Desc | Da | Yours Truly Johnny Dollar | Crime

Thanks

With over a decade on-air, Yours Truly Johnny Dollar was one of the longest-running detective series on radio. It aired on CBS Radio for 15 minutes from 1948 to 1962, making it among the last series broadcast on air as the listeners' interest on radio started to wane during the 1960s.

Johnny Dollar, the series lead character, was an insurance investigator. Each episode began with a phone call from insurance executives, asking him to work on an unusual claim. This would then require Dollar to go on a journey across the United States, or sometimes on other countries. Each case he handled was referred to as a "matter," some instances of which were "The Forbes Matter," "The Silver Blue Matter," and "The Price of Fame Matter." Such titles and format were used throughout the series' run.

From a total of 811 episodes produced by the show, only 720 are still existing. It was the last radio program on what was known as the Golden Age of Radio.

The CDs begin with the 1948 audition programs, following through until the series end in 1962. Always broadcast by CBS. Johnny Dollar was "a freelance insurance investigator with the action-packed expense account.” Dollar worked for the Universal Adjustment Bureau, and his expense account allowed him to travel the world to recover goods for his company. The format of the program followed Dollar, as he dictated his expense account like this, “expense account, item one,” and he would go on to listing his travel expenses, etc., etc. until he finished the report saying, “Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar.” Click here to read more about Yours Truly Johnny Dollar

Radio Shows
Comments
Photos

Please enjoy these 728 old time radio episodes:

Air Date	Title	Synopsis
02.25.1949	the slow boat from china	+ Johnny goes to Singapore to expedite a shipment of tin and finds everyone looking for a mysterious...
02.18.1949	the parakoff policy	+ The first show of the series. While investigating a murder involving a beautiful widow in negligee...
12.07.1948	milford brooks iii	+ Audition program. Johnny is hired to keep Mr. Brooks from committing suicide and a $2 million dol...

1 2 3 … 27 28 29 30

One of my absolutely favorite shows!

Tina

Love the Bob Bailey era.

Jake

One of my favorite radio shows the big expense account yours truly Johnny Dollar

Calina

I listen to Johnny Dollar on Sirius xm radio.My favorite!!! Along with the Shadow....The shadow always knows!!!

Theresa

A truly fun show!

David

Love the Bob Bailey era.

Chris

Yours Truly was one of the better Radio detective shows.

George

I enjoyed that program to the end.

Douglas

The best show on the radio - then and now.

phil

Listen to this every evening as I'm going to bed.

Don

One of my favorites.

Tom

My favorite!

Anne

I like the Johnny Dollar series.

Alonzo

I LOVE Johnny Dollar!

Evan

He's one reason I listen to the show

Penny

A second joy of listening to these is the cost of everything.

Harry

My favorite.I love that show and never tired to listen it again and again.

Andrew

Love hearing Johnny Dollar!!

Stephanie

I love Johnny Dollar.

Teressa

Love, love, love Johnny Dollar!

Peter

Johnny Dollar..just one awesome dude

Linda

One of my favorites!

Barbara

The best show on the radio - then and now.

Phil

Listen to this every evening as I'm going to bed.

Don

One of my favorites.

Tom

My favorite!

Anne

My all time most favorite series! !!

Johanna

Bob Bailey played the part best of all.

Deb

LOVE Bob Bailey as Johnny Dollar. My fave series.

Tere

When I first heard the premise of the series, I wasn't so intrigued. But I gave it a listen and I have to admit it is a compelling drama.

Jean

YTJD is my favorite radio show of all time. Bob Bailey was one of a kind. He was the best.

Robert

Best Johnny dollar.

Dale

Love me some JD, baby!

Julia

Love Johnny Dollar!

Joanna

My favorite!

Anne

Thank you for turning me on to Johnny Dollar. I look forward to when ever it is on, even though the Bob Bailey version is the best!

Patt

Johnny Dollar is my favorite!!

George

They are all my favorites

Eric

One of my favorites.

