← The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio| Daily Mystery Dramas
The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio| Daily Mystery Dramas
Yours Truly Johnny Dollar: The Happy Family Matter (EP4657)
00:31:58
Today's Mystery: An insured man wants Johnny to pick which of his three children will be the beneficiary of his life insurance policy. Original Radio Broadcast Date: December 15, 1957 Originating from Hollywood Starring: Bob Bailey as Johnny...
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- [00:01]
Nicole Byer
We interrupt this program to bring you an important Wayfair message. Wayfair's got Style Tips for Every Home. This is Nicole Byer helping you make those rooms flyer. Today's Style Tip when it comes to making a statement, treat bold patterns like neutrals. Go wild like an untamed animal. Print area rug under a rustic farmhouse table. From wayfair.com Ooh, fierce. This has been your Wayfair style tip to keep those interiors superior.
- [00:28]
Dan Coverley
Wayfair Every Style Every Home From Taco.
- [00:31]
Nicole Byer
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- [01:29]
John Dana
Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio. In a moment, I'm going to bring you this week's episode of yours truly, Johnny Dollar. But first, I do want to encourage you, if you're enjoying the podcast, to follow us using your favorite podcast software. I also want to let you know that we offer Great Detectives of Old Time Radio T shirts in four different designs. You can pick yours at t shirt.greatdetectives.net We've got our general Great Detectives of Old Time Radio shirt, our yours truly Johnny Dollar anniversary shirt, the Joe Friday Never said Just the Facts Ma'am shirt, as well as our famous Investigator shirt. Pick your favorite design in a variety of styles, including pullover hoodies. @t shirt.greatdetectives.net well now, from December 15, 1957, here is the happy family matter from Hollywood.
- [02:29]
Nicole Byer
It's time now for Johnny Dollar. Mr. Dollar, I want you to come over here right away. What's that again? I want you to come over here right away. That's what I thought you said. But who is this and where's here? This is LSP Watkins, Ms. Dollar. You've heard of me, perhaps? Yeah, I think so. Manufacturer, aren't you? At the moment, that seems to be a matter of opinion. Over here is Broad Acres at Fairfield, Connecticut. Would you mind telling me what this is all about, Mr. Watkins? It's very simple. I have a hundred thousand dollars to give away. All to whom? That is what you are going to tell me, Mr. Dollar. I'll get there as soon as I can. Bob Bailey in the exciting adventures of the man with the action packed expense account, America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator, yours truly, Johnny Dollar. And now act one of yours truly, Johnny Dol. Expense account submitted by special investigator Johnny Dollar to the estate of E.P. watkins, Fairfield, Connecticut. Following is an account of expenses incurred during my investigation of the happy family. Expense account item $1.20. Taxi from my apartment of the home office of the Universal Adjustment Bureau. And Pat McCracken. Well, didn't take Mr. Watkins long to get in touch with you, Johnny. Yeah, I figured he must have got my name from you, Pat. Ah. E.P. watkins holds a life policy for $100,000. Beneficiary was to have been his wife, but she died several months ago. Now he wants to designate a new beneficiary. You mean he wants me to tell him who the beneficiary should be? That's right. No, thanks. Now, look. You look, Pat. I got tangled up in a family matter. I still have the scars to prove it. Johnny, why doesn't Mr. Watkins pick his own beneficial? Ordinarily he would, but in a case like this, it might take time. So what? From what I can gather, Johnny, Mr. Watkins doesn't have much time left to live. Oh. Okay, Pat. Item two, $4.30. Transportation by car to Broad Acres. The Watkins home in Fairfield. It was a big place and it was old. I was shown into the library. E.P. watkins was sitting in front of the fire. I could see that he wasn't well, but there was still a lot of strength in his face. Mr. Dollar, according to the medical authorities, I have somewhere between one week and one year to live. I'm sorry, I'm not. Oh. My wife is dead, My business is on the verge of collapse, and my children are strangers. Should I be sorry? Well, I. I don't know. I have three possible beneficiaries. A daughter, Sheila, 28 years old. A son, Michael, 26, and another daughter, Elizabeth, 24. Why not have all three share equally? Mr. Dollar? Had I wished to do that, I would not be calling on you. The others will be taken care of elsewhere in the estate. I suppose. There is no estate other than this insurance policy. Ah. Most of it has gone down the drain