as someone who never quite grew up, and she seems aware of Johnny's true purpose in Culver. At the Bighorn Lodge, Johnny confronts Pauline Henderson directly about the policy change and the circumstances surrounding her husband's death. She reveals that she and George were headed for divorce and had already drawn up a property settlement through their Great Falls attorneys. Pauline suggests that if Johnny wants answers about the beneficiary change, he should ask Maddie Knickerbocker, though she maintains she didn't kill George for his money since the divorce settlement was already generous. Become a supporter of this podcast

  15. The Henderson Matter Ep 3

    Aug 8, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: November 30, 1955 Johnny Dollar #273, "The Henderson Matter Ep 3," Johnny Dollar faces mounting resistance in his investigation of George Henderson's death after the coroner's inquest officially rules it an accident. The local hotel manager, Porter, suddenly demands Johnny vacate his room, claiming it's reserved for a convention, though Johnny sees through the transparent attempt to run him out of town. Sheriff Eve Holton arrives and privately agrees the inquest was inadequate, offering to help Johnny continue investigating despite the official closure of the case. As Johnny digs deeper, he learns more about the complicated relationship between the deceased and his much younger widow, Pauline Henderson. The former Pauline Underwood was raised by George from age fourteen after her father died, and their marriage was troubled from the start. With divorce papers already drawn up and suspicions swirling about suicide, accident, or even murder, Johnny begins connecting dots between Pauline, local rancher Noah Baxter who owns the hotel, and the various parties who seem determined to shut down his investigation before it really begins. Become a supporter of this podcast

  16. The Henderson Matter Ep 2

    Aug 7, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: November 29, 1955 Johnny Dollar #272, "The Henderson Matter Ep 2," Johnny Dollar's request for a coroner's inquest into George Henderson's death stirs up immediate resistance in the small Montana town of Culver. Sheriff Holton warns Dollar to expect action, and it comes quickly in the form of Mayor Newton, who visits Dollar's hotel room with an urgent plea. The mayor insists Henderson's death was simply a tragic accident and argues that a small community like Culver lacks both the resources and the need for an exhaustive investigation. He strongly urges Dollar to withdraw his request, citing the emotional burden on the community and Henderson's widow. Despite the mayor's protests, Sheriff Holton is deputized to conduct the inquest, scheduled for the very next morning. Dollar grows suspicious about why the mayor is working so hard to prevent the investigation and wonders who might have asked him to intervene. At the hastily arranged inquest, witnesses including a doctor, hotel staff, and a chambermaid testify about Henderson's final hours. The chambermaid's testimony reveals that Mrs. Henderson was seen in the hotel lobby shortly before her husband's fatal fall from the window. Become a supporter of this podcast

  17. The Henderson Matter Ep 1

    Aug 6, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: November 28, 1955 Johnny Dollar #271, "The Henderson Matter Ep 1," insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is handed a troubling case by his boss Tim Connors. George Walter Henderson, a prominent Montana rancher and newspaper stockholder, has fallen four stories to his death from the Butte Hotel in Culver, Montana. The circumstances are murky—was it murder, suicide, or accident? With a $25,000 policy at stake (double indemnity for accidental death), the Western Insurance Company needs answers before paying out. The widow, Pauline Henderson, isn't cooperating; she hung up on Tim when he called for information. Johnny travels to the remote mining town of Culver, a dingy settlement tucked in Montana's northern corner. Upon arriving at the very hotel where Henderson died, he's immediately greeted by Sheriff Eve Holton, who's been expecting him. The sheriff invites Johnny to his hotel room for a private drink, making a careful distinction between this friendly welcome and their future official interactions. Holton makes it clear he won't be asking questions but will answer Johnny's—a cryptic warning that suggests this investigation won't be straightforward in a small town where the deceased was a powerful man. Become a supporter of this podcast