Charlie

Easily one of the best mystery/thriller radio series. I prefer Bob Bailey, but the other actors did well with good scripts too. Five parters were the best. I suggest checking the Web for Bailey's online biography as well as the fine earlier "Let George Do It" with well acted female lead played by Frances Robinson and later, others.

RONAH

The best johnny!

Michael

I love Johnny Dollar with Bob! His voice is perfect!

Susan

Love him

Stephanie

One of my favorites. Love him on Let George Do It, as well.

Jane

He was the best !!!

Fred

The best Johnny Dollar

Rodney

Bob was the best and my favorite Johnny Dollar. I listen to it as I drive cross country and I can imagine the scene in my head as it was on TV live

George

Love his voice! Definitely my favorite Johnny heart emoticon

Jennifer

His voice defines radio cool.

Allen

Love that show!!!

Tim

To me Bailey is "THE" Johnny Dollar.

Hal

The best of the Johnny Dollars.

Tim

Love Bob Bailey. He was the best Johnny Dollar!!!

Dwight

I love Johnny Dollar

Teressa

Bailey was always great as Dollar. The five-part serialized episodes were particularly good and the highlight of this always great series.

Tim

One of my favorites on "Radio Classics".

Mark

I listened to Johnny Dollar as a child and youth and now I listen to the CDs of his series...

Halford

I like his voice so much that I even enjoy listening to Johnny Dollar marathons I've heard multiple times over the years and never turn the dial. Great work Bob. You are missed!

Scott

Love Bob Bailey's Johnny Dolllar the best. I am an addict. Can't get enough!!

Windi

I love his voice also . Wish I had known about him along time ago you are missed

Joyce

I love Bob Bailey.

Jean

As an insurance agent I just live that show!!'

Tim

Best Johnny dollar ever.

Jacob

Love the show when he is the lead!!

Jack

Top Dollar.

Efrem

Best of the Dollars. 1st image I have seen of him, not what I pictured. voice and face just do not match.

Allan

MY favorite JOHNNY DOLLAR.

Joannie

My favorite radio show is Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar

David

Johnny Dollar my favorite old time radio show smile emoticon

Ron

One of my favorite shows!

Rudith

love the character of Johnny Dollar

Robert

Loved him in the movie D.O.A.

Ryan

He was great in both shows

David

Great, interesting article about Bob Bailey! Well written & informative!

Suzanne

The best Johnny Dollar.

Tony

I was a Johnny Dollar fan back in the 50's.

Philip

"The Nick Schoen matter" love to hear in Christmas

Christan

Yours Truly Johnny Dollar is great show my favorite one.

Phil

my favorite OTR show is Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar.

Robert

My favorite OTR program.

Adams

One of the best programs you air

Dan

Love this show!

Josh

One of my favorits!!!

Christine

Awesome show!

Eric

My favorite radio program.

Kathy

I just love this series..

Sandra

The description is not entirely accurate. The show ran from 1948 to 1964 (not '62), and was one of the last two shows from the golden age (the other was Suspense). For the bulk of its run, the format was 30 minutes one night a week. For two years in the late 1950s, the format changed to 15 minutes every weeknight, but long before it ended (in fact before Bob Bailey left the show) it had reverted to the half hour format.

Bobbie

I use these radio programs when I'm driving a considerable distance or have to wait for someone who's at a lengthy appointment. So yes I listen in one fell swoop and enjoy them immensely. My choice Yours Truly Johnny Dollar, with Bob Baily.

Mike

Best show on Radio Classics.

Bruce

My favorite. Love the marathons, all five episodes.

Rick

Bob Bailey was the best Yours Truly Johnny Dollar ever!

