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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 Terrified Taun Matter

    May 11, 2026 · 30 min

    Originally Aired: March 9, 1954 Johnny Dollar #205, "The Terrified Taun Matter," finds America's favorite freelance insurance investigator traveling halfway around the world to investigate a peculiar claim. Tom Benson at the home office sends Johnny to Kuala Lumpur in British Malaya after receiving an alarming letter from policyholders Harrison and Maida Langley, who claim someone is trying to murder them both. Their double indemnity policies are worth $125,000 each, making this potential claim one that demands immediate attention. When Johnny arrives and meets company representative George Alistair, the broker dismisses the whole thing as jungle fever and the ravings of a man whose mind is crumbling under the strain of running a rubber plantation in terrorist territory. Undeterred, Johnny drives north through dangerous jungle roads to the Sundown Plantation, where things quickly prove more complicated than expected. Harrison Langley greets him by pulling a gun, convinced Johnny is there to murder him like someone apparently did to his wife Maida, who has mysteriously disappeared. After establishing his identity, Johnny meets Crawford, the hostile plantation overseer who clearly has his own feelings about Mrs. Langley. As tensions flare between the two men, Crawford offers to show Johnny exactly what happened. Become a supporter of this podcast

  2. The Road Test Matter

    May 10, 2026 · 28 min

    Originally Aired: March 2, 1954 Johnny Dollar #204, "The Road Test Matter," finds insurance investigator Johnny Dollar called in by his boss Mr. King to investigate a dangerous mystery at Allied Motors' top-secret testing facility. The company's revolutionary new automobile model has crashed three times during road tests, resulting in one fatality, and both the manufacturer and the insurance company are baffled. Dollar travels to Detroit to meet with MacGregor, the veteran engineer overseeing the project, who insists there's no evidence of sabotage despite meticulous inspections of each wrecked vehicle. The investigation takes a personal turn when Dollar interviews Grace Johnson, widow of the test driver killed in one of the crashes. She reveals a complicated situation involving her troubled marriage and her relationship with Joe Simmons, another test driver and friend of her late husband. Grace suggests that Simmons might have had reason to want her husband dead, though she seems uncertain. When Dollar tracks down Simmons at a local bar, he finds a man still grieving his friend's death, claiming his relationship with Grace Johnson was innocent and known to Steve. As Dollar digs deeper into the overlapping professional and personal connections at Allied Motors, the question remains whether these crashes are mechanical failures, sabotage, or something more sinister. Become a supporter of this podcast

  3. The Classified Killer Matter

    May 9, 2026 · 28 min

    Originally Aired: February 23, 1954 Johnny Dollar #203, "The Classified Killer Matter," Johnny Dollar receives a 4 a.m. wake-up call from Ted Albright, Eastern Indemnity's new Chicago branch manager, with devastating news: claim adjuster Frank Harvey has been murdered. Harvey's body was found shot three times in a snowdrift on Manheim Road during a winter blizzard. Dollar flies to Chicago and learns from Lieutenant Franchetti that Harvey had been running a classified ad to sell his 1953 Cadillac convertible. A garage mechanic named Will Ziegler witnessed Harvey driving off with a prospective male buyer around 7 p.m., but Harvey never returned. The case takes an unexpected turn when police locate the missing Cadillac in a restaurant parking lot—with bloodstains on the seat and a woman's compact on the floor. The discovery of the compact contradicts the mechanic's account and raises troubling questions. Dollar presses Albright about Harvey's personal life, particularly any romantic relationships, but the nervous branch manager insists he knows of no particular girlfriend. As Dollar digs into Harvey's recent claim files searching for connections, the investigation faces conflicting evidence: a male witness but female evidence at the crime scene. Become a supporter of this podcast

