The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio
Host: Adam Graham
Episode: Yours Truly Johnny Dollar: The Mojave Red Sequel Matter (EP4840)
Date: November 7, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode kicks off with the classic insurance investigator Johnny Dollar returning to Lake Mojave to dig deeper into the suspicious death of Elmer Hobbs. What was initially ruled as an accidental drowning now shows telltale signs of murder. Johnny Dollar works with local characters—Red Barrett and Buster Faber—to untangle the motives, identify suspects, and uncover hard evidence. The plot is driven by classic Golden Age radio tropes: a lakeside murder, questions among close friends, inheritance intrigue, and a dramatic confrontation with the culprit.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Re-examining the 'Accident'

• Phone Call with Jake Kessler (02:35-04:55)
  • Johnny reveals to insurance rep Jake that Elmer Hobbs was actually murdered.
  • Discovery: The boat Hobbs was using was intentionally sunk—air tanks slashed, anchor line used suspiciously.
  • Johnny: “Elmer Hobbs was murdered, Jake. I’d bet my last buck on it.” [03:30]

2. Interviews at the Lake

• Conversations with Red Barrett & Buster Faber (05:00-12:30)
  • Red, a fishing guide and Hobbs’s alleged best friend, found the body and insists on Hobbs’s good character.
  • Buster, a dock worker, can’t imagine anyone at the resort wanting Hobbs dead; points to outsiders.
  • They discuss the storm and how everyone but Hobbs had heeded warnings to return.
  • “Nobody could want to kill a fine man like him, Johnny. He was one of my best friends.” —Red [08:45]
• Clue surfaces: The killer likely came from another landing up the lake.

3. Uncovering Motive

• Debate Over Motive & Suspects (13:00-18:15)
  • Johnny inquires about Hobbs’s beneficiaries. Turns out, they are his LA business partner J. Stewart Manley and… Red Barrett himself.
  • Red’s close relationship with Hobbs and status as beneficiary make him a suspect, despite protests from Buster and others.
  • “Red? Yeah. Red Barrett.” —Jake Kessler [17:22]

4. Red Barrett Under Suspicion

• Red’s Sudden Departure (18:30-20:50)
  • Ham, the resort manager, brings up that Red left abruptly in a pickup truck after learning Hobbs’s gear (a distinctive rod and reel) was found with him.
  • Johnny decides to follow Red to Los Angeles.

5. Climactic Showdown in LA

• Johnny’s Break-in & Accusations (22:00-24:50)

  • Johnny catches Red in Manley’s house, but the tables turn: Red is trying to prove Manley’s guilt, not cover his own.
  • Together, they find Hobbs’s fishing rod—marked with Hobbs’s initials—and the incriminating ax used to disable the boat’s air tanks.

• Manley and His Wife's Confession (25:10-26:15)

  • Manley and his wife arrive, desperate to pin their own crime on Johnny and Red.
  • Mrs. Manley: “Kill them, Stuart. They’re burglars… and we caught them robbing the house!” [25:13]
  • Manley: “And Dollar, you go first.” [25:22]

• Red’s Daring Save with a Fishing Plug (26:40-27:10)

  • Red disables Manley with a perfectly cast lure: “You think you can shoot as straight as I can cast a fishing plug, huh? Like this?” [26:48]
  • Adam Graham notes later: “That was a beautiful piece of casting. He almost tore his hand off with that plug.” [27:13]

6. Resolution & Reflection

• Who Did What and Why (27:20-28:00)
  • Manley and his wife had rented a boat from a neighboring landing, ambushed Hobbs, then tried to hide the evidence.
  • Red is exonerated, and Johnny’s expense account is tallied—plus a few days' fishing for good measure.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Johnny’s Determination:
  “Elmer Hobbs was murdered, Jake. I’d bet my last buck on it.” [03:30]
• Key Suspicion:
  “Red? Yeah. Red Barrett.” —Jake Kessler [17:22]
• Mrs. Manley’s Panic:
  “Kill them, Stuart. They’re burglars… and we caught them robbing the house!” [25:13]
• Red’s Heroic Cast:
  “You think you can shoot as straight as I can cast a fishing plug, huh? Like this?” [26:48]
• Heartfelt Closing:
  “But you know what I hope the most, Johnny? … That the fishing is real good up where Elmer is now.” —Red [27:20]

Host Adam Graham’s Closing Commentary

Starts at 27:34

• Critique of the Episode Structure: Adam notes that Red Barrett (guest character) does most of the sleuthing and action, while Johnny Dollar is more of a bystander.
  • “Johnny just came to Lake Mojave, was wrong, went fishing and collected an expense account… the hero should have more to do with the outcome than that.”
• Listener Feedback:
  • Discusses similarities between the Johnny Dollar theme and Sea Hunt music, crediting library music and possibly composer David Rose under a pseudonym.
  • Thanks Patreon supporters and encourages audience engagement.
  • Previews upcoming episodes.

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | Content/Action | |-----------|-----------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:35 | Johnny calls Jake (insurance) | Announces Elmer Hobbs was murdered | | 05:00 | At the Resort: Red & Buster | Review storm, boat evidence, discuss character backgrounds | | 08:45 | Red defends Hobbs | Protests suspicion, shares friendship recollections | | 13:00 | Johnny presses for Motive | Learns Red is a beneficiary | | 17:22 | Insurance beneficiary revelation | “Red? Yeah. Red Barrett.” | | 18:30 | Red disappears from resort | Johnny & Buster suspicious, Ham notes gear swap | | 22:00 | Break-in at Manley's house | Johnny finds Red searching for clues | | 25:13 | Manleys confront Johnny & Red | Threaten violence, try to frame heroes | | 26:48 | Red’s fishing plug save | Disarms Manley with a lure | | 27:20 | Somber wrap-up | Red hopes Elmer is “fishing” somewhere better | | 27:34 | Adam’s critique & commentary | Breaks down hero agency, theme music rabbit hole, patron shout-outs |

Final Thoughts

A well-paced return to classic audio drama, this episode stands out for its lakeside intrigue and lively characterization, especially of Red Barrett. The plot follows Golden Age formula, but as the host Adam Graham observes, it’s the guest star who truly takes the lead as detective and hero—a curious, almost meta twist for fans of Johnny Dollar.

For fans of classic radio, this episode delivers a solid mystery, colorful characters, and a memorable lakeside confrontation—though Johnny Dollar himself spends more time reacting than driving the story.