of an ailing business. The rest will be consumed in estate expenses. I see. Watkins money should be kept in the Watkins family, as I see it. But I. I most emphatically wish the money to go to one member and one member only. And the other two, they are to be left out in the cold, huh? I did not engage you to examine my motives, Mr. Dollar, you have asked me a direct question and I will give you a direct answer. Yes, I intend, as you put it, to leave the other two out in the cold. You say there are three of them? Sheila, Michael, Elizabeth. What can you tell me about them? Well, Sheila, who lives with me seems to think that she should be managing my affairs instead of I. Michael seems to prefer the so called life of an artist to assuming the responsibilities of the name of Watkins and Elizabeth. Stubborn, stubborn. Married to one James Lovett, who is quite convinced that he knows infinitely more about business matters than I ever did. Well, you seem to take a pretty dim view of all of them, Mr. Watkins. I do, I do indeed, Mr. Donnell. You know, one little item occurs to me. And what is that? Whichever two are left out aren't going to like it very much, obviously. Which means they're not going to like me very much. Also quite obvious. So I intend to pay you a considerable fee. But you will earn it, Every penny of it. Act two of yours truly, Johnny Dollar in a moment. And now for another episode in the life of Sergeant Donald Bellwether. My husband, Reba. Is everything packed in this duffel bag? Yeah, everything but these, Sarge. Oh, let me see that bottle, Reba. What in the world would a bunch of guys on a fishing trip want with these indigestion pills? Now you just take them along, Don. Remember, you boys will be doing your own cooking for three whole days. Maybe you're right. Oh boy, I can hardly wait to pop some of those freshly caught fish into the pan. There now, everything's all packed. Yeah, well, we better get going. The fellas will be waiting if I'll walk you to the car. Okay, I'll carry this bag. The rest of the gear is already packed. Here, I'll open the door for you. Oh, thanks, honey. Now, I'll just put this bag in the back seat. Okay. Now kiss me goodbye right here on the front lawn so the neighbors will know I'm not leaving because we quarrel. Oh, you're so silly. Good luck, dear. Have a wonderful time. You really deserve this fishing trip. Well, is that all you got to say? I mean, you. You usually tell me to drive carefully. Etc. Etc. Well, this time I will not say a word. Okay, dear. Well, I guess I better be going. Hey, what's this note on the steering wheel? Dear Sergeant, on one holiday last year in the States, speed was a factor in 71% of the accidents. Drinking was a factor in nearly half. Accidents were most frequent early in the weekend. 82% of the accidents happened in rural areas, and the victims were usually the drivers. Your loving wife, Reba. I might have known you'd get to me somehow, Vi dear. Oh, I'm gonna miss you. I'm gonna miss you too, Reba. And don't you worry. I'll drive safely. That's my Donald. That's my dog. And now, Act Two of yours truly, Johnny Dollar and the Happy Family Matter. Well, this was undoubtedly the weirdest assignment I'd ever been handed. And from one of the weirdest characters I'd ever met, E.P. watkins. And yet I couldn't help feeling sorry for him. He was really alone, and somewhere along the line, he must have been hurt pretty badly. I left the library and started through the drawing room. Mr. Dollar, I'm Sheila. Oh, yeah. I'd like to talk to you for a moment. Sure. Why not? Mr. Dollar, I know what you must think of my father. Oh, do you? But if you're inclined to judge him harshly, just remember he wasn't always like this. Oh, so. So very many things have gone wrong for him. Like what? Like. Well, I'm afraid the main thing is his feeling that the three of us, Elizabeth and Michael and I, have let him down somehow. He seems to resent us so terribly. Why should he, Sheila? I'm not sure. I think he resents me because I'm not a man. Oh? You see, I'm the oldest, and in many ways, I'm more like Father than the others are. If I'd been a man, I could have, well, taken over for him. Yeah, I see. I've tried to do what I could. Help make decisions, that sort of thing. But I think he somehow resents that too. Well, I. I gather it hasn't exactly been easy for you living here with him. Somebody has to. And the others have lives of their own. Speaking of the others, I'd like to talk to them. Where can I find them? Elizabeth and her husband live in Cranford, N.J. and Michael's in New York, in Greenwich Village. Okay. Thanks, Sheila. Outwardly, she was poised, but I could tell she was nervous, tense. Her fingers wouldn't stay still. She kept shredding bits of cellophane from her cigarette package. Yeah, she was under strain, all