  4. The Uncut Canary Matter

    May 8, 2026 · 30 min

    Originally Aired: February 16, 1954 Johnny Dollar #202, "The Uncut Canary Matter," insurance investigator Johnny Dollar races to Beverly Hills to track down a missing 89-carat orange-yellow diamond worth $125,000. The rare uncut canary diamond vanishes from the vault at Madame Johanna's exclusive jewelry store, where it has sat for over a year while the proprietor carefully plans how to cleave the valuable but temperamental stone. Only four people know the vault combination: Madame Johanna herself, her assistant Carter, and two master diamond cutters, Edolf Spears and Hans Blessen, who have worked for the establishment for thirty years. Just as Johnny begins his investigation, one of the cutters, Edolf Spears, phones to say he will turn over the diamond to police. Johnny teams up with Lieutenant Hankins of the Beverly Hills Police Department, who shares an intriguing rumor: the canary may be impossible to cut without shattering into worthless dust, and Madame Johanna desperately needs cash. As they arrive at Spears' house to recover the gem, questions swirl about whether this will be a simple recovery or something far more complicated. Become a supporter of this podcast

  5. The Harpooned Angler Matter

    May 7, 2026 · 29 min

    Originally Aired: February 9, 1954 Johnny Dollar #201, "The Harpooned Angler Matter," finds America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator jetting to the French Riviera town of Cassis to examine a suspicious death claim. Policy holder Arnold Bernier has been found dead at the bottom of the Mediterranean with a fishing spear driven through his back while skin diving, and his $75,000 policy was written thirty-three years ago. Johnny encounters the flamboyant Count Laszlo Andescu, a self-described charge d'affaires who's handling the claim for a "slight consideration" and seems eager to collect the check without any questions asked. Meeting the widow, Marc de Bernier, Johnny finds a cold-blooded sun worshipper more interested in discussing her expensive pearls and luxurious lifestyle than her husband's violent death. She dismisses the murder as unimportant and directs Johnny to Inspector Lonnier. The inspector reveals that American scientist David North discovered Bernier's body in an underwater grotto at a depth of one hundred feet. With a greedy count, an icy widow with expensive tastes, and a mysterious American explorer all in the picture, Johnny must dive deep to uncover who harpooned the unlucky angler. Become a supporter of this podcast

  6. The Paul Gorrell Matter

    May 6, 2026 · 29 min

    Originally Aired: February 2, 1954 Johnny Dollar #200, "The Paul Gorrell Matter," Johnny Dollar arrives in Phoenix to investigate a brutal payroll robbery that left two guards dead and $100,000 missing. George Post, Plymouth Insurance's chief adjuster, reveals a shocking secret: the police don't know that one of the robbers, a man named Palavic, contacted him before being murdered. Palavic identified his partner as Paul Gorrell, claiming the killings violated their no-shooting agreement. Before his death, Palavic revealed Gorrell's escape plan and disclosed that the stolen money has already been mailed somewhere near Los Angeles. Rather than involve the police, who might prioritize catching the killer over recovering the money, Post asks Johnny to take an extraordinary gamble. Johnny must pose as an ordinary passenger in a share-the-ride car heading to Los Angeles, where the ruthless triple-murderer Paul Gorrell will be a fellow traveler. Unable to carry a weapon for fear of arousing suspicion, Johnny finds himself at a severe disadvantage against a man who has already killed three people in cold blood. As he arranges his passage with the car's owner, Mr. Bovey, Johnny realizes he'll be completely at Gorrell's mercy during the dangerous journey west. Become a supporter of this podcast

  7. The Beauregard Matter

    May 5, 2026 · 28 min

    Originally Aired: January 26, 1954 Johnny Dollar #199, "The Beauregard Matter," Johnny Dollar is called to Rockport, Illinois by Dave Brace of Plymouth Mutual to investigate the theft of a $30,000 sapphire necklace stolen from socialite Ellen Beauregard. The case takes an intriguing turn when the suspected thief, Benny Stark, contacts the insurance company wanting to make a deal. Before Johnny can meet with Benny at a roadside tavern called the Pink Pigeon, he encounters the peculiar Beauregard household. Ellen's uncle Jared visits Johnny's hotel room with cryptic warnings about his headstrong niece, while Ellen's fiancé Phil Avery seems suspiciously cozy with the maid, Lois. Everyone Johnny meets warns him about everyone else, each claiming the others are impulsive but mean no harm. As Johnny investigates the amateurish safe-cracking job at the Beauregard mansion, Benny Stark calls with explosive news: he claims to have been double-crossed and promises information that will "blow the lid off" the case. With a nighttime meeting scheduled at the Pink Pigeon, Johnny senses there's far more to this theft than a simple burglary, and the strange behavior of the Beauregard circle only deepens the mystery. Become a supporter of this podcast

