Each guide is written from the episode itself, sets up the story and never gives away the ending. Every recording is remastered for the stream: cleaned of rumble, hiss and mains hum (and the old TV whine where we found it), then levelled in two passes to steady broadcast loudness, so one show is never quieter than the next.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 466 episode guides
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar (1958)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is hired to look into the death of wealthy Broadway producer Lamont Scofield, who died supposedly of natural causes. The insurance company suspects his nurse and current beneficiary, Mary T. Smith, may have hastened his death with an overdose of medication to collect the $750,000 policy.
Hartford, Connecticut and Cranford, New Jersey · Johnny Dollar, Mr. Waldo R. Westbury, Dr. Lamont Scofield, Mary T. Smith, Doctor
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's investigation into whether the nurse caused the death of her wealthy employer to collect insurance money; the doctor's revelation that he has ordered an autopsy.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 002 The Slow Boat from China (1949)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in Singapore to determine why the SS Shanghai Wayfarer remains delayed at dock, costing his bonding company $2,500 a day. He discovers that the company's expediter, William Harrison, has vanished from his hotel room, and the ship's chief engineer Frank Moore has been found murdered in the harbor, stabbed to death.
Singapore, 1949. The action takes place at the Crown Colony Hotel, the Collier Key Bar, the Tanjung Pagar Docks where the SS Shanghai Wayfarer is moored, the police morgue, and the Wardlow Bar on Melee Street. · Johnny Dollar, Fundy, William Harrison, Frank Moore, Chandra, British Chief Inspector, Bartender at Collier Key Bar, Gangway watch
Listen for: Dollar's clever detective work as he pieces together clues from a hotel room, a bartender's gossip, and personal effects. The growing mystery of Harrison's disappearance and Moore's murder, with a woman named Chandra connected to the dead engineer.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 004 Murder Is a Merry-Go-Round (1949)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives at the Funfair and Weatherly Carnival to investigate a series of suspicious accidents that keep injuring townspeople and draining the insurance company's funds. When Dollar learns that carnival manager Shanty Brennan's nemesis, Carter Lacey, was imprisoned for attempting to kill Brennan's niece Myrtle, he begins to suspect the jailed man may have escaped and be orchestrating the accidents as revenge.
A traveling carnival midway in a small Alabama town, including the carnival grounds, Brennan's trailer, and a hotel coffee shop. · Johnny Dollar, Shanty Brennan, Louise (Pepper), Myrtle, Carter Lacey, Various carnival workers
Listen for: Dollar's witty observations about carnival life and danger; his expense account tallies; confrontations with evasive carnival workers; the revelation of Carter Lacey's vendetta and suspected escape from prison.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 005 Milford Brooks III Matter (1949)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is hired to protect the life of Milford Brooks III, a wealthy but troubled policy holder with a $2 million life insurance policy. Brooks has recently changed his beneficiary to notorious gambler Harold Hatcher and is threatening suicide to extort $500,000 from the insurance company. Dollar takes Brooks to New York and enlists the help of his acquaintance Butter to give the desperate man a reason to live.
Hartford, Connecticut and New York City · Johnny Dollar, Austin Farnsworth, Milford Brooks III, Harold Hatcher, Butter
Listen for: A suicide threat used as blackmail, a mystery surrounding why Brooks owes money to a dangerous gambler, and Johnny Dollar's unconventional methods of keeping his charge alive
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 006 The Stolen Portrait of The Duke of Massen (1949)
Johnny Dollar arrives in London to investigate the theft of a valuable painting by the Old Masters that was part of an international art-sharing program. The portrait of the Duke of Massen, loaned from Paris, vanished from the Corbinbury Art Gallery the night after its arrival, and the theft has already cost the insurance company a quarter-million dollars. Dollar teams up with the museum's assistant, Miss Harding, to examine the scene and begin his investigation.
London, England; the Corbinbury Art Gallery; a ship en route to London · Johnny Dollar, Mr. Morely, Miss Harding, Inspector Coward
Listen for: The details of the theft and Johnny Dollar's investigation into who stole the portrait; mentions of the international masterpieces program and the painting's value.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 008 The Case of the Hundred Thousand Dollar Legs (1949)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in Hollywood to bodyguard movie star Marilyn Major for 48 hours under a publicity policy insuring her legs for $100,000. He finds her already murdered in her apartment, and discovers the case involves letters from two men—one signed Barren and another signed Lawrence—connected to a woman's death and a man's suicide.
Hollywood, California; Marilyn Major's penthouse apartment at the Horizon View Apartments on the Sunset Strip; Los Angeles · Johnny Dollar, Harvey Anthony, Marilyn Major, Lieutenant, Miller
Listen for: The murder mystery unfolds as Johnny Dollar investigates the identity of the mysterious men behind the letters and their connection to the dead movie star.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 009 The Case of Barton Drake (1949)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is hired to find Barton Drake, a man who disappeared seven years ago after being suspected of grand larceny and shooting at a police officer. Drake's car went off a bridge into a river with no body recovered, but the police recently spotted someone resembling him at a television broadcast. Now, with Drake about to be declared legally dead and his wife ready to collect his $30,000 life insurance policy, Johnny must determine if Drake is truly alive.
New York City and surrounding areas in 1949 · Johnny Dollar, Mr. Green, Mrs. Barton Drake, Barton Drake, Police officer, Gardener, Maid
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's clever investigative techniques, including tapping into a phone call by duplicating the dialed number in an adjacent phone booth to discover where Mrs. Drake is calling.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 011 Who Took the Taxis for a Ride (1949)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar looks into the theft of twelve Apex taxi cabs in New York. When a cab driver is murdered during one of the robberies, Johnny discovers a pattern involving a small dark man with an accent and a large accomplice in a seersucker suit, and must determine whether the taxi company owner's criminal past makes him a suspect or a victim.
New York City, the Apex Taxi Company garage and surrounding areas, 1949 · Johnny Dollar, Gordon McKissick, George Brandon, Vinnie, Marita Guastela
Listen for: The clever use of expense account items to frame the investigation, the humorous characterization of Johnny Dollar's practical thinking, and the introduction of the mysterious Marita Guastela with her lost purse as a potential key to solving the cab thefts.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 013 Murder Ain't Minor (The Case of Bonnie Goodwin) (1949)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is hired by a man named King Hart to locate a girl named Bonnie Goodwin, who is a beneficiary on Hart's insurance policy. Dollar travels to Chicago to track down the elusive young woman, following a trail through various lodgings and encounters with people who know her.
Hartford, Connecticut and Chicago, Illinois · Johnny Dollar, King Hart, Emma, Danny Cade
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's expense account narration as he pursues leads across Chicago; his encounters at various boarding houses and hotels; a mysterious warning about being followed.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 015 Out of the Fire into the Frying Pan (The Prize Hog Bodygua
Johnny Dollar, an insurance investigator, arrives at the Carver County Fair in Iowa as a bodyguard for Rolo, a prize-winning spotted Poland China pig insured for $25,000 by the Blue Ribbon Prime Packing Company. When a woman's diamond brooch is stolen in a staged commotion near the fairgrounds entrance, Johnny becomes a suspect and must clear his name while protecting the valuable swine from potential theft.
Carver County Fair in Carver County, Iowa, during a hot summer day at the fairgrounds and livestock building. · Johnny Dollar, Sheriff Harry, Mrs. Tiller, Worthington Tiller, Alva Anderson, Rolo (Rosie Barron of Iowa)
Listen for: The clever banter between Johnny Dollar and the suspicious sheriff, Johnny's witty commentary about guarding a pig, and his flirtation with Alva Anderson as he learns about pig husbandry.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 017 The Expiring Nickels and the Egyptian Jackpot (1949)
Johnny Dollar is summoned to Calcutta by Chaplain Joe Blessings to help save an innocent man facing execution in Cairo. A witness named William Brix possesses evidence that can prove the man's innocence, but Brix is gravely ill. Johnny must transport the dying man and a loaded Luger—the murder weapon—to Cairo before dawn, racing against time and unexpected complications.
Calcutta, India and en route to Cairo, Egypt by cargo plane, 1949 · Johnny Dollar, Chaplain Joe Blessings, Lionel Brooks Nichols, Miles, William Brix, Frankie, A woman stowaway
Listen for: The setup of a race against time to save an innocent man from execution, a mysterious stowaway who boards the cargo plane over the Red Sea, and the murder weapon that becomes central to the case.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 018 The Search for Michelle Marsh (1949)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is hired to find Michelle Marsh, a missing woman whose sister holds a $25,000 policy on her. When Johnny arrives at Michelle's Boston apartment, he finds a private detective shot dead outside the building, and a book of matches from a local bar is the only clue in her empty rooms.
Boston, Massachusetts - an apartment house on Longwood and Huntington Avenue and a local bar called Flannery's · Johnny Dollar, Lieutenant Darling, Mrs. Macy, Blackie, The Bartender
Listen for: Johnny's sharp narration as he pieces together the connection between the dead detective and the missing Michelle Marsh, and the mysterious employer who left town with her.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 019 The Fishing Boat Affair (1949)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is sent to San Pedro, California to investigate a $400,000 claim for two fishing boats, the Frank Walton and Nancy Walton, which allegedly sank in calm weather with the loss of two crew members. When Johnny discovers evidence of violent explosions that may indicate insurance fraud through scuttling, he begins tracking down Captain George Carpo, the fleet manager, and learns of suspicious activity involving money and a mysterious woman named Anita Vargas.
San Pedro, California in 1949, including a restaurant and bar called the Cormorant, the docks, and Captain Carpo's residence on Parade Street. · Johnny Dollar, Mr. Roscoe Walton, Captain George Carpo, Anita Vargas, Lieutenant Senior Grade Miles P. Endicott Jr.
Listen for: Johnny's witty observations about his investigation, his interactions with the suspicious Captain Carpo, and the growing evidence pointing toward insurance fraud involving explosives planted on the fishing boats.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 020 The Racehorse Piledriver Matter (1949)
Johnny Dollar, an insurance investigator, is hired by Little Nettie Montana to protect the racehorse Pile Driver, who is heavily insured and no longer winning races. Nettie fears that the horse's owner, Colonel Faraday Bushnell, plans to have the horse killed to collect the insurance. Johnny travels to Hayawatha track near Chicago to investigate and meet the Colonel's daughter Lila, who shows him the horse and reveals her close attachment to him.
Hartford and Hayawatha racing track near Chicago, Michigan, in 1949 · Johnny Dollar, Little Nettie Montana, Colonel Faraday Bushnell, Lila Bushnell, Leo, Mac
Listen for: Johnny's investigation into whether the racehorse Pile Driver is in genuine danger from his owner, and the complications arising from his attraction to Lila Bushnell and interference from the jealous Leo.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 021 Dr Otto Schmedlich (1949)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is sent to Los Angeles to investigate Dr. Otto Schmedlich, a physician with a malpractice insurance policy. The insurance company suspects criminal malpractice rather than accidental, which would allow them to cancel his coverage. Dollar befriends the doctor's nurse Doreen to gather information about Schmedlich's patients and practices.
Los Angeles, California, primarily the Sun Tower Medical Center on Wilshire Boulevard and surrounding locations · Johnny Dollar, Homer (insurance company official), Dr. Otto Schmedlich, Doreen (the doctor's nurse)
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's characteristic witty banter and flirtation with the nurse, his expense account narration, and his initial investigation into the doctor's suspicious medical practices
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 022 Witness, Witness, Who's Got the Witness (1949)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is hired by bail bondsman Max Krause to find two missing prosecution witnesses in a case against Leo Porcina before trial begins in a week. Dollar's search for one witness, Nippy Cochran, leads him to Nippy's sister Mona Doyle, a Broadway performer who introduces him to the dangerous criminal Porcina himself.
New York City, including Dollar's Hartford apartment and an 81st Street brownstone apartment where Mona Doyle lives · Johnny Dollar, Max Krause, Nippy Cochran, Mona Doyle, Leo Porcina, Dan Patterson
Listen for: The clever banter between Dollar and Mona as their initial confrontation turns flirtatious, and the tense confrontation when Leo Porcina arrives at the apartment.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 023 The Little Man Who Wasn't All There (1949)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar receives an assignment to track down James Yarboe, whose wife's insurance policy was canceled one day before her death. Since then, Yarboe has been sending cryptic letters to the insurance company while seemingly engineering the deaths of multiple people connected to the company, leaving no evidence for police to act on. Johnny begins investigating the victims' families and trailing Yarboe to his house on Lombard Street, where he discovers a macabre collection of criminal artifacts and booby traps.
San Francisco and surrounding areas, including Yarboe's house on Lombard Street filled with crime museum artifacts and booby traps · Johnny Dollar, Bradford L. Coates, James Yarboe, Mrs. Janelli, Mr. Dykes, Mrs. Weatherly
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's clever narration of his expense account investigation, his dangerous confrontation with the mysterious Yarboe in a house rigged with explosives, and the mounting evidence of Yarboe's vengeful scheme against the insurance company
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 024 The Island of Tin-Yutan (The South Sea Adventure) (1949)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar travels to the remote island of Tin-Yutan in the South Seas to investigate a $50,000 life insurance claim involving the Grand East Development Corporation. Upon arriving at the island by chartered schooner, he discovers a dead body hanging from a shipwrecked vessel and encounters a mysterious fellow passenger who emerges with guns drawn, creating a tense and dangerous situation.
The island of Tin-Yutan off the coast of New Guinea in the South Seas, aboard the chartered schooner Kitty-Wake, and the surrounding waters. · Johnny Dollar, Captain Steve Granger, Mr. Nockie, The mysterious fellow passenger
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's dry narration about his insurance investigation work and growing suspicion of the mysterious passenger; the atmospheric descriptions of sea travel and arrival at the island; the tense confrontation at the end when the armed passenger makes his appearance.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 025 The Melanie Carter Matter (Who'd Like To Rock The Old Doll
Wealthy elderly Melanie Carter, fearing her greedy niece and nephew might murder her for her insurance money as happened to her late husband, hires insurance investigator Johnny Dollar to look into whether they pose a genuine threat. Dollar moves quickly through Boston, investigating both relatives' financial situations and discovering them very interested in a mysterious California oil investment opportunity.
Boston, Massachusetts—primarily Beacon Hill and Cambridge, with visits to Harvard Square and the Vassure Trotting Club, spanning the Charles River · Johnny Dollar, Melanie Carter, Crystal Carter (niece's wife), Chalmers Carter (nephew), Sophia Carter (niece)
Listen for: Dollar's running commentary on his expenses and investigative moves, the contrast between Melanie's elegant nineteenth-century home and her modern wheelchair, and the suspicious speed with which the relatives respond to news of available money
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 026 The Skull Canyon Mine (1949)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is sent to the Skull Canyon mine to investigate suspected fraud. After a harrowing jeep ride through the desert with Jackie, an efficiency expert, he meets the mine manager Doyle and tours the operation, which appears to be working only one mining face despite claims of recent productivity.
Skull Canyon mine in the Arizona desert, 23 miles from the town of Twin Buttes · Johnny Dollar, Jackie, Doyle, Larry Hodges
Listen for: Johnny's colorful commentary on the rough desert terrain and cramped mine conditions; the mystery of the missing former manager Larry Hodges who abandoned Jackie at the altar
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 027 Bodyguard to Anne Connelly (1949)
Johnny Dollar arrives in Milwaukee as a bodyguard for Anne Connolly, a woman terrified of Neil Grafter, a man she once knew who is being released from prison on parole today and has threatened to kill her if she looks at another man. Dollar finds the situation puzzling when he discovers that despite claiming she couldn't afford protection, Connolly lives in an elegant house with a personal maid and spends her evenings out with other men.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin; an elegant house on the right side of town · Johnny Dollar, Franklin Haley, Anne Connolly, Neil Grafter, Ray Merrick, Cora
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's witty observations about his assignment and growing confusion about why a supposedly desperate woman lives such a comfortable life
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 028 The Circus Animal Show Matter (1949)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives at Maximilian Sandro's animal show winter quarters in Georgia to look into threats against a valuable black leopard named Ashanti. Someone attempted to steal the leopard from her cage, and Sandro fears she'll be taken before the show opens. Dollar meets the tough animal handler Tex Franble, who captured Ashanti in Africa, and Sandro's daughter Angela, while trying to determine who wants the leopard and why.
Maximilian Sandro's animal show winter quarters on a vacant lot outside Brunswick, Georgia · Johnny Dollar, Maximilian Sandro, Tex Franble, Angela, An elephant
Listen for: The discovery of who's behind the theft attempts and whether Ashanti can be kept safe until the show opens
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 029 Haiti Adventure Matter (1949)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar travels to Port-au-Prince, Haiti to investigate a claim on Ralph Gordon's life insurance policy. Ralph is reportedly dying from a voodoo curse, but Dollar suspects there may be more to the story than supernatural explanations. He boards Gordon's yacht to get answers from Ralph himself and his mysterious wife.
Port-au-Prince, Haiti; aboard Ralph Gordon's yacht in the harbor · Johnny Dollar, Ralph Gordon, Thomas Gordon, Ralph's wife, Kev Reagan
Listen for: The mystery of what is really causing Ralph Gordon's illness and why his wife and brother may have conflicting motives regarding his condition.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 030 The Department Store Swindle Matter (How I Played Santa Cl
A smooth-operating con man has been hitting New York department stores during the Christmas rush, posing as a salesman to make fraudulent sales and pocket cash. When insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is called in to stop the swindles, the case takes a dark turn at the Miller store when the crook shoots a store detective and kidnaps a young girl who photographed him.
New York City department stores during Christmas week, particularly the Miller store and its various departments including the toy section. · Johnny Dollar, Judy Whitehall, Mr. Stevens, Mr. Sandler, Store Manager, Store Detective, Little Bobby, Bobby's Mother
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's clever scheme to get information from a traumatized child by bringing her to meet Santa Claus in the toy department; the escalation from petty swindling to violent crime when the con man shoots a store detective.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 034 Death Takes a Working Day (The Loyal B Martin Matter) (195
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives at the Connecticut estate of murdered policyholder Loyo B. Martin to determine whether the insurance company must pay out. Martin was shot twice in the back in his library, and Lieutenant Markwood has identified four suspects, all living in the household: Martin's young wife Joy Ann, his jealous housekeeper Mrs. Tompkins, his broke younger brother Marty, and the bodyguard Nick Bellotti. Each has motive and opportunity, and all seem reluctant to talk.
The Martin estate in Fairfield County, Connecticut, particularly the Victorian mansion with its library where the murder occurred. · Johnny Dollar, Edmund Dobrion, Mrs. Martin (Joy Ann), Lieutenant Markwood, Mrs. Tompkins (housekeeper), Marty (Martin's younger brother), Nick Bellotti (bodyguard)
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's investigation as he interviews the suspects and uncovers their connections to the victim and to each other, especially the romantic entanglements involving the young widow and the housekeeper's jealousy.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 035 The S.S. Malay Trader Ship (1950)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar signs on as an ordinary seaman aboard the S.S. Malay Trader to investigate suspected arson involving a shipment of crude rubber. The cargo, insured before the British pound devalued, is worth more destroyed than delivered, and it's being loaded aboard ship again after sitting in a warehouse. Dollar must uncover whether the ship's owners plan to deliberately destroy the cargo to collect insurance money.
Savannah, Georgia and aboard the S.S. Malay Trader, a rusty Liberty ship preparing to sail for Corpus Christi and Veracruz · Johnny Dollar, Al Rota, Chief Holf, Ami, Mr. Pila
Listen for: Johnny's investigation into the suspicious rubber cargo and growing evidence that something is wrong aboard the ship
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 036 The Gravedigger's Spades (Mr & Mrs Arbuthnel Trump) (1950)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is sent to North Dakota to investigate Mr. and Mrs. Trump, who have calmly written to their insurance company stating they intend to commit suicide. Upon arrival at their remote house, Johnny finds the couple seemingly happy and content, insisting they have made up their minds and have even been examined by psychiatrists who declared them mentally sound. They claim they plan to dispose of themselves as payment to the world for the beautiful life they've enjoyed.
High Bridge, North Dakota, during winter; the remote Trump house and surrounding town · Johnny Dollar, Mr. Trump, Mrs. Trump, Station Master, Taxi Driver
Listen for: A mysterious insurance case involving a couple's announced suicide plans, strange packages marked 'deadly' arriving at the house, and Johnny's attempts to understand why seemingly happy people would want to end their lives
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 037 The Archeologist (The Disappearance of Bruce Lambert) (195
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is hired by Miss Lambert to find her missing archaeologist brother, Bruce, who vanished from a ship in New York harbor four days ago. Bruce had smuggled ancient Egyptian relics out of Egypt, including valuable statuary and a royal seal, and was injured in an accident before leaving—all circumstances that may explain his mysterious disappearance.
New York City, with backstory set in Egypt; primary scenes at Brighton Arms Hotel and a red brick hotel near 39th Street · Johnny Dollar, Miss Lambert, Bruce Lambert, Cab Driver 782, Hotel Room Clerk
Listen for: The mystery deepens when Johnny discovers the stolen Egyptian statue in Bruce's hotel room and confronts an unexpected visitor—someone who knows Johnny found the hiding place.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 038 Bodyguard to the Late Robert W Perry (1950)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in New York to bodyguard policy holder Robert W. Perry, who fears for his life. Before Dollar can even meet with him, a booby trap rigged to Perry's desk buzzer kills him instantly. Now Dollar must investigate who wanted Perry dead and why, with a $100,000 life insurance policy hanging in the balance.
New York City, Lower Manhattan; offices of Perry and Van Bruten, importers · Johnny Dollar, Robert W. Perry, Susan Gates, Mr. Van Bruten, Christine Perry
Listen for: The shocking death scene when Johnny Dollar arrives; the revelation that Perry's wife Christine was about to be removed from his will; the suspicious appearance of business partner Van Bruten from Holland.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 039 Alec Jefferson, The Youthful Millionaire (Rebel Wildcatter
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar travels to California to find Alec Jefferson, a young millionaire who financed an oil drilling operation and vanished a week ago while driving from the oil rig to his Hollywood apartment. Johnny begins his search by interviewing the operation's manager, discovers Jefferson's wife living in his apartment, and encounters a mysterious private detective named Philip Wilkins who claims to recognize him as an old school friend.
California oil fields and Hollywood, 1950s · Johnny Dollar, Mr. Flaherty, Mrs. Alec Jefferson, Morris Plattie, Philip Wilkins
Listen for: The mystery deepens as Johnny investigates the disappearance of the wealthy young man and learns of his complicated personal life involving multiple women and questionable associates.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 040 The Eighty-Five Little Minks (1950)
When 85 mink coats worth $300,000 are stolen from the Elwood Faber Department Store in Boston, night watchman Cronin is shot and left in the cold storage vault. Johnny Dollar arrives to investigate a professional job—the vault door was opened with expert safecracking, picked clean without a trace of tools or damage.
Elwood Faber Department Store, Boston, Massachusetts; third floor fur vault and surrounding offices · Johnny Dollar, Ed Bonner, Lieutenant Delaney, Cronin, Al Reedy, Emetree Stroganoff
Listen for: The details of how the thief opened the vault without forcing it, why the night watchman on duty heard nothing, and the identity of a safecracker skilled enough to pull off such a neat job.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 041 The Man Who Wrote Himself to Death (Stuart Palmer, Writer)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in Chicago to investigate Stuart Palmer, a struggling playwright who recently purchased a $100,000 life insurance policy and is now in jail on suspicion of murder. Dollar interviews Palmer's wife and discovers Palmer has been conducting research for his crime play by associating with criminals, and learns that Palmer's friend Neil Beasley may have significant influence over him.
Chicago, Cook County Jail, West Madison district, the Palmer home, and the Atomic Tavern · Johnny Dollar, Stuart Palmer, Mrs. Palmer, Neil Beasley, George Michaelcough, Lieutenant Markowitz, Roscoe
Listen for: The emerging picture of a struggling writer who may have taken out insurance under suspicious circumstances, with his mysterious criminal associate Neil Beasley playing an undefined role in his life
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 042 The Village Scene Matter (The Missing Masterpiece) (1950)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in Boston to investigate the theft of a valuable painting called "The Village Scene," which was stolen from the Mordan Art Gallery. The painting, valued at $250,000 and owned by Caesar Riddo, was on loan to the gallery when it disappeared through what appears to be a straightforward window job. As Dollar begins his investigation, he uncovers tensions between the gallery owner André Mordan and Riddo, and discovers that Riddo himself may have questionable financial dealings.
Boston, including the Mordan Art Gallery on a modest brownstone, the police station, and Caesar Riddo's residence on Beacon Hill. · Johnny Dollar, André Mordan, his daughter, Caesar Riddo, Sergeant Heinz, Lily Swanson
Listen for: The theft of an expensive masterpiece and Dollar's interviews with the gallery owner, police, and the painting's owner as he pieces together the circumstances of the burglary.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 043 The Story of the Big Red Schoolhouse (1950)
Johnny Dollar arrives in Manhattan, Nebraska to investigate a fire that destroyed a newly constructed schoolhouse, killing Joe Stankovich who lived in the basement. The building collapsed despite being brand new, and architect Bill Garrett suggests the structure was poorly built. Dollar begins to uncover suspicious details about the construction, the building contractor Jim Madden, and local building inspector Mike Figuero.
Manhattan, Nebraska, a small town where a new high school building has caught fire and collapsed; the Cheyenne Hotel and surrounding locations in town. · Johnny Dollar, Paco Gonzalez, Joe Stankovich, Bill Garrett, Jim Madden, Mike Figuero, Vivian DeGaron
Listen for: The mystery of why a brand new building burned down and collapsed so quickly, and whether there was negligence or fraud in its construction.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 044 The Dead First-Helpers (1950)
Johnny Dollar goes undercover as a cinder snap at Cornell Steel in Pittsburgh to investigate a series of deaths among experienced first helpers at the open-hearth furnaces. The company reports them as accidents, but Johnny suspects murder and begins to uncover tension and fear among the workers that may connect to planned layoffs.
Cornell Steel mill in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; steel workers' homes and cafeteria · Johnny Dollar, Mr. Barrett, Andre, Joe Poland, Fred, Kirk Brody's widow, Edmund O'Brien
Listen for: The details of industrial hazards in steel mills, the conversations between Johnny and the workers he befriends, and the revelation about layoff notices posted in the locker room.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 045 The Story of the Ten-O-Eight (Unedited Drama Portions) (19
A freight car on the Atlantic Central Railway is broken into and half its cargo stolen between Buffalo and Batavia. Johnny Dollar investigates the theft, discovering tire marks and an abandoned shack, then finds a wrecked yellow truck with a dying driver named Blakey who implicates someone named Jake before expiring.
Buffalo and upstate New York along the Atlantic Central Railway line, including Batavia, the junction, a rural shack, a wrecked truck site, and the Horseshoe Bar and Grill · Johnny Dollar, Harry Pullen, Mr. Grims, Andy Mattson, Skeeter Minkowski, Ruth Smith, Eaf Grams, Bogotus
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's quick deduction about how the theft was committed, the mysterious Ruth Smith asking questions about trains, the discovery of the yellow truck and Blakey's dying accusation of Jake
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 046 Pearl Carrasa (1950)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar tracks down the beneficiary of a $5,000 life insurance policy for the deceased Pearl Carrasa, a lonely young woman who was murdered in New York. Dollar's investigation leads him from a death row interview with the convicted murderer to the girl's former apartment building, then to Las Vegas following a trail of forwarded mail to the Rambo Club.
New York City and Las Vegas, 1950 · Johnny Dollar, Marty Pruitt, Lieutenant Bernard Goldberg, Pearl Carrasa, the building manager
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's methodical expense-account narration as he pieces together clues about a mysterious young woman and searches for her beneficiary
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 047 The Able Tackitt Matter (Unedited Drama Portions) (1950)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is sent to British North Borneo to locate Abel Tackett, a man who disappeared five years ago and whose wife stands to receive over $700,000 if he is confirmed dead. Dollar travels by ship to the remote island, where he begins gathering information about the mysterious and dangerous Tackett from locals who speak of him in fearful, contradictory terms.
An apartment in America; aboard a ship bound for the Philippines; the island of British North Borneo, including the port town of Sandakan and the interior settlement of Kwamut. · Johnny Dollar, Mrs. Tackett, Captain, Crew members, Local inhabitants of Borneo
Listen for: Dollar's investigation into the enigmatic Abel Tackett unfolds through conversations with ship captains and local people who hint at Tackett's violent nature and troubled past, while Dollar navigates the oppressive tropical environment.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 048 The Harold Trandem Matter (1950)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives at the Bel Air estate of wealthy Harold Trandam after an attempted murder on the man's life. When Trandam is shot and killed right before Johnny's eyes on the terrace, the investigation deepens as Johnny discovers the last word Trandam uttered was 'Lila'—a mysterious woman connected to the case.
Los Angeles and North Hollywood, including Harold Trandam's Bel Air estate and the Village High Hotel · Johnny Dollar, Harold Trandam, Mrs. Mabel Trandam, Lyla (also called Miss Wenig), Jack Barton, the bodyguard
Listen for: The mystery of who really killed Trandam and what role the enigmatic Lyla plays in his death; the revelation that Trandam was universally hated and the police's suspicion of Mrs. Trandam.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 049 The Sidney Rykoff Matter (Unedited Drama Portions) (1950)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar races against time to deliver a $25,000 ransom for kidnapped boxer Sidney Reichhoff, who has seven hours to live. After navigating a dangerous storm to reach Kansas City by midnight and leaving the money at a cemetery mausoleum, Johnny begins investigating Reichhoff's background the next morning, discovering the boxer may not be what he seems.
Kansas City, Missouri and its surroundings; an athletic club; a cemetery; Reichhoff's home · Johnny Dollar, Mr. Dallai, Sidney Reichhoff, Gary Medill, Reichhoff's wife, plane pilot, cemetery contact
Listen for: The tense countdown to the ransom deadline; Johnny's dangerous charter flight through a storm; revelations about Reichhoff's character, his wife's demanding nature, and his boxing career; the mystery of whether the kidnapping is genuine.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 050 The Earl Chadwick Matter (1950)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar travels to Bermuda after a witness claims to have spotted Earl Chadwick, a man declared dead four years earlier who disappeared with $30,000 from his employer. Chadwick's widow collected an $80,000 life insurance claim, but Dollar suspects the man may still be alive under an assumed name. Dollar tracks down a man calling himself George Brewster and confronts him at a nightclub to determine if he is truly the missing Chadwick.
Bermuda, primarily Hamilton and the Port of Castile nightclub, with opening scenes in Hartford, Connecticut · Johnny Dollar, Mrs. Marshall, Earl Chadwick / George Brewster, Chief Constable, Hotel keeper, Joe
Listen for: The classic hard-boiled insurance investigator at work, confronting a suspicious character in a tropical setting; Johnny Dollar's methodical approach to verifying identity through physical evidence and direct questioning.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 051 The Port-au-Prince Matter (1950)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is sent to Port-au-Prince, Haiti to investigate a $150,000 policy on Ralph Gordon, a wealthy man's dissolute son who is reportedly dying from a voodoo curse. Dollar travels to the island to debunk the curse claim and discover what is actually wrong with Gordon, meeting the mysterious boatman Cap Riggen, Gordon's sharp-tongued wife Edwina, and Gordon's brother Dr. Thomas Gordon who first reported the curse.
Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on Ralph Gordon's yacht anchored in the harbor · Johnny Dollar, Cap Riggen, Ralph Gordon, Edwina Gordon, Dr. Thomas Gordon, Papa L'Oyle
Listen for: The colorful boatman Cap Riggen's warnings about the island and Gordon's drinking; Edwina's hostile reception of Dollar and her biting remarks; the mystery of why Dr. Thomas Gordon reported the voodoo curse to the insurance company.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 052 The Caligio Diamond Matter (1950)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is called to investigate the theft of the Caligio Diamond, a valuable stone worth $200,000 that was kept in a wall safe in the home of George Benson. Benson is found shot dead in his study with the safe open and the diamond missing. Dollar begins interviewing those close to Benson, including his daughter and the family lawyer, to determine who had access to the safe's combination.
A town called Hoffman, primarily in Benson's home and Mr. Carrigan's law office on Main Street · Johnny Dollar, Miss Benson, Benson's daughter, Mrs. Benson, Bob, Mr. Carrigan, George Benson
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's wry observations as he investigates the crime, and a crucial conversation he overhears that reveals a motive involving an affair and a planned divorce
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 053 The Arrowcraft Matter (1950)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in Newport Beach to investigate a series of Arrowcraft pleasure boat sinkings that have claimed eleven lives. When a chartered search vessel discovers a sunken Arrowcraft in the fog, Dollar boards the derelict and finds the body of a young woman in the cabin, bearing a suspicious bruise behind her ear that suggests she may have been struck before the ship went down.
Newport Beach, California and offshore waters, 1950. The investigation centers on a series of sinking Arrowcraft boats in fog-shrouded waters thirty miles from the coast. · Johnny Dollar, Millard Snell, Robert, Fred Crocker, Myers, Dr. Sainte, Antonio Caruso, Chester McNeil
Listen for: Dollar's discovery of Antonio Caruso's body aboard the derelict vessel and his suspicion that the bruising behind her ear indicates foul play rather than accidental drowning. The mystery of why she was alone on the boat and whether her death is connected to the other sinkings.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 054 The London Matter (1950)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is sent to England to track narcotics that may have been packed in the trunks of film director Broderick Green and actress Dorothy Rivers. Dollar boards a ship to monitor Lorraine Miller, the couple's confidential secretary traveling with the trunks, and discovers her brother is also aboard. As the voyage progresses, Johnny finds Miller behaving mysteriously and learns from the ship's detective that a passenger named Miles Fanning—wanted by federal agents—is also on the crossing.
Aboard the SS Maristown traveling from New York to Southampton, England in 1950, and briefly in Los Angeles and New York. · Johnny Dollar, Lorraine Miller, Broderick Green, Dorothy Rivers, Team Anne Nelson, Clarence Dawn, Miles Fanning, Lorraine Miller's brother
Listen for: The mystery of what Lorraine Miller knows about the narcotics operation, the identity and intentions of Miles Fanning, and whether Miller's brother is involved in smuggling.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 055 The Barbara James Matter (1950)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in Denver to investigate the disappearance of Barbara James, a young woman who vanished six weeks ago. Her wealthy husband, a man twice her age, insists she wouldn't have left without contacting him, but the police suspect she ran away. Dollar begins interviewing those close to Barbara, including a nightclub owner named Bennett who had pursued her.
Denver, Colorado - including police headquarters, the James mansion, and the Yellow Bird Cafe nightclub · Johnny Dollar, Detective Lieutenant Harrison, Martin James, Bennett, Fred Vogel, Barbara James
Listen for: Bennett's shifting story about his relationship with Barbara James, and the revelation that Barbara's first husband is in town
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 056 The Belo-Horizonte Railroad (1950)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar travels to Rio de Janeiro to investigate a series of railroad crashes on the Belo-Horizonte line. Railroad president Benjamin Halli suspects sabotage and blames foreman Henry Myers, but Myers claims the accidents were caused by broken pins that someone deliberately failed to report before the engines left the yard.
Rio de Janeiro and Belo Horizonte, Brazil; a hospital room, the railroad executive offices, a taxi, and Myers' home · Johnny Dollar, Benjamin J. Halli, Henry Myers, Mrs. Myers, The taxi driver
Listen for: The mystery of who knew about the broken pins and deliberately allowed the damaged engines to leave the yard, setting the stage for further investigation into potential sabotage.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 057 The Calgary Matter (1950)
Johnny Dollar is summoned to Alliance Bonding Company to investigate a mysterious phone call about an armored car robbery. A young woman arranges a secret meeting in a cabin to put him in touch with someone involved in the heist who wants to turn state's witness, but only if he can be taken directly to the New Jersey district attorney's office where the crime occurred.
Hartford and New York City in 1950, including a cabin near Long Island Sound. · Johnny Dollar, Mr. Matthews, Miss Mills, John Doe, A young woman
Listen for: The details of what the mysterious informant demands in exchange for his testimony, and whether Johnny can safely deliver him to New Jersey.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 058 The Henry J Unger Matter (1950)
Johnny Dollar is framed when someone sends a wire in his name to his old flame Eileen, luring her to his apartment. Henry J. Unger and his associate Ferdy arrive and, after forcing Johnny to watch them work on Eileen, inject something into Johnny's arm before he loses consciousness. He wakes to find himself holding a gun, his arm punctured, and no memory of what happened.
Johnny Dollar's apartment in the city, and later Dr. Norwich's home · Johnny Dollar, Eileen, Henry J. Unger, Ferdy, Dr. Norwich
Listen for: A mysterious injection, a framing scheme involving a forged wire, and Johnny's determination to uncover who set him up and why
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 060 The Blood River Matter (1950)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is sent to Blood River to investigate the shooting of Max Coburn, a wealthy rancher who had taken out $50,000 in life insurance. Coburn is shot by an unknown assailant at his home and dies in the hospital. Dollar arrives in the remote mountain town to look into the circumstances of the shooting and find the gunman.
Blood River, a small village of about 300 people in a mountain valley, and St. Paul's Hospital; present day (1950s) · Johnny Dollar, Deputy Sheriff Tom Grey, Max Coburn, Frank Coburn, Mary Coburn, Dr. Fulton, Millie
Listen for: The details of Millie's eyewitness account of the shooting at Coburn's home, and the investigation into who shot the rancher and why.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 061 The Hartford Alliance Matter (1950)
A mysterious young man is arrested for setting a fire at the Lions building, a property owned by financially troubled businessman Clarence Pickett. Johnny Dollar investigates while the suspect refuses to reveal his identity, claims Pickett hired him to commit arson, and insists on taking the fall—but a psychiatrist finds him deeply troubled and secretive about something beyond the fire itself.
A city fire scene at the Lions building and police headquarters. · Johnny Dollar, Bart, Sergeant Broderick, Martin, The young suspect, Clarence Pickett, Dr. Herbert, An off-duty policeman
Listen for: The tense interrogation of the defiant young arsonist, Johnny Dollar's sharp questioning of the building's owner, and Dr. Herbert's psychiatric assessment that hints at hidden motives beyond what anyone is saying.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 062 The Mickey Mc Queen Matter (1950)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar receives a late-night visit from his old friend Mickey McQueen, a police sergeant, who seems deeply troubled and hints at murders being planned and committed. When Johnny later visits Mickey's apartment, he discovers the sergeant hanging dead in his closet, and must unravel the mystery behind his friend's cryptic warnings and sudden death.
Hertford, Connecticut and Mickey McQueen's apartment · Johnny Dollar, Mickey McQueen, Tom (Mickey's wife), Martin
Listen for: The tension in Mickey's midnight phone call and visit, his cryptic references to murder and corruption, and the shock of discovering his body in the closet.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 063 The Trans-Pacific Import Export Company, South China Branc
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is sent to Hong Kong to investigate a $200,000 fire claim from the Trans-Pacific Import-Export Company's South China branch. The fire has been blamed on vandalism, but the insurance company suspects fraud, especially since a similar fire at the company's Shanghai branch resulted in a suspicious death of the previous investigator. Dollar arrives in Hong Kong to find himself under surveillance and begins interviewing witnesses and the company's owner, William Meadows.
Hong Kong in the aftermath of World War II, a crowded city overwhelmed by refugees from the Chinese interior; also references the company's Shanghai branch. · Johnny Dollar, Mr. Grover, William Meadows, Miss Vadres, Franklin Abbott
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's investigation into whether the fire was accidental vandalism or deliberate insurance fraud; the mysterious surveillance following him around Hong Kong; the connection between this fire and a previous suspicious fire and death in Shanghai.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 064 The Virginia Beach Matter (1950)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is hired to protect Janice Browning, whose imprisoned fiancé George Robeson has threatened to kill her upon his release. Dollar travels to Virginia Beach and settles into the cottage to guard Janice through the night as Robeson is expected to arrive at any moment. As tension mounts and midnight passes, unexpected visitors begin moving through the darkened house.
Virginia Beach, Virginia, a cottage south of the village near Norfolk, and the surrounding area · Johnny Dollar, Carl Brewster, Janice Browning, Betty Light, George Masters, George Robeson
Listen for: The growing menace as the night progresses, mysterious movements in the darkened cottage, and the revelation of Janice's complicated relationships
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 065 The Howard Caldwell Matter (1950)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is hired to find Howard Caldwell, a 23-year-old who left home a year ago for San Francisco claiming to study art. His devoted mother believes he is in trouble after receiving cryptic letters telling her not to contact the police and that he has gone to another life. Johnny travels to San Francisco to investigate Howard's disappearance and uncover the mystery surrounding his sudden departure.
San Francisco and Connecticut; 1950. The investigation spans Mrs. Caldwell's country estate in Connecticut and Howard's apartment in a brownstone on Taylor Street in San Francisco, as well as the Orlando School of Art and various bars and restaurants. · Johnny Dollar, Mrs. Caldwell, Howard Caldwell, apartment house manager, Miss Orlando, bartender
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's detailed expense account reporting as he pieces together clues from Howard's mailbox, sketches, matchbook collections, and interviews with those who may have known the missing young man.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 066 The Richard Splain Matter (1950)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is called to investigate a mysterious crime scene in a tenement apartment where all the signs point to murder—blood stains, broken furniture, evidence of a violent struggle—but no body is found. The apartment is rented by Richard Splain, who holds a life insurance policy with his estranged wife Clara as beneficiary. Johnny must piece together what happened to Splain, a ship's carpenter who works on vessels traveling between New York and North African ports.
New York City, 1950—including a tenement apartment on the East Side, a police precinct, Mrs. Splain's apartment on Second Avenue, and the offices of the Corinthian Life and Liability insurance company. · Johnny Dollar, Bruce Hardwick, Sergeant (homicide), Mrs. Clara Splain, Mark Bond, Shorty
Listen for: The discovery of a mysterious crime scene with no victim, Johnny's interviews with the estranged Mrs. Splain and her new companion Mark Bond, clues about Splain's work as a ship's carpenter, and a late-night phone call from Clara with urgent news.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 067 The Yankee Pride Matter (1950)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar travels to Singapore to investigate the delayed cargo ship Yankee Pride, which is losing money for tri-state insurance at 2% per day. He discovers that the insurance company's local adjuster, a young Chinese man named Kufo Sun, has been mysteriously killed while investigating the ship, and now Dollar must uncover whether the death and the ship's mechanical troubles are connected or merely coincidence.
Singapore, 1950; the tri-state insurance office, the East Docks where the Yankee Pride is berthed, and Ben Coolant Street in the native quarters · Johnny Dollar, Carl Bush, Mr. L's, Kufo Sun, Kufo Sun's brother, the Chief Engineer, the Rickshaw driver
Listen for: The developing mystery surrounding the dead adjuster's connection to a Malayan woman and the threatening stranger who visited Kufo Sun's brother before the police; the ship's unexplained mechanical troubles with bearings and generators
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 068 The Jack Madigan Matter (1950)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is hired by a man named Strole to find two missing witnesses—Nippy Bruno and Max Krause—who are scheduled to testify against the mysterious and powerful Jack Madigan in federal court. Dollar's search leads him to Nippy's sister Angel Brown, but before he can question her fully, he finds himself face-to-face with Madigan himself at her apartment.
New York City, primarily in apartments and offices · Johnny Dollar, Mr. Strole, Nippy Bruno, Max Krause, Angel Brown, Vivian, Jack Madigan, Herald American reporter
Listen for: The introduction of the mysterious criminal figure Jack Madigan and the tense confrontation between Dollar and the powerful man he's been hired to track down.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 069 The Joan Sebastian Matter (1950)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is hired to look into the death of Joan Sebastian, a 21-year-old woman found dead near a bridge outside Boston. Police initially suspect suicide, but Lieutenant D'Rosa and Johnny both have doubts. Johnny begins digging into Joan's background, discovering she led an active social life and was given expensive gifts, including a mysterious heart-shaped key.
Boston and Hartford area; a bridge over a stream; the Sebastian home; Edward Hollis's residence · Johnny Dollar, Lieutenant D'Rosa, Harold Corry, Joan Sebastian's friend, Edward Hollis, Beatrice
Listen for: The mystery of Joan Sebastian's death and the significance of the heart-shaped key; the identity of the men in Joan's life; what happened between Joan and Harold Corry while he was away
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 070 The Queen Anne Pistols Matter (1950)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is assigned to deliver a pair of valuable antique pistols worth $20,000 to a collector named Bride. The pistols, 18th-century flintlocks from a Boston gun shop, have a dark history tied to murder. When Dollar delivers them, the Brides react with fear and confusion, and the gun shop mysteriously closes. Then Dollar receives a blackmail demand involving photographs of the pistols.
Boston and Hartford, Connecticut; includes a gun shop, apartment, and the Bride residence. · Johnny Dollar, Bill Cartman, Bonnie, Arthur Worthing, Mrs. Bride, Jack Bride
Listen for: The mystery of why the Brides fear the pistols and who is attempting blackmail; the significance of the engraved names on the historic weapons.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 071 The Adam Kegg Matter (1950)
When jewels are stolen from Mrs. Kegg's New York apartment, an unusual ransom demand arrives—a cryptic message created from newspaper advertising text that requests $98,000 for their return. Johnny Dollar is hired to investigate and must decide whether to pursue the supposed thief's offer to meet at a phone booth in Montclair, New Jersey.
New York City and Montclair, New Jersey, 1950 · Johnny Dollar, Al Begnee, Mrs. Kegg, Adam Kegg, Danny Stevens, The supposed thief
Listen for: The clever ransom message constructed from cut-up newspaper advertisements, the suspicious involvement of hotel staff, and Johnny's tense encounter at the phone booth in Montclair
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 072 The Nora Falkner Matter (1950)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is hired to look into a suspicious $200,000 life insurance policy application by Nora Faulkner, who plans to pay only six months of premiums upfront. His investigation leads him through Los Angeles, where he discovers Nora is estranged from her husband Andrew, influenced by a mysterious psychic named Madam Starr, and currently hiding out in Las Vegas.
Los Angeles and Las Vegas, 1950 · Johnny Dollar, Mr. Snider, Nora Faulkner, Andrew Faulkner, Mrs. Faulkner (Andrew's mother), Madam Starr
Listen for: The mounting tension as Johnny uncovers the fractured Faulkner marriage and Nora's strange behavior, plus the cryptic warnings from both the mother-in-law and the psychic about Nora's mysterious intentions.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 073 The Woodward, Manila, Matter (1950)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in Manila to investigate a $75,000 burglary at the Woodward hardware store. The local police have arrested Miguel Nousaleda, a petty thief caught robbing another store, but evidence against him is weak. Meanwhile, clerk Dan Blake has disappeared, and suspicion falls on him, though store manager Floyd McDonald insists Blake couldn't be guilty despite the circumstances pointing his way.
Manila, Philippines; the Woodward hardware store and police station · Johnny Dollar, Floyd McDonald, Irving Morgan, Dan Blake, Miguel Nousaleda, Sergeant Malvos, Charlotte Page
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's skepticism about the police's easy solution and his growing suspicion that the real thief may not be who everyone assumes; Charlotte Page's defense of Dan Blake despite the evidence against him.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 074 The Leland Blackburn Matter (1950)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar takes over a murder case after his colleague Gene Rhymer dies. Leland Blackburn, a wealthy Charleston businessman, has been bludgeoned to death in his home, and his wallet was found empty. Johnny must investigate the case while navigating the proud Blackburn family and a complex past with Gene's widow, Barbara.
Charleston, South Carolina; the Blackburn estate and surrounding areas · Johnny Dollar, Bob Loe, Gene Rhymer, Barbara Rhymer, Leland Blackburn, Ralen Blackburn, Mrs. Blackburn, Lieutenant
Listen for: The tension between Johnny's professional duty and his past relationship with Barbara Rhymer; the mystery of who killed Leland Blackburn and whether it was connected to a separate shooting on Magazine Street
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 078 The Port-O-Call Matter (1951)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in San Francisco to investigate a series of four coordinated robberies at loan company branches that netted $47,000. When a taxi driver goes missing the same day as the heists, Dollar becomes convinced the cabbie may be connected to the crimes, leading him to question the driver's wife and search for clues among other cab company employees.
San Francisco, California in the 1950s, including police headquarters, a taxi company office, and an apartment building on Turk Street. · Johnny Dollar, Bob Ratton, Lieutenant Clark, Mrs. Joe Gyer, Joe Gyer, Paul Landini, Bruce
Listen for: The description of the coordinated robbery spree across San Francisco and Johnny Dollar's deduction that a taxi driver might have been the getaway driver for the thieves.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 079 The David Rockey Matter (1951)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is sent to San Juan, Del Sur to locate David Rocky, who has unexpectedly inherited a million and a half dollars from his adoptive father Titus Morgan. When Dollar arrives, he discovers Rocky has been arrested and is being held on a murder charge in connection with the death of a man named Sagasa, a longshoreman. Rocky claims he was drunk and cannot remember what happened that night.
San Juan, Del Sur, Nicaragua; Hartford, Connecticut; New York City · Johnny Dollar, David Rocky, Mr. Richter, Clayton Wall, Sergeant, Sagasa
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's investigation into Rocky's whereabouts and his clash with the local Guardians police force who refuse to cooperate; Rocky's confused account of a night he cannot remember.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 084 The Jarvis Wilder Matter (1951)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar travels to Farmington, New Mexico to investigate the death of Jarvis Wilder, whose widow Alma has confessed to shooting him. The county grand jury is about to indict her for murder, but as Dollar gathers information from the ranch hands and authorities, he begins to question whether the confession tells the whole story.
Farmington, New Mexico; the Wilder ranch; a small town jail · Johnny Dollar, Alma Wilder, Mr. Kendall, defense lawyer, Jarvis Wilder, Russell Wilder, Rosemary Wilder, Shram, ranch hand
Listen for: Dollar's investigation into the circumstances of Jarvis Wilder's death and hints that Alma's confession may not be truthful.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 085 The Celia Woodstock Matter (1951)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is called in to look into the disappearance of Celia Woodstock, a young woman who vanished a week earlier. Her husband, Captain Woodstock, initially hired a private detective who lost track of her, and now fears she may have come to harm. Dollar begins gathering details about Celia's activities and relationships to uncover what happened to her.
Bridgeport, Connecticut and Long Island Sound area, including the Woodstock home on the shore and offices in the town of Bridgeport · Johnny Dollar, Captain Lyle Woodstock, Celia Woodstock, David Slater, Dr. Charles Masters, Janet Square, Spray
Listen for: The revelation of Celia's secret meetings with a doctor, her withdrawal of two thousand dollars from the bank, a mysterious phone call arranging a meeting with someone named Spray, and the violent confrontation that leaves Dollar locked in a room
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 086 The Stanley Springs Matter (1951)
Johnny Dollar arrives in the dusty desert town of Stanley Springs to investigate allegations that the Stanley Springs Company, a cotton-processing outfit, is engaged in illegal smuggling across the Mexican border. The company's management claims to have no knowledge of any illegal activity, but when Johnny meets with the chief clerk Phillips, the man's nervous reaction suggests he may be hiding something.
Stanley Springs, a company town in the desert valley of the American Southwest, with offices and warehouses of the Stanley Springs Company; also a small hotel in town. · Johnny Dollar, Mr. Best, Bruce Hardwick, Anne Salava, Norman Stager, Phillips, Child
Listen for: Johnny's investigation of the unsigned letter accusing the company of smuggling; his meeting with the mysterious Anne Salava at the hotel; his visits to the company office and his growing suspicion of the chief clerk Phillips.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 088 The Byron Hayes Matter (1951)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar travels to New York to investigate the murder of Byron Hayes. A mysterious man named Roy Corona contacts him with information suggesting that Hayes was being blackmailed by a woman named Rita Cobb, offering an alternative to the police theory that Roy himself committed the crime out of jealousy over his ex-girlfriend.
New York City, present day · Johnny Dollar, Roy Corona, Rita Cobb, Mrs. Hayes, Arnold Smith, Earl Fisher
Listen for: The investigation into Byron Hayes' murder takes an unexpected turn when a man with a criminal past provides a lead about blackmail, forcing Johnny to question the police's leading suspect and uncover hidden connections to the victim.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 089 The Jackie Cleaver Matter (1951)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is hired by adjuster Carl Mason to locate Jackie Cleaver, who is the beneficiary of a $40,000 insurance policy left by her ex-husband Schumacher. Despite receiving regular alimony checks from California, Jackie has mysteriously disappeared from her last known location in Middletown, leaving only a trail of forwarding addresses and cryptic clues about her whereabouts.
Hartford and Middletown, with references to California and other towns in the region · Johnny Dollar, Carl Mason, Jackie Cleaver, Forslund, Schumacher
Listen for: Johnny's pursuit of the elusive Jackie Cleaver as she leaves one location after another, and the mysterious appearance of a dangerous visitor at Johnny's apartment who demands to know Jackie's whereabouts
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 090 The Edward French Matter (1951)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar travels to British Malaya to investigate the disappearance of Edward French, a plantation manager whose car vanished while he was on a business trip to Singapore. Constable Whitlow's mysterious death by ambush and the recovery of a torn piece of French's clothing suggest the case may be more complicated than a simple bandit attack.
British Malaya, including Singapore, the city of Raub, and an isolated plantation estate during a period of bandit activity and emergency martial conditions. · Johnny Dollar, Mrs. French, Constable Whitlow, Constable Downs, Mr. Leaps, Keith Stewart
Listen for: The mounting tension as Johnny discovers that Mrs. French and neighboring estate manager Keith Stewart share a suspicious connection, and hints that Edward French's disappearance may not be what it seems.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 091 The Mickey Mc Queen Matter (1951)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar's friend Mickey McQueen, a Hartford policeman, calls him late at night with cryptic warnings about murders being planned and done. When Johnny arrives at Mickey's home the next morning, he finds him dead, apparently by suicide, hanging in a closet. But Johnny suspects murder and begins investigating Mickey's final hours and the secrets surrounding his recent marriage.
Hartford, Connecticut; Mickey McQueen's apartment; the Cedric Hotel · Johnny Dollar, Mickey McQueen, Velma, Ned Martin, house detective
Listen for: Johnny's investigation into Mickey's mysterious death and the revelation of his wife's criminal past; hints about crimes Mickey knew about but felt powerless to stop
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 092 The Willard South Matter (1951)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in the Virgin Islands to investigate the disappearance of policyholder Willard South and his wife Georgina. Their boat is found empty with evidence of gunfire and struggle, but no bodies—and a tied-up dinghy has been cut loose and vanished. Dollar must piece together what happened during a mysterious evening boat trip that went terribly wrong.
The Virgin Islands, primarily Charlotte Amalie on the island of St. Thomas, and the waters surrounding the island group · Johnny Dollar, Luke Crager, Officer Shaw, Willard South's brother, Mrs. South, Celeste Robertson
Listen for: The discovery of the empty boat with bullet holes and bloodstains; Officer Shaw's explanation of the evidence; the revelation that the dinghy was cut loose; Willard South's troubled reputation and the multiple people who disliked him; Celeste Robertson's evasive testimony about her recent time with Willard.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 093 The Month-End Raid Matter (1951)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in Kansas City after an armored truck carrying department store receipts is robbed and two men are shot dead. The driver, Carl Biller, dies in the hospital, but before he can identify his killers, Johnny discovers that Biller may have known the robbers personally through an association with another woman, suggesting an inside connection to the crime.
Kansas City, Missouri; a hospital and police headquarters where an armored truck robbery investigation unfolds · Johnny Dollar, Lieutenant Arneson, Carl Biller, Mrs. Biller, Emil Ordov (the Count), Sergeant Co
Listen for: The mystery of why the guard and driver were shot in cold blood, and whether Biller's acquaintance with a mysterious woman connects him to the robbers who knew exactly where the armored truck would be
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 094 The Virginia Towne Matter (1951)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is hired by Plymouth Insurance Company to recover jewelry stolen from Roy Underwood. When Dollar tracks down Virginia Town, the alleged thief, he discovers she claims Underwood gave her the pieces as gifts. As Dollar investigates further, a romantic complication emerges and a crucial piece of evidence surfaces that threatens to destroy Virginia's defense.
New York City, including Roy Underwood's apartment, Virginia Town's apartment on Lexington Avenue, and various city locations · Johnny Dollar, Roy Underwood, Virginia Town, Frances Adams, Phil Kelly
Listen for: The conflict between what the evidence shows and Virginia's claims of innocence; the development of Johnny Dollar's personal involvement in the case; the revelation about the damaged diamond bracelet that changes everything
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 097 The Lillis Bond Matter (Unedited Drama Portions) (recorded
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives to investigate a missing messenger who disappeared while carrying $80,000 in cash through downtown Chicago. Working alongside private detective Pat Shade, Dollar interviews the messenger's mother and friends to determine whether the young man was kidnapped or responsible for the theft himself.
Chicago, present day · Johnny Dollar, Pat Shade, Henry Lillis, Mrs. Lillis, Raymond Lockhart, Lily Shae
Listen for: The revelation of Henry Lillis's secret girlfriend Lily Shae and her connection to the case through her father
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 098 The Soderbury, Maine Matter (Unedited Drama Portions) (rec
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in Soderbury, Maine to investigate the murder of Gordon Soderberry, a factory owner shot in his car. Constable Reman points to the roof of Goodwood's store as the shooting location and suspects Ben Sutherland, a local man whose son was killed when the factory operated before and who has been making threats about the factory's reopening.
Soderbury, Maine, a small New England town near Portland, centered on a business street with a factory, Goodwood's store, and surrounding homes. · Johnny Dollar, Edward Whiteman, Constable Fred Reman, Gordon Soderberry, Ben Sutherland, Mrs. Sutherland, Beth Soderberry, Lawrence Taffy
Listen for: The investigation into Soderberry's assassination unfolds as Johnny Dollar gathers information about local opposition to the factory's reopening and learns about Ben Sutherland's grievances and mysterious disappearance.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 099 The George Farmer Matter (1951)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is called to investigate a death claim when a man named George Farmer burns to death at a vacation retreat, with his wife entitled to $100,000 in double indemnity. When Dollar arrives in New York to look into the matter, the doctor who examined Farmer for his policy suddenly dies by jumping from a building, and the insurance salesman who sold the policy is killed in a hit-and-run accident—leaving Dollar to uncover the connection between these deaths.
New York City and surrounding areas, including the Equitable Building, a hospital, and Mrs. Farmer's apartment; the story begins with a call about a fire at a vacation resort called the Sportsmen's Retreat in the Catskills. · Johnny Dollar, Mitchell, Dr. William Evans, Lieutenant William Briggs, Mrs. George Farmer, Martin Ames, Mrs. Ames, Dr. Gerson
Listen for: The tangled web of three deaths—a fire, a suicide or murder, and a hit-and-run accident—and how they connect to an insurance policy; Mrs. Farmer's evasive answers and her claim to the $100,000 payout.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 100 The Arthur Boldrick Matter (1951)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives to interview Arthur Boldrick, who has been shot during an apparent carjacking attempt in his backyard. As Johnny gathers statements from Boldrick and neighborhood witnesses, a troubling picture emerges: while Boldrick claims a stranger in work clothes shot him while demanding his car keys, witnesses report seeing a car drive away from the scene but no man running through the alley, casting doubt on Boldrick's account of events.
A rundown neighborhood in an older part of town, centered around Boldrick's single-story house with a garage facing an alley, and a local police station. · Johnny Dollar, Arthur Boldrick, Dr. Stone, Sergeant Wright, Mrs. Boldrick, Mr. Wheeler, Mrs. Cole
Listen for: The discrepancies between Boldrick's story and the witnesses' observations, and Johnny's growing suspicion about what really happened during the shooting.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 101 The Malcolm Wish, M.D. Matter (1951)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is called to San Francisco to look into the disappearance of Dr. Malcolm Wish, a physician who left his home two nights ago to answer an emergency call and never returned. As Dollar interviews the doctor's wife and his office partner, he discovers that Wish had been unhappy for months, and someone begins following him through the city.
San Francisco, including the Wish home on Knob Hill, Dr. Wish's office in the Tide Building, and various locations downtown including the Cleveland Hotel coffee shop. · Johnny Dollar, Mrs. Wish, Cecil Wish, Dr. Huber, Lieutenant Hughes
Listen for: The mysterious phone call that drew Dr. Wish away from his home; the identity of the blonde-haired man who is following Johnny Dollar; why Cecil Wish canceled her lunch meeting.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 102 The Hatchet House Theft Matter (1951)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar travels to London to investigate the theft of jewelry belonging to wealthy American widow Marcella Scott at her rented estate, Hatchet House. With the help of local police Inspector Sailors, Johnny begins interviewing servants and gathering information about the theft that occurred during a party, trying to determine whether it was an inside job or the work of an outsider.
London, England and Hatchet House, a historic estate near Seven Oaks, Surrey, 20 miles south of London, 1951 · Johnny Dollar, Inspector Sailors, Inspector Finch, Mrs. Marcella Scott, Norman King, Garrett the butler, Millie Hanky the maid, Mr. Minnes the gardener
Listen for: Johnny's investigation of whether the theft was committed by someone at the party, an outsider who knew the party was happening, or someone who simply found an unlocked door; hints about Norman King's suspicious relationship with the widow and Millie's disapproval of their friendship; details about Mrs. Scott's financial situation and why she might need money
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 103 The Alonzo Chapman Matter (1951)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in Los Angeles to investigate the murder of Alonzo Chapman, a traveling man shot in an alley outside a hotel. Chapman was last seen leaving the hotel bar with Norma Sales, a young woman he had just met, but when they turned down the alley toward the parking lot, a gunman shot him three times. Dollar interviews the key witnesses to understand who had reason to kill Chapman and whether the murder was connected to the mysterious girl.
Los Angeles, California; the Quincy Hotel and surrounding areas including an alley and parking lot; also Hartford, Connecticut. · Johnny Dollar, Lieutenant Jim Shock, Norma Sales, Alonzo Chapman, Howard the bartender, Grace Cursio
Listen for: A tense interrogation of Norma Sales about her chance meeting with Chapman, the bartender's observations about Chapman's behavior and interest in the girl, and the growing mystery of why someone was waiting in the alley to kill Chapman.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 104 The Fair-Way Matter (1951)
A bomb destroys a Fairway Airlines plane shortly after takeoff near Springfield, killing 13 people and destroying two houses below. Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is hired to help determine which passenger was the intended target. A ground crew member named Wilbur Wheeler becomes a person of interest after it's revealed he was obsessed with a stewardess who died in the crash and was engaged to the co-pilot.