right, and I can understand why. Item 3, $8.40. Transportation in New York City to the Greenwich Village apartment of Michael Watkins. Mr. Dollar, you can tell dad that I do not want that insurance money. Why not, Mike? Because it doesn't. Well, he doesn't owe me anything, and I don't owe him anything. It Was a clean break. And that's just the way I want it. You're sure about that? I am. I'm doing what I want to do. I'm painting. Everything is just the way I want it. You know, Mike, you sound sort of like you were trying to convince yourself. I resent that, Mr. Dollar. Our family is split apart, that's all. Sheila's been trying her best to hold it together, but it won't work. Why not? Because I have had it. For years, Dad's been trying to cram Watkins and Company down my throat. He knew my heart wasn't in it. But did that matter to him? No. Look, Mr. Dollar, I can make your job real easy for you. Yeah. There's one person in our family really deserves that money after what she's been through. Sheila. Yes, Sheila. Item four, six dollars. Even transportation to the Lovett's home in Cranford, New Jersey. Look, Mr. Dollar, if sending you here.
- [13:28]
Dan Coverley
Is some scheme of Dad's to will.
- [13:29]
Nicole Byer
To force us into line, you're wasting your time and so is he. Now, wait a minute, Elizabeth. After the way he's treated Jim? Relax, honey. That's all over and done with. Look, $, I can simplify your job for you. Can you give the insurance to Elizabeth here? Why? Because then I can get my hands on it. Oh, what would you do with it, Jim? By controlling interest in Watkins & Co. And put the business back on its feet. You once worked for Watkins and Company. Why did you leave? Because he's still running it the way he did 30 years ago. It won't work, and I wouldn't be a part of it. Jim tried, Mr. Dollar, he really did. But dad wouldn't even listen to him. For years he tried to get Mike to take over the business. But Mike prefers to be off in Never Neverland painting those lousy pictures of his. Now, Jim, they are lousy and you know it. Liz. Look, Jim, you say Mr. Watkins didn't give you a chance to put your ideas into effect, huh? No. Finally, things got to the breaking point, $. I sent him a written contract guaranteeing I'd raise the necessary financing. I asked for only six months in charge. Contract. But he wouldn't accept your offer. No. Sheila begged him to sign. Finally, he sent word back for me to tear up the contract and get out of the company. I see. Well, Dollar, you've met all three of us. Now, who's gonna be the beneficiary? Sheila or Mike or Elizabeth? One thing I wanted to check on was Jim's opinion that Mike Was not a good painter. I nosed around until I found an art dealer who'd handled his work. He showed me a couple of paintings and then leveled with me. So far as he could see, Mike was a lousy artist. I went back to my hotel to think it over. But I found a message that Mr. Watkins attorney wanted to talk to me. He'd taken a room on the floor above, so I went upstairs. Come in. Halfway into the room, I noticed it was dark. Then as I heard the door slam, I felt a gun barrel on my back. Hold real still, Dala. Oh, you. That don't matter. What's this all about, Dala? This case you're working on. You drop it right now. And if I don't? You don't. You get dropped for keeps. Act three of yours truly, Johnny Dollar. In a moment. Do you know who said that man is free who is protected from injury? Those words came from Daniel Webster, one of the most eloquent orators in American history. Webster knew that a man could not be free unless he lived in a country which recognized his right to freedom and created laws to protect that freedom. A slave state may say that its citizens are free. But as long as a single citizen can be harmed by the whim of a country's rulers, true freedom does not exist. A man is free only if his rights to freedom are protected. Remember the words of Daniel Webster. They are part of your American heritage. The free man must be protected from injury. And now, act three of yours truly, Johnny Dollar and the Happy Family. You get the message, $? Sure. I dropped the case. Or else. Look, you're obviously not Watkins attorney. The message was just a decoy to get me here. Who hired you to give me this one? Get so nosy, $. You got the warning. It's the main point. Just to make sure you get the message. I'd seen what was coming and duck. Then swung and knocked the gun out of his head. He gave me a knee in the stomach and flat. By the time I got to my feet, he was gone. I turned on the lights and looked around. And then on a table, I spotted something that stopped me cold. The truth had been right under my nose all the time. I called the various members of the family, asked them to meet me at the Watkins home. When I got there, they were