Patt

There were 2 audition programs from this series, the first was broadcast December 7, 1948, titled The Milford Brooks III Matter, starring Dick Powell The second audition program was broadcast January 14, 1949, titled The Robert W Perry Case, starring Charles Russell. The opening is familiar among fans of Old Time Radio: "the man with the actionpacked expense account...America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator." And if we still weren't sure, he always told us himself: "Yours truly, Johnny Dollar." Opening on a Friday night, February 18, 1949 (The Paricoff Policy Matter), right at the start of television's golden age, this radio show brought us a high-powered insurance investigator who worked chiefly for the Universal Adjustment Bureau, a clearinghouse for the many insurance companies. The series starred Charles Russell as Johnny Dollar, the smart and tough detective, whose trademark it was to toss silver dollars as tips to busboys and bellhops. Johnny Dollar was heard each week flying off to a different town filled with danger and possibly murder as he tried to get to the bottom of insurance fraud. There were rarely any recurring characters except Dollar; despite sometimes romance and friends, the character was generally a loner. These early episodes, however, tended to be flat and the character of Dollar too dry. Beginning February 3, 1950, Charles Russell was out and veteran film actor Edmund O'Brien stepped in as the second Johnny Dollar. The series during the O'Brien years improved with scripts by expert crime writer such as E. Jack Neumann, John Michael Hayes, Sidney Marshall and Blake Edwards. The character took on the stereotype of the American detective developed by Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler. Dollar was more hardboiled; his softer side rarely appeared. John Lund became Dollar number three on November 28, 1952. With Lund in the role, the character as developed by O'Brien remained. Beginning October 3, 1955 radio actor Bob Bailey, fresh from his long run as George Valentine in LET GEORGE DO IT, stepped into the role as the fourth Johnny Dollar (there was an audition show with Dick Powell in 1948 that is not counted). It was with Bailey that the series really blossomed. Changing to a 15-minute format five times a week, and under the sharp eye of the new producer/director, Jack Johnstone, the scripts got much deeper into characterization and plot. And Bailey's depiction of Dollar had shades of a gritty street fighter, yet bright and sensitive. With a strong cast (many of the same veteran radio actors appearing in different roles) and excellent directing, the portrayals were much more real. And exciting; listen to such serials as "The Open Town Matter" or "The MacCormack Matter." Even while radio drama was already declining, this was radio acting at its best. The sound effects, some of which were canned, fit into the scripts so well as to produce some very exciting adventure/mystery. But doing a daily show live was taxing, so by the end of 1956, the series reverted to thirty minute, once-a-week episodes. But the power of the show continued, due a lot to the continued presence of both Bailey and Johnstone. Bailey left the show when it moved to New York production studios and initially Bob Readick filled Johnny Dollar's shows beginning December 4, 1960. Beginning June 15, 1961 Mandel Kramer came to the role. He was perhaps the second best of the Dollar portrayals. Kramer's Dollar displayed more cynical humor than Bailey's. Johnny Dollar remained sensitive yet tough and with Jack Johnstone continuing as producer, the series remained poignant right up to its demise. Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar has the distinction of being the last dramatic radio series from the golden age of radio when it ceased broadcasting on September 30, 1962.

Bruce

My favorites are the 5-part shows. The longer format offered much more storytelling potential. After first discovering the show with those the regular 30 minute single shows seem so much more predictable and simplistic.

Paul S.

Does anyone recall if it was ever mentioned in any episode what Johnny's fee per day was?

Will Shank

Listeners frequently hear a radio detective tell a client something like, "I get twenty-five dollars a day plus expenses". Was Johnny's daily fee ever mentioned?

Will Shank

I was just listening to the "Indestructible Mike" episode featuring Howard McNear as "Mike". Such an awesome episode and you get to hear Johnny Dollar's empathy for Mike which is unlike Johnny since he likes to keep a distance emotionally (unless it's a pretty gal

Tracy

Bob Bailey was my fave with Edmond O'Brien a close 2nd. Very well written storylines.

Michael

Bob Bailey may be my favorite overall actor on radio. The show definitely benefited from the 5, quarter hour episode structure. Forced into 30 minutes, I feel a lot of the episodes got sloppy and cut corners to get to the solution quickly. It was much better when they could let the story unfold slowly.