Springfield Hartford airport and surrounding area, the day after a plane crash · Johnny Dollar, Sam Harris, Mr. Reed, Mrs. Goodhue, Captain Jim Lenhart, Wilbur Wheeler, Shirley, Bill Strand
Listen for: The investigation into the bombing and the questioning of Wilbur Wheeler, who had motive through jealousy over the stewardess Shirley and her engagement to co-pilot Bill Strand.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 105 The Neal Breer Matter (1951)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is called to a small town to investigate the death of Neil Breer, a 26-year-old man who died suddenly at a service station. A local doctor has written to the insurance company expressing doubts about the official heart attack diagnosis, suggesting the possibility of poisoning. Dollar begins interviewing the doctor, the coroner, and the victim's widow to determine whether the death was truly from natural causes.
A small town (name withheld per company request), including a doctor's office, coroner's office, service station, and the Breer home. · Johnny Dollar, Dr. Henry Richards, Guy Hamill, Wesley Bertrand, Paula Wilson, Mrs. Neil Breer
Listen for: The investigation into whether Neil Breer died from a heart attack or was poisoned; Johnny Dollar's tense confrontations with the resistant coroner over ordering an autopsy; the widow's emotional reaction to the investigation.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 107 The Horace Lockhart Matter (1951)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in Santa Barbara to investigate the deaths of Horace and Mrs. Lockhart, who were killed when their car went over a cliff on the coastal highway. The crucial question is which of them died first, since it determines which of their two children—a son from Mrs. Lockhart's previous marriage or a daughter from her marriage to Horace—will inherit a substantial amount of life insurance money. Dollar must locate the mysterious young woman who witnessed the accident and reported it to a garage operator, as her account of who was still alive at the scene holds the key to solving the matter.
Santa Barbara area, California, including a coastal highway, an all-night garage, and the Lockhart mansion in an elite subdivision · Johnny Dollar, insurance investigator, Bruce Ewell, attorney for the Lockhart estate, Patrick Gallagher, all-night garage operator, Michael Adams, Mrs. Lockhart's adult son from a previous marriage, Gail Oka, the Lockharts' adult daughter
Listen for: The description of the mysterious blonde woman witness with heavy makeup and white shoes; the details about which Lockhart was still alive when the witness found the wrecked car; the two different life insurance beneficiaries and how the order of death determines who collects.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 109 The Lucky Costa Matter (1951)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar receives a worrying call from Louise Costa about her husband Lucky, a private detective who has been missing for a week and acting strangely for the past month. Johnny begins investigating and learns that Lucky may be entangled with Hazel Mackie, a woman from his past who has hired him for a mysterious case involving someone recently released from prison.
New York City, including Broad Street and Hazel's apartment on the East Side; also references to San Francisco and Brooklyn. · Johnny Dollar, Louise Costa, Lucky Costa, Joe Costa, Hazel Mackie
Listen for: The revelation of Lucky's mysterious past marriage and prison connection; Johnny's growing concern about what case Lucky is actually working on and why he's lying to his wife.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 111 The Leland Case Matter (Unedited Drama Portions) (recorded
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is sent to investigate the disappearance of wealthy policyholder Leland Case, who vanished five days ago after kissing his young wife goodbye in the morning and failing to meet her for dinner that evening. As Johnny interviews Mrs. Case and her husband's associates, conflicting accounts emerge about whether Leland is truly missing or has deliberately disappeared, and darker details surface about his troubled past marriage.
Hartford, Connecticut area; police Missing Persons Bureau, the Case home, and Paul Freighter's office · Johnny Dollar, Mrs. Leland Case, Sergeant Dulko, Paul Freighter, Leland Case, Herbert Bennett
Listen for: The growing tension between Johnny's investigation and the conflicting stories from those around Leland Case; Mrs. Case's emotional vulnerability contrasted with Paul Freighter's cold dismissal of her concerns; hints about Leland's first wife and accusations of attempted murder.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 113 The Cuban Jewel Matter (1951)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is sent to Cuba to locate stolen jewels worth $800,000 before a suspect named William Carnes—currently in jail awaiting extradition—can be questioned by police. Dollar must find where Carnes hid the jewels before the suspect is taken into custody for a federal crime and refuses to talk.
Cuba, primarily Havana; also a jail and a cantina called Cantina Elgio · Johnny Dollar, Roger Stern, William Carnes, Maria, The fat man with the knife, The bartender
Listen for: A tense confrontation as Dollar tracks down Carnes and discovers the stolen jewels hidden in a bed post, only to have the tables turned when an armed assailant appears.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 114 The Protection Matter (1951)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in New York to investigate a warehouse fire that killed an old man. Benny Waxman, the store owner, is under suspicion, but his behavior is puzzling—he refuses the insurance money and acts terrified of something beyond the police investigation. Lieutenant Parkinson believes a protection racket is behind the fire, and Dollar begins to suspect there is far more to the case than a simple arson.
New York City, 1951—a tenement building where Waxman's store burned, the 15th precinct police station, and the streets of the city during a rainstorm. · Johnny Dollar, Benny Waxman, Lieutenant Parkinson, Angelino Giuseppe
Listen for: The tense interrogation of Waxman in his apartment, Dollar's growing suspicion that a protection racket controls the area, and the mystery of Waxman's missing daughter and the five thousand dollars he gave her.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 115 The Douglas Taylor Matter (1951)
Johnny Dollar, a freelance insurance investigator, is hired to look into an insurance fraud case involving two suspects. When one of his operatives, Douglas Taylor, is found dead near the freight yards, Lieutenant Reese pressures Dollar for information. Dollar refuses to reveal details of his case, fearing it will compromise a potentially half-million-dollar investigation into suspected arson.
Hollywood, including police headquarters homicide division, Johnny Dollar's apartment, the freight yards, and the Hotel Mallard · Johnny Dollar, Lieutenant Reese, Douglas Taylor, Mrs. Taylor, Mr. Nibley, Henry Foner
Listen for: The tension between Dollar's professional obligations and police investigation; Mrs. Taylor's long-standing fears about her husband's dangerous work; the revelation of Douglas Taylor's mysterious past and possible secrets.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 116 The Millard Ward Matter (1951)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in New Orleans to investigate the death of Millard Ward, found stabbed aboard a ship. A crew member named Louis Radnick is the prime suspect, as the two men openly hated each other and had quarreled over Ward's wife. Radnick refuses to talk except to police, claiming he is innocent and left Ward alive when he went back on deck with the other crew members.
New Orleans and aboard a ship, where Millard Ward was found dead · Johnny Dollar, Lieutenant Tracy, Louis Radnick, Mrs. Ward, Millard Ward, Dr. Radnick
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's investigation into the murder aboard the ship, questioning the accused man and Ward's wife about their relationships and the circumstances surrounding the death
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 118 The Tolhurst Theft Matter (1951)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is called to investigate the Tolhurst fur shop theft, where three masked men stole nearly $50,000 at gunpoint. When a mysterious woman calls claiming to know where one of the thieves is hiding, Johnny pursues the lead to Boston, but discovers that tensions among the robbers may run deeper than a simple heist.
A tri-state area including Boston and Hartford, involving a fur shop, hotels, and insurance offices. · Johnny Dollar, Jim Madison, The Woman Informant, Walter Taft, Mr. Tolhurst
Listen for: The mysterious woman's motivations for helping Johnny instead of calling the police; the revelation about tensions and possible double-crossing among the three robbers; details about why a furrier would keep such a large sum of cash on hand.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 119 The Hannibal Murphy Matter (1951)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in Kingston, Jamaica to investigate the death of Hannibal Murphy, a wealthy American whose body was found at the base of a cliff. Inspector Traeber reveals the death is murder, not an accident—Murphy was shot in the head. Dollar interviews the Murphy family and household, including the widow, stepdaughter Phyllis, and Murphy's brother Paul who lives nearby, seeking to understand who might have wanted Murphy dead.
Kingston, Jamaica, at the Myrtle Bank Hotel and the Murphy cottage near a clifftop overlooking the sea · Johnny Dollar, Inspector Traeber, Hannibal Murphy, Paul Murphy, Mrs. Murphy, Phyllis Murphy
Listen for: The mystery of who shot Hannibal Murphy and why his body was placed near his family's home; Phyllis's explosive outburst revealing deep resentment toward her stepfather; Mrs. Murphy's evasiveness about certain details of the night he died.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 120 The Birdy Baskerville Matter (1951)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is sent to look into Carl Baskerville's request to change his insurance beneficiary. Baskerville wants to remove his brother William, recently released from prison after serving time for embezzlement, fearing William may try to kill him for the half-million-dollar policy. Baskerville plans to give William a chance at redemption, but Johnny discovers a shocking turn of events at the Baskerville home.
Carl Baskerville's home on Long Island, New York, and surrounding areas · Johnny Dollar, Carl Baskerville, William Baskerville, Virginia Carter, The big man
Listen for: The gentle irony of Baskerville's philosophy about feeding birds and redemption; the ominous ending that transforms the investigation entirely.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 121 The Merrill Kent Matter (1951)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in Fort Scott, New Mexico to investigate the death of Merrill Kent, supposedly killed when dragged by his horse. A mysterious phone call during Kent's funeral suggests the death may have been murder, not accident. Dollar questions the local doctor who signed the death certificate and finds troubling gaps in the medical examination.
Fort Scott, New Mexico, a small village with a local sheriff's office, a doctor's home office on Elm Street, and surrounding ranch country. · Johnny Dollar, Sheriff York, Dr. Hugo Snyder, Mrs. Snyder, Merrill Kent, Harris
Listen for: The mysterious anonymous caller who phoned during Kent's funeral with hints of murder; details about Kent's injuries and whether his foot was actually caught in the stirrup.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 122 The Youngstown Credit Group Matter (1951)
Johnny Dollar investigates a $48,000 robbery from the Youngstown Credit Group, a payroll service at Federal Mills. Two employees making their regular weekly cash delivery are ambushed by four armed men in white bandages, with driver George Enfield fatally injured when thrown from his car. Johnny must determine who had inside knowledge of their routine and where the stolen money has gone.
Youngstown, Ohio and surrounding areas including Federal Mills and a farm where an abandoned Plymouth is discovered · Johnny Dollar, Sergeant Pickett, Chief Edward J. Allen, Watson, George Enfield, Mrs. Enfield, Mr. Long
Listen for: Watson's detailed account of the robbery with four armed men in white bandages; the investigation into who had inside knowledge of the payroll operation; the discovery of the abandoned blue Plymouth sedan on Mr. Long's property
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 125 The Alma Scott Matter (1951)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar travels to San Francisco to investigate the death of Alma Scott. A man named Alan Swain contacts him secretly, claiming he didn't kill the woman despite evidence placing him at the scene. Swain reveals he and Alma planned to flee to Mexico together, and he fled in panic after hearing shots in her apartment, but insists he wasn't inside when she was killed.
San Francisco and surrounding areas, including Alma Scott's apartment building and a cafe on the coast highway · Johnny Dollar, Alan Swain, Helen (Swain's sister), Mrs. Swinehart, Walter Helm, Mr. Robinson
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's investigation into who was actually in Alma Scott's apartment when she was shot, and whether suspect Alan Swain is being framed
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 128 The Amelia Harwell Matter (1952)
Johnny Dollar investigates the poisoning death of Amelia Harwell, a wealthy seventy-year-old textile business owner who ruled her family and company with an iron hand. The widow Thomas and their two adult children stand to inherit a substantial fortune, along with significant insurance payouts. Dollar must determine who poisoned Mrs. Harwell and why, despite the family's apparent lack of motive.
The Harwell estate on the eastern shore near Southwell Fleet, Connecticut, and the surrounding village · Johnny Dollar, George Parker, Thomas Harwell, Amelia Harwell, Maxine Harwell, Dexter Harwell, Gretchen Nielsen, Dr. Stevens
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's initial interviews with the widower and family members, clues about Mrs. Harwell's mysterious illness, and the revelation that she was dying of natural causes
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 139 The James Clayton Matter (1952)
Dr. James Clayton contacts Johnny Dollar's insurance office in New York, claiming his life has been threatened by Benjamin Harmon, a violent man whose wife he advised to divorce for her health. When Johnny investigates, he finds Harmon armed and dangerous, and the situation escalates when the doctor receives an emergency call to a mysterious address in the warehouse district. Johnny and a police sergeant must now track down Dr. Clayton before Harmon finds him.
New York City, including an insurance office in Rockefeller Center, a medical office in the Pelroy building, the Harmon residence in Westchester, and the warehouse district · Johnny Dollar, Chet Graham, Miss Tebens, Dr. James Clayton, Benjamin Harmon, Mrs. Harmon, Sergeant Tom Bassman, Miss Stephens
Listen for: The mystery of Dr. Clayton's emergency call and whether Benjamin Harmon will reach him first
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 140 The Elliott Champion Matter (1952)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is called to California to investigate a fire at an office building owned by Elliott Champion. Champion immediately suggests that Joseph Harrison, a man he once prosecuted for theft who recently left prison, is responsible for the arson. As Dollar and the police begin their investigation, they must determine whether Harrison is genuinely seeking revenge or if Champion himself set the fire to collect the insurance.
California, including an office building fire scene in a city (likely Los Angeles area based on Glendale reference), police station, and Champion's real estate office · Johnny Dollar, Don Vickers, Elliott Champion, Norman Ives, Mildred, Joseph Harrison
Listen for: The early investigative techniques used to track the arsonist, including witness descriptions and the discovery that gasoline was moved into the building between specific times; Champion's quick accusation of Harrison and his suggestions about financial trouble
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 142 The Walter Patterson Matter (1952)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is hired to investigate a curious claim: a man named William Euler has been spotted alive in Tucson, Arizona, bearing a striking resemblance to Walter Patterson, who supposedly died in a plane crash in 1947 and whose $40,000 insurance claim was already paid. A reliable former judge who knew Patterson claims she saw and spoke with Euler, noting he even has Patterson's distinctive limp from wartime injuries, yet Euler denies knowing her and provides a different background story.
Wilmington, Delaware and Tucson, Arizona in 1952 · Johnny Dollar, Mr. Elgin, Virginia Collier, William Euler, Boyann Patterson, Sergeant Pylar, Lieutenant James Crakeson
Listen for: The mystery of whether William Euler is truly the supposedly-dead Walter Patterson or merely a remarkable coincidence; the details of Euler's background and his reaction to being confronted with his resemblance to the deceased pilot.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 143 The Baltimore Matter (1953)
Johnny Dollar, an insurance investigator, is contacted by Orrin Vance, a man recently released from prison, who offers information about two men involved in a major theft case in Baltimore. Vance provides a stolen bill as evidence and identifies Leonard Torpy and Harold King as two of the six men responsible for the crime. Dollar must verify this information and track down the suspects before they disappear.
New York City, with connections to Baltimore, Reno Nevada, and Hartford. The investigation spans insurance offices, bars, police stations, and bus terminals. · Johnny Dollar, Orrin Vance, Don Free, Leonard Torpy, Harold King, Lieutenant Randall, Pete Florian
Listen for: The tension between Johnny's promise to protect Vance's identity and the police's need for reliable sources. The details of the stolen currency that could connect the suspects to the Baltimore theft case.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 144 The Thelma Ibsen Matter (1953)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is hired to locate the beneficiary of a $1,000 life insurance policy. The policyholder was an elderly newspaper vendor who took out the insurance specifically to benefit a young girl named Thelma Ibsen, whom he met just once when she was ten years old. Dollar traces Thelma's movements through Hartford and discovers she disappeared on Christmas Eve 1950 from a filling station on Long Island while with a man named Floyd Turnbull who claims they were about to be married.
Hartford and New York City, 1953, investigating events from 1950-1951 · Johnny Dollar, DeFranco, Milton de Franco, John Linden, Thelma Ibsen, Mary Sealy, Floyd Turnbull, Edna
Listen for: The mystery of why Thelma abandoned Floyd Turnbull at the filling station on Christmas Eve, and whether Dollar can locate her to deliver the unexpected insurance inheritance.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 146 The Marigold Matter (1953)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar receives an urgent letter from Joe Hickey, an old acquaintance now running a loan business in the small town of Marigold, Connecticut, asking for help with mysterious happenings. Before Dollar can respond, Hickey is found shot to death in his car on a remote road. Dollar arrives in Marigold to help local police investigate the murder and uncover what troubled Hickey enough to seek his assistance.
Marigold, Connecticut, a small quiet village in a sloping valley during winter, and the surrounding countryside · Johnny Dollar, Lieutenant Walt Younger, Sergeant Cherry, Pat Hickey, Joe Hickey
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's investigation into Joe Hickey's murder; clues about the loan business troubles Hickey hinted at; the mystery of who killed Hickey and why
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 147 The Kay Bellamy Matter (1953)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar looks into theatrical agent Lou Waltham's application for two million dollars in coverage on singer Kay Bellamy. Waltham claims she's valuable talent, but the application details don't add up—and Kay seems determined to keep secrets about her private life and whereabouts.
New York theatrical district and Boston burlesque theater, 1945 · Johnny Dollar, Lou Waltham, Kay Bellamy, Don LaVaya, Cole, Luzzi Lizzario, Valerie, Lorraine
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's dry narration as he uncovers the mystery behind Kay Bellamy's double life and discovers there's someone dangerous pulling strings behind the scenes.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 148 The Chicago Fraud Matter (1953)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in Chicago to investigate a suspicious $50,000 life insurance claim. Christopher Lane died on the street from malnutrition, yet he passed a complete physical exam just days before, with no sign of the chronic conditions the coroner found. Dollar begins questioning the doctor who signed off on the exam to determine whether the body is actually Lane's or if fraud is at work.
Chicago, Illinois in 1953, including Dr. Unger's office, the city morgue, and Christopher Lane's apartment building. · Johnny Dollar, Miles Hartley, Lydia Staley, Dr. Wolder Unger, Miss Shutty
Listen for: The mystery of how a man could pass a clean physical exam only days before dying of severe malnutrition and undetected chronic illness; questions about whether the body in the morgue is actually Christopher Lane.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 150 The Latourette Matter (1953)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in Denver to take over a case from fellow investigator Tommy Thompson, who has been killed in what appears to be a hit-and-run accident. Thompson had been working on a matter involving Frank Latourette, whose wife died in a bookstore fire ruled accidental by authorities. Dollar must determine whether these deaths are genuine accidents or connected to something Thompson discovered.
Denver, Colorado in 1953, including a hotel, police station, and Latourette's home in Park Hill. · Johnny Dollar, Lieutenant Mapes, Bessie Thompson, Frank Latourette
Listen for: The contradictions between the official accident rulings and Bessie Thompson's conviction that her husband was murdered for what he uncovered about Latourette; Johnny Dollar's methodical investigation as he reviews police reports and seeks the truth.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 151 The Underwood Matter (1953)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in Rexford to investigate the death of policyholder Ray Underwood, who fell from a fourth-story hotel window. The coroner's jury rules it an accident, but Johnny learns that Underwood and his young wife Alice were in the midst of divorce proceedings and that Underwood had recently attempted to change his insurance beneficiary.
Rexford (location of the Pioneer Hotel and city hall) and Hartford, Connecticut (insurance company office) · Johnny Dollar, Red Egan, Alice Underwood, Ray Underwood, Sergeant Hanen, desk clerk, bellhop, chamberman
Listen for: The coroner's inquest testimony about Underwood's fall from the hotel window, Alice Underwood's account of her final meeting with her husband, and details about the divorce proceedings and attempted beneficiary change.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 152 The Jeanne Maxwell Matter (1953)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in Boston to investigate the death of Jeanne Maxwell, a young woman found in a river. While police are undecided between suicide and murder, Dollar's examination of the evidence and the circumstances surrounding her death begins to point toward foul play rather than self-destruction.
Boston and Hartford, Connecticut, 1953 · Johnny Dollar, Lieutenant De Rosa, Jeanne Maxwell's roommate Marionelle, Harold Corey, Jeanne Maxwell's mother, Edward Maxwell, Beatrice Maxwell
Listen for: The details about Jeanne Maxwell's lifestyle, the mysterious gold key with a heart-shaped bow found in her dresser, and Harold Corey the truck driver who had been seeing her
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 154 The King's Necklace Matter (AFRTS) (1953)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives on a tropical island off Cuba to look into King Rawlings' claim that someone attempted to steal his quarter-million-dollar necklace. Rawlings suspects his secretary Harley or his protege, but Dollar discovers the necklace in the safe has been replaced with paste, suggesting a switch may have occurred.
A private island called Las Parnas off the coast of Cuba, where retired financier King Rawlings lives in an imported Moorish castle surrounded by staff and guests. · Johnny Dollar, Marty Fenton, King Rawlings, Nita Valdez, Timothy B. Harley
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's sharp detective work as he uncovers the real facts behind Rawlings' insurance claim and questions who actually switched the genuine necklace for a fake one.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 155 The Syndicate Matter (1953)
Johnny Dollar arrives in the oil boom town of Tupelo to investigate four murders of oil field workers, all beaten to death and insured under a company group policy. The victims are newcomers who had been unemployed for months before arriving, and each received injuries a week before being killed. Dollar goes undercover as a laborer to infiltrate the operation and uncover the pattern behind the murders.
The De Pella oil field near Tupelo, Texas, during an oil boom; also Dallas offices of the Cooperative Group Insurance Company · Johnny Dollar, Wilbur Runyon, Mrs. Gonzales, Bullferal, Frankie Robling
Listen for: The revelation of why the four murdered men were targeted, and whether the loan shark Frankie Robling is connected to the killings or the syndicate Johnny suspects
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 156 The Lester James Matter (no ending) (1953)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in New York to investigate a shortage at Wallace Cotton's and Company. He visits Lester James, who has confessed to stealing $4,185 from the company and is now in custody, but James refuses to reveal what he did with the money or explain his actions.
New York City, including a police station, Lester James's apartment building on 59th Street, a neighborhood restaurant called the 59er, and a courthouse · Johnny Dollar, Ned Talbot, Lester James, Mrs. Anastasia Denovitch, Public Defender, District Attorney's Office representative
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's investigation into the mysterious disappearance of $4,185 stolen by Lester James, a college-educated businessman who refuses to explain where the money went, despite being caught and confessing to the theft
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 157 The Enoch Arden Matter (1953)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is called to investigate a suspicious claim involving Frank Loring, an actor declared legally dead seven years ago after disappearing, whose ex-wife stands to collect a quarter million dollars. A young nurse thinks she saw Loring recently in Boston under an assumed name, applying for an international vaccination certificate, and evidence suggests he may have boarded a ship heading toward the Panama Canal.
New York, Boston, and the Panama Canal Zone in the 1950s · Johnny Dollar, Henry Grant, Ruth Boulogne, Frank Loring, Dr. Filton, Mrs. Frank Loring
Listen for: The investigation begins to unfold as Johnny pursues the lead to the Panama Canal, where the ship carrying the mysterious Michael Walsh is headed, while Mrs. Loring's party in Greenwich Village reveals her readiness to claim the insurance money.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 158 The Madison Matter (1953)
Johnny Dollar investigates an insurance claim when a woman claiming to be the legally dead Mrs. Frank Madison appears alive. She tells a shocking story: years ago, her husband Dr. Frank Madison used the body of a patient who died in his office to fraudulently claim her life insurance policy, collecting $10,000 while she disappeared to New York under her maiden name.
New York City and Los Angeles, 1953 · Johnny Dollar, Paul Dupree, Mrs. Walker (Thelma Madison), Dr. Frank Madison, Dr. Willis Reed, Wanda Thompson, Mr. Platt
Listen for: A classic insurance fraud scheme unraveling as Johnny follows the trail of a woman supposedly dead since 1951, interviewing her former landlord and tracing her work history in New York.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 160 The San Antonio Matter (Network) (1953)
Johnny Dollar is called to St. Petersburg, Florida to investigate the murder of Mark San Antonio, a former bootlegger shot twice in his home. Dollar teams up with Lieutenant Benjamin to uncover who killed the man, while also meeting San Antonio's estranged daughter Edith, who has inherited a substantial trust fund now that her father is dead.
St. Petersburg, Florida; San Antonio's house on the south end of town · Johnny Dollar, Ed, Lieutenant Benjamin, Mark San Antonio, Cook Mrs. Olsen, Edith Randall
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's investigation into San Antonio's murder, his interviews with the police and household staff, and his initial meeting with the mysterious daughter who stands to inherit a large sum from her father's death.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 161 The Blackmail Matter (1953)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives at Dale Martin's gym to find a man named Fred Royal dead with a broken neck. Martin insists it's murder, not an accident, and Dollar begins questioning the gym's staff and clients to uncover what happened. A key to a safety deposit box found among Royal's effects suggests there may be more to the story than a simple gym accident.
Dale Martin's gym at 1084 Sixth Avenue in downtown, and later Fred Royal's apartment. · Johnny Dollar, Dale Martin, Fred Royal, Lieutenant Nathan, Bernie Carroll, Jack Olson, Johnny Morgan, Michael Darling
Listen for: The details of Fred Royal's death and what the safety deposit box might contain; clues about Royal's background and why someone would want him dead.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 162 The Rochester Theft Matter (Network) (1953)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is called to New York to help recover items stolen in a Rochester burglary six months earlier. A woman wearing the stolen mink coat is found shot and dumped from a car near an apartment building, and a mysterious well-dressed man named Bill who drove a black Cadillac had been seeing her before the shooting.
New York City, including an apartment building where the victim was found and the police station. · Johnny Dollar, Sergeant Papey, Eileen Madden, Mrs. Ethel Stromberg, Bill, Sergeant Walter
Listen for: The investigation into the mysterious shooting victim and the connection to the stolen jewelry; the description of the well-dressed man named Bill and his black Cadillac; Eileen Madden's dying condition at the hospital.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 163 The Emily Braddock Matter (1953)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in Santa Barbara to look into Emily Braddock, a charming woman who has been passing bad checks at resort hotels along the California coast. As Dollar traces her movements from Santa Barbara to Malibu, he discovers she has befriended hotel guests and locals alike while living lavishly under assumed names, and her trail leads him toward Los Angeles where she claims to have business with a lawyer.
Santa Barbara, Malibu Beach, and Los Angeles, California in the 1950s. Resort hotels, beach homes, and downtown Los Angeles locations. · Johnny Dollar, Glenn Sheridan, Sergeant Lopez, Sergeant Pelz, Garland, Emily Braddock (also registered as Mrs. Robert Payne and Ellen Bradley)
Listen for: The smooth charm and con artist skills of the mysterious Emily Braddock as she moves between coastal towns; Dollar's methodical investigation following her trail of bad checks and aliases.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 164 The Brisbane Fraud Matter (AFRTS) (1953)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is sent to Detroit to look into the disappearance of Richard Brisbane, a missing businessman whose firm is bonded by Dollar's company. Brisbane vanished Tuesday morning without telling his wife where he was going, and hasn't been seen since, leaving behind all his belongings and following none of his usual habits.
Detroit, Michigan; the Brisbane home and office · Johnny Dollar, Sergeant Fantellar, Mrs. Brisbane, Richard Brisbane, Dr. Wiena
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's expense account narration and his questioning of Mrs. Brisbane about her husband's disappearance; details about Brisbane's habits and lifestyle that might explain his sudden absence.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 165 The Costain Matter (AFRTS) (1953)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is called to Toledo to look into a series of shoplifting claims totaling thousands of dollars. Working with Lieutenant Sturgis and Sergeant Bightler, Johnny discovers the thefts aren't random—all stolen items are women's clothing in size 10, restricted to specific colors, and purchased only in small, specialized sizes. The police believe they're hunting a red-headed woman with green eyes who is systematically building a complete wardrobe at the insurance companies' expense.
Toledo, Ohio; police station and various retail shops including dress shops, department stores, and cosmetic stores · Johnny Dollar, Shelley Thomas, Lieutenant Sturgis, Sergeant Bightler, Sergeant Kelly, Mrs. Bankroft
Listen for: The clever deduction that connects seemingly random thefts into a pattern revealing the thief's physical appearance and personal characteristics.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 167 The Emil Carter Matter (1953)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in Los Angeles to investigate the murder of Emil Carter, a policy holder. A young woman named Janice Laidt, seen fleeing the scene, contacts Johnny and agrees to meet him, claiming she did not kill Carter despite all evidence suggesting her guilt.
Los Angeles and the harbor area of San Pito, California, 1953 · Johnny Dollar, Janice Laidt, Frank, Emil Carter, Mrs. Carter
Listen for: The mystery deepens as Johnny uncovers that Emil Carter was married to someone else while involved with Janice, and that her brother Frank may have orchestrated events to protect her.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 168 The Jonathan Bellows Matter (AFRTS) (1953)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is hired to look into an attempted shooting at the home of wealthy industrialist Jonathan Bellows, who refuses police protection and seems unconcerned about the attack. Dollar arrives at Bellows' Manhattan apartment to find a tense family situation and a cantankerous old man unwilling to cooperate with the investigation.
Manhattan apartment at Park Avenue, New York City; a garden where the shooting attempt occurred · Johnny Dollar, Mr. Stern, Jonathan Bellows, Mrs. Edith Bellows, Professor Wilk, Ralph
Listen for: The clash between Dollar's professional determination and Bellows' stubborn refusal to accept help; family tensions and secrets that may relate to the shooting; Bellows' sudden change of heart when left alone with Dollar.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 171 The Shayne Bombing Matter (1953)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in New York to investigate the death of David Shane, who was killed by a bomb sent in a package. The police suspect Charles Shane, David's brother, but the evidence is circumstantial. As Dollar interviews Charles, their mother, and their sister Mary, he begins to uncover hints that the bombing may be connected to David's activities against the Workers' Protective Association rather than being an act of fratricide.
New York City: police precinct station, city jail, and hospital · Johnny Dollar, Lieutenant Will Stevens, Charles Shane, David Shane, Mrs. Shane, Mary Shane
Listen for: The developing mystery of who really sent the bomb and why David Shane's speeches against the Workers' Protective Association might be the motive.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 172 The Black Doll Matter (AFRTS) (1953)
Johnny Dollar investigates the murder of Judy Thompson, a young singer killed in her Los Angeles apartment. The investigation leads him to William Cahn, a test pilot at Timken Aircraft who had been seeing the victim for about two weeks, forcing Dollar to determine whether Cahn's alibi of staying home the night of the murder holds up.
Los Angeles, California, including the victim's apartment, Timken Aircraft testing facility, and police headquarters. · Johnny Dollar, Lieutenant Breakfast, William Cahn, Judy Thompson, Mr. Rudolph Timken
Listen for: The dramatic jet aircraft test flight sequence and Johnny Dollar's interrogation of the pilot suspect as he works to solve the murder.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 173 The James Forbes Matter (1953)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is hired to look into the death of wealthy James Forbes, who fell from a 110-foot cliff during his nightly walk along the ocean shore. The police believe it was an accident, but Dollar begins to uncover suspicious details about Mrs. Forbes's activities and mysterious telephone calls that suggest the circumstances of his death may not be as straightforward as they appear.
A Forbes mansion on the northeastern shore, the Fifth Precinct Police Station, and the cliffs along the ocean in what appears to be the New York area. · Johnny Dollar, Roger Stern, Lieutenant Arthur Parkhill, Mrs. Forbes, The butler
Listen for: The developing investigation into Mrs. Forbes's potential affair and secret activities, which may provide a motive for the death; the butler's reluctant revelations about suspicious phone calls and false trips to town.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 175 The Nancy Shaw Matter (1953)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is sent to Santa Monica to investigate a jewel robbery at the home of movie star Nancy Shaw. After learning from police that this is the latest in a series of similar robberies targeting Malibu homes, Johnny travels to Shaw's beachfront property to begin his inquiry. He finds himself drawn to the charming actress even as he works the case.
Santa Monica and Malibu, California in the 1950s; the investigation centers on Nancy Shaw's beachfront home in the exclusive Malibu Colony. · Johnny Dollar, Nancy Shaw, Sergeant James Dodd, Bernice, Dave Asher
Listen for: The banter between Johnny and Nancy Shaw as they discuss their personal lives while sitting on the beach, and the arrival of Dave Asher, identified as Nancy's fiancé.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 176 The Isabel James Matter (The Kimball Matter) (1953)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in Tulsa, Oklahoma to investigate the murder of Isabelle James, a young woman whose throat was cut. She is the fourth victim of what appears to be a serial killer operating in the area over the past three weeks. Dollar interviews the victim's uncle, her beneficiary, and learns that police have arrested a man named Alvin Storey who was found carrying a razor.
Tulsa, Oklahoma; a hotel, a police station, and a farmhouse · Johnny Dollar, Captain Clifford Kissing, Isabelle James's uncle, Alvin Storey
Listen for: The details of the four murders, Johnny Dollar's investigation techniques, and the interrogation of the suspect Alvin Storey
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 177 The Nelson Matter (1953)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in New York to investigate the death of a small-time criminal known as the Frog, who was insured for $10,000 with beneficiary Maude Gilkerson. Dollar meets with police lieutenant Korchak, learns the Frog had ties to crime boss Ellis Hartchier, and uses an informant named Wilbur Truett to locate the beneficiary, but immediately faces intimidation from two thugs warning him to drop the case.
New York City, primarily at a police precinct, a skid row saloon called Hep's Hilarity, a hotel, and the streets between locations · Johnny Dollar, Lieutenant Korchak, Ellis Hartchier, The Frog (Nelson), Maude Gilkerson, Wilbur Truett
Listen for: The colorful, rambling dialogue of Wilbur Truett, a derelict informant with a gift for flowery speech; the threat delivered by the two thugs at the episode's climax
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 178 The Stanley Price Matter (1953)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is called in to look into the theft of 100,000 dollars worth of jewels from a home at 956 East 114th Street. A man named Stanley Price called the police to tip them off, but was then shot dead along with another man, Robert Wells. The jewels have been taken out of their settings and recut to avoid identification, and Stanley Price has disappeared.
New York City, including police headquarters, a hotel, a brownstone in the Village, and the waterfront at Schooner Landing · Johnny Dollar, Annalie Conrad, Robert Wells, Stanley Price, Mrs. Wells, Henri Duval
Listen for: Johnny Dollar interviews police detective Conrad about the case, then seeks out his friend Henri Duval at a brownstone in the Village to learn about Stanley Price's whereabouts, following leads that take him to the waterfront.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 179 The Lester Matson Matter (AFRTS) (1953)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in New York to investigate a fire at the Matson plastic factory that destroyed the building. The night watchman heard an explosion and found high-octane fuel burning, suggesting arson. The factory owner, Lester Matson, has a solid alibi—he was at a dinner party with his daughter—but Dollar senses something is troubling him, and Matson's behavior suggests he may be hiding something.
New York City and New Jersey, including police headquarters, a hotel, and the Matson family home across the river in Jersey. · Johnny Dollar, Lieutenant Ridgeway, Lester Matson, Christine Matson, Mr. James
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's growing suspicion that Lester Matson knows more about the fire than he's saying, despite Matson's insistence that it was either an accident or the work of a pyromaniac. The interaction between Dollar and Matson's daughter Christine suggests a possible connection worth pursuing.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 181 The William Post Matter (1953)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in New York to look into the murder of Teresa Post, who was stabbed and robbed in her apartment. Lieutenant Roseman suspects her husband William, though he claims an alibi with his girlfriend Jane Yu. Dollar interviews the key figures who discovered the body—private detective Paul Sacks and lawyer George Simon—to determine who killed Mrs. Post and why her expensive mink coat was left behind while only a cloth coat was stolen.
New York City, primarily the 5th Precinct police station, a private detective's office on 52nd Street, and a lawyer's office suite. · Johnny Dollar, Lieutenant Roseman, William Post, Teresa Post, Paul Sacks, Jane Yu, George Simon
Listen for: The puzzling details of the crime—why the killer took only a cloth coat while leaving valuable furs behind, and whether the husband's alibi with his girlfriend can be trusted.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 182 The Amita Buddha Matter (1953)
Johnny Dollar is called to Los Angeles to investigate the death of William McEdwards, a man who died in a house fire the previous night. The police suspect murder rather than accident, and as Johnny questions the widow and her father-in-law, he learns about a rare Chinese Buddha that was brought back from Korea and may hold a clue to what really happened.
Los Angeles, including Beverly Hills Police Department, Encino, Pasadena, International Studios, and Beverly Glen · Johnny Dollar, Chief Anderson, Lieutenant Hankins, Mrs. McEdwards, Mrs. Risenally, John McEdwards, Charles Wilkins
Listen for: The mystery of the Buddha statue from Korea and its connection to McEdwards' death; why the police believe the fire was murder rather than accident
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 183 The Alfred Chambers Matter (1953)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is called to the exclusive resort islands of Lake Huron to investigate the murder of Alfred Chambers, a man found shot through the chest in a rented cabin. Chambers' estranged wife arrived from Pittsburgh to find him dead, but the circumstances of his death remain unclear—he was shot on the island but found with mud and water on his clothes, suggesting he may have been in the lake.
The Snow Islands, an exclusive resort community on Lake Huron near the Canadian border, and the mainland police station. · Johnny Dollar, Philip Martin, Captain George Lane, Alfred Chambers, Mrs. Chambers, Jane Elkins, Schoenberg
Listen for: Details about how Chambers died—whether he was shot on the dock and fell into the water, or shot elsewhere. The significance of Mrs. Chambers' unexpected arrival and her knowledge of her husband's affair with Jane Elkins.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 184 The Philip Morey Matter (1953)
Johnny Dollar investigates insurance claims on Philip Morey, a producer who has suffered a nervous breakdown. When Johnny visits Morey's Park Avenue apartment, he finds the man deep in a drinking binge, claiming he hadn't touched alcohol until the previous night. Johnny must determine whether Morey's condition is a legitimate illness covered by insurance or merely a self-inflicted problem.
New York City, primarily Philip Morey's apartment on Park Avenue and a hotel bar · Johnny Dollar, Philip Morey, Edward (Morey's companion), Dr. Ewing, Mr. Gratke (producer), Bartender
Listen for: Johnny's investigation into whether Morey's breakdown is genuine illness or alcohol abuse, and revelations about Morey's troubled past with women and business associates.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 185 The Allen Saxton Matter (1953)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is sent to examine a painting that Allen Saxton paid $200,000 for, but which several experts claim is a forgery. Dollar meets the wealthy Saxton and his spoiled daughter Barbara, views the painting, and learns that a man named Lippert has been spreading word that Saxton was swindled. While waiting for the museum to complete their examination, Dollar returns to New York only to be visited by Barbara at his hotel.
New Jersey and New York City, 1953. The story begins at Allen Saxton's three-story house across the river in Jersey, then moves to Johnny Dollar's hotel in New York. · Johnny Dollar, Allen Saxton, Barbara Saxton, Mitchell, Lippert, Mr. Farmer
Listen for: The mystery of whether the valuable painting is genuine or a forgery, and what Barbara Saxton's unexpected visit to Johnny Dollar's hotel means for the case.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 186 The Howard Arnold Matter (1953)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is hired by an old friend, Howard Arnold, to protect him from a dangerous criminal outfit led by Castro. Arnold gives Dollar an envelope containing evidence that could send Castro away for a hundred years, but when one of Castro's men attacks Dollar at his hotel and tears the place apart looking for it, Dollar must arrange a clandestine meeting to return the envelope to Arnold.
New York City, including the Ellsworth Hotel, Arnold's office, and a remote meeting spot reached by a 40-minute drive into the countryside. · Johnny Dollar, Howard Arnold, Castro
Listen for: The tense confrontation between Johnny and Castro's enforcer, and the mysterious nature of the evidence Arnold entrusts to him.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 190 The Independent Diamond Traders' Matter (1953)
Johnny Dollar is hired to investigate why diamond traders in New York are going out of business. When cheap diamonds flood the market at prices far below the normal rate, the independent traders of the Association begin canceling their insurance and closing shop. Dollar visits the Association's headquarters to gather information and begins to track down the source of the cut-rate stones.
New York's Diamond Row and a small hotel, during a late afternoon snowfall in the 1950s · Johnny Dollar, Eric Carlson, Mr. Moss, Susan, Hotel clerk
Listen for: The mystery of where the cheap diamonds are coming from and who is flooding the market with them to drive out the small traders
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 191 The Monopoly Matter (1953)
Johnny Dollar investigates a fire that destroyed the Monopoly Club in Waterbank. Fire Inspector Captain McCready determines the blaze was caused by Molotov cocktails thrown through a window, pointing to arson. Club owner Gerald Hobson reveals that a man visited him a week earlier demanding $100 monthly protection money and threatening to put him out of business, raising the question of whether this extortionist is responsible for the fire.
Waterbank, at the ruins of the Monopoly Club and the owner's home · Johnny Dollar, Captain McCready, Gerald Hobson, Chief Blair, Sergeant Winnick
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's investigation into whether the arson is connected to the extortion threat against the club owner.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 195 The Ben Bryson Matter (AFRTS) (1953)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is sent to San Francisco to investigate the death of Ben Bryson, a company claims adjuster who died in a car accident driving off a cliff into the Pacific Ocean. Before his death, Bryson had embezzled nearly $80,000 from Keystone Mutual Assurance Company, and Dollar must determine what happened to the missing money and uncover the circumstances surrounding Bryson's suspicious death.
San Francisco and Panama City; primarily the Franciscan Arms hotel and its bar in San Francisco, where Bryson lived. · Johnny Dollar, Ed Murphy, Ben Bryson, Mrs. Kern, The hotel manager, The bartender, Coco
Listen for: Dollar's investigation into Bryson's embezzlement and death, his interviews with the hotel staff and Mrs. Kern about Bryson's activities and relationships before his fatal accident, and clues about the missing $80,000.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 196 The Fair-Way Matter (AFRTS) (1954)
A Fairway Airlines plane crashes shortly after takeoff from Springfield Hartford Airport, killing all aboard and destroying two nearby homes. Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is called to the scene, where authorities determine the crash was caused by nitroglycerin explosives detonated by an electrical timing device. Suspicion falls on Wilbur Wheeler, a ground crew member who had a troubled history with stewardess Shirley and co-pilot Bill Strand.
Springfield Hartford Airport and surrounding area, following a plane crash · Johnny Dollar, Sam Harris, Carl Reed, Captain Jim Lenhart, Wilbur Wheeler, Shirley, Bill Strand
Listen for: The investigation into the deliberate sabotage of the aircraft and the questioning of Wilbur Wheeler, who had motive and access to the plane.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 197 The Celia Woodstock Matter (AFRTS) (1954)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is hired to look into the disappearance of Celia Woodstock, a young woman who vanished a week ago from her wealthy captain husband's home near Bridgeport. Captain Woodstock reveals his wife had been visiting a local doctor frequently and had been seen with him, and a private investigator previously hired had lost her trail when she boarded a train to New York City with $2000 withdrawn from the bank.
Bridgeport, Connecticut and surrounding areas near Long Island Sound, 1954 · Johnny Dollar, Captain Lyle Woodstock, Celia Woodstock, David Slayton, Dr. Charles Masterson, Janet Squash
Listen for: Dollar's investigation into Woodstock's strange behavior and hidden facts about his wife's disappearance, mysterious phone calls to someone named Sprague, and a tense confrontation
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 199 The Beauregard Matter (AFRTS) (1954)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in Rockport, Illinois to look into the theft of a valuable $30,000 necklace from the Beauregard household. The engagement gift was stolen from an old-fashioned safe while the house was empty, and Dollar begins interviewing the family members to uncover who took it.
Rockport, Illinois; the Beauregard home and surrounding town · Johnny Dollar, Jared Beauregard, Ellen Beauregard, Phil Avery, Benny Stark
Listen for: The mystery of the stolen necklace and Johnny Dollar's investigation into the Beauregard family's involvement in the theft.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 200 The Paul Gorrell Matter (AFRTS) (1954)
Johnny Dollar arrives in Phoenix to investigate a hundred-thousand-dollar payroll robbery in which two guards were killed. Insurance adjuster George Post reveals that one of the robbers, Tallavic, contacted him claiming his partner Paul Garell shot the guards against their agreement, and that Garell plans to flee to Los Angeles via a ride-share arrangement. Dollar agrees to pose as a passenger in the getaway car to track the stolen money.
Phoenix, Arizona and en route to Los Angeles · Johnny Dollar, George Post, Paul Garell, Tallavic, Mr. Bovey
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's undercover attempt to catch a murderer and recover stolen money while riding in a car with the criminal
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 201 The Harpooned Angler Matter (AFRTS) (1954)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives on the French Riviera to investigate the death of Arnold Bernier, a wealthy retired man found dead underwater with a fishing spear in his back while skin diving. Dollar must determine whether Bernier's widow Magda or someone else is responsible for his suspicious death, despite initial claims that it was a tragic accident.
The French Riviera, specifically a villa overlooking the Gulf of Lyon and the waters off the Cassis coast, circa 1954 · Johnny Dollar, Count L'Ozzlo, Magda Bernier, Inspector Lanyo, David North
Listen for: The unusual circumstances of a man found dead underwater with a spear embedded in his back during a solo skin diving expedition, and Johnny Dollar's skeptical questioning of those who benefit from his death.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 202 The Uncut Canary Matter (AFRTS) (1954)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is sent to collect a $125,000 claim on an uncut diamond called the Canary, stolen from jewelry shop owner Madam Johannes in Beverly Hills. When a mysterious caller offers to return the stone, Dollar and police Lieutenant Hankins rush to retrieve it, but complications arise regarding the diamond's actual value and condition.
Beverly Hills, California; a jewelry shop and surrounding locations · Johnny Dollar, Madam Johannes, Carter, Eddell Spears, Tont Blussman, Lieutenant Hankins, Chief Anderson
Listen for: The mystery of why the Canary diamond has been held for over a year and whether it can actually be cut and sold for its claimed value
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 203 The Classified Killer Matter (AFRTS) (1954)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in Chicago to probe the murder of Frank Harvey, a claims adjuster shot three times and found in the snow on Mannheim Road. A classified ad for Harvey's Cadillac convertible leads police to suspect the killer posed as a prospective buyer, but a woman's compact found in the recovered car suggests a woman may be involved in the case.
Chicago during a winter blizzard; police station, garage, Mannheim Road, beer and hamburger joint · Johnny Dollar, Ted Albright, Frank Harvey, Lieutenant (Police), Detective Sergeant, Mechanic
Listen for: Johnny Dollar receives a mysterious phone call with information about the case just as he's questioning Ted Albright about Frank Harvey's personal life and connections.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 204 The Road-Test Matter (AFRTS) (1954)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is sent to look into a series of mysterious accidents at an automobile manufacturer's testing facility. Three experimental cars have crashed during road tests, each driven by experienced test drivers, and Dollar must determine whether sabotage, mechanical failure, or something more sinister is behind the disasters.
An automobile testing facility and surrounding town, 1954 · Johnny Dollar, Mr. King, McGregor, Mrs. Grace Johnson, Joe Simmons, Steve Johnson, Kelly
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's investigation into the three car crashes, his interviews with the test facility manager and the widow of one of the killed drivers, and his search for a man with possible motive
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 205 The Terrified Taun Matter (1954)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar travels to a rubber plantation in Malaya to investigate a death claim for Harrison Langley. Upon arrival, Langley greets him with a gun, convinced Dollar is part of a conspiracy against him. Langley reveals his wife Meida has disappeared and a shot was fired, while the plantation faces constant terrorist threats and his overseer Crawford appears to harbor secret feelings for Mrs. Langley.
A rubber plantation near Sundown, Malaya, in a region threatened by jungle terrorists · Johnny Dollar, Tom Benz, George Alister, Harrison Langley, Crawford, Meida Langley
Listen for: Langley's panic and accusations of murder plots, the revelation of Crawford's apparent feelings for Mrs. Langley, and the mystery of what happened to Meida
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 207 The Piney Corners Matter (AFRTS) (1954)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in the small town of Piney Corners to investigate the shooting death of Martha Williams. The local constable, Jake Finley, has few clues about who killed the young woman as she sat by a window in her farmhouse. Johnny discovers that Martha's husband Ben has been spending considerable time with Flora Lane, a waitress at the local restaurant, while Martha has been ill at home.
Piney Corners, a small town of 1200 people, and the Williams farm outside town, 1954. · Johnny Dollar, Bob Creel, Jake Finley, Ben Williams, Martha Williams, Flora Lane, Mrs. Keeler, Mr. Keeler
Listen for: Johnny's expense account narration as he pieces together the circumstances of Martha Williams' death and the suspicious relationship between Ben Williams and the waitress Flora Lane.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 209 The Sulphur and Brimstone Matter (1954)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar travels to Venezuela to investigate sabotage at a dam construction site. Upon arrival at the remote project, he discovers that Ace Travis, partner of a deceased robber, has been shot dead, and Captain Borrell has ordered all work on the dam to stop immediately.
A remote dam construction site in the mountains of Venezuela, near the town of Whereville Cusbert, South America. · Johnny Dollar, Daniel Gatorio Matarsa, Captain Borrell, Bill Anthony, Philomena Travis, Pedro de la questo, Ace Travis
Listen for: The mystery of who shot Ace Travis and why someone is sabotaging the dam project; the tension between the construction crew's determination to finish the dam and the forces working against it.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 210 The Magnolia and Honeysuckle Matter (AFRTS) (1954)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar travels to Charleston, South Carolina to investigate a fire at the Cooper family's paper factory office that occurred early in the morning. A young woman named Felicia Farrow, the secretary, is found dead at the scene, and Norman Cooper, the factory owner's son, mysteriously leaves town on a hunting trip the same night. Dollar must uncover whether the fire was arson and what connection Norman has to the victim's death.
Charleston, South Carolina, primarily at the Cooper family's paper factory and mansion, with scenes at police headquarters and a lunch room. · Johnny Dollar, Lieutenant Hervey, Norman Cooper, Mrs. Alice Cooper, Robert Cooper, Felicia Farrow, Bill Randall
Listen for: The mystery of why Felicia Farrow was at the factory at four in the morning, Norman Cooper's sudden departure on a hunting trip, and clues about whether the fire was professionally set arson.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 211 The Nathan Swing Matter (AFRTS) (1954)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in Los Angeles to look into the murder of Nathan Swing, a small-time hood. Swing's death coincides suspiciously with Special Investigator Daniel Fletcher's sudden cancellation of a vice investigation into crime boss Jimmy Durando, raising questions about whether the two cases are connected.
Los Angeles, California in 1954, including City Hall, Beverly Hills, and Durando's restaurant · Johnny Dollar, Sergeant Matthews, Nathan Swing, Jimmy Durando, Daniel Fletcher, Fletcher's wife
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's expense account details and his initial interviews about the Nathan Swing murder and its connection to the Durando investigation
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 212 The Frustrated Phoenix Matter (AFRTS) (1954)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar looks into the death of Martin Vanneburg, a novelist who once showed great promise but spent 20 years drinking himself into obscurity. Johnny interviews those who knew him—a literary critic who tried unsuccessfully to help him recover, and the bohemian friend who discovered his body—to uncover who shot Vanneburg and why.
Chicago, including the Daily Examiner newspaper offices, a studio apartment on Elm Street, Chicago Avenue Police Station, and Newberry Park · Johnny Dollar, Richard Hanley, Lieutenant Borchock, Dalton Tuller
Listen for: Johnny's methodical investigation unfolding through interviews and expense account details, the contrast between Vanneburg the brilliant writer and Vanneburg the broken man, and the mystery of his disappearing wife.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 213 The Dan Frank Matter (AFRTS) (1954)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in Middleboro to investigate the murder of Dan Frank, the town's former police chief, who was shot in his own home. Mrs. Frank claims an intruder killed her husband while she and houseguest Max Bealy slept upstairs, but Johnny finds the town harbors dark secrets involving organized crime and people with motives to see Frank dead.
Middleboro, a Great Lakes town with a quiet exterior hiding organized crime and corruption · Johnny Dollar, Mrs. Laura Frank, Max Bealy, Commissioner Corbett, Pete Parker, Eddie Sales
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's investigation into Frank's murder, tension between those with alibis and those with motives, and the revelation of hidden rackets running through the seemingly respectable town
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 215 The Bilked Baroness Matter (1954)
Johnny Dollar investigates a theft of furs and jewels worth $100,000 stolen from the penthouse of Baroness Olga Jarbach. The robbery appears to be an inside job, with suspicion falling on Vasiliy Oodyskoo, a guest at the Baroness's party the night before who has a criminal record. As Dollar questions the people connected to the case, including the Baroness's ex-husband Thomas Bentley, evidence begins to surface that may point to the real culprit.
New York City, including the Baroness's penthouse apartment, a commercial art studio, and police headquarters. · Johnny Dollar, Baroness Olga Jarbach, Lieutenant Lewis, Thomas Bentley, Vasiliy Oodyskoo
Listen for: The clever way the detective pieces together clues from an apparent inside job, and the revelation of who actually took the stolen jewels and furs.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 216 The Punctilious Firebug Matter (1954)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in Dallas to investigate a series of fires plaguing the company. Five properties with recently issued policies have burned on Tuesday nights around 11 o'clock, totaling $95,000 in claims. When a sixth fire breaks out at an apartment building on East Westchester, killing a witness, Johnny begins to suspect someone within the insurance organization is involved.
Dallas, Texas; offices of Eastern Indemnity and Fire Company; various fire scenes around the city · Johnny Dollar, Jeff Connors, Lieutenant Len Borchard, Miss Martin, Bellabundema Henderson
Listen for: Johnny's questioning of Miss Martin about her convenient presence at the office just after the latest fire; the details about the slow fuses made with candle drippings found at each fire site; the mounting pressure on Jeff Connors as fires continue to strike newly issued policies.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 218 The Sara Dearing Matter (AFRTS) (1954)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in the small desert town of Palmer, California to investigate the death of Sarah Dearing, a recluse who died in a bedroom fire and left a $100,000 insurance policy. The local newspaper editor has discovered a bottle containing powerful sedative residue at the scene and believes Dearing was murdered, but the county sheriff has dismissed the evidence as insignificant.
Palmer, a small village in the Santa Rosa Mountains overlooking the Mojave Desert in California, and the surrounding area including Sarah Dearing's Spanish villa · Johnny Dollar, Maggie Lacey, Sheriff Dan Cox, Hilda Brouwer
Listen for: The mystery of the two mysterious men who visited Sarah Dearing every year on the same day and were present on the day of her death; the significance of the prescription sedative found in her bedroom; and why the sheriff refuses to investigate further despite the suspicious circumstances.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 219 The Paterson Transport Matter (AFRTS) (1954)
Johnny Dollar investigates a series of armed robberies targeting delivery trucks for the Paterson Transport Company in Kansas City. Six hold-ups in a week have netted over $3,700, with drivers beaten so badly that one is hospitalized. When police set up surveillance on the trucks, the pattern shifts dramatically—the next likely target, driver Milton Spears, is killed in a mysterious truck accident before the robber can strike.
Kansas City, Missouri, with focus on the Paterson Transport Company, police headquarters at 1125 Locust Street, and various delivery routes around the city. · Johnny Dollar, Lieutenant Herman, Sergeant Grayson, Milton Spears, Mrs. Robinson
Listen for: The mysterious death of Milton Spears, the next robbery target, in a truck accident that may not be what it appears. A witness spots a large man limping away from the crash scene.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 221 The Woodward Manila Matter (AFRTS) (1954)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in Manila to investigate a $75,000 burglary at the Woodward hardware store. The safe was found open on Monday morning by the manager. The police have arrested Miguel Masaleira for stealing from another store, but he denies involvement in the Woodward theft and insists he has no money.
Manila, Philippines, at the Woodward hardware store, police headquarters, and Johnny's hotel near Manila Bay · Johnny Dollar, Floyd McDonald, Irving Morgan, Dan Blake, Sergeant Malvar, Miguel Masaleira
Listen for: Johnny's interview with the detained Miguel Masaleira, who claims he didn't steal the money despite being arrested for robbing another store
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 222 The Jan Brueghel Matter (The Flowering Judas Matter) (AFRT
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is hired to recover a valuable painting that was stolen from an art gallery. A man has approached the gallery owner with the painting and arranged to sell it back, and Dollar must identify both the artwork and the mysterious seller. Dollar tracks down Selena Jeffers, a young woman from the painting's original owning family, hoping she will help him identify the work when the sale takes place.
An art gallery and later a bluff overlooking Lake St. Clair · Johnny Dollar, Mr. Masterson, Hackeron, Selena Jeffers
Listen for: The arrangement for Dollar to meet the painting's seller and complete the recovery of the stolen artwork
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 223 The Carboniferous Dolomite Matter (AFRTS) (1954)
Johnny Dollar arrives in Sumatra to investigate sabotage at an oil well owned by Peter Van Usterhal, who is gambling $60,000 on striking oil within three weeks before his drilling permit expires. That evening, after meeting Van Usterhal and his daughter Frederica, Johnny is awakened by Inspector Pajak with shocking news: Van Usterhal has been murdered, and Johnny's own .38 caliber revolver matches the murder weapon.
Sumatra, at an oil field north of Achin and the Buieton Zorg Hotel · Johnny Dollar, Peter Van Usterhal, Frederica Reynolds, Inspector Pajak, Don Reynolds
Listen for: The explanation for the deliberate sabotage at the oil well, whether Johnny's gun was actually used in the murder, and who really killed Van Usterhal
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 224 The Jeanne Maxwell Matter (FEN-AFRTS) (1954)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is hired by Corinthian Life Insurance to look into the death of Jean Maxwell, a young woman found drowned in a Boston-area stream. The police are treating it as a possible suicide, but Dollar's examination of the evidence suggests foul play, and he begins interviewing those close to the victim to uncover the truth.
Boston and Hartford, Connecticut, present day (1954) · Johnny Dollar, Lieutenant (Boston police), Marionne (Jean Maxwell's roommate), Harold Corey, Edward Hollis, Mrs. Hollis, Mr. Templin
Listen for: The detective's careful reasoning about the circumstances of Jean Maxwell's death, particularly the details that don't match the typical suicide pattern.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 225 The Radioactive Gold Matter (1954)
A lethal radioactive gold isotope disappears from Washington Research Hospital in South Bend, Indiana. Johnny Dollar is called in to investigate after the gold surfaces at a local pawn shop, sold by a man claiming to have scraped it from his television store windows. With the dangerous material now loose in the city, Dollar must track down the seller before the radiation claims another victim.
South Bend, Indiana, 1954; Washington Research Hospital, police headquarters, and a pawn shop. · Johnny Dollar, Dr. Reed Mackinlock, Miss Lowan, Lieutenant Redos, Goldie, Parker, Steve
Listen for: The race to identify and locate a man dying from radiation exposure; the discovery that a deadly radioactive isotope has been sold to an unsuspecting pawn broker.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 226 The Hampton Line Matter (AFRTS) (1954)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in Sault St. Marie, Michigan to look into an explosion aboard the Hampton Queen, a supply boat operated by Carl Richard. Richard was aboard the vessel shortly before the blast occurred in the utility compartment, then vanished before the boat docked. Captain Ferguson and others defend Richard's character, leaving Dollar puzzled about his motive and whereabouts.
Sault St. Marie, Michigan, on the Great Lakes, involving Coast Guard headquarters, a supply boat, and local establishments · Johnny Dollar, Commander Wizard, Carl Richard, Miss Richard, Captain Ferguson, Captain Torgerson
Listen for: Details about the explosion aboard the Hampton Queen, Carl Richard's mysterious disappearance, and Johnny Dollar's investigation into the motive behind the blast
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 231 The Macormack Matter - Ep 1 (1955)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar receives an urgent call from a prison chaplain: dying inmate Michael Cairn wants to see him. When Dollar visits Sing Sing, the dying con man reveals he suspects fellow inmate Joe Penny knows the location of $100,000 in jewels stolen from a rich man named McCormick years ago. Before dying, Cairn urges Dollar to investigate and split any reward with Cairn's widow. Dollar travels to New York to look into the old case and track down Penny.
Sing Sing Prison, New York City, and Long Island, 1955 · Johnny Dollar, Father Taggart, Michael Cairn, Joe Penny, Julian McCormick, Ed Barth
Listen for: The dying prisoner's cryptic clues about a fellow inmate and a hidden jewel heist; Dollar's methodical investigation beginning to piece together the mystery.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 232 The Macormack Matter - Ep 2 (1955)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar follows up on a tip about a $100,000 jewelry theft from Julian McCormick's home five years earlier. A dying convict named Mike Karen mentioned that ex-con Joe Penny may have been involved in the heist. Dollar visits McCormick's mansion on Long Island, reviews the case details with Allied Casualty's Frank Porter, and begins tracking down Penny, who has recently disappeared from his hotel.
Long Island mansion and New York City, 1955 · Johnny Dollar, Frank Porter, Julian McCormick, Mrs. McCormick, Mike Karen, Joe Penny, Doodles Martin
Listen for: Dollar's suspicion that McCormick seems frightened by the investigation; the revelation that no trace of the stolen jewelry has ever surfaced despite five years passing; a mysterious phone call claiming to be from Johnny Dollar that may not be who it seems.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 233 The Macormack Matter - Ep 3 (1955)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is investigating a 1951 burglary at McCormick's home on Long Island. A dying convict named Mike Cairn tipped him that Joe Panie, a small-time auto thief, might be responsible. When Johnny checks Panie's hotel room, he finds it ransacked and is nearly shot by a mysterious woman. Working with Lieutenant Martin, Johnny tracks down Iris Carter, Joe Panie's ex-wife from six years ago, hoping she can lead him to Panie.
New York City, including a hotel, police station, apartment building, bookstore, diner, and rehearsal hall · Johnny Dollar, Lieutenant Dules Martin, Joe Panie, Mike Cairn, Iris Carter, Jack Lang, Mrs. Olds
Listen for: The mysterious woman with the gun and her connection to the case; Jack Lang's surprising admission that he would like to find Iris Carter himself
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 234 The Macormack Matter - Ep 4 (1955)
Johnny Dollar investigates the murder of Joe Penny, a small-time auto thief connected to a five-year-old McCormick burglary worth $100,000. Penny is found shot and dumped in the harbor with burnt feet, and suspicion falls on his ex-wife Iris Carter, who carries a gun and wears a mink stole. Johnny must track down Iris and recover the stolen goods while navigating conflicting leads and a mysterious witness.