waiting for me. Mr. Watkins. Sheila, Mike, Elizabeth and her husband, Jim. There was a stiff, chilly politeness in the air. There was tension, too. Mr. Dollar, I want you to know that I resent your theatrical gesture in assembling us like this. And I'm sorry, Mr. Watkins, but you hired me to do a job and I'm trying to do it. I'm sure you have reasons for this, Mr. Dollar, but you must know how painful this is to Father. Yes, I know, Sheila, but it's necessary. I don't see why dar. I'm coming to that, Mike. Now, look, let's face it. This not exactly the happiest family in the world. It's been torn wide apart. All right. Why is it torn apart? Oh, that's ancient history, Mr. Darling. Maybe some of it is, Elizabeth, but a lot of it isn't. Well, I don't see what's to be gained by rehashing all this. Let him finish, honey. Just what are you driving at? Dollar Just this, Jim. I was hired to find out what I could about the three beneficiaries. On the surface, everybody was very cooperative. On the. Somebody in this family didn't really want me to make this investigation. Sheila. They hired a strong arm to rough me up earlier this evening to make me drop the investigation. Nonsense. Sorry, Mr. Watkins, but I've got the scars to prove it. But who? Let's start with you, Mike. I want to know why you quit the family business and started painting. I told you, it was because dad kept trying to cram the business down my throat. Why, you ungrateful. Well, it's true. I couldn't take it any longer. Sure, but you'd felt that way for a long while. What led you to make the break, Mike? Well, I. When even Sheila agreed it was no use, I. She encouraged you. Of course I encouraged him. I felt he should have the right to a life of his own. But Sheila, you told me that you had begged Mike to stay in the company. She. What? What? I was acting in the best interests of the family. Where is Sheila, Mr. Dolan, I don't know what you're trying to suggest. That brings us to Jim and Elizabeth here. Jim, you quit the company too? Why, I've already told you, $mister Watkins refused my last offer of help. Kicked me out. That's not true. What offer are you talking about? That contract I sent you. What contract? You never saw it, did you, Mr. Watkins? I most certainly did not, but I. Wait a minute. I gave the contract to Sheila. She said it'd be better if she handled it. Then she told me later she discussed it with her father and he refused. Sheila, you lied. Well, Sheila, I refuse to discuss. Sheila, you. You have a nervous habit of shredding cellophane cigarette wrappers to bits in the hotel Room where that hired strongarm jumped me. I found a little pile of shredded cellophane near the ashtray. Sheila. I don't understand. Mr. Darlot. Do I understand that you're suggesting it. It's been I who torn the family apart? Well, Sheila. Yes, Father? Why? I'm not sure. I don't know. Hey, look, I'm an insurance investigator, not a psychologist. But I don't think this is too hard to understand. Sheila, weren't you trying somehow to. To punish. Huh? I'm not sure. Sheila. Oh, Sheila, if that's true, you need help. They. They all had a life of their own except me. We'll help you, dear. We'll get help for you. I hated what I was doing, but I just couldn't see it to help myself. Mr. Dollar, you will understand that I am rather bewildered by all this. I do, Mr. Watkins. Now, you suggest that she was deliberately trying to. To tear the family apart in order to punish someone. Well, that's only a guess, Mr. Watkins, but I think it's probably a good one. Then she was trying to punish me? I think so. Should I understand why? Did she ever have a life of her own? Was she ever allowed to have one? Mr. Dollar, I requested you to designate a beneficiary for me. That's right. I now request you to suspend further action for the time being. It appears the matter requires further thought. Yeah, yeah. Item six, $8.50. Transportation and incidentals back home. Expense account total $73. Even remarks. Sheila is now undergoing treatment and the outlook is favorable. Elizabeth's husband, Jim is managing the affairs of Watkins and Company. Mike is helping him and I guess he's doing a good job. Mr. Watkins? Well, he's still alive. And his doctor tells me that now the old gentleman has found some reasons to be alive. He'll probably be with us quite a while and make all three of his children his beneficiaries. Yours truly, Johnny Doll. Yours truly, Johnny Dollar, starring Bob Bailey, originates in Hollywood and is produced and directed by Jack Johnstone. Tonight's story was written by Robert Wright. Heard in our cast were Virginia Gregg, Shirley Mitchell, John Dana, Larry Dobkin, Peter Leeds and Paul Dubois. Be sure to join us next week, same time and station for another exciting story of yours truly, Johnny Dolly. This is Dan Coverley speaking.
