
Today's Mystery: An apparent accidental death of a businessman on a fishing trip is confirmed to be murder. Who did it? Original Radio Broadcast Date: July 20, 1958 Originating from Hollywood Starring: Bob Bailey as Johnny Dollar; Virginia Gregg;...
Loading summary
A
Did you know you can opt out of winter with VRBO? Save up to $1,500 for booking a month long stay with thousands of sunny homes. Why subject yourself to the cold? Just filter your search by monthly stays and save up to $1,500. Book now at vrbo.com limu cake and Doug here we have the Limu emu in its natural habitat helping people customize their car insurance and save hundreds with Liberty Mutual. Fascinating. It's accompanied by his natural Doug Limu. Is that guy with the binoculars watching us? Cut the camera. They see us. Only pay for what you need@liberty mutual.com Liberty Liberty Liberty Liberty Savings Very underwritten by Liberty Mutual Insurance Company affiliates excludes Massachusetts. This is the story of the 1. As a maintenance supervisor at a manufacturing facility, he knows keeping the line up and running is a top priority. That's why he chooses Grainger. Because when a drive belt gets damaged, Granger makes it easy to find the exact specs for the replacement product he needs. And next day delivery help ensure he'll have everything in place and running like clockwork. Call 1-800-granger. Click granger.com or just stop by Granger for the ones who get it done. Foreign.
B
Welcome to the Great detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. This is your host, Adam Graham. In a moment, we're going to bring you this week's episode of yours truly, Johnny Dollar. But first, I do want to let you know that if you are enjoying the podcast, you can follow us using your favorite podcast software. And a reminder, as you are making your travel plans, check johnnydollerair.com johnnydollaraire.com is a Priceline affiliate link. So part of the purchase price supports the great detectives of Old Time Radio at no additional cost to you. So remember, when making travel plans, check johnnydoller air.com first. Now, from July 20, 1958, here is the Mojave Red sequel matter.
A
Hollywood it's time now for Johnny Dollar. Here's your number in Kingman, Mr. Dollar. Oh, thank you, operator. One moment. Jake Kessler. Johnny Dollar. Jake. Johnny. Ah, so you found out I was right. You left our fair state of Arizona and gone back to Hartford. Wrong, huh? You mean you're still at Lake Mojave Resort? I sure am. And I'm still betting that you haven't found anything to indicate Elmer Hobbs death wasn't accidental drowning, Jake. So your expenses will have to come right out of your own pocket instead of the company. Listen, as for that crew you talked about eating, how do you want it cooked. Listen, will you? What have you mailed in the insurance claim yet? I was just about to run it over to the post office when your call came in. Tear it up. What? Because, Jake, Elmer Hobbs was murdered. Bob Bailey in the exciting adventures of the man with the action packed expense account, America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator, yours truly, Johnny Do. And now, act one of yours truly, Johnny Dollar expense account submitted by Special Investigator Johnny Dollar to the Greater Southwest Insurance and Liability Company, Kingman, Arizona office. Following is an account of expenses incurred during my further investigation of the Mojave Red Matter expense account. Item one, 20 cents for the phone call to Jake Kessler. And Kingman. I made that call in the office there at Lake Mojave Resort. And needless to say, Jake didn't quite believe me at first. Murdered. Elmer Hobbs was murdered, Jake. I'd bet my last buck on it. But Johnny, the police spent two or three days over there investigating the coroner too. And they all reported no evidence of foul play. That's simply because they didn't know where to look. What do you mean? You know Red Barrett, the old fishing guide over here? I've heard of it. Well, Red found the boat that Hobbs used that day. It was lying on the bottom of one of the coves up in the big basin. Sure, because of the storm that drowned Elmer Hobbs. Because somebody sank it. That boat had a couple of air tanks on it that would keep it afloat even if it was swamped. But Jake, those tanks were cut open by whoever killed Hobbs. Good Lord. Yeah, but who did it, Johnny? That's what I'm going to find out. I'll call you later. I hung up on Jake Kessler, then walked on back to the dock where I found Red Barrett and Buster Faber waiting for me. You get your call to Kingman too, All right, Johnny? Yeah, Red. Jake Kessler's holding up the claim on Elma Hobbs insurance. Good. That's good. Did you tell Buster what we found up the lake? Yes, sir. Yeah, Johnny, he did. It's like I said in the beginning. I just didn't see how a man like Mr. Hobbs could ever get himself capsized up in the big basin, no matter how bad a wind came up. Buster was the only one that agreed with me, Johnny. Well, quite frankly, I don't see why everybody wasn't suspicious when Hobbs boat wasn't found after the storm. Right, Johnny, but