New York City, including the harbor and police offices · Johnny Dollar, Frank Porter, Joe Penny, Iris Carter, Lieutenant Martin, Edmund Thompson
Listen for: The investigation into Joe Penny's murder and the search for Iris Carter; Edmund Thompson's peculiar account of witnessing the body being dumped; the significance of Penny's burnt feet and the type of gun used.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 235 The Macormack Matter - Ep 5 (1955)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is shot at outside a theater in the Bronx and learns that Joe Panie, an ex-convict connected to a years-old case, may be involved. Following the trail to Long Island, Dollar discovers that Joe Panie's ex-wife is now married to wealthy Julian McCormick—and that Panie is dead, killed with a .25 caliber gun. As the case unravels, Dollar uncovers a web of blackmail, robbery, and betrayal that reaches into Allied Insurance's own New York office.
The Bronx and Long Island, New York, 1955 · Johnny Dollar, Ed Bart, Joe Panie, Julian McCormick, Mrs. McCormick (Iris), Frank Porter, Mike Karen
Listen for: The shocking revelation of Frank Porter's betrayal and his connection to the murder; the confrontation at the McCormick home and Julian's desperate attempts to silence Dollar.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 236 The Molly K Matter - Ep 1 (1955)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is sent to San Francisco to investigate the sinking of the freighter Molly Kay, which went down off the Golden Gate Bridge with a half-million-dollar insurance claim at stake. At a preliminary board of inquiry, Captain Edgar Brawley testifies that the ship struck a submerged derelict and sank in minutes, but Johnny's questions about the captain's suspicious behavior during a previous voyage hint that all may not be what it seems.
San Francisco, 1955. A board of inquiry investigating the loss of the freighter Molly Kay at the foot of Market Street. · Johnny Dollar, Dave Borker, Captain Edgar Brawley, Harbormaster Timo Rourke, Lieutenant Commander Barton Field, Radio Operator GA Beck
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's probing questions about Captain Brawley's earlier voyage and mysterious cancellation of an insurance claim suggest deeper motives behind the ship's sinking.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 237 The Molly K Matter - Ep 2 (1955)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is assigned to investigate the sinking of the freighter Molly K in the Pacific. He receives a mysterious phone call from Ellen Brawley, daughter of the ship's captain, who asks him to meet her at Pier 29 on the waterfront at night. When Johnny arrives, he discovers Ellen works at the Broly shipping company office and learns that her father took out a heavy mortgage on the ship seven months before it went down, raising questions about whether the vessel was deliberately sunk for insurance money.
San Francisco waterfront, Pier 29, the offices of the Broly shipping company, 1955 · Johnny Dollar, Ellen Brawley, Dean Sutton, Captain Brawley, Lou Tang
Listen for: The mystery of why the Molly K sank and Ellen Brawley's conflicting motives for meeting with Johnny Dollar, plus the revelation that she is engaged to Dean Sutton, the cargo exporter whose goods went down with the ship.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 238 The Molly K Matter - Ep 3 (1955)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar investigates the sinking of the freighter Molly K in San Francisco. Crew member Hawkins reveals suspicious circumstances: a fire was discovered before the voyage, Captain Brawley violently silenced crew member Bill Mack's warnings, and an explosion—not a collision—actually sank the ship. Dollar confronts the captain and later meets with Shanghai Lu, a mysterious woman from his past, seeking information about the missing Chinese steward Benny Wong.
San Francisco waterfront and Chinatown, 1955 · Johnny Dollar, Josiah Hawkins, Bill Mack, Captain Brawley, Benny Wong, Lu Tang (Shanghai Lu), Dean Sutton
Listen for: The details about the fire aboard the Molly K, Captain Brawley's violent reaction to Bill Mack's suspicions, and the revelation that an explosion rather than a collision sank the ship. Also note Johnny's complex history with Shanghai Lu.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 239 The Molly K Matter - Ep 4 (1955)
Johnny Dollar finds himself arrested on assault charges filed by Captain Brawley, seemingly a tactic to keep him out of the way. Working with Harbor Police Dan McKay, Johnny pieces together his theory of the Molly K case: Brawley needed money, hired explosives expert Benny Wong to sink the ship for insurance, and Wong killed crew member Bill Mack when discovered. But when they locate Wong's hideout, they find him already dead—shot three times with a .45 caliber gun.
San Francisco Harbor and Fisherman's Wharf in the present day, with references to the Molly K ship and various dock locations. · Johnny Dollar, Dan McKay, Harbor Police, Captain Brawley, Bill Mack, Benny Wong, Dean Sutton, Tim O'Rourke, Hawkins
Listen for: Johnny's theory of the crime unraveling as new evidence emerges; the discovery of Benny Wong's body and the revelation about the .45 caliber gun that doesn't belong to Dean Sutton.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 240 The Molly K Matter - Ep 5 (1955)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar has been tracking the truth behind the sinking of the Molly K. He discovers that Dean Sutton, engaged to Captain Brawley's daughter Ellen, orchestrated the ship's destruction to collect insurance on the cargo after the Tokyo grain market collapsed. But when Johnny confronts Ellen at the Brawley shipping office, she reveals herself as the real mastermind behind the scheme—and she's determined to silence him.
San Francisco waterfront and the Brawley shipping company office, at night near Pier 29 · Johnny Dollar, Lou Tang, Captain Brawley, Dan, Ellen Brawley, Dean Sutton, Benny Wong
Listen for: Johnny's realization that Ellen, not Dean, is the true criminal mind behind the insurance fraud and murder; the dramatic confrontation in the shipping office and the final struggle on the dock.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 241 The Chesapeake Fraud Matter - Ep 1 (1955)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is called to Baltimore to investigate a suspicious claim. Five years after John Reardon died in a boating accident on Chesapeake Bay, Eastern Fidelity paid his widow Elizabeth $20,000. Now Paul Combs, chairman of Eastern Fidelity's board, claims he saw Reardon alive in Denver just three days ago, going by the name Frank Bauer. Johnny must determine whether Reardon really survived or if the widow committed fraud.
Baltimore, Maryland and Denver, Colorado, 1955 · Johnny Dollar, Pat Keller, Paul Combs, Elizabeth Jane Reardon, Frank Bauer
Listen for: Johnny's skepticism about Combs's story and his reluctance to upset the widow without solid evidence; the details of the original boating accident and the legal declaration of death.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 242 The Chesapeake Fraud Matter - Ep 2 (1955)
Johnny Dollar investigates a claim involving John Reardon, who supposedly died five years ago in a boating accident off the Chesapeake, but is now reported to be alive in Denver under the assumed name Frank Bowers. Johnny befriends Reardon's widow Elizabeth to gather information, but his investigation is complicated when Elizabeth's controlling friend Hugh Bryan arrives and demands Johnny leave her alone.
Baltimore, Maryland and the Chesapeake Bay area, with references to Denver, Colorado · Johnny Dollar, Pat Kelleher, Elizabeth Reardon, Hugh Bryan, George Hanley, Lieutenant Jack Halverson
Listen for: Johnny's telephone calls to his detective friend in Denver and to Elizabeth Reardon; his evening visit to Elizabeth's home where she reveals details about her marriage to John Reardon; the unexpected arrival of Hugh Bryan, Reardon's former attorney; Johnny's later conversation with Coast Guard Lieutenant Halverson about the boat explosion and the missing body.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 243 The Chesapeake Fraud Matter - Ep 3 (1955)
Johnny Dollar investigates a possible insurance fraud in Denver after an insurance official claims to have spotted a man resembling John Reardon, who supposedly died and whose widow received a $20,000 payout. Dollar travels to Denver and locates Frank Bowers, a consulting engineer who bears a striking resemblance to the deceased Reardon and who met the insurance official at a local tavern.
Baltimore and Denver, Colorado, 1955 · Johnny Dollar, Hugh Bryan, Paul Coombs, Elizabeth Reardon, John Reardon, Frank Bowers, George Hanley
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's careful interrogation of Frank Bowers and the growing evidence that Bowers may not be who he claims to be.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 244 The Chesapeake Fraud Matter - Ep 4 (1955)
Johnny Dollar investigates whether Frank Bowers of Denver is actually John Rodden, who supposedly died in a 1950 boat accident on Chesapeake Bay. Despite fingerprints proving Bowers is not Rodden, Johnny remains suspicious of Bowers's overly cooperative behavior. When Johnny confronts Bowers in a bar and reveals his doubts, Bowers makes a mysterious long-distance call to Baltimore and becomes violent, attacking Johnny before fleeing.
Denver, Colorado, with references to Chesapeake Bay and Baltimore, Maryland in 1955 · Johnny Dollar, Frank Bowers, George Hanley, Pat Kelleher
Listen for: The tension builds as Johnny's instincts war against the fingerprint evidence, culminating in a bar confrontation that turns physical when Johnny accuses Bowers of lying about his identity and his connection to Baltimore.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 245 The Chesapeake Fraud Matter - Ep 5 (1955)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in Baltimore to wrap up a case involving John Ridden, who supposedly died in a boating accident months ago. Dollar discovers that Ridden faked his death and has been living in Denver under the alias Frank Bowers, but Bowers was recently murdered along with one of Dollar's operatives. When Dollar returns to Baltimore with evidence that Ridden is alive, he finds that Ridden's widow Elizabeth has just married Ridden's attorney Hugh Bryan—and Bryan confesses that Ridden orchestrated his own disappearance.
Denver and Baltimore, 1955 · Johnny Dollar, Pat Kelleher, Lieutenant O'Neill, Hugh Bryan, Elizabeth Ridden, John Ridden, Frank Bowers
Listen for: The mystery of why John Ridden faked his death and who murdered him in Denver; the sudden marriage between Elizabeth and Hugh Bryan and what it means for the insurance case
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 246 The Alvin Summers Matter - Ep 1 (1955)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in the small Mexican town of Santo Tomás after receiving a cryptic phone call about embezzler Alvin Summers, who fled with $75,000 six months ago. With only vague directions and no name for his contact, Johnny checks into a local hotel and begins asking questions, while trying to figure out how to make himself visible to whoever called while remaining inconspicuous enough to track down Summers if he's nearby.
Santo Tomás, a small town on the west coast of Mexico; a local hotel and cantina · Johnny Dollar, Fred Wilkins, Benito, E.K. Carson, A girl at the cantina, A guitar player
Listen for: Johnny's attempts to navigate a town where he knows almost nothing about who contacted him or where Alvin Summers might be hiding; his interaction with the enigmatic E.K. Carson and a mysterious girl at the cantina bar.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 247 The Alvin Summers Matter - Ep 2 (1955)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar has come to Santa Tamas searching for embezzler Alvin Summers. A mysterious woman named Gloria befriends him, though her true intentions remain unclear. When a bellboy offers to lead Johnny to Summers' house at midnight, Johnny finds himself drawn to Gloria and accompanies her to a secluded beach cove—where armed men suddenly appear out of the darkness.
Santa Tamas, Mexico—a beach resort town including the Playa del Mar hotel and a secluded cove along the beach · Johnny Dollar, Gloria, Benito (bellboy), Carson, The strong-arm man, The flamenco singer
Listen for: The tense encounter between Johnny and Gloria on the beach, and the arrival of the armed men from the darkness.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 248 The Alvin Summers Matter - Ep 3 (1955)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is in Santa Tomás investigating a $75,000 embezzlement case involving a man named Alvin Summers. A bellboy named Benito, who promised to help Johnny locate Summers, is found murdered in Johnny's hotel room with his throat cut. Lieutenant Gomez questions Johnny about his whereabouts and motives while Johnny tries to piece together who killed Benito and why.
Santa Tomás, a small and dangerous town; Johnny's hotel room, police headquarters, and the surrounding streets. · Johnny Dollar, Lieutenant Gomez, Sergeant Romero, Benito the Bell Boy, Gloria Harris, Carson, Senor Crouse
Listen for: The mystery of who killed Benito and what connection the various suspicious characters—Carson the zipper salesman, the mysterious Senor Crouse, and the unknown man tailing Johnny—have to the embezzlement case.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 249 The Alvin Summers Matter - Ep 4 (1955)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar continues his search for embezzler Alvin Summers in a Central American town. Gloria Harris, a woman stranded without a passport, claims she can help him find Summers in exchange for assistance getting home. As Johnny and Gloria head toward Summers' remote jungle hideout, they discover someone is following them through the dense brush.
A small Central American coastal town called Santa Thomas and the surrounding jungle near the beach, with Summers' hidden hut inland from the water. · Johnny Dollar, Gloria Harris, Fred Wilkins, Lieutenant Gomez, Alvin Summers, Benito Skansa, Klaus
Listen for: The growing sense of danger as Johnny realizes he and Gloria are being tracked through the jungle, and the revelation that at least one person has already died searching for Summers.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 250 The Alvin Summers Matter - Ep 5 (1955)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is in Mexico searching for Alvin Summers, who has embezzled $75,000. After being confronted at gunpoint in the jungle, Johnny is summoned to his hotel room where Summers himself appears, having grown weary of hiding. Summers is ready to turn himself in and return most of the stolen money, but the situation takes a dangerous turn when Gloria Harris, Summers' accomplice, arrives with a gun and refuses to give up her claim on the funds.
Santa Tomas, Mexico - jungles, beaches, and a hotel in town; also references to Mexico City. · Johnny Dollar, Alvin Summers, Gloria Harris, Lieutenant Gomez, Carson
Listen for: The tense confrontation between Johnny and the armed Alvin Summers in the jungle; Summers' explanation of his year-long fugitive life and psychological toll of hiding; Gloria's sudden armed appearance at the hotel and her refusal to surrender the embezzled money.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 251 The Valentine Matter - Ep 1 (1955)
Johnny Dollar, an insurance investigator, meets Dan Valentine, a former gangster just released from prison after serving time for Prohibition-era crimes. The next morning, before leaving New Orleans, Johnny is called to meet with Inspector Debaka of the police force, who questions whether Johnny has any business dealings with Valentine. Moments later, Valentine is shot and rushed to the hospital.
New Orleans, Louisiana in 1955; a bar on Burgundy Street, police headquarters, and a private hospital · Johnny Dollar, Dan Valentine, Inspector Debaka, Roy
Listen for: Johnny's account of meeting the mysterious Dan Valentine and the inspector's cryptic warnings about the former convict's presence in the city
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 252 The Valentine Matter - Ep 2 (1955)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in New Orleans to investigate an assassination attempt on Dan Valentine, a man with a criminal past from the Prohibition era who is now trying to live quietly. When Valentine refuses to cooperate with police about the shooting, Dollar must piece together the mystery while also discovering that Valentine's estranged wife has mysteriously appeared at the hospital.
New Orleans, Louisiana in the 1950s; hospital and Roosevelt Hotel · Johnny Dollar, Dan Valentine, Inspector de Baca, Swilly Blakely, Anne Valentine (Mrs. Valentine)
Listen for: The witness account of the shooting from a mysterious car, and the revelation that Dan Valentine's estranged wife has just arrived in town after 13 years of separation.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 253 The Valentine Matter - Ep 3 (1955)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar searches for Dan Valentine, a man recently released from prison who fled his hospital bed after being shot at. Dollar questions Valentine's estranged wife in New Orleans and learns that an old friend named Conrad Webster may hold clues to Valentine's whereabouts, but Webster denies any contact with the fugitive.
New Orleans, Louisiana; a hospital; Valentine's home; Webster's residence at three in the morning · Johnny Dollar, Mrs. Valentine, Dan Valentine, Conrad Webster, Teresa Valentine
Listen for: The tense interrogation of Mrs. Valentine as Johnny Dollar pieces together the connection between Dan Valentine and his mysterious past; the cryptic and drunken conversation with Conrad Webster that reveals the sad history of these broken men.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 254 The Valentine Matter - Ep 4 (1955)
Johnny Dollar continues his investigation into the shooting deaths of Danny Valentine and his wife. Inspector de Bucken describes the two gunmen and reveals that Valentine's estranged daughter, Miss Ward, has arrived in New Orleans. Dollar visits Valentine's house in Jefferson Parish to gather information and meets the grieving young woman, learning that she was raised apart from her father and is determined to discover who killed both her parents.
New Orleans, Louisiana; Danny Valentine's house in Jefferson Parish; police station · Johnny Dollar, Inspector Charles de Bucken, Danny Valentine, Miss Ward, Mrs. Yachino, Conrad Webster
Listen for: The description of the two gunmen and the Italian-made pistol used in the murders; the revelation that Valentine's daughter was kept ignorant of her father's identity; Valentine's unexpected life as an artist and lover of music and Italian landscapes.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 255 The Valentine Matter - Ep 5 (1955)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives at the Valentine house moments after Terry Valentine is shot and killed. He apprehends one of two gunmen fleeing the scene, but the suspect dies in police custody without revealing who ordered the murders. As the bodies pile up—Terry, her father Dan Valentine, his lawyer Conrad Webster, and others—Johnny struggles to understand the motive behind the seemingly senseless killings.
Hollywood and the Valentine house; also New York police investigations · Johnny Dollar, Inspector DeBaca, Terry Valentine, Dan Valentine, Sister Chianti, Darby Chianti, Pietro Chianti, Mrs. Yetchino
Listen for: The shocking revelation that Pietro Chianti, the father of the gunmen, ordered the murders of his own daughter and granddaughter; Johnny's emotional connection to the victim Terry Valentine.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 256 The Lorko Diamonds Matter - Ep 1 (1955)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in El Jie, North Africa to investigate the theft of a valuable diamond briefcase worth $100,000. A courier dies under mysterious circumstances, and a local property agent is found beaten in his office with the briefcase missing. Dollar must determine who orchestrated the theft and recover the stolen diamonds.
El Jie, North Africa (Algeria); the airport, Inspector Marcus's office, and a hospital · Johnny Dollar, Inspector Marcus, André Jourdain, Zendorf, Ben
Listen for: The details of what happened at the airport, the courier's death, and André Jourdain's account of the thief's appearance
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 257 The Lorko Diamonds Matter - Ep 2 (1955)
Johnny Dollar investigates the theft of diamonds from a murdered courier in Algiers. The Countess de Toulila, who received advance notice of the diamond shipment, becomes a prime suspect when Dollar discovers her financial desperation and a recent attempt to purchase expensive jewelry on credit.
Algiers, North Africa; a luxury hotel and the Countess's apartment in a fashionable residential district · Johnny Dollar, Countess de Toulila, Inspector Marcus, The courier (deceased)
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's tough interrogation of the Countess as he pieces together the details of her financial troubles and her knowledge of the diamond shipment; the mounting tension as the Countess becomes defensive and angry.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 258 The Lorko Diamonds Matter - Ep 3 (1955)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in Algiers to investigate missing diamonds and finds a man unconscious in the Countess's closet. He discovers the diamonds were sent as an engagement gift from a wealthy American named Charles Barrett to the Countess Maria, but the arrangement seems suspicious. When Johnny is followed and attacked by Barrett himself, a police inspector arrives at the scene.
Algiers, including an apartment and the streets of the Medina District · Johnny Dollar, Countess Maria, Hans Zindorff, Mr. Zindoff, Charles K. Barrett, André Jourdain, Inspector
Listen for: The revelation of the diamond arrangement as an engagement gift, the street fight with Barrett, and the mysterious appearance of the police inspector
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 259 The Lorko Diamonds Matter - Ep 4 (1955)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is tracking down the Lorko Diamonds, worth $100,000, which have gone missing. He bribes an employment agent named Abdul for the address of Chatter, a servant who worked for the Countess, suspecting her of attempted murder. After a rough visit from a man named Barrett, Johnny heads to the Casbah late at night to find Chatter, but instead meets a man called Bobo who claims to know where the diamonds are.
North Africa, specifically the Casbah quarter of a major city; Johnny's hotel room and a coffeehouse in the native quarter. · Johnny Dollar, Abdul, Chatter, Charlie Barrett, Bobo, The Countess D'Otaliya
Listen for: The mystery of who stole the diamonds and what role Chatter and Bobo played in the theft and attempted murder; whether Johnny can trust Bobo's claim to know the diamonds' location.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 260 The Lorko Diamonds Matter - Ep 5 (1955)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar follows Maria to the Marrakesh Cafe in Algiers after she calls in distress, claiming to be followed. At the cafe, a gunfight erupts between Johnny and an unseen assailant. Johnny pursues the shooter's car in a wild chase along a clifftop road that ends in a fiery crash. Johnny discovers the dead driver is André Jourdain, a customs property agent, and realizes Maria knew exactly who it would be.
Algiers, North Africa - the waterfront district, Marrakesh Cafe, and clifftop roads near the beach · Johnny Dollar, Maria, Inspector Marcus, André Jourdain, Barrett
Listen for: A tense nighttime chase culminating in a car plunging off a cliff and exploding in flames; Johnny's confrontation with Maria when he realizes her knowledge of the driver's identity.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 261 The Broderick Matter - Ep 1 (1955)
Johnny Dollar takes on a case for Eastern Trust Insurance to locate Lorraine Broderick, the beneficiary of a $1,500 policy left by John Adams Smith, a newspaper vendor who died in a charity ward. Smith had met Lorraine when she was just eleven years old and took out the policies as a gesture of kindness, never seeing her again. Dollar traces Lorraine from her parents' death in 1948 through her time at St. Charles High School and her work as a dental assistant, but finding her current whereabouts proves difficult.
St. Charles, Connecticut; Eastern Trust Insurance Company office, high school, dental office · Johnny Dollar, Mr. Steele, John Adams Smith, Lorraine Broderick, Sister Mary Regina, Dr. Doctor
Listen for: The touching backstory of how an elderly newspaper vendor came to leave his insurance money to a girl he met only once; Johnny Dollar's investigation methodology as he pieces together Lorraine's life after her parents' death.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 262 The Broderick Matter - Ep 2 (1955)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar searches for Lorraine Broderick, a missing beneficiary owed $1,500 from a policy. He traces her from Hartford to New York, discovering she mysteriously disappeared on Christmas Eve 1952 from a car belonging to William Dameron, a wealthy businessman who had brought her to the city with marriage plans after knowing her only a week.
Hartford, Connecticut and New York City, 1955 (investigating events from 1952-1953) · Johnny Dollar, Carl Walden, Dr. Pollard, William Dameron, Lorraine Broderick, Pauline
Listen for: Dameron's explanation of why Lorraine disappeared from his car, and what her true circumstances and intentions might be.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 263 The Broderick Matter - Ep 3 (1955)
Johnny Dollar continues tracking Lorraine Broderick, a woman who disappeared from New York on Christmas Eve 1953 after abandoning an elderly man named William Damarin. Following a trail of bad checks and false names across multiple cities, Johnny discovers she's been working a con game at hotels, most recently checking into a Santa Barbara resort where she charmed guests and wrote fraudulent checks totaling over $800.
New York City, Connecticut, and Santa Barbara, California; includes filling stations, police headquarters, apartment buildings, and a resort hotel. · Johnny Dollar, Mr. Steel, William Damarin, Edward Quinlan, Pauline Damarin Woodfield, Mrs. Gaines, Tyler, Mr. Harrington
Listen for: The emerging pattern of Lorraine's con artistry as Johnny pieces together her movements through multiple identities and bad checks; the hotel manager's account of her arrival and charm.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 264 The Broderick Matter - Ep 4 (1955)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar searches for Lorraine Broderick to settle a $1,500 inheritance claim from a deceased man. Dollar and Deputy King discover she recently checked into a seaside inn under the name Bradley, where she met actor Joe Tappen. When they show Tappen her photograph, he's reluctant to believe she's the woman he knows, claiming she told him a tragic story about losing a young child and a failed marriage. The investigation reveals Lorraine has abandoned fourteen pieces of luggage at the Beverly Glen Hotel in Hollywood and disappeared after visiting a bar called The Topper.
Hollywood and Los Angeles, California, and the surrounding seaside area; the Malibu Sheriff Station, the Seaside Inn, the Beverly Glen Hotel, and The Topper bar · Johnny Dollar, Deputy King, Sheriff, Joe Tappen, Lorraine Broderick
Listen for: The frustration in Johnny Dollar's voice as he confronts a charming con artist, and Joe Tappen's stubborn insistence on believing Lorraine's fabricated story despite mounting evidence of her deceptions.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 265 The Broderick Matter - Ep 5 (1955)
Johnny Dollar tracks down Lorraine Broderick, a deeply troubled woman standing on a hotel ledge threatening to jump. As she teeters on the edge, Johnny tries to connect with her by recalling people from her past who cared about her—including Dr. Pollard, William Damarin who still loves her despite her theft, and an old newspaper vendor named John Smith who showed her kindness years ago.
A hotel room with a ledge overlooking the street, crowds gathering below. · Johnny Dollar, Lorraine Broderick, William Damarin, Dr. Pollard, John Smith, hotel room clerk
Listen for: Johnny's persistent attempts to talk Lorraine down from suicide by reminding her of genuine connections and past moments of human kindness in her life.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 266 The Amy Bradshaw Matter - Ep 1 (1955)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is called in when actress Amy Bradshaw receives a threatening note promising her "sudden death." The note arrives just before a performance of her play The Unguarded Hour, and Amy reports that she was nearly pushed into traffic on the street afterward. Though Amy dismisses the threats as silly, Johnny suspects the danger may be more real than she wants to admit, and questions whether someone close to her might be behind the threats.
New York City: the Criterion Theatre on West 44th Street, Amy's dressing room, and a quiet bar near the theater. · Johnny Dollar, Amy Bradshaw, David Coleman, Mike Pomeroy, Georgie, Sheila Mitchell, Poor McCain
Listen for: The mysterious threatening note, the incident in traffic on 44th Street, and Johnny's suspicion that the threat comes from someone in Amy's inner circle rather than a random crank.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 267 The Amy Bradshaw Matter - Ep 2 (1955)
Johnny Dollar investigates threats against actress Amy Bradshaw, who has received a death threat and was nearly shoved into traffic in Times Square. Amy's estranged husband Bill York stands to gain from her $25,000 life insurance policy. Johnny begins interviewing those close to Amy, including her unusual admirer Porter Kane and her co-star Mike Pomeroy, who seems protective of her and wants Johnny to drop the case.
New York City, including Times Square, theater district, and a Criterion theater production. · Johnny Dollar, Amy Bradshaw, Al (police contact), Porter Kane, Mike Pomeroy, Dave Coleman (director), Emery Taylor (producer), Dora Taylor
Listen for: The mysterious threatening letter warning Amy of sudden death; Johnny's encounters with Porter Kane, an eccentric collector who plans to add Amy to his collection; Mike Pomeroy's heated confrontation with Amy backstage about her stage performance; and the revelation that Amy's estranged husband Bill York is the beneficiary of her insurance policy.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 268 The Amy Bradshaw Matter - Ep 3 (1955)
Johnny Dollar investigates a series of attempts on actress Amy Bradshaw's life. She remains frightened despite the dangers, and Johnny suspects someone close to her may be responsible. He tracks down several suspects including Bill York, Amy's estranged writer husband who stands to benefit from her life insurance.
New York City, primarily Greenwich Village and midtown Manhattan in the 1950s · Johnny Dollar, Amy Bradshaw, Sergeant Rogers, Bill York, Mike Pomeroy, Emory Taylor, Dora Taylor, Dave Coleman
Listen for: Johnny's investigation takes him through Greenwich Village and into the lives of those connected to Amy, revealing possible motives and suspects while Amy faces continued danger from unknown attackers.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 269 The Amy Bradshaw Matter - Ep 4 (1955)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar questions Bill York, a man with money troubles and a connection to Amy Bradshaw, whom someone recently tried to kill. York admits to lingering outside Amy's apartment, and Detective Lieutenant Elson Teller considers him a suspect. Later, Johnny visits Amy at her apartment and finds himself drawn to her, though she warns him their connection may be a mistake.
A hotel room, police headquarters, and Amy Bradshaw's apartment in Hollywood · Johnny Dollar, Bill York, Detective Lieutenant Elson Teller, Amy Bradshaw, Mike Pomeroy, Porter
Listen for: Johnny's interrogation of Bill York reveals the suspect's financial desperation and lingering feelings for Amy, while a later phone call from Porter hints at another complication in Amy's life. Johnny's visit to Amy's apartment explores the growing attraction between them, though Amy expresses doubt and warns of past relationships that have caused her pain.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 270 The Amy Bradshaw Matter - Ep 5 (1955)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar rushes to meet actress Amy Bradshaw at the theater, where she claims to finally know who's been trying to kill her. Instead, he finds Mike Pomeroy shot dead in her dressing room. A mysterious hand with a distinctive signet ring fired the fatal shot, and suspicion falls on Porter Kane, a man with a history of obsessive behavior and a motive rooted in jealousy.
A theater in Hollywood, late at night; Amy Bradshaw's dressing room and apartment. · Johnny Dollar, Amy Bradshaw, Mike Pomeroy, Porter Kane, Lieutenant Sintella, Al Centella
Listen for: The mounting tension as Johnny discovers the body and investigates the murder; Amy's confession about why she faked the attempts on her own life; the revelation of her true motive for the killing.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 271 The Henderson Matter - Ep 1 (1955)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar travels to Culver, Montana to investigate the death of George Henderson, a prominent rancher and newspaper stockholder who fell four stories from a hotel window. The death is claimed as accidental, but the insurance company needs to determine whether it was accident, suicide, or murder before paying out the $25,000 policy with double indemnity.
Culver, Montana, a small town of 3,500-4,000 people in the northern part of the state near Great Falls, in the winter with heavy snow. · Johnny Dollar, Tim Connors, George Water Henderson, Pauline Henderson, Sheriff Eve Holton
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's investigation begins as he arrives in this isolated, snow-covered town and meets the local sheriff who hints that not everyone in town welcomes detailed inquiries into Henderson's death.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 272 The Henderson Matter - Ep 2 (1955)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in Culver, Montana to look into the death of George Henderson, officially ruled accidental after he fell from a hotel window. Despite pressure from Mayor Newton to drop the matter, Johnny pushes for a coroner's inquest, which begins the following morning. The proceedings reveal testimony from hotel staff and Henderson's estranged wife about the circumstances of his death.
Culver, Montana; a small town with limited resources, featuring the Butte Hotel and City Hall · Johnny Dollar, Sheriff Holt, Mayor Newton, George Henderson, Mrs. Henderson, Dr. Horace Nam, Miss Cubbly, Jackson the Coroner
Listen for: The mystery of how and why George Henderson died; why the Mayor is so eager to avoid an inquest; what Mrs. Henderson reveals about her relationship with her husband and the divorce proceedings
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 273 The Henderson Matter - Ep 3 (1955)
Johnny Dollar investigates the death of George Henderson, officially ruled an accident, but the sheriff suspects foul play. The insurance company stands to lose $50,000 if the death remains accidental. Johnny is pressured to leave town by the hotel manager, and he discovers that Henderson had recently contacted his insurance broker about changing the beneficiary on his policy, cutting out his young wife Pauline.
The town of Culver and Great Falls, Montana in 1955 · Johnny Dollar, Sheriff Eve Holton, Mr. Porter (hotel manager), Mrs. Pauline Henderson, Noah Baxter, Tim Connors, Mr. Thurber (insurance broker)
Listen for: The mysterious circumstances around Henderson's death and Johnny's growing suspicions about who wanted him out of town; the revelation that Henderson planned to change his will.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 274 The Henderson Matter - Ep 4 (1955)
Insurance adjuster Johnny Dollar arrives in snowy Calver, Montana to investigate George Henderson's death—whether it was an accident, suicide, or murder. After learning that Henderson had changed his insurance beneficiary from his wife Pauline to a woman named Matilda Knickerbocker just before his death, Johnny seeks out both women to understand what led to Henderson falling from a hotel window.
Calver, Montana and the Big Horn Lodge, during winter with fresh snow on the ground · Johnny Dollar, Mrs. Pauline Henderson, Eve Holton, Matilda Knickerbocker, Mr. Thurber
Listen for: Johnny's investigation into Henderson's mysterious death and what the conflicting insurance beneficiary changes reveal about Henderson's state of mind and relationships
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 275 The Henderson Matter - Ep 5 (1955)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar suspects that Pauline Henderson's testimony about her husband George's accidental death from a hotel window fall is false. When he discovers she lied about George drinking the morning he died, Johnny pressures the insurance company to file a murder complaint, prompting Sheriff Holton to investigate her background and uncover mysterious trips and a possible accomplice.
Culver, a ranch town in the American West, including the Henderson Ranch, Sheriff's office, and Baxter Ranch · Johnny Dollar, Tim Connors, Sheriff Holton, Pauline Henderson, Noah Baxter, George Henderson
Listen for: The revelation that George Henderson did not drink the morning of his death, contradicting Mrs. Henderson's sworn testimony; the discovery of her mysterious trips away from town; and Noah Baxter's admission that he wanted Pauline and that George was considering divorce.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 276 The Cronin Matter - Ep 1 (1955)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is hired to protect Dolly McLean Cronin and her priceless diamond and emerald necklace, the Circle of Fire, at a lavish week-long party at her summer estate. The guest list includes old friends from Dolly's glamorous past, but some invitations went undelivered and mysterious figures from her history are arriving, including an ex-convict with a criminal past.
New York apartment and an upstate summer house where a party is being held · Johnny Dollar, Joe Parker, Dolly McLean Cronin, Miss Blake, Shorty Weber
Listen for: The arrival of more guests and the revelation of threats to the valuable necklace during the party festivities
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 277 The Cronin Matter - Ep 2 (1955)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is assigned to protect a valuable diamond and emerald necklace called the Circle of Fire at a weekend party in the Adirondacks. The necklace belongs to Mrs. Cronin, a retired Broadway dancer from the 1920s who lives in a world of memories and false beliefs about her old friends. As the train carrying Mrs. Cronin and her guests departs, Dollar discovers that one of the party attendees is lying about her identity and connection to Mrs. Cronin.
A chartered railroad coach traveling to the Adirondacks, with scenes at the Daily Times newspaper office and the train station. · Johnny Dollar, Jason Prell, Mrs. Cronin, Laura Dean, Fritsey Morrell
Listen for: Jason Prell's warnings about Mrs. Cronin's fragile mental state and her naive trust in friends who may want to steal the valuable necklace; the revelation that Laura Dean is lying about being Fritsey Morrell's niece; Mrs. Cronin's sudden illness near the end of the episode.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 278 The Cronin Matter - Ep 3 (1955)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives at the isolated Cronin summer estate in Wells Falls, New York to investigate a half-million-dollar necklace. Mrs. Cronin has unexpectedly returned after years away, arriving on the train in poor health with a heart condition. As a storm approaches, Johnny tries to locate the local doctor, Big B, who mysteriously refuses to treat her and insists she leave immediately, hinting at dark secrets from the past.
The Cronin summer estate on the river, five miles from Wells Falls, New York, during an approaching storm · Johnny Dollar, Mrs. Cronin, Dr. Big B, Jason Prell, Miss Atherton, Sylvia, Laura Dean, Vigal Deschordi
Listen for: The mystery of why Dr. Big B refuses to treat Mrs. Cronin and what connection exists between her return and her late husband Barnaby's death at the same house years earlier during a similar storm
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 279 The Cronin Matter - Ep 4 (1955)
Johnny Dollar confronts Jason Prell, who has been terrorizing the Cronin estate during a violent storm. As Dollar circles to capture Prell, a struggle ensues in the darkness. The next morning, Dollar visits the grieving Mrs. Cronin, who reminisces about her late husband Barnaby and reflects on how life has brought her back to her birthplace.
The Cronin Estate in Wells Falls during and after a violent storm, and the Cronin house the following morning. · Johnny Dollar, Shorty Weaver, Jason Prell, Mrs. Cronin, Olnesis Cronin, Barnaby Cronin, Laura Dean, Miss Athadon
Listen for: A tense gunfight in the darkness during a storm, the outcome of the confrontation with Prell, and Mrs. Cronin's poignant reflections on memory and homecoming.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 280 The Cronin Matter - Ep 5 (1955)
Johnny Dollar investigates the deaths at the Cronin Estate, where Jason Prell has been shot and Mrs. Dolly Cronin has died under mysterious circumstances. As Johnny pieces together the evidence, he discovers a poisoning connected to a famous necklace—the Circle of Fire—that may not be what it seems, and learns that multiple people at the estate have been harboring dangerous secrets.
The Cronin Estate in Wells Falls, New York, and surrounding locations including a forestry station and Tupper's Lake. · Johnny Dollar, Dr. Bigby, Mrs. Cronin, Dolly Cronin, Jason Prell, Barnaby Cronin, Ms. Atherton, Seanan
Listen for: The revelation about the Circle of Fire necklace and what it means for the case; Dr. Bigby's explanation of past events; Johnny's deduction about the poisoned pills and who administered them.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 281 The Lansing Fraud Matter - Ep 1 (1955)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is sent to Tucson to investigate a $50,000 life insurance claim on James Lansing, who died on a public street with no identification. The coroner performed an autopsy before authorities even knew who the body was. Johnny must verify that the dead man is actually the James Lansing who took out the policy, especially since the examining physician seems oddly evasive about his work.
Tucson, Arizona in 1955; Johnny travels from Hartford, Connecticut to investigate the insurance claim. · Johnny Dollar, Jim Carter, Sergeant Younger, Dr. Carl Mayhood, Arlene Kennedy
Listen for: Johnny's suspicions about whether the body is actually James Lansing, and Dr. Mayhood's strange reluctance to confirm his own examination and signature.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 282 The Lansing Fraud Matter - Ep 2 (1955)
Johnny Dollar investigates a suspicious insurance claim on a $50,000 policy issued to James Lansing two years ago. When Lansing dies, Dollar discovers discrepancies in the medical examination and questions whether the man who took out the policy is actually the same man now in the morgue. As Dollar digs deeper, he uncovers a mysterious picture of Lansing's life: a solitary drinker with no job who somehow had enough money to pay rent, buy expensive liquor, and secure substantial insurance coverage.
A city with a Valley National Building, an apartment house, a coroner's office, and Dr. Mayhood's medical office. The investigation takes place two years after Lansing's insurance examination. · Johnny Dollar, Jim Carter, Dr. Mayhood, Anita Regan, James Lansing, Sergeant Younger, Dr. Frank
Listen for: The growing suspicion that someone may have deliberately set up Lansing's death as an insurance fraud scheme, and the revelation that Lansing was a chronic alcoholic with mysterious financial support.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 283 The Lansing Fraud Matter - Ep 3 (1955)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar investigates a potentially fraudulent life insurance claim filed by Arlene Kennedy following her brother James Lansing's death. The insurance company suspects someone else may have taken Lansing's physical examination two years earlier, and Dollar must uncover the truth within ten days before the company is forced to act.
Tucson, Arizona and Catalina Vista; present day investigation into events from two years prior · Johnny Dollar, Arlene Kennedy, Jim Carter, Hillary Franks, James Lansing
Listen for: The revelation of who impersonated James Lansing for the insurance physical examination and whether the claim is legitimate or fraudulent
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 284 The Lansing Fraud Matter - Ep 4 (1955)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar has been looking into the Lansing fraud case and has concluded that James Lansing's fifty-thousand-dollar insurance policy was procured through deception. Dollar notifies the State Insurance Commission that the policy claim will be withheld pending investigation, and confronts insurance broker Hillary Franks with evidence that someone else must have taken Lansing's physical examination. When Franks panics and attacks Dollar with a paperweight, he flees, and Dollar then visits the beneficiary, Arlene Kennedy, to inform her that charges are being prepared.
San Arizona, primarily at the offices of Hillary Franks and the home of Mrs. Kennedy in Catalina Vista · Johnny Dollar, Hillary Franks, Mrs. Arlene Kennedy, Dr. Mayhood, Jim Carter, Jim Pader
Listen for: The tense confrontations as Johnny Dollar lays out the fraud scheme to both the insurance broker and the beneficiary, and the growing pressure as the investigation closes in on those involved
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 285 The Lansing Fraud Matter - Ep 5 (1955)
Johnny Dollar meets with Hillary Franks, an insurance agent who has been helping Arlene Kennedy commit fraud against her brother James Lansing's life insurance policy. Franks reveals how he arranged for someone to take a physical examination in Lansing's name to secure a $50,000 policy, and how Arlene manipulated him into the scheme. Johnny convinces Franks to give a written statement to help prove the attempted fraud.
Tucson, Arizona, primarily at an old missionary church in the desert outside of town, and later back at the hotel. · Johnny Dollar, Jim Carter, Hillary Franks, Arlene Kennedy, James Lansing, Dr. Mayhood
Listen for: Johnny's skillful interrogation of Hillary Franks at the mission, extracting details of how the insurance fraud was arranged and how Arlene Kennedy manipulated Franks into committing the crime. The confession scene reveals the emotional manipulation that led to the scheme.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 286 The Nick Shurn Matter - Ep 1 (1955)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is hired to look into the murder of racketeer Priker, who was shot twice in his office at the Chairs Colet nightclub. Priker's partner Nick Schern stands to gain from the killing, but claims he was at another club when the murder occurred, with his manager Benny Stark vouching for him. A taxi driver claims to have seen a mysterious girl, Kathleen O'Dare, leaving the club minutes after the shots were fired, though she denies being there. Dollar must find O'Dare and convince her to talk before Nick Schern silences her permanently.
New York City, including the Chairs Colet supper club, police precinct, and various other clubs in the city. · Johnny Dollar, Lieutenant Rafferty, Nick Schern, Benny Stark, Kathleen O'Dare, Priker, Ralph Sterner
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's quick wit as he navigates between the police investigation and the dangerous underworld figures; his confrontation with Nick Schern outside the precinct station where Schern threatens O'Dare's life.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 287 The Nick Shurn Matter - Ep 2 (1955)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar searches for a frightened young woman named Kathy, who has fled New York and returned to her hometown of Brambury, Michigan. A local deputy sheriff and Kathy's father are protecting her whereabouts, but Dollar believes he must find her before the dangerous men pursuing her do.
Brambury, Michigan during Christmas week; begins in New York with Mrs. Gottliehr, then moves to the small town of Brambury. · Johnny Dollar, Mrs. Gottliehr, Deputy Sheriff Dan Martin, Kathy, Mike (Kathy's father)
Listen for: The investigation into why Kathy fled New York and what role she plays in a murder case; the tense questioning between Dollar and the protective townspeople.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 288 The Nick Shurn Matter - Ep 3 (1955)
Johnny Dollar mans a roadblock outside the small town of Brambury to intercept Benny Stark, a hired killer who has been sent to silence Kathy O'Dare. When Stark fails to appear at the roadblock, Johnny and the local sheriff head into town for the Christmas Eve celebrations, where they spot Stark's car parked near the town hall.
The small town of Brambury during Christmas Eve, with snowy roads and a town square decorated with lights. · Johnny Dollar, Kathy O'Dare, Michael Dere, Benny Stark, Dan Martin, Nick Shurn
Listen for: Johnny's observations about Benny Stark's character and tactics, and the mounting tension as they search for the killer in the festive small town.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 289 The Nick Shurn Matter - Ep 4 (1955)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar searches for Cathy O'Dear and her daughter in a worsening blizzard after they flee their home. Cathy has taken a car and rifle, and Johnny discovers an abandoned vehicle on Pine Lake Road—along with evidence that killer Benny Stark is also in the area. Johnny sets out alone on foot into the storm to track them down.
A snowy mountain area near Pine Lake, during an approaching blizzard; Johnny searches the Pine Creek trail on foot. · Johnny Dollar, Mike, Deputy Sheriff Dan Martin, Cathy O'Dear, Benny Stark
Listen for: Johnny's determination as he battles through the worsening storm on foot, following faint tracks and fighting exhaustion and cold; the sound of the wind and his internal narration as reality blurs in the blizzard.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 290 The Nick Shurn Matter - Ep 5 (1955)
Johnny Dollar convinces Kathy O'Dare, a woman in hiding in a small mountain town, to testify against gangster Nick Schern for the murder of Mel Pryker. Kathy has been protecting herself and her young daughter Jill by keeping silent about witnessing the killing at Schern's club, but Johnny appeals to her sense of duty and her responsibility to raise her daughter with courage rather than fear.
A remote house in Brambury during a blizzard, and flashbacks to Nick Schern's club in the city where a murder occurred. · Johnny Dollar, Kathy O'Dare, Jill, Nick Schern, Mel Pryker, Benny Stark, Dan Martin
Listen for: The emotional confrontation between Johnny and Kathy as he persuades her to overcome her fear and testify, and the tender moment at the end when Jill joins them as Kathy makes her decision.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 291 The Forbes Matter - Ep 1 (1955)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar travels to New York to look into an embezzlement claim filed by Century Styles, Inc., a dress manufacturing company. The company's books show a shortage of over four thousand dollars, and the audit trail points to a bookkeeper named Sheldon Thomas Forbes who has been handling the affected account series.
New York City, primarily Century Styles Inc. offices in Manhattan, with scenes at the Western Hotel and insurance company offices; 1955. · Johnny Dollar, Pauline Morris, Robert P. Elliott, Sheldon Thomas Forbes, Mr. Brett
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's investigative method and the mysterious fact that Forbes, the apparent embezzler, has not attempted to flee his job despite the theft.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 292 The Forbes Matter - Ep 2 (1955)
Johnny Dollar investigates an insurance theft case involving Sheldon Forbes, who has admitted to stealing $4,285 from his employer, Century Styles. The money has disappeared without a trace, and Forbes refuses to reveal what he did with it despite Dollar's efforts to recover it for the insurance company.
New York City, including Century Styles offices, a law office on 56th Street, police headquarters, and the city jail · Johnny Dollar, Mr. Elliott, Sheldon Thomas Forbes, Edward Gumby, Police officers, Sergeant
Listen for: Dollar's investigation into the missing $4,285 and his frustrating interrogation of the stubborn, tight-lipped Forbes, who insists he spent every dime and won't reveal the details.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 293 The Forbes Matter - Ep 3 (1955)
Johnny Dollar investigates the theft of $4,285 by accountant Sheldon Forbes at Century Styles, Inc. Despite the evidence against him, Forbes refuses to cooperate or help recover the money, and he seems resigned to going to prison. Dollar interviews Forbes's employer, visits his apartment, and speaks with his landlady to understand what could have motivated the quiet, lonely man to steal.
New York City, including the offices of Century Styles Inc., an apartment building on 59th Street, and a neighborhood restaurant called the 79 · Johnny Dollar, Mr. Gumbie, Mr. Haven, Sheldon Forbes, Mrs. Anastasia Kanapka, Alexander Douglass
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's methodical investigation as he questions people who knew Forbes and searches for clues about why an apparently modest, solitary man would commit theft; the portrait of Forbes as a quiet, introspective loner with no obvious vices or expensive habits
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 294 The Forbes Matter - Ep 4 (1955)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar rescues Sheldon Forbes, an embezzler awaiting sentencing, from a suicide attempt by gas. After Forbes is taken to Bellevue Hospital, Dollar follows him to the Empress Theatre where Forbes met with a stagehander about seeing Betsy Walker, a performer in the show. Dollar tracks down Walker at her apartment late at night to question her about her connection to Forbes.
New York City - Bellevue Hospital area, the Empress Theatre, and Betsy Walker's apartment building · Johnny Dollar, Sheldon Forbes, Betsy Walker, Frank (stagehander), Police interns
Listen for: The dramatic rescue of Forbes from his apartment, Dollar's investigation into Forbes's movements at the theater, and the beginning of his interrogation of Betsy Walker about her relationship to the embezzler.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 295 The Forbes Matter - Ep 5 (1955)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar completes his investigation of the Forbes matter by taking inventory of stolen gifts and tracking down purchases. He visits Sheldon Forbes in the hospital to get his signature on the expense report, and Forbes reveals how he became obsessed with Betsy Walker, a model and performer he saw at his office, and stole nearly $5,000 to impress her through lavish gifts and restaurant reservations. Later, Betsy Walker approaches Johnny in his hotel lobby to discuss Forbes's fate.
New York City, including Betsy Walker's apartment, various restaurants, a hospital, and a hotel bar · Johnny Dollar, Betsy Walker, Sheldon Forbes
Listen for: Forbes's heartfelt explanation of how he fell in love at first sight with Betsy and his misguided attempt to win her affection through stolen money; Johnny Dollar's reflections on whether love at first sight truly exists and his sympathy for Forbes's predicament
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 296 The Caylin Matter - Ep 1 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in Los Angeles to investigate the death of Eddie Kalen, a small-time gambler and promoter who died in a car fire in a ravine. A ten-thousand-dollar life insurance policy was recently issued on Kalen at his wife's urging, despite his dismissive attitude toward it. Detective Sergeant Reynosa suspects foul play rather than accident, pointing to suspicious circumstances including signs of struggle in the Kalens' apartment, possible arson, and a large poker loss Kalen may have suffered before his death.
Los Angeles, including an airport, a Beverly Wilshire Hotel, a police station, and the Kalen apartment in the hills above the harbor. · Johnny Dollar, Presley Welch, Detective Sergeant Jose Reynosa, Eddie Kalen, Mrs. Kalen, Topo Lienley
Listen for: The whimsical banter between Johnny Dollar and the nervous insurance salesman Presley Welch sets the tone, while Detective Reynosa's growing suspicion that something is deeply wrong with the official story drives the investigation forward.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 297 The Caylin Matter - Ep 2 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives at the home of Mrs. Kalen following her husband Eddie's death in a car fire three days earlier. The police believe Eddie was killed during a robbery after winning money from a gambler, but Johnny suspects foul play involving access to the couple's front door and begins reconstructing Eddie's final days through questioning.
Los Angeles, California; the Kalen home · Johnny Dollar, Mrs. Kalen, Sergeant Manosa, Pete Stimer
Listen for: Johnny's suspicion about the front door keys and his theory about Mrs. Kalen's attempts to manipulate him; details about Eddie's gambling, his mysterious friend Pete Stimer, and the money he won the night he died.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 298 The Caylin Matter - Ep 3 (1956)
Johnny Dollar investigates the death of Eddie Kalen, whose car was found burned at the bottom of a canyon. Dollar suspects Eddie may still be alive and searches his hangouts and contacts to find proof, questioning those who knew him and tracking his movements before his apparent death.
Hollywood; various nightclubs and bars including a Caribbean-themed clip joint and the Reismuck Inn · Johnny Dollar, Sergeant, Lila Kalen, Eddie Kalen, Pete Steimer, Marty Midnight, Latin hostess, Bartender at Reismuck Inn
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's investigation into Eddie Kalen's death, his interviews with those who knew Eddie, and clues about what really happened the night before Eddie's car was found in the canyon
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 299 The Caylin Matter - Ep 4 (1956)
Johnny Dollar investigates the Caylin Matter in Los Angeles. Eddie Caylin, believed dead in a car fire, is found shot to death in the apartment of stripper Marty Midnight. A witness reports seeing a long-haired woman in a white raincoat fleeing the scene, wiping something that looked like a gun. A man is spotted lurking in the bushes outside, and when police pursue him into nearby Griffith Park, he fires at an officer and escapes into the dense brush.
Los Angeles, specifically the apartment of Marty Midnight and Griffith Park nearby · Johnny Dollar, Sergeant Reynosa, Lila Caylin, Marty Midnight, Jeanette De Buard, Eddie Caylin, Pete Steamer, Topo Leenly
Listen for: The revelation of who fired the shot that killed Eddie Caylin and what becomes of the fugitive in the brush.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 300 The Caylin Matter - Ep 5 (1956)
Johnny Dollar arrives at police headquarters where Sergeant Reynosa is interrogating Marty Midnight, a young stripper arrested at the bus station with a ticket to San Diego. The girl initially refuses to talk but breaks down when threatened with contacting her parents, revealing she knew Eddie Kalen and was supposed to run away with him to Mexico. After visiting the widow Lila Kalen at her apartment, Johnny makes a startling discovery that suggests the case may not be solved as believed.
Los Angeles, including police headquarters interrogation room and the Argus Terrace Apartments · Johnny Dollar, Sergeant Reynosa, Marty Midnight, Eddie Kalen, Lila Kalen, Mike Kelso, Pete
Listen for: Johnny's growing suspicion about who really committed the murder, particularly his observation about dark hair and a white raincoat that leads him to call Sergeant Reynosa back to Lila's apartment
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 301 The Todd Matter - Ep 1 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is approached by Orrin Vance, a man he sent to prison seven years earlier for a clothing company swindle. Vance claims he has information about the Todd burglary, a case involving stolen jewelry and a mink coat from Long Island that has gone unsolved for six months. Vance provides a lead pointing to Gloria Tierney in New York City, but when Dollar arrives to meet her, he finds her apartment dark and empty.
New York City and Wilmington, Delaware, 1956. The story begins in Dollar's office, moves through phone calls to Delaware, and culminates at an apartment building on East 57th Street in Manhattan. · Johnny Dollar, Orrin Vance, Don Freed, Gloria Tierney, Ethel Stromberg
Listen for: The developing mystery of the stolen mink coat and its connection to Gloria Tierney. Watch for the tension between Dollar and the ex-convict Vance, and the unanswered question of where Gloria has gone after calling Dollar to arrange a meeting.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 302 The Todd Matter - Ep 2 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives at a young woman's apartment for a late-night meeting, but she is shot three times by an unknown gunman in a black Cadillac before they can talk. Dollar is questioned by Sergeant Mapes about his investigation into the Todd burglary case and his connection to the victim, Gloria Tierney, whose stolen mink coat was recovered at the scene.
A city police station and Gloria Tierney's apartment building, present day. · Johnny Dollar, Sergeant Mapes, Gloria Tierney, Mrs. Stromberg, Bill
Listen for: The mystery of who Bill is and why he shot Gloria Tierney; details about the Todd burglary case and the stolen mink coat; the connection between the shooting and Dollar's insurance investigation.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 303 The Todd Matter - Ep 3 (1956)
Johnny Dollar investigates the death of Gloria Tierney, a young woman found wearing a stolen $11,000 mink coat. She dies in the hospital without fully identifying the man who shot her, a mysterious figure named Bill who gave her the coat. Dollar and Sergeant Mapes must track down the killer and uncover why Gloria had the stolen fur.
A city hospital emergency room, a police station, and Gloria Tierney's apartment in an urban setting, with connections to Riverside, California. · Johnny Dollar, Sergeant Dan Mapes, Gloria Tierney, Doctor, Father Dearing, Bill Shenchum, Mrs. Stromberg, Robert J. Tierney
Listen for: The tension in the hospital room as Gloria Tierney struggles to identify her assailant before she dies, and Johnny Dollar's moral reflection on witnessing a death as part of his investigation.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 304 The Todd Matter - Ep 4 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar investigates the Todd estate burglary and the murder of Gloria Tierney, who was found wearing a stolen fur coat. With the help of Sergeant Mapes, Johnny traces stolen items to a pawn shop and identifies the suspect, William Chambers, through fingerprints found on a Cadillac he sold at a used car lot. A woman with information about Chambers' whereabouts contacts Johnny to negotiate a reward.
New York City, including police headquarters, a morgue, a drug store, a pawn shop on Third Street, and a used car lot in the Bronx. · Johnny Dollar, Sergeant Mapes, Gloria Tierney, Bill Powers, William Chambers, Stromberg
Listen for: The detective work unfolds as Johnny and Sergeant Mapes piece together evidence from the pawn shop and used car lot, leading to the identification of the suspect through fingerprints and eyewitness descriptions.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 305 The Todd Matter - Ep 5 (1956)
Johnny Dollar recovers in a hospital after being shot during a confrontation with William Charles, a burglar and killer. Charles dies from his wounds but refuses to reveal where he hid stolen goods or how he originally met Gloria Tierney, the woman he murdered. Dollar continues investigating, suspecting Mrs. Stromberg of being involved in setting up Gloria's fatal encounter with Charles.
A city hospital and police precinct, with flashbacks to an apartment building and Stromberg's residence · Johnny Dollar, Sergeant Mapes, William Charles, Gloria Tierney, Melva Charles, Mrs. Stromberg
Listen for: Johnny Dollar pieces together the connections between a stolen mink coat, a burglary ring, and a murder, while confronting Mrs. Stromberg about her suspicious behavior the night Gloria was killed.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 306 The Ricardo Amerigo Matter - Ep 1 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is hired to find a missing Amati violin valued at $30,000 and determine the fate of Ricardo Amerigo, a once-famous concert violinist who disappeared when his car plunged through a bridge rail into a New Jersey river. The violinist had also been insured for $20,000, with his agent Thaddeus Corbin named as beneficiary, raising questions about whether Amerigo is truly dead or if something more sinister is at play.
Philadelphia and Port Morris, New Jersey, 1956 · Johnny Dollar, Harry Branson, Thaddeus Corbin, Ricardo Amerigo, Ed Bowles, Barney Peters
Listen for: The mystery of whether Ricardo Amerigo actually died in the river or if his disappearance and the missing violin are part of a larger scheme involving his agent's insurance claims.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 307 The Ricardo Amerigo Matter - Ep 2 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in Port Morris, New Jersey to investigate the death of Ricardo Amarego, a musician whose car plunged off a bridge into a tidal creek. Sergeant Barney Peters suspects booking agent Pete Corbin, who stands to benefit from Amarego's insurance policy. While examining the bridge, Johnny discovers Amarego's valuable violin case wedged in the marsh reeds and retrieves it after a harrowing struggle through quicksand-like mud, only to find a piece of Amarego's shirt deliberately attached to it.
Port Morris, New Jersey, a small town on the edge of salt marshes along the South Jersey shore, including a bridge over Lucky Hill Creek · Johnny Dollar, Sergeant Barney Peters, Ed Bold, Pete Corbin, Ricardo Amarego
Listen for: Johnny's difficult retrieval of the violin case from the marsh, the discovery of Amarego's shirt on the case, and the debate over whether Pete Corbin deliberately planted it there
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 308 The Ricardo Amerigo Matter - Ep 3 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar continues his probe into the death of violinist Ricardo Amerigo, whose body has not been found. Dollar recovers what he believes is Amerigo's valuable Amati violin from a South Jersey swamp and has it examined by an expert. He then confronts Amerigo's agent and beneficiary Peter Corbin, who was found near the scene of the supposed accidental death.
Philadelphia and Port Morris, New Jersey, 1956 · Johnny Dollar, Pete Corbin, Harry Branson, Shernie Arrow
Listen for: The mystery of whether the recovered violin is genuine, the revelation that Amarigo's body has not been found and may have been carried out to sea, and the mounting evidence against Corbin as the prime suspect.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 309 The Ricardo Amerigo Matter - Ep 4 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is looking into the death of Ricardo Amorego, a musician who apparently drove his car off a bridge into a South Jersey swamp. Dollar has recovered Amorego's prized Amati violin from the marsh and begins visiting those who knew him, including Pete Corbin, Jerry Goldsmith, and Eric Snowden, a violin maker. When Goldsmith examines the recovered violin, he finds something wrong with its tone despite no visible damage.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and surrounding areas; various bars, apartments, and a violin maker's shop · Johnny Dollar, Pete Corbin, Jerry Goldsmith, Eric Snowden, William Elliot
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's investigation into whether Amorego's death was truly an accident and what may have happened to his prized Amati violin; the mystery of why the violin's tone has changed.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 310 The Ricardo Amerigo Matter - Ep 5 (1956)
Johnny Dollar investigates the disappearance of concert violinist Ricardo Amerigo, whose car was found in a New Jersey swamp with a sabotaged steering arm. When Dollar recovers a $30,000 Amati violin from the swamp, he discovers a duplicate instrument at violin maker Eric Snowden's shop and must determine which is genuine while uncovering who plotted Amerigo's murder.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and South Jersey, including a violin maker's shop on Isminga Street · Johnny Dollar, Harry Branson, Ricardo Amerigo, Eric Snowden, Jerry Goldsmith
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's expense account itemization as he pieces together the case; the revelation of the duplicate violin and its significance; the shocking identity of a key player in the crime.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 311 The Duke Red Matter - Ep 1 (1956)
Insurance adjuster Johnny Dollar arrives in San Pietro to investigate a $65,000 claim for Duke Red, a valuable racehorse owned by Ben Abbott that was reportedly destroyed after a serious accident. With the ranch manager who filed the claim now mysteriously gone and Abbott himself unavailable, Dollar begins questioning those involved, starting with the veterinarian who treated the horse.
San Pietro, a town in horse country, and the surrounding Abbott ranch area · Johnny Dollar, Judy, Dr. James Gory, Ben Abbott, Mr. Monroe
Listen for: The mysterious disappearance of Monroe, the quick cremation of the horse's carcass with no photographs or X-rays taken, and questions about whether the injury was truly fatal
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 312 The Duke Red Matter - Ep 2 (1956)
Johnny Dollar investigates a $65,000 insurance claim for the death of Duke Red, a valuable racehorse on the Abbott breeding farm. Mr. Abbott claims the horse was injured beyond repair when it reared and cut its Achilles tendon on a tractor blade, prompting Dr. Gory to recommend destruction. But Johnny finds conflicting accounts and suspicious behavior from those involved, and Abbott's daughter Terry insists the shooting was unjustified.
The Abbott breeding farm near San Pietro, California, and related locations in Hartford, Connecticut. · Johnny Dollar, Mr. Pearson, Mr. Abbott, Terry Abbott, Dr. Gory, Tom Warner, Foolman Roe
Listen for: The contradiction between Abbott's account of Duke Red's fatal injury and Terry's claim that her father's decision to shoot the horse was wrong; the mystery of what happened to trainer Tom Warner after being fired; whether the injury really occurred as described.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 313 The Duke Red Matter - Ep 3 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives at the Abbott racing farm to investigate a $65,000 claim on the death of Duke Red, a valuable racehorse that was cremated without evidence of injury. Terry Abbott, the owner's daughter, hints that the horse may not have needed to be destroyed, but becomes evasive when questioned. Dollar begins checking the financial background of Terry's father, Benjamin Abbott, a wealthy horse breeder.