- [26:10]
Dan Coverley
You just realized your business needed to hire someone yesterday. How can you find amazing candidates Fast? Easy. Just use indeed. Stop struggling to get your job post seen on other job sites with indeed sponsored jobs. Your post jumps to the top of the page for your relevant candidates so you can reach the people you want faster. According to Indeed data, sponsored jobs posted directly on indeed have 45% more applications than non sponsored jobs. Don't wait any longer. Speed up your hiring right now with Indeed and listeners of this show will get a $75 sponsored job credit. To get your jobs more visibility at Indeed.com Arts, just go to Indeed.com Arts right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Terms and conditions apply. Hiring Indeed is all you need.
- [27:05]
John Dana
Welcome back. A good story and I think the psychological angle works. You feel bad for Sheila because she's essentially built her life around pleasing her father and nothing she ever does can or will please him and that drove her actions in this story and I think the family coming together and realizing what she needed and making sure she got help was a really sweet touch. It's another pre Christmas story with a softer touch, though not quite as good as the Rasmussen matter which aired the year before. John Dana is good in this play, Watkins with a sort of crotchety officiousness, but also having elements in his performance that showed his humanity and sold the ending. I did appreciate Johnny actually asking around to someone who knew to evaluate whether Mike was actually a bad artist because oftentimes a detective will have his own opinion or will accept the word of others. But Johnny's like neither I nor Mike's brother in law are art experts or understands what sells in the current art scene, so I really should talk to an expert and be sure that I've got my facts straight. I did kind of chuckle a bit during the fight when Johnny anticipate the thug about to attack him and took action and the thug goes hey. As if to say excuse me, can't a guy just pistol whip a detective without it being ruined? I'm a professional here. I do think Johnny should have been suspicious of that entire setup. A lawyer who's just wanting to have a meeting with an insurance investigator isn't going to rent out a hotel suite and it was weird and unnecessary except to lay an ambush. Other than that, I thought this was a really enjoyable episode. Well now we turn to listener comments and feedback and we start out over on Spotify where Fausti writes Virginia Gregg and Bob Bailey moved me in the final act regarding the Broderick omnibus and I definitely agree that's one of their top scenes. And then we have comments on YouTube regarding the hope to die matter. Mechanic6682 writes pretty confusing. First they said the policy would pay off if she lived past a certain date. Then they said the policy paid off if she died before that certain date. Ridiculous story with contradictory information. And I was thinking about this and I thought he was wrong. But I kind of feel like you're right. It did get a bit confusing because it seems like the point of the policy was that she was going to pay $50,000 if she lived to age 50, and the policy would pay off if she didn't live to age 50 so that the cancer researchers would get the money regardless. So what was really needed was not some new exotic death insurance, but rather a term life insurance policy. But there is not an underwriter on the planet that would approve a policy like that. To be fair to the story, the policy was written up in a confusing way. George Reid didn't fully understand what had happened. And so everybody may have been confused, which may have been realistic, but doesn't make for particularly great radio. This is why just because you're on the board of a company doesn't mean that you're actually qualified to work there. That's just not how boards work, though. I guess George thought the man he left in charge could manage the office. But then again, he didn't expect him to go making up new types of policies. Also on YouTube, some general praise for Johnny Dollar. Love Johnny Dollar and he's the greatest. Well, now it's time to thank our Patreon supporter of the day. And I want to thank Jaery Jari's been one of our patreon supporters since June 2024, currently supporting the podcast at the Seamus level of $4 or more per month. Thanks so much for the support, Jaery. That will actually do it for today. If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow us using your favorite podcast software. And if you're enjoying the podcast on YouTube, be sure to like the video, subscribe to the channel and mark the notification bell. We'll be back next Friday with another episode of Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar. But join us back here tomorrow for Dragnet, where one was a redhead, other.