now that you and Red found it sunk in the bottom of that cove and with the flotation tanks cut open. Yeah, it sure looks like murder. Oh, that's what I thought from the first, Buster. That's why I telephoned all the way to Hartford to get Johnny out here. But who could have wanted to kill him? Any ideas, Buster? No, sir, Johnny, I certainly haven't. You sure there was nobody here at the resort who might have wanted him out of the way? Johnny, the other folks who were here at the time it happened, boy, they didn't even know Mr. Hobbs. You're sure of that? Absolutely. See, he wasn't much of a mixer. He stayed by himself all the time. That's right, Johnny. Elmer used to go out fishing first thing in the morning and he'd be the last to come in. At night he'd go to his room, cook his supper and then go to bed. All right, listen. He was killed just before or during the big storm you had. That's right. Who else was out on the lake at that time? Nobody. Nobody from here, that is. All our people. All our boats were back here at the landing. They've got the storm warning. So? Don't you see, John? It must have been somebody from up the lake. What do you mean? From one of the other landings. What other landings? Cottonwood, Amory's, Any one of them. Yes, sir. Somebody sank his boat and tried to sink his body with it. But we found his body washed up on the Nevada shore. You found it, Red? Yes, I did, my best friend. I dove down to that boat, Buster, and I found not only the Bastion flotation tanks, but where the anchor line had apparently been lashed around the body to hold it there. And you remember, Buster, the rope marks we found on Elmer's body? Yeah, but the police, sheriff and Connor and the rest, what did they say? He probably just got tangled up in that rope when he was fighting the storm. But they were wrong. Yeah, apparently. Why do you say that, Johnny? Well, because so far this evidence of murder is. Well, it's all circumstantial as for motive. Motive? I hadn't thought of that, Red. Well, the main thing is that that cut and open the flotation tanks was done with with some kind of an axe. I was asking about motor and I know that Elmer didn't have any axe on that boat. Did you find the ax, Johnny? No, no. Now, rather I'll tell you what he had in his boat beside his clothes. I mean, let's cover this motor thing. He had the anchor, of course, that went with the boat. He had a nice new Siloflex rod with a Mitchell 300 on it. Yeah, but now, look, he had a Long handled net that he picked up somewhere in LA. And an old beat up McKinney tackle box full of plugs and spoons and a face. And that was all, Johnny. No axe. That was all he had, Red. That bush you're beating around is getting pretty big, Johnny. I don't know what you mean. Well, I asked you about possible motive and so far all you've done is evade the question. Now why should I do that? Well, that's what I want to find out. Well now, Johnny, you know of anyone who might have wanted Mr. Hobbs dead? You say you knew him pretty well. And I did. Yes, sir. Well, no sir. No, sir, I certainly don't. You're sure? Well, he. Well, nobody could want to kill a fine man like him, Johnny. He was one of my best friends. Yeah, at least while ever he was here. I mean, I never knew anything about him in la. I mean, he was in business back there, I understand. That's right. With a man he called Stu Manley. Wait a minute. What is it, Johnny? I'm going back to the office and call Jay Kessler again. Yes, sir. Elmer was my best friend. Come on. Come on up to the office with me, buster. You can use the phone here on the dock, Johnny. No, no. Come on, Red. We'll see you later. I'll be here, sir. You look like you just got hit with an idea, Johnny. Yeah. Yeah, and I'm afraid it isn't a very pretty one. Oh, what is it, Johnny? Any of the early fishermen come in yet? Oh, yes, sir, Mr. Carson. And they picked up some nice bass up above the power line crossing. Good, good. I was thinking of going up that way myself. Yeah, well, good luck. Now, what were you gonna say, Johnny? Were red and Mr. Hobbs such really good friends? Well, they were always together when he came here. Of course they were always fighting like cats and dogs. Dogs over some silly thing or other, but didn't mean it. Oh, now wait a minute, Johnny. Was Red alone when he found Hob's body? Yeah, he was. And he brought it back here. But now look, there weren't any other boats up the lake. Yeah, there were. But Red was searching that particular part of the shore alone. But surely you don't think Kessler told me something about Hobbs insurance policy, but not quite enough, Johnny. Liz, come on, let's get to that phone. Well then, Johnny, don't you think you ought to call in the police? No. If you're right, that is. No, let me handle this alone for the moment. Now listen, Jake. Yeah? Didn't you tell Me that the insurance claim was filed by one of Hobbs beneficiaries. Plural? That's right. By his business partner in la. Who are the others? Just one other. If you'd taken time to listen to it. You were so fired up when I drove you down. Who is this other beneficiary, Jake? You're