Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar (1949-1962) aired “The Big Scoop Matter” on November 11, 1956. We’ve showcased but six earlier episodes of this highly regarded show, the first back in 2019 and the last in November of 2023. Guest host Pete Wood wrote the introduction to the May 2020 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) 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 played his secretary, Brooksie, for many episodes.
Virginia Gregg (1916-1986) appears in this episode and deserves mention as a recurring and much appreciated member of the cast. 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 TV, 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.
This episode finds Johnny, getting a call from the insurance company for which he works, asking him to take on a new case, one not of the usual variety. It seems the insurance company has gotten wind of someone they’ve recently insured for $100,000 who is in danger, and they need Johnny to look after their investment. Johnny learns that the fellow he is to bird dog is an old friend of his, a newspaper reporter named Art Wesley. Wesley is close to closing in on a big gambling racket but has gotten too close for comfort and several attempts have recently been made on his life. Johnny quickly learns that the gambling interests mean business, so when they up the ante to murder Johnny gets into this mess knee deep, all of which makes for a thrilling but dangerous adventure that will come to be known as “The Big Scoop Matter.” While the structure of this mystery shares elements with several popular TV detective shows that come to mind (the manner in which clues are revealed and how Johnny puts them together), the one that jumped out at me for some reason was a generic episode of Columbo. See if you agree.
{A final note about this episode: On June 16, 2009 I posted the very first of these weekly Golden Age of Radio episodes. Some weekly postings included more than a single episode. That very first posting back in 2009 was the two-part airing of SF author George R. Stewart’s classic novel Earth Abides. A few other weekly postings over the years included 3 or more episodes of the 12-15 minute variety from one of the original Tarzan serials from the 1930s, or from other shows running serials like The Ghost Corps, for example. So there have been more individual episodes than individual posts. That said, this episode of Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar marks the 800th separate Old Time Radio post I’ve shared since the very first one back in June of 2009, some 16 years ago. Not in my wildest dreams did I ever aspire to such a number, and my mind still boggles a bit at the number 800. I’ve had a lot of fun putting them together and look forward to continuing the run. I hope you’ve enjoyed them.}
(The linked CD at top includes this episode and 25 others, all digitally remastered and restored.)
Play Time: 24:52
{Airing on a Sunday evening in early November of 1956, the neighborhood gang could hardly wait until the next afternoon after school, at which time they would meet up at the nearby newsstand and see what new magazines they would bring home with them, hoping for stories of adventure and and untold excitement on this and other worlds. They would not be disappointed with what they found. Astounding Science Fiction ((1930-present, now Analog) was always a popular choice, and with a new James H. Schmitz tale staring them in the face on the cover it was a sure-fire sale. ASF was a monthly in 1956. The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction (1949-present)was one of the new SF magazines to make its mark on the SF field, and it was an instant hit from its first quarterly issue. The gang was in for a real treat with the issue shown below, for it sported Part 2 of 3 of Robert A. Heinlein’s new novel The Door into Summer. F&SF was a monthly in 1956. Galaxy SF (1950-1980) was another new kid on the SF block and offered writers the freedom to explore new themes and treatments of traditional as well as new themes and ways of approaching them not previously explored in the SF genre. Writers and readers loved the fresh approach, making Galaxy an instant hit, with a number of awards not far off in its future. It too was a monthly in 1956.}
[Left: Astounding SF, 11/56 – Center: F&SF, 11/56 – Right: Galaxy SF, 11/56]
To view the entire list of weekly Old Time Radio episodes at Tangent Online, click here.