San Pietro, California and the Abbott racing farm · Johnny Dollar, Terry Abbott, Benjamin Abbott, Dale O'Ryan, Thomas Warner, Cali
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's investigation into whether Duke Red was truly injured or if the horse's death was part of an insurance fraud scheme. The mysterious $5,500 bonus paid to a recently departed business manager raises questions about Abbott's motives.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 314 The Duke Red Matter - Ep 4 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar investigates a claim filed by Ben Abbott over the destruction of his prize racehorse, Duke Red. The horse supposedly died in an accident, but Johnny finds discrepancies in Abbott's story and discovers that Thomas Warner, the horse trainer who was present at the incident, has mysteriously vanished from the ranch without collecting his pay or saying goodbye.
Abbott Farms in San Pedro, California, and surrounding areas · Johnny Dollar, Ben Abbott, Thomas Warner, Kelly, Terry Abbott, Dr. Gore
Listen for: Johnny's questioning of Kelly about the night of the accident and his discovery that Terry Abbott may have vital information about both Thomas Warner's disappearance and her father's suspicious behavior regarding the horse's death.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 315 The Duke Red Matter - Ep 5 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is looking into the death of Duke Red, a valuable racehorse owned by Ben Abbott. Dr. Gory, the veterinarian, admits that Abbott actually shot the horse rather than it dying in an accident, and that trainer Thomas Warner witnessed the shooting. When Dollar confronts Abbott, the man attacks him with a cane and threatens to kill him.
Ben Abbott's estate and surrounding areas · Johnny Dollar, Dr. Gory, Ben Abbott, Thomas Warner, Terry Abbott, Constable Polk
Listen for: The revelation that Duke Red was shot by Abbott rather than killed in an accident, and the violent confrontation between Dollar and the increasingly unstable Abbott.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 316 The Flight Six Matter - Ep 1 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in Mexico to investigate the destruction of Pan Am Flight 12, which exploded in mid-air killing all ten people aboard. Mac Maclin of the Civil Air Transport Authority believes the plane was sabotaged with an explosive device, and Dollar must determine which of the passengers was the intended target and who wanted them dead.
Mexico, including Mexico City and the mountainous crash site of Pan Am Flight 12 · Johnny Dollar, Mac Maclin, General Romero, Senor Ramon de Lagos, Marielle de Lagos, Don Serrano, Inspector O'Connor
Listen for: The discovery of evidence at the wreckage site that confirms the explosion was deliberate, and Johnny Dollar's investigation into the three passengers who took out accident insurance policies.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 317 The Flight Six Matter - Ep 2 (1956)
A dynamite explosion has destroyed Flight 6 near Mexico City, killing ten people including two of Bill Blakely's business partners in an engineering firm. Johnny Dollar investigates the bombing while encountering the enigmatic Marvel Terrence, a wealthy woman who cancelled her own reservation on the doomed flight at the last minute, claiming Bill Blakely talked her out of the trip.
Mexico City and the crash site of Flight 6 on a mountain slope · Johnny Dollar, Marvel Terrence, Bill Blakely, Chino Romero
Listen for: The investigation into who planted dynamite in the plane's baggage compartment and why Marvel Terrence cancelled her flight reservation at the crucial moment
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 318 The Flight Six Matter - Ep 3 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar investigates the bombing of Flight Six in Mexico City, which killed Maria de Lagos and seven others. Don Serrano, Maria's brother, arrives at Johnny's hotel insisting that Maria's husband Ramon is guilty, but Johnny discovers that multiple people had financial motives and that a mysterious woman named Marvel Terrence who was supposed to be on the plane never boarded it.
Mexico City, particularly Johnny Dollar's hotel and the airport where Flight Six departed for Havana · Johnny Dollar, Don Serrano de Elmeito E. Pico, Maria de Lagos, Ramon de Lagos, Marvel Terrence, Ed Palmer, Jim Rourke, Federal police
Listen for: Johnny's investigation into the three insurance policies taken out on Flight Six and his interviews with the key suspects, including Don Serrano's accusation against Ramon and the revelation that Marvel Terrence has disappeared from the hotel.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 319 The Flight Six Matter - Ep 4 (1956)
Johnny Dollar investigates the Flight 6 crash in Acapulco, tracking down beneficiaries and witnesses. He confronts Marvel Terrence, a beautiful woman who fled Mexico City, and discovers that multiple suspects—including Bill Blakely, who now owns his partners' firm after they died on Flight 6—have also come to Acapulco. As Johnny pressures Marvel for answers about the crash, tensions rise and motives begin to emerge.
Acapulco, Mexico; the investigation moves from Mexico City to the coastal resort town where multiple suspects have mysteriously gathered. · Johnny Dollar, Gino, Don Serrano, General Mauro, Marvel Terrence, Bill Blakely, Ed Palmer, Jim Rourke
Listen for: Johnny's probing questions about Marvel's guilt or involvement in the crash, Bill Blakely's confession of motive and means for sabotaging Flight 6, and the revelation of what multiple beneficiaries are doing in Acapulco.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 320 The Flight Six Matter - Ep 5 (1956)
Johnny Dollar investigates the explosion of Flight 6 in Acapulco, Mexico. A key witness, Marvel Terrence, is found murdered in the surf, silenced before she can reveal crucial information. Dollar and the local police close in on the suspects, discovering that one of the business partners has armed himself and is now fleeing desperately along the beach with a hostage.
Acapulco, Mexico; a beachfront hotel and surrounding shoreline · Johnny Dollar, Gino Romero, Marvel Terrence, Bill Blakely, Don Serrano, Armando Lagoz, Ramon, Mac
Listen for: The tense pursuit of an armed suspect along the beach, with the mystery of who caused Flight 6's explosion still not fully resolved despite the interrogations and discoveries
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 321 The Mc Clain Matter - Ep 1 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar meets with a woman claiming to be Doris McLean, who tells him an extraordinary story: two years ago in Los Angeles, her husband Dr. Dave McLean staged her death using the body of a patient who died in his office, collected $10,000 from her life insurance policy, and then abandoned her in New York without explanation. She is now coming forward to confess the fraud and wants Dollar to investigate what happened to her missing husband.
Don Taylor's office in New York; flashback to Los Angeles two years prior · Johnny Dollar, Don Taylor, Mrs. Doris McLean, Dr. Dave McLean, Teresa Corbett, Dr. Reed
Listen for: The details of the insurance fraud scheme and why Doris McLean has decided to confess after remaining silent for nearly two years; hints about Dr. McLean's whereabouts and what may have happened to him after he failed to join her in New York.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 322 The Mc Clain Matter - Ep 2 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar investigates a claim filed two years ago by Dr. David Earl McLean for his wife Doris's death. Doris suddenly appears alive, confessing that she and her husband staged her death using another girl's body to collect $10,000 in insurance. However, Dollar finds inconsistencies in her story and questions whether she's telling the whole truth.
Hartford, Connecticut and New York City, present day investigation into a two-year-old insurance fraud case · Johnny Dollar, Don Taylor, Doris McLean, Dr. David Earl McLean, Sam Benson, apartment house manager, Mr. Platt, Pauline Henderson
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's sharp detective work as he pokes holes in Doris McLean's confession and uncovers details that don't add up, while following her trail from New York back to the original incident in Los Angeles
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 324 The Mc Clain Matter - Ep 4 (1956)
Johnny Dollar investigates the disappearance of Teresa Corbett, a woman who vanished two years ago after visiting Dr. McLean's office. George Riley, Teresa's former fiancé, believes she died from a heart attack during that visit. Johnny confronts Dr. McLean with evidence that his supposedly dead wife, Doris, is actually alive and that the doctor collected $10,000 in life insurance on her.
Los Angeles and Hartford, Connecticut, primarily in Dr. McLean's office · Johnny Dollar, George Riley, Dr. McLean, Teresa Corbett, Pauline Henderson, Doris McLean
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's methodical questioning of Dr. McLean, George Riley's emotional account of his lost love, and the revelation of the insurance fraud scheme.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 325 The Mc Clain Matter - Ep 5 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar investigates Dr. Dave McLean, who is shot by a jealous man named Riley before the case unfolds. Johnny questions whether the McLeans' insurance claim regarding the death of a young woman named Theresa Corbett in McLean's office is genuine, suspecting the couple may have orchestrated something far more sinister than a natural death.
Los Angeles and the county jail, with scenes in a hospital and doctor's office. · Johnny Dollar, Don Taylor, Dave McLean, Mrs. McLean, Theresa Corbett, Riley, the nurse
Listen for: Johnny's growing suspicion that the McLeans' story doesn't add up, and Mrs. McLean's gradual confession that Theresa Corbett was actually a patient of her husband's, not a stranger who simply collapsed.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 326 The Cui Bono Matter - Ep 1 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in the small town of Green Pass, Virginia to investigate the death of county attorney Dan Parker, who was shot by his stepdaughter Luann Parker. While the local sheriff calls it an accident—the girl mistook her father for a prowler—the $100,000 insurance policy and some curious circumstances make Don Hancock suspicious enough to send Dollar to dig deeper.
Green Pass, Virginia, a small town of 12,000 people in the wooded hills, three miles from the nearest railroad station. The action centers on the Parker home and the town's single hotel and pool room. · Johnny Dollar, Don Hancock, Jake Diggly, Sheriff Jim Peterson, Luann Parker, Dan Parker, Mary Jackson
Listen for: The suspicious timing of Dan Parker's unexpected return from Richmond, his unusual decision to walk home alone at night instead of arranging a ride, and the perfect accuracy of Luann's shots fired down a dark stairway in complete darkness—details that hint the case may be more complicated than a simple accident.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 327 The Cui Bono Matter - Ep 2 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in Green Pass, Virginia to look into the death of county attorney Dan Parker, who was shot by his adopted daughter Luan when she mistook him for a prowler. With Luan set to collect a hundred thousand dollars in insurance, Johnny begins questioning those involved, starting with ambitious assistant county attorney Tom Bates, who has a personal interest in the case.
Green Pass, Virginia, a small town where county attorney Dan Parker has recently died under suspicious circumstances. · Johnny Dollar, Tom Bates, Sheriff Peterson, Luan Parker, Dan Parker, Mary Jackson, Sammy Drake
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's suspicion that something doesn't add up about Luan Parker's claim, particularly the insurance payout and her almost too-convenient discovery of her father as an intruder; Tom Bates's emotional involvement with Luan and his sudden ambitions for the county attorney position.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 328 The Cui Bono Matter - Ep 3 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar questions those connected to the death of county attorney Dan Parker, who was shot by his adopted daughter Luanne when she mistook him for a burglar. Dollar suspects the $100,000 life insurance policy payable to Luanne may indicate foul play, despite the town's determination to call it a simple accident. At a local roadhouse, Dollar presses Sammy Drake, the owner, about his relationship with Luanne and his connections to the dead man.
A small town and a roadside roadhouse called Happy Hollow, present day. · Johnny Dollar, Dr. Preligess, Tom Bates, Luanne Parker, Sammy Drake, Dan Parker
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's tough interrogation tactics as he uncovers the complicated relationships surrounding Dan Parker's death, particularly Sammy Drake's conflicted feelings about Luanne Parker and his mysterious arrangement with the county attorney.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 329 The Cui Bono Matter - Ep 4 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in Green Pass, Virginia to investigate the death of county attorney Dan Parker, who was shot by his daughter Luann in what the coroner ruled accidental death. A $100,000 insurance claim hangs in the balance as Dollar interviews Luann and discovers the town unanimously supports her, while only a disgruntled man named Sammy Drake speaks against her. Luann recounts the night of the shooting, when she heard prowlers on the terrace and retrieved her father's gun to reach the telephone downstairs.
Green Pass, Virginia; the Parker family home and surrounding town · Johnny Dollar, Tom Bates, Luann Parker, Dan Parker (deceased), Sheriff, Sammy Drake, Ramirez (housekeeper)
Listen for: Luann's account of the night her father was shot, and Dollar's investigation into whether her story holds up under questioning
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 330 The Cui Bono Matter - Ep 5 (1956)
Johnny Dollar wraps up his investigation into the death of Parker, a man shot on a dark stairway. The central mystery remains unresolved: when Parker's daughter Luann fired down the stairs in the darkness, did she know she was shooting at her father, or was it accidental? Johnny admits he cannot answer this question and doubts anyone else can either, except possibly Luann herself.
A small town with the Happy Hollow Roadhouse, involving a train station and Parker's home with a dark stairway · Johnny Dollar, Sammy, Sheriff Peterson, Luann Parker, Parker (deceased), A salesman from Baltimore
Listen for: The revelation about the glow-in-the-dark necktie that Parker's daughter gave him, which becomes a key piece of evidence in Johnny's investigation
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 331 The Bennet Matter - Ep 1 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar flies to San Francisco to investigate a major office building fire that destroyed one of real estate magnate Arnold Bennett's properties. Fire investigator Billy Underwood believes it was a professional arson job, and Bennett insists that Tony Midas, a former employee he prosecuted for theft who recently left prison, is responsible for the fire.
San Francisco, California; Bennett's real estate office · Johnny Dollar, Andrew Court, Billy Underwood, Arnold Bennett, Elizabeth Bennett, Tony Midas
Listen for: The description of the mysterious man seen near the building before the fire, Bennett's aggressive denials and accusations against Tony Midas, and the growing tension as Dollar begins his investigation into whether this was truly arson or insurance fraud.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 332 The Bennet Matter - Ep 2 (1956)
Arnold Bennett, a building owner, is shot in his home in a remote San Francisco location. Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar looks into whether Tony Midas, an embezzler Bennett previously prosecuted, is responsible. Johnny discovers evidence that the building Bennett owned was deliberately set on fire using professional incendiary devices, and he tracks down Tony Midas's former defense attorney to learn more about the case.
San Francisco, including Arnold Bennett's home in the hills, a county hospital, and various locations around the city in 1956 · Johnny Dollar, Arnold Bennett, Andy Court, Bill Underwood, Inspector Dickens, Tony Midas, Elizabeth Bennett, Mr. Engel
Listen for: Details about the professional arson that destroyed Bennett's building, the relationship between Tony Midas and Bennett, and whether Midas is truly responsible for both crimes
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 333 The Bennet Matter - Ep 3 (1956)
Johnny Dollar investigates the death of Tony Midas, who was sent to San Quentin years ago in a case defended by lawyer Marty Angle. When Midas turns up dead, Johnny questions whether Angle helped frame him. Elizabeth Bennett, Midas's widow, arrives seeking revenge against those she believes killed her husband, and the situation turns violent when she confronts Angle with a gun.
Hollywood and the Hall of Justice, present day · Johnny Dollar, Marty Angle, Elizabeth Bennett, Tony Midas, Arnold Bennett, Andy Courtney
Listen for: The tragic story of Tony Midas and the mystery of whether justice was truly served; Elizabeth Bennett's emotional confession about her years of waiting for her husband's release.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 334 The Bennet Matter - Ep 4 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar testifies for the prosecution in the arson trial of George Foley, establishing that Foley used his signature fire-setting method at the Bennett Building. As the jury deliberates, Johnny attempts to convince Foley to implicate his employer, Arnold Bennett, the actual target of the investigation, before it's too late.
San Francisco Superior Court and county jail during the trial of arsonist George Foley for burning the Bennett Building. · Johnny Dollar, Andrew Court, Judge William J. Bainbridge, Charles Finlay, Jake Eggleston, George Foley, Arnold Bennett, Elizabeth Bennett
Listen for: Johnny's detailed testimony about the arson method—a paraffin-soaked wick in a paper sack filled with celluloid—and the physical evidence connecting Foley to the crime. The tension between prosecutor Finlay and defense attorney Eggleston, and Johnny's post-trial conversation with Foley in his cell.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 335 The Bennet Matter - Ep 5 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar and Andy Cord from the insurance company interrogate arsonist George Foley after his conviction for setting fire to Arnold Bennett's office building. Foley initially gives contradictory accounts of his dealings with Bennett, but eventually admits that Bennett hired him to torch the building for $2,500. Now the investigators must pressure Foley into revealing the full details of his contact with Bennett so they can build a case against the man who orchestrated the arson.
A courthouse and jail in an American city, during and after a trial and sentencing hearing. · Johnny Dollar, Andy Cord, George Foley, Arnold Bennett
Listen for: The cat-and-mouse interrogation between the investigators and the convicted arsonist, as Foley keeps changing his story about how he met Bennett and received payment for the arson job.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 336 The Fathom-Five Matter - Ep 1 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is hired to investigate the death of William Marky, a 46-year-old engineering consultant who allegedly drowned when his chartered fishing boat, the Fathom Five, sank off Miami Beach. With no body recovered and conflicting accounts, Dollar must determine whether Marky is actually dead or if his young employee Danny Haines, who was the sole survivor, is involved in his disappearance.
Miami Beach, Florida, and offshore waters; also referenced are New York and Hartford. · Johnny Dollar, Ralph Steedler, William Marky, Mrs. Marky, Danny Haines, Barney Wilson, The Diver
Listen for: The mystery of whether Marky actually died in the boat sinking, the tension between Haines and the Markys, and Johnny's investigation into the financial motives behind the insurance claim.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 337 The Fathom-Five Matter - Ep 2 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in Miami to investigate the death of William Marquis, whose chartered cruiser burned and sank beyond the surf. With the body still unrecovered, Dollar must determine whether Marquis died in an accident, suicide, or murder before the insurance company will pay out the $75,000 claim. As salvage crews prepare to raise the sunken boat, Dollar gathers information from those involved in the tragic incident.
Miami, Florida; the Marquis Beach House and the waterfront, with a salvage operation underway in the harbor. · Johnny Dollar, Barney Wilson, Mrs. Marquis, Danny Haynes
Listen for: The mystery deepens as Johnny Dollar questions Mrs. Marquis about her husband's state of mind and the circumstances surrounding the cruiser fire, while a mysterious stranger lurks near the house.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 338 The Fathom-Five Matter - Ep 3 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in Miami Beach to investigate the mysterious burning and sinking of the hired cruiser Fathom 5, in which William Marquis disappeared. Deputy DA Wilson believes it's murder committed by young Danny Haynes, but Dollar isn't convinced there's been a murder at all, suspecting instead that Marquis may have staged his own disappearance. Dollar begins investigating the curious details and tracks down a mysterious man named John Smith who recently purchased a car from a local dealer.
Miami Beach, Florida, involving a beach house, a sunken cruiser, and a used car lot · Johnny Dollar, Deputy DA Barney Wilson, William Marquis, Danny Haynes, Mrs. Marquis, Truthful Tom
Listen for: Johnny Dollar lays out his alternative theory about what really happened on the Fathom 5, and Truthful Tom's colorful descriptions of his used car business
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 339 The Fathom-Five Matter - Ep 4 (1956)
Johnny Dollar investigates whether William Marquis, who supposedly died when his cruiser sank off the Florida coast, is actually alive and attempting insurance fraud. A hearing is scheduled for the next morning to determine if Marquis should be declared legally dead, but evidence suggests he may have staged his own death and is hiding somewhere in the area.
Miami Beach, Florida; the Marquis home and surrounding area; Pompano Beach Hotel · Johnny Dollar, Barney Wilson, Mrs. Marquis (Edna), Denny Haynes, Judge Campbell, William Marquis
Listen for: Johnny's confrontation with Mrs. Marquis about her husband's swimming abilities and secret purchases; his late-night interview with Denny Haynes at the hotel, where Denny's emotional attachment to Mrs. Marquis becomes apparent.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 340 The Fathom-Five Matter - Ep 5 (1956)
Johnny Dollar investigates the death of Marky, whose body washes up on the beach—supposedly five days after a ship sinking, but an autopsy reveals complications that challenge the timeline. When evidence points to a suspect hiding in town, a desperate chase ends in tragedy, and Johnny and Detective Wilson uncover signs of struggle at the Markey beach house.
A coastal town where a ship called the Fathom Five recently sank; hotel, apartment building, and the Markey beach house · Johnny Dollar, Barney Wilson, Mrs. Marky, Doc Morgan, Danny Haines, Mr. Jones
Listen for: The revelation that Marky drowned in fresh water rather than seawater, meaning he died elsewhere than the ocean; the discovery of a mysterious tenant and the deadly confrontation at the apartment building.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 341 The Plantagent Matter - Ep 1 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives at the Plantagen Hotel in Vicksburg, Virginia to investigate a burglary that has already been solved—the thief caught and all stolen goods recovered. While waiting for a flight back to Hartford, Johnny encounters a distressed blonde woman being threatened by a man in the parking lot. After buying her a drink to calm her nerves, she suddenly collapses in a taxi with mysterious symptoms, leaving Johnny to rush her to the emergency hospital.
The Plantagen Hotel in Vicksburg, Virginia, its bar and parking lot, and Vicksburg emergency hospital; winter weather, 1956. · Johnny Dollar, Mr. Costello, The blonde woman (Amy), The tall dark man, Cab driver, Hospital staff
Listen for: The mysterious illness that strikes the woman just as she's leaving; Johnny's growing concern about what really happened in that parking lot; the unanswered questions about the man's threat and the woman's cryptic gratitude.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 342 The Plantagent Matter - Ep 2 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in Vicksburg after a mysterious blonde woman died in his arms the previous night at the Plantation Hotel. Police lieutenant Higgins questions Dollar about the unidentified girl, whom he'd helped after she collapsed in the parking lot during an argument with an unknown man. The investigation reveals the girl was poisoned with Perimithole, a rare drug found in her stomach, suggesting possible suicide in front of her troubled boyfriend.
Vicksburg, Virginia - the Plantation Hotel, police headquarters, and morgue · Johnny Dollar, Lieutenant Higgins, Jim Akins, Sergeant Sam
Listen for: The mysterious identity of the dead girl and her connection to the unknown man in the parking lot; clues about what really happened and whether her death was truly suicide or something more sinister
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 343 The Plantagent Matter - Ep 3 (1956)
Johnny Dollar investigates an unidentified girl who dies of poison at the Plantation Hotel. Finding a .38 revolver with three bullets fired in the girl's purse, he traces the gun's registration to Raymond O'Connell, only to discover that O'Connell died over a year ago. Visiting O'Connell's widow Terry, Johnny learns the gun connection and a crucial detail: the dead girl is Amy Duran, Terry's sister, and she had been arguing with a man named Paul Dameron in the hotel parking lot the night before her death.
Vicksburg, Mississippi, at the Plantation Hotel, City Hall licensing division, and the O'Connell residence on Polk Street · Johnny Dollar, Sergeant Peters, Lieutenant Jim Akins, Terry O'Connell, Paul Dameron, Amy Duran, Raymond O'Connell
Listen for: Johnny's discovery that the dead girl is Amy Duran and his confrontation with Paul Dameron, who had argued with Amy the night before her death
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 344 The Plantagent Matter - Ep 4 (1956)
Johnny Dollar, an insurance investigator from Hartford, finds himself entangled in a murder case in Vicksburg after helping a distressed woman in a hotel parking lot. When the woman, Amy Doran, turns up dead from poisoning, Johnny discovers a .38 revolver in her purse registered to a deceased bank guard. The police suspect Amy of embezzling funds and murdering an auditor named Belden, but Johnny begins to doubt the official theory and seeks legal advice before turning over the gun.
Vicksburg, Mississippi, at the Plantagenet Hotel, police station, and residential areas · Johnny Dollar, Samuel W. Oldfield, Lieutenant Akins, Amy Doran, Paul Dameron, Mrs. Teresa O'Connell, Clarence Belden, O'Connell
Listen for: Johnny's moral conflict over withholding evidence as he tries to protect Amy's memory, and the emerging questions about who really shot Belden and why Amy had the gun.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 345 The Plantagent Matter - Ep 5 (1956)
Johnny Dollar turns over the gun found on Amy Durant's body to the police and discovers through ballistics that it is indeed the murder weapon. Lieutenant Akins closes the case, convinced Amy stole money, shot the auditor, and took poison. But as Dollar investigates further, talking to those who knew the auditor, he finds troubling inconsistencies in this neat conclusion.
A city police headquarters and various offices; the Plant Agent Hotel and Richmond Limited company are referenced. · Johnny Dollar, Lieutenant Akins, Sam O'Field, Amy Durant, Dameron
Listen for: Dollar's growing suspicion that Amy Durant may not have committed the crimes she's blamed for, and his discovery of a $10,000 check that could have covered the shortage without violence.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 346 The Clinton Matter - Ep 1 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in Clinton, Colorado to meet with Julian Osburn, who reported irregularities in the construction of a new school building. Upon arrival, Dollar discovers that Osburn has been killed in a fire that completely destroyed the school, and the local sheriff seems oddly unconcerned about the circumstances. When Dollar questions the school principal, Miss Hawkins, she abruptly ends the conversation after receiving a mysterious phone call, and that night Dollar witnesses a man being beaten in an alley.
Clinton, Colorado, a small mountain town of about 14,000 people in the winter, centered around a newly constructed school building that has burned down. · Johnny Dollar, Albert Davies, Sheriff Paul Daugherty, Julian Osburn, Miss Florie Hawkins, David Baines
Listen for: The mystery of what irregularities Osburn discovered in the school's construction, why he died in the fire, and what the sheriff and Miss Hawkins are hiding.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 347 The Clinton Matter - Ep 2 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in Clinton, Colorado to investigate a school building that burned down, killing the janitor. The fire chief believes overheated boilers caused the accident, but Dollar hears rumors that building irregularities were suspected before the fire. Dollar confronts the school's contractor, Roy Vickery, who insists it was simply a terrible accident caused by a drunken janitor.
Clinton, Colorado, a small town divided between wealthy and poor neighborhoods · Johnny Dollar, David Baines, Fire Chief Hanley, Julian Osborn, Miss Hawkins, Roy Vickery, Sheriff Daugherty, Florie Hawkins
Listen for: The confrontation between Dollar and an angry mob outside Vickery's mansion; Dollar's discovery that building irregularities were suspected before the fire; Vickery's explanation that a drunken janitor caused the accident
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 348 The Clinton Matter - Ep 3 (1956)
Johnny Dollar continues his investigation into the school fire, meeting with principal Florie Hawkins who agrees to cooperate after witnessing his fearlessness. Dollar seeks sworn statements from key witnesses including building inspector Richard Hobb and another man named Baines, believing their testimony is crucial to uncovering corruption in the small town.
A small town with a school that recently burned down; various locations including the Traders bar and Richard Hobb's home · Johnny Dollar, Florie Hawkins, Sheriff Daugherty, Roy Vicary, Richard Hobb, Lucille Hobb, David Baines, Chief Hanley
Listen for: The investigation deepens as Dollar pressures witnesses to provide evidence against corrupt officials; Lucille Hobb's nervous behavior suggests her husband may be in danger; Roy Vicary's sudden appearance at the end hints at a confrontation
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 349 The Clinton Matter - Ep 4 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in Clinton to investigate building irregularities in a school that burned down, killing the janitor who reported the problems. When the building inspector who passed the faulty structure is murdered in Dollar's hotel room, Dollar calls in a team of eight expert investigators to uncover a conspiracy involving the sheriff, fire chief, and building contractor.
Clinton, a small town where a new school building has burned down under suspicious circumstances, and the town's officials appear to be involved in corruption. · Johnny Dollar, Sheriff Daugherty, Richard Hobb, Al Davies, Toby O'Brien, Rob Schwartz, Todd Weaver, Lou Doniger
Listen for: The investigation unfolds as Dollar's team gathers evidence against the building contractor and corrupt officials, with sworn statements revealing fraud and the possibility that Hobb was killed to silence him about the scheme.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 350 The Clinton Matter - Ep 5 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar investigates a murdered building inspector in Clinton and uncovers a scheme involving falsified inspection papers and embezzled funds from a school construction project. Mrs. Hobb reveals her late husband took bribes from Roy Vickery's gravel company, and architect David Baines provides purchase orders proving substandard materials were used. As Johnny prepares to expose the corruption, Sheriff Dordy arrests him and takes him to the gravel works for a confrontation.
The town of Clinton, including the Clinton Gravel Works on the edge of a frozen lake, the sheriff's office, and a hotel. · Johnny Dollar, Sheriff Dordy, Deputy Egan, Mrs. Hobb, Roy Vickery, David Baines, Richard Hobb, Toby O'Brien
Listen for: The revelation that the school inspector was taking bribes for falsifying construction papers, and Johnny's dangerous arrival at the gravel works where multiple suspects have gathered.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 351 The Jolly Roger Fraud Matter - Ep 1 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar reluctantly accepts a case involving the Jolly Roger, a 110-foot diesel yacht owned by the wealthy and disreputable Paula Seganian. The ship has burned to the waterline, a total loss of $460,000. When Dollar arrives in San Diego to investigate, he discovers that his contact, insurance adjuster Bert Parker, has been hit by a car—an incident Parker believes was deliberate murder, not an accident. Parker dies in the hospital after warning Dollar that threatening phone calls preceded the attack.
San Diego, California and a hospital; later a dive bar called Ray Kemper's Cat Club. · Johnny Dollar, Pat, Bert Parker, Jan Penny, Paula Seganian, Doctor
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's arrival in San Diego for what he thought would be a simple insurance investigation, Bert Parker's mysterious hit-and-run accident and deathbed warning about threatening phone calls, and Jan Penny's emotional connection to the deceased Bert Parker.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 352 The Jolly Roger Fraud Matter - Ep 2 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in San Diego to investigate a suspicious claim on the yacht Jolly Roger, which burned and sank near the Coronado Islands. When the insurance company's local representative Bert Parker is killed in a hit-and-run accident, and threats are made against Jan Penny, an office worker, Johnny suspects the yacht's owner Paulus Zinnagian—an international crook and shipping magnate—is behind the violence to force a quick settlement of his claim.
San Diego, California, including Johnny's hotel, Jan's apartment, police headquarters, and Zinnagian's penthouse suite at the Largemont · Johnny Dollar, Jan Penny, Bert Parker, Detective Sergeant Joe Franklin, Paulus Zinnagian
Listen for: Johnny confronts Zinnagian about the suspicious yacht loss and his obvious desperation for quick payment; Zinnagian admits to having Johnny watched and makes veiled threats while offering bribes, confirming Johnny's suspicions about the case.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 353 The Jolly Roger Fraud Matter - Ep 3 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is probing the suspicious sinking of the yacht Jolly Roger, owned by the wealthy and dangerous Paula Zanegan. The only survivor, a cabin boy, dies under mysterious circumstances in a Tijuana hospital before Dollar can question him. Dollar races to speak with the doctor who treated the boy, hoping to learn what happened to the ship.
San Diego and Tijuana, 1956. Coast Guard headquarters, a Tijuana hospital, and the highway between the two cities. · Johnny Dollar, Jan Penny, Lieutenant Smith, Paula Zanegan, Dr. Hernandez, the cabin boy
Listen for: The revelation of what the cabin boy told Dr. Hernandez about a strange device aboard the Jolly Roger before his murder; clues about the ship's sinking and Zanegan's involvement.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 354 The Jolly Roger Fraud Matter - Ep 4 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is in Southern California looking into a $460,000 fraud claim filed by international arms smuggler Paulus Zanegian for his yacht, the Jolly Roger, which exploded and sank during a test run. Two people have already been murdered by hit-and-run killings when they got in Zanegian's way: insurance company man Bert Parker and Coast Guard Lieutenant Smith. Dollar suspects Zanegian sank his own ship to raise money after his assets were frozen by foreign governments, and now the ruthless operator is using threats and violence to force the claim's settlement.
San Diego, California and Tijuana, Mexico, 1956 · Johnny Dollar, Paulus Zanegian, Sergeant Franklin, Jan Penny, Bert Parker, Lieutenant Smith, Tommy Golden
Listen for: The developing murder investigation and threats against Dollar and Jan Penny; clues about Zanegian's two mysterious henchmen and the unmarked black Buick used in the hit-and-run killings; Jan's emotional conflict between her loyalty to her dead boss and her growing concern for Dollar's safety.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 355 The Jolly Roger Fraud Matter - Ep 5 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar discovers a booby trap in Jan's car meant to kill him, then confronts her in her apartment. Jan and a mysterious foreign man reveal they've been working together to orchestrate the sinking of the yacht Jolly Roger and collect insurance money, having eliminated everyone who stood in their way. The man now pressures Johnny to join their scheme or face elimination.
San Diego, California; Jan's apartment · Johnny Dollar, Jan, Artis, The Foreign Man, Lieutenant Smith, Bird Parker
Listen for: Johnny's discovery of the car booby trap; the confrontation scene where the mastermind reveals the full scope of the fraud and the murders committed; the tense negotiation over Johnny's life.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 356 The La Marr Matter - Ep 1 (1956)
Johnny Dollar, a private investigator posing as a filling station operator, is vacationing at an exclusive seaside resort hotel in Southern California. He meets and quickly falls for Rani Lamar, a wealthy but disillusioned young woman waiting for her father to join her. When her father's telegram cryptically mentions doctors' orders and a sudden delay, Rani becomes suspicious that something is wrong, though her father claims it's merely indigestion.
An exclusive guest ranch resort by the ocean in Southern California, with cottages, a swimming pool, private beach, and fine dining facilities. · Johnny Dollar, Rani Lamar, Rani's father, Pat (Johnny's boss)
Listen for: Johnny's true profession is revealed when Rani confronts him about his lies; the mysterious reason for her father's delayed arrival and the suspicious telegram.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 357 The La Marr Matter - Ep 2 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is called back from vacation in La Jolla, California when Thomas Lamar dies suddenly. Lamar carried a million-and-a-half-dollar insurance policy, and Johnny's boss Pat McCracken suspects murder. Johnny travels to South Bend, Indiana with Lamar's adopted daughter Ronnie, arriving at the impressive Lamar Hall to begin his investigation into what may have been foul play.
South Bend, Indiana and the Lamar family estate on Parity Lane; Johnny begins in California but travels east by plane to investigate. · Johnny Dollar, Pat McCracken, Ronnie Lamar, Dr. Edward T. Wilson, Larry Comstock, Harrison the butler
Listen for: Johnny's growing suspicion about Lamar's death as a murder case and his conflicted feelings about investigating while accompanying the grieving Ronnie; Larry Comstock's recollection of Lamar's rise from bookkeeper to successful industrialist.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 358 The La Marr Matter - Ep 3 (1956)
Johnny Dollar investigates the death of Thomas Lamar in South Bend, Indiana. Lamar's adopted daughter Vani—whom Johnny met during a vacation in California—stands to inherit a million-and-a-half-dollar life insurance policy, but Lamar's friend Lawrence Comstock suspects foul play rather than natural causes. The evidence points toward Walter Marson, Lamar's personal secretary who recently married Vani, as a possible suspect with motive and opportunity.
South Bend, Indiana, with references to La Jolla, California and Chicago. · Johnny Dollar, Vani Lamar, Lawrence Comstock, Dr. Ed Wilson, Thomas Lamar (deceased), Walter Marson, Bonnie (Vani's friend or relation)
Listen for: The mystery of what rare poison may have killed Thomas Lamar, the strange power Walter Marson seems to hold over Vani, and whether Lamar's death was truly murder or something else entirely.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 359 The La Marr Matter - Ep 4 (1956)
Johnny Dollar investigates the death of Thomas Lamar, a wealthy aircraft components manufacturer found dead in South Bend, Indiana. The evidence points to poisoning by a rare drug called pyridamyron, but Johnny discovers complications involving Lamar's adopted daughter Bonnie, her secret gambling debts, and her marriage to the family secretary Walter Morrison. As Johnny pursues leads, he finds that a crucial library book on the poison has been mysteriously stolen.
South Bend, Indiana and surrounding areas in 1956 · Johnny Dollar, Dr. Edward T. Wilson, Lawrence Comstock, Bonnie Lamar, Walter Morrison, Thomas Lamar
Listen for: The revelation of Bonnie Lamar's financial troubles and forced marriage to Walter Morrison; the description of the rare poison pyridamyron and how it was administered; the mystery of the stolen library book.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 360 The La Marr Matter - Ep 5 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives at the Lamar home to investigate the death of Thomas Lamar, who was poisoned with Para Damaran, a rare toxin derived from an exotic yellow flower. Dollar discovers a stolen library book on Mediterranean flora and zeroes in on suspects, including Walter Morrison, the former secretary who married and then divorced Vani Lamar. As evidence mounts about the source of the poison, Dollar traces the deadly plant's seeds to the estate's gardener Demetri and uncovers a shocking discovery about who had access to the poison and the means to administer it.
The Lamar mansion and grounds in South Bend, Indiana · Johnny Dollar, Larry Comstock, Walter Morrison, Vani Lamar, Harrison the Butler, Demetri the Gardener
Listen for: The revelation of the poisoned toothbrush and the connection between the rare flower seeds and the murderer's identity
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 361 The Salt City Matter - Ep 1 (1956)
Insurance broker Sam Rubin has sold a $50,000 life insurance policy to the dangerous criminal Ed Julian (real name Eduardo Socka-Veddy) and now fears something may happen to him. He hires freelance investigator Johnny Dollar to travel to San Francisco and keep an eye on Julian until Rubin's lawyers can break the policy. Dollar arrives in San Francisco but finds Julian has moved from his known address on Knob Hill, discovering only an empty apartment. At Julian's office on Paul and Hooker Street, Dollar encounters Ray Gumbi, the attorney handling Julian's enterprises, who reveals that many people are looking for Julian.
San Francisco, California, during a rainy night; offices and residences on Knob Hill and Paul and Hooker Street · Johnny Dollar, Sam Rubin, Ed Julian (Eduardo Socka-Veddy), Ray Gumbi, attorney
Listen for: The reason why so many people are looking for Ed Julian, and what has happened to the dangerous criminal
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 363 The Salt City Matter - Ep 3 (1956)
Johnny Dollar continues his investigation in San Francisco, searching for Ed Julian. After a scuffle with the building's muscle, Johnny finds Julian's wife Lorraine, who reveals that Ed left days ago with a dangerous ex-con named Chili Winters. A helpful desk clerk provides the crucial lead: Julian has gone to Salt City, California, to the Salt City Smelter Company for an important meeting with Winters and others.
San Francisco and the Skyline Apartments; investigation leads to Salt City, California and the Salt City Smelter Company · Johnny Dollar, Ed Julian, Lorraine Julian, Swifty, Luke, Chili Winters, Ray Gumby, desk clerk
Listen for: The tense confrontation in the apartment building lobby, Johnny's conversation with Lorraine Julian revealing her unhappy marriage, and the desk clerk's crucial information about Julian's whereabouts in Salt City.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 364 The Salt City Matter - Ep 4 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in Salt City to serve a subpoena on Ed Julian, but discovers the town is controlled by a man named Jim Reno who runs the local smelterworks. At Reno's facility, Johnny finds Ed Julian and another man named Chili Winters dead, and Reno frames Johnny for the murders using Johnny's own gun, claiming self-defense was impossible and that Salt City's police will believe Reno's version of events.
Salt City, a remote desert town with a smelterworks, featuring a diner and other local establishments. · Johnny Dollar, Sam Rubin, Ed Julian, Jim Reno, Chili Winters, Connie
Listen for: Johnny's account of how he was drugged at the cafe, discovered the two dead men at the smelterworks, and became framed for their murders by the powerful Jim Reno, who controls the town's law enforcement.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 365 The Salt City Matter - Ep 5 (1956)
Johnny Dollar, an insurance investigator, receives a desperate call from Ellie, who is wanted for murder but claims innocence. Johnny discovers that attorney Ray Gumby has been killed, and his investigation reveals a complex scheme involving Ed Julian, Jim Reno, and others in Salt City. As Johnny pieces together the evidence, he must determine who actually committed the murders and protect those involved.
Salt City, various locations including a coffee shop, smeller works, hotel, and Skyline Apartments · Johnny Dollar, Ellie, Inspector Dan Walsh, Ray Gumby, Ed Julian, Jim Reno, Chili Winters, Lorraine Julian
Listen for: The unfolding mystery of who killed Ray Gumby and Ed Julian, Johnny's encounters with Jim Reno, and the revelation of a criminal enterprise connected to an insurance policy
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 366 The Laird Douglas Douglas of Heatherscote Matter - Ep 1 (1
Johnny Dollar is called to Philadelphia by Harry Branson at Philadelphia Mutual Liability and Casualty Company for an urgent case involving someone named the Laird Douglas Douglas of Heatherscote. Upon arrival, Johnny learns the case involves protecting a four-year-old child who is insured for $5,000 through a policy written as a favor to an important client, Mrs. Peter Malcolm Kelly Van Piteen. Johnny must discover why this young child requires such urgent attention and protection.
Philadelphia, including the Benjamin Franklin Hotel and the offices of Philadelphia Mutual Liability and Casualty Company on Walnut Street · Johnny Dollar, Harry Branson, Mrs. Peter Malcolm Kelly Van Piteen
Listen for: Johnny's growing confusion about why a four-year-old child warrants such urgent attention and such a generous retainer fee of $750 per week; Harry's cryptic references to the child's short life expectancy and the importance of Mrs. Van Piteen as a client
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 367 The Laird Douglas Douglas of Heatherscote Matter - Ep 2 (1
Johnny Dollar arrives in Philadelphia to investigate a case for Philly Mutual and discovers his client is Mrs. Peter Malcolm Kelly Van Piteen, a wealthy woman who wants him to protect her prized Scottish Terrier, Laird Douglas Douglas, at an upcoming dog show. The dog has been targeted before with attempted doping, and Mrs. Van Piteen suspects Harrison R. Kenworthy, who owns a rival Kerry Blue Terrier named Lady Odetti's Rollin' Meme, may try to sabotage Laird Douglas before the competition.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and the wealthy Van Piteen estate in Germantown; the upcoming Ballakinwood dog show · Johnny Dollar, Ray Roland, Harry Branson, Mrs. Peter Malcolm Kelly Van Piteen, Laird Douglas Douglas (a Scottish Terrier), Harrison R. Kenworthy, Mr. Rollin' (dog show authority)
Listen for: Johnny's frustration at being hired as a bodyguard for a dog rather than investigating a serious case; the revelation that Kenworthy may have tried to dope the Scotty before; Mrs. Van Piteen's insistence on paying for everything and her determination to protect her dog's chances at the show.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 368 The Laird Douglas Douglas of Heatherscote Matter - Ep 3 (1
Johnny Dollar takes on the unusual job of bodyguard to Laird Douglas Douglas of Heatherscote, a purebred Scottish terrier owned by the wealthy Mrs. Van Pieten. When a bomb is discovered in Johnny's hotel suitcase, he begins investigating who might want to harm the valuable dog—or perhaps Mrs. Van Pieten herself. Johnny's suspicions turn toward Warren Staley, Mrs. Van Pieten's nephew and heir, who resents his enforced luxury and the family's vast business empire.
A wealthy household called The Maples and police headquarters in an American city; also Johnny's hotel · Johnny Dollar, Lieutenant Steve Howard, Mrs. Van Pieten, Warren Staley, Douglas Douglas (Scottish terrier), Hastings (butler), Harrison R. Kenworthy
Listen for: Johnny discovering the bomb in his suitcase and his initial interview with Warren Staley about the family wealth and business rivals
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 369 The Laird Douglas Douglas of Heatherscote Matter - Ep 4 (1
Johnny Dollar is investigating the Laird Douglas Douglas of Heatherscote matter at the mansion of Mrs. Van Piteen when her nephew Warren Staley is found dead, poisoned with panoramic acid added to his Scotch whiskey. The poison was meant for someone else—possibly Johnny himself or the valuable dog Laird Douglas—and this is the third death connected to the case. Johnny must unravel which household member switched the poisoned bottle and why.
The sumptuous mansion of Mrs. Van Piteen, particularly Warren Staley's suite of rooms which was once a childhood playroom. · Johnny Dollar, Mrs. Peter Malcolm Kelly Van Piteen, Warren Staley, Lieutenant Howard, Ronald Kenworthy, Hastings the butler, Mademoiselle Plieraux, the doctor
Listen for: The clever bottle-switching mystery as Johnny pieces together how the poisoned Scotch was substituted, and the growing realization that Johnny himself may have been the intended victim.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 370 The Laird Douglas Douglas of Heatherscote Matter - Ep 5 (1
Johnny Dollar investigates a murder connected to a wealthy Philadelphia woman, Mrs. Van Pitten, who hired him as a bodyguard for her prized dog, Laird Douglas Douglas. As the case unfolds, Johnny discovers a criminal masquerading as the chauffeur and begins to suspect that Mrs. Van Pitten herself may be orchestrating a series of crimes to eliminate obstacles to her financial ambitions.
Philadelphia, the Van Pitten estate and neighboring Kenworthy mansion · Johnny Dollar, Mrs. Van Pitten, Ronald Kenworthy, Warren Staley, Andy LaForte, Ray Rowland, Lou Jannen Howard
Listen for: Johnny Dollar accuses Mrs. Van Pitten of murder and reveals his suspicions about her criminal scheme involving her dog and financial empire.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 371 The Shepherd Matter - Ep 1 (1956)
Insurance broker Dick Porter hires investigator Johnny Dollar to look into Dr. Shepherd's suspicious request to suddenly buy $80,000 in additional life insurance, bringing his total coverage to $100,000. When Dollar visits Shepherd's office, the nervous doctor pulls a gun on him, then confesses that his life has been threatened by a patient with homicidal tendencies, forcing him to consider either leaving town or giving up his practice.
Providence, Rhode Island; Dr. Shepherd's medical office and apartment · Johnny Dollar, Dick Porter, Dr. Shepherd, Corinne, Mrs. Forbes
Listen for: The mystery behind Dr. Shepherd's sudden insurance application and the identity of the person threatening his life.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 372 The Shepherd Matter - Ep 2 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is hired to determine if Dr. Shepherd's life is genuinely threatened by Paul Forbes, or if the doctor is fabricating the danger to secure a large insurance policy. Dollar visits Dr. Shepherd's office and then heads to Forbes's home to confront him, but is violently attacked upon arrival.
A city's doctor's office and the Forbes family home in a gilded residential area · Johnny Dollar, Mr. Porter, Dr. Shepherd, Paul Forbes, Mrs. Pauline Forbes, Nurse Steter, Brandon Upton
Listen for: The mystery of Paul Forbes's violent behavior and whether Dr. Shepherd's insurance claim is legitimate or a deception
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 373 The Shepherd Matter - Ep 3 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is working on the Shepherd matter, examining a case involving Dr. Shepherd's life insurance application for $80,000. After being attacked by Paul Forbes at the doctor's direction, Dollar grows suspicious of Shepherd's story. He visits Shepherd's office for an X-ray of his head injury, questions the receptionist Miss Streeter, meets Shepherd's estranged mother in Pawtucket, and encounters Police Detective Crosby at the doctor's office—only to find Shepherd has mysteriously disappeared.
Providence, Rhode Island and Pawtucket, with scenes at hotels, doctor's office, and Shepherd's home · Johnny Dollar, Dr. Charles Shepherd, Richard Porter, Paul Forbes, Miss Streeter, Mrs. Clara Shepherd, Detective Bill Crosby
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's growing doubts about Dr. Shepherd's honesty, the revelation of Shepherd's estrangement from his mother, and the mysterious disappearance of Dr. Shepherd just as police arrive to take his complaint
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 374 The Shepherd Matter - Ep 4 (1956)
Dr. Shepherd is found murdered, apparently by Paul Forbes, a man he had threatened him earlier. Johnny Dollar investigates the death and the suspicious circumstances surrounding it, discovering inconsistencies in the stories told by those involved and uncovering a far more complex motive behind the killing.
Providence, Rhode Island; Dr. Shepherd's office and the surrounding city · Johnny Dollar, Phil Crosby, Dr. Charles Shepherd, Paul Forbes, Mrs. Forbes, Mrs. Clara Shepherd, Kareem, Night watchman
Listen for: Johnny Dollar pieces together clues from Dr. Shepherd's medical files, discovering that Paul Forbes was once Shepherd's patient and that Shepherd had been seeing Mrs. Forbes socially while treating her husband. Dollar realizes the murder setup may not be what it appears.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 375 The Shepherd Matter - Ep 5 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar interviews Paul Forbes, an angry man accused of murdering Dr. Shepard. Forbes admits he threatened Shepard over his wife Pauline's affair with the doctor, followed Shepard's car, and even called him to arrange a meeting, but claims he never saw the doctor and didn't kill him. As Johnny presses for details about Forbes's movements and motives, another woman enters—apparently a nurse who has loved Dr. Shepard for five years.
Johnny Dollar's hotel room in Providence, Rhode Island · Johnny Dollar, insurance investigator, Paul Forbes, the accused man, Dr. Shepard, deceased, Pauline Forbes, Paul's wife, An unnamed nurse
Listen for: The growing tension as Johnny interrogates Paul Forbes with a gun trained on him, extracting a confession of motive while Forbes insists on his innocence; the sudden appearance of the mysterious nurse at the end.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 376 The Lonely Hearts Matter - ep 1 (1956)
Johnny Dollar is hired to investigate the death of a man who died three days ago, supposedly from acute enteritis. The man's daughter suspects foul play by his new wife, Mabel Burke, who is the beneficiary of a fifty-thousand-dollar life insurance policy taken out just five months before his death. The wife, whom the daughter describes as strange and possessive, had met the father through a lonely hearts club advertisement less than a month before their marriage.
Hartford, Connecticut and Chicago, Illinois; the insurance office, Wells family home, and the Rendezvous Club · Johnny Dollar, Dave Elwood, Miss Wells, Mabel Burke, the father (deceased), the coroner
Listen for: The investigation into whether Mabel Burke murdered her husband for insurance money; Johnny Dollar's visit to the Rendezvous Club to learn more about how the couple met
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 377 The Lonely Hearts Matter - Ep 2 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is looking into the death of Jonathan Wells, whose widow collected a $50,000 policy. While waiting for autopsy results, Wells's daughter Norma visits Dollar in a state of fear, reporting mysterious phone calls and someone lingering outside her apartment door. Dollar learns that Norma's stepmother Mabel Burke owns a lonely hearts correspondence club and employs a man named Burton who lives off her money.
Chicago, Illinois; a hotel room, the coroner's office, and the Wells household. · Johnny Dollar, Norma Wells, Max Lancer, Mabel Burke Wells, Burton, Fanny Tetler
Listen for: The mysterious phone call and footsteps that frighten Norma Wells; details about the lonely hearts club and Burton's relationship to the family; Mabel's account of her marriage to Jonathan Wells and her business interests.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 378 The Lonely Hearts Matter - Ep 3 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar investigates the murder of Jonathan Wells, who died from ground glass poisoning. The autopsy reveals a suspicious pattern: Wells' widow was previously married to a man named Walter Mayburley Burke who died suddenly two and a half years ago under mysterious circumstances. As Johnny questions the widow Mabel Burke and protects the victim's daughter Norma Wells, he discovers evidence that someone has broken into Norma's apartment and planted ground glass in her sugar bowl.
A city with hotels, apartments, and police headquarters; the investigation spans Hartford and references a death in St. Louis from two and a half years prior. · Johnny Dollar, Dave (police contact), Mabel Burke (the widow), Norma Wells (Jonathan Wells' daughter), Burton Creeley (Mabel's nephew), Max Lancer (DA's office)
Listen for: The revelation of the planted ground glass in Norma's sugar bowl and the connection between Jonathan Wells' death and the suspicious earlier death of Mabel Burke's first husband, Walter Mayburley Burke.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 380 The Lonely Hearts Matter - Ep 5 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar looks into the death of Jonathan Wells from ground glass poisoning, and the now-fatal poisoning of his widow Mabel Burke Wells. With two husbands dead from the same cause within three years and $50,000 in insurance collected each time, Mabel appears the likely suspect—until she regains consciousness in the hospital with a different theory about who is really guilty.
Chicago, primarily a hospital where Mabel Burke Wells lies dying from poisoning · Johnny Dollar, Mabel Burke Wells, Burton Creeley, Norma Wells, Doctor, Nurse, Max Lance
Listen for: The dramatic deathbed confession scene where Mabel reveals the true killer's identity, and the desperate chase that erupts as the guilty party flees the hospital with a hostage.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 381 The Callicles Matter - Ep 1 (1956)
Johnny Dollar, an insurance investigator for Eastern Casualty, arrives to look into the disappearance of David Parsons Jr., who hasn't been seen for ten days. The young man's father, a formidable businessman, refuses to involve the police and resists cooperating with Dollar's investigation, fearing publicity that could damage his company and reputation.
The Parsons home in Bellaire, a wealthy residential area; also the Parsons office and the Beverly Hilton hotel where Dollar is staying. · Johnny Dollar, Robert Ecker, David Parsons Sr., Mrs. Parsons (David's wife)
Listen for: The tense confrontation between Johnny Dollar and the domineering David Parsons Sr., who tries to throw the investigator out of his home; the mystery of why a young man worth a million dollars would disappear without a word.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 382 The Callicles Matter - Ep 2 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in Los Angeles to look into the disappearance of David Parsons Jr., who has been missing for ten days. David's wife Dorothy approaches Dollar for help, but her seeming indifference to her husband's whereabouts and her reluctance to involve the police raise questions about her true intentions and knowledge of the case.
Los Angeles, California, primarily the Beverly Hilton Hotel and nearby beach · Johnny Dollar, Dorothy Parsons, David Parsons Jr., Mr. Parsons Senior, Mr. Eckert, Blaine
Listen for: The tension between Dorothy's casual demeanor about her missing husband and Dollar's growing suspicion that something more sinister is happening; her sudden phone call at the filling station suggests she may be reporting to someone about Dollar's investigation.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 383 The Callicles Matter - Ep 3 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is hospitalized in Boston after a car accident kills a woman he was investigating with in Los Angeles. He recounts his case to a nurse: he was hired to find missing executive David Parsons Jr., but discovers the man has returned and signed documents. However, Johnny's investigation uncovers a troubling deception involving the woman who died.
Boston hospital and Los Angeles · Johnny Dollar, Dave Blaine, Mrs. Parsons, David Parsons Jr., Old Mr. Parsons, Robert Ecker, Sister Amadea
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's investigation into a missing person case that turns darker when he discovers deception and an innocent woman becomes a victim.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 384 The Callicles Matter - Ep 4 (1956)
Johnny Dollar is hired to find David Parsons Jr., who has been missing for 12 days. Dollar interviews Mrs. Parsons at their well-appointed home, learning that her husband is a quiet, scholarly man who works in business and was last seen 12 days ago. She insists their marriage is stable, though their relationship seems distant, with little discussion of his work or personal interests. Dollar then visits Dr. Stanley Warner to learn more about Parsons's health and state of mind.
Hollywood; the Parsons home; Dr. Warner's office on Wilshire Boulevard · Johnny Dollar, Mr. Parsons Sr., Mrs. Parsons, Mr. Eckers, Dr. Stanley Warner
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's tough questioning of Mrs. Parsons about their marriage and his investigation into why a wealthy businessman would disappear with nothing but the clothes on his back; Dr. Warner's comments about the pressure of Parsons's responsibilities and his father's influence.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 385 The Callicles Matter - Ep 5 (1956)
Johnny Dollar investigates the disappearance of David Parsons, a broker whose father hired a detective agency to find him. When the case breaks open, David calls his wife from San Francisco, revealing that he has deliberately left his old life behind and will not be returning.
Los Angeles and San Francisco, 1956. Police station, bank, and bar. · Johnny Dollar, Mr. Parsons, David Parsons, Dorothy Parsons, Sergeant Engel, Kenneth Temple, Jerry Ingle
Listen for: The revelation of why David Parsons disappeared and his phone call from San Francisco to his wife, explaining his reasons for leaving.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 386 The Silver Blue Matter - Ep 1 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is called in when 80 silver blue mink coats worth $100,000 are stolen from a warehouse in Los Angeles. A warehouse worker named Chrisman is beaten unconscious during the robbery, and the thieves gain entry using a telegram as a ruse. With few leads and a neighborhood full of frightened residents who won't cooperate with police, Johnny must find the culprits before they strike again.
Los Angeles warehouse district near the river bottom and railroad yards, a poor neighborhood filled with slums and gang activity. · Johnny Dollar, Ralph Dean, Lieutenant Garcia, Chrisman, Mr. Bentley
Listen for: Chrisman's description of the boy who showed him the telegram, and Johnny's investigation into the local gangs and silent community that may know more than they're saying.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 387 The Silver Blue Matter - Ep 2 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is pursuing a lead in a warehouse robbery involving stolen silver fox coats worth $100,000. The night watchman was knocked unconscious by teenage hoodlums during the theft. When Red Weller, who runs a lunch room across from the warehouse, fails to meet Johnny at his hotel as planned, Johnny visits the diner and questions Weller's employee Carla, who eventually reveals her brother Eddie may have information about the crime.
Los Angeles warehouse district near the railroad yards, including a lunch room and a teenage hangout drive-in · Johnny Dollar, Red Weller, Lieutenant Garcia, Albert Crispin, Carla Calamante, Eddie
Listen for: Johnny's persistent questioning of Carla and his moral argument about responsibility and standing up to crime; Carla's gradual decision to trust him and reveal her brother's connection to the case
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 388 The Silver Blue Matter - Ep 3 (1956)
When a night watchman is attacked and a lunchroom owner is murdered in Los Angeles, Johnny Dollar investigates a robbery connected to the crimes. A young man named Eddie Montay becomes a person of interest, and Johnny must confront him at his sister Carla's apartment while Eddie tries to evade questioning.
Los Angeles, California - police headquarters, a lunchroom, a pool hall, a drive-in, and Carla Montay's apartment · Johnny Dollar, Garcia, Chief of Police, Eddie Montay, Carla Montay, Red Weller
Listen for: The investigation into a stolen shipment and murder, Eddie's criminal record and troubled past, and Johnny's confrontation with the suspect at Carla's home.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 389 The Silver Blue Matter - Ep 4 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in Los Angeles to recover $100,000 worth of stolen silver-blue fur coats taken in a warehouse robbery. A gang member named Eddie Mottie, sister of the victim Carla, has fled with a gun after nearly shooting his sister. Dollar searches Eddie's room and discovers photographs of a panel truck that may have been used to transport the stolen furs, leading him to interrogate a suspect named Mario Santores.
Los Angeles, California; a tenement apartment in the slums and a police interrogation room · Johnny Dollar, Eddie Mottie, Carla (Eddie's sister), Mario Santores, Police lieutenant
Listen for: The investigation into the stolen furs and the panel truck; the interrogation of Mario Santores and his denials; Johnny's reasoning about why he didn't shoot Eddie despite the opportunity.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 390 The Silver Blue Matter - Ep 5 (1956)
Johnny Dollar investigates a jewelry store robbery that has turned into a murder case. Eddie Montey, the suspected ringleader, is cornered near the railroad yards after the watchman he slugged during the robbery dies from his injuries. As police close in on all sides, Johnny confronts the desperate and armed Eddie.
A city police headquarters and the railroad yard district where the robbery suspects are being tracked down. · Johnny Dollar, Lieutenant Garcia, Karl Amonti, Carla Montey, Eddie Montey, Mario Centauris, Albert Crismond, Chewie Morel
Listen for: The tense manhunt climax as Johnny Dollar corners the murder suspect near the railroad yards with police closing in from all directions.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 391 The Matter of the Medium, Well Done - Ep 1 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is sent to New York to investigate Carol Sharp, a wealthy 26-year-old playgirl who wants to change her life insurance beneficiaries. She plans to give $13,000 to a man named Tony Riccardo and a substantial portion to a spiritualist medium called Madame Morgana. Pat McCracken at the Universal Adjustment Bureau worries this is a con, especially since a similar situation once ended with a client's death.
New York City, primarily the Bell Tower apartment hotel on East 52nd Street overlooking the East River, and various offices of insurance brokers · Johnny Dollar, Pat McCracken, Tommy Green, Carol Sharp, Tony Riccardo, Madame Morgana, Sergeant Singer
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's wry commentary as he settles into his investigation, his phone call with Sergeant Singer revealing details about the medium's operations, and hints of danger surrounding the beneficiary changes
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 392 The Matter of the Medium, Well Done - Ep 2 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in New York to look into a concerning request from wealthy heiress Carol Sharp, who wants to change her life insurance beneficiaries to include questionable characters named Tony Ricardo and a psychic medium named Madame Cidia Morgana. Johnny's contact Tommy Green fears Carol may be in danger once she makes these changes. When Johnny encounters Carol in an elevator at his hotel, she mysteriously knows his name and agrees to meet him for cocktails, where she explains her belief in psychic phenomena and claims Johnny experienced precognition in his childhood dream about her.
New York City, primarily at the Bell Towers apartment hotel and a cocktail lounge · Johnny Dollar, Randy Singer, Tommy Green, Carol Sharp, Tony Ricardo, Madame Cidia Morgana, Sergeant Singer
Listen for: The mysterious connection between Johnny and Carol through his childhood dream, and the suspicious circumstances surrounding the insurance beneficiary changes involving the medium and Tony Ricardo.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 393 The Matter of the Medium, Well Done - Ep 3 (1956)
Johnny Dollar attends a séance conducted by a medium named Player Bell to investigate a case involving Carol Sharpe and Tony Ricardo. During the séance, the medium produces mysterious revelations about various objects, including a watch and a police badge, before the gathering is suddenly disrupted by what appears to be a police raid.
A séance in an old brownstone house on the West 40s in New York City, with previous scenes at a police precinct station. · Johnny Dollar, Sergeant Randy Singer, Carol Sharpe, Tony Ricardo, Anthony Ricardo Jr., Player Bell, the medium
Listen for: The theatrical séance performance with red-lit ambiance, eerie music, and the medium's cryptic pronouncements about objects and their owners; the sudden chaos when a police badge is revealed.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 394 The Matter of the Medium, Well Done - Ep 4 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar takes on a case to expose Madame Morgana Morgana, a spiritualist medium who has been draining his client Carol Sharp's bank account week after week. Carol's concerned friend Tony Ricardo enlists Dollar's help, and Dollar prepares by gathering intelligence on Carol's family before attending a séance at Morgana's home in New Jersey to observe her methods firsthand.
New York City and a séance parlor in Union City, New Jersey, 1956 · Johnny Dollar, Carol Sharp, Tony Ricardo, Madame Morgana Morgana, Tommy Green, Sergeant Randy Singer, David Sharp, Mrs. Dorothy Jesser
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's clever setup to infiltrate the séance using a fake story about psychic dreams, his acquisition of a hidden camera with special flash equipment, and the atmospheric description of the séance room with its metal trumpet devices used to project spirit voices.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 395 The Matter of the Medium, Well Done - Ep 5 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar discovers that Carol Sharp has been defrauded by Madame Morgana, a spiritualist medium who uses trick photography and confederates to fake séances. When Johnny exposes the fraud with infrared photographs, Madame Morgana admits her scheme but reveals she was not working alone—her assistant used hidden tubes and whispered voices to deceive Carol and others into believing they were communicating with the dead.