  18. The Amy Bradshaw Matter Ep 5

    Aug 5, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: November 25, 1955 Johnny Dollar #270, "The Amy Bradshaw Matter Ep 5," Johnny Dollar races to the Criterion Theater at 1 a.m. after receiving an urgent call from actress Amy Bradshaw, who claims she finally knows who's been trying to kill her. When Johnny arrives, he hears a gunshot from Amy's dressing room and discovers her agent, Mike Pomeroy, lying dead on the floor. Amy explains that Mike had called her to the theater to discuss something important, but when the door opened revealing a hand holding a gun, Mike threw himself in front of her and took the fatal bullet. Amy glimpsed a distinctive signet ring on the shooter's hand, which Johnny recognizes as belonging to Porter Kane, the wealthy collector obsessed with Amy. Lieutenant Sintella interrogates Kane, who admits to following Amy to the theater but denies going inside. The case against Kane builds as Sintella recalls their earlier conversation about Kane's compulsive collecting habits, suggesting that if he couldn't possess Amy, he would destroy her instead. As Johnny takes the traumatized Amy home, she's overcome with guilt that Mike died protecting her. Become a supporter of this podcast

  19. The Amy Bradshaw Matter Ep 4

    Aug 4, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: November 24, 1955 Johnny Dollar #269, "The Amy Bradshaw Matter Ep 4," Johnny confronts Bill York, Amy Bradshaw's estranged husband, after catching him lurking outside Amy's apartment for the second time. When Lieutenant Al Sinteller arrives at Johnny's hotel room, the evidence against York looks damning: he's still the beneficiary on Amy's insurance policy, he's thousands of dollars in debt to Amy's agent Mike Pomeroy, and he's been caught watching her apartment. York offers a melancholy defense, admitting he sometimes stands outside Amy's building reminiscing about their failed marriage, claiming the difference between her success and his failure drove them apart. As Sinteller takes York downtown for further questioning, he warns Johnny that he's getting too personally involved in the case, suggesting the investigator might be falling for Amy himself. Johnny spends hours wrestling with Sinteller's observation before deciding to visit Amy at her apartment. Despite a policeman now stationed in her lobby for protection, their meeting grows intimate until Amy pulls away, admitting she's hurt people in the past and suggesting that even their kiss was just another performance from an actress who plays too many parts. Become a supporter of this podcast

  20. The Amy Bradshaw Matter Ep 3

    Aug 3, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: November 23, 1955 Johnny Dollar #268, "The Amy Bradshaw Matter Ep 3," Johnny Dollar continues investigating the attempts on actress Amy Bradshaw's life after a near-miss with a falling sandbag at the Criterion Theater. With police detective Al Sintella now convinced the threats are real, Johnny heads to Greenwich Village to track down Bill York, Amy's estranged husband and the beneficiary of her life insurance policy. York, a bitter and struggling writer, reveals that he pawned his unpublished novel to Mike Pomeroy, Amy's agent. Though York claims he hasn't seen Amy in months, Johnny remains suspicious. Following this lead, Johnny visits producer Emery Taylor's apartment, where he encounters Taylor's wife Dora instead. Over drinks, the brittle and jaded Dora makes a startling confession: she herself has reason to harm Amy, whom she believes is having an affair with her husband. Dora also reveals that director Dave Coleman was once deeply in love with Amy and made threatening remarks when rejected, though he's since gone silent on the subject. As Johnny's list of suspects grows, the investigation deepens into a tangled web of jealousy, resentment, and dangerous secrets. Become a supporter of this podcast

  21. The Amy Bradshaw Matter Ep 2

    Aug 2, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: November 22, 1955 Johnny Dollar #267, "The Amy Bradshaw Matter Ep 2," Johnny continues investigating the threats against insured actress Amy Bradshaw, starting with a visit to Detective Lieutenant Al Sintella at police headquarters. Johnny shares evidence of a threatening note and a suspicious shoving incident in Times Square, though Al suspects it might be a publicity stunt. Johnny reveals his list of suspects, including director David Coleman, producer Emery Taylor and his wife Dora, agent Mike Pomroy, and most importantly, Amy's estranged husband Bill York, who stands to collect on her insurance policy. There's also Porter Kane, an obsessed fan who requires investigation. Johnny visits the wealthy and eccentric Kane, who lives in an expensive apartment filled with priceless one-of-a-kind collectibles. Kane chillingly reveals his hobby of collecting unique objects and announces his intention to add Amy to his collection. Later, at the theater, Johnny overhears a heated confrontation between Amy and her agent Mike Pomroy, who accuses her of sabotaging another actress named Sheila. The conversation suggests romantic complications between Amy and Mike, adding another layer of complexity to the investigation. Become a supporter of this podcast