Travis

Actually the Kramer episodes were scheduled for 6:10pm to 6:30pm in most areas, that’s why the stories seem rushed. CBS and their affiliates were more interested in news and news-related features at that point

Eric

I haven’t really given that show a chance. I’d hear the line ‘the man with the action packed expense account’ and just start laughing. It sounded like an SNL skit. Will have to revisit though-do many people seem to love it.

Gary

I always felt like he didn't NEED to pad his account... he was so honest in all other ways in the episodes.

Johnny

In February 1949, a new program debuted on CBS: “Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar”. On September 30, 1962 its final episode aired, thus closing the Golden Age of Old Time Radio. In the intervening years, except for a 13-month interruption, Johnny Dollar, “America’s fabulous Insurance Investigator, the man with the action-packed expense account” entertained audiences and in the process, created an amazing 812 episodes. The basic storyline of Johnny Dollar is unique among “private eye” programs: each week Johnny would be hired by an insurance company to investigate questionable claims. He would travel all over the world to protect the interests of the hiring company - each case being narrated with entries in his expense account. Early on, Johnny was noted for $1.00 tips (worth more than $10 in today's dollars!) and padded expense accounts. As the program matured, the tips disappeared, but not the listing of “incidentals” on the expense account. The mentions of each expense were used to change the scenes of the stories and move each show plot forward. During the series run, six actors played the role of Johnny Dollar: Charles Russell - 34 programs (1949-1950), Edmond O’Brien - 106 programs (1950-1952, John Lund - 98 programs (1952-1954), Bob Bailey - 483 programs (1955-1960), Bob Readick - 29 programs (1960-1961) and Mandel Kramer - 69 programs (1961-1962) Additionally, two other prominent radio actors auditioned for the role of Johnny Dollar. Singer and entertainer Dick Powell auditioned to be the first Dollar. He went on to become the voice Richard Diamond. Gerald Mohr, who a few years earlier voiced Phillip Marlowe for CBS, auditioned for the resumption of the series after John Lund's tenure ended. Johnny Dollar was supported by the finest CBS voice actors in Hollywood and then, after the program moved to New York in 1960, a reliable stable of CBS actors who had roles in radio soap operas and early television series. Even though Johnny Dollar aired for almost 12 years, it had a sponsor for only one year during the O’Brien-Lund period. Wrigley’s Gum sponsored the program during a very successful 1952-53 season, and the program to receive a Hooper rating of 6.3 (tying with Fibber McGee and Molly). For the rest of the aeries the programs were “sustaining” – which meant that the network picked up the cost of the program, and they sold advertising, as did local stations, before and after the broadcast. Even as a sustaining program, the program lasted until 1962 when, along with an episode of Suspense, dramatic radio that originated in the golden age disappeared from the airwaves. The cases that Johnny Dollar investigated ran the gamut from murder, arson, fraud and even a missing mouse! These cases were penned by some of the best of writers in radio. The writers included E. Jack Neuman, Paul Dudley, Gil Doud, Les Crutchfield, and Blake Edwards (yes, THAT Blake Edwards, creator of "The Pink Panther" and many other motion pictures). Over the run of the program, a number of individuals directed the program, including Gordon T. Hughes, Norman McDonnell, Jaime del Valle, Jack Johnstone and Bruno Zirato, Jr. Starting in 1956, Jack Johnstone (its producer-director) found it difficult to find new scripts, so he started writing scripts himself. He ended up writing 272 scripts for Johnny Dollar. Jack related in a SPERDVAC interview that all the major writers had moved to movies and TV, so he had to fill the gap. He even wrote scripts for Suspense, using the pseudonym "Jonathan Bundy." Even though the program started off weakly, it gathered steam and ultimately became the “Engergizer Bunny” of Radio. Johnny Dollar is probably more beloved today by collectors than it was at the time it aired. Favorite episodes are the 5-part series with Bob Bailey. YTJD expert John Abbott reminds fans that they may find the initial run with Charles Russell is often overlooked, and by doing so they are missing a different and entertaining characterization that they may find worthwhile.