New York City and New Jersey, including a coffee shop, police precinct, and Madame Morgana's séance room in New Jersey · Johnny Dollar, Carol Sharp, Madame Morgana, Tony Ricardo, Sergeant Randy Singer, David Sharp
Listen for: Johnny Dollar using infrared photography and clever detective work to expose a spiritualist medium's elaborate fraud scheme involving fake trumpets, hidden tubes, and whispered voices from behind curtains.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 396 The Tears of Night Matter - Ep 1 (1956)
Insurance adjuster Johnny Dollar arrives in Miami Beach to investigate a $50,000 insurance claim filed by Mrs. Wendover two years after her husband's death at sea from a burst appendix. Hired accountant Hillary Fuchs explains the delay by Mrs. Wendover's chaotic personal finances and disorganized state since her husband's death. When Dollar meets the emotionally fragile Mrs. Wendover, she cryptically suggests there is something about her that would make insurance adjusters question the claim's legitimacy.
Miami Beach, Florida; Hillary Fuchs' office · Johnny Dollar, Hillary Fuchs, Mrs. Wendover
Listen for: The mystery of what Mrs. Wendover is hinting at regarding her claim, and whether the insurance company will honor the delayed $50,000 claim
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 397 The Tears of Night Matter - Ep 2 (1956)
Johnny Dollar investigates an insurance claim for Mrs. Wendover following her husband Noah's death. Mrs. Wendover is haunted by the belief that she carries a curse, having lost her father, brother, and now husband. As Johnny prepares to recommend honoring the claim, he's forcibly taken by a thug named Frank Scanlon to meet Sam Costigan, a man kicked out of Chicago, who has business concerning Mrs. Wendover.
Miami Beach, Florida, primarily in Hillary Fuchs' office and surrounding areas · Johnny Dollar, Mrs. Wendover, Hillary Fuchs, Teddy Dave, Frank Scanlon, Sam Costigan
Listen for: The mysterious appearance of Sam Costigan and his interest in Mrs. Wendover; Johnny's growing sense of danger despite believing the insurance case to be nearly closed
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 398 The Tears of Night Matter - Ep 3 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in Miami Beach to investigate an insurance claim by Elise Wendover. He's intercepted by a gambler named Frank Scanlon and taken to see Sam Costigan, who runs a gambling club. Costigan asks Dollar to return a valuable diamond necklace called the Tears of Night to Mrs. Wendover, claiming she lost it at his roulette table and threatened to involve the police.
Miami Beach, Florida in the 1950s, including a gambling club and various locations around the city. · Johnny Dollar, Sam Costigan, Frank Scanlon, Hillary Fuchs, Elise Wendover, Teddy Davis, Hannibal Mortuis
Listen for: The mystery of why Sam Costigan really wants the necklace returned, the discovery that the necklace is a masterpiece worth $25,000, and hints that there may be a copy of the Tears of Night in circulation.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 399 The Tears of Night Matter - Ep 4 (1956)
Johnny Dollar investigates an insurance claim for Mrs. Wendover involving a cursed necklace called the Tears of Night. He discovers the necklace was pawned to gambler Sam Costigan and learns Mrs. Wendover may be wearing a forgery, leading him into a dangerous web of deception involving a jeweler, a business manager, and ruthless enforcers.
A hotel, Mrs. Wendover's apartment building, and various locations in the city at night and early morning. · Johnny Dollar, Mrs. Wendover, Hillary Fuchs, Sam Costigan, Frank Scanlan, Teddy Davis, Hannibal Mortuis
Listen for: A violent confrontation in a parking lot, strange dream sequences, and Mrs. Wendover's cryptic references to people Johnny has encountered and her emotional state.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 400 The Tears of Night Matter - Ep 5 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is drawn into a case involving a valuable necklace called the Tears of Night. When two men are murdered in the apartment of Mrs. Elise Wendover, Dollar becomes a suspect himself. As the investigation unfolds, Dollar discovers a complex scheme involving a pawned necklace, a jeweler with his own designs, and multiple murders connected to greed and deception.
A city apartment and surrounding locations including a police station, hospital, hotel, and jewelry shop. The story takes place over the course of a single night and following morning. · Johnny Dollar, Teddy Davis, Mrs. Elise Wendover, Lieutenant Brady, Hillary Fuchs, Sam Costigan, Scanlan, Mr. Mortius
Listen for: The clever plot involving the fake and real necklace, the jeweler Mortius's confession of his crimes, and the tense final confrontation in Dollar's hotel room.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 401 The Matter of Reasonable Doubt - Ep 1 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in the small Nevada town of Flint Rock to look into a mysterious trust case. Banker Jonas Parks, who initiated the paperwork for widow Mrs. Ezra Greamley to set up a substantial trust for her granddaughter Susan, has called for help because something feels wrong—though he cannot quite explain what. Dollar must navigate to the remote Greamley ranch to discover what has prompted the secretive request.
Flint Rock, Nevada, a small desert town with a bank, casino bars, restaurant, and general store. The Greamley ranch lies outside town across desert terrain. · Johnny Dollar, Ben Garley, Jonas Parks, Mrs. Ezra Greamley, Susan, Walter Greamley, Hilda Greamley
Listen for: The storm scene and Dollar's encounter with Walter Greamley on horseback as he approaches the ranch. Parks's vague but persistent sense that something is amiss at the Greamley property.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 402 The Matter of Reasonable Doubt - Ep 2 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives at the remote Flint Rock Ranch to look into a trust arrangement for widow Mrs. Gramley, who wants to leave her holdings to her 16-year-old granddaughter Susan. When the local banker who initiated the proceedings suddenly backs out, Dollar begins investigating and discovers that everyone at the ranch—Mrs. Gramley, her nephew Walter, his wife Hilda, and even Susan—seems frightened and on edge. A connection emerges to a fatal auto accident three years ago that killed Susan's parents.
The Flint Rock Ranch and the town of Las Vegas, with scenes at the Ford County Weekly Tribune office. · Johnny Dollar, Jonas Parks, Mrs. Gramley, Susan, Walter, Hilda, Will Connors, Ed Brimley
Listen for: The details surrounding the auto accident three years ago that killed Susan's parents, and why everyone at the ranch appears scared; Susan's unusual ability to detect when people are lying.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 403 The Matter of Reasonable Doubt - Ep 3 (1956)
Johnny Dollar investigates a case involving Mrs. Greymley, an elderly ranch owner who suspects her nephew Walter and his wife Hilda of stealing from her and possibly murdering her son and daughter-in-law three years ago in a staged auto accident. Mrs. Greymley has been trying to secretly transfer her property to her granddaughter Susan, and she's hired Johnny through the bank to help uncover the truth about the suspicious deaths and ongoing embezzlement.
A ranch near Las Vegas, Nevada, and Las Vegas itself · Johnny Dollar, Mrs. Greymley, Susan, Walter, Hilda, Jonas Parks, Duce McCoy
Listen for: Johnny's investigation into the suspicious auto accident death of Mrs. Greymley's son and daughter-in-law, and the financial crimes committed by Walter and Hilda; also the introduction of Duce McCoy who runs the Lead Balloon gambling club where Walter loses money.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 404 The Matter of Reasonable Doubt - Ep 4 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in Las Vegas to investigate a matter involving a grandmother's estate and insurance trust. When he reveals his presence and purpose to gambling casino owner Duce McCoy, someone immediately tries to lure the grandmother's young heir, Susan, to a deserted road—a move that could have been deadly. Dollar works to uncover who is behind the threat and what they hope to gain.
Las Vegas, Nevada; a casino, a hotel, and the offices of the Weekly Tribune newspaper · Johnny Dollar, Susan Graemly, Duce McCoy, Uncle Walter, Hilda, Jonas Parks, Will Connors, The girl in McCoy's office
Listen for: The identity of the mysterious person who phoned Susan and whether Duce McCoy is working alone or with Susan's relatives to prevent the estate trust from being established
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 405 The Matter of Reasonable Doubt - Ep 5 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is investigating a case involving Mrs. Gramley's estate trust when she suddenly tells him to stop and leave her alone. Dollar suspects that Walter and his wife Hilda have threatened or coerced her into dropping the case, especially after discovering that a man named Deuce McCoy has been arrested at the airport and that Susan, Mrs. Gramley's young granddaughter, has been involved in a dangerous situation.
Las Vegas, Nevada, primarily at Mrs. Gramley's ranch house · Johnny Dollar, Mrs. Gramley, Walter, Hilda, Nicky, Susan Gramley, Deuce McCoy, Wilconner
Listen for: The tension as Dollar forces his way back into Mrs. Gramley's house despite her refusal to see him, and the revelation that Deuce McCoy's arrest may be connected to threats made against the young granddaughter.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 406 The Indestructible Mike Matter - Ep 1 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is sent to New York by Pat McCracken to meet Peter Branson, an insurance executive worried about a $50,000 policy issued to Michael Jeremiah Flynn, a man whose address turns out to be the Glad Hand Rescue Mission near Fulton Street. Flynn has listed John Wesley Cosgrave as his beneficiary, and Peter fears the policy may be part of a fraud pattern. Johnny goes undercover at the mission to investigate.
New York City, primarily the Glad Hand Rescue Mission near Fulton Street, and Peter Branson's office on Fifth Avenue · Johnny Dollar, Pat McCracken, Peter Branson, Michael Flynn, John Wesley Cosgrave, Daddy Bill
Listen for: Johnny's undercover work at the rescue mission and his attempts to locate and investigate Michael Flynn and his beneficiary.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 407 The Indestructible Mike Matter - Ep 2 (1956)
Johnny Dollar, an insurance investigator, visits Mike Flynn at a Bowery rescue mission to check on his client who was shot the night before. Mike insists he's fine despite his wounds, but Johnny becomes suspicious when he learns that Mike recently took out a $50,000 life insurance policy through a wealthy man named Cosgrave who visits the mission. Johnny suspects Cosgrave may be trying to have Mike killed for the insurance money.
A run-down room at the Glad Hand Rescue Mission in the Bowery, New York · Johnny Dollar, Mike Flynn, Peter Branson, Daddy Bill, Cosgrave
Listen for: Mike's mysterious wounds and his cavalier attitude about them; Johnny's realization that Cosgrave may be a racketeer using the mission to recruit criminals; a suspicious package arriving in the mail for Mike
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 408 The Indestructible Mike Matter - Ep 3 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar investigates a $50,000 life insurance policy taken out on Mike Flynn, a Bowery derelict, by the mysterious John Wesley Cosgrave. When Mike survives multiple murder attempts—an ice pick stabbing, two gunshot wounds, and nearly fatal wood alcohol poisoning—Dollar learns that Cosgrave is actually a reformed gangster with a criminal past, and begins to suspect the insurance policy is part of an elaborate scheme to kill the supposedly indestructible Mike and collect the payout.
New York City, including the Lower East Side, the Helping Hand Rescue Mission, police headquarters, Cosgrave's upscale apartment at 621 East 49th Street, and the Breakley Hotel. · Johnny Dollar, Mike Flynn, John Wesley Cosgrave (also known as John W. Gordon, Skippy Grant, Duchy Smith), Sergeant Randy Singer
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's growing suspicion that Cosgrave, despite claiming to be reformed and charitable, is orchestrating Mike's murder; the chilling conversation in Cosgrave's apartment where the gangster admits to his criminal past and makes veiled threats against Dollar.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 409 The Indestructible Mike Matter - Ep 4 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is on the case of Mike Flynn, a down-and-out man insured for $50,000 whose life keeps narrowly escaping attempts on it—first a knifing, then a shooting, and now a truck accident. Dollar suspects that Jay Wesley Cosgrave, a former racketeer operating under a veneer of respectability, orchestrated the attempts through hired thugs from a flophouse he controls. As Dollar pieces together the connection between Cosgrave's past and a mission building with a shadowy history, he's about to uncover the identity of those doing Cosgrave's dirty work.
New York City, including Bellevue Hospital, a flophouse mission, and Johnny Dollar's hotel · Johnny Dollar, Mike Flynn, Randy, Jay Wesley Cosgrave (alias for Dutchy Gordon), Lefty Skilman, William Grover Larkin (Daddy Bell)
Listen for: The investigation into Cosgrave's connection to a flophouse that serves as a front for recruiting hired thugs; the revelation that Lefty Skilman, found dead in the East River, was likely killed to silence him; Johnny Dollar attacked in his hotel room as he closes in on the truth.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 410 The Indestructible Mike Matter - Ep 5 (1956)
Johnny Dollar investigates the mysterious "indestructible" Mike Flynn while he recovers in a hospital from a serious accident. When a package arrives at the Glad Hand Rescue Mission for Mike, Johnny discovers it may be connected to a dangerous plot. Johnny sets an elaborate trap at the Breakley Hotel, positioning himself in room 203 while leaving clues to misdirect those hunting for Mike.
New York City, primarily the Glad Hand Rescue Mission and the Breakley Hotel · Johnny Dollar, Mike Flynn, Daddy Bill, Emery, Lefty Skilman, Sergeant Randy Singer, Dutchy, Cosgrave
Listen for: Johnny's strategic planning as danger closes in, the arrival of Daddy Bill and his associates, and the revelation of their intentions toward Mike Flynn.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 411 The Laughing Matter - Ep 1 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is summoned to a luxurious hotel in Ensenada, Mexico, where Charlie Burton, the star of a popular television comedy show, has received a threatening note promising he will not leave Ensenada alive. Producer Frank Maltz calls in Johnny to investigate the death threat and determine who among Burton's cast and crew might be responsible.
The Balboa Beach Hotel in Ensenada, Mexico, a coastal resort town where the Charlie Burton Show is filming. · Johnny Dollar, Frank Maltz, Charlie Burton, Gloria Dale, Al Shriver, Doris Trully
Listen for: The development of the murder threat against Charlie Burton and Johnny's initial interviews with the show's cast and crew members who all seem to harbor resentment toward the demanding star.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 412 The Laughing Matter - Ep 2 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in Ensenada, Mexico to protect comedian Charlie Burton after a death threat note is found. Burton dismisses it as a practical joke, but Dollar suspects someone connected to the production harbors genuine murderous intent. Meanwhile, a troubled leading actress harbors deep resentment toward Burton for interfering in her personal life.
Ensenada, Mexico, at a hotel where Charlie Burton's comedy television show is on location · Johnny Dollar, Charlie Burton, Frank Maltz, Gloria Dale, Al Shriver, Valena Morales, Jerry
Listen for: Gloria Dale's revelation about her broken engagement and her mysterious hatred of Charlie Burton; the identity of the man seen arguing with maid Valena Morales near Burton's room; the real reason behind the death threat note
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 413 The Laughing Matter - Ep 3 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in Mexico after someone takes a shot at television star Charlie Burton through his hotel room window. Burton's life is insured for half a million dollars, making several people around him suspects—including the show's producer Frank Moltz, who was away from the hotel at the time of the shooting.
A Mexican hotel and the Ventino nightclub, where Charlie Burton is filming a television show. · Johnny Dollar, Charlie Burton, Captain Parral, Frank Moltz, Gloria Dale, Al Schreiber, Pearl
Listen for: Johnny confronts Frank Moltz at a local nightclub and learns the producer's complicated reasons for staying on despite his hatred of Burton, while the mystery of who fired the shot remains unsolved.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 414 The Laughing Matter - Ep 4 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is in Sonata, Mexico, protecting famous television star Charlie Burton from an unknown assailant. Burton has received threatening letters and has already been shot at, but refuses to cooperate fully with his own protection. As Dollar investigates, he discovers that Burton made an unwelcome advance toward Nacho Morales's young wife, a maid at the hotel, putting himself in mortal danger.
Sonata, Mexico; a hotel with a film production company shooting a comedy sequence on the grounds · Johnny Dollar, Charlie Burton, Frank, Al, Captain Peral, Nacho Morales
Listen for: The details of the slapstick comedy sequence Burton and Frank are filming involving a shipwrecked castaway; the tension between Burton and his co-star Al over screen time and fair treatment; Burton's defensive justifications for his behavior and his mistreatment of those around him.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 415 The Laughing Matter - Ep 5 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is in Sonata, Mexico protecting comedian Charlie Burton, who has a half-million-dollar policy and received a death threat. When Al Shriver, a member of Burton's traveling show, is found poisoned, Dollar investigates alongside Captain Peral. The case takes a shocking turn when evidence points to an unexpected killer.
Sonata, Mexico, a small town away from the tourist areas, including a police commandancia, hotel, and lounge · Johnny Dollar, Charlie Burton, Captain Peral, Gloria, Al Shriver, Joe Morales, Frank Maulle
Listen for: The revelation of who actually poisoned Al Shriver and why Charlie Burton's threatening letter and carefully staged events were part of a calculated plan
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 416 The Pearling Matter - Ep 1 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is called by Mr. Scottman, vice president of Eastern Liability and Trust, to investigate the circumstances surrounding a newspaper report that financier David Pirling was killed in a boating accident in Florida. Though the story was published nationwide and affected stock prices, Pirling was actually safe in his hotel at the time. Dollar travels to Key West to determine whether the false report was deliberately engineered to manipulate the stock market for profit.
Key West, Florida and Hartford, Connecticut in 1956. The investigation centers around a fishing boat landing where a yacht caught fire. · Johnny Dollar, Mr. Scottman, David Pirling, Payton, Gracie Edwards, The Skipper
Listen for: The details of how reporter Gracie Edwards came to file an unverified story about Pirling's death, and why she was conveniently present at the boat landing when the explosion occurred.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 417 The Pearling Matter - Ep 2 (1956)
Johnny Dollar investigates why David Pirling paid a reporter in Key West to print a false story about his death. After learning the story was fabricated and later retracted, Dollar traces Pirling to his Long Island estate and confronts him about the scheme, but Pirling refuses to explain his motives beyond insisting he meant no harm.
Key West and Long Island, present day · Johnny Dollar, Morton Scott, David Pirling, Mrs. Pirling, Gracie Edwards
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's determination to uncover why Pirling orchestrated the fake death story despite repeated refusals to explain himself, and Mrs. Pirling's surprising approach to Dollar in a follow-up conversation.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 418 The Pearling Matter - Ep 3 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is called in to look into the case of missing heiress Genie Pirling, who disappeared over a year ago. A detective agency has been searching for her without success, and a phony newspaper report claimed she died in a boating accident. As Johnny investigates, he becomes suspicious that the case is far too neat and that there may be hidden money involved in her disappearance.
A detective agency office and various locations while investigating a missing persons case. · Johnny Dollar, Niles Amwell, Mrs. Pirling, David Pirling, Mr. Scottman, Genie Pirling
Listen for: Johnny's growing suspicion that the case involves financial manipulation and his confrontation with the weary detective Niles Amwell, who has been searching for the missing girl for eleven months.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 419 The Pearling Matter - Ep 4 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is hired to look into a matter involving David Pirling and discovers that Pirling has faked his own death in the newspapers to draw out his daughter Jeannie, who disappeared a year ago. When Brad Copeland, a detective working for Pirling, tips Dollar off that Jeannie has been found living in New Orleans under an assumed name, Dollar travels south to bring her home. Upon arriving at her address in the French Quarter, Dollar makes a shocking discovery.
New York and New Orleans, 1956 · Johnny Dollar, David Pirling, Brad Copeland, Niall Zanewell, Jeannie Pirling, Janice Floyd, The blonde giant
Listen for: The mystery of Jeannie Pirling's disappearance and why her father staged his own death to find her; the suspicious phone call that led Copeland to locate her; the unexpected revelation at her apartment in the French Quarter.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 420 The Pearling Matter - Ep 5 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar comes to town to verify a claim about Jean Pirling's death, but discovers the body is actually that of Janice Floyd, a dying woman who agreed to be buried under Jean's name. Jean, who faked her death to escape her wealthy father, has been living in hiding with con man Al Britt, who was originally hired to locate her for the inheritance money.
A town where Jean Pirling has been hiding, including Janice Floyd's apartment and Johnny's hotel · Johnny Dollar, Jean Pirling, Janice Floyd, Al Britt, Jean's father
Listen for: Johnny's discovery of the switched identities and his confrontation with Al Britt, who reveals he fell in love with Jean despite his original scheme to exploit her for money.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 421 The Long Shot Matter - Ep 1 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in Hollywood to look into an anonymous letter threatening to collect on a new hundred-thousand-dollar double indemnity policy covering Dr. Carl Palmquist and his wife. The policy becomes effective in a few days, and someone has hinted they plan to make a claim. Dollar begins investigating the Palmquist family and their circumstances.
Beverly Hills and Malibu, California in 1956 · Johnny Dollar, Jim Daryl, Clark, Dr. Carl Palmquist, Mrs. Palmquist, Eric Palmquist, Steffi Lund
Listen for: The mysterious anonymous letter threatening to collect on the insurance policy; Mrs. Palmquist's drinking problem and confused state of mind; Eric Palmquist's evasive behavior and insistence that his mother not be disturbed; the mention of Paul, Eric's older brother who died three years ago
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 422 The Long Shot Matter - Ep 2 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in Los Angeles to look into a $100,000 insurance policy on a murdered woman. Police have arrested a drifter named Miller for the killing of Mrs. Palmquist, but Miller claims he was set up by a man named Carter—who turns out to be Dr. Palmquist himself. Dollar must determine whether Miller's wild story holds any truth or if the evidence against him is solid.
Los Angeles, California, present day. Police headquarters and a jail cell block, with references to Dr. Palmquist's house in the Palisades and Blair Hospital. · Johnny Dollar, insurance investigator, Lieutenant Barry, homicide detective, Miller, the arrested drifter, Dr. Palmquist, the woman's doctor, Mrs. Laura Considine, an attractive widow and patient of Dr. Palmquist
Listen for: Miller's account of how he was lured to Dr. Palmquist's house under false pretenses and claims he walked into a setup. Lieutenant Barry's skepticism about the wild story despite the circumstantial evidence piling up against Miller. Johnny Dollar's growing interest in questioning Dr. Palmquist despite the doctor's seemingly perfect alibi.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 423 The Long Shot Matter - Ep 3 (1956)
Johnny Dollar investigates the death of Mrs. Palmquist, an insurance matter with puzzling angles. A mysterious anonymous note triggered a policy claim, and Johnny discovers that Dr. Palmquist's son Eric and a young woman named Stephie are secretly married. When Johnny is summoned to Dr. Palmquist's office, he finds Eric in psychological crisis, gripped by overwhelming fear of his father.
Los Angeles, California; the Barclay hotel and Dr. Palmquist's office · Johnny Dollar, Lieutenant Barry, Stephie, Eric Palmquist, Dr. Palmquist
Listen for: The revelation of Eric's secret marriage and his severe psychological distress; clues about why Eric fears his father so intensely.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 424 The Long Shot Matter - Ep 4 (1956)
Johnny Dollar investigates the murder of Mrs. Palmquist, which has been pinned on Lonnie Miller, a prowler arrested with a confession. When police trace the murder weapon to Miller through a pawnbroker's identification, Dollar begins to suspect the evidence may be fabricated and Miller is being framed. Dollar interviews Miller in his cell and then travels to Long Beach to verify details of Miller's story about stopping for coffee with Dr. Palmquist.
Los Angeles and Long Beach, California; includes a doctor's office, police station, jail cell, and a taco stand. · Johnny Dollar, Lieutenant Barry, Dr. Palmquist, Lonnie Miller, Irving Gonzalez
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's growing conviction that Lonnie Miller is being set up as a patsy for Mrs. Palmquist's murder; his investigation into inconsistencies in the evidence against Miller.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 425 The Long Shot Matter - Ep 5 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar pursues the truth behind Mrs. Palmquist's murder. Evidence points to Lonnie Miller, a drifter arrested for the crime, but Johnny suspects Dr. Palmquist himself orchestrated the killing and used Miller as a patsy. After discovering a flaw in the pawn shop identification, Johnny races against time as Eric Palmquist, drunk and armed, threatens to confront those he believes responsible.
California, including a pawn shop, police headquarters, city jail, a hotel, and the Palmquist house on the Palisades · Johnny Dollar, Mrs. Koncetine, Dr. Palmquist, Lonnie Miller, Lieutenant Barry, Mr. Learner, Steffi, Eric Palmquist
Listen for: The clever revelation that the pawn shop owner was fooled by the doctor's disguise rather than genuinely identifying Lonnie Miller as the gun buyer, and Johnny's realization of the one crucial mistake Palmquist may have made.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 426 The Midas Touch Matter - Ep 1 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar flies to Kingman, Arizona to investigate a case involving the abandoned Midas Touch gold mine. A prospector named Hard Luck Dennis has leased the mine and discovered ore worth $1,100 a ton, but needs significant capital to pump out water that has accumulated in the lower levels since Lake Mojave was formed. Dennis has approached three wealthy New York brothers—the Haskells—who now own a local ranch, seeking investment money for the mining operation.
Kingman, Arizona and the surrounding desert, including the Midas Touch gold mine near Katherine Landing on Lake Mojave · Johnny Dollar, Pat McCracken, Jake Kessler, Hard Luck Dennis, The Haskell Brothers
Listen for: How the prospector plans to convince the Haskells to invest in the mine, and what insurance implications might arise from their involvement in the venture.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 427 The Midas Touch Matter - Ep 2 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in Kingman, Arizona to investigate the deaths of three prosperous Haskell brothers who died in a mine cave-in at the Midas Touch Mine, with a million and a half dollars in life insurance at stake. Hard Luck Dennis, a prospector who promoted the mine to the brothers, is the prime suspect, but when he contacts Johnny and arranges a secret meeting at an old shack in the desert, he claims he didn't commit the murder.
Kingman, Arizona and the Mojave Desert, including the Midas Touch Mine and an old miner's shack near Lake Mojave · Johnny Dollar, Jake Kessler, Hard Luck Dennis, Captain Tad Harding, The Haskell Brothers
Listen for: Johnny confronts Hard Luck Dennis in a tense desert meeting while holding a gun; Hard Luck insists on his innocence and claims the mine is genuinely rich with ore.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 428 The Midas Touch Matter - Ep 3 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives at Lake Mojave to investigate the Midas Touch Mine case, where the Haskell brothers died in a cave-in. Hard Luck Dennis, who received $60,000 to reopen the mine, was recently shot and lies hospitalized. Johnny explores the mine with Buster and discovers evidence of the cave-in's cause, then rushes back to the hospital when Dennis finally regains consciousness with a crucial accusation.
Lake Mojave Resort on the Colorado River above Davis Dam, Arizona; the Midas Touch Mine; Mercy Hospital in Kingman, Arizona · Johnny Dollar, Jake Kessler, Hard Luck Dennis, Ham Pratt, Buster
Listen for: Johnny's discovery of the abandoned winch and gold-bearing pillars in the mine; Hard Luck Dennis's deathbed revelation naming his attacker and explaining the motive behind the cave-in
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 429 The Midas Touch Matter - Ep 4 (1956)
Johnny Dollar investigates the deaths of Kevin Haskell and his brother in what was supposedly a mine accident at the Two-Lazy-Two Ranch. When Hard Luck Dennis, who discovered evidence the deaths were actually murder, is himself killed, Johnny pursues a Jeep into the desert and comes under rifle fire. He traces the vehicle to the ranch and confronts Dora Haskell, widow of Kevin, about who might have murdered her husband and his brother for profit.
Lake Mojave Resort on the Colorado River in Arizona, the desert, and the Two-Lazy-Two Ranch · Johnny Dollar, Buster, Hard Luck Dennis, Jake Kessler, Alex Bundy, Dora Haskell, Kevin Haskell
Listen for: The tension builds as Johnny pursues a mysterious Jeep across the desert, comes under fire from a high-powered rifle, and arrives at the ranch to question the widow about a murder disguised as a mine accident.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 431 The Shady Lane Matter - Ep 1 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in Shady Lane, Vermont to investigate the shooting death of Ellen Bates, who was killed a month ago in her own home. Her husband Ben Bates stands to collect a $10,000 insurance policy, but the local constable insists Ben couldn't be capable of murder, and the investigation has stalled with no witnesses and no clear motive.
Shady Lane, Vermont, a small rural town in the summer of 1956 · Johnny Dollar, Pete Carlson, Jed Bramler, Ellen Bates, Ben Bates, Martin Preeny, Sarah
Listen for: The mysterious unsigned letter warning Johnny to look close to home; the unusual hand-poured bullet from an old-fashioned squirrel rifle; Constable Bramler's curious insistence that his childhood friend Ben Bates couldn't possibly be the killer.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 432 The Shady Lane Matter - Ep 2 (1956)
Johnny Dollar investigates the murder of Ellen Bates, an invalid wife shot through her front window at a farm in Shady Lane. With a $10,000 insurance policy on Ellen's life and suspicions falling on her husband Ben, Johnny examines the crime scene and questions whether the motive was murder or something else entirely.
Shady Lane, a rural farming community with difficult terrain and scattered homesteads. · Johnny Dollar, Pete, Constable Joe Bramler, Ben Bates, Mrs. Bates (Ellen), Mrs. Preeney, Millie Wells, Grody Huckins
Listen for: The investigation into who fired the shot that killed Ellen Bates through her window, with suspicion pointing toward her husband Ben despite the constable's doubts about his nature.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 433 The Shady Lane Matter - Ep 3 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in Shady Lane, Vermont to investigate the murder of Ellen Bates, a semi-invalid farmwife shot through her front window with a squirrel rifle. As he interviews witnesses, Dollar discovers that the prime suspect, Ellen's husband Ben Bates, has a strong motive: he's deeply in debt, his wife's $10,000 insurance policy would solve his financial troubles, and he's apparently attracted to Millie Wells, a cafe waitress with a troubled past.
Shady Lane, Vermont - a small rural township featuring a cafe, a farmhouse, and the constable's office · Johnny Dollar, Constable Jed Bramler, Millie Wells, Ben Bates, Ellen Bates
Listen for: The details of Millie Wells' past murder trial and how it connects to the current case; the significance of the missing squirrel rifle and who in town owns one; Ben Bates' explanation of his financial desperation and his relationship with Millie.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 434 The Shady Lane Matter - Ep 4 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in Shady Lane, Vermont to investigate the murder of Ellen Bates, the invalid wife of Ben Bates. Ben becomes the prime suspect when gossip connects him romantically to waitress Millie Wells, a woman who stood trial for murder years ago. Johnny uncovers that Ben's stolen squirrel rifle—the type used to kill Ellen—was never reported missing at the time of the theft, though Ben claims his wife knew who took it and wanted to recover it quietly.
Shady Lane, Vermont, a small rural township in the hills · Johnny Dollar, Ben Bates, Jed Bramler, Millie Wells, Ellen Bates, Sarah Preeney, Grody Hawkins
Listen for: Johnny's investigation into Ben's suspicious behavior and his confrontation with Grody Hawkins at the feed store, where Grody pulls a rifle on them; Constable Bramler's insistence on Ben's innocence despite the mounting evidence.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 435 The Shady Lane Matter - Ep 5 (1956)
Johnny Dollar investigates the murder of Ellen Bates in Shady Lane, Vermont. Mrs. Preeny confesses she wrote an anonymous letter to the insurance company falsely accusing Ben Bates of the crime, motivated by jealousy when Bates ignored her advances. As Dollar examines a stolen squirrel gun that Martin Preeny purchased from Grody Hawkins, he discovers a crucial detail that reveals the true killer.
Shady Lane, Vermont, a small rural farming community with a hotel, cafe, and farms · Johnny Dollar, Mrs. Sarah Preeny, Ben Bates, Martin Preeny, Ellen Bates, Grody Hawkins, Constable Bramlow, Millie Wells
Listen for: The examination of the rifle and the hooks above the fireplace that leads Dollar to his discovery of who really killed Ellen Bates
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 436 The Star of Capetown Matter - Ep 1 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is sent to Cape Town, South Africa to convince the wealthy but reckless Mr. Forbes to place his valuable diamond, the Star of Cape Town, in secure storage. Despite the stone's dangerous history—three men have been killed over it in the past fifty years—Forbes casually carries it in his pocket and throws lavish parties without knowing who will attend. Johnny arrives to find Forbes hosting a surprise party for his disapproving sister Agatha.
Cape Town, South Africa, primarily at Mr. Forbes's estate overlooking the city and bay, during an evening party. · Johnny Dollar, Joe McNabb, Mr. Forbes, Agatha, Sheila, Lieutenant Van Tyl
Listen for: The mysterious history of the cursed diamond and the danger it poses; the contrast between Johnny's professional concern for security and Forbes's carefree attitude; the arrival of Forbes's disapproving sister Agatha at the party.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 437 The Star of Capetown Matter - Ep 2 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is in Cape Town investigating the murder of Forbes, who was stabbed during a party where a valuable diamond called the Star of Cape Town went missing. Dollar interviews police and witnesses, including Sheila who reveals she saw someone leaving Forbes' room with a bottle of perfume, complicating the case as he searches for both the killer and the diamond.
Cape Town, South Africa; Forbes' home, police headquarters, waterfront, Johnny's hotel room, and the docks · Johnny Dollar, Lieutenant Ventile, Sheila, Forbes (deceased), Agatha Forbes, Helen, Julio Biac
Listen for: Johnny's tense confrontation with Sheila in his hotel room about her knowledge of the crime scene, and his discovery that someone was following him through Cape Town's streets.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 438 The Star of Capetown Matter - Ep 3 (1956)
Johnny Dollar chases a stolen diamond called the Star of Cape Town aboard the ship Southern Empress after its owner, playboy Andrew Forbes, is murdered in Cape Town. Dollar helicopters out to the ship to investigate, suspecting the diamond is hidden aboard by Forbes's probable killer. Once on the vessel, Dollar interviews Forbes's sister Agatha and begins piecing together clues involving several suspects who were close to Forbes.
Aboard the Southern Empress ocean liner, sailing from Cape Town, South Africa; earlier scenes in Cape Town · Johnny Dollar, Lieutenant, Andrew Forbes, Agatha Forbes, Helen, Sheila, Ben Stacy
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's investigation unfolds as he questions the people around Forbes and discovers suspicious details like his stateroom being disturbed and the scent of Sheila's perfume appearing in unexpected places.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 439 The Star of Capetown Matter - Ep 4 (1956)
Johnny Dollar investigates the theft of the Star of Capetown diamond aboard a ship bound for Desuates. A cable to Julio Biaq, who posed as a bartender at the party where the diamond was stolen and is now under arrest, suggests the gem is aboard the vessel. Johnny questions Helen, the traveling companion of diamond owner Forbes's sister, while various staterooms are mysteriously searched.
A ship at sea traveling toward Desuates, after leaving Cape Town · Johnny Dollar, Helen, Forbes, Julio Biaq, Cable Graham, Percy, Mr. Stacy
Listen for: The revelation of who sent the cable to the arrested Julio Biaq and the discovery of the Star of Capetown diamond's true location
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 440 The Star of Capetown Matter - Ep 5 (1956)
Johnny Dollar investigates the theft of the Star of Cape Town diamond aboard the Southern Empress. The stone was supposedly stolen by Julio Beak and is now missing, but Johnny discovers the real culprits are Andrew Forbes and his sister Agatha, who planted the diamond in a perfume bottle given to Helen, their traveling companion, planning to recover it when the ship reaches New York.
Aboard the Southern Empress ocean liner en route from Cape Town to Decar, and in the native quarter of Decar · Johnny Dollar, Stacey, Helen, Agatha Forbes, Andrew Forbes, Julio Beak, Hassan, The Steward
Listen for: Johnny's clever persuasion of Hassan using psychology about the fates of Stacy's other employees, and the revelation that a perfume bottle contains the hidden diamond
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 441 The Open Town Matter - Ep 1 (1956)
Chief of Police Ed Blake is shot to death in his home in Greensport, Missouri, and his young wife Marty immediately files a $50,000 life insurance claim. Johnny Dollar arrives as a special investigator to look into the suspicious circumstances surrounding Blake's death, which occurred just three days after he took out the policy with his new wife as beneficiary.
Greensport, Missouri, a town where the police chief's death has left questions about corruption and who might have wanted him dead. · Johnny Dollar, Marty Blake, Averal P. Plotser, Joe Craley, Chief Ed Blake
Listen for: The details of how Chief Blake was killed in his own home in the middle of the night, and Johnny Dollar's growing suspicions about his young widow's involvement.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 442 The Open Town Matter - Ep 2 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in Greensport, Missouri to investigate the death of Ed Blake, who carried a $50,000 policy. Blake's young widow Marty filed her claim within 24 hours, making her the prime suspect. However, City Attorney Dave Sherman provides her with a seemingly airtight alibi, claiming he witnessed her standing in the hall at the moment of the shooting. As Johnny digs deeper, he learns that Blake was involved in local rackets and that a dangerous criminal named Shorty Wells had threatened him.
Greensport, Missouri · Johnny Dollar, Marty Blake, Dave Sherman, City Attorney, Mayor Will, Shorty Wells
Listen for: Johnny's investigation takes an unexpected turn when his leading suspect gains an alibi from a surprising source. The conversation reveals tensions between the city officials and hints at deeper corruption in the town.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 443 The Open Town Matter - Ep 3 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in Greensport, Missouri to investigate the shooting death of Police Chief Ed Blake in his own home. With Blake's young widow Marty and city attorney Dave Sherman both present at the scene, suspicion falls on ex-convict Shorty Wells, who had threatened Blake before his imprisonment. But when someone fires five shots at Dollar himself near City Hall, the case becomes more complicated, and Dollar begins to wonder if the real target was someone else entirely.
Greensport, Missouri · Johnny Dollar, Joe Crilly, Mayor Will Lands, Marty Blake, Dave Sherman, Police Chief Ed Blake, Shorty Wells, Officer O'Rourke
Listen for: Dollar's skepticism about the too-convenient frame of ex-convict Shorty Wells and his growing suspicion that the shooting at City Hall may have been aimed at Marty Blake rather than himself, suggesting a darker connection between the widow and the city attorney.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 444 The Open Town Matter - Ep 4 (1956)
Johnny Dollar investigates the shooting death of Ed Blake, with suspicion falling on Blake's wife Marty despite the city attorney's alibi for her. When Marty's house mysteriously burns down the same night, Johnny must uncover whether the fire is connected to Blake's murder and who is really behind the violence.
A wide-open town where corruption and racketeering run deep, including city hall, Marty Blake's house, and the scene of a major fire. · Johnny Dollar, Joe Crowley, Marty Blake, City Attorney Dave Sherman, Shorty Wells, Ed Blake
Listen for: The mysterious figure who emerges from the basement of the burning house with a gun, and the mounting evidence that suggests Marty Blake may be in greater danger than suspected.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 445 The Open Town Matter - Ep 5 (1956)
Johnny Dollar investigates a murder case involving a wealthy couple. When a key witness, Shorty Wells, is found trapped in a house fire and hospitalized, Johnny discovers a conspiracy involving city officials. As Johnny races to protect Shorty from those who want him silenced, a shocking truth about corruption in the police department emerges.
A city hospital and an all-night lunch room across the street, with flashbacks to various locations in town · Johnny Dollar, Marty, Joe Creole, Dave Sherman, Mayor Lyons, Shorty Wells, Ed Blake, Dr. Morton
Listen for: The revelation of corruption reaching the highest levels of city government, Johnny's clever interrogation of Marty, and the climactic confrontation in Shorty's hospital room
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 446 The Sea Legs Matter - Ep 1 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is called to look into a $400,000 claim filed by Mrs. Connie Lanfaire after her husband Doug's yacht, the Sea Legs, sank near the Bouldera Islands off Nicaragua. The boat went down while Doug was testing newly repaired radio equipment, and both he and the skipper were lost. However, Dollar notes that Doug had filed a similar claim two and a half years earlier when another vessel, the Kaneo, sank in the same treacherous waters.
Long Island, New York and the Caribbean coast of Central America, particularly Nicaragua and the Bouldera Islands · Johnny Dollar, Pat McCrack, Mrs. Connie Lanfaire, Doug Lanfaire, The taxi driver
Listen for: Mrs. Lanfaire's explanation of why her husband deliberately returned to the dangerous Bouldera Islands to prove he could navigate them safely, and Johnny Dollar's growing suspicions about the circumstances of the wreck and the second insurance claim.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 447 The Sea Legs Matter - Ep 2 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar traces a suspicious boat wreck in Nicaragua. A woman named Connie Landfear claims her husband perished when the Sea Legs sank near the Bodero Islands, but Johnny suspects her overwrought expressions of grief may mask guilt. When Johnny arrives in Bluefields to investigate, a colorful local character named Oscar Patrick Vladimipusquero offers his services as guide and fixer, claiming the wreck was a crime and offering crucial knowledge of the remote region.
Nicaragua, principally in the city of Bluefields and surrounding areas; Johnny begins in Dallas and travels through Mexico City before arriving in Nicaragua to investigate a maritime incident. · Johnny Dollar, Connie Landfear, Patrick, Mr. Donner, Oscar Patrick Vladimipusquero
Listen for: Johnny's growing suspicion that Connie's sudden decision to follow him to Nicaragua may not be coincidence; the comical yet cunning Oscar's pitch for employment and his mysterious knowledge of the wreck case; details about the Sea Legs and her sinking between the Bodero Islands.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 448 The Sea Legs Matter - Ep 3 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in Nicaragua to investigate a claim on the sunken ship Sea Legs. The ship went down off the Baudero Islands, and Johnny suspects the owner's wife, Mrs. Landfaire, is making a fraudulent $400,000 insurance claim. With help from Oscar Patrick Vladimir Pascaro, a ham radio operator and bush pilot, Johnny examines the wreck site and discovers something troubling about the supposed accident.
Nicaragua's east coast, including the towns of Porto Gardo and Bluefields, and the waters around the Baudero Islands · Johnny Dollar, Mrs. Douglas Landfaire, Pat, Oscar Patrick Vladimir Pascaro, Captain Ramirez
Listen for: Johnny's deduction about why no wreckage from the Sea Legs washed ashore at Oscar's cove, despite wreckage from the Landfaires' previous boat appearing there
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 449 The Sea Legs Matter - Ep 4 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in San Juan del Perro, Nicaragua, to investigate a $400,000 claim for a sunken yacht and the death of Douglas Landfear. Johnny suspects the wreck was faked and that Landfear is still alive, especially after spotting him piloting the plane that just crashed into theirs. He and his assistant Oscar search for the yacht in the local shipyards.
San Juan del Perro, a small Nicaraguan seaport town in decline, including the San Andreas Hotel and local saloon near the docks. · Johnny Dollar, Oscar Patrick Vladimir Pascaro, Douglas Landfear, Mrs. Constant Landfear, Ramon Gonzalez, The Doctor
Listen for: Johnny's theory that the Landfears faked the shipwreck to collect insurance money, his suspicions about a mysterious cabin passenger, and the tense encounter with Ramon Gonzalez in the local saloon.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 451 The Alder Matter - Ep 1 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is sent to investigate William Billy Alder, a flamboyant promoter and wildcatter who carries a quarter-million-dollar life insurance policy with Worldwide Mutual. Alder has been changing his beneficiary five times in a month—between his wife, daughter, and brother—raising red flags about possible foul play. Dollar travels to Caracas, Venezuela, where Alder is operating an oil venture, to look into the irregularities.
Caracas, Venezuela, at an oil operation and Alder's impressive house on a promontory overlooking the Caribbean Sea. · Johnny Dollar, Vic Kelly, William Billy Alder, Peggy Alder
Listen for: The mystery of why Alder keeps changing his beneficiary and what troubles he might be facing; Alder's cryptic admission that he will tell Johnny Dollar nothing and admits nothing.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 452 The Alder Matter - Ep 2 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is staying at Billy Alder's Venezuelan estate to protect the salesman who has inexplicably changed his beneficiaries five times in one month and survived a gunshot attack. A second attempt on Alder's life occurs when Johnny is confronted by Paul Kincaid, a young man apparently connected to Alder's daughter, leading to a violent struggle near the property's dangerous slope.
Billy Alder's estate in Venezuela, primarily at Laguira near Caracas, with a visit to Caracas police headquarters. · Johnny Dollar, Billy Alder, Joe, Hafez Velasquez, Mrs. Alder, Peggy Alder, Paul Kincaid, Nacho Gomez
Listen for: Johnny's investigation into why Alder keeps changing his beneficiaries and who is trying to kill him, plus tension between the household members and the mysterious Paul Kincaid's true reasons for being at the property.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 453 The Alder Matter - Ep 3 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is protecting Mr. Alder at his home in Caracas, Venezuela, after an attempt on Alder's life. As tensions simmer among the household members, Dollar discovers that someone has searched his room, and he encounters Mrs. Alder behaving suspiciously on the grounds searching for evidence. That evening, a famous matador named Elmentante hosts the group for dinner, nightclub entertainment, and bullfighting matches, providing a temporary escape from the mounting suspicions in the house.
The Alder home in Caracas, Venezuela; later a restaurant, bullfighting matches, and nightclub. · Johnny Dollar, Mr. Alder, Mrs. Constance Alder, Paul Kincke, Doris Cole, Elmentante, Billy Alder
Listen for: The growing tension between household members, hints about who may have attempted to kill Mr. Alder, and the mysterious dynamics between Mrs. Alder and the visiting matador Elmentante.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 454 The Alder Matter - Ep 4 (1956)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar, working in Caracas, Venezuela on the Alder matter, discovers that Billy Alder's houseguest Doris Cole is actually traveling under the name Dora Jansen with a passport and letters about a ship called the Caribbean Star. When the ship arrives at port, Dollar follows Cole to a hotel meeting with a mysterious man named Arthur Singer, and suspects the case involves more than the shooting at Alder that started the investigation.
Caracas, Venezuela; a hotel near the docks; Billy Alder's office · Johnny Dollar, Billy Alder, Doris Cole (also known as Dora Jansen), Arthur Singer, Vic Kelly, The cable office clerk
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's reasoning about Alder's contradictions and lies; the mysterious identity of Arthur Singer; the significance of the Caribbean Star's arrival; the tension between Dollar and the increasingly nervous Billy Alder.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 495 The Primrose Matter - Ep 4 (1956)
Johnny Dollar investigates a $100,000 payroll robbery connected to a wrecked car, three murders, and mysterious happenings at Primrose Camp. He arranges to meet ranger Jed Marsh at a fire patrol phone, but is ambushed by Spade Keller, a wanted criminal from the gang that pulled the heist. When Jed arrives, he too is captured, and the two men find themselves at gunpoint with no clear way out of the trap.
Primrose Camp in the mountains, near a forest ranger fire patrol phone on a summit road at night. · Johnny Dollar, Jet Marsh, Pop Bardell, Spade Keller, Jipper Knitsen
Listen for: The tense confrontation between Johnny and Spade Keller as Johnny pieces together Spade's criminal identity, followed by Jed Marsh's arrival and capture, with both men now held at gunpoint by a desperate killer.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 570 The Eleven O'Clock Matter (AFRTS) (1958)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives at a cliffside house to investigate threatening letters sent to advertising executive Ralph Appleton. That evening, a mysterious figure appears at the window, the phone goes dead, and Appleton's business partner Tom Baker unexpectedly arrives drenched from a car accident. The group retreats to a beach house to escape the tension, but Johnny senses hidden tensions and suspicious glances between some of the guests.
A leased house called Hamilton Hall perched on a cliff overlooking the sea near Skeleton Point, and a beach house below it, during a violent rainstorm. · Johnny Dollar, Ralph Appleton, Grant Hillman, Mrs. Gregory, Laura Appleton, Tom Baker
Listen for: The mystery of who was at the window and whether Tom Baker's arrival is truly coincidental; watch for the connection between Laura Appleton and Tom Baker.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 596 The Mojave Red Sequel (AFRTS) (1958)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is called to Lake Harvey Resort to investigate the death of Elmer Hobbs, a businessman whose boat sank during a storm. While local authorities rule it an accident, Johnny discovers evidence suggesting murder: the boat's flotation tanks were deliberately cut open and an anchor line was wrapped around the body. Now Johnny must determine who among those with motive and opportunity killed Hobbs.
Lake Harvey Resort in the Mojave Desert area, with references to Los Angeles and Nevada · Johnny Dollar, Jake, Buster, Red Barrett, Elmer Hobbs, Stu Manley, Jay Stewart Manley, Mr. Carson
Listen for: The clues pointing to Hobbs' murder: the cut flotation tanks, the anchor line around the body, and the revelation of two beneficiaries of Hobbs' insurance—his business partner and Red Barrett, who found the body and claimed to be his best friend
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 598 The Lucky 4 Matter (1958)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar travels to Colorado to look into the suspicious death of concert pianist Bill Cherry, whose farmhouse was destroyed when his dam allegedly gave way during a storm. Ray Smith, who knew Cherry, believes the dam failure was no accident and shows Johnny evidence of sabotage—a bomb rigged in a vehicle—suggesting Cherry's worthless nephew Tommy Walker may be behind the murder.
Green Mountain Falls, Colorado, at the Lucky 4 ranch property and surrounding mountain areas at 9,000 feet elevation · Johnny Dollar, Ray Smith, Tommy Walker, Ralph Kimbell, Bill Cherry
Listen for: Johnny and Ray investigate the destroyed dam and discover evidence of deliberate sabotage; a bomb is found wired to a vehicle, suggesting premeditated murder rather than accidental death.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 599 The Two Faced Matter (1958)
Johnny Dollar investigates a missing $58,000 from the O-Lang Zion furniture company in North Weldon, Massachusetts. The company's owner, Mr. J. Worthington-Keasley, discovered the vault empty and attributes the theft to Roscoe James Pula, an employee who vanished three years, five months and sixteen days earlier, leaving only a note that says "Good-bye suckers." Johnny must track down the missing employee and recover the stolen building fund.
The O-Lang Zion furniture company in North Weldon, Massachusetts, an old-fashioned New England town where the company maintains traditions from decades past, including horses and carriages instead of automobiles. · Johnny Dollar, Nick Weldon, Mr. J. Worthington-Keasley, Roscoe James Pula
Listen for: The contrast between Johnny's modern sensibilities and the deliberately old-fashioned customs of the furniture company; Johnny's reactions to the eccentric traditions and the puzzle of why the theft went unnoticed for so long.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 602 The Malibu Mystery Matter (AFRTS) (1958)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in Malibu after a $150,000 diesel yacht explodes and sinks off the coast, killing the captain. The owners, Mr. and Mrs. Merrill, survive along with two crew members, but Johnny must investigate the explosion and determine whether Mrs. Merrill's jewelry, initially thought lost, was actually aboard when the disaster occurred.
Malibu, California; the Pacific coast near a fishing pier; the Merrill home in Westwood · Johnny Dollar, Mr. Henley, Captain Rowland, Mr. Merrill, Mrs. Merrill, The Skipper
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's expense account narrative; details of the yacht explosion and rescue; the mystery surrounding the yacht's fuel system failure and the location of Mrs. Merrill's jewelry at the moment of disaster.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 603 The Wayward Diamonds Matter (AFRTS) (1958)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar discovers that Mrs. Merrell's insured jewels are fakes and suspects she plans to claim insurance fraud while her husband faces charges related to a yacht incident. When Dollar places a detective to watch her movements, the man is attacked at the Merrell home and Mrs. Merrell disappears, forcing Dollar and insurance man Peter Hanley to investigate her sudden flight.
Los Angeles and Westwood, California, primarily the Beverly Hilton Hotel and the Merrell home · Johnny Dollar, Peter Hanley, Mrs. Merrell, Mr. Merrell, Detective Sam Benjamin
Listen for: The revelation of the fake diamonds and Dollar's clever deduction about Mrs. Merrell's insurance fraud scheme; the mysterious attack on the detective and Mrs. Merrell's disappearance.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 604 The Johnson Payroll Matter (AFRTS) (1958)
Johnny Dollar travels to California to help recover $100,000 stolen in a New York payroll robbery. An anonymous informant arranges a meeting at Carado Beach, but Johnny arrives to find the man dead with a knife in his ribs. Complicating matters, Johnny encounters the mysterious woman from his cab ride in Los Angeles at a local bar, and a confrontation with another man erupts.
Los Angeles, Carado Beach, and a motel bar in a coastal town, 1958 · Johnny Dollar, Pat McCracken, The informant (dead at pier), A woman from the cab, A man at the bar
Listen for: A botched meeting with a dead informant, a suspicious woman's appearance, and a bar room confrontation that suggests Johnny's investigation is being followed or sabotaged.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 612 The Double Trouble Matter (AFRTS) (1958)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in Sarasota to settle a claim on a 65,000 dollar policy belonging to Albert Kingman, who died in a hurricane 20 years ago. Two men have suddenly appeared, each claiming to be Henry Kingman, the deceased's son and sole beneficiary, both with plausible stories about their lives since the disaster.
Sarasota, Florida and surrounding areas in 1958 · Johnny Dollar, Earl Pormann, Henry Kingman (first claimant), Gertrude Pormann
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's detailed investigation as he attempts to determine which Henry Kingman is the genuine beneficiary, including his examination of background information and interviews with the claimants.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 614 The Hair Raising Matter (1958)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives at the home of a wealthy man who has been found dead in his bedroom. While the doctor attributes the death to natural causes and a heart condition, Johnny senses something is amiss at the scene, though he cannot immediately identify what troubles him about the circumstances.
A wealthy household in Hollywood, focusing on the bedroom where a man has died · Johnny Dollar, Brit Milk, Gerten, Doctor, Sergeant, Miss
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's instincts that something is wrong despite the doctor's natural causes ruling; the details about the open windows and peculiar smells in the room; the family's reactions to the death
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 621 The Doting Dowager Matter (1959)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is called to the Manhattan home of wealthy widow Mrs. Dora Harkness Ballon after a small statue of her Civil War general grandfather disappears from her reception room. When a ransom note arrives demanding $75,000 for the statue's return, Mrs. Ballon insists on paying despite the high sum, threatening to cancel all her insurance if Dollar doesn't recover it.
New York City, an elegant brownstone house on East 73rd Street in Manhattan · Johnny Dollar, Mrs. Dora Harkness Ballon, Harold Winters, Higgins, George (at Floyd's of England)
Listen for: The mysterious ransom note and Mrs. Ballon's obsessive attachment to the supposedly worthless statue; Harold Winters' cryptic warnings and Mrs. Ballon's controlling behavior toward her nephew.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 623 The Date with Death Matter (AFRTS) (1) (1959)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is forced to abandon his dinner date when his boss Bert Guels calls with urgent news: Curly Waters, a criminal Johnny had sent to prison two years ago and who later swore vengeance, has escaped from the hospital where he was being held under guard. When Johnny rushes to check on his date Betty Lewis, he finds her apartment empty. A stolen car and a captured accomplice suggest Curly may still be in town, setting a trap.
Hartford, Connecticut; Johnny Dollar's apartment, Master's Insurance and Trust Company office, Betty Lewis's apartment, and the city streets · Johnny Dollar, Bert Guels, Lieutenant Howard Daley, Curly Waters, Gympie Taylor, Betty Lewis, Riley
Listen for: The opening sequence about testing apartment extension phones; the details of Curly Waters's escape from the hospital; Johnny and the lieutenant's desperate race to Betty's apartment; the phone call revealing Betty was lured away by a false hospital message.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 624 The Shankar Diamond Matter (AFRTS) (1959)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is asked by his old flame Martha Mayfield to escort her to her son Edgar's wedding in Greensboro, North Carolina. Martha insists on bringing the Shankar Diamond, a nearly priceless gem reputed to bring good luck, which has attracted the attention of jewel thieves in the past. As they prepare to fly to the wedding, Johnny suspects Martha knows more about a potential threat to the diamond than she's telling him.
New York City and a flight to Greensboro, North Carolina, 1959 · Johnny Dollar, Steve Kilmer, Martha Mayfield Maryman, Larkin, Edgar, Mary Louanne Melanie, Sergeant Bell
Listen for: The chemistry between Johnny and the sharp-witted Martha; the mystery surrounding who might be after the diamond; details about the wedding and the danger that lies ahead.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 625 The Blue Madonna Matter (AFRTS) (1) (1959)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar receives a call from a mysterious Parisian character named Chagri about a valuable painting called the Blue Madonna. Dollar bets his boss that the painting currently hanging in the Gavin Galleries in Philadelphia is not genuine, and travels there with art expert Foster Harmon to investigate the suspicious transaction.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; a luxury hotel and an art gallery on Walnut Street, with flashbacks to Paris · Johnny Dollar, George Reed, Chagri (Demarsak), Foster Harmon, Kingsley Holland, Arnold Gavin
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's skepticism about the painting's authenticity, Kingsley Holland's nervous offer to sell the Blue Madonna directly and cheaply, and the mounting evidence that a switch may have been made.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 663 The Bayou Body Matter (1959)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar flies to Sarasota, Florida after learning that a man he recently insured for $50,000 has been found dead floating under his agent's dock. What initially appears to be a heart attack becomes a murder investigation when the coroner discovers the man was struck fatally in the face with a wrought iron poker. As police search for the missing Mrs. Carter, suspicion falls on the wife, though a younger beneficiary—a former stripper named Mitzi Taylor living in New York—also had motive.
Sarasota, Florida, a bayou area with expensive homes and private docks · Johnny Dollar, Earl Poorman, Sergeant Wade, Dr. Phillips, Dr. Theo Foote, Ralph Carter, Mrs. Carter, Mitzi Taylor
Listen for: The revelation that Carter's death was murder, not natural causes; the discovery of Mrs. Carter's threatening words to her husband the night before; the introduction of multiple suspects with financial motives.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 735 The Rat Pack Matter (1961)
Johnny Dollar travels to Summit Hill, a wealthy retirement community, to investigate a series of expensive car thefts and vandalism by a group of reckless young troublemakers. Using a fake Federal survey as cover, Johnny arrives in the small town to find the locals living in fear of the so-called rat pack, who steal and wreck vehicles under cover of darkness.
Summit Hill, a small wealthy residential community about 40-50 miles northwest of Corpus Christi, Texas, and surrounding areas. · Johnny Dollar, George (insurance company contact), Gas station attendant, Mrs. Brierley, Henry Brierley
Listen for: Johnny's investigation into who is behind the rash of car thefts and vandalism, and whether the young troublemakers are truly as dangerous as the townspeople fear.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 738 The Simple Simon Matter (1961)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is called to Los Angeles to look into the death of Jerry Hilton, a man with a $16,000 life insurance policy whose car went off a cliff near Newhall. While police believe it was suicide made to look like an accident, an anonymous caller insists Dollar meet him in San Diego, claiming to have information that could prove otherwise and suggesting the insurance must be paid.
Los Angeles and surrounding areas in California; the case involves an accident scene near Newhall, about 35 miles north of LA · Johnny Dollar, Frank Francis, Jerry Hilton, Margery Hilton
Listen for: The anonymous phone call and what information the mystery caller has about Jerry Hilton's death; Johnny Dollar's decision to meet the stranger in San Diego despite police suspicions of suicide
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 739 The Lone Wolf Matter (1961)
Johnny Dollar is hired by Thomas Morgan, a successful stockbroker, who is being blackmailed by Henry B. Wolfe, his former partner in a stock swindle from 25 years ago. Wolfe demands $10,000 and threatens to expose their crime to Morgan's family and business unless he pays, claiming he has written a full confession to be released if anything happens to him. Johnny must locate Wolfe and determine how to handle the blackmail threat.
A brokerage office on North Commerce in Newark, with connections to Philadelphia · Johnny Dollar, Thomas Morgan, Henry B. Wolfe, Harvey
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's investigation into the blackmail scheme and his search for Henry B. Wolfe; the details of the old stock swindle and Morgan's attempts at restitution.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 740 The Yaak Mystery Matter (1961)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is summoned to remote Yak, Montana to investigate wealthy client John Turner Whitaker, who has vanished on a hunting trip with his daughter Valerie and son-in-law Lou Larson. The search party finds Lou Larson alone, barely conscious on horseback, and as he regains awareness, he must reveal what happened to the others in the snow-covered wilderness.
Remote wilderness near Yak, Montana in late May; Shorty Bessum's log cabin lodge and surrounding snow-covered forest country. · Johnny Dollar, Steve Yocum, John Turner Whitaker, Valerie, Lou Larson, Shorty Bessum, Mrs. Bessum
Listen for: Lou Larson's account of what happened to Whitaker and Valerie during the hunting expedition in the mountains; whether Whitaker is alive or dead and the circumstances surrounding his disappearance.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 741 The Stock-In-Trade Matter (1961)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is sent to the small town of Somerville, Tennessee to investigate the murder of Volney Bourgard Exum, a client of Worldwide Mutual Insurance. The elderly man was found dead at his desk with his head bashed in, and with no apparent clues or suspects, Dollar must uncover who killed him and why, starting with interviews of the three beneficiaries of his $35,000 insurance policy.
Memphis, Tennessee and the small town of Somerville, Tennessee, at an old plantation house and local businesses · Johnny Dollar, Ripley, Volney Bourgard Exum, Clara Bell Lockway Exum, Volney Bourgard Exum (nephew), Van Buren Ovalthorpe, Don Lekato
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's distinctive narrative style as he begins his investigation into the murder, interviewing the beneficiaries and piecing together the victim's sparse life and mysterious finances
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 742 The Big Date Matter (AFRTS) (1961)
Johnny Dollar is in Florida trying to avoid going back north when his insurance company contact Don Boonhauer calls him to Sarasota with what he claims is an urgent matter. It turns out the emergency is just a tax form that needs signing, but when Johnny steps outside Don's office, a blonde woman's car begins backfiring loudly, drawing a crowd. Johnny helps investigate the car trouble and finds himself charmed by the mysterious young woman.
Sarasota, Florida, on Main Street outside Don Boonhauer's insurance office, and later at a car with ignition trouble · Johnny Dollar, Don Boonhauer, A blonde woman with car trouble, Police sergeant
Listen for: The comedic chaos caused by the car's persistent backfiring, the crowd gathering on Main Street, and Johnny's easy charm as he tries to help the blonde woman with her automobile troubles.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 743 The Low Tide Matter (1961)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is hired by Trim Mutual to locate two missing business partners, Charles Foster and Michael Brady, who have gone on a fishing trip together. Trim Mutual holds a partnership policy worth $500,000 on the two men, and the company fears that the younger, ambitious Brady may have foul play in mind for the aging Foster.
