Podcast Summary: Yours Truly Johnny Dollar: The Lucky Four Matter (EP4850)

Podcast: The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio
Host: Adam Graham
Episode: Yours Truly Johnny Dollar: The Lucky Four Matter
Release Date: November 21, 2025

Overview

In this classic episode of "Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar," insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is called to Green Mountain Falls, Colorado, to investigate the suspicious death of Old Bill Cherry, who perished when a dam on his property broke. What initially appears to be an accident soon unravels into a web of sabotage, motive, and attempted murder, with Johnny Dollar following a series of clues to solve the case.

Key Discussion Points & Plot Breakdown

1. The Call to Action [02:47 – 04:28]

• Earl Pullman, an insurance man, contacts Johnny Dollar about the suspicious circumstances surrounding the death of Old Bill Cherry.
• The dam on Old Bill’s property broke during a storm, sending his house crashing down and leading to his death.
• Earl notes that Ray Smishney (a local ranch owner and friend) called with concerns that the dam’s failure was "no accident."

Notable Quote:
"Said he's found a couple of things that make him think the breaching of that dam was no accident."
— Earl Pullman to Johnny Dollar [03:45]

2. Arriving in Colorado and First Suspicions [05:00 – 07:15]

• Johnny meets up with Ray Smishney, who recounts the history of the dam and their suspicion of foul play.
• Ray says he found some strange things at the dam site, including a cigarette pack in Old Bill’s hand—despite Bill never smoking.

Notable Moment:
Ray discovers suspicious wiring in his car, realizing someone tampered with it, just before an explosion—a murder attempt.
[08:04]

3. Explosion! [08:00 – 08:38]

• Johnny Dollar suspects a bomb; he and Ray narrowly escape before the car explodes.
• They realize someone wants to eliminate them, possibly the same person who tampered with the dam.

Notable Quote:
"That was some kind of a bomb wired up in… by somebody who meant business, Johnny. By somebody who must have seen you poking around up near old Bill's dam."
— Johnny Dollar [08:44]

4. Investigation of the Dam Site [12:16 – 15:20]

• Johnny and Ray examine the dam’s ruins and find physical evidence:
  • A label from "Titan Super IXL Dynamite" (a unique brand only available in Denver),
  • Drill holes indicating the use of dynamite,
  • The aforementioned Cuban cigarette package.
• Motive begins to shift as they realize several neighbors, not just the nephew, could have wanted Cherry out of the way due to disputes over water rights.

Notable Quote:
"Well, what I figured, Johnny… is that he caught somebody prowling around his dam, maybe struggled with him. And that's how come the cigarette package."
— Ray Smishney [13:51]

5. Tracking Down Tommy Walker, the Nephew [15:24 – 17:29]

• Tommy, the apparent benefactor of Cherry’s insurance, is revealed as a lazy, incompetent worker with no actual skills in electronics—making him an unlikely suspect for setting a bomb or rigging dynamite.

Vendor at radio shop:
"That boy was so dumb, he couldn't even attach the wires to a plug properly… All he wanted was a place where he could sit around smoking those smelly Cuban cigarettes."
[16:51]

6. Returning to the Lucky Four and Changing Suspicions [20:28 – 21:59]

• Ray and his wife, Glee, discuss suspicion shifting away from Tommy to their neighbor, Ralph Kimball—a reclusive former physics professor whose water supply was affected by the dam.
• Discussion on who had access to the unique dynamite and the expertise to use it.

7. Key Evidence at Kimball’s House [22:36 – 24:50]

• In Kimball’s workshop, Johnny and Ray find:
  • The exact brand of dynamite,
  • A drill matching the dam's holes,
  • Matching wire,
  • The same brand of cigarettes.
• Circumstantial, but very compelling, evidence mounts against Kimball.

Notable Quote:
"Pretty good evidence, if you ask me. And here, El Pero. The same brand as a cigarette package you found clutched in old Bill's hand."
— Johnny Dollar [23:27]

8. Confrontation and Attempted Escape [25:07 – 25:47]

• As the evidence is weighed, Kimball appears, brandishing a weapon and intent on violence.
• Glee (Ray’s wife) enters with a shotgun, foiling Kimball’s attack.

9. Case Conclusion [25:51 – 26:19]

• Johnny concludes the string of circumstantial evidence, combined with Kimball's attempted murder, is legally sufficient.
• Tommy Walker, the nephew, will receive the modest $1,000 insurance payment.
• Johnny files his expense account and closes the case.

Notable Quote:
"Seven points of similarity, Ray. That'll stand up in any court in the land."
— Johnny Dollar [24:52]
"As any mathematician can tell you, will occur only once in 38 billion times."
— Johnny Dollar [25:07]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Evidence and Motive:
  "But if there's enough of it… seven points of similarity, Ray. That'll stand up in any court in the land."
  — Johnny Dollar [24:52]
• On Misplaced Suspicion:
  "It's as if Johnny's reputation for getting on the wrong track and making completely wild accusations had started to get around and racist like oh no, not again."
  — Adam Graham (host commentary) [28:18]
• On Tommy Walker:
  "He didn't do anything. He didn't know the difference between a fuse and a vacuum tube. Never even heard of a transistor, much less know what a circuit was."
  — Radio Shop Owner [16:44]

Adam Graham’s Commentary (Post-Episode Discussion) [28:18 – 32:51]

• Graham breaks down the "seven points of similarity" reference—originally a fingerprint comparison guideline, not a general forensic principle.
• He emphasizes that circumstantial evidence, often wrongly discounted, can be more reliable than eyewitness testimony.
• Graham lightly pokes fun at Johnny Dollar’s tendency to land on red herrings before getting the real culprit.
• Listener comments are addressed, adding levity to the wrap-up.

Notable Quote:
"The idea that some evidence is totally irrelevant or inadmissible because it can be called circumstantial is also a bit of a fallacy… Well-collected physical evidence can be powerful and more credible."
— Adam Graham [29:28]

Key Timestamps

• [02:47] – Johnny is briefed on the case by Earl Pullman.
• [05:00] – Arrival and initial suspicions with Ray Smishney.
• [08:04] – Discovery and explosion of the car bomb.
• [12:16] – Dam site investigation and discovery of evidence.
• [15:24] – Meet with radio shop owner about Tommy Walker.
• [20:28] – Return to the Lucky Four; suspicions shift to Kimball.
• [22:36] – Discovery of incriminating evidence in Kimball's workshop.
• [25:07] – Johnny discusses the legal sufficiency of evidence.
• [25:51] – Resolution and case closure.
• [28:18] – Adam Graham’s post-episode forensic commentary.

Conclusion

This episode is a classic "Johnny Dollar" procedural, featuring sabotage, danger, neighborhood intrigue, and a tightly woven set of clues. The drama is punctuated by action (the car bombing), clever deduction, and a satisfying confrontation with the true culprit. Adam Graham’s post-show commentary adds historical and procedural context, giving listeners insight into both 1950s forensic concepts and the show’s storytelling style.

Fans of old-school mysteries, radio drama, and classic detective work will find this episode a rich, captivating listen.

For more episodes, visit greatdetectives.net.