still sure Hobbs was murdered, huh? I'll bet on it. Now, you're looking for somebody with a motive, huh? The beneficiary, Jake. Like I told you, one of them was his business partner, J. Stewart Manley. And the other? Red. Red? Yeah. Red Barrett. Act two of yours truly, Johnny Dollar. In a moment. We live in a world of symbols and signs, abbreviations and slogans. What do they mean to us? Well, of course, that depends. Now, you take the flag of the United States, for example. There's a symbol that is respected throughout the world and cherished by citizens of the United States of America. But there's a reason for stands for the power and the glory, the fairness and progress of the United States based on long years of historic tradition. The Congressional Medal of Honor is another symbol of the highest sort, based on historic truths and traditions and won by gallant action above and beyond the call of duty. How did it all get started? Well, just listen to this. Before the Civil War, there were no permanent awards given to the men of the armed forces of the United States for doing their jobs. No, not even when the job was beyond the call of duty. Fighting men did what they could because it had to be done. In 1862, less than two dozen Union army enlisted men who became known as the Mitchell Raiders volunteered to make a secret penetration deep into enemy territory, steal an express train right out of the Confederate camp and run it north. Tearing up tracks, burning bridges and cutting wires on the way in order to disrupt enemy communications only moments before reaching their own lines again with the mission accomplished, the train ran out of fuel. The men tried to escape, but were captured and thrown into prison. Most of them were executed as spies. The others, expecting the same fate, made a brave and dangerous attempt to escape. Six of them were recaptured and later exchanged for Confederate prisoners When they reported to Washington, D.C. they were awarded the first Medals of Honor ever given to American soldiers In their gallant and intrepid actions. To do everything possible to fight, to win, and when captured, to escape and fight again. They maintained an established code of conduct for American fighting men everywhere. What the Mitchell Raiders did is symbolic of what keeps America a great nation. Now is a good time to examine your own code of conduct and now act Two of yours truly, Johnny Dollar and the Mojave Red sequel. Two people who I knew stood to gain by the death of Elma Hobbs. One, his business partner, J. Stewart Manley in Los Angeles. The other, Red Barrett, fishing guide at Lake Mojave Resort, who said he'd found his body, who professed to have been his best friend. I wanted. I said as much to Buster Favors who sat there in the office of the resort. Red do a thing like that? I won't believe it, Johnny. But he's the one person who could have engineered the whole thing. Buster? But why then would he lead us to the place where Mr. Hobbs boat was sunk and point up the fact it was deliberately sunk and an attempt made to sink Hob's body with it? Oh, there's a cover up to make him look clean. Oh, no, Johnny. Well, the boat would have been found in that cove sooner or later anyway. I tell you you're wrong if you suspect Red. Look, if Hob's business partner is a beneficiary too, why don't you look him up? I fully intend to. Unless Red did do it. No. And I can prove it. No, Johnny. Let's go back to the dock so I can talk to him again and see Lester. I just. Oh, hello, Johnny. I suppose you've heard Ham. Yes, Red told me. You're quite sure it was murdered? Yeah. I'm sorry. Listen, Buster. Yeah, Ham, as manager of this resort, you know Red pretty well. I sometimes wonder. That's what I came up here to ask you about. Buster, huh? Did you send him skating out of here? What? You just left him down at the dock? You mean you didn't see him tearing out of here in the pickup truck a few minutes ago? Red. Where'd he go? I don't know, but he certainly left in a hurry. Johnny. Yeah. No, I still can't believe it. What are you boys talking about? Nothing, I. Ham, is there a car around here I can use? Oh, sure. Kick mine. There are the keys. Thanks. Incidentally, Buster, I was poking around where Red kept his fishing tackle. Trying to find that rig he borrowed from me last week. What? Did you find him? I thought Buster might know where the old coot got hold of that new spinning outfit. Siloflex rod. What? Yeah, and a brand spanking new Mitchell Real. Oh, yes. Oh, no. All right, Ham. Buster, you just sit tight. If Red comes back here before I do. Comes back? Yeah. Say nothing to him about what we've learned. Just keep him here and tell him. Tell him I'll return to Talk with him later. Nothing else but John. No, no. Do as I say. Look, boys, what's going on? I'll see you later. Well, now, Johnny Red was one of Elmer Hobbs beneficiaries. He was the one who found the body. He had the fishing tackle that had belonged to Hobbs. And when it was discovered by Ham Pratt, he'd left in a hurry. All pretty incriminated. Which is not why I took off in Ham's car. West on 77, south on 95, and west again on 66. Item 4. A buck even for a sandwich in a Coke and bar stove. Item 5, 480 for a tank full of gas at the sign of the flying red horse. Then Westwood again. And always with an eye out for Red in the old pickup truck. Finally, as the sun was disappearing over the edge of the Pacific, I pulled into Los Angeles. The real estate office of Manley and Hobbs was closed. A directory at the nearest phone booth gave me J. Stewart Manley's home address. 