Podcast Summary

Episode Overview

Podcast: Choice Classic Radio Detectives | Old Time Radio
Episode: Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar – The Embarcadero Matter (Airdate: 08/23/1959)
Host: Choice Classic Radio

The Embarcadero Matter transports listeners to Paris and foggy San Francisco as Johnny Dollar, insurance investigator extraordinaire, races against time and the criminal underworld to recover a priceless Cellini medallion stolen from the Louvre. Using his network of contacts and a healthy expense account, Johnny weaves through intrigue, smuggling rings, and gunfights in this action-packed adventure from the Golden Age of Radio.

Key Discussion Points & Plot Progression

1. A Job in Paris Turns into a New Case (01:19–03:12)

• Johnny Dollar is ready to return home after solving a jewel case in Paris but is contacted by George Reed of his insurance company.
• Johnny is asked to stay in Paris to help recover a stolen Cellini medallion—a priceless artifact missing from the Louvre.
• “I’m flying on back tonight. See you in Hartford in the morning. What?” — Johnny Dollar (02:19)

2. Underworld Informant Louis de Marsac (03:21–08:23)

• Johnny chooses not to contact the company man, Rigaud, but goes straight to Louis de Marsac, his flamboyant underworld informant, aka "The Great Cat."
• Louis is broke (after spending Johnny’s previous payoff on a “bad investment” involving a “lovely vision”).
• Johnny offers him $150 (negotiated from $500) to dig up info on the medallion.
• In a short time, Louis returns with detailed intel:
  • The medallion is being smuggled to America hidden in a wine case on the ship Klemper Hall bound for San Francisco.
  • The case is marked with a tiny circle and a Maltese cross — a detail Louis knows because, as he sheepishly admits, “I put it there myself.” (08:18)
• Memorable quote:
  • “You dug up an awful lot of information in a very short time, Dermasac, even about that mark on the case of wine?” — Johnny Dollar (08:10)
  • “But of course, monsieur. You see, I put it there myself.” — Louis de Marsac (08:23)

3. Across the World: Arrival in San Francisco (08:44–10:09)

• Johnny jets to fog-shrouded San Francisco and checks into his favorite hotel, then heads out for dinner.
• He’s tailed in the fog — fortunately, it’s only Smokey Sullivan, a reformed underworld acquaintance.
• Smokey offers to help, admitting he’s been “going straight” and working the Embarcadero docks.

4. Smuggling on the Docks and Frankie Gerstel (10:09–12:23)

• Smokey tells Johnny there’s been a lot of smuggling (mostly narcotics) through the Embarcadero.
• Most crucially, Smokey says notorious fence Frankie Gerstel (the same man Johnny suspects) has been seen at the docks, likely to intercept the wine shipment.
• “I've been hanging around the docks the last couple of days, down to the Embarcadero… Smuggling, Johnny. There's a lot of smuggling all the time…” — Smokey Sullivan (10:23–10:45)
• Smokey reveals he actually helped unload the Klemper Hall; it arrived earlier that day.

5. The Warehouse Showdown (12:53–20:39)

12:53–15:14

• Johnny and Smokey head to Pier 93.
• They find the night watchman dead — shot in the back of the head, likely by Gerstel.

15:14–17:02

• Smokey fears being found at the scene; Johnny decides to canvass the warehouse for the wine case.
• Johnny instructs Smokey on how to cover if the police arrive.
• Armed with a flashlight, Johnny navigates the dark warehouse, locating the wine cases by their special mark (tiny circle with a Maltese cross).

17:02–20:39

• As Johnny searches, someone else is in the darkness: it’s Frankie Gerstel, lying in wait and armed.
• A tense, shadowy shootout commences:
  • Frankie: “I've been here over an hour. I can see in here, but you can't now.” (18:32)
  • Johnny tries to draw Frankie out with conversation, but shots are fired.
  • Johnny tricks Frankie by using a cinch bar and the momentary flash of Frankie's gun to locate him.
  • Smokey rushes in, grabs a pistol from the dead watchman, and fatally shoots Frankie, saving Johnny’s life.

6. The Case Closed, Redemption for Smokey (20:16–21:47)

• With Frankie dead, Johnny finds the medallion on his body—confirming all the underworld tips were correct.
• The authorities arrive, but Smokey is exonerated and even hailed as a hero for saving Johnny and helping recover the medallion.
• “You saved my life, Smokey. Thanks.” — Johnny Dollar (20:26)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "You will be amazed. You will be thrilled." — Night Clerk, Paris (01:19)
• “She was young. She was so beautiful... Marcel! How could such a lovely vision deceive me so? Oh, I'm crushed, a man without hope.” — Louis de Marsac (04:43)
• “But of course, monsieur. You see, I put it there myself.” — Louis de Marsac explaining his inside knowledge (08:23)
• “I’m real clean now, Johnny. I’ve been going straight, lots of stuff. But I know how to keep my eyes open.” — Smokey Sullivan (10:31)
• “If anybody was to find out that I was informed—” “Don't worry. The treasury boys will never talk.” — Smokey and Johnny, on going legit (11:35)
• “If the cops come around, they see this office dark…” — Smokey’s concern about being an ex-con at a murder scene (15:56)
• Showdown Bluff:
  Frankie: “Didn’t figure I had two guns, did you, Dollar? But you haven’t. Not now...” (19:37)
  Johnny: “By the time you can reload… yeah, Smokey, put on the lights. I can use him now.” (19:47)
• “The Cellini medallion and Frankie's pocket. It was pretty obvious that he'd killed the watchman taking the medallion out of the wine case. And was about to leave when we showed up. Smokey's shot had killed him. Had Smokey a bit worried too, when the police barged in on us. But now, now he's a public hero.” — Johnny Dollar, narrating the wrap-up (20:39)

Important Timestamps

• 01:19 — Johnny Dollar gets the call about the new case.
• 03:21–08:23 — Paris underworld: deal with Louis de Marsac, discovery of the medallion's route.
• 08:44 — Johnny arrives in San Francisco.
• 10:09 — First encounter with Smokey Sullivan.
• 12:53 — Pier 93, discovery of the dead watchman.
• 17:02 — Tense warehouse search for the marked wine case.
• 18:32–20:39 — Shootout and confrontation with Frankie Gerstel.
• 20:31 — Johnny thanks Smokey for saving his life.
• 21:47 — Case wrap-up and expense account.

Summary & Tone

The Embarcadero Matter packs clever banter, noir atmosphere, and classic radio action into a tightly plotted story. Johnny Dollar’s dry wit, Louis de Marsac’s melodramatic charm, and Smokey Sullivan’s earnest attempts to go straight ground the episode. The case closes with justice served and redemption secured—Golden Age radio at its most entertaining.

For fans of sharp dialogue, shadowy docks, and solid mystery plotting, this episode delivers the goods.