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Nicole Byer
One had dark hair, both about the same height. I'd say they're as tall as you are, Officer Matches. Joe Kid Bennett. Yeah. Had you ever seen either one of these men before, Mr. Wilburn? Around the neighborhood maybe? No, I never did. I don't know why they picked on Madeline and me for a hold up. We'd never been robbed before. I just got this little hole in the wall here. Don't see how it could look worthwhile to any crook. You usually open up this early On Sunday morning? Oh, yes. Sunday's one of our big days. You see, we. We handle all the Sunday papers. You get our big trade from the people going to church up the street there. St. Joseph's yes, sir. I see. After the church lets out, most of the people head down this way, pick up the Sunday papers. We sell about 15, 20 papers after every mass. It's a nice little business. You know, we close up after 12, 15. Well, when did the holdup take place? Can you remember that, Sir? I'd say 8:30. A few minutes after I went down to the Athens down the street there. I wanted to get some change. I left Madeline here to handle the counter. Madeline? That's my wife. Yes. And when I got back, she wasn't behind the counter. I took a look behind here and saw her cash box laying on the cement there empty. And I didn't know what to think.
- [33:30]
John Dana
I hope you'll be with us then. In the meantime, send your comments to box Thirteenreatetectives.net follow us on Twitter at radiodetectives and check us out on Instagram. Instagram.com greatdetectives from Boise, Idaho, this is your host, Adam Graham, signing off.
- [33:53]
Dan Coverley
You just realized your business needed to hire someone yesterday. How can you find amazing candidates fast? Easy. Just use Indeed. Stop struggling to get your job posts seen on other job sites with Indeed sponsored jobs. Your post jumps to the top of the page for your relevant candidates so you can reach the people you want faster. According to Indeed data, sponsored jobs posted directly on indeed have 45% more applications than non sponsored jobs. Don't wait any longer. Speed up your hiring right now with Indeed and listeners of this show will get a $75 sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility@ Indeed.com Arts just go to Indeed.com Arts right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Terms and conditions apply. Hiring Indeed is all you need. Geico's motorcycle expertise means I'm covered by people who know bikes like I do.
- [34:52]
Nicole Byer
I'm happy as a clam. No conclusive scientific research has shown clams can experience happiness.
- [34:57]
Dan Coverley
I just meant that I feel really.
- [34:58]
Nicole Byer
Good about my coverage. I mean, even if you took the climb out for the best day ever, visiting the zoo, taking a scenic ride, knowing you're insured by specialists, and sharing a strawberry ice cream cone together, the clam would not feel happy and your strawberry cone would taste sort of clammy. Geico's motorcycle specialists who know bikes like you to assume no liability for clammy ice cream cones.
- [35:14]
Dan Coverley
Geico expertise for your motorcycle. You just realized your business needed to hire someone yesterday. How can you find amazing candidates fast? Easy. Just use Indeed. Stop struggling to get your job post seen on other job sites with Indeed sponsored jobs. Your post jumps to the top of the page for your relevant candidates so you can reach the people you want faster. According to Indeed data, sponsored jobs posted directly on indeed have 45% more applications than non sponsored jobs. Don't wait any longer. Speed up your hiring right now with Indeed and listeners of this show will get a $75 sponsored job credit. To get your jobs more visibility at indeed.comaidarts. just go to indeed.comarts right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Terms and conditions apply. Hiring Indeed is all you need.