1308 Pandora Avenue, in the residential section called Westwood. The neat white stucco house was dark, the garage empty. I let myself into a back door by slipping a lock with the aid of one of my business cards. It was hard to see inside, but I didn't want to turn on any lights. And that was a mistake, because as I quietly rounded a corner and started toward the den, I guess wrong. Somebody was at home, was in that den behind the now closed door. And then somebody knew that I was in the house. There was only one thing to do. Try to bow my way through. Well, Mr. Manley, you're. You. Wait a minute, Red. Johnny Dollar. Well, it kind of. Kind of looks like I made a mistake, doesn't it? Yeah, Red, the biggest mistake of your life. Act three of yours truly, Johnny Dollar. In a moment. Times have changed, and so has the man in the adventurous, romantic, almost legendary days of the American pioneer, the prairie schooner or the Indian fighter were the sharp eyes of the wagon train or the cavalry unit which was probing the strange, treacherous and often hostile lands that lay ahead. The crest of a hill or a towering tree was the observation point. Results sometimes effective, but very often extremely inadequate. Today, however, the scout for the oceangoing transport, the high flying plane or the mechanized cavalry unit is a man who is highly skilled in the use of technological accomplishments. His observation point, a radar screen, a scientific development which provides the modern scout with the information necessary for him to detect, analyze and interpret the obstacles that might prove disastrous to the advancing ship, plane or tank. Results extremely effective, seldom inadequate. Yes, times have Changed and so has the man. And now act three of yours truly, Johnny Dollar and the Mojave Red sequel. You know what common sense tells me, Red? What, Johnny? That you and J. Stuart Manley were in cahoots in the murder of Elmer Hobbs. Oh, no, sir. You can't believe that. You told us that Hobbs had a silent flash rod a Mitchell reel in his boat. Yes sir, he did. Just like the refound him. Red, among your things back at the lake. Oh, you found mine, Johnny. That Elmer gave me to match his. Look. Now look. Look what I found here in Manly's closet. This was Elmer's rod and reel, Johnny. What? All strung up with a. With a wobble right spoon on it. Just the way he faced with it and he could cast so accurate. You're sure this was his? Well, here's his initials right on the butt and scratched on the reel to, eh. Yeah. If you'd have looked, you would have found my initials on the rod there at the lake. But look, look here. Look. Look what I found in the corner of this closet. All wrapped up like to hide the ax. And I'm no detective, Johnny, but just look at these marks. Like it was used to hack in some kind of thin metal. The flotation tanks on that boat. Maybe you are a detective, Red. And a good one. Why did you come tearing in here to LA in the hopes, Johnny, I'd find these things? I thought from the first that Manley might be the one. Elmer never did really trust him. He told me that many a time. But you didn't accuse him. When I talked to you at the lake, I wanted some proof. Manley not only get a hunk of Hobbs insurance, but a share of the business. That's right, sir. Oh, well, I. I pulled a little trick on him too. What do you mean? Well, I stopped along the way and I phoned him to make sure that he wouldn't be here for a while. But what did you tell him? I disguised my voice, Johnny. Real good, that voice of yours. I told him that this was a friend. I said that I thought he ought to know that you were working on the cage. Oh, that if he'd left any evidence at Lake Mojave he'd be better get there and steer you away from it, Red. And that's the way I got him away from here so I could find this stuff. But if he's gone to Lake Mojave. Oh, I knew you could take care of him. And if I did find these things like I did, I was going to phone you there to be ready for him. Well, then why did you attack me when I came in here? Sorry, Johnny, but I thought maybe he'd got wise and come back and maybe recognize my voice after all. Exactly what happened, Red? Mr. Manley, sir? That's right. J. Stuart Manley. And this is my wife, Mr. Daller. Red, shoot them. Kill them, Stuart. They're burglars. Don't you see? And we caught them robbing the house. Quiet, Murray. I suppose that means we were all right that you did kill your partner, Elmer Hobbs. That stupid old man. Fishing all the time instead of tending to the office. Taking all the money, Mary. But now we'll have some money for a change. Own the business, Mary.