  8. The Celia Woodstock Matter

    May 4, 2026 · 28 min

    Originally Aired: January 12, 1954 Johnny Dollar #197, "The Celia Woodstock Matter," Johnny Dollar travels to a windswept house near Long Island Sound to investigate the disappearance of Celia Woodstock, the young wife of Captain Lyle Woodstock. The 55-year-old captain initially claims he's worried about his 27-year-old wife's safety, but Dollar soon discovers the situation is more complex than presented. Captain Woodstock admits he hired a private detective, David Slater, to follow Celia for a month based on suspicions about her frequent visits to a young Bridgeport doctor named Charles Masterson. Slater lost track of Celia when she boarded a train to New York and seemingly vanished. As Dollar digs deeper, he learns crucial details the captain conveniently omitted: Celia withdrew two thousand dollars from the bank the morning she disappeared and made mysterious phone calls to someone named Sprague, arranging a meeting. With evidence pointing to a possible affair or planned escape, Dollar must determine whether Celia Woodstock is a missing person in danger or simply a young woman fleeing an unhappy marriage to an adventure-seeking husband twice her age. Become a supporter of this podcast

  9. The Fairway Matter

    May 3, 2026 · 29 min

    Originally Aired: January 5, 1954 Johnny Dollar #196, "The Fairway Matter," finds insurance investigator Johnny Dollar called to the scene of a devastating airline disaster. Sam Harris from Columbia Risk Insurance pulls Johnny into the case when a Fairway Airlines plane explodes shortly after takeoff, killing thirteen passengers and crew plus a family of four on the ground when the wreckage crashes into houses near Springfield Hartford Airport. What appears to be a tragic accident quickly becomes a murder investigation when authorities confirm a nitroglycerin bomb was planted in the aircraft's tail section, deliberately destroying the control cables. Working alongside Captain Jim Lenhart of the state police and airline representative Carl Reed, Johnny begins the grim task of determining which of the victims was the intended target. The investigation turns to Wilbur Wheeler, a member of the ground crew who serviced the plane before departure. Wheeler had been obsessed with stewardess Shirley Goodhue, who died in the crash, and his behavior becomes increasingly suspicious when questioned about her recent engagement to co-pilot Bill Strand, who also perished in the explosion. As Wheeler's emotional state deteriorates under interrogation, the question becomes whether this was a crime of passion or something more sinister. Become a supporter of this podcast

  10. The Ben Bryson Matter

    May 2, 2026 · 26 min

    Originally Aired: December 29, 1953 Johnny Dollar #195, "The Ben Bryson Matter," Johnny receives an urgent summons from Ed Murphy at Eastern Mutual Insurance Company, who delivers shocking news: Ben Bryson, Johnny's good friend and the company's chief adjuster on the West Coast, didn't just die in a tragic car accident off a cliff last month. Investigation reveals that Ben embezzled nearly $80,000 from the company before his death. Despite his reluctance to investigate a friend, Johnny accepts the assignment and heads to San Francisco, where he discovers Ben had been living far beyond his usual modest means at the luxurious Franciscan Arms apartment building. Johnny's investigation leads him to Alvy Kern, a young widow who was inseparable from Ben in the months before his death. When Johnny learns that Alvy has fled to Panama City, he follows her trail south. As he closes in on the elusive Mrs. Kern at a waterfront hotel, questions mount about Ben's transformation, the missing money, and whether the fatal accident was truly what it seemed. Become a supporter of this podcast

  11. The Milk And Honey Matter

    May 1, 2026 · 28 min

    Originally Aired: December 15, 1953 Johnny Dollar #193, "The Milk And Honey Matter," Johnny Dollar travels to Beirut, Lebanon to investigate a suspicious yacht sinking worth $90,000. Brett Cunningham's yacht, the Happy Time, allegedly went down in calm weather and a smooth sea after striking a derelict, sinking in just three minutes. Dollar finds the impossibly tall and carefree Cunningham at the Estuaita, a swank gambling casino, more interested in his winning streak and his latest brunette companion than answering questions. When pressed about how a yacht could sink so quickly under such favorable conditions with only two survivors out of a crew of eight, Cunningham brushes him off with a flippant explanation. Undeterred, Johnny turns to Port Commissioner Floreau, who provides the official report but little in the way of satisfying answers. The Commissioner reveals that Cunningham is a frequent visitor to Beirut with no known source of income, spending his time gambling and changing female companions with each visit. With debris found, the derelict destroyed by gunfire, and the yacht resting in seventy fathoms of water, the facts seem straightforward, but Johnny's instincts tell him something doesn't add up about this milk and honey paradise. Become a supporter of this podcast