  22. The Amy Bradshaw Matter Ep 1

    Aug 1, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: November 21, 1955 Johnny Dollar #266, "The Amy Bradshaw Matter Ep 1," Johnny Dollar heads to New York City after George Atkins at Northwest Indemnity reveals that someone appears to be threatening the life of Amy Bradshaw, a famous stage actress the company insured. At the Criterion Theater on West 44th Street, director David Coleman meets Johnny in the wings and explains that Amy received a menacing note warning "you are an evil woman, you will be punished by sudden death." Coleman is worried about police involvement creating unwanted publicity, and the stress is already affecting Amy's performance, rattling her young co-star Sheila Mitchell. After the show, Johnny meets the glamorous Amy in her dressing room, where she initially dismisses the threat as silly. When her agent Mike Pomeroy interrupts their conversation, Amy suddenly accepts Johnny's invitation for drinks. As they leave the theater, Amy spots Porter Kane, described as a friend who can be "a little wearing," waiting outside and asks Johnny to leave through another exit. Over drinks at a nearby bar, Amy opens up about her acting career, revealing she's always gotten everything she wanted and no one has ever stood in her way. Become a supporter of this podcast

  23. The Broderick Matter Ep 5

    Jul 31, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: November 18, 1955 Johnny Dollar #265, "The Broderick Matter Ep 5," Johnny Dollar confronts Lorraine Broderick on a thirteenth-floor ledge as she threatens to jump to her death. The freelance insurance investigator has been searching for Lorraine to deliver $1,500 in insurance money left to her by an old newspaper vendor named John Smith, who remembered a kind little girl from a single afternoon back in 1943. As crowds gather below and police attempt rescue efforts, Johnny tries desperately to talk Lorraine down, revealing his knowledge of her troubled past—her parents' deaths, her rejection of Dr. Pollard's love in Hartford, and her theft from William Dameron in New York before abandoning him. Lorraine bitterly insists that nobody has ever wanted to help her and that she's been no good to anyone, but Johnny counters each claim, telling her that Dameron still loves her despite everything. As the tense standoff continues with rescuers positioning nets above, Johnny plays his final card: the story of old John Smith, who believed in the goodness of an eleven-year-old girl enough to leave her his life savings, earned through hard work and sacrifice. Become a supporter of this podcast

  24. The Broderick Matter Ep 4

    Jul 30, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: November 17, 1955 Johnny Dollar #264, "The Broderick Matter Ep 4," Johnny Dollar teams up with Deputy King from the Malibu Sheriff Station to track down the elusive Lorraine Broderick, who has been passing bad checks across the country while Johnny tries to deliver her a legitimate insurance claim. Their investigation leads them to Joe Tappan, a struggling actor from the beach colony who drove Lorraine into Los Angeles that morning. Tappan is completely smitten with the young woman, insisting she told him the tragic truth about losing her two-year-old son in an accident and needing someone to believe in her again. Despite Johnny's warnings that she's a skilled con artist who has fooled other men with similar stories, Tappan refuses to accept that Lorraine was acting. The trail grows cold when Lorraine fails to return to the Beverly Glen Hotel where she left fourteen pieces of luggage, and the bartender at the Topper denies seeing anyone matching her description. As the Los Angeles police keep watch and Johnny continues his investigation, he finds himself troubled by this case involving the little girl who once had a face like an angel. When he confronts the stubborn Tappan again with hard evidence that her tragic story was fabricated, the actor's world begins to crumble. Become a supporter of this podcast

  25. The Broderick Matter Ep 3

    Jul 17, 2026 · 15 min

    Originally Aired: November 16, 1955 Johnny Dollar #263, "The Broderick Matter Ep 3," Johnny continues his search for Lorraine Broderick, tracking her movements from New York to the California coast. What began as a simple claim payment for a sweet old man's bequest to a nice young girl transforms into something far more troubling. Through interviews with Edward Quinlan at a gas station, Mrs. Gaines the talkative landlady, and various hotel managers, Johnny pieces together a disturbing pattern. The Lorraine who walked away from William Dameron on Christmas Eve 1953 has become someone entirely different, leaving a trail of bad checks and aliases across the country under names like Jane Brown and Lorraine Bradley. The investigation takes Johnny from crowded New York streets to sunny Santa Barbara, where he meets hotel operator Harrington, the latest victim of Lorraine's con artistry. With police departments in multiple cities now looking for her and mounting evidence of her criminal activities, Johnny finds himself increasingly disillusioned about the woman he's been hired to locate. The question is no longer just where Lorraine Broderick has gone, but what she's become. Become a supporter of this podcast