B
Shut up.
A
I see you found old Elmer's things. No, sir. This fish and rod is his. Not you. No. Put it down. Pretty foolish of you to bring that stuff here, Manly. Especially the axe. I'm sure any good police lab will find traces of aluminum from the boat on it. Kill him, Stuart. They're robbers. Their fingerprints will be all over. Mary's right. Your prowler's ransacking my house. And I can see the pulse of your pistol. $So any court in the land will uphold my right to kill you in self defense. And dollar you go first. Listen, you think you can shoot as straight as I can cast a fishing plug, huh? Like this? Oh, no. You shut it down. No, no. Oh, get back. Mrs. Manley. I'd hate to have to sock a woman. But you hurt him. Yeah, I. As badly as he hurt Elma. Hans. And look. That horrible fishing plug. The hooks have ripped his hand open. It's bleeding. That redheaded old fool throwing those hooks at him. Fred, that was a beautiful piece of casting. He almost tore his hand off with that plug. Well, Johnny, it was with Elmer's own rig. I think maybe he would have liked that. I hope so. But you know what I hope the most, Johnny? What, Red? That the fishing. That the fishing is real good. Up where Elmer is now. Manly and his wife. Yeah, Reddit figured right. The morning of the day that Hobbs was killed, they'd rented a boat out of Cottonwood Landing a few miles up the lake and ambushed him there in the big basin. Bob Cole at Cottonwood had noticed the new rod and reel when they'd come back off the lake just before the big storm. And noticed the ax too, when he'd wondered about it. Now he knows. So from here on in, it's up to the sheriff's office and the courts. Expense account total, including return of Ham's car, a few days of fishing and the trip Back to Hartford. $307 even yours truly, Johnny Dollar. Yours truly, Johnny Dollar, starring Bob Bailey, originates in Hollywood and is produced and directed by Jack Johnstone, who also wrote today's story. Heard in our cast were Virginia, Greg Harley, Bear Forest Lewis, Barney Phillips, Alan Reed and Russell Thorson. Be sure to join us next week, same time and station for another exciting story of yours truly, Johnny Dollar. This is Roy Rowan, spe, Sam and Doug. Here we have the Limu Emu in its natural habitat, helping people customize their car insurance and save hundreds with Liberty Mutual. Fascinating. It's accompanied by his natural ally, Doug. Limu is that guy with the binoculars watching us. Cut the camera. They see us. Only pay for what you need@libertymutual.com Liberty, Liberty, Liberty Liberty Savings vary underwritten by Liberty Mutual Insurance Company and affiliates. Excludes Massachusetts.