  12. The Barton Baker Matter

    Apr 30, 2026 · 28 min

    Originally Aired: December 8, 1953 Johnny Dollar #192, "The Barton Baker Matter," Johnny Dollar heads to Newport, California, to investigate the shooting death of Frank Meadows, who ran a boat chartering service with his partner Dave Geller. When Johnny arrives, Lieutenant Sullivan explains that Meadows was shot three times in what appears to be a gunfight, and the prime suspect is Geller, who has mysteriously disappeared. At first, the case seems straightforward, but as Johnny begins digging, inconsistencies emerge. Mrs. Meadows, an attractive blonde who greets Johnny in a black bathing suit, shows little emotion over her husband's death and reveals that the partners didn't get along as well as the police believed. She mentions they had a fight before their last fishing trip, though she doesn't know what it was about. Johnny learns that Meadows and Geller went fishing for yellowtail but returned without any catch, raising questions about what really happened on that trip. As he interviews witnesses and examines the boat, Johnny searches for a motive that makes sense. Was it a dispute over the business, or could the alluring Mrs. Meadows be at the center of this deadly conflict? Become a supporter of this podcast

  13. The Monopoly Matter

    Apr 29, 2026 · 30 min

    Originally Aired: December 1, 1953 Johnny Dollar #191, "The Monopoly Matter," insurance investigator Johnny Dollar rushes to the outskirts of Waterbury at the request of Mr. Brandt to examine a suspicious fire at a recreation club. Arriving while firefighters are still battling the blaze, Dollar teams up with Fire Captain McGready to sift through the smoking ruins. The evidence quickly points to arson—broken bottles, unburned cloth, and the telltale signs of Molotov cocktails thrown through a window. The Monopoly Club, a seemingly innocent establishment where factory workers gathered to play the popular board game in organized tournaments, has been burned to its foundations. Dollar tracks down the owner, Gerald Hobson, a nervous man who claims his club offered only harmless entertainment—monopoly games, cards, soft drinks and candy. When Dollar probes about possible gambling operations that might explain the arson, Hobson insists his establishment was completely legitimate. However, he reveals a troubling detail: just a week earlier, someone visited him demanding protection money, threatening to put him out of business for good. Hobson paid the hundred dollars and reported the incident to police, but now his club lies in ashes, and Dollar must determine whether this was a protection racket carried out or something else entirely. Become a supporter of this podcast

  14. The Independent Diamond Traders Matter

    Apr 28, 2026 · 30 min

    Originally Aired: November 24, 1953 Johnny Dollar #190, "The Independent Diamond Traders Matter," Johnny Dollar travels to New York to investigate a disturbing trend for Atlas Indemnity: nearly two-thirds of the small, independent diamond traders along the city's famous Diamond Row have gone bankrupt and cancelled their insurance policies after decades in business. His assignment leads him to E. G. Moss, president of the Independent Diamond Traders Association, but not before Dollar inadvertently overhears a private conversation between Moss and a mysterious woman named Mona, much to the displeasure of Moss's stepdaughter Susan. The elderly Moss explains that someone has been flooding the market with diamonds priced far below normal rates, devastating the small traders who can't compete with the sudden price drops in what has always been a rigidly controlled market. As Dollar begins his investigation into who is selling cut-rate stones and how they're able to undercut established prices so dramatically, he encounters a tense family dynamic between Moss, his protective stepdaughter Susan, and the demanding Mona. With the livelihoods of dozens of longtime traders at stake, Dollar must uncover the source of these suspiciously cheap diamonds. Become a supporter of this podcast

