Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar (1949-1962) aired“The Price of Fame Matter” on February 2, 1958. We’ve showcased but three earlier episodes of this highly regarded show, the first back in 2019 and the last in April of this year (2021). Guest host Pete Wood wrote the introduction to that episode, from which I have taken the liberty of selectively editing for current purposes and for those not familiar with the show.

Johnny Dollar ran on CBS from February 18, 1949 until September 30, 1962. Three actors—Charles Russell, Edmond O’Brien, and John Lund—played Dollar as a not too original tough-talking private eye until the initial incarnation ended in September, 1954.

After a one year hiatus the show returned with a new star and a new format. Bob Bailey (1913-1983, photo top right) played Dollar as a freelance insurance investigator, and radio veteran Jack Johnstone took over production and directing duties, as well as writing many of the episodes.

Bob Bailey was Dollar until November 1960 when the network fired him when he refused to relocate from Hollywood to New York. Bob Readick then portrayed Dollar from December, 1960 until June 1961 with Mandel Kramer taking over the role until the program’s last episode in September of 1962.

Bob Bailey was the heart and soul of the series. Of the 827 episodes, Bailey played Dollar for 484. Second place O’Brien, by contrast, only appeared in 103 episodes.

The show typically began with a phone call from some insurance executive who wanted Dollar to investigate some unusual claim. Dollar traveled all over the United States and sometimes out of the country. He told the story through flashbacks as he explained each item on his “action-packed expense account.”

Bob Bailey had a long radio career, beginning in the early thirties and ending with Johnny Dollar. He starred in programs too numerous to name, but his most successful role until Johnny Dollar was as private investigator George Valentine in Let George Do It from 1946 to 1954 on the Mutual Broadcasting System. Virginia Gregg, who portrayed Nancy Turner, played his secretary, Brooksie, for many episodes.

Virginia Gregg (1916-1986) appears in this episode.  She had roles in dozens of Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar episodes and enjoyed a long career in radio, television and films. She appeared on such radio programs as The Adventures of Sam Spade, Dragnet, Dr. Kildare, Gunsmoke, The Jack Benny Program, One Man’s Family,  The Zero Hour and Mutual Radio Theater. She often did double duty with roles in both the radio and television versions of programs. Gregg once said of her work as a character actress on television: “I work steadily, but I have no identity.” She added, “When casting people have a call for a woman who looks like the wrath of God, I’m notified.” On television, Gregg appeared in programs such as  Hawaiian Eye, 77 Sunset Strip, Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Perry Mason, The Rockford Files, Maverick, My Favorite Martian, and The Twilight Zone. Her forty five film roles included the voice of Mrs. Bates in Psycho, Psycho II, and Psycho III. Oh, yeah, and she also played double bass for the Pasadena Symphony. Virginia Gregg died of lung cancer on September 15, 1986.

“The Price of Fame Matter” stands out due to famed horror actor Vincent Price (1911-1993) playing himself, in a script built around his real life avocation as an art collector. Price hires Johnny Dollar to find a thief who has stolen one of his valuable paintings, and in short order clues lead them to Paris where Price becomes the lead investigator with a plan to catch the thief, with Dollar following Price’s lead and being surprised with Price’s ingenuity. Along the way there is some well done banter between the two as to who is the more famous, which adds a nice touch to an otherwise straightforward (yet still intriguing who-stole-it) crime story. It’s a fun half hour of radio featuring two of radio’s finest talents (remember Price played The Saint on radio for several years), and with a well-written script and a change of venue from Connecticut where most of Dollar’s adventures took place, to Europe, it’s easy to recommend this episode.

In real life Vincent Price had a degree in art history and was an avid art collector. He lectured on art around the country and wrote books on the subject, and with his second wife wrote a number of cook books, noted gourmet cook that he had become. Later in life he suffered from COPD and Parkinson’s disease which severely shortened his shooting schedule in what would be his final film (Edward Scissorhands, 1990). His film credits go far beyond his more well known horror films, and include among many others Laura (1944), Dragonwyck (1946), and The Ten Commandments (1956). Vincent Price died of lung cancer on October 25, 1993.

(The linked CD at top of page includes “The Price of Fame Matter.”)

Play Time: 21:35

{This episode aired on a Sunday evening at 7:30, which foretold the appearance of the neighborhood gang at the corner newsstand the following day after school, where they would form ranks and initiate a concerted hunt for their favorite reading material. Astounding Science Fiction (1930-present, now Analog) had long been a must buy and this issue was no exception. It offered Part I of III of Poul Anderson’s new novel The Man Who Counts. It would be renamed for book publication with the title now familiar to SF fans as War of the Wing-Men. Among other stories in this issue were novelettes by Eric Frank Russell and L. Sprague de Camp, and a short story by Robert Silverberg. Definitely a solid issue. Astounding held to its usual monthly schedule in 1958. The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction (1949-present), not to be outdone, would also feature stories by Poul Anderson and Robert Silverberg, along with tales by (among others not mentioned) Chad Oliver, Avram Davidson, Zenna Henderson, and Carol Emshwiller, wife of cover artist Ed (“Emsh”) Emshwiller. F&SF was also on a monthly schedule in 1958. Galaxy (1950-1980) would round out an excellent month for this trio of SF magazines, with stories by (among others) Lloyd Biggle, Jr., Walter Tevis, Harry Harrison, Fritz Leiber, Evelyn E. Smith, and H. Beam Piper. The neighborhood gang had hit gold this month and were in for some terrific reading. Galaxy was also a monthly in 1958.}

[Left: Astounding SF, Feb. 1958 – Center: F&SF, Feb. 1958 – Right: Galaxy, Feb. 1958]

To view the entire list of Old Time Radio episodes go here.