B
Welcome back. I have to be honest, I don't think much of Johnny's theory of Red being the killer even before obvious evidence. Because I'll allow for the fact that yes, there was motive, but there'd be nothing to investigate without Red if Red had committed the murder. Johnny danced around the question of why he would get Johnny to do this investigation. And I also feel like this is an episode where Jack Johnstone fell in love with his guest character and forgot who the protagonist is supposed to be. Think about it. Red found and took Johnny to the wreck of the stolen boat in the first part. And then in the second part, it's Red who ultimately caught the criminal and was able to find the evidence to prove him guilty. Johnny just came to Lake Mojave, was wrong, went fishing and collected an expense account. Now, of course, that's nice work if you can get it, but I generally think the hero should have more to do with the outcome than that. Well, now we turn to listener comments and feedback and we go to YouTube or writes or comments. I think that Sea Hunt and Johnny Dollar use different parts of the same music as theme song. I went ahead and listened to the Sea Hunt theme song and I can hear a couple parts of it that do remind me of the Johnny Dollar theme. However, my understanding and I've heard the actual Johnny Dollar theme music used on other programs, including a Dick Tracy series from the early 1950s with Ralph Bell, is that that particular music is library music. Music Library. The theme to Sea Hunt was written by Ray Llewellyn, but that's a bit of a mystery because there was no such person as Ray Llewellyn. Llewelyn is credited as the composer of the theme to eight different television series, and there was a theory first propounded by John Burlingame in 1996 that Ray Llewellyn was actually a pseudonym for David Rose, a fantastic composer musician. Holiday for Strings was one of his best known works, but he did a lot of great stuff. You can find it if you look for old time radio programs. He did a series called California Melodies and did a lot of film and television work. The theory is that Ray Llewellyn was a pseudonym he used to work on various non union projects, particularly for ZIV television, while still remaining in good standing with the ASCAP listings. The people who wrote classicthemes.com point out that Ray Llewellyn could have been a joint pseudonym or a house pseudonym shared with other composers, but they did notice One curious thing that seems to confirm the idea that Ray Llewellyn was a pseudonym for for David Rose is he put out in LP in 1968 which said that his music had been used as theme songs for a total of 22 different TV programs, but for union projects there were only 14. But if you take the eight that were done by Ray Llewellyn then you get to 22. So really a lot of mystery behind that title. Now of course it's possible that some library music was used as a basis for it, but likely the theme was written mainly by David Rose. Thanks so much. Appreciate the comment and the opportunity for the little rabbit hole there. Now it's time to thank our Patreon Supporters of the day. Because this is the first Friday in November, I do want to go ahead and thank those who have been supporting the podcast for five years this month. Thank you to Jay Marcus supporting us at the Detective sergeant level of $7.14 or more per month and to JL currently supporting the podcast at the Showmas level of $4 or more per month. Again, thank you so much for your support. If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow us to 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. All those great things that help YouTube channels grow. We will be back next Friday with another episode of Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar. But join us back here tomorrow for the great adventurers of Old Time Radio and Cloak and Dagger.
A
Where then I heard it. This was someone in pain, Someone down an alleyway just to my right. She was lying alongside the wall of a building and she was my recent friend. Gloria Lane. Help me. Get me home. Sure, Gloria. Sure. Now. This is Granger. Where do you live? I live at. Come on, baby. Come on, wake up. He'd better carry into the rendezvous and call a doctor. We're a darn. And don't turn around. Listen, fellow, don't turn around. Feel this. All right, so you got a gun.
B
I hope you'll be with us then. In the meantime, send your comments to box Thirteenreatetectives.net Follow us on Twitter Radio Detectives, and check us out on Instagram. Instagram.com greatdetectives from Boise, Idaho, this is your host, Adam Graham, signing off.
A
This is the story of the One As a custodial supervisor at a high school, he knows that during cold and flu season, germs spread fast. It's why he partners with Grainger to stay fully stocked on the products and supplies he needs, from tissues to disinfectants to floor scrubbers. All so that he can help students, staff, and teachers stay healthy and focused. Call 1-800-GRAINGER Click grainger.com or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it done. Worried about your future in tech? Master new skills, accelerate your team's impact, and redefine what's possible. With pluralsight, we're more than just another online learning platform. We're shattering the skills gap and shaping future generations of technologists.
B
Transform your work, transform your team.
A
Ready to tap in? Visit us@pluralsight.com to learn more. Did you know you can opt out of winter with VRBO? Save up to $1,500 for booking a monthlong stay. When thousands of sunny homes are waiting for you, why subject yourself to the cold? Put the snow shovel down, put the parka back in the closet, and don't you dare scrape another windshield. Slip into some flip flops, consider a sunless tan, and use the monthly stays filter to save up to fifteen hundred dollars. Book your warm getaway@vrbo.com.
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
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.
Johnny’s Break-in & Accusations (22:00-24:50)
Manley and His Wife's Confession (25:10-26:15)
Red’s Daring Save with a Fishing Plug (26:40-27:10)
Starts at 27:34
| 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 |
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.