  15. The Nathan Gayles Matter

    Apr 27, 2026 · 28 min

    Originally Aired: November 17, 1953 Johnny Dollar #189, "The Nathan Gayles Matter," Johnny Dollar investigates the murder of Nathan Gayles, a New York police lieutenant shot in his own garage. Sergeant Bill Kemper believes the killer is a hood named Bancroft, whom Gayles had been pursuing relentlessly. On the day of the murder, Gayles told Kemper he was meeting with a stoolie named Virgil Cummins to obtain damaging evidence against Bancroft. When Kemper arrived at the Gayles home, he found the lieutenant dead and Cummins was later discovered strangled in his room. The only witness, a neighbor named George Fisher, initially identified Bancroft from police mugshots but later changed his story after viewing a lineup. Dollar meets with the victim's widow, Evelyn Gayles, who was celebrating their seventh anniversary the day her husband was killed. She mentions that Fisher has been avoiding her, clearly terrified despite having four children of his own. When Dollar attempts to question Fisher, his wife refuses to cooperate, stating the family has been bothered too much. With the key witness too frightened to identify Bancroft and the suspect's girlfriend providing an alibi, Dollar faces the challenge of breaking through a wall of fear to solve the case. Become a supporter of this podcast

  16. The Bobby Foster Matter

    Apr 26, 2026 · 28 min

    Originally Aired: November 10, 1953 Johnny Dollar #188, "The Bobby Foster Matter," Johnny is called to investigate an insurance claim in Riggs City, Florida, where a young boy has suffered a devastating medical emergency. Five-year-old Bobby Foster lies in a coma at the local hospital, facing permanent paralysis as the result of a botched injection that caused an air bubble to enter his bloodstream. Dr. Grant Howell, the hospital director who had to fly in a team of neurosurgeons from Boston to try to save the boy's life, believes Bobby is the victim of a criminal racket. A polio scare has gripped the small Florida town, and panicked parents are desperate to obtain gamma globulin injections for their children. Dr. Howell suspects that someone is taking advantage of this fear by offering black market injections, but Bobby's parents refuse to admit their son received any treatment. As Johnny begins his investigation, he faces a wall of silence from frightened parents who may have put their own children at risk with an unscrupulous operator who remains hidden in the shadows. Become a supporter of this podcast

  17. The Gino Gambona Matter

    Apr 25, 2026 · 28 min

    Originally Aired: November 3, 1953 Johnny Dollar #187, "The Gino Gambona Matter," Johnny Dollar is hired by an insurance company to investigate the murder of Barney Rico, a former racketeer who went straight seven years ago and built a successful chain of barbershops. Rico's death is particularly suspicious because he was the man whose testimony sent mob boss Gino Gambona back to Sicily. Lieutenant Briggs fills Dollar in on the details, noting that Gambona threatened revenge at the trial. The case seems straightforward until Dollar visits Rico's main barbershop and discovers Dave Rico, Barney's brother, fatally stabbed. With his dying breath, Dave names Gambona as his killer, which seems impossible since Gambona is supposedly still in Sicily. Dollar begins investigating Gambona's former associates still in New York, including Virginia Barrett, a singer who was once romantically involved with the mob boss. As Briggs cables authorities in Sicily to confirm Gambona's whereabouts, Dollar heads to the Pirates Den nightclub on East 34th Street to track down Virginia. The question remains: is Gambona somehow back in town seeking revenge, or is someone else eliminating the Rico brothers while hiding behind the gangster's fearsome reputation? Become a supporter of this podcast

  18. The Howard Arnold Matter

    Apr 24, 2026 · 29 min

    Originally Aired: October 27, 1953 Johnny Dollar #186, "The Howard Arnold Matter," Johnny Dollar is hired by his old friend Hanley Conrad to protect Howard Arnold, a prominent attorney who has represented crime boss George Castro and his syndicate for years. Arnold has had a falling out with Castro and fears for his life, but he refuses to go to the police unless he's ready to expose the entire organization. When Dollar meets with Arnold, the nervous lawyer reveals he possesses an envelope containing enough evidence to send Castro and his associates away for a hundred years. Arnold asks Dollar to safeguard this explosive evidence, believing it will keep him alive as long as Castro knows the material will reach authorities if anything happens to him. Dollar agrees to hold the envelope, but trouble arrives quickly when Marty Fleet, one of Castro's trigger men, breaks into his hotel room demanding the evidence. After a violent confrontation, Dollar manages to keep the envelope hidden, but Arnold realizes the situation has become too dangerous. He arranges a secret meeting to retrieve the evidence, taking precautions to avoid Castro's surveillance as the deadly game intensifies. Become a supporter of this podcast

  19. The Allen Saxton Matter

    Apr 23, 2026 · 30 min

    Originally Aired: October 20, 1953 Johnny Dollar #185, "The Allen Saxton Matter," Johnny Dollar travels to New York to investigate a potential insurance claim on a supposedly priceless painting purchased by wealthy collector Allen Saxton for two hundred thousand dollars. The problem: several experts have declared the masterpiece a forgery, while Saxton insists he bought it from Rene Francois, one of Paris's most reputable dealers. Dollar meets the gruff, cough-plagued Saxton at his impressive New Jersey estate, where the collector alternates between reminiscing about Paris and fuming over accusations from a critic named Lippert. The investigation is complicated by Saxton's spirited daughter Barbara, who takes an immediate interest in the insurance investigator despite her father's protective protests. While waiting for museum expert Mr. Farmer to conduct the definitive examination that will determine the painting's authenticity, Dollar finds himself caught between professional duty and personal intrigue. Barbara's determination matches her father's stubbornness, and when she tracks Dollar down at his hotel through persistence and resourcefulness, it becomes clear this case involves more than just verifying a painting's provenance. Become a supporter of this podcast

  20. The Phillip Morey Matter

    Apr 22, 2026 · 30 min

    Originally Aired: October 13, 1953 Johnny Dollar #184, "The Phillip Morey Matter," Johnny is called to New York by Mr. Maynard to investigate a costly production shutdown at Maury Productions Incorporated. Television star Philip Morey has allegedly suffered a nervous breakdown, halting filming and leaving the cast and crew under contract while the insurance company foots the bill. When Johnny arrives to assess the situation, producer Milton Gradke seems strangely evasive about allowing him access to the ailing star. At Philip Morey's Park Avenue apartment, Johnny discovers the truth isn't quite what the insurance company was told. Instead of finding a man incapacitated by nervous exhaustion, he encounters Morey in the throes of what appears to be a serious drinking binge. The actor's writer-director Richard Long explains that Morey's wife has left him and plans to sue for divorce, sending the troubled star spiraling into the bottle. With millions of dollars at stake and a history of similar incidents threatening to end Morey's career permanently, Johnny faces a difficult decision about what to report to his company. Become a supporter of this podcast

  21. The Alfred Chambers Matter

    Apr 21, 2026 · 30 min

    Originally Aired: October 6, 1953 Johnny Dollar #183, "The Alfred Chambers Matter," Johnny Dollar travels to Michigan's exclusive Les Chenaux Islands to investigate the shooting death of Alfred Chambers, a Pittsburgh steel executive found dead in his rented lakeside cabin. Captain George Lane of the Sault Ste. Marie Police briefs Johnny on the puzzling circumstances: Chambers was shot in the chest with a .22 caliber rifle, likely while standing on the dock at twilight. Evidence suggests he fell into the water after being hit, then staggered into the cabin where he died. With no electricity or phone in the isolated 60-year-old cabin and several other homes scattered across the island, the killer could have come from anywhere. The case grows more complicated when Johnny interviews the victim's wife, who reveals that she and her husband had recently separated over his affair with a young college student named Jane Elkins. Mrs. Chambers had come to the island to discuss giving her husband his freedom, only to discover his body. As Johnny examines the crime scene and interviews witnesses, he must determine whether this was a crime of passion or something more calculated in the remote island setting. Become a supporter of this podcast

  22. The Amita Buddha Matter

    Apr 20, 2026 · 29 min

    Originally Aired: September 29, 1953 Johnny Dollar #182, "The Amita Buddha Matter," Johnny Dollar flies to Los Angeles to investigate what initially appears to be a tragic house fire that claimed the life of William McEdwards. However, Beverly Hills Police Chief Anderson reveals a disturbing truth: McEdwards was murdered, stabbed and struck with a severe skull fracture before the fire was set to cover up the crime. Dollar interviews the victim's young widow, who had been married only six months. She explains that she was in Pasadena on the evening of the murder, having taken an antique Chinese Buddha to their friend Charlie Wilkins for appraisal. The statue was a belated wedding gift from Bill's father, John McEdwards, who discovered it during a film production trip to Korea. Dollar's investigation leads him to the elder McEdwards' estate, where he's greeted by four giant Great Danes guarding the property. As Dollar begins questioning the victim's father about the mysterious Buddha statue and the circumstances surrounding his son's death, the case grows more complex, with the rare oriental artifact emerging as a potential key to understanding why someone would commit murder. Become a supporter of this podcast

  23. The William Post Matter

    Apr 19, 2026 · 30 min

    Originally Aired: September 22, 1953 Johnny Dollar #181, "The William Post Matter," Johnny Dollar heads to New York City when his boss Ray Kemper informs him that an insured client, Mrs. Teresa Post, has been murdered. The wealthy banker's wife was found stabbed to death in her eighth-floor apartment by private detective Paul Sachs and her lawyer George Simon, who had both arrived for an evening appointment. The couple had separated just three days earlier after Teresa discovered her husband William's affair, and she was preparing to file for divorce. Lieutenant Roseman of the Fifth Precinct suspects William Post, despite his alibi from his mistress Jane Hughes, because the robbery appears staged—a cloth coat was stolen while an expensive mink remained untouched. Dollar begins interviewing the key players in the case. He meets the unsavory Paul Sachs, who had been hired to gather evidence of William Post's infidelity and displays a disturbingly mercenary attitude about his dead client. Next, Dollar speaks with the more refined George Simon, who confirms he spoke with Teresa that afternoon and found her body alongside Sachs after she failed to appear for their crucial meeting. As Dollar investigates the suspicious circumstances and questionable alibis, he must determine whether this is truly a husband's crime of passion or something more complex. Become a supporter of this podcast

  24. The Lester Matson Matter

    Apr 18, 2026 · 30 min

    Originally Aired: September 8, 1953 Johnny Dollar #179, "The Lester Matson Matter," insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is assigned to investigate a suspicious fire that destroyed the Matson plastics factory in New York. Philip James briefs him on the $700,000 claim, and the police have already ruled out accident—evidence points to arson involving high octane fuel. Lieutenant Ridgway at New York headquarters gives Johnny an intriguing lead: while factory owner Lester Matson has an airtight alibi and no apparent motive, the detective senses the successful businessman is hiding something and seems frightened about what he knows. When Johnny visits the Matson estate in Jersey, he meets Lester's charming daughter Christine before sitting down with her father. The conversation grows tense as Matson becomes defensive and evasive. While insisting the fire must have been an accident, he shows unusual concern about whether it was deliberately set, fixating on the terrifying possibility of a pyromaniac. His nervous speculation about firebugs and what could have happened during working hours only deepens Johnny's suspicion that Matson knows more about the blaze than he's willing to admit. Become a supporter of this podcast

  25. The Stanley Price Matter

    Apr 17, 2026 · 30 min

    Originally Aired: September 1, 1953 Johnny Dollar #178, "The Stanley Price Matter," Johnny Dollar takes on a perplexing case when the New York police confiscate $100,000 worth of rare gems hidden in a water pipe. The jewels may belong to one of his company's European clients who was robbed three months earlier, but they've been removed from their settings and recut, making positive identification nearly impossible. The discovery comes with a murder: Robert Wells was shot twice in the head after a mysterious tipster named Stanley Price called the police about the jewels. Wells' widow claims the gems are rightfully hers and denies any knowledge of how they ended up hidden in her apartment, while Price has vanished without a trace. Dollar begins tracking down the elusive Stanley Price, a small-time hood and bookmaker who recently skipped out on debts around town. His investigation leads him from police headquarters to Greenwich Village and finally to the waterfront, where he learns that Price had been renting a fishing boat despite having no apparent fishing skills. As Dollar follows the trail of this suspicious "fisherman" with a commercial license, he must unravel how an international jewel heist, a murder, and a disappearing bookie all connect. Become a supporter of this podcast