Search Results for: Yours truly

Radio Detective Story Hour Episode 271 – Yours Truly, Jack the Ripper

This podcast offering is only tangentially a detective story of sorts. It does involve investigations by individuals, potential suspects, potential crimes, and a resolution of sorts. And like many of my features, it comes based upon a short story. The story is from the sometimes strange mind of writer Robert Bloch. Bloch is probably best known among the public at… (more…)

Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar Premiers

On February 18th, 1949 – fifty years ago – one of the best loved radio detective series premiered over NBC starring Charles Russell as Johnny Dollar.  Russell only lasted a year and the series took a different tone with the next Dollar actor – Edmund O’Brien. That was a much darker tone with the sullen O’Brien seeming to find himself… (more…)

Radio Detective Story Hour Episode 103 – Yours Truly Johnny Dollar: Who Took the Taxis

A look at a sort of a six degrees of separation around Dashiell Hammett’s Sam Spade and various radio programs which seemed directly or indirectly influenced by the hardboiled detective. By early 1949, Gil Doud and Bob Tallman left the Adventures of Sam Spade. Doud became the writer for a new radio detective series – Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar starring… (more…)

Radio Detective Story Hour Episode 75 – Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar #8

The final actor to portray Johnny Dollar is featured this week. Mandel Kramer (right) was the last Dollar and also the last featured star of a dramatic radio serial from its Golden Age. Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar had the sad distinction of being the final dramatic radio program when it ended in September 1962.

Radio Detective Story Hour Episode 74 – Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar #7

When Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar was moved from Hollywood to New York City, Bob Bailey chose not to move with it and left the show. His long running stint as Dollar came to an end. New York actor Robert Readick became the new Johnny Dollar. A look at how the new series changed yet again.

Radio Detective Story Hour Episode 73 – Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar #6

We’re nearing the end of our run of Johnny Dollar actors. This week a look at probably the best known and one of the most popular radio Johnny Dollar’s among radio fans – Bob Bailey (right). Bailey is not well-known outside of his role although he was on a number of other series, mostly in minor roles. His story is… (more…)

Radio Detective Story Hour Episode 72 – Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar #5

Nearing the end, a look at Johnny Dollar #5 and another one that was never heard over radio. Veteran radio and television actor Gerald Mohr – the voice of Philip Marlowe (right) – did an audition recording of the revival of Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar after it left the air the previous year. Music under is “Blue in Rain” by… (more…)

Radio Detective Story Hour Episode 71 – Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar #4

We’re now at the 4th Johnny Dollar actor in my continuing run on this well known radio detective. John Lund (right) was the fourth actor to portray the famous insurance investigator. Like Edmond O’Brien, his portrayal was a darker one, but flatter than O’Brien’s. He was my least favorite of the Dollar’s perhaps, but consideration will be given to his… (more…)

Radio Detective Story Hour Episode 70 – Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar #3

We’re now at part 3 of our look at Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar. This week I’ll focus on the portrayal of the detective by actor Edmond O’Brien. This run of the series takes on a much darker less whimsical tone as created by the new producer Jaime De Valle.

Radio Detective Story Hour Episode 69 – Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar #2

Continuing the look at the history of Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar. I’ll be looking at the first serial Johnny Dollar – actor Charles Russell (right) and how he approached the character. I’ll also look at how he differed from Dick Powell’s portrayal that was heard in the previous podcast. Music under is “Evansessence” by Anne Farnsworth from the Podshow Music… (more…)