Hartford, Connecticut and surrounding areas; offices of Trim Mutual Insurance Company and homes of the Foster and Brady families. · Johnny Dollar, Frederick Benham, Charles Foster, Michael Brady, Mrs. Charles Foster, Kathy Brady
Listen for: Johnny's investigation into the partnership between Foster and Brady, and his conversations with their wives as he tries to determine where the two men have gone fishing.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 744 The Imperfect Crime Matter (1961)
Johnny Dollar is hired to investigate a case involving author J. Stanley Porter, whose previous four wives all died suddenly within a year or two of marriage. Porter's current wife, Denise, fears she may be his next victim, particularly since he spends all his time writing about perfect crimes and murders. Johnny must determine whether Porter is a dangerous killer or simply a macabre writer whose dark imaginings are being misinterpreted.
The offices of State Enerling Life insurance company and the home of author J. Stanley Porter · Johnny Dollar, Lou Little, Denise Porter, J. Stanley Porter, Lieutenant Randy Singer
Listen for: The mysterious deaths of Porter's previous wives and clues hidden in his writing and behavior
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 745 The Well of Trouble Matter (1961)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar accepts a thousand-dollar check from policyholder Stanley Porter through his broker Lou Little. When Lou mentions an eccentric client named Jeremy Withers who mails insurance premiums in cash without proper precautions, Johnny becomes curious about a stack of bills in Lou's office. He drives to Withers' remote cabin in Oklahoma and discovers the old man has unknowingly received stolen money from the First National Bank robbery in nearby Millville—over twenty thousand dollars in new twenty-dollar bills with consecutive serial numbers starting with triple-six, double-four.
Hartford insurance office, then rural Oklahoma near Millville · Johnny Dollar, Lou Little, Jeremy Withers, Stanley Porter
Listen for: The mystery of how stolen bank robbery money ended up in an eccentric old man's hands
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 746 The Fiddle Faddle Matter (1961)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is called to Florida by his old friend Earl Foreman to investigate the theft of a rare Bicyac violin called the Canary, valued at ten thousand dollars. The instrument was stolen from the shop of violin repairman Antonio DiPelido after the shop was broken into and the elderly craftsman was knocked unconscious. When Johnny arrives, he learns that the violin's owner, wealthy collector Joseph R. Tetrick, has died under mysterious circumstances shortly after claiming he knew who the thief was.
West Palm Beach, Florida, including the offices of Earl Foreman and Don Boomer, the home of Joseph Tetrick on St. Armand's Key, and the violin repair shop of Antonio DiPelido on Palm Avenue. · Johnny Dollar, Earl Foreman, Don Boomer, Joseph R. Tetrick, Antonio DiPelido
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's characteristic matter-of-fact narration as he arrives in Florida and begins piecing together the circumstances of the theft and Tetrick's death; details about the priceless Bicyac violin collection and its significance to the elderly collector.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 747 the old fashioned murder matter (1961)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in Denver after receiving an urgent call from Herbert Lynn, a state unity official who fears that his elderly client Howard Hartsell, a 73-year-old wealthy man with a quarter-million-dollar insurance policy, will be murdered. Lynn believes one of Hartsell's three beneficiaries—his nieces Clara and Bonnie, or his nephew Tony—is planning to kill him, pointing to recent mysterious incidents including a car that tried to run Hartsell down and a puzzling illness that Lynn suspects is poisoning. Dollar begins investigating the relatives to uncover who poses the real threat.
Denver and Colorado Springs, Colorado, in 1961. The story centers around Howard Hartsell's home in Green Mountain Falls, a small settlement west of Colorado Springs. · Johnny Dollar, Herbert Lynn, Howard Hartsell, Clara Johnson, Bonnie Briggs, Harry Briggs, Tony, Dr. East today
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's direct confrontation tactics as he interviews Clara Johnson, the high school chemistry teacher and niece who openly expresses her resentment about not being the sole beneficiary and her desperate longing for the inheritance. Pay attention to the mysterious circumstances surrounding Hartsell's health and the mysterious car incidents, as well as the suspicious role of the elderly family doctor now living in the house.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 748 The Chuckanut Matter (1961)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar travels to a small town near Seattle to investigate suspicious insurance claims on a couple heavily insured with half-million-dollar policies. When he arrives at their mountain property, he discovers that one spouse has just died in a car crash on the treacherous road leading to their home, and he must determine whether it was a genuine accident or something more sinister.
Seattle, Washington and the mountain community of Chuckanut, featuring a dangerous winding road near the Brittingham home. · Johnny Dollar, Lucian Peterson, Mark Brittingham, Myra Brittingham, Sergeant Bill Foreman
Listen for: The description of the deadly mountain road with its sharp hairpin turns and switchbacks, and the details of the car accident that sets the investigation in motion.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 750 the perilous padre matter (cut open) (1961)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in Corpus Christi, Texas, summoned by his friend Doug Johnston to investigate a matter on Padre Island. When Johnny learns that Doug's friend Jackson Price has gone missing after calling for Johnny's help, the two men set out across the causeway to the island armed with shovels and a rifle, and Doug begins to tell Johnny about a fascinating history involving a Spanish treasure fleet from 1553.
Corpus Christi, Texas and Padre Island, a long sandy barrier island stretching from Corpus Christi down toward Mexico · Johnny Dollar, Doug Johnston, Jackson Price, O'Brien
Listen for: Johnny and Doug's expedition to Padre Island to search for the missing Jackson Price; the tale of the Spanish treasure fleet from 1553 that Doug begins to reveal
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 751 The Wrong Doctor Matter (1961)
Johnny Dollar arrives in Corpus Christi, Texas to take on a case from Jack Price. After settling into his hotel room, a large man with a gun forces his way in, and the two engage in a violent struggle. When hotel staff break down the door, the man is dead, and Johnny discovers the intruder was Diego Hernandez, a recently released convict and shrimp boat captain connected to Jack's case.
Corpus Christi, Texas; the Robert Driscoll Hotel · Johnny Dollar, Jack Price, Diego Hernandez, Dr. Rodden, Chambermaid, House Detective
Listen for: The opening exposition of Johnny Dollar's expense account investigation; the brutal fight scene in the hotel room; the revelation of Hernandez's identity and criminal past.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 753 the shifty looker matter (1961)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is called to Floyd's of England office by Jeffrey Reed, who has taken over for his brother George. Reed presents an unusual kidnapping case: the young daughter of retired Mr. Looker has disappeared, and the family has an extraordinary insurance policy that will pay up to $100,000 in ransom, but only if Johnny and Reed keep the authorities completely out of the matter.
Floyd's of England insurance office in Hartford, Connecticut; the Wakefield Towers area · Johnny Dollar, Jeffrey Reed, George Reed, Mr. Looker, Sarah, Cynthia Looker
Listen for: The shocking insurance policy that forbids contacting police or FBI, Johnny's determination to prevent the ransom from being paid, and the dangerous stakes of a kidnapping where authorities cannot be involved.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 754 The All Wet Matter (1961)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar travels to Casey, South Carolina to investigate a mysterious package received by wealthy widow Melanie Ramsey Pembroke. The package, postmarked from Chicago, contains a crude time bomb that Melanie safely disarms by throwing it out the window into a fish pond, damaging the detonating device.
Casey, South Carolina, at Ramseville, the Pembroke family home, in 1961 · Johnny Dollar, Mr. Thurston, Melanie Ramsey Pembroke, Peter Pembroke
Listen for: The explanation for who sent the bomb and why they wanted to harm Melanie Pembroke; details about her husband Peter's travels and his connection to Chicago
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 755 The Buyer and the Cellar Matter (1961)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar travels to San Francisco to investigate the disappearance of Harvey Lehman, a commission buyer of rare antiques who vanished a week ago after traveling to Los Angeles to meet with wealthy film producer John Arthur Whittington-Meener. Don Reglet, Johnny's contact at the insurance company, suspects foul play, but Johnny must determine whether Lehman has deliberately fled his domineering wife Doris or met with something worse.
San Francisco, California; flashbacks to Los Angeles and Beverly Hills · Johnny Dollar, Don Reglet, Harvey Lehman, Doris Lehman, John Arthur Whittington-Meener
Listen for: The portrait of Harvey Lehman as a punctual, decent man who acquires rare and unusual items for wealthy clients, and the tension between him and his extravagant, controlling wife Doris.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 757 The Double-Barreled Matter (1961)
Johnny Dollar is called to San Diego by Phil East of the insurance company to investigate a series of seven burglaries at the apartment of Charles and Trudy Warner over the past two months. The unusual aspect is that nothing has ever been stolen, yet someone keeps breaking in and searching through the place. Johnny arrives and meets Trudy Warner, who is frustrated by her husband's refusal to call the police and worried about what might happen if she's home alone when a burglar breaks in.
San Diego, California; the Warner's apartment cottage near a hotel · Johnny Dollar, Phil East, Charles Hastings Warner, Trudy Warner
Listen for: Trudy Warner's account of the mysterious break-ins and her concern about the intruders' real purpose, given that nothing is being stolen despite the repeated searches through their belongings.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 759 The Medium Rare Matter (1961)
Johnny Dollar arrives in Corpus Christi to investigate a fraudulent psychic named Udi Vishnu, who operates a spiritualist temple just beyond the city limits. Insurance investigator Jack Price believes Vishnu is manipulating his followers into naming him as beneficiary on their insurance policies, and two of their clients have been mysteriously murdered. Dollar attends one of Vishnu's evening séances to observe the con artist at work.
Corpus Christi, Texas; the Temple of the Living Truth, a converted barn several miles south of the city near Ranch 66 · Johnny Dollar, Jack Price, Udi Vishnu
Listen for: Vishnu's theatrical presentation and the crowd's reaction; Johnny's impressions of the supposed psychic and his methods
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 761 The Three for One Matter (1961)
Johnny Dollar is summoned to Boston by his old contact Christian Albeck at International Life and Casualty to investigate the disappearance of John Stuart Kirkman, a wealthy retired businessman with a quarter-million-dollar policy. Albeck hints that three suspects with possible motives—Charles Hockaway (who owes Kirkman $100,000), Mildred Armstrong (Kirkman's ex-wife), and Tony Benson (a young drifter)—have all recently moved to the Santa Harbor area in New Hampshire where Kirkman lives. When Johnny arrives at Santa Harbor, Police Chief Mike Sharp reveals that Kirkman has been found dead.
Boston and Santa Harbor, New Hampshire, 1961 · Johnny Dollar, Christian Albeck, John Stuart Kirkman, Mona Kirkman, Chief Mike Sharp, Charles D. Hockaway, Mildred Armstrong, Tony Benson
Listen for: Johnny's wisecracks about expense accounts and fishing opportunities; the three suspects introduced as possible motives for Kirkman's disappearance; the revelation that Kirkman is already dead.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 762 The Bee or Not to Bee Matter (1961)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is given a case by Pat Fuller at Universal Adjustment Bureau involving a couple running a fake injury scam at hotels across the country. The pair registers at hotels, stages a fall or slip, and demands cash settlements while threatening lawsuits. After hitting thirteen hotels in four months, Johnny receives a photograph of the suspects and a list of target cities, and begins to formulate a theory about their next move based on a curious pattern.
Universal Adjustment Bureau office in Hartford, Connecticut, with the investigation spanning multiple hotels across the United States · Johnny Dollar, Pat Fuller, Pat McCracken
Listen for: The detailed description of the hotel injury scam racket and Johnny's realization that the fake address the couple uses—21st Street and Fairmount Avenue in Philadelphia—is actually the location of Easton Penitentiary
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 763 The Monticello Mystery Matter (1961)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is called to Port Jarvis, New York by insurance representative Henry Foreman regarding a wealthy client. Dollar travels to an isolated and beautiful lodge near Monticello owned by Rudy and Nancy Teckler, where he meets the couple and learns the lodge was previously owned by Nancy's first husband, Horace Rathbun Mellinger of a vast steel and oil fortune.
Port Jarvis, New York and an isolated private lodge near Monticello in the Catskill Mountains, between Kenosa Lake and Swan Lake · Johnny Dollar, Henry Foreman, Rudy Teckler, Nancy Teckler
Listen for: Johnny's suspicions grow as the Tecklers claim they summoned him for fishing rather than business; Nancy reveals the lodge belonged to her wealthy first husband Horace Rathbun Mellinger
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 764 The Wrong One Matter (1961)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar travels to Florida to visit an unusual client named Emmett Denery who has sent an urgent, misspelled letter demanding quick payment on an insurance policy before something happens. Earl Foreman, Johnny's boss, claims the visit is just a routine client call, but Johnny suspects there's more to the story given his history of stumbling into trouble in Florida. Johnny heads into the dangerous Everglades swamp country to locate Denery and his partner Waldo Blake.
Sarasota and the Everglades swamp country of Florida in 1961 · Johnny Dollar, Earl Foreman, Emmett Denery, Waldo Blake, Ben Osceola, Pete Fisher, Mike Foreman, Don Boomer
Listen for: Johnny's skepticism about Earl's true reason for sending him to Florida, the mysterious threatening letter from Emmett Denery, and Johnny's dangerous journey into the swamp to locate the client
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 765 The Guide to Murder Matter (1961)
Johnny Dollar arrives in Sarasota, Florida for a fishing vacation, but his friend Earl Foreman drags him to his office before they can leave. Earl finally convinces Johnny that a fishing trip with Captain Barney Beale at Lemon Bay is purely recreational—no insurance matters involved. However, when they return to the dock and visit Captain Beale's garage to see his prized 1922 Maxwell automobile, they discover a dead man slumped behind the wheel.
Sarasota, Florida, including Earl Foreman's office, Lemon Bay, and Captain Beale's garage · Johnny Dollar, Earl Foreman, Captain Barney Beale, Dr. Hill
Listen for: The discovery of a mysterious corpse in the locked garage; questions about how the man got inside and whether it's suicide or murder.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 766 The Mad Bomber Matter (1961)
Johnny Dollar arrives in tiny Muddy Gap, Wyoming, where newspaper editor and insurance agent Hank Parnell reports receiving mysterious phone calls from Billy Benbow, a violent man from the town who was drafted decades ago and later escaped from an asylum. Benbow was trained in explosives during the war and has threatened revenge on the town, and now with Muddy Gap surrounded by massive oil storage tanks, Parnell fears Benbow plans devastating destruction.
Muddy Gap, Wyoming, a small oil storage town in cattle country west of Casper, surrounded by huge steel tanks holding millions of gallons of crude oil. · Johnny Dollar, Hank Parnell, Billy Benbow
Listen for: The mysterious phone calls and the strange noise heard outside the office at the episode's end.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 767 The Cinder Elmer Matter (1961)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar travels to the snowy mountains of Crestline, California to investigate the disappearance of Bartley Harmon, a small businessman who vanished while on holiday at Hillcrest Lodge with his wife Nora and his business partner Elmer Eitzen. With the company holding a $200,000 accidental death policy with double indemnity on Harmon, Dollar must determine whether he met with an accident or something more sinister.
Crestline, California in the mountains at Hillcrest Lodge during winter; begins in Los Angeles and Hartford · Johnny Dollar, Charlie Warren, Bartley Harmon, Nora Harmon, Elmer Eitzen, Roy Turner
Listen for: The contrast between Johnny's expectations of sunny California and the snowy mountains; Charlie Warren's attempts to persuade Johnny to come west; details about the missing Bartley Harmon and the people around him at the lodge
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 769 The Phony Phone Matter (Network) (1961)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar takes on a case involving Harvey L. Hallett, a man Bert Helfer suspects of filing phony insurance claims for burglaries he stages himself. When Johnny calls Hallett to investigate, a mysterious explosion erupts at a building connected to Hallett's operations, and Johnny must determine whether Hallett is genuinely victimized or orchestrating crimes for insurance payouts.
Manhattan insurance office and surrounding New York City locations, close to Christmas · Johnny Dollar, Bert Helfer, Harvey L. Hallett, Mary Hallett
Listen for: The discussion of the classic criminal cover-up trick where a guilty party reports his own crimes to deflect suspicion, and the sudden explosion that complicates Johnny's investigation.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 770 The One Too Many Matter (1961)
Johnny Dollar is unexpectedly recruited on New Year's Eve to investigate a potential murder plot. Dr. Begley believes one of Mrs. Nancy Cunningham's two nephews, Walter Bader or Donald Kingman, plans to kill her before she can change her will to exclude them as beneficiaries. Johnny agrees to stay with Mrs. Cunningham while the nephews visit for the holiday.
Connecticut, New Year's Eve; Hal Kempert's house and Mrs. Cunningham's residence · Johnny Dollar, Hal Kempert, Dara Kempert, Dr. Albert Begley, Mrs. Nancy Cunningham, Walter Bader, Donald Kingman
Listen for: The details of Mrs. Cunningham's heart condition, recent suspicious incidents at her home, and the arrival of her two nephews
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 771 The Hot Chocolate Matter (1962)
Johnny Dollar is called to investigate a $104,000 diamond theft from Mac Bilby's jewelry store on Madison Avenue in New York. A night watchman named McDuggins was shot during the robbery, and a cleaning boy named Daniel Fairling has disappeared. Johnny begins tracking leads, visiting the wounded watchman in the hospital and searching for Fairling's whereabouts.
New York City, primarily Manhattan, including Mac Bilby's jewelry store on Madison Avenue near 57th Street, Bellevue Hospital, and a residential building where Daniel Fairling lives. · Johnny Dollar, Lieutenant Randol Singer, Mac Bilby, McDuggins, Miss Tovish, Daniel Fairling, Mr. Dubin, Dr. Leffman
Listen for: The clever setup of the diamond heist mystery with multiple suspects, the dynamic between Johnny Dollar and Lieutenant Singer, and clues pointing to the missing cleaning boy Daniel Fairling who was seen delivering chocolates to the store.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 773 The Terrible Torch Matter (1962)
Johnny Dollar investigates a series of suspicious fires near the small town of Woodbine, New Jersey. Two factories at an industrial complex have already burned, and insurance investigator Fred Larkin fears more fires are coming. Johnny travels to the area and teams up with Smoky Sullivan, a reformed arsonist turned consultant, to uncover whether the fires are part of an organized scheme.
Woodbine, New Jersey and surrounding area; an industrial complex of factories outside town; Trenton, New Jersey · Johnny Dollar, Fred Larkin, Smoky Sullivan, Mr. Becker
Listen for: Johnny's investigation into the financial troubles of factory owners and his interview with the suspicious banker Mr. Becker; the revelation that Smoky Sullivan, a former arsonist, is now helping solve arson cases.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 774 The Can't Be So Matter (1962)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives at the scene of a young man's death in a New York apartment building. The victim, Willoughby, appears to have been shot by someone he knew well. Dollar learns that Willoughby had recently been seen having lunch with Connie, the wife of Les Wallers, an insurance company colleague, raising questions about Les's possible involvement and motive.
New York City, including an apartment building on East Maple Street, the Worldwide Mutual Insurance Company office in the Spear Building, and a residential apartment shared by Les and Connie Wallers. · Johnny Dollar, Mary, Mr. Harmon, Sergeant Tommy Bravo, Les Wallers, Connie Wallers, Willoughby
Listen for: The investigation into whether Les Wallers had reason to kill Willoughby, and Connie's explanation for her recent lunch with the deceased.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 775 The Nugget of Truth Matter (1962)
Johnny Dollar meets with his insurance company contact Ted Newberry, who arranges for Johnny to see Pandora Peters, a glamorous and wealthy woman married to inventor Philip Truesdale. Pandora reveals she has been receiving threatening notes for two months, starting after her husband patented an electronic battery invention. The notes quote scripture and demand the invention be given to the world rather than profited from by one person, with increasingly violent threats against Pandora's life.
Ted Newberry's office at Union States Casualty Insurance Company, and references to the Peters residence at Markly Drive and Philip's factory building · Johnny Dollar, Ted Newberry, Pandora Peters, Philip Truesdale
Listen for: The nature of the threatening notes and their escalating demands; details about Philip Truesdale's electronic battery invention; the mysterious golden skull charm from Pandora's grandfather's California nugget; why the police stopped providing Philip with protection.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 776 The Do It Yourself Matter (1962)
Johnny Dollar is called in by the Greater Southwest Insurance Company to investigate a series of nine fires that have occurred in Seamy Valley near Moore Park over six weeks. The company suspects arson, especially since a young, aggressive insurance agent named Harry Walterson has been capitalizing on the fires to sell new policies, though the claim payouts far exceed the premium income.
Seamy Valley and Moore Park, north of the San Fernando Valley in California, near the area recently devastated by the Bel Air and Pangar Canyon fires · Johnny Dollar, Mr. Harkins, Royal J. Hunter, Harry Walterson, Mrs. Hatcher, Mr. Pretty, Mr. Burton
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's investigation into whether homeowners themselves are setting fires to collect insurance or if arson is being perpetrated by someone else; Walterson's suspicious ability to sell policies following each fire outbreak.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 777 The Takes A Crook Matter (1962)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is attacked and knocked unconscious in his garage while retrieving evidence—a fake mouth—from his car trunk. When he comes to, the evidence has been stolen. Dollar must determine who struck him and locate the missing evidence before the federal agents arrive from Washington.
Johnny Dollar's apartment building and garage in the evening, with references to Washington and the Manhart Gallery · Johnny Dollar, Les Walters, Hal
Listen for: The details of what the stolen evidence is, who attacked Johnny, and how the fake mouth connects to the Maure Madonna painting and the federal investigation
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 778 The Mixed Blessing Matter (1962)
Johnny Dollar is called to Kingman, Arizona by his insurance company to deliver $41,000 cash to Barney Blessing, who wants his retirement policy paid out in full rather than in monthly installments. Jake Kessler, the company's local agent, is laid up with injuries from a horse-riding accident and reveals that Blessing is a former prohibition-era gunman with a mysterious connection to another man named Higbee.
Los Angeles and Kingman, Arizona · Johnny Dollar, Charlie Warren, Jake Kessler, Barney Blessing, Higbee
Listen for: The explanation of why Blessing needs the full payout and what Higbee's role in his life really is
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 779 The Top Secret Matter (1962)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is sent to investigate three fatal explosions at the Bascom Development Company, a secret rocket fuel research facility hidden along the California coast near Monterey. The deaths occurred while testing a revolutionary new solid rocket fuel formula developed by a young East German scientist. As Johnny arrives at the heavily guarded compound, another explosion suddenly rocks the buildings.
A secret research facility disguised as summer cottages on the California coast near Monterey, along Highway 1; also New York International Airport and San Francisco offices. · Johnny Dollar, Len Walker, George, The young East German scientist
Listen for: The dramatic sound of an explosion as Johnny arrives at the compound; discussion of the rocket fuel development and the mysterious three deaths.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 780 The Golden Dream Matter (1962)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar flies to Kingman, Arizona to help his old friend Jake Hasler investigate a suspicious mining stock scheme. A young engineer named Myron Kingsley was hired to inspect the Golden Dream mine for a suspicious stockholder but disappeared a week ago after checking into the Lake Mojave Resort. Jake and Ham Pratt, the resort manager, suspect foul play involving Marty Spiller, who has been promoting worthless mining stock to unsuspecting easterners.
Kingman, Arizona and the Lake Mojave Resort area in the desert near the Colorado River and abandoned mines · Johnny Dollar, Jake Hasler, Myron Kingsley, H. R. Pratt (Ham), Marty Spiller
Listen for: The investigation into Kingsley's disappearance and the Golden Dream mining stock fraud scheme; clues about what happened at the abandoned mine shaft
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 782 The Shadow of a Doubt Matter (1962)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar flies to Los Angeles at the request of his old friend Ted Orloff to investigate an embezzlement at a bottling plant owned by Barney Garrison. Garrison claims that nearly $170,000 has been stolen and believes his business partner Ralph Betterly is responsible, though Betterly hasn't yet been confronted about the missing money.
Los Angeles and Palm Springs, California, with scenes at a bottling plant, an airport, and Garrison's resort home · Johnny Dollar, Ted Orloff, Barney Garrison, Ralph Betterly
Listen for: Garrison's suspicious behavior and his insistence that his partner Betterly is guilty despite having only circumstantial reasoning
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 783 The Blue Rock Matter (1962)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives at a remote farmhouse on the Isopus River in upstate New York, supposedly for the trout fishing season opener. His real assignment is to watch over five-year-old Barry Aspenwald and his stepfather Tom, who stands to inherit the boy's share of a million-dollar estate if Barry dies before the family's dying patriarch. The dangerous Blue Rock pool below the bridge seems like the perfect place for Tom to stage a fatal accident.
The Horn Block Farm near Mount Tremble, New York, on the Isopus River, during the opening day of trout season in early spring. · Johnny Dollar, Phil, Thomas Gerald Aspenwald, Emery Archibald, Nancy Archibald, Barry Aspenwald, Fritz Hornblock, Mrs. Hornblock
Listen for: Johnny's clever arrival at the farmhouse under the guise of a fishing enthusiast, his first encounters with Tom Aspenwald and young Barry, and Fritz Hornblock's warning about the treacherous Blue Rock pool where accidents could easily be faked.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 784 The Ivy Emerald Matter (1962)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is called to Boston to investigate the theft of the Ivy Emerald, a valuable gold brooch shaped like Boston ivy that was stolen from the home of Mrs. Oscar B. Sterling-Wait. The emerald was taken from a hidden safe in her library, and Johnny must determine how the thief learned the combination to what was supposed to be an impenetrable safe.
Boston, Massachusetts, including the Beacon Hills section and Mrs. Sterling-Wait's mansion library · Johnny Dollar, Bob Baker, Mrs. Oscar B. Sterling-Wait, Hendrix the butler, Harry Darlington, Arnold, Evelyn Meiness
Listen for: Johnny's deduction about how the safe combination could be learned despite the manufacturer's guarantee, and his identification of a former servant named Arnold as a potential suspect
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 785 The Wrong Idea Matter (1962)
Johnny Dollar arrives in Knoxville to protect Marilyn Brannigan, whose husband Alfie was released from prison two weeks ago after serving time for embezzlement. Years ago in court, Alfie made a cold, menacing threat that he would get revenge on both Marilyn and the man who testified against him. Now Marilyn has disappeared, and Johnny must find her before Alfie does.
Knoxville, Tennessee, primarily at police headquarters and Tim Harrington's home · Johnny Dollar, Tim Harrington, Marilyn Brannigan, Alfie Brannigan, Sergeant Seymour Jefferson Piper
Listen for: The contrast between Tim's conviction that Alfie's courtroom threat was genuine and serious, and Sergeant Piper's dismissive attitude toward the danger; Johnny's frustration with the police department's lack of urgency in protecting Marilyn.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 786 The Skidmore Matter (1962)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar travels to the small Texas town of Skidmore to investigate a series of thefts from a warehouse belonging to Doug Johnson, who runs a home for old folks in Corpus Christi. Heavy equipment parts worth thousands of dollars have been disappearing from the storage facility, and the elderly watchman Jose Hernandez is determined to stop the thieves with his oversized six-gun.
Skidmore, Texas and Corpus Christi area; a warehouse facility near the small town · Johnny Dollar, Jack Price, Doug Johnson, Jose Hernandez, Carmella
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's investigation into the warehouse thefts and his first meeting with the protective but trigger-happy watchman Jose Hernandez
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 787 The Grand Canyon Matter (1962)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is sent to the Grand Canyon to track down Christy Orloff, a small-time criminal suspected of possessing a stolen ruby and emerald necklace worth nearly a million dollars. The thieves who stole it from a jewelry firm have already been caught and claim they handed the necklace to Orloff, but police found no trace of it on him. Lieutenant Singer believes Orloff is heading to the Grand Canyon to make a contact and pass off the jewels, so he sends Johnny out to intercept him.
New York City, a train to Chicago, and the Grand Canyon region of Arizona · Johnny Dollar, Bill Kramer, Lieutenant Randolph Singer, Christy Orloff, Rafe Kelly
Listen for: Johnny's skepticism about finding the necklace when police couldn't locate it on Orloff, and Singer's confidence that the Grand Canyon is where Orloff plans to make his move
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 788 The Burma Red Matter (1962)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar takes on a case involving the Burma Red, a large stolen ruby that was taken from the home of wealthy Mrs. Harvey Laramond Brittigan in Hartford four weeks ago. Police suspect master safe cracker Oscar Mayfield, who was in town at the time and has the skills to match the safe-cracking method, but he has an alibi they cannot break and must be released.
Hartford, Connecticut and New York City, present day · Johnny Dollar, Jimmy Bartell, Oscar Mayfield, Sergeant Holcomb, Lieutenant Randy Singer, Mrs. Harvey Laramond Brittigan
Listen for: Johnny's history with the dangerous criminal Oscar Mayfield and his threat of retaliation; the police investigation that cannot pin the theft on their prime suspect despite strong circumstantial evidence; the hunt for a large ruby that may have already changed hands or been cut into smaller stones.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 789 The Lust for Gold Matter (1962)
Johnny Dollar receives an urgent telegram from his old friend Emmett Gowan inviting him to Cozumel, Mexico for what seems like a fishing vacation. Pat Fuller at the insurance bureau arranges the trip at company expense, but mentions a missing person case in Mexico City that Johnny may investigate afterward. Upon arriving at Cozumel, Johnny finds the fishing extraordinary, but suspects there's more to Emmett's invitation than meets the eye.
The island of Cozumel off the coast of Mexico, with travel through New York, New Orleans, and Mérida · Johnny Dollar, Pat Fuller, Emmett Gowan
Listen for: Johnny's growing suspicion that the fishing trip is connected to a larger mystery, and Emmett's evasive responses about a missing man named one oh Ansana
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 790 The Two Steps to Murder Matter (1962)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in Las Vegas to investigate the death of Harvey Skilman, an insurance salesman. Skilman is found dead from penorcin alkalate poison in his coffee cup and sugar bowl, with the local doctor concluding it was suicide. However, Skilman's boss Pete Brenneman insists it must be murder and asks Johnny to prove Skilman didn't kill himself, revealing that Skilman had been working hard to pay for his sister Mary's medical treatment at top clinics.
Las Vegas, Nevada, including the Silver Dollar Cafe and surrounding casinos and streets · Johnny Dollar, Pete Brenneman, Harvey Skilman, Doc Porter, Mary Skilman, Lippy Lorenzo, Sergeant Call
Listen for: The mystery of how the poison entered Skilman's coffee and why Pete is so certain it wasn't suicide despite the evidence pointing that way; the connection between Lippy Lorenzo's blackmail threat and Skilman's death
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 791 The Zipp Matter (1962)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is called to Las Vegas to investigate a suspicious insurance claim. Frederick Payton has died, leaving a $120,000 policy to be split equally among three beneficiaries: his nephew Willard Swift, his niece Doreen Clayford, and his nephew Kenneth Kermatt. Johnny discovers that Swift is a compulsive gambler deeply in debt to a dangerous loan shark and may be missing from town, while tension simmers between the two nephews.
Las Vegas, Nevada - casinos and insurance office · Johnny Dollar, Pete Breneman, Willard Swift, Doreen Clayford, Kenneth Kermatt, Shorty Callahan
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's investigation into why the beneficiary Willard Swift has disappeared from his usual haunts at the Stardust casino, and what connection his large debts might have to the inheritance
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 792 The Wayward Gun Matter (1962)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is called to his boss Dorfman's office to explain his expense account for the Martin case investigation. Before they can finish their discussion, Sergeant Bell arrives with a bombshell: Johnny's own gun has turned up at police headquarters, and he's being arrested on suspicion of murdering contractor Alfred W. Barriman, a case Johnny didn't even know about.
Dorfman's office in Hartford, Connecticut; the Martin and Barriman cases involving contractors · Johnny Dollar, Mr. Dorfman, Sergeant Bell, Al Spangler, Lieutenant Randy Singer
Listen for: Johnny's attempts to explain his investigation methods and expenses; the revelation of a second murder case and Johnny's unexpected arrest; the significance of the ballistics evidence he sent to New York
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 794 The All Too Easy Matter (1962)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in Los Angeles to investigate a series of six fires on properties owned by elderly millionaire Alpheus Brockway. Insurance adjuster Ted Olof is convinced Brockway is committing arson to collect insurance on worthless buildings while retaining the valuable land beneath them. Johnny agrees to investigate, but suspects the case may be more complicated than it appears on the surface.
Los Angeles, California, including Beverly Hills and the office of Boston and Demetri insurance company · Johnny Dollar, Ted Olof, Alpheus Brockway, Ben Plater, Fred Klein
Listen for: Johnny's skepticism about the obvious suspect and his instinct that something doesn't add up; the details of Brockway's financial situation and property holdings
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 795 The Hood Of Death Matter (1962)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in Nashville to investigate a suspicious accident claim filed by elderly millionaire Henry Sweetwater, whom his cousin Luther believes is trying to defraud the company. As Johnny and Luther drive to Sweetwater's home to confront him, their car is sabotaged with a bomb wired to the ignition. When they arrive at the house, a dynamite explosion destroys much of Sweetwater's living room, leaving the old man badly injured and forcing Johnny to reconsider whether Sweetwater is really the schemer or if someone else has a murderous motive.
Nashville, Tennessee, primarily at Henry Sweetwater's home on a hill outside the city · Johnny Dollar, Luther Pennyroyal, Henry Sweetwater, Bella Mae Sweetwater, Padda Jane, Dr. Caraway
Listen for: The escalating danger as Johnny discovers the accident claim may be a cover for something more sinister, and the revelation that someone is actively trying to kill Sweetwater or prevent Johnny from investigating.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 796 The Vociferous Dolphin Matter (1962)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is summoned to sunny California by his insurance company to investigate an unusual claim: Professor Doctor Yeriantha wants to insure the lives of two dolphins named Petey and Sue. Upon arriving at her private oceanarium near San Diego, Johnny discovers the eccentric professor is conducting experiments to translate dolphin communication into human language, and her worried niece Penelope hints that mysterious accidents have been plaguing the operation.
A private oceanarium at Shelter Point near San Diego, California, featuring a large tank for dolphins connected to a pier and a clifftop house overlooking the Pacific Ocean. · Johnny Dollar, Wilbur Burnett, Professor Doctor Yeriantha, Penelope Warman, Carl
Listen for: The dolphins' vocalizations and the mysterious gunfire on the pier; Johnny's observations about the eccentric professor and the suspicious accidents.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 797 The Rilldoe Matter (1962)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar travels to Laguna Beach to meet his contact Ted Flugger, who reluctantly takes him fishing while hinting at trouble involving Barney Bessum, an appliance dealer whose partners are suspected criminals. As they fish off San Clemente Island, Ted finally reveals that last night's low tide exposed something significant that he needs to show Johnny.
Laguna Beach and the California coast, including Emerald Bay, a small seaside town, Balboa Bay, and the waters off San Clemente Island. · Johnny Dollar, Ted Flugger, Barney Bessum, Tony and Joe (Bessum's partners), Manuel (dock worker), A beautiful girl in a convertible
Listen for: Ted Flugger's cryptic hints about trouble with Barney Bessum and what the low tide will reveal; a mysterious encounter with a beautiful girl in front of Bessum's appliance store.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 798 The Weather or Not Matter (1962)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in Sarasota, Florida, where his old friend Earl Foreman has called him in to investigate potential trouble. Earl's client, the wealthy retired T. Rockway Mayfield, is throwing a birthday party tomorrow, and his estranged stepchildren Betty and Frank Merritt are flying in to attend. Earl fears the siblings may be planning something sinister to gain access to Mayfield's considerable fortune.
Sarasota, Florida, at T. Rockway Mayfield's beachfront estate with swimming pool, patio bar, and mysterious pool house. · Johnny Dollar, Earl Foreman, T. Rockway Mayfield, Don Boomhauer, Betty Merritt, Frank Merritt, Cinnamon the bartender
Listen for: The strange joke Mayfield makes about Johnny Dollar's name and cents; his odd behavior and cryptic remarks about his stepchildren; the mysterious pool house he refuses to fully explain.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 799 The Skimpy Matter (1962)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is hired to look into a case involving Skimpy Dingle, a recently paroled criminal who once threatened former city attorney Amos Crutchfield in court. When Johnny visits Crutchfield's home in Lakewood, he finds the elderly man shot and unconscious. A mysterious visitor then appears at Johnny's apartment claiming to be Percy Dingo, Skimpy's older brother and a psychologist, requesting Johnny's sympathy and understanding.
Connecticut, including Lakewood and Hartford, in the present day (1962) · Johnny Dollar, Danny Nixon, Amos Crutchfield, Skimpy Dingle, Mary Barlow, Percy Dingo, Dr. Franklin Edwards
Listen for: Johnny's investigation begins with a tip about the recently released paroled criminal Skimpy Dingle and his connection to Amos Crutchfield; the shooting at Crutchfield's home and the unexpected late-night visit from Percy Dingo to Johnny's apartment.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 800 The Four Is a Crowd Matter (1962)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives at a Colorado mountain ranch to protect Melvin Lockerty, a wealthy man who believes one of his three visiting relatives—the children of his deceased brother Henry—is plotting to murder him. Lockerty claims his brother made a deathbed promise that one of them would seek revenge for money Lockerty once took from him, and he has been receiving threatening letters.
Guest ranch in the Rampart Range near Colorado Springs, Colorado, at the foot of Pikes Peak · Johnny Dollar, Dennis Taylor, Melvin Lockerty, Kitty Lockerty, Frickler, Marion Lockerty, Cottie Dick
Listen for: The tension between Lockerty and his three relatives as they arrive at the ranch; the shouting match in Lockerty's cabin; hints about which relative might be the threat
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 801 The Case of Trouble Matter (1962)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in Des Moines to investigate a series of explosions and fires at paper products company warehouses owned by brothers Albert and Ed Case. The fires, which have cost tens of thousands of dollars, show signs of arson but leave no concrete evidence. When Johnny visits Albert Case's home with Tom Bartlett and his wife Millie, he discovers Albert dead at his desk under mysterious circumstances.
Des Moines, Iowa and surrounding towns including Indianola, Madrid, and Knoxville in 1962 · Johnny Dollar, Tom Bartlett, Albert Case, Ed Case, Mildred Bartlett, Police officer
Listen for: A mysterious death interrupts the investigation into warehouse fires; Johnny Dollar must determine if Albert Case's death is connected to the insurance claim troubles.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 802 The Oldest Gag Matter (1962)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives at the scene of Lloyd Briskham's death, which Sergeant Gilbert quickly deems a suicide. Briskham is found slumped over his desk with a .38 revolver in hand and powder burns indicating a close-range shot to the forehead. Johnny remains skeptical despite the physical evidence and begins interviewing those present: insurance agent Larry Spangler, Briskham's business partner John Barber, his adopted son Mike, and his employee Trudy Wilson.
Lloyd Briskham's home and study, where his body has been discovered · Johnny Dollar, Sergeant Danny Gilbert, Larry Spangler, Lloyd Briskham, John Barber, Mike Briskham, Trudy Wilson, Dr. Thaddeus Frambler
Listen for: Johnny's investigation into whether Briskham's death is truly suicide or murder, with suspicion falling on those who stand to inherit his estate
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 803 The Lorelei Matter (AFRTS) (1962)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar receives an urgent and cryptic phone call from Timothy Jared, a wealthy former stock manipulator, who mentions murder and demands Johnny visit him immediately. When Johnny arrives at Jared's apartment building, he encounters the man's young and beautiful wife, Lorelai, who has just returned from a painting trip and suspects her eccentric husband has conjured up another worry to fret about.
Hartford, Connecticut and the Florida Lee's Apartments building; present day (1960s) · Johnny Dollar, Timothy Jared, Ed Williams, Lorelai Lambert Jared
Listen for: Johnny's initial skepticism about Jared's panic call and the mystery of what Jared fears; Lorelai's casual dismissal of her husband's worries as habitual paranoia
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 804 The Gold Rush Matter (1962)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in San Francisco to look into a gold rush matter, then travels to Virginia City and the remote Scarlet Queen mine in Six Mile Canyon. Upon arrival at the mine, he's shot at and nearly killed by Leona, a woman protecting the property, who mistakes him for whoever has been causing trouble at the mine. Leona reveals that someone has been using explosives at the mine, killing at least one person and blinding her Uncle Dave.
San Francisco, Reno, and Virginia City in Nevada, particularly the Scarlet Queen gold mine in Six Mile Canyon during the present day (1960s) · Johnny Dollar, Paul, Dave Halver, Leona, Jake, Jake Bekley
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's careful investigation as he pieces together the mystery of who is causing explosions at the abandoned Scarlet Queen mine and why they're killing people
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 805 The Doninger Doninger Matter (1962)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar must locate Walter Peter Donninger VII to deliver a $40,000 insurance payment within ten days of his sister's death. Morris Parkley from the New Jersey State Mutual Life Insurance Company reveals that Donninger has disappeared, leaving behind eight different addresses scattered across the state. Dollar discovers a hidden pattern in Donninger's movements and believes he knows where to find him.
New Jersey, primarily Trenton and surrounding cities; a restaurant called Hilde Breaks; insurance office · Johnny Dollar, Morris Parkley, Walter Peter Donninger VII
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's clever deduction about the alphabetical pattern in Donninger's relocations and population figures; the humorous dynamic between Dollar and his insurance contact Morris Parkley
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 806 The Four Cs Matter (1962)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is called to investigate Harvey Crutton, a senior partner in an importing business who has just died in a car accident on a dangerous mountain road. Crutton was heavily insured for $250,000 with double indemnity, and his wife is the beneficiary. But Johnny's client suspects foul play, noting that both of Crutton's business partners—Wilbur Carding and Earl Kellinger—had recently threatened to kill him, and both stand to gain from his death through a partnership agreement.
Los Angeles and Mulholland Drive, California; an insurance office and the homes of the principals involved · Johnny Dollar, Betty Lewis, Harvey Crutton, D'Arish Crutton, Wilbur Carding, Earl Kellinger, Mr. Harken
Listen for: The mysterious circumstances surrounding Crutton's death on the mountain road and the conflicting motives of the two business partners who both threatened him
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 807 The No Matter Matter (1962)
Johnny Dollar arrives at Raymond Tilleton's apartment in response to a late-night phone call, only to find a dead brunette woman with a bullet wound. When he confronts Tilleton at his office, the man claims he was in New Haven all night visiting his mother and never called Johnny. Johnny must unravel what really happened and why someone impersonated Tilleton.
An apartment building called the Kearnsley Arms, later Tilleton's office, and a house in New Haven · Johnny Dollar, Raymond Tilleton, Police Detective Austin, A dead brunette woman, Tilleton's elderly mother
Listen for: The mystery of who really called Johnny Dollar and why a dead woman appears in Tilleton's apartment when he claims to have been elsewhere all night.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 808 The Deadly Crystal Matter (1962)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is called to Connecticut to investigate the theft of $300,000 worth of jewels from eccentric Mrs. Weatherwell's bedroom. The jewels mysteriously vanish while she bathes and are just as mysteriously returned by a young woman named Lynn Peters, who delivers them to the house and then disappears. Johnny becomes convinced there is more to the case than a simple theft and recovery.
Connecticut and New York City, primarily at Mrs. Weatherwell's mansion in Birch Brook Road and police headquarters in Manhattan · Johnny Dollar, Les Wallers, Mrs. Weatherwell, Lynn Peters, Lieutenant Randy Singer
Listen for: The puzzle of why the jewels were stolen and then returned without explanation, and the identity and motives of the mysterious Lynn Peters
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: 809 The Tip-Off Matter (1962)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar visits a dying safe cracker named Turner McGacky in a prison hospital ward. McGacky reveals that $100,000 from an old heist is hidden in a safe on Long Island, with the combination split between two men: Pirelli, posing as a fisherman, and Danny Rutsiloff, a dangerous criminal who is being released from prison that very day. Dollar must race to find Pirelli before the deadly Rutsiloff does.
A state prison hospital ward in Weathersfield, Connecticut, and a remote area near Cupsague on Long Island, New York · Johnny Dollar, Turner McGacky, Danny Rutsiloff, Pirelli, Dick Spindell, Warden, Assistant Warden, Gas station attendant
Listen for: The tense prison scene where McGacky urgently warns Dollar about the dangerous combination of circumstances, and Dollar's quick pivot to finding Pirelli before Rutsiloff reaches him.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: Milford Brooks III (1948)
Johnny Dollar, a freelance insurance investigator, is hired by East Coast Underwriters to prevent Milford Brooks III, a young man insured for two million dollars, from committing suicide. Brooks has recently changed his policy beneficiary to Harold Hatcher, a notorious gambler, and is demanding a large loan from his insurance company. Dollar decides to give Brooks something to live for by arranging an evening in New York with an attractive woman named Butter.
Hartford, Connecticut and New York City · Johnny Dollar, Milford Brooks III, Austin Farnsworth, Harold Hatcher, Della, Butter
Listen for: Johnny Dollar's wise-cracking narration and expense account details; the physical comedy of Dollar sitting on the drunken Brooks; the budding romance between Dollar and Butter.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: The Parakoff Policy (1949)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives in Benton to look into the Parakoff murder case. Harlan Wolf, partner and beneficiary of the deceased Parakoff, has been arrested for the killing, and East Coast Underwriters wants Dollar to prevent their $100,000 policy from going to pay for an execution. Dollar meets with Wolf's defense attorney Eric Bakker and then visits Parakoff's widow Marsha to learn what he can about the circumstances of the murder.
Benton, Ohio - at the Valley Hotel and the Parakoff home in the suburbs · Johnny Dollar, Eric Bakker, Harlan Wolf, Parakoff, Marsha Parakoff
Listen for: A murder investigation complicated by a stubborn widow and a prosecution playing dirty; the dynamic between an insurance investigator and a desperate defense attorney
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: The Robert Perry Case (1949)
Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is assigned as bodyguard to Robert Perry, a businessman who fears for his life. When a booby-trapped buzzer in Perry's desk kills him that morning, Johnny must determine whether this is murder or suicide, with multiple suspects including Perry's estranged wife Christine, his Dutch business partner Van Brueten, and his secretary Susan Gates.
New York City, primarily in the offices of Perry and Van Brueten, importers, in lower Manhattan, with a visit to Christine Perry's apartment on Sutton Place. · Johnny Dollar, Robert Perry, Susan Gates, Van Brueten, Christine Perry, Murphy
Listen for: The clever murder method using a rigged buzzer connected to a bomb in Perry's desk, Johnny Dollar's expense account narration, and the introduction of multiple suspects with motives related to money and a pending divorce.
Let George Do It: 319 episode guides
Let George Do It - A Visit From Merlin (1950)
George Valentine is called to Renwick Manor when its eccentric owner, Arthur Thurston-Renwick, becomes disturbed by a mysterious little man who has been visiting on tour days. The stranger, whom Renwick nervously names Merlin, keeps returning despite being refused a job as a guide, and he mysteriously delivers Renwick a stolen dagger covered with blood before vanishing from a locked cabinet. When the man is arrested for theft, he escapes from a locked jail cell under impossible circumstances.
Renwick Manor, an eccentric seaside castle filled with medieval artifacts and antiques, and the nearby town jail. · George Valentine, Arthur Thurston-Renwick, Mrs. Renwick, Merlin, Joe, Sheriff
Listen for: A mystery involving an impossible theft and an escape from a locked cell, with questions about whether the mysterious visitor possesses genuine magical powers or is simply a clever magician and thief.
Let George Do It - Come and Get Me (1949)
George Valentine receives a letter from Winslow Bark, who claims to have committed the perfect murder of a man named Donald Anderson and wants George to prove it to the authorities. However, Anderson's wife Teresa has been arrested for the crime instead, and Winslow insists he actually committed the murder and wants to confess. George must investigate whether Winslow is truly guilty or whether the police have the right suspect in Teresa.
The Anderson house and police station in an unspecified city. · George Valentine, Booksy Brooks, Winslow Bark, Lieutenant Riley, Mrs. Teresa Anderson, Jonathan Gaines, Farnsworth, Jesse
Listen for: The poisoned drink test that Winslow uses to evaluate George's caution, and Farnsworth's overly formal testimony about what he supposedly overheard Mrs. Anderson say to Jonathan Gaines.
Let George Do It - Go Jump in the Lake (1950)
George Valentine receives an urgent letter from Mona Chandler, secretary to Terence Doyle, Vice President of Consolidated Machine Tool Company, begging for his help. Doyle is in serious trouble—he's bought a gun for protection, received a mysterious package containing a broken gun as a threat, and is deeply involved in gambling debts. When George visits the office, he discovers financial irregularities and learns that Doyle has been acting paranoid and secretive. A phone call traced to the Club 50 suggests involvement with notorious gangster Starchy Bennett.
Consolidated Machine Tool Company offices and surrounding locations in the city, including the Club 50 nightclub · George Valentine, Claire Brooks, Mona Chandler, Terence Doyle, Gil Frank, Starchy Bennett
Listen for: The mysterious broken gun sent as a threat, the gambling debts, the missing Gil Frank, and the phone call traced to the Club 50 that may connect Doyle to gangster Starchy Bennett
Let George Do It - Juniper Lane (1950)
George Valentine receives a misdirected letter from a man warning of a planned murder on Juniper Lane, a forgotten street in the city. When George investigates to return the letter, he discovers the woman it was meant to protect—the elderly Queen Bess—has already been murdered with a knitting needle. As George and Lieutenant Riley search for the killer among Juniper Lane's struggling residents, a second murder occurs, revealing a more complex and sinister scheme than anyone suspected.
Juniper Lane, a forgotten one-block street in the city bounded by industrial areas and gas works, lined with brownstone buildings and one small shop. · George Valentine, private investigator, Brooksie, George's assistant, Lieutenant Riley, police detective, Stevenson Sprote, part-time printer and former newspaper editor, Miss Bathwell, an elderly woman who paints on windows, Miss Bess Pottswell, the murdered landlord of Juniper Lane, Felix McCoy, Bess's estranged husband
Listen for: The mystery of the switched envelopes that draws George into a tangled web of murder; Sprote's confession that he cannot remember whether he committed the crime; the second murder that shifts suspicion; and George's deduction about which gun was actually used to kill Felix.
Let George Do It - The Chair of Humanities (1950)
George Valentine is called to Dearly College by Gloria Cable, wife of Professor Edward Cable who holds the Chair of Humanities. When George arrives, he finds Gloria packing to leave for a mental health facility, but then the Professor confides that he believes someone is attempting to murder him. A mysterious visitor named Bill Rasseter arrives demanding money, adding to the mounting tensions at the college household.
Dearly College, on faculty row at the home of Professor Cable · George Valentine, Gloria Cable, Professor Edward M. Cable, Jesse, Bill Rasseter
Listen for: The mysterious circumstances surrounding Gloria's sudden departure, the Professor's startling claim of being in danger, and Bill Rasseter's suspicious visit demanding money.
Let George Do It - The Silent Waterfall (1950)
Private investigator George Valentine receives an urgent note from Dora Duncan asking him to visit her home, Waterfall House, on a country estate. When George arrives with his secretary Brooksie, he discovers that Dora is deaf and mute, unable to communicate except by writing. The evening grows tense as various people arrive at the house, including Dora's sister Cynthia, neighbor Jake Mannering, and mysterious references to a man named Everett Stone whom Dora met traveling in India.
Waterfall House, a country estate on South River Road near a waterfall, owned by the Duncan family · George Valentine, Brooksie, Dora Duncan, Cynthia, Jake Mannering, Everett Stone, Mr. Frail
Listen for: A mystery involving Dora Duncan's disability, her recent return from India, and the arrival of a mysterious stranger named Everett Stone at her isolated home
Let George Do It - The White Elephant (1950)
George Valentine receives an unusual letter from wealthy Miss Alice May Edmond, who claims someone is trying to murder her and offers him $1,000 to catch the culprit. When George visits her sprawling 42-room mansion, Miss Edmond reveals her isolated life with her brother Stephen and their elaborate home filled with curios and antiques. Suspicious relatives circle around her, and shortly after George's arrival, he discovers poison in the milk Miss Edmond has just drunk.
Miss Alice May Edmond's 42-room mansion in the commercial district of the city, an old-fashioned house filled with antiques and curios that dominates an entire city block. · George Valentine, Miss Alice May Edmond, Brooksie, Dr. Jensen, Clarence Morley, Steven Edmond, Pete Deener
Listen for: The mystery of who is poisoning Miss Edmond and why her relatives are circling around her; the significance of her brother Steven and the mansion she refuses to leave.
Let George Do It - Too Near the Sky (1949)
Private investigator George Valentine receives a cryptic letter from a mysterious woman named Sonya Belsing, who asks him to attend a party at a penthouse on the 32nd floor of an office building, hinting at danger and murder. George and his assistant Claire climb the stairs to the top floor, where they meet Eric Simms, the building's general manager, and discover that the party is actually just a small gathering of lonely people rather than the grand event they expected.
An office building in the city, primarily on the 31st and 32nd floors, late at night. · George Valentine, Claire, Sonya Belsing, Mrs. Belsing, Vivian Hargrove, Eric Simms, Rockman
Listen for: A mysterious woman's warning about murder and danger, and the strange circumstances surrounding a penthouse party that turns out to be much smaller than advertised.
Let George Do It - Tune on a Triangle (1951)
George Valentine receives a mysterious letter from Jerry Briskin claiming to have a tiger and requesting a meeting. When George arrives at his office, he discovers a woman on a building ledge threatening to jump. George manages to coax her down and rescue her from the ledge, but the incident attracts photographers and becomes a public spectacle. The woman, who turns out to be a performer named Stella, reveals that Briskin orchestrated the entire scene as a publicity stunt for her act.
George Valentine's office building in a city, with a dramatic scene on an exterior ledge attracting police, firefighters, and newspaper photographers. · George Valentine, Jerry Briskin, Stella, Fador (Stella's husband)
Listen for: The tense rescue scene on the building ledge, with George's smooth talking used to convince the desperate woman to move toward safety, followed by the revelation that the whole incident was a staged publicity stunt.
Let George Do It: & (510702 not) (1950)
George Valentine is hired by Mrs. Ames, who fears her husband is in danger. At the local club, Valentine discovers four men—Norton, Ames, Soto, and Chester—who have drawn cards in a rigged deck to determine who must confess to the unsolved murder of Dorothy Fulman from a year ago. The loser was supposed to confess and take his own life to end the town's suspicion that hangs over all of them.
A small town with a local club and the bluffs overlooking Dorothy Fulman's house where she was murdered a year prior. · George Valentine, Victor Ames, Mrs. Ames, Geoffrey Chester, Mr. Norton, Soto, Jimmy, Miss Brooks
Listen for: The revelation of how a marked deck of cards and a rigged drawing were used as an elaborate scheme, and Valentine's clever deduction about which card was truly marked and why.
Let George Do It: A Close Call (1948)
George Valentine receives a letter from Joyce Dunning, who is in love with her best friend's husband, Lawrence Putnam. To convince Lawrence to stay faithful to his wife Bernice, whose weak heart cannot withstand shock or stress, Joyce asks George to pose as her romantic interest. When Lawrence spots them together at a restaurant, he becomes suspicious and invites George, Joyce, and George's secretary Miss Brooks to a weekend at his Mount Webster estate, determined to uncover the truth.
A city restaurant called the Croydon, George Valentine's office, and Lawrence Putnam's Mount Webster estate. · George Valentine, Joyce Dunning, Lawrence Putnam, Bernice Putnam, Miss Brooks, Dr. Llewellyn, Mr. Folsom
Listen for: The clever plan to protect Bernice's fragile heart, Lawrence's growing suspicion about the staged romance, and the dangerous weekend ahead at the Putnam estate.
Let George Do It: A Crime Too Simple (1951)
A cook named Veroni is found murdered, shot by a hired killer who is himself discovered dead with a note revealing he was paid three thousand dollars to commit the crime. Detective George Valentine must unravel the mystery of who hired the killer, knowing that the only person who could identify the culprit—the cook—is now dead, and the killer cannot speak.
A pier and various locations in the city; the investigation involves an expedition that took place in South America. · George Valentine, Johnson, Captain Apperson, Frank Boyle, Veroni, Three Grand
Listen for: George Valentine's deduction that this is a crime with all the clues removed—the killer is dead, the only witness is dead, and the person who hired the killer remains hidden and protected by his own careful planning.
Let George Do It: A Matter of Doubt (1949)
Young Stephen Rollins tells police he found a man shot in the neck, but then recants his story, claiming he made it up. His mother, Eleanor, hires private investigator George Valentine because she believes Stephen is hiding something, especially after he suffers a series of suspicious accidents. George discovers a blood-stained silk shirt collar and begins unraveling a dangerous mystery that threatens the boy's life.
Regis Park, a new residential development, and the surrounding areas including New Lots Road and downtown streets with rooming houses. · George Valentine, Miss Brooks, Stephen Rollins, Eleanor Rollins, Lieutenant Riley, Mr. Hotchkiss, Red Kinsey, The Weasel
Listen for: The clever way George uses a fake ambulance to trick Stephen into revealing what he knows, and the escalating tension as the truth about a San Diego bank robbery unfolds.
Let George Do It: A Matter of Honor (1952)
George Valentine investigates mysterious break-ins at a magicians' convention hotel. Several rooms belonging to magicians have been ransacked, but nothing of value was stolen, suggesting the intruder was searching for something specific. George must uncover who is behind the disturbances and what they're looking for.
A hotel hosting a magicians' convention · George Valentine, Miss Brooks, Mr. Medford, Aileen, Charlie Geech, Princess Elsa, Langford Pimmer, Dennis the Amazer
Listen for: George investigates ransacked hotel rooms and discovers a lipstick-marked cigarette in Dennis the Amazer's room, revealing an unexpected visitor. The search seems targeted at specific magicians rather than random theft.
Let George Do It: A Minor Case of Murder (1948)
George Valentine is hired by the Bearcat Social Club to prove that Danny Corey, their leader, is innocent of murdering his stepfather Phil, even though Danny has confessed to the crime. As George investigates, he discovers troubling details about Danny's troubled relationship with his stepfather and the circumstances surrounding the confession.
A city with the Bearcat Social Club, Danny's home, a rooming house, and various street locations including a pool parlor and jail. · George Valentine, Roxy (George's partner), Chuck, Danny Corey, Danny's mother, Mrs. Corey, Phil (Danny's stepfather), Mrs. Rebel (landlady), Sudan
Listen for: A case of a young man confessing to murder under suspicious circumstances, with George uncovering hidden motives and relationships that question whether the confession is genuine. Watch for revelations about Danny's troubled past and his stepfather's questionable character.
Let George Do It: A Piece Of Publicity (aka-Hired for a Bodyguard) (1948)
George Valentine is hired by Marta Devorak, a glamorous trapeze artist at the circus, to serve as her bodyguard after she receives a threatening note demanding $5,000 and warning of a bad accident. George must protect her while investigating whether the threat is genuine or merely a publicity stunt.
A circus in California, George Valentine's office, and a house in the canyon · George Valentine, Marta Devorak, Scrae Brooks, Leo de Voreg, Dorian, Risa, Lieutenant Roy
Listen for: The interplay between George and his assistant Brooks as they investigate Marta's claims, the circus performers' revelations about Marta's plans to leave for Hollywood, and whether the threatening note is real or staged for publicity.
Let George Do It: A Piece of Publicity (1948)
Glamorous trapeze artist Marta de Vorek hires private investigator George Valentine to protect her after receiving an anonymous threatening letter demanding $5,000 and warning of a bad accident. George agrees to be her bodyguard, but discovers that Marta may be orchestrating the entire scheme as a publicity stunt for the circus.
A circus in the city, George Valentine's office, and a house in the canyon · George Valentine, Marta de Vorek, Brooksie, Lieutenant Riley, Dorian
Listen for: The revelation that Marta deliberately stages a near-accident on the trapeze for publicity, deliberately slipping one hand to create the appearance of danger.
Let George Do It: A School of Sharks (1952)
When newspaper compositor Joe Hagerty kills himself after falling into debt to loan sharks, his daughter Mary asks private investigator George Valentine to find the real murderers behind his death. George discovers that two suspected sharks, Pagano and Ringler, have evaded police prosecution because witnesses are too frightened to testify. He devises a daring plan to turn the suspects against each other using a fake newspaper story.
A city newspaper office, the Clarion, and police headquarters; the story centers on a newspaper composing room where employees fall victim to loan sharks. · George Valentine, Mary Hagerty, Lieutenant Johnson, Mr. Wells, Oscar Strike, Jake Pagano, Stan Ringler
Listen for: George's scheme to use a fabricated newspaper story to manipulate the loan sharks into betraying each other; the tension between police procedure and private investigation methods.
Let George Do It: A Visit From Merlin (1950)
George Valentine is called to Renwick Manor when Arthur Thurston-Renwick, an eccentric collector of medieval artifacts, becomes haunted by a mysterious small man in a tattered coat who appears repeatedly at his estate. The stranger claims knowledge of obscure history, requests a job as a guide, and mysteriously returns a stolen tenth-century dagger covered in blood before vanishing from a locked cabin and disappearing from the town jail.
Renwick Manor, a medieval-themed estate on the ocean, and a small town nearby with its jail. · George Valentine, Arthur Thurston-Renwick, Mrs. Renwick, Merlino, Joe, Sheriff
Listen for: The mystery of Merlino's identity and his seemingly magical ability to appear and disappear, locked doors that cannot contain him, and whether he is truly a supernatural being or simply a clever magician.
Let George Do It: A Visit from Merlin (1950)
George Valentine is called to Renwick Manor, an eccentric collector's castle filled with medieval treasures, where the owner is being haunted by a mysterious little man in a tattered coat. The stranger repeatedly appears and disappears from the manor, steals a bloodstained tenth-century dagger from a locked case, and claims his name is Merlin. When the man is finally caught stealing a salt shaker and locked in jail, he vanishes from his cell without a trace.
Renwick Manor, an ocean-side medieval castle and museum, and the town jail · George Valentine, Mr. Runaway, Mrs. Runaway, Sheriff Joe Coolaw, The little man/Merlin, Guard
Listen for: The mystery of the strange little man who vanishes from locked rooms and claims to be Merlin; the locked dagger case that keeps opening; the impossible escape from the sheriff's jail cell.
Let George Do It: Am I My Brothers Keeper (1948)
Martin Bettner seeks George Valentine's help locating his estranged brother Phil, whom he wishes to reconcile with after years apart. When they track Phil down through an informant named Renee Clemens, George and his associate Miss Brooks discover Phil's apartment—and inside it, the body of a man named Lou Henning, stabbed in the back, with evidence suggesting Phil owes Henning money from gambling debts.
A city apartment at 356 Morena Street; hotel and streets of an unnamed town; standard stations · George Valentine, Miss Brooks, Martin Bettner, Renee Clemens, Lou Henning, Lieutenant Johnson
Listen for: The mystery of whether Phil Bettner is guilty of murder, and the race between police and Henning's mob to find him first
Let George Do It: And Hope to Die (1950)
George Valentine is hired to investigate blackmail threats against Flora Stewart, a legendary but aging actress. Someone is breaking her master recordings and demanding $10,000, claiming to know secrets about her. As Valentine investigates the household's tangled relationships, a shot rings out and Flora is found dead.
Flora Stewart's home · George Valentine, Flora Stewart, Claire Brooks, Betty Robinson, Kenneth, Jake, Jim Sharon
Listen for: The tragic revelation of Flora's true circumstances and the solution to her mysterious death.
Let George Do It: Angel's Grotto (1950)
George Valentine is hired to investigate the death of John Moraga, a wealthy man confined to a wheelchair who fell 200 feet from a cliff into Angel's Grotto while visiting his family ranch. Emily Flood, Moraga's nurse, insists it was murder despite the lack of physical evidence, and George must untangle the complex web of family resentments to discover the truth.
A family ranch with Angel's Grotto, a dramatic clifftside location with a waterfall, overlooking rocks 200 feet below · George Valentine, Emily Flood, John Moraga, Herman, Jake, Mary
Listen for: The revelation of John Moraga's plans to cut off his family financially and move to Florida, and the family tensions that emerge during the dinner scene
Let George Do It: Bewildered Bird-watcher (aka Penthouse Roof) (1948)
George Valentine is hired by Dr. Elliot Wormsley, a statistician and bird-watcher, to investigate a possible murder the doctor witnessed from a penthouse roof. Using binoculars trained on the River House across the river, Wormsley believes he saw a man push another man off a roof, but hesitates to contact police due to concern for his reputation. George visits the River House posing as a potential tenant and encounters the wife of broker Philip Dunlap, whose secretary reports the man has been missing for two days. George and his associate Brooksie search the grounds with Dr. Wormsley and discover a body in an overgrown lot behind the building.
New York City, primarily the River House penthouse building and surrounding grounds · George Valentine, Brooksie, Dr. Elliot Wormsley, Mrs. Paula Dunlap, Philip Dunlap, Hal, Mr. Stevens
Listen for: The clever setup of Dr. Wormsley's hesitation to report what he witnessed, the suspicious circumstances surrounding Philip Dunlap's absence, and the discovery of the body that confirms the doctor's fears.
Let George Do It: Big Brother (HSG) (1951)
George Valentine is hired by Lou Mendel, owner of the nightclub the Top Hat, to investigate a mysterious attack. Mendel was knocked unconscious after finding an envelope containing a thousand dollars and a cryptic note beneath a dressing room door. The note reads: "The picture was not even worth the price of a loge, but this is where I came in." When Mendel's apartment is searched, he discovers that a dancer named Dove, who works at his club and whom several men seem protective of, is somehow connected to the trouble.
New York City: the Top Hat nightclub, Dove's apartment, and city streets · George Valentine, Lou Mendel, Dove, Max (taxi driver), Lieutenant Johnson, Mr. Andrews, JJ Stopes, Landlord
Listen for: A clever blackmail scheme involving doctored photographs, unexpected violence, and an examination of fingerprint evidence that reveals the true murderer among several suspects with connections to an innocent young woman.
Let George Do It: Blue Plate Special (1951)
When antiques dealer Sam Ferris asks private detective George Valentine to recover a valuable plate from the wealthy Higbee brothers, Valentine agrees to investigate what seems like a simple case. But when he visits the Higbee house in Hickory Corners, he discovers that Doris Brewer, a young secretary staying with the family, has been found dead, and suspicion falls on one of the brothers.
Hickory Corners, a small town with the Higbee family home and surrounding properties including Mrs. Parsons' cottage. · George Valentine, Sam Ferris, Josh Higbee, Amos Higbee, Mrs. Parsons, Doris Brewer
Listen for: The mystery of the broken plate and how it connects to the secretary's death; Valentine's investigation into which Higbee brother is responsible.
Let George Do It: Cae Reposo (1952)
George Valentine is hired by Thomas Jefferson Moore, president of a Western Tobacco Fund, to travel to Havana and bid on a tobacco lot at an auction. The catch: a rival tobacco broker named Ran Hubbard also wants the same lot, and his men have threatened George's life if he interferes. George and his secretary Miss Brooks arrive in Havana, where they encounter mysterious figures and receive a warning about a man named Miguel who may not be trustworthy.
Havana, Cuba and en route by plane from Miami · George Valentine, Miss Brooks, Thomas Jefferson Moore, Ran Hubbard, Miguel, Rosa Intado
Listen for: The setup of a dangerous business deal involving competing tobacco brokers, mysterious warnings about who to trust, and the arrival of Rosa Intado at George's hotel room with important information.
Let George Do It: Cause for Thanksgiving (1950)
A mute ten-year-old boy is brought to police sergeant Mike Murphy after nearly being hit by a squad car at three in the morning. The boy won't speak and can't communicate who he is or where he came from, but the police suspect he witnessed something frightening at the waterfront that night. George Valentine is called in to help track down the boy's identity and discover what scared him into silence before it's too late.
A city waterfront and police precinct, present day at midday and the previous night at three a.m. · George Valentine, Sergeant Mike Murphy, Sally, Shorty, The Captain, The Sailor, The Dock Watchman
Listen for: George's investigation of the mute boy and his attempts to get information from street kids and dock workers about what happened at the pier the night before.
Let George Do It: Cay Reposo (aka Guy Reposo) (1952)
George Valentine is hired by Thomas Jefferson Moore, a wealthy tobacco magnate, to travel to Havana and bid on a tobacco option at an auction, with a blank check authorized up to $85,000. Upon arrival, George encounters a mysterious man named Miguel who offers assistance, but George receives a warning phone call from a woman named Rosa, the secretary to the tobacco seller, revealing that Miguel works for a rival bidder named Rand Hubbard and has been sent to prevent George from reaching the auction.
A Miami airport and the National Best Hotel in Havana, Cuba in the early 1950s. · George Valentine, Miss Brooks, Thomas Jefferson Moore, Miguel, Rosa
Listen for: The developing mystery around who can be trusted and what Rand Hubbard's intentions are for the tobacco option.
Let George Do It: Chance and Probability (1952)
George Valentine travels to a pink-housed South American town to investigate the death of Bill Shields, an engineer who claimed to have discovered a mathematical system for winning at Caesar's Casino. Shields was killed during a robbery at the casino, but his friend Mary believes he was deliberately murdered to prevent him from using his system. George must uncover the truth while various parties—including the police and the casino owner—seem eager to keep the system secret.
A South American town with pink houses and a luxury gambling casino called Caesar's, located outside the capital city of Polyzons. · George Valentine, Miss Brooks, Mary, Professor Marcel Lervu, Bill Shields, Lieutenant Acastro, Caesar Capo
Listen for: The mystery of Bill Shields' mathematical system for predicting gambling outcomes and who killed him to keep it hidden.
Let George Do It: Christmas Letter (1951)
Private Dan Ferris, stationed in Japan, sends George Valentine money and a letter asking him to take out Lucy Rand on Christmas Eve as his proxy, write about it, and cheer up the lonely soldier. George discovers that Lucy is already committed to spending the evening with Walter Denning, a charming but questionable character who has given her a diamond ring and promises of marriage once his divorce is final.
A city apartment building on Christmas Eve, 1951; Lucy's apartment and a bar · George Valentine, Angel (George's girlfriend), Dan Ferris, Lucy Rand, Walter Denning, Mr. Nye
Listen for: The irony of George playing Cupid for a soldier overseas only to find his sweetheart already entangled with another man; Walter Denning's smooth but suspicious courtship of Lucy; Red's recorded Christmas message from Japan.
Let George Do It: Christmas in January (1951)
George Valentine encounters the eccentric Francis Xavier Wick at an art gallery, where Wick purchases an original painting by Otrio for $250 as a Christmas gift for a woman named Charity DuFrayne, whom he calls his "yo-yo." George and his companion soon discover that the painting is actually a forgery—the genuine Otrio painting is worth $17,000 and was just sold to Wick by the gallery owner, who wrapped it as a Christmas gift for the same woman.
An art gallery and shop in an unspecified city · George Valentine, Francis Xavier Wick, Charity DuFrayne, Brooksie, Jukes
Listen for: The mysterious connection between a fake painting, an original masterpiece, and what Wick plans to write about in his column.
Let George Do It: Come and Get Me (1949)
Private detective George Valentine receives an unusual letter from Winslow Barker, who claims to have committed a perfect murder and wants Valentine to prove his guilt to the police. However, the police have already arrested someone else for the crime—Donald Anderson's wife, who had motive, opportunity, and purchased a gun shortly before the murder.
California; Anderson home and police station · George Valentine, Brooksie (Miss Brooke), Winslow Barker, Lieutenant Riley, Farnsworth, Mrs. Anderson, Jonathan Gaines, Jesse
Listen for: A man desperate to confess to a murder no one believes he committed, while an innocent woman faces arrest for the same crime.
Let George Do It: Come to the Casbah (1952)
George Valentine, a troubleshooter for hire, is approached by a French intelligence agent named Giacaro who enlists him to retrieve stolen plans. Posing as an English scientist named Professor Benham, George must travel to Algiers and meet a man named Faderock in the Casbah to obtain a package of documents. The agent provides George with coded recognition signals and a false identity card for the dangerous mission.
Paris and Algiers, including the Casbah marketplace · George Valentine, Angel Brooks, Giacaro, Faderock, Bill Turner
Listen for: The coded recognition sequence George must use to identify himself to Faderock in the Casbah shop—two short knocks and one long, followed by specific exchange phrases about souvenirs and the color scheme of a room.
Let George Do It: Cortez Island (1952)
George Valentine receives an urgent letter from Mrs. Jensen asking him to find her husband Clyde, an explorer and anthropologist who traveled to Cortez Island over a week ago to search for pirate treasure based on an old map. With no word from him since he left and no regular communication from the island, George travels to the remote location to investigate his disappearance.
Cortez Island, a remote fishing location off the coast, and its small hotel · George Valentine, Mrs. Jensen, Miss Brooks, Cork, Mary Roman
Listen for: George's investigation into the mysterious disappearance and what he discovers about Jensen's activities on the island
Let George Do It: Cousin Jeff and the Pigs (1946)
George's cousin Jeff arrives from the farm looking for a wife who loves his 57 pigs as much as he does. George promises to find him the perfect match and spots Kathy Phillips, a stage door girl who claims to be mad about piggies. However, George soon discovers that Kathy's passion is for piggy banks, not actual pigs, forcing him to scramble and enlist Claire's help to educate Kathy about real farm animals before Jeff's dinner date tomorrow night.
George Valentine's office in the city, a theater stage door, and surrounding urban locations; Jeff is visiting from his farm in Three Oaks. · George Valentine, Jeff Williams, Claire Brooks, Kathy Phillips, Sonny
Listen for: The comedic confusion over Kathy's love of piggy banks instead of pigs, and George's scheme to educate her about actual farm animals before the date.
Let George Do It: Cover for an Hour (1950)
George Valentine is knocked out and locked in a closet for an hour by a mysterious delivery boy named Joe, who sends George's assistant Miss Brooks on a wild goose errand across town. When George recovers, he discovers someone used his office during that missing hour, but nothing appears to have been stolen. George suspects the office was used as a cover for something sinister, while a confused stenographer named Sue arrives claiming she was hired to take letters during that same hour.
George Valentine's detective office and various locations around the city, including Wagner's investment office across town. · George Valentine, Miss Brooks, Joe, Lieutenant Riley, Mr. J.W. Wagner, Barney, Sue
Listen for: The mystery of what actually happened during the missing hour and why someone would go to such elaborate lengths to use George's office as a cover.
Let George Do It: Cry Murder (1948)
Private detective George Valentine receives a mysterious note from client Joe Logan warning that if he turns up dead, Valentine should cry murder—because Logan suspects foul play. When Logan is killed in what police call a hit-and-run accident near the Half Moon Motel, Valentine begins investigating and discovers that Logan was supposed to meet banker Frank Potter at the motel the same night. Potter is also found murdered, and Valentine must uncover the real killer before the police pin both deaths on his dead client.
A city with the Half Moon Motel on Whitman Highway, various bars including Mort's Patek Bar, a detective agency, and police headquarters. · George Valentine, Miss Brooks, Joe Logan, Lieutenant Riley, Frank Potter, Maggie, Mrs. Cronin, Sheila Cronin
Listen for: The clever deduction about Joe Logan's fatal walk down the highway, the revelation of Mrs. Cronin's true reasons for being at the motel, and the growing evidence that someone else killed both men.
Let George Do It: Cry Murder (aka-A Deadman Who Was a Murderer) (1948)
Private detective George Valentine receives a letter from client Joe Logan, asking him to cry murder if Logan ends up dead. When Logan is found killed at the Half Moon Motel—the same place where Potter, a friend of the police commissioner, was also murdered—Logan becomes the prime suspect. Valentine must uncover the truth before the police close the case.
A city with a police force and private detective agency; the Half Moon Motel; Mort's Patek Bar on Whitman Highway. · George Valentine, Joe Logan, Lieutenant Riley, Miss Brooks, Maggie, Frank Potter, Mrs. Cronin, Sheila
Listen for: The clues pointing to Joe Logan's innocence: his car left at the bar, him walking toward the motel, and Mrs. Cronin's suspicious presence and lies about seeing him there.
Let George Do It: Dead on Arrival (1952)
George Valentine is approached at a bus terminal café by a mysterious stranger named Philip Redmond who claims to be ill and asks for help getting registered at a hotel. When George discovers the man has actually been shot, the situation grows more complicated when two men arrive asking about Redmond's whereabouts, and the injured stranger is spirited away before police can arrive.
A bus terminal café and hotel in the city · George Valentine, Roxy (George's secretary), Philip Redmond, Lieutenant Johnson, Horace Fatt (desk clerk)
Listen for: A case of mistaken identity and a mysterious shooting that draws George into a dangerous situation involving a wounded stranger and pursuing strangers.
Let George Do It: Deal Me Out and I'll Deal You In (HSG) (1951)
George Valentine is hired by Ambrose Acropolis to find his friend Bob Sprague, who has mysteriously begun avoiding everyone and acting strangely. George tracks Bob to a hotel where he discovers the young man is hiding from someone and mentions $40,000, but before George can learn more, Bob flees. When Ambrose arrives at the hotel, George realizes the truth about why Bob is in trouble.
A hotel bar and rooms in the city · George Valentine, Ambrose Acropolis, Bob Sprague, Bartender
Listen for: The revelation of why Bob Sprague is in hiding and what the $40,000 has to do with his troubles
Let George Do It: Death Begins at 45 (1950)
George Valentine is hired by freelance reporter Wendell Mason to investigate a mysterious criminal sighting in the exclusive suburb of River Vista. When George and his assistant Brooksie arrive at the meeting spot by the river, they discover the body of Rocko Banion, one of America's biggest criminals, shot with a .45 automatic. The case grows complicated as George learns that Mason himself was struck unconscious the morning of the murder while trying to locate Banion for a story, and that a well-dressed stranger named Tim McNeil, who owns a houseboat where the body was found, is refusing to talk about Banion's presence there.
River Vista, an exclusive and quiet suburb, particularly along a river with houseboats and wooded trails · George Valentine, Brooksie (George's assistant), Wendell Mason (freelance reporter), Tim McNeil (houseboat owner), Lieutenant Devlin (police officer), Rocko Banion (murder victim)
Listen for: The mystery of why a major criminal would be hiding in an exclusive suburb, the suspicious circumstances around Mason's attack and Banion's murder, and Tim McNeil's evasive behavior about the dead man on his houseboat
Let George Do It: Death In Fancy Dress (1948)
George Valentine is hired by a man named Reynolds to investigate threats against his life. George discovers that his client's nemesis is the blackmailer Bascom, who collects scandalous mementos from the private lives of society figures to hold over them. When George refuses to help Reynolds against Bascom, tragedy strikes at Reynolds' home, and George realizes he must uncover Bascom's vulnerabilities to stop the man's cruel exploitation.
A city with society figures, nightclubs, and police department; primarily Bascom's trophy room and Reynolds' home. · George Valentine, Brooksie, Mr. Bascom, Reynolds, Donna Reynolds, Lieutenant Riley
Listen for: The detailed description of Bascom's collection of scandal mementos, the confrontation between Reynolds and Bascom over letters, and George's determination to find evidence against the blackmailer.
Let George Do It: Death Wears a Gay Sports Jacket (1948)
George Valentine receives an anonymous letter offering $300 to investigate a series of violent deaths in the Warrington Square area, including mentions of a victim named Nancy Cabot. A newspaper reporter named Pringle has been linking the murders to a suspect wearing a distinctive plaid sports jacket, but Lieutenant Riley remains skeptical about whether the cases are actually connected. George begins investigating the various witnesses and suspects to determine if Pringle's theory holds any truth.
Warrington Square area and various locations around the city; George's office; police headquarters · George Valentine, Angel, Lieutenant Riley, Jack Pringle, Nancy Cabot, Miss Brooks, Joe Barcelona, Mrs. Walts
Listen for: The mysterious anonymous letter with $300; the recurring detail of a plaid sports jacket; the disagreement between reporter Pringle and Lieutenant Riley over whether the deaths are connected; George's interview with the witnesses who claim to have seen the plaid-coated suspect
Let George Do It: Death in Blue Jeans (1949)
George Valentine arrives in the quirky town of Benson Flats after receiving an urgent letter from Miss Emily Wintrich, a librarian who fears her fiancé Saddlebags (the town judge) will be murdered. She has discovered that Saddlebags's estranged brother Henry, who has recently appeared in town after years of isolation in the hills, has been checking out every book in the library about poison. Miss Wintrich believes Henry, who stands to inherit everything, plans to poison his healthier brother.
Benson Flats, a small Gold Rush-era mining town in the hills, particularly the library and local jail that has been converted from an old building. · George Valentine, Miss Emily Wintrich, Saddlebags (the judge), Henry Benson, Brooks, Pete, Dusty
Listen for: The absurd town ordinance requiring all men to wear beards or pay a fine; Henry Benson's suspicious interest in chemistry and poison books; Miss Wintrich's mounting fears about her fiancé's safety.
Let George Do It: Death in Fancy Dress (1948)
Private investigator George Valentine is hired by a blackmailer's victim to look into the past of Mr. Baskam, a man who collects mementos of his friends' scandals and uses them to extort money and secrets. When Mrs. Reynolds, whose love letters Baskam possessed, is found dead in what authorities rule a suicide, Valentine suspects Baskam's cruelty may have driven her to it and vows to find evidence of his crimes.
A city with nightclubs and high society; Baskam's apartment with his trophy room; Reynolds' home · George Valentine, Baskam, Reynolds, Donna Reynolds, Lieutenant Riley, Angel
Listen for: The description of Baskam's grotesque collection of scandals and blackmail material; the confrontation between Reynolds and Baskam over love letters; the discovery of Mrs. Reynolds' death and Valentine's determination to bring Baskam to justice despite police indifference.
Let George Do It: Destination - Dead End (1949)
George Valentine receives a desperate plea from Sophie Pevilman to help her son Richard, a private investigator who has gotten into serious trouble. Richard has been selling information to various criminal operations and now has made a deadly enemy in Matt Downey, who has hired thugs to kill him. George must find a way to protect Richard and his mother from Downey's revenge.
The city, primarily at the Richel-O restaurant and police precinct, with references to River Street in the slums. · George Valentine, Sophie Pevilman, Richard Pevilman, Matt Downey, Brooks, Lieutenant Riley
Listen for: The interplay between George's quick thinking and Richard's cynical acceptance of danger; George's negotiation with the police to keep Richard safe by shuffling him between precincts; the revelation that Downey has kidnapped Sophie as leverage.
Let George Do It: Destination Danger (1951)
George Valentine receives an anonymous briefcase with cash, plane tickets, and instructions for a dangerous assignment in Panama. On the flight, a mysterious man drugs George's coffee and steals a letter of introduction, then mysteriously returns it. Upon arrival in Panama, a young man named Carlos meets George and his assistant but refuses to explain their mission, promising details will come tomorrow.
A Pan-American Clipper flight from the United States to Panama, and the lobby of a hotel in Panama City · George Valentine, Brooks (George's assistant), Manuel Perez, Carlos, Captain Santo Silvera
Listen for: The mysterious theft and return of George's letter of introduction, and the cryptic appearance of Carlos with news of the assignment
Let George Do It: Destination, Danger (1951)
George Valentine receives an anonymous briefcase with cash, plane tickets to Panama, and cryptic instructions about a dangerous assignment. Along with his assistant Brooksie, he boards a Pan American Clipper for Panama, but during the flight a mysterious passenger drugs his coffee and steals a letter of introduction from his pocket. Upon arrival in Panama City, a young man named Carlos makes contact at their hotel but refuses to reveal details of the assignment, promising answers the following day.
A Pan American Clipper airplane en route to Panama, and the Hotel Tivoli in Panama City in 1951. · George Valentine, Brooksie (his assistant), Manuel Perez, Carlos, Captain Santo Silvera
Listen for: The mysterious theft during the flight and George's growing suspicion that someone knows more about his mission than he does; Carlos's cryptic refusals to explain the assignment.
Let George Do It: Double Death (1949)
George Valentine is hired by the nervous Mr. Groves to find his missing wife, who disappeared from their newly rented house the night before following a heated argument. Groves is reluctant to involve the police due to his past, and George soon discovers that the case may be far more complicated than a simple disappearance, with suspicious details emerging about Groves' other activities and visitors.
Mr. Groves' newly rented house in the country, near his office · George Valentine, Mr. Groves, Rena Hilliard, William (neighbor)
Listen for: George's sharp observation of a freshly scrubbed floor and his probing questions about Groves' mysterious nighttime visitor and early morning activities at the incinerator
Let George Do It: Drop Dead (HSG) (1951)
Writer Jerry Yule calls George Valentine with a mysterious story involving a green and orange parrot. When George and his associate Miss Brooks meet Yule at the run-down Captain Charlie's Neptune Palace hotel near the docks, they discover a dead sailor in an alley and learn the parrot's connection to his demise.
Captain Charlie's Neptune Palace, a dilapidated hotel near the commercial docks in a foggy seaside district; an alley nearby. · George Valentine, Miss Brooks, Jerry Yule, Captain Charlie, Morton, Sadie, Lamey, Lieutenant
Listen for: The parrot's distinctive squawk and repeated phrase 'Drop dead'; discussion of a dead sailor found in an alley and the mystery surrounding his death; clues involving tobacco chewing and a valuable parrot.
Let George Do It: Eleven O'Clock (1950)
George Valentine is called to investigate a college girl named Estella who has disappeared after acting strangely at summer session. When a blonde coed named Vicki is thrown from a horse at the stables, George discovers the saddle cinch has been deliberately cut—suggesting someone at the college is in serious danger, and Professor Ferris's name keeps appearing in connection with the mysterious events.
A women's college during summer session, including dormitory, classrooms, and stables. · George Valentine, Estella Blair, Maggie, Mrs. Ferris, Professor Ferris, Vicki, Uncle (Estella's guardian), Mrs. Jensen
Listen for: The repeated mention of 11 o'clock as a time when people are told to go places, and the discovery that Vicki's saddle cinch was deliberately cut.
Let George Do It: Eleven O'clock (1950)
George Valentine is hired by a worried uncle to look into his niece Estella's strange behavior at a university summer session. When George arrives on campus, he discovers that a girl named Vicki has been thrown from a horse with a deliberately cut saddle strap, and multiple young women seem connected to Professor Ferris through mysterious instructions to meet at 11 o'clock.
A university campus during summer session, including dormitories, classrooms, and the campus stables. · George Valentine, Estella Blair, Maggie, Mrs. Ferris, Professor Ferris, Vicki, The stable master
Listen for: The mystery of who tampered with the saddle and why multiple women are receiving instructions tied to 11 o'clock; whether Professor Ferris is involved in the schemes.
Let George Do It: Empress of Fishfalls (1949)
George Valentine is on a fishing vacation when he and his companion discover a murdered midget in the water. The victim carries a watch inscribed to Merle Bender from Colonel Gerald P. Fargo's circus. George tracks down the mysterious Empress of Fish Falls, a wealthy and commanding former circus performer who seems to know more about the dead man and the small town of circus retirees than she initially reveals.
Fish Falls, a small town by a river where retired circus performers have settled, and the Empress's castle estate nearby. · George Valentine, Claire Brooks, The Empress (Mrs. Bender), Shorty McDonald, Colonel Gerald P. Fargo, Castle (the butler), Elephant (the footman), Brother Face (store owner)
Listen for: George and Claire's discovery of the murdered midget; the revelation that Fish Falls is populated by retired circus folk; the mysterious Empress and her connection to the victim.
Let George Do It: End of Summer (1949)
Private investigator George Valentine arrives at a mountain retreat to investigate Dr. Nicholas Wills on behalf of the nervous Miss Rosaire Burlick, who fears the doctor may be involved with her sister Marsha. When Marsha disappears and her husband Frederick Gentle confesses to shooting her in a moment of despair, Valentine must untangle the truth from a web of misunderstandings and emotional turmoil among the residents of the quiet summer home.
A mountain retreat with vacation cabins and a permanent house, during the end of summer season. · George Valentine, Brooks (his assistant), Rosaire Burlick, Frederick Gentle (artist), Marsha Gentle, Dr. Nicholas Wills
Listen for: The revelation of a confession that may not be what it seems, and the theme of emotional breakdown versus actual crime; Shakespeare's words about guilty creatures at a play striking souls to confession.
Let George Do It: Every Shot Counts (1949)
Detective George Valentine is hired by cowboy actor Rafe Dizzaro to investigate a mysterious situation involving Daphne Crockett, a schoolteacher Rafe recently met who is being watched and shot at from a nearby apartment building. When a blackmailer named Curly Black is found dead in the apartment of a blind piano player named Dick Siva, Valentine must unravel a tangled web of murder, blackmail, and hidden motives to find the true killer.
A modern apartment building in the city, with rooftop gardens where Daphne practices her shooting. · George Valentine, Rafe Dizzaro, Daphne Crockett, Dick Siva, Curly Black, Michael J. Martin, Lieutenant Riley
Listen for: The clever twist that reveals how a blind man could commit two seemingly professional murders by using a hidden gun rig beneath his nailed-down chair; Valentine's deduction of the killer's method through process of elimination.
Let George Do It: Everything Is Nice (1949)
Private investigator George Valentine is hired by a wealthy man named Sanderman to investigate his red-haired daughter VV, who has been spending her afternoons at a disreputable establishment called Bamboo Bill's. When Valentine visits the bar to gather information, VV is shot upstairs. Before Valentine can fully investigate, Sanderman himself is murdered in his home on his wife's birthday, shot through a kitchen window. Valentine must untangle a web of alibis and deceptions to identify the killer.
A city with a tropical-themed nightclub called Bamboo Bill's, the Sanderman home, and police headquarters. The story takes place during a birthday celebration for Mrs. Sanderman. · George Valentine, Mr. Sanderman, VV Sanderman, Mrs. Sanderman (Dora), Bill McGee, Osbert Layton, Lieutenant Riley, Charlie
Listen for: The clever solution involving birthday candles and their burn time to establish when the murder actually occurred, proving the apparent alibi is false. Also listen for the revelation of a bigamy scheme and the twist about who the real killer is.
Let George Do It: Fifty Shares of Mazooma Limited (1946)
George Valentine agrees to buy 100 shares of Mazouma Limited stock for a mysterious anonymous client through his lawyer neighbor Spencer, who provides a $5,000 check. George sends his office boy Sonny to deliver the check to the investment firm Jellico and Bean before the market closes at three o'clock, but Sonny becomes confused about the firm's name and delivers the check to the wrong company instead.
George Valentine's detective office in a city office building, the Security Exchange Building, and surrounding city locations. · George Valentine, Claire, Spencer, Sonny, Al Melcher, Elevator starter
Listen for: The comedic misadventure as Sonny tries to remember the name of the investment firm, confusing "Jellico and Bean" with candy names like "Jelly Bean" and "Gumbra," leading to the check being left at the wrong company.
Let George Do It: Follow That Train (1949)
George Valentine receives a mysterious letter signed by Santa Claus requesting help recovering stolen toys from the North Pole display at Gumperts department store. When George investigates, he discovers that Joe Smith, who plays Santa at the store, has been pressured by a small-time crook named Mo Dickerson to let him take over the role. The theft turns out to be connected to a larger criminal scheme involving a planned robbery of the store's substantial daily receipts.
A department store's North Pole display and the surrounding city streets during the Christmas season · George Valentine, Claire Brooks, Joe Smith, Lieutenant Riley, Mo Dickerson, Louie, Hilda, Felton
Listen for: A clever twist involving fingerprints on the stolen electric train and a mysterious Santa Claus who appears at a crucial moment to save George and Claire from a taxi
Let George Do It: Follow That Train! (1949)
Private investigator George Valentine receives a mysterious letter from Santa Claus requesting specific toys. When George discovers that these exact items were donated to a police charity box, he suspects foul play. He sets out to find Joe Smith, the real Santa Claus who works at Gumpert's department store, but the investigation takes a dangerous turn when he and his companion Angel are attacked on the street.
A city during Christmas time, including a department store, police headquarters, an employment agency, and a boarding house. · George Valentine, Angel Brooks, Lieutenant Vines, Sergeant Del Bay, Joe Smith, Mr. Louie, Hilda
Listen for: A classic mystery setup involving stolen charity goods, multiple Santa Claus imposters, and a violent street attack that separates George from his companion Angel, leaving their fates uncertain.
Let George Do It: Forty-Two on a Rope (1947)
George Valentine collides with a young woman fleeing down a street, scattering pearls everywhere. As they collect the artificial pearls from a string of 42, one disappears down a sewer drain. George gallantly retrieves it, but the woman mysteriously flees with his coat and wallet. Now George investigates the jeweler who made the pearls and tracks down the woman at her address, only to find her apartment ransacked and himself confronted by dangerous men who force him inside.
City streets, a jewelry manufacturer's shop, and an apartment building · George Valentine, Brooksie, Miss Dale Krillin, Bela Zagari, Nubbin
Listen for: The comedic collision and pearl-counting sequence; George's banter with Brooksie about being fooled by the mysterious woman; the sinister turn when George arrives at Dale's apartment to find trouble waiting.
Let George Do It: Forty-two on a Rope (1947)
George Valentine collides with a young woman fleeing down a street, and helps her retrieve a pearl from her broken necklace after it falls into a sewer drain. The grateful woman runs off with his coat and wallet. Later, George discovers she bought the pearl necklace from a jeweler named Bela Zagari and tries to track her down, but when he and his friend Brooksie visit her address, they find the apartment ransacked and are confronted by violent men who force George inside at gunpoint.
City streets, a jeweler's shop, and an apartment building · George Valentine, The young woman (Dale Krillin), Brooksie, Bela Zagari, Nubbin
Listen for: The comedic sequence of George and the woman scrambling to retrieve the missing pearl from the sewer drain, and the tense turn when George arrives at the woman's apartment only to find trouble waiting.
Let George Do It: Framed for Hanging (1951)
George Valentine receives a mysterious summons from A.W. Ankerz, a wealthy businessman, asking him to meet at the Dewey Company office at 5:30. Ankerz hints he needs advice about a personnel matter involving someone who might commit murder. When George arrives, he finds the office closed, but discovers a letter from Ankerz on a table. Before he can read it, George encounters a security guard named Joseph Portland who mistakes him for an intruder and pulls a gun.
The Dewey Company office in an unnamed city, late afternoon into evening. · George Valentine, A.W. Ankerz, Jerry Frame, Angela Barkley, Joseph Portland, Mr. Dewey
Listen for: A cryptic message about a personnel problem and potential murder, mistaken identity leading to a tense confrontation with an armed security guard, and mysterious connections between employer and employee.
Let George Do It: Friendship Club (aka-Island in the Lake) (1948)
George Valentine is hired by Edith Wilder to find her missing sister Angela, who disappeared two days ago from Tuxedo Lake. Angela, a serial bride who has been married multiple times, vanished after her current husband Walter paid her twenty thousand dollars to settle their separation, but the circumstances of her disappearance grow increasingly mysterious when George discovers she left behind all her clothes and possessions.
Tuxedo Lake, an exclusive area with an island community in California, and the Selby Friendship Club marriage bureau · George Valentine, Brooksie (George's associate), Edith Wilder, Walter Filiston, Angela Kramer Filiston, Mr. Selby (Friendship Club operator), Bud Kramer (Angela's son)
Listen for: George and Brooksie's investigation into a disappearance that may be more sinister than it appears, involving a marriage broker, a suspicious son, and evidence suggesting foul play rather than elopement
Let George Do It: Friendship Clubs (1948)
George Valentine is hired to find Angela Filistin, a woman in her early forties who has disappeared from Tuxedo Lake. Her sister Edith fears a scandal, as Angela has been corresponding with another man through the Selby Friendship Club while still married to her third husband, Walter. George investigates the friendship club and searches Angela's empty house, where he encounters Angela's bitter son Bud, who stands to inherit money if his mother doesn't return.
Tuxedo Lake and surrounding areas including George's office, the Selby Friendship Club, and Angela Filistin's house on the island. · George Valentine, Miss Brooks, Edith Wilder, Walter Pelison, Angela Filistin, Mr. Selby, Bud Kramer
Listen for: George's investigation into the mysterious disappearance, the revelation that Angela married through a matrimonial agency and paid her husband $20,000 to stay away, and the suspicious appearance of Angela's resentful son at her empty house.
Let George Do It: Go Jump in the Lake (1950)
George Valentine receives a letter from Mona Chandler, secretary to the troubled businessman Terence Doyle, asking for his help. Doyle is nervous, has bought a gun, is avoiding strange callers, and has received a mysterious package. When George meets Doyle at his office, the man dismisses his concerns and tells George to go jump in the lake, but a mysterious phone call suggests deeper involvement with dangerous people.
The offices of the Consolidated Machine Tool Company in the city, with a phone call traced to the Club 50. · George Valentine, Claire Brooks, Mona Chandler, Terence Doyle, Gil Frank, Starky Bennett
Listen for: The mysterious phone call revealing a connection to Starky Bennett and the Club 50; Mona's discovery that Doyle is in real danger despite his dismissal of it.
Let George Do It: Have Some Excitement (1948)
George Valentine, a troubleshooter for hire, receives an urgent request from Peter Murch, a timid movie comedian who has spent 30 years playing meek characters. Murch wants George to introduce him to excitement and danger to help him overcome his nervous disposition before starting his first starring role. George agrees to help, but when he takes Murch to Mark Logan's pool hall for some excitement, Logan suggests an increasingly dangerous plan involving a kidnapping and a trip to the seaside amusement park's tunnel of love—where a murder once occurred.
A city featuring a pool hall, a vegetarian restaurant, and a seaside amusement park with a tunnel of love attraction. · George Valentine, Peter Murch, Brooksie, Mark Logan
Listen for: The tension between George's attempts to provide harmless excitement and Mark Logan's schemes that become increasingly sinister, culminating in an ominous reference to an unsolved murder in the tunnel of love.
Let George Do It: High Card (1950)
George Valentine, a private investigator, receives a letter from Mrs. Ames asking for help with her troubled husband, Victor. Victor, a lawyer, has become increasingly erratic and despondent, haunted by suspicions from his town that he murdered a woman named Dorsey-Folman a year ago, despite never being formally tried. George must discover what Victor is really doing and why he seems bent on self-destruction.
A small town, primarily at the Father's Club and the Ames household · George Valentine, Victor Ames, Mrs. Ames, Chester, Norton, Lord
Listen for: A murder mystery from a year past that still haunts the community; a card game with mysterious stakes; a man on the edge of desperation
Let George Do It: How Guilty Can You Get (1951)
Millionaire Fred Vincent Liggett hires detective George Valentine after writing a suspicious letter accusing his wife of plotting against him. When Liggett is found dead, apparently poisoned with medicine mixed at the local drugstore, suspicion falls on Mrs. Liggett—especially since she regularly picked up prescriptions for her husband and has been seen socially with the town doctor, Everett Nichols. George must untangle the web of small-town gossip and hidden motives to discover who really poisoned the wealthy man.
Sandhill Center, a small town where Liggett made his fortune · George Valentine, Clare Brooks, Mrs. Liggett, Fred Vincent Liggett, Sheriff, Ed Manks, Dr. Everett Nichols, Miss Boggs
Listen for: George investigates the circumstances surrounding Liggett's death and tracks down the missing Dr. Nichols while Mrs. Liggett becomes the prime suspect.
Let George Do It: Human Nature (1952)
George Valentine receives a letter from Ruby Devlin, a cleaning woman at Club Bim Bam, asking him to help a kind pawn shop owner named Ben Cullum who she fears is being pressured into criminal activity. Ruby overheard a drunk named Joey Krieger claiming he had pulled off a heist and used Cullum as a fence, but George suspects there may be more to the situation than Ruby's simple interpretation of human nature reveals.
A nightclub called Club Bim Bam and a pawn shop on Lower Forest Street in the city, with police headquarters involved. · George Valentine, Miss Brooks, Ruby Devlin, Ben Cullum, Joey Krieger, Lieutenant Johnson, Sergeant Lee
Listen for: George's skepticism about Ruby's naive reading of the situation, the details emerging about Cullum's surprisingly well-secured back room despite his modest front shop display, and the police sergeant's revelation about a major jewelry heist.
Let George Do It: Is Everybody Happy (1951)
George Valentine arrives at the estate of Lorenzo, an eccentric millionaire who has dedicated his fortune to giving talented people the opportunity to pursue their passions. But when Lorenzo is shot dead on his marble staircase, George must determine whether the murder was committed by one of the residents—Dr. Merkel, the psychologist; Hansen, the poet; or Amy, the language professor—or by Fred Jeffries, Lorenzo's suspicious brother-in-law who has been trying to have him committed.
Lorenzo's estate, a large house in the countryside with gardens and grounds. · George Valentine, Lorenzo, Fred Jeffries, Dr. Merkel, Hansen, Amy, Dr. Nolan
Listen for: An ingenious murder method involving a photo-electric cell, mirrors, copper wire, and a concealed gun that fires automatically when someone breaks a light beam.
Let George Do It: Island in the Desert (1950)
George Valentine receives a desperate letter from Ray Mackie, a private detective friend, asking him to rescue him from a remote desert island town on the Mexican border where he is trapped and dying of heat. When George arrives, he finds Mackie dead in his hotel room with only a letter for identification, and discovers that Mackie had been secretly investigating a series of suspicious fires in the Mexican border town before his death.
A small desert town on the U.S.-Mexico border, featuring a hotel, a local bar, and a boarding house pool room. · George Valentine, Ray Mackie, Sheriff Tázco, Páro, Chief Slim, Miss Brooks
Listen for: The mystery of why private detective Ray Mackie concealed his identity in this remote border town and what connection his death has to the fires he was investigating across the border.
Let George Do It: It Happened on Friday (1952)
George Valentine is hired by Mrs. Craig to find her husband Stanley, who disappeared on Friday's Island in the Pacific during a vacation flight. Stanley left the plane deliberately, claiming he had business to attend to, but Mrs. Craig fears he may be involved with a communist organization called "the group" operating on the island. George arrives on Friday's Island with his assistant Roxy and immediately encounters a mysterious man named Nicholas Grand who demands the message George is carrying from someone named Kestier.
Friday's Island in the Pacific, near Tahiti; also a brief scene in Mrs. Craig's home · George Valentine, Mrs. Craig, Roxy, Leon, Stanley Craig, Nicholas Grand, Kestier
Listen for: The mysterious communist plot, Nicholas Grand's threatening behavior, and what the message from Kestier contains
Let George Do It: It's A Mystery To Me (1950)
George Valentine takes a case for mystery writer Marlon King, who is distraught over his sweetheart Cynthia suddenly refusing to see him. When George investigates, he discovers Cynthia's roommate Mabel has been murdered, and Cynthia herself is found dead in a closet. As Lieutenant Riley investigates, the evidence points in multiple directions, but George must unravel the true motive behind the double murder.
A city bar called Joe's Oasis and a nearby apartment building, with police investigating a murder scene. · George Valentine, Marlon King, Cynthia, Mabel, Tony, Lieutenant Riley, Joe, Michael
Listen for: The solution to who murdered both Cynthia and Mabel, revealed through George's logical deduction about fingerprints, gloves, and a mysterious engagement ring hidden in a pocket.
Let George Do It: Journey Into Hate (1949)
Private investigator George Valentine receives a frantic cable from Janice Gibson asking him to travel to Hawaii immediately to help her sister Colleen, who has become convinced that people around her are plotting to kill her. George and his assistant Brooke board a ship to Honolulu, where they meet Colleen's husband Marcel Millet on the dock. Marcel reveals that Colleen has developed paranoid delusions and imagines grotesque conspiracies against her, and he hopes George can help uncover what is troubling his wife.
Aboard the ocean liner Udara traveling to Hawaii, and the docks of Honolulu leading to a private island · George Valentine, Brooke, Janice Gibson, Colleen, Marcel Millet, Ship's Doctor
Listen for: George's witty banter with Brooke as they embark on the mystery, the revelation of Colleen's mysterious mental state, and Marcel's account of his wife's paranoid delusions
Let George Do It: Juniper Lane (1950)
George Valentine receives a letter intended for someone else, written by an elderly man on Juniper Lane thanking his aunt for knitted wristlets. Curious about the mix-up, George and his partner Roxy track down the sender to a peculiar dead-end street in the city. But when they visit the address, they discover that the letter's intended recipient, an old woman who knits, has been found dead in her bedroom—stabbed with a knitting needle.
Juniper Lane, a dead-end street in the city bounded by industrial areas, with brownstone houses and one store run by Miss Bartwell. · George Valentine, Roxy, Miss Bartwell, Miss Bathwell, Felix McCoy, Queen Beth, Lieutenant
Listen for: George's discovery of crossed letters leading him to a murder scene; the strange, insular atmosphere of Juniper Lane described by its residents; the mystery of who killed the old woman with the knitting needle.
Let George Do It: Kleptomaniac (1946)
George Valentine, a newly independent private investigator, takes on a case from Mrs. Harrington, who confesses she has a compulsive stealing problem that could ruin her husband's campaign for Alderman if discovered. George agrees to watch over her to keep her out of trouble, but when Mrs. Harrington accompanies him on an errand to a department store, her kleptomaniac tendencies emerge again, putting both of them in a difficult spot.
A private investigator's office, a department store, and the streets of the city in the present day. · George Valentine, Claire Brooks, Mrs. Isabel Harrington, Mr. Gordon, Sonny
Listen for: George's witty banter with his secretary Claire, Mrs. Harrington's nervous confession about her stealing habit, and the escalating tension when Mrs. Harrington steals at the department store despite hiring George to prevent such incidents.
Let George Do It: Knock on Wood (1951)
George Valentine is hired by Alfred J. Liggett, owner of the Golden Tower Department Building, to deal with a troublesome tenant named Side Bet Sinclair who lives in apartment 16A and has threatened violence against the wealthy tenant Mrs. Fairchild living directly above him. When George and his associate visit both parties, they discover Sinclair is an ex-convict gambler who parties loudly, while Mrs. Fairchild seems strangely fascinated by the danger he represents despite her complaints.
The Golden Tower Department Building, specifically apartments on the 15th and 16th floors · George Valentine, Miss Brooks, Alfred J. Liggett, Side Bet Sinclair, Mrs. Fairchild, Mr. Newton the janitor
Listen for: The contrast between Liggett's desperate concern for his building's reputation and Mrs. Fairchild's mysterious interest in her troublemaking neighbor; Sinclair's brash confidence about his criminal past and current lifestyle.
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#004) - Portrait of a Suicide
George Valentine is called to investigate a troubled marriage after a farmer named Stengel witnesses what he believes might be a suicide attempt by Mrs. Blair on a bridge. When George and his secretary Miss Brooks visit the Blairs' home, they discover that Mr. Blair has been painting a portrait of another woman as his model, and the canvas has been savagely slashed to pieces—apparently by Mrs. Blair in a jealous rage after she discovered it.
A rural country area with farms and bridges, and the Blair family home, with George Valentine's office in the city · George Valentine, Miss Brooks, Ole Miss Stengel, Mrs. Blair, Mr. Blair, Dr. Fee
Listen for: The growing tension as George uncovers the Blairs' unhappy marriage, Mr. Blair's affair with his portrait model, and Mrs. Blair's emotional breakdown and violent jealousy
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#005) - Prairie Dog
George Valentine investigates the death of Jerry Mace, a private investigator for an insurance company found dead on the railroad tracks. The victim was apparently robbed and pushed in front of a train. George learns that Mace was working on a case involving the Prairie, a rough district in town, and traces the investigation to a pawn shop run by a man named Felix.
A city with a railroad station and the Prairie, a run-down commercial district from Front Street to Third Street where the investigation takes Valentine to a pawn shop. · George Valentine, Lieutenant Johnson, Miss Brooks, Angel, Felix, Sergeant
Listen for: A man being pushed onto railroad tracks, the discovery of an empty pawn shop that just closed, and George's confrontation with Felix the pawnbroker about a stolen watch.
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#005) - Prairie Dog (1951)
When insurance investigator Jerry Mace is murdered at the railway station, George Valentine is called in to help solve the case. Police suspect a serial criminal called the Prairie Dog, responsible for six unsolved crimes over two years, who leaves distinctive clues: special Swedish matches, greasy glove marks, and cigarette butts. George's investigation leads him to a pawn shop on the Prairie, where he uncovers a dangerous web of murder and robbery.
A city's industrial Prairie district and railway station, with a pawn shop and barbershop serving as key locations in the investigation · George Valentine, Lieutenant Johnson, Miss Brooks, Jerry Mace, Sniffy, Felix, Tony the barber, Calgary the landlord
Listen for: George's deduction that the Prairie Dog is actually two criminals working together, using overlapping alibis and shared evidence to evade capture; the revelation that Sniffy's pickpocketing skills were used to rob Jerry Mace before his murder
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#006) - Tonight the Mayhem's Going to be Different
George Valentine is invited to a country estate for a fishing weekend by Cecile Lewis, a woman he's never met. Upon arrival at Crescent Lane, George discovers that Cecile's brother Avery is deeply upset and unstable, and that Joe Ames, a social-climbing newcomer, has entangled himself in the family's affairs by purchasing a neighbor's property. When George hears gunshots from a repair shed, he finds Avery armed and clearly troubled about his sister's involvement with Ames.
Crescent Lane, a country estate with gardens, woods, and outbuildings, owned by Avery Lewiston · George Valentine, Cecile Lewis, Avery Lewiston, Joe Ames, Paul Merrell, Claire Brooks
Listen for: The mystery of why Cecile invited George to the estate and what has made Avery so unstable and dangerous
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#007) - The Eight Ball
George Valentine arrives in Summer Springs, hired by mysterious local politicians to find a big-time collection racket operator. When he checks into his hotel room, he discovers a dead man who appears to have been mistaken for him—a necktie salesman named Harold Stark. George must now work around this complication to discover who the imposter killer is and find the criminal he was hired to locate.
Summer Springs Hotel and the town of Summer Springs · George Valentine, Brooksie, Lemuel, Nielsen, Emmet, The Mayor, Vic, Harold Stark
Listen for: George Valentine, a private detective hired to investigate a payoff racket, finds himself framed when a man mistaken for him is murdered in his hotel room. He must solve the case while staying ahead of the police.
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#007) - The Eight Ball (1951)
George Valentine arrives in Summer Springs after being hired by three local politicians to investigate a collection racket run by an unknown big shot. But before he can begin his investigation, a dead man is found in his hotel room carrying false identification, and George becomes the prime suspect. He must quickly prove his innocence and uncover the real criminal before the killer strikes again.
Summer Springs Hotel and the town of Summer Springs · George Valentine, Brooks (Brooksie), Nielsen, Vickery, Mayor Emmett Waller, Lemuel, Harold Stark, Clarence Prell
Listen for: A clever frame-up plot with multiple mistaken identities, including a fake necktie salesman who turns out to be a detective, and a hotel clerk who is the true mastermind behind the payoff racket.
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#008) - Every Shot Counts
Private investigator George Valentine receives a letter from Rafe Disbro, a cowboy movie star, asking for help protecting a young woman named Daphne Crockett who lives in the Imperial Crest Apartments. Rafe says Daphne is nervous and afraid, watched by a mysterious man with black hair and a sour face. George agrees to investigate and meet Daphne, but discovers she is actually a professional sharpshooter and bullseye artist who seems to be protecting a dangerous secret.
Imperial Crest Apartments in the city, with adjacent buildings and apartments overlooking each other. · George Valentine, Rafe Disbro, Daphne Crockett, Lieutenant Cleary, Curly Black
Listen for: A case of mistaken danger where the supposed victim turns out to be a skilled marksman protecting herself, and the introduction of escaped convict Curly Black who may be the real threat.
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#008) - Every Shot Counts (1949)
Cowboy actor Rafe Disbro hires private detective George Valentine to protect schoolteacher Daphne Crockett, who he claims is in danger from an unknown man. George discovers Daphne is actually a sharpshooter performing at the Club Paris, and becomes entangled in a blackmail scheme involving her estranged husband Curly and millionaire Michael J. Martin. As bodies pile up from precise gunshots, George must uncover who among the various suspects is the real killer.
The city, including an apartment building, the Club Paris nightclub, and a roof garden. · George Valentine, Rafe Disbro, Daphne Crockett, Curly Blackshin, Lieutenant Cleary, Dead Eye Dix Siva, Michael J. Martin
Listen for: George's wisecracks and the clever reveal of how a blind man uses the sound of voices and the positions of nailed-down furniture to commit murder with precision shooting.
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#009) - The Anthill
George Valentine is hired to help a small man named Trailer who has been shot six times in a dark alley. Lieutenant Riley hints that Trailer might have information about a criminal organization, and George must earn Trailer's trust to learn more. George begins investigating the case by visiting locations connected to Trailer and uncovering a web of illegal slot machines and organized crime.
A city with hospitals, police stations, and various criminal operations involving slot machines and organized crime. · George Valentine, Lieutenant Riley, Trailer, Betty, Miss Brooks, Mr. Wilton, Louie
Listen for: George's investigation into who shot Trailer and why, the structure of the criminal pyramid Trailer may have discovered, and whether Trailer will reveal what he knows about his employers.
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#009) - The Anthill (1950)
George Valentine is hired to help a dying slot machine repairman named Trailer find his girlfriend Betty, but the case spirals into a dangerous investigation of an organized crime empire. As George infiltrates a mysterious penthouse apartment belonging to someone called Mr. Black, he uncovers layer upon layer of ambition, deception, and violence within the criminal organization.
A city with an underworld district called the Ant Hill, featuring a nightclub, a police hospital, bars, and a luxury penthouse apartment · George Valentine, Lieutenant Riley, Trailer, Betty, Claire Brooks, Louis, Mr. Wilton, Mr. Black
Listen for: The clever revelation that connects apparently separate characters and motives, and the tragic irony of how secrets and paranoia destroy the very empire someone built
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#010) - Touched By An Angel
George Valentine is hired by banker Frank Emerson to find out why Myrtle Dane, secretary to recently deceased gangster Lefty Lumpert, has become terrified after a car accident. When George visits Myrtle in the hospital, she refuses to talk but cryptically mentions she's afraid of Lefty's 'angel.' George discovers a mysterious armed man trying to see Myrtle and realizes the case is more dangerous than it first appears.
A hospital room and surrounding locations in the city, involving a banker's office and police connections. · George Valentine, Frank Emerson, Myrtle Dane, Bill McCord, The Nurse, A mysterious armed man
Listen for: The mysterious identity of Lefty's 'angel' and why Myrtle is so frightened; the armed man's connection to Lefty's death.
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#011) - Drop Dead
Writer Jerry Yule calls private investigator George Valentine to help solve a mysterious story involving a foreign sailor, a valuable green and orange parrot, and some dangerous characters at the dilapidated Neptune Palace hotel on the waterfront. When the sailor who sold the parrot is found dead in an alley and another hotel resident dies under suspicious circumstances, George must untangle the web of secrets surrounding the bird and the people at the hotel.
The Neptune Palace, a run-down old waterfront hotel in a fog-shrouded harbor district, now occupied by permanent residents including a sea captain and other characters from the area's past. · George Valentine, Brooksie, Jerry Yule, Captain Charlie, Lymie, Sadie, Morton, Lieutenant Johnson
Listen for: The parrot's repeated cry of 'drop dead' and the mysterious circumstances surrounding who really caused the deaths at the hotel; George's deduction about counterfeiting and replaced money that explains the crimes.
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#011) - Drop Dead (1951)
Writer Jerry Yule calls private investigator George Valentine to a run-down waterfront hotel called Captain Charlie's Neptune Palace, claiming he has a mysterious story that needs solving. The tale involves a foreign sailor who sold Captain Charlie a peculiar green and orange parrot before being found dead in an alley, and now Lymie, a resident of the hotel, has been found dead at the bottom of the stairs, with George himself drugged and robbed when he tries to investigate with the bird.
Captain Charlie's Neptune Palace, a decrepit old waterfront hotel in the run-down commercial dock district on a foggy night. · George Valentine, Brooks (Miss Brooks), Jerry Yule, Captain Charlie, Lymie, Sadie, Morton, Lieutenant Johnson
Listen for: The parrot's repeated cry of 'drop dead' and George's methodical unraveling of the mystery by connecting the money, the counterfeiting operation, and the crimes that seem linked to the bird.
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#012) - Uncle Harry's Bones
Private investigator George Valentine is summoned to a remote farm near Pine Lake by a woman named Sophie, who fears that skeletal remains recently found in the lake may or may not actually be those of her missing Uncle Harry, who disappeared five years ago. George and his associate Miss Brooks arrive to find Sophie frightened and confused, joined by her brother Doc Sellers, a retired veterinarian, and Douglas Kent, who help Valentine search for old medical records that might identify the bones.
A rundown farmhouse near Pine Lake, reached by turning right at the Red Silk Post office · George Valentine, Miss Brooks, Sophie, Doc Sellers, Douglas Kent, Sheriff
Listen for: George's investigation into whether the skeleton found in the lake truly belongs to the missing Uncle Harry, with Doc Sellers skeptical of jumping to conclusions while George searches for x-rays that could provide positive identification
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#012) - Uncle Harry's Bones (1951)
Private investigator George Valentine is summoned to a remote rural area by Sophie Sturdevant, who claims to have discovered the skeleton of her missing Uncle Harry in the lake. Sophie insists that George prove the skeleton's identity so she can prove her estranged husband Bunker murdered him for his money. But as George and his partner Brooks investigate, they find the town has little interest in disturbing five years of peace, and the mystery grows more complicated than a simple murder.
A remote rural area near Pine Lake, including Sophie's farmhouse, Uncle Harry's cabin, and the surrounding woods and lake. · George Valentine, Brooks (Miss Brooks), Sophie Sturdevant, Doc Sellers, Douglas Kent, Sheriff, Dorky, Bunker
Listen for: The revelation that Doc Sellers committed perjury to cover up the real murderer; the twist that the skeleton is actually Bunker, not Uncle Harry; and George's final conversation with Sophie about the waste of hatred and time.
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#014) - No Escape from the Jungle
George Valentine is hired by Peta Van Russell, a research chemist from Burma, to locate a man named Terrence Hollowell who has recently arrived in the city. Hollowell sent Van Russell a cryptic cable mentioning a valuable pearl necklace, but when Van Russell tries to reach him, Hollowell's household claims he is not at home despite evidence he is in town. George begins investigating, discovering that Hollowell has a young wife and a business partner, and uncovering a mysterious employment agency connection that may be key to finding the elusive traveler.
A city, primarily at Hollowell's residence and its surroundings; the story involves characters recently arrived from Burma and Rangoon. · George Valentine, Peta Van Russell, Terrence Hollowell, Mrs. Hollowell, Sai Kirby, Angel
Listen for: The mysterious circumstances surrounding Hollowell's apparent disappearance despite being in the city, the significance of the ten black pearls, and George's investigation into the employment agency lead.
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#014) - No Escape from the Jungle (1951)
George Valentine is hired by Peter Van Rossel, a chemist from Burma, to locate Terence Hollowell, who has just arrived in the city but is mysteriously hiding. George discovers Hollowell is registered at a hotel under an assumed name and has been spending time at a jewelry store, where he sold a valuable black pearl necklace and commissioned a cheap imitation. When George finally finds Hollowell and warns him that Van Rossel has vowed to kill him, the charming con artist is found dead in his home with three bullets in his body.
A city (likely in America), including Hollowell's home, the Benson Hotel, a jewelry store, and various other locations; with backstory in Burma and Rangoon. · George Valentine, Brooksie (Miss Brooks), Peter Van Rossel, Terence Hollowell, Mrs. Hollowell, Sai Kirby, Lieutenant Johnson, Mrs. Van Rossel
Listen for: The mystery of who actually shot Hollowell, given that multiple people had motives and Mrs. Van Rossel fired her gun several times; the revelation about the fake pearl necklace and Hollowell's deceptions; George's realization that he should have prevented the murder by understanding all the clues earlier.
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#015) - Murder On Vacation
George Valentine arrives at Sandy Spit, a quiet seaside town, hoping for a peaceful vacation and famous fish stew. His plans are disrupted when he encounters mysterious townspeople acting suspiciously, including a man named Clyde Mercy carrying a clam shovel at night and a woman who seems frightened of being seen. George discovers a hidden cup and realizes the town harbors secrets beneath its peaceful exterior.
Sandy Spit, a remote, foggy seaside town known for its isolation and sand dunes. · George Valentine, Brooks, Miss Gallagher, Clyde Mercy, Dr. Crow
Listen for: Mysterious nighttime activities, hidden secrets among the townspeople, and the discovery of a mysterious cup.
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#015) - Murder On Vacation (1951)
George Valentine arrives at Sandy Spit for a relaxing vacation, hoping to enjoy Miss Gallagher's famous fish stew. His plans derail when he discovers a Spanish gold cup and coin, sparking treasure fever among the townspeople. The situation turns deadly when carnival worker Clyde Mercy is found murdered on the beach with a clam shell used as the weapon.
Sandy Spit, a remote and foggy seaside town with sand dunes, visited by George for a vacation · George Valentine, Brooks, Miss Gallagher, Dr. Crow, Todd Lewis, Clyde Mercy, Mrs. Mercy, Mr. Brown
Listen for: The revelation of who actually murdered Clyde Mercy and why the treasure hunt was used as a cover for the crime
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#016) - Man Behind the Frame
Lawrence Ferguson, a naive young clerk, is arrested for the murder of Sally Fife after being found fleeing her apartment. Businessman Vic Burnett hires detective George Valentine to help the confused kid, but as George investigates the case at the Silver Duck bar and Sally's apartment, he discovers a web of blackmail, secret relationships, and hidden motives that suggest the real murderer may still be at large.
A city with a county jail, police station, a bar called the Silver Duck, Sally Fife's apartment, and George Valentine's office · George Valentine, Lawrence Ferguson, Vic Burnett, Lieutenant Johnson, Claire Brooks, Sally Fife, Lupi (Sally's husband), Jake (bartender)
Listen for: The clever use of a wire recorder to capture a confession, George's deductive work at the bar, and the final confrontation that reveals the true killer's identity and motive.
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#016) - Man Behind the Frame (1951)
When Lawrence Ferguson, a naive office clerk from out of town, is arrested for the murder of Sally Fife after being found fleeing her apartment, his employer Vic Burnett asks George Valentine to help prove his innocence. As George investigates, he discovers the case is far more complex than a simple frame-up, with multiple suspects harboring secrets about the victim and her connections.
A city with a county jail, a bar called the Silver Duck, Sally Fife's apartment, and George Valentine's office · George Valentine, Claire Brooks, Lawrence Ferguson, Vic Burnett, Lieutenant Johnson, Sally Fife, Lupi (Sally's husband), Jake (bartender)
Listen for: The clever use of a wire recorder that accidentally captures a confession, and George's realization that the innocent-seeming victim was actually involved in blackmail schemes
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#017) - Big Brother
Lou Mendel, owner of the upscale Club Top Hat, hires private detective George Valentine to find out who knocked him unconscious and stole a thousand dollars and a mysterious note. The case centers on Dove, a beautiful but guileless new dancer at the club, who seems to be at the heart of the trouble. When a landlord is found murdered in Dove's apartment, Valentine must untangle a web of blackmail, fake photographs, and desperation to find the real killer.
New York City, primarily at the Club Top Hat nightclub, Dove's apartment, and police precinct · George Valentine, Lou Mendel, Dove, Max, Lieutenant Johnson, J.J. Stopes, Andrews, Sergeant
Listen for: The clever detective work as Valentine pieces together clues from a photograph, a taxi meter, and the absence of fingerprints to catch the killer; the running joke about all the men who want to be Dove's 'big brother'
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#017) - Big Brother (1951)
George Valentine is hired by Lou Mendel, owner of the Top Hat nightclub, to investigate who struck him on the head and stole a thousand dollars left in a mysterious note. The case becomes complicated when a landlord is found murdered in the apartment of Dove, a naive young dancer whom several men want to protect as a "big brother."
A nightclub called the Top Hat, Dove's apartment, police station, and various locations around the city · George Valentine, Lou Mendel, Dove, Max, Andrews, Lieutenant Johnson, Sergeant, J.J. Stopes
Listen for: The clever resolution revealing how the taxi driver's camera meter was used to create the blackmail photographs, and George's demonstration that Dove's innocence led inadvertently to the entire scheme.
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#018) - What Became of Terry Cable
When Shorty McGowan, a talkative pub owner, discovers his acquaintance Terry Cable's watch in a pawn shop, he becomes obsessed with finding out what happened to the young man who vanished from the neighborhood. George Valentine takes the case and begins investigating Cable's background, uncovering a web of fires, gambling joints, and suspicious characters tied to the missing man.
A city's east side, including a pub, a warehouse district, a ruined neighborhood, and an insurance company office. · George Valentine, Shorty McGowan, Fat Williams, Mr. Manx, Mr. Everett, Angel, Terry Cable, Loose Sprinkle
Listen for: The gradual revelation of what Terry Cable really was doing in the neighborhood and why he disappeared from view.
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#018) - What Became of Terry Cable (1951)
George Valentine is hired by pub owner Shorty McGowan to find out what happened to Terry Cable, a regular customer who disappeared six months ago. When Shorty shows George Cable's watch, which he found in a hock shop, it sets off a chain of inquiries that reveals Cable was a fire insurance investigator. The case takes a dark turn when Shorty is murdered, and George travels to Maryville to uncover the truth behind Cable's disappearance.
A city and the town of Maryville, featuring a pub, warehouse, insurance office, gambling joint, and county graveyard · George Valentine, Angel Brooks, Shorty McGowan, Terry Cable, Fat Williams, BB Manx, Lou Sprinkle, Lieutenant Johnson
Listen for: The solution to why Terry Cable vanished and his connection to a series of fraudulent fires; the revelation of who really killed him and why
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#019) - The Discovery of Ponce the Lion
George Valentine arrives in Baja Junction, a small Pacific town, to investigate the return of Ponce the Lion, a dangerous ex-convict released from jail after serving time for manslaughter. The townspeople fear Ponce may carry out threats against those who testified against him, but when George confronts him, Ponce claims he has discovered something that has changed him and made him different.
Baja Junction, a small town in the Pacific; includes Toli's dance hall and the Oriental section of town · George Valentine, Buster, Franco (Director of Baja Junction Trade Relations Club), Miss Brooks, Lawrence Pinkney, Phil Minahan, Ponce the Lion
Listen for: George's investigation into what Ponce has discovered and whether the ex-convict's claims of change are genuine or a cover for his revenge threats against his former accusers.
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#019) - The Discovery of Ponce the Lion (1951)
George Valentine arrives in Baja Junction to investigate rumors that a recently released convict named Ponce the Lion has vowed to murder the witnesses who testified against him in a manslaughter case. But when murders begin occurring, George discovers that the crime's real architect has cleverly used Ponce's desire for revenge and a joss house's shadowy sanctuary as cover for a carefully orchestrated plan.
Baja Junction, a multicultural Pacific port town with an Oriental section and a joss house, in the early 1950s · George Valentine, Ponce the Lion, Mr. Franko, Lawrence Pinkney, Miss Brooks, Phil Minahan, Mr. Blake, Joss house keeper
Listen for: The clever setup of alibis within a place of worship; the revelation of who really orchestrated the murders; the climactic confrontation in the joss house with its iron idol
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#020) - The Fearless Clown
George Valentine is hired by Relita, a circus acrobat in strawberry-colored tights, to protect the life of Fofo, a fearless clown performer who works with snakes and elephants. Relita had written a confession letter stating she would kill Fofo, but the letter has gone missing from her waistband, and she fears someone will use it to frame her for his murder.
A traveling circus with various acts including acrobats, snake handlers, and elephant performers. · George Valentine, Relita, Fofo the clown, Freddy, Boxer
Listen for: The mystery of who stole Relita's confession letter and what they plan to do with it; George's investigation into the circus performers and Fofo's unpopularity.
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#020) - The Fearless Clown (1951)
George Valentine is hired by Relita, a circus performer, to protect Fofo the fearless clown from harm after she writes a threatening letter she fears has been stolen. When an elephant tramples a clown during an afternoon performance, George investigates whether it was truly an accident or murder, uncovering a complex web of resentment among the circus performers.
A circus that has come to town, including the circus grounds, tent, dressing rooms, and nearby areas. · George Valentine, Brooksie, Relita, Fofo the fearless clown, Otto, Boxer, Freddy, Raustavod
Listen for: The clever solution involving the elephant's battle training and a broken reed from an oboe that triggers an ancient military command in the animal's memory.
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#021) - The Man From French Guiana (1951)
George Valentine is hired to find a missing brother-in-law named Sid Forrest who abandoned his sister. A mysterious man wearing a white linen suit appears, and when George confronts him, the stranger is found with an address and a calling card belonging to someone from French Guiana. The man claims to have lost his memory from a fight at the waterfront, but George discovers the name on the card belongs to someone who died six weeks ago.
A city office and various locations including a waterfront area, with connections to French Guiana. · George Valentine, Mr. Scott, Mary, Sid Forrest, Jack McDonald, Joe, Mrs. Forrest, Mr. Ambler
Listen for: The mystery of the amnesiac man with the calling card, the search for Sid Forrest, and the revelation that the name on the card belongs to a dead man.
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#022) - Sucker Stunt (1951)
George Valentine accepts a job from Tim, a photographer who claims his younger brother has become involved with a suspicious character named Florio who runs a shop on the North Side. Tim is worried about his brother's mysterious connection to Florio and wants George to investigate. When George poses as a customer to size up Florio, he discovers the man may be connected to a recent highway robbery.
A city neighborhood on the North Side, including Florio's shop and a sheriff's office · George Valentine, Tim, Florio, Sheriff
Listen for: George's clever approach to investigating Florio by posing as a customer, and the revelation of a highway robbery that may connect to the case
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#023) - The Marauder
George Valentine arrives at a remote, isolated resort owned by Hans Bjorkman, who has become obsessed with hunting a mysterious marauder—a large cat, possibly a puma or panther, that prowls the grounds. Hans is so consumed by the threat that he's become nearly uncontrollable, firing his gun at shadows and neglecting everything else. George must figure out what's really happening at this desolate place where everyone seems on edge.
A remote, snow-covered resort in a mountainous area during winter, isolated and nearly deserted. · George Valentine, Hans Bjorkman, Pinnock, Olga, Mr. Saxon, Miss Brooks
Listen for: The mysterious sounds of the prowling cat and Hans's increasingly erratic behavior as he hunts for the creature he believes is stalking his property.
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#023) - The Marauder (1951)
Writer Rafe Saxon calls George Valentine to a remote winter resort run by the increasingly obsessed Hans Bjorkman, who is consumed with hunting down a dangerous mountain lion terrorizing the isolated property. When Hans is found dead near the dead lion, Valentine must determine whether a wild animal killed him or if something far more sinister occurred.
A small, isolated resort in the mountains during a harsh winter with ice and wind; surrounded by frozen landscape and deep snow. · George Valentine, Rafe Saxon, Claire Brooks, Hans Bjorkman, Olga Bjorkman, Peanut, P. Knuckle
Listen for: The revelation that Hans's death was not caused by the mountain lion; a discussion of marauders and broken homes; the discovery of a steel trap and its significance to the true crime.
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#024) - The High Price of a Penny
George Valentine arrives at Fish Lake after receiving a cryptic letter from lawyer Amos Fell about an elderly couple, Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Morm, who face a million-dollar swindle connected to a penny they once spent on a lollipop for their nephew Clifford years ago. On his way to investigate, George discovers that the Morms have just died in a suspicious car accident on a nearby road.
Fish Lake country, at night, with a car wreck scene and Amos Fell's cabin nearby. · George Valentine, Amos W. Fell, Clifford, Brooks, The boy at the road
Listen for: The mystery of how a penny and a lollipop from years past connect to the Morms' sudden deaths and the involvement of their nephew Clifford, plus the significance of a diamond bracelet in stopping the swindle.
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#024) - The High Price of a Penny (1950)
George Valentine is hired by a lawyer to investigate a suspicious penny that led to a million-dollar inheritance. When a wealthy couple, Mr. and Mrs. Mom, die in a car accident, their nephew Clifford stands to inherit everything. But when the photographer documenting the accident scene is murdered, George discovers the deaths may not have been accidental at all.
Fish Lake country, a remote rural area with winding roads where a wealthy couple lives and dies in a car accident · George Valentine, Miss Brooks, Amos Fell, Clifford, Lieutenant Riley, Mrs. Mom, Mr. Mom, The Photographer
Listen for: The clever plotting of a murder disguised as an accident, the discovery of diamonds scattered along the roadside, and the revelation of how switching bodies at an accident scene could affect inheritance taxes
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#025) - Tune On A Triangle
George Valentine receives a mysterious letter from Jerry Briskin claiming to have a tiger and asking for help. When George arrives at his office, he finds a woman on a ledge outside his building screaming. George talks her down and rescues her from the ledge as photographers capture the dramatic scene. The woman, whose name is Estella, turns out to be connected to a circus performer named Fedor, who bursts into George's office demanding answers about his wife.
George Valentine's office building in the city, with a dramatic rescue scene on an exterior ledge. · George Valentine, Jerry Briskin, Estella, Fedor, Brooksie
Listen for: The exciting ledge rescue sequence and the introduction of the mysterious Estella and her husband Fedor; the revelation that this case involves more than just a tiger.
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#025) - Tune On A Triangle (1951)
Press agent Jerry Briskin hires George Valentine to help stage a publicity stunt involving Estella, a famous trapeze artist known as the Tigris. George rescues Estella from a building ledge, but the stunt goes awry when Estella's jealous husband Fador arrives from the circus. That night, Estella is found murdered in her dressing trailer, struck on the head, with her jewelry missing. Both Fador and Estella's lover Ferelli are found fighting over George's gun at the scene.
A city and a traveling circus, primarily in and around the circus grounds and Estella's dressing trailer. · George Valentine, Brooksie, Jerry Briskin, Estella (the Tigris), Fador, Flying Ferelli, Lieutenant Johnson
Listen for: The dramatic rescue sequence on the building ledge, the escalating tensions between Fador and Ferelli, and George's attempts to untangle the mystery of who really killed Estella.
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#026) - Red Spots in the Snow
George Valentine is hired by Herbert Judson to serve as his bodyguard at Snow Valley Lodge, a mountain resort. Soon after arriving, Judson receives threatening notes warning him to leave, but before George can investigate further, a shot rings out from the woods during a chairlift ride up the mountain.
Snow Valley Lodge, a luxury mountain resort with skiing and a chairlift · George Valentine, Angel Brooks, Herbert Judson, Mary
Listen for: The mysterious gunshot from the woods and the figure in the blue sweater skiing away down the mountain
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#033) - Nothing But the Truth
George Valentine receives a mysterious letter from Tyogutam, a wealthy desert recluse claiming to be the only honest man left in the West, asking for help investigating the theft or disappearance of his dog. George boards a train to Cactus Junction and discovers he is not alone in his journey—a lawyer named Flannery, a woman claiming to be Tyogutam's former common law wife, a cousin, and a mysterious man named Loosefoot are all traveling to see Tyogutam on the same night, each having received telegrams summoning them.
A train traveling to Cactus Junction in the desert West, and the surrounding area near Tyogutam's castle in the desert. · George Valentine, Tyogutam, Claire Brooks, Mountain Ryan, Loosefoot, Mr. Flannery, Widow Carmichael, Cousin Henry
Listen for: The mystery of why so many people are being summoned to visit the reclusive Tyogutam on the same night, and what really happened to his dog.
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#033) - Nothing But the Truth (1950)
George Valentine receives a cryptic letter from Tioga Tom, a reclusive desert dweller claiming to be the only honest man left in the West, asking for help finding whoever stole or killed his seeing-eye dog. When George arrives by train at a remote junction, he discovers that multiple people with claims against Tom have mysteriously received telegrams summoning them to the castle. Before George can even reach Tom, one of these visitors—lawyer Flannery—is murdered on the train with a sharp instrument. George must navigate through Tom's deadly trap and uncover the truth about the dog's disappearance and the murder.
A remote desert location near Cactus Junction, featuring a train journey and Tioga Tom's castle in the desert hills · George Valentine, Brooks (Claire Brooks), Tioga Tom, Posing (Tom's servant), Loosefoot, Mr. Flannery (lawyer), Widow Carmichael, Cousin Henry
Listen for: The mystery of who killed the seeing-eye dog and murdered Flannery; the revelation of Tioga Tom's clever deception to trap the culprit; Cousin Henry's confession; Tom's admission about his actual eyesight and honesty
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#034) - High Card (500828 & (510702 not))
George Valentine arrives at a small town to investigate a case involving lawyer Ames, whose career was destroyed by suspicion surrounding the unsolved murder of Dorothy Foreman a year ago. When Valentine finds Ames at a late-night card game with friends, one of the players confesses to Foreman's murder and then leaves town with Ames's car, leaving Valentine to untangle the mystery of who really killed Dorothy Foreman.
A small town, centered around a private card game at a club and the Ames household · George Valentine, Mr. Ames, Mrs. Ames, Chester, Norton, Soto, Mr. Victor
Listen for: The shocking confession during the card game and George Valentine's investigation into why someone would suddenly confess to a year-old unsolved murder
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#037) - Angels Grotto
George Valentine is hired by nurse Emily Flood to investigate the death of her employer, wealthy John Maraga, who died when his wheelchair went over a cliff at the Grotto Farmhouse. The police have ruled it an accident, but Emily suspects murder. George questions the family and household members to determine whether John was pushed or simply rolled off the edge during an evening visit to overlook the grotto.
The Grotto Farmhouse, a rural estate where John Maraga spent his final evening in a wheelchair overlooking a dramatic cliff and waterfall. · George Valentine, Brooksie, Emily Flood, John Maraga, Jake, Herman, Mary the cook
Listen for: The family tensions revealed at dinner as John announces plans to retire and cut off support to his relatives; the mysterious circumstances of how John's wheelchair came to go over the cliff; whether anyone had opportunity and motive to push him.
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#037) - Angels Grotto (1950)
George Valentine is hired by a nurse to investigate the death of wealthy John Moraga, who fell 200 feet from his wheelchair at Angel's Grotto. The police have ruled it an accident, but the nurse believes it was murder. As George searches for evidence, family tensions and hidden secrets emerge, leading to an attempt at vigilante justice and the revelation of the true killer.
The Grotto Farmhouse and Angel's Grotto, a natural formation of rocks and cliffs near a farm · George Valentine, Brooksie, Emily Flood, John Moraga, Jake Moraga, Herman Moraga, Mary the cook
Listen for: George's clever deduction about the angel rock formation that could only be seen from partway down the cliff, revealing that John Moraga must have been conscious and clinging to the cliff face after being pushed.
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#038) - The Hand in the Coconut
George Valentine is summoned to a quarantined ship by the renowned hunter Mr. Stang, who claims that Lars Michelson, a crew member, has stolen his prized field glasses. Stang describes how greed traps animals in a coconut trap and suggests Michelson is similarly caught by his own desires. George boards the vessel to investigate the theft and discover the truth about the missing glasses and their alleged thief.
A South African freighter ship docked in port, under quarantine and carrying a cargo of wild animals destined for zoos across the country. · George Valentine, Mr. Stang, Captain Tigg, Lars Michelson, Baba, Mrs. Stang
Listen for: The clever metaphor of the coconut trap and how it relates to human nature and the theft; George's investigation aboard the quarantined ship and his encounters with the crew and passengers.
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#038) - The Hand in the Coconut (1950)
George Valentine is hired by Derek Stang, a legendary big game hunter, to catch the second mate Lars Mickelson red-handed stealing field glasses. But when Stang is found dead in his cabin and his body mysteriously goes overboard, George must untangle a web of deception involving Stang's unfaithful wife, a loyal servant, and a ship full of exotic animals to discover who orchestrated the perfect murder.
A South African freighter docked at an American port, carrying exotic animals in quarantine. · George Valentine, Derek Stang, Mrs. Lorna Stang, Lars Mickelson, Baba, Dr. Bowling, Captain Tigg, Lieutenant Riley
Listen for: A clever murder plot that hinges on the absence of evidence rather than its presence, and how a cunning hunter turns the tables on those he's manipulated into committing crime.
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#039) - The Sedan from the City
George Valentine is called to the small town of Broomeville to investigate the murder of Mervin Brewster, a beloved local broom manufacturer who was shot through his front door window by a stranger in a dark hat and fish-colored face driving a big black sedan from the city. As George and Lieutenant Haster examine the crime scene, they discover that while everyone loved Brewster, the killer left no footprints—suggesting someone locally may have deliberately trampled the tracks with rubber boots to cover evidence.
Broomeville, a small town; the Brewster house and surrounding area · George Valentine, Lieutenant Haster, Mrs. Brewster, Fred Mackenzie, Miss Brooks
Listen for: The mystery of who killed the beloved broom factory owner and why someone in town is covering for the killer; the strange sedan from the city and the peculiar tripwire trap on a neighbor's lawn.
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#039) - The Sedan from the City (1950)
When a beloved factory owner named Mervin Brewster is shot dead on Halloween in the small town of Broomville, suspicion falls on a mysterious stranger in a big black sedan from the city. George Valentine investigates, but discovers that the real mystery lies not with an outsider, but within Broomville itself, hidden beneath the town's cheerful façade.
Broomville, a small town built around Brewster's Broom factory, on Halloween night. The action moves between the Brewster house, the surrounding woods and roads, and Fawnville's property nearby. · George Valentine, Lieutenant Riley, Brooksie (Miss Brooks), Dora Brewster, Fred, Mervin Brewster, Mr. Mackenzie, Everett Fawnville
Listen for: The clever way George pieces together the truth by noticing details others overlook: a loose street sign, the significance of a rubber Halloween mask, and the revealing sketch in Brewster's study that exposes his wife's hidden resentment.
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#040) - Tag You're It
George Valentine, a private investigator who solves problems for hire, receives an urgent letter from a woman claiming someone is trying to murder her. The letter was accidentally discovered during George's radio show when he reads the contents of a woman's purse as part of a on-air game. When George tries to locate the woman who wrote the letter to help her, he discovers she has been found dead in an alley in the commercial district, shot that very morning.
George Valentine's office and the city streets; a radio studio where George hosts an audience participation program. · George Valentine, Lieutenant Riley, Birdie, Mrs. Oscar Peterman, Sister-in-law
Listen for: The clever premise of how George discovers the threatening letter through a radio show game, and the investigation into Mrs. Peterman's mysterious murder.
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#040) - Tag You're It (1950)
A murderer poses as a radio contest operator, calling victims with the offer "Tag, you're it—you're wealthy!" to lure them to their deaths. George Valentine must stop the killer before more people are eliminated, while Mrs. Pettyman and others fall victim to the scheme.
A radio station in the city, including Studio B in the basement, and various locations around town where victims are lured. · George Valentine, Brooksie, Lieutenant Riley, Mrs. Oscar Pettyman, Johnny Russell, Dorothy Cheever, F.J. Holman, Ansel the janitor
Listen for: The eerie phone message "Hello from Tag, you're it, you're wealthy"—a murderer's calling card. Listen also for how George uses the radio broadcast itself to trap the killer.
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#041) - The White Elephant
George Valentine is hired by the eccentric Miss Alice Edmond, who lives alone in a large white house with her brother Stephen. She reveals someone has already tried to murder her by tampering with electrical wiring, and she now wants George to catch her killer, promising him $1,000 in her will. As George investigates her wealthy but isolated life and her scheming relatives who want her out of the house, he discovers poison in the milk she has just drunk.
A large, old-fashioned white house in the middle of the city, containing 42 rooms. · George Valentine, Miss Alice Edmond, Stephen Edmond, Clarence Morley, Jensen, Brooksie
Listen for: The mysterious poisoning attempt and George's discovery of who among Miss Edmond's relatives is trying to kill her for her valuable property.
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#041) - The White Elephant (1950)
George Valentine receives a letter from the eccentric Miss Alice May Edmond, who lives alone in a sprawling 42-room mansion. She informs him that she's leaving him $1,000 in her will—payable only if he catches her murderer. When George arrives at her house, someone attempts to poison her milk, but the poison is mysteriously counteracted by an antidote, leaving her only slightly ill. George must determine who among her scheming relatives wants her dead and why.
Miss Edmond's large, old-fashioned 42-room mansion in the middle of the city, filled with antiques and closed-off rooms. · George Valentine, Miss Alice May Edmond, Brooksie, Doctor, Lieutenant Riley, Clarence Morley, cousin Yule, Jensen
Listen for: The revelation that Miss Edmond poisoned her own milk to prevent her family from forcing her out of the house, and the tragic discovery of the Irish servant girl's photograph hidden in the closed-off maid's quarters—connected to the death of Miss Edmond's brother Steven twenty years earlier.
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#042) - Deal Me Out and I'll Deal You In
George Valentine is hired by Ambrose Acropolis to find his missing friend Bob Sprague, a young man who has apparently gone into hiding. Valentine discovers that Bob is fleeing from Ambrose himself, who claims to be owed $40,000 from a poker game, though he insists his intentions toward the boy are friendly despite having hired people to track him down.
A hotel bar and surrounding areas · George Valentine, Ambrose Acropolis, Bob Sprague, Bartender, Ambrose's associates
Listen for: The mystery of why Bob Sprague is hiding and what really lies behind Ambrose Acropolis's pursuit of the young man over the gambling debt.
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#042) - Deal Me Out and I'll Deal You In (1951)
George Valentine is hired by Ambrose Acropolis to find his troubled friend Bob Sprague, a young man who has been hiding and avoiding everyone. Valentine discovers Bob is in debt to Acropolis from gambling losses, but before he can sort out the situation, someone kidnaps Bob and demands $40,000 from his uncle. When the ransom is paid and Bob is released, Valentine must uncover who really orchestrated the kidnapping and the murder of Bob's uncle.
A city with a hotel, a bar, and the homes of wealthy citizens. · George Valentine, Ambrose Acropolis, Bob Sprague, Bob's Uncle Dougal, Lieutenant Johnson, Lawyer Jackson, Al (the bartender/hired hand), Brooks (the secretary)
Listen for: The clever twist revealing that Bob Sprague himself orchestrated the kidnapping and murdered his uncle to inherit the money before his uncle's planned marriage could cut him off. Listen for the key detail about the yachting cap that proves Bob's guilt.
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#043) - The Blue Plate Special
George Valentine is called to Hickory Corners by Sam Ferris, a businessman who claims he's been swindled over a valuable plate and fears ruin at the hands of the vengeful Josh Higbee. When George arrives to investigate the dispute over the chinaware, he discovers the secretary staying at the Higbee house has been murdered, and suspicion falls on Josh's brother Amos.
Hickory Corners, a small town, with the Higbee house and Sam Ferris's business at the center of the action. · George Valentine, Sam Ferris, Josh Higbee, Amos Higbee, Mrs. Parsons, Doris Brewery, the police
Listen for: A mysterious murder involving a broken plate, a love triangle with the visiting secretary, and George's investigation into whether Amos Higbee is guilty of the crime.
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#043) - The Blue Plate Special (1951)
George Valentine arrives at a farmhouse in Hickory Corners after receiving a desperate letter from furniture dealer Sam Ferris, who fears he's being ruined by Josh Higbee over a disputed antique plate. But when Valentine and Sam return to investigate, they discover the Higbees' young secretary Doris Drury dead, struck down by one of the heavy decorative plates. The prime suspect is one of the Higbee brothers, but there's a crucial problem: Josh and Amos are identical twins, and no one can say which one committed the murder.
Hickory Corners, a rural area where the wealthy Higbee brothers own a large farmhouse filled with antiques; also the Higbees' home and Mrs. Parsons' neighboring cottage. · George Valentine, Sam Ferris, Josh Higbee, Amos Higbee, Doris Drury, Mrs. Parsons, Sheriff, Brooks
Listen for: The clever use of feminine details—wrapping technique, curlers in hair, and baking skills—to identify the real murderer among the suspects; George Valentine's deduction that someone planted evidence after the police left the scene.
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#044) - The Noose Hangs High
George Valentine is hired by a magazine editor to investigate the mysterious Fairweather mansion at 37 Ashton Street, where a man named Ansel Fairweather hanged himself ten years ago. The two Binks brothers who live there have remained isolated in the gloomy house ever since, never leaving and allowing no visitors inside. When George manages to enter the house posing as a fire inspector, he encounters the eccentric brothers, their business manager Merton, and a young woman named Janet, only to discover mysterious shadows of nooses appearing on the walls.
The Fairweather mansion at 37 Ashton Street, a gloomy, sparsely furnished house with shuttered windows that has been sealed off from the outside world for ten years. · George Valentine, J.H. McEew, Tom Binks, Jared, Merton, Janet, Ansel Fairweather
Listen for: The mysterious shadows of nooses that appear on the walls of the house, and the strange behavior of the isolated Binks brothers who seem trapped by the memory of Fairweather's death.
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#044) - The Noose Hangs High (1951)
Editor McEwen hires private investigator George Valentine to uncover why two reclusive brothers, Jared and Tom Binks, have isolated themselves for ten years in a mansion where their former partner Ansel Fairweather committed suicide. George discovers the house contains valuable emeralds that Fairweather supposedly found in India, and someone is using mysterious nooses and shadows to frighten the brothers into revealing the stones' location.
A large, cluttered mansion at 37 Ashton Street where two brothers have lived isolated for ten years since their partner's suicide. · George Valentine, Brooksie (Angel), McEwen, Tom Binks, Jared Binks, Mr. Merton, Mabel, Mr. Fairweather (cousin)
Listen for: The mysterious shadow of a noose appearing on walls, the revelation that the brothers have been collecting rare bird specimens, and George Valentine's clever deduction that someone is orchestrating the scares to force the Binks brothers to flee with hidden emeralds.
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#045) - The House that Jack Built
George Valentine is hired by Lacey Jack, a writer preparing to expose crime bosses to the DA's office, to watch over his apartment and family while he crosses town to meet an informant. After Jack leaves, George discovers that the nightclub singer Lila is Jack's sister, and the charming visitor Uncle Mar is revealed to be Duke Aversen, one of the very criminals Jack is about to inform on.
A nightclub casino and Lacey Jack's apartment · George Valentine, Miss Brooks, Lacey Jack, Lila, Mickey, Joe, Lieutenant Riley, Duke Aversen
Listen for: The ironic arrival of Duke Aversen at the apartment while Lacey Jack is away to gather evidence against him; George's growing understanding of the dangerous situation he's been drawn into.
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#045) - The House that Jack Built (1950)
Private investigator George Valentine is hired by the mysterious Lacey Jack, a man who works for crime boss Duke Aversen, to provide protection for Jack's family at their apartment. Jack claims he's going to meet an informant on Commercial Street and will explain his needs when he returns. Valentine soon discovers that Jack is actually supposed to kill a young squealer named Whitey, but when Valentine intervenes, the situation spirals into violence and revelation.
A nightclub called the Club Casino, Lacey Jack's apartment building, and a rooming house on Commercial Street in an unnamed city · George Valentine, Lacey Jack, Lila Jack, Mickey Jack, Duke Aversen, Lieutenant Riley, Whitey, Brooks (Miss Brooks)
Listen for: The clever way George Valentine outmaneuvers Lacey Jack's moral collapse and the tragic irony of Lacey's loyalty to a criminal code that destroys him and his family. Pay attention to how Valentine manipulates Lacey into becoming an informant and the shocking final confrontation with Duke Aversen.
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#046) - It's A Mystery to Me
George Valentine, a private investigator, is approached by Marlon King, a mystery writer who has lost his sweetheart Cynthia. She suddenly refuses to see him and won't explain why, though King suspects her roommate Mabel—a hard-edged cigarette girl at a nightclub—has something to do with it. When King shows up beaten and bruised after being warned to stay away from Cynthia, George must investigate the nightclub and its mysterious owner Tony to uncover what's really going on.
A nightclub and George Valentine's office in the city; a rainy evening. · George Valentine, Marlon King, Cynthia, Mabel, Joe, Tony
Listen for: The connection between a lost expensive locket, a mysterious nightclub owner, and threats against Marlon King; what secret Cynthia and Mabel are hiding.
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#046) - It's A Mystery to Me (1950)
George Valentine investigates when a mystery writer named Marlon King seeks help with his girlfriend Cynthia, who has broken off their relationship. A cheap locket and some gold earrings set events in motion, but when Cynthia and her roommate Mabel are found murdered in their apartment, George must untangle a web of deception involving a nightclub owner named Tony and a mysterious television set to find the real killer.
A city nightclub called Joe's Oasis, a nightclub where Mabel works, and an apartment building where Cynthia and Mabel live, during a rainy night. · George Valentine, private investigator, Marlon King, mystery writer, Cynthia, Mabel, cigarette girl and Cynthia's roommate, Tony, nightclub owner, Joe, bartender at the Oasis, Lieutenant Riley, police detective, Michael, bouncer and thug
Listen for: George's deduction that gloves worn during the murder left no fingerprints on Cynthia's body, and his realization that the bartender Joe ordered the television set as an engagement gift, revealing his motive for murder.
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#047) - And Hope To Die
George Valentine is hired to help the temperamental actress Flora Stewart, who is being terrorized by an unknown blackmailer. Each night for three nights, someone has broken into her study, stolen one of her private performance recordings, and smashed it to pieces, followed by a threatening phone call. George must investigate whether the intruder is truly an outsider or someone within the household.
Flora Stewart's home, a study with a window and flower beds outside, contemporary setting · George Valentine, Flora Stewart, Betty Robinson, Claire Brooke, A doctor
Listen for: The escalating mystery of the broken recordings and threatening calls; Flora's erratic behavior and vulnerability beneath her theatrical temperament; George's deduction about whether the intruder forced entry from outside or staged it from within; the significance of the specific records being destroyed.
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#047) - And Hope To Die (1950)
George Valentine is hired by Flora Stewart's secretary to help the famous actress who is being blackmailed and receiving threatening phone calls. A mysterious voice demands $10,000 after breaking her master recordings night after night, threatening to expose secrets about her. As George investigates the strange household of the temperamental star, a gunshot rings out and Flora is found dead, leaving Valentine to piece together whether her death was accident, suicide, or murder.
Flora Stewart's home, a famous actress's residence where blackmail threats are being made · George Valentine, Flora Stewart, Betty Robinson, Jake, Claire Brooke, Kenneth McLaughlin, Dr.
Listen for: A complex mystery involving a legendary but troubled actress, with Valentine uncovering layers of deception and the true nature of Flora's death as he interviews the people closest to her
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#048) - The Treasure of Millie's Wharf
George Valentine is hired by Millie Brooks to investigate a mysterious treasure map found by her parrot, which shows an X marking a location in the bay. When the bird is shot and wounded, George realizes someone is desperate to recover the map. He traces the map's connection to a Dr. Labor, a mysterious stranger who has just left town by bus, and discovers Labor is meeting with a ship captain and crew loading supplies offshore.
A coastal town with a bay, Millie's wharf and hotel, a beach with sand dunes, and offshore waters where a ship is anchored. · George Valentine, Millie Brooks, Dr. Labor, Captain (ship's captain)
Listen for: The mystery of who drew the map and why, what the X marks in the bay, and whether the treasure is connected to sunken Spanish galleons from the pirate era.
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#048) - The Treasure of Millie's Wharf (1950)
George Valentine investigates a mysterious map stolen by a parrot at a seaside wharf, leading him to a ship conducting diving operations. He discovers that a hired captain has died under suspicious circumstances, and uncovers a scheme involving fake Spanish treasure and murder.
Millie's Wharf, a coastal bay with small islands, featuring a ship equipped with diving apparatus. · George Valentine, Millie, Cupid the parrot, Uriah Jinks, Dr. Labor, Captain, Professor Schmidt, Dr. Amy Laver
Listen for: The clever twist revealing that the Spanish coins are fakes planted to stage a murder, the underwater diving sequences with air pump communication, and George's deduction that the map was drawn to bury treasure rather than find it.
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#049) - Is Everybody Happy
George Valentine arrives at the home of the wealthy Lorenzo, a man who invites talented people to live with him so they can pursue their passions without working. Among the residents are a psychologist, a poet, and a language professor. But tensions simmer when Lorenzo's brother-in-law Fred Jeffries arrives from back east, skeptical of Lorenzo's generosity and hinting at legal action. When the lights suddenly fail and a gunshot rings out, mystery descends on the household.
The mansion home of Lorenzo the Great, a wealthy man who has created a retreat for talented people to pursue their passions. · George Valentine, Lorenzo the Great, Amy Brooks, Dr. Merkel, Mr. Hansen, Fred Jeffries, Dr. Nolan
Listen for: The sudden power outage and gunshot that interrupts the evening, and the revelation of tensions between Lorenzo's generous vision and his skeptical brother-in-law's concerns.
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#049) - Is Everybody Happy (1951)
George Valentine arrives at the eccentric mansion of wealthy Lorenzo, who hosts a foundation supporting people pursuing their passions. When Lorenzo is shot dead in his rose garden under mysterious circumstances, George discovers an elaborate murder method involving a photoelectric cell and mirror device—and must determine which of Lorenzo's guests had the motive and opportunity to kill him.
Lorenzo's mansion and rose garden · George Valentine, Lorenzo, Dr. Merkel, Professor Red, Amy, Mr. Hanson, Fred Jeffries, Dr. Nolan
Listen for: An ingenious murder weapon using photoelectric cells and mirrors; George's deduction of how the killer created a mechanical alibi; the irony of the murderer undone by their own perfect alibi.
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#050) - See Me Once You've Seen Me Twice
George Valentine is hired by a nervous young man named Wally Brooks to investigate a mysterious heavy-set man in a green hat who has threatened him and is apparently following a woman named Lucy. George discovers that Lucy is a theatrical dancer living in an upscale apartment building, but things become complicated when he encounters what appears to be two different women with the same name and face.
A city drugstore, a fancy apartment building, and Lucy's apartment, with references to theatrical engagements and nightclubs. · George Valentine, Wally Brooks, Lucy, Audrey, The man in the green hat
Listen for: The clever twist involving identical-looking women and mistaken identity, George's encounters with two versions of the same person, and the explanation of a theatrical shadow dancing act.
Let George Do It: LGDI - (HSG Synd.#050) - See Me Once You've Seen Me Twice (1951)
George Valentine is hired by Wallace, a lovesick young man, to investigate why a mysterious man in a green hat has threatened to kill him over a girl named Lucy Lamaro, a theatrical dancer. When George visits Lucy's apartment, he discovers she has an identical-looking partner named Audrey Murphy for a shadow dancing act. The case spirals into murder when a theatrical booking agent named Franz Kling is found dead, followed by the death of Lefty Muscat, a small-time criminal with a record of blackmail and extortion.
A city with apartment buildings, drugstore, theatrical nightclubs, and a shabby hotel with an elevated track outside. · George Valentine, Wallace, Lucy Lamaro, Audrey Murphy, Lefty Muscat, Franz Kling, Miss Brooks, Lieutenant Johnson
Listen for: The clever twist that reveals Lucy's deceptive scheme involving her deceased sister, contact lenses that change eye color, and her carefully staged alibi using an identical partner to commit murders and frame the wrong person.
Let George Do It: LQ The Darkest Shadow (1952)
Lucy Randall, a young woman from a prominent family, visits her lawyer Mr. Senter to make a will, claiming she will die in three days. George Valentine is called in to investigate the mystery. As George talks to Lucy's fiancé Bill Cabell and her older sister Agnes, he discovers that Lucy has undergone a dramatic change in the past few weeks, becoming morbid and emotional, and that something troubling seems to exist between the two sisters.
The city, including a lawyer's office and the Randall family home on Seminole Boulevard · George Valentine, Lucy Randall, Agnes Randall, Mr. Senter, Bill Cabell, Miss Davis, Miss Brooks
Listen for: The mysterious explanation for Lucy's sudden conviction that she will die, the true nature of Agnes's influence over her sister, and what dark family history may be repeating itself
Let George Do It: Lady in Distress (1949)
Mitzi Raymond, a young woman desperate to help her imprisoned brother, arrives at the Peacock Lounge in an unnamed city to take a job she suspects is part of a criminal scheme. When George Valentine is away, Mitzi meets a stranger at the train station who offers to impersonate her and investigate the situation first. Mitzi then goes to the Peacock Lounge where she encounters another showgirl and meets the club's operators, Philip Gary and Glenn Cooley.
A train station and the Peacock Lounge nightclub · Mitzi Raymond, George Valentine, Philip Gary, Glenn Cooley, A stranger at the train station, A showgirl named Chicky Larson
Listen for: The mystery of why the Peacock Lounge's owners have suddenly taken interest in Mitzi and what job they have planned for her; whether the stranger's investigation will expose the scheme.
Let George Do It: Laura's House (1949)
Private detective George Valentine is called to Laura's House, a remote estate, by one of three schoolteachers who share the property and hope to sell it. Upon arrival, Valentine discovers that Miss Terence, one of the teachers, has mysteriously died in a room decorated with a carousel—a gift built years ago by a man named Laura's husband for his crippled wife. The local caretaker darkly hints that others have died in the same room under mysterious circumstances.
Laura's House, a remote estate in the country built by a wealthy man for his crippled wife, where three former schoolteachers now live while attempting to sell the property. · George Valentine, Bonnie Burke, Miss Terence, Francine Milton, Fairbanks, the coroner
Listen for: References to the mysterious deaths that have occurred in the front corner room upstairs, the carousel that once belonged to Laura, and the growing sense of dread surrounding the estate's history.
Let George Do It: Lost and Found (1948)
Martin Bettner hires private investigator George Valentine to locate his estranged brother Phil, with whom he wants to reconcile. After paying Renee Clemens for Phil's address, George and his associate Miss Brooks discover the apartment empty except for a dead man with a knife in his back—identified as Lou Henning, apparently someone Phil owed money to from gambling debts. Now George must find Phil before either the police or Henning's associates do.
A city apartment building, specifically 356 Morena Street, where Phil Bettner maintains an office; also a hotel and surrounding urban locations. · George Valentine, Miss Brooks, Martin Bettner, Renee Clemens, Phil Bettner, Lou Henning, Lieutenant Johnson
Listen for: The revelation of who actually killed Lou Henning and whether Phil is guilty or innocent; George's search to find Phil before the mob does; the outcome of the brothers' attempted reconciliation.
Let George Do It: Mayhem By Experts (1949)
George Valentine receives a frantic letter from a woman claiming she's in mortal danger and begging him to come to an apartment address. He rushes across town to help, but discovers the whole thing is an elaborate hoax. Lieutenant Williams and the police have arranged a surprise birthday party for George, complete with five famous mystery writers attending the celebration.
George Valentine's office and an apartment building at 426 Dwayne Street in the city. · George Valentine, Miss Brooks, Lieutenant Williams, Sergeant Williams, Police Woman Ferris, Steve Barry, Cornelia Williston, Ben Farris
Listen for: The humorous setup of the elaborate prank, the descriptions of the mystery writers, and the moment George arrives at his own surprise party.
Let George Do It: Mix-Up in La Cruza (1950)
George Valentine receives a mysterious letter from a diamond dealer named Pasco van Tifel asking him to steal a valuable diamond necklace. George and his assistant travel to the small town of La Cruza, where they meet a divorced countess wearing a hundred-thousand-dollar diamond necklace. The situation quickly becomes complicated when multiple people begin asking questions about George's identity and business in town.
La Cruza, a small tropical town with swimming pools and palm trees, primarily at a hotel and bar · George Valentine, Mrs. Brooks, Pasco van Tifel, Mr. Hill, the hotel manager
Listen for: The mysterious letter that sets George on this unusual job, the countess's diamond necklace and her plans to sell it, and the hotel manager's sudden turn against George when other people start inquiring about him.
Let George Do It: Mixup In La Cruza (1950)
George Valentine arrives in the small Mexican town of La Cruza after receiving a mysterious letter from Pasco van Tifel, a wealthy diamond dealer, offering him money to steal a valuable diamond necklace worth $100,000. Upon arrival, George encounters a glamorous countess named Mrs. Brooks who is throwing a farewell party and wearing the very necklace he's supposed to steal, while van Tifel himself appears at the hotel with cryptic comments about George's familiar face.
La Cruza, a small town on the border of Mexico, at a hotel during spring season · George Valentine, Brooks (George's assistant), Mrs. Brooks (the countess), Pasco van Tifel, Mr. Hill (hotel manager)
Listen for: The confusion over George's true purpose in town, the appearance of both Mrs. Brooks with the diamond necklace and van Tifel at the same hotel, and the hotel manager's mysterious questions about George's identity and background
Let George Do It: Most Likely to Die (1950)
George Valentine is summoned to a college reunion at Seever University where two middle-aged brothers, Joseph and Douglas Durphy, claim they're in a dangerous situation. At the reunion party, Valentine discovers the brothers have been playing pranks and that one of them has apparently committed suicide using a suicide note written as part of an elaborate practical joke. But as a body is discovered and the evidence unfolds, Valentine must determine whether the death is genuine suicide or murder carefully staged to look like one.
Seever University, Graduate Hall, at a class reunion party and surrounding areas on the evening of the reunion · George Valentine, Douglas Durphy, Joseph Durphy, Betty Durphy, Cynthia Chesterton, Claude, Lieutenant Riley, Stinky Bronson
Listen for: The clever twist as George unravels whether the death is suicide or murder, and how the brothers' practical joke history becomes central to the mystery
Let George Do It: Mr. Korawski - American (1948)
George Valentine receives a letter from Stepan Krowski, an immigrant desperate to become an American citizen, who is caught in a mysterious extortion scheme. A woman named Mrs. Fader collects money from Krowski each month without explaining why, and when she stops cooperating, George must follow the money trail to uncover who is really behind the racket.
A city with apartment buildings, a baker shop, and various streets; the Vendome Apartments play a key role in the investigation. · George Valentine, Stepan Krowski, Mrs. Fader, Viola Cober, Mr. Armstrong
Listen for: George's detective work as he tries to help an immigrant protect his citizenship by exposing an extortion racket; the fear and silence among those being exploited; George posing as a representative from an employment agency to get closer to the truth.
Let George Do It: Mr. Korawski - American (aka-The Racket) (1948)
George Valentine receives a desperate letter from Mr. Korawski, a Polish immigrant seeking citizenship, who has unknowingly become involved in a mysterious collection racket. A woman collects money monthly from residents in his neighborhood under vague pretenses, and when a desperate widow connected to the scheme takes her own life, Korawski fears he may be complicit in something illegal. George decides to investigate by following the collector to an elegant apartment building to uncover who is behind the operation.
New York City, primarily in a working-class neighborhood and an upscale apartment building · George Valentine, Brooks, Mr. Korawski, Mrs. Anna Frieder, Viola Cober, Mr. Armstrong
Listen for: The investigation into a mysterious money collection scheme targeting poor immigrants; George's clever impersonation of an employment agent to extract information from Mr. Armstrong about the collector Viola Cober.
Let George Do It: Murder - It's a Gift (1948)
George Valentine receives a letter from Wesley Hart, an elderly man who wants to give away a precious Wittenberg Bible valued at over $20,000 while he's still alive so he can see someone enjoy it. George and his partner Miss Brooks arrive at Hart's boarding house on Sunday morning to investigate which of his three residents—his sister Miss Purdy, nurse Cora, or young Sam Keith—is most worthy of the gift. As George gathers information about each resident's past, he uncovers troubling secrets that complicate Hart's decision.
Wesley Hart's boarding house on a Sunday morning in 1948 · George Valentine, Miss Brooks, Wesley Hart, Miss Purdy, Cora, Sam Keith
Listen for: The investigation into the three residents' pasts, including hints about a 1929 incident involving Miss Purdy and Sam Keith's prison record; Sam Keith's threatening comment to George at the end.
Let George Do It: Murder Me Twice (1948)
George Valentine is hired by theatre critic Jonathan Thorpe to investigate Mark Guilford, an unemployed actor whom Thorpe believes is a criminal hiding in the theatre world. George attends a performance of Guilford's play at the Majestic and spots Thorpe's wife Evelyn at the stage door, suggesting a complicated personal entanglement. When George returns to confront Thorpe the next morning, he discovers the critic dead with a knife in his chest.
A big city with a theatre district; Jonathan Thorpe's newspaper office, the Majestic Theatre, and Thorpe's apartment · George Valentine, Jonathan Thorpe, Miss Brooks, Mark Guilford, Evelyn Thorpe, Lieutenant Riley
Listen for: A cynical theatre critic's murder investigation that uncovers personal jealousy and betrayal behind the scenes of the performing arts world.
Let George Do It: Murder Me Twice (aka-The Man Who Was Murdered Twice) (1948)
Private investigator George Valentine is hired by theater critic Jonathan Thorpe to investigate actor Mark Guilford, who Thorpe claims was involved in an unsolved bank robbery years earlier. When Valentine arrives at Thorpe's office the next morning for a follow-up meeting, he discovers the critic has been murdered with a knife in his chest.
A city newspaper office and theater district, including the Majestic Theater and Jonathan Thorpe's office. · George Valentine, Miss Brooks, Jonathan Thorpe, Mark Guilford, Mrs. Evelyn Thorpe, Lieutenant Riley, Luke Eberhard
Listen for: The shocking revelation of who killed Jonathan Thorpe and why, involving a love triangle and the critic's cruelty toward those around him.
Let George Do It: Murder On Vacation (HSG) (1951)
George Valentine arrives at Sandy Spit for a peaceful seaside vacation, hoping to enjoy some famous fish stew and escape his usual routine of solving mysteries. But when he encounters strange behavior from the locals and discovers a mysterious gold cup hidden on the beach, his quiet getaway takes an unexpected turn.
Sandy Spit, a remote and quiet seaside town with sand dunes and beaches, late at night · George Valentine, Brooks, Miss Gallagher, Clyde Mercy, Lois
Listen for: The mysterious circumstances surrounding the gold cup George discovers on the beach, and the strange secretive behavior of the locals who seem to be hiding something
Let George Do It: Murder and One To Go (1949)
George Valentine receives a letter from Henry Crichton, an artist's representative, offering a substantial fee to find Carol Gordon, a glamorous movie star from the 1920s who disappeared from the limelight. When Crichton is found dead, George suspects the case may be connected to locating the missing actress. George devises a plan to show one of Carol Gordon's old silent films at a Skid Row movie theater to draw her out.
A city with a Skid Row district, including George Valentine's office, a police station, and Gabrennian's Cameo Theater on Skid Row. · George Valentine, Miss Brooks, Lieutenant Croix, Henry Crichton, Mr. Gibrennian, Anthony Chapman
Listen for: George's clever strategy of using a silent film revival to search for a missing actress, and the mysterious visitors drawn to the theater showing Carol Gordon's old movie.
Let George Do It: Murder and One to Go (1949)
Private investigator George Valentine is hired by Henry Creighton to find Carol Gordon, a glamorous movie star from the silent film era who disappeared nearly two decades ago. When Creighton is murdered before Valentine can begin his investigation, Valentine decides to continue the search by reviving one of Gordon's old films at a Skid Row theater, hoping to lure her out of hiding.
A city's Skid Row district in the present day, with references to events from the 1920s · George Valentine, Carol Gordon, Henry Creighton, Lieutenant, Ruth Brooks, Brennan, Mr. Gabrenny
Listen for: George's clever scheme to find the missing actress by showing her silent film at a Skid Row theater; the arrival of various suspicious patrons; George's suspicion about a woman at the box office
Let George Do It: Murder for Two (1951)
George Valentine is hired by Mrs. James to investigate the murder of her sister Ruth Jennings, who was killed in her bed sometime around midnight. Ruth's ex-husband Lou Jennings had threatened to kill her over custody of their baby, making him the prime suspect, but Lou claims he was working at Nick's all-night cafe and has an alibi.
A poor neighborhood on the wrong side of town; Ruth Jennings' home; Nick's all-night cafe on Barton Avenue; Lou Jennings' rooming house on Elizabeth Street · George Valentine, Miss Brooks, Lieutenant Johnson, Mrs. James, Ruth Jennings (deceased), Lou Jennings, Nick (cafe owner)
Listen for: George investigating his dead client's murder despite the police telling him to stay out of it; Lou Jennings' suspicious demeanor and claims of an alibi; the shotgun found at the foot of Ruth's bed with no fingerprints.
Let George Do It: Needle In The Haystack (1950)
George Valentine is hired by Ferdinand Bass, a rose grower from Mexico City, to find his dozen prized Ferdinando roses that were stolen during delivery to the Pasadena Rose Festival. The roses were sent by air express but never arrived, and when George and Bass trace the package to a local flower shop, they find it ransacked with the flowers missing and the shop owner's brother Joshua vanished with the owner's car.
Pasadena, California, during the Rose Festival weekend; includes George's office, a flower shop, and various delivery locations · George Valentine, Ferdinand Bass, Brooks, Theodore Herman, Joshua Herman, Delivery clerk
Listen for: George's investigation into the mysterious disappearance of the valuable roses and his discovery that the package was misdirected to a flower shop called 'The Flower Vase'; the appearance of a rough character hiding in the shop who escapes after threatening George
Let George Do It: Needle in a Haystack (1950)
Detective George Valentine is hired by Ferdinand Vaz, a Mexican horticulturist, to find twelve prized Ferdinando roses that were supposed to arrive in Pasadena for the Rose Festival but never reached him. When George traces the missing package to a local flower shop run by Theodore Herman, he discovers the shop has been broken into and ransacked, with no roses to be found.
Pasadena, California and a neighborhood flower shop, on New Year's weekend during the Rose Festival · George Valentine, Ferdinand Vaz, Theodore Herman, Joshua Herman, Buss
Listen for: A case of mistaken identity leads George from a disappointed rose cultivator to a burglarized flower shop, where clues point to Theodore Herman's absent brother Joshua.
Let George Do It: No Escape from the Jungle (1951)
George Valentine is approached by Peter van Rassel, a research chemist from Burma, who needs help locating Terence Hollowell, a man who has just arrived from the jungle. Hollowell sent van Rassel a cryptic cable saying their meeting would be painful and asking him not to contact him, yet the cable was sent from the city itself. The mystery deepens when George discovers that Hollowell has a wife, Mrs. Hollowell, and a business partner, Sy Kirby, living in his house, and conflicting stories emerge about whether Hollowell has actually arrived or not.
A city in America (unspecified), beginning at George Valentine's office and moving to Terence Hollowell's house; recently arrived from Burma, Rangoon. · George Valentine, Peter van Rassel, Terence Hollowell, Mrs. Hollowell, Sy Kirby, Miss Brooks, The maid
Listen for: The mystery of why Terence Hollowell is hiding despite being in the city, the significance of a valuable black pearl necklace, and the tension between Mrs. Hollowell and Sy Kirby over money and the household.
Let George Do It: No Riders (1949)
George Valentine is called to help a boy named Floyd Bronson who's in trouble after a truck carrying valuable furs crashed and burned on a mountain grade near Bakersfield. Floyd was picked up by highway patrol near the wreck, but he won't explain what he was doing there. When a wallet belonging to the truck driver Tommy Tucker is found miles down the road, suspicion falls on the boy.
A diner and a mountain highway near Bakersfield, California, during an investigation of a truck accident · George Valentine, Wanda, Floyd Bronson, Tommy Tucker, Mr. Evans, Mr. Justin, Mr. McGee
Listen for: The mysterious circumstances of the truck crash, why Floyd was at the scene, and what really happened to the truck driver and his cargo of furs.
Let George Do It: No Way Out (1951)
George Valentine receives a desperate letter from Larry Baker, a short-order cook turned cleaning shop manager who has become trapped in a criminal operation. Larry explains that he's being forced to receive and hide mysterious packages at his shop, threatened with death if he talks to anyone, yet facing arrest if he continues. George and his assistant Miss Brooks stake out the shop to identify the mysterious boss and uncover what Larry is really involved in.
Morgan Park, a cleaning shop at 119 Murray Street, and Burwick Towers apartment building in the city · George Valentine, Miss Brooks, Larry Baker, Hilton
Listen for: George and Miss Brooks pose as an engaged couple to avoid suspicion while investigating Larry's predicament, then break into Hilton's apartment to search for clues about the criminal operation
Let George Do It: Nothing but the Truth (1950)
George Valentine receives a letter from a reclusive, wealthy blind man in the desert near Cactus Junction, Texas, requesting his help regarding a stolen or missing dog—his prized possession. When Valentine arrives by train with several other mysterious passengers all heading to the same remote location, he discovers the man has suffered a serious fall and may be dying.
A train traveling to Cactus Junction and Emery's Switch in Texas, and the remote desert home of a wealthy blind man · George Valentine, Claire Brooks, Looseport, Mr. Flannery, Widow Carmichael, Henry, Tom
Listen for: The arrival of multiple suspicious characters on the train, all claiming to visit the same reclusive man on the same night, and an urgent call that the blind man has had a serious accident
Let George Do It: Off the Record (1951)
George Valentine is hired by radio commentator Dan Dana to investigate threatening letters suggesting someone wants him dead. Dana is working on exposing corruption by politician Cory Dennis and plans to broadcast his findings that evening. When a sandbag nearly kills George and Angel outside the radio station, the case turns deadly serious.
A radio station and surrounding city streets in an unspecified American city · George Valentine, Angel Brooks, Dan Dana, Emerson Craig, Cory Dennis, Lieutenant
Listen for: The mystery of who is sending threatening notes to Dana and whether the sandbag attack is connected to the politician he's investigating; Dana's planned broadcast revealing corruption.
Let George Do It: Once a Crook (1952)
George Valentine is hired by Betty Connor to find her brother Ralph before the police do. Ralph, recently released from prison after serving time for bank theft, has returned to their uncle's house in Sageville, where the safe was robbed and their uncle violently attacked during the night. Ralph fled the scene, and all evidence points to his guilt, but Betty believes he's innocent and couldn't have committed the crime.
Sageville and a train traveling from the town · George Valentine, Betty Connor, Ralph Connor, Uncle John, Al Ridley, Mr. Bowden, Marco
Listen for: George investigates whether Ralph truly robbed the safe, questioning whether a man fresh from prison with no tools could have blown it open, while dealing with rival investigator Al Ridley and mysterious figures who want him off the case.
Let George Do It: One Against a City (1949)
George Valentine arrives in Sharon Dale, a city of 70,000 controlled by three ruthless criminals who run gambling, protection rackets, and other illicit operations. Editor Sam Morgan has hired George to take on these powerful men, hoping to expose their corruption before the next election. George devises a plan to pit the three gangsters against each other and sow discord in their criminal organization.
Sharon Dale, a mid-sized American city controlled by organized crime; the train station, the Morgan home, and the streets of Sharon Dale. · George Valentine, Sam Morgan, Brooksy, Mrs. Ruth Morgan, Johnny Morgan, Big Ed Corrigan, Len Tucker, Wall-E Wallpaper
Listen for: George's clever plan to infiltrate the criminal underworld and turn the three crime bosses against each other; the tension between Sam Morgan's idealism and his family's fears for their safety; the setup for George's work as a detective for hire.
Let George Do It: One Chance at the World (1949)
Nard Evans returns home from prison to find his wife Verner dead, hit by an automobile driven by wealthy businessman Farrell Paulson a week earlier. Believing the accident was no accident and that Paulson's money bought him a quick exoneration, Nard hires detective George Valentine to investigate the case that police have already closed.
A town in the American West, present day (1949), including George Valentine's office, Paulson's home, and police headquarters. · George Valentine, Nard Evans, Farrell Paulson, Lieutenant Riley
Listen for: The revelation of what really happened to Verner Evans on that Saturday night, and whether Paulson bears any responsibility for her death.
Let George Do It: Operation - Europa (1952)
George Valentine is called to Istanbul by the Europa Insurance Company to investigate the theft of valuable Romani diamonds from a diamond dealer named Ari Tu. The stones, worth $250,000 and held on consignment from a family named Eglescue, vanished from Tu's hotel room nearly a week ago. George must go undercover as a flashy American businessman to catch the thief before Tu's deadline to return the diamonds or pay the money.
Istanbul, Turkey and Paris, France in the 1950s; primarily the Stumbul Bridge, a coffee shop in Galata, and the Hotel Metropole · George Valentine, Brooks, Maurice LeBlanc, Ari Tu, Peter Eglescue, Iaglescu
Listen for: The mysterious setup of the case, Tu's explanation of the diamond theft, and George's plan to go undercover as a wealthy American to expose the real thief
Let George Do It: Operation Europa (1952)
George Valentine, a private investigator, is hired by an insurance company to recover valuable Romani diamonds stolen from a diamond dealer named Henri Tour in Istanbul. Tour claims only another man, Peter Eglescu, knew where the diamonds were kept, and George must pose as a hotel detective to investigate the theft before Tour must pay Eglescu $250,000 or return the stones.
Paris and Istanbul, Europe, 1952. The story moves from a Paris office to Istanbul's Metropole Hotel and surrounding locations including a coffee shop in Galata. · George Valentine, Brooks, Maurice LeBlanc, Henri Tour, Peter Eglescu, A visiting prince from India
Listen for: George's plan to catch the thief by posing as a hotel detective and using imitation diamonds as bait; the mysterious arrangement between Tour and Eglescu involving the stolen Romani diamonds.
Let George Do It: Opportunity Knocks Twice (1950)
George Valentine is called to the home of young Larry Merton, who is drinking heavily and suicidal after recently returning to town. Larry's uncle Abel Merton was found dead the previous day, and police have ruled it suicide. George and Lieutenant Johnson investigate the case, examining a suicide note and the circumstances surrounding Abel's death, while Larry struggles with guilt over his troubled relationship with his uncle.
The Merton house and the Merton Styles Company office in an unnamed city · George Valentine, Larry Merton, Greta Jenkins, Lieutenant Johnson, Abel Merton, Mr. Styles, Claire Brooks
Listen for: George takes on a case involving a possible suicide that may be something more, uncovering details about Abel Merton's death and his relationship with his troubled nephew Larry.
Let George Do It: Out of Mind (1949)
George Valentine is hired to investigate a troubling situation at the Winslow family estate. A suave mentalist named Vayne Louvain has insinuated himself into the household, and his presence is stirring up destructive jealousy and conflict between two sisters who are unused to worldly intrigue. As tensions escalate between the women and their mysterious guest, George must uncover what Louvain's true intentions are before the simmering hostility boils over into tragedy.
The Winslow family home, a mansion built high on a mountainside in the suburbs of Fenton, and the surrounding area. · George Valentine, Miss Brooks, Roger Winslow, Birdie Winslow, Sybil Winslow, Vayne Louvain, Mr. Gumbel
Listen for: The verbal sparring between the jealous sisters, Louvain's eerie demonstrations of mind-reading, and the mounting tension as George investigates the mentalist's influence over the household.
Let George Do It: Partner in Panama (1949)
George Valentine is hired to deliver $50,000 to the supposedly-dead criminal Vic Ruskin in Panama, who is blackmailing a film producer over a movie based on Ruskin's crimes. George arrives in Panama and meets a guide named Delcatoni at the airport, but discovers Delcatoni has been murdered. A mysterious woman and a self-described lawyer named Pissarro Feng become entangled in the case, each with their own agendas and secrets.
Panama, including the airport and Club Cortez in the old town · George Valentine, Lieutenant Riley, Mr. Grovitch, Mr. Brooks, Vic Ruskin, Delcatoni, Pissarro Feng, A woman at Club Cortez
Listen for: George navigating the dangerous streets of Panama while trying to understand who has been murdered, who wants the ransom money, and whether Vic Ruskin is truly alive.
Let George Do It: Perfect Alibi (1949)
When George Valentine is approached by a desperate woman named Laurie Ferell, she claims her husband Nap Ferell—a notorious gangster—has been arrested for murdering a man named Chauncey at the Cedar Crest apartment house. Though Laurie despises her husband, she insists he couldn't have committed the murder because he abhors violence. George begins investigating the case despite police lieutenant Riley's warnings to stay away, uncovering conflicting evidence about Ferell's whereabouts and motives.
A city with an exclusive apartment house called the Cedar Crest; streets, police station, and various public places. · George Valentine, Brooksie, Laurie Ferell, Nap Ferell, Chauncey, Lieutenant Riley, The doorman at Cedar Crest, Mr. Jefferson
Listen for: The contradiction between Nap Ferell's reputation as a cold-blooded gangster and his alleged aversion to violence; the timeline of events at the Cedar Crest and the mystery of when Ferell actually left the building.
Let George Do It: Picture With a Black Frame (1950)
George Valentine receives a visit from Francis P. Bodge, a photographer who claims to have taken a compromising picture of a young woman named Lydia at a country club party. Bodge wants George to help him blackmail Lydia, who is about to marry into the wealthy Tonamaker family. When the photograph is destroyed during a scuffle, George decides to warn Lydia in person about the scheme.
The Tonamaker mansion and surrounding locations in the city. · George Valentine, Francis P. Bodge, Brooksie, Lydia, Whitley Tonamaker, Mrs. Tonamaker, Cousin Melvin
Listen for: The confrontation between George and Lydia takes an unexpected turn when she makes a shocking confession about her past.
Let George Do It: Picture with a Black Frame (1950)
Private investigator George Valentine is hired by a photographer named Bodge to help blackmail a woman named Lydia Tonemaker with a compromising photograph. When Valentine meets Lydia, he learns she is engaged to wealthy businessman Wick Tonemaker and feared murdered his brother Tony years ago. Valentine and Lydia go to the photographer's hotel room to confront him, only to discover they themselves have been photographed together in what appears to be a frame-up orchestrated by someone in the Tonemaker family to break up the engagement.
A wealthy coastal city with the Tonemaker mansion, hotel, and various other locations including bars and police headquarters. · George Valentine, Claire Brooks, Francis P. Bodge, Lydia Tonemaker, Wick Tonemaker, Wick's mother, Cousin Melvin, Sergeant Riley
Listen for: The plot twist where Lydia reveals herself as the mastermind who hired Bodge to create the blackmail scheme as a way to make Wick defend her against his disapproving family, ultimately strengthening their engagement.
Let George Do It: Portrait by Priscilla (1950)
George Valentine is hired by a department store owner named Simpson to impersonate him at a dinner meeting with Ben Graftus, an art supply shop owner. When George arrives at Graftus's shop beforehand, he's knocked unconscious and a portrait by an artist named Priscilla goes missing. Now George must figure out who attacked him, why the painting was stolen, and what Graftus's connection to the mysterious portrait really is.
A city art supply shop and the Romany restaurant, present day. · George Valentine, Mr. Simpson, Ben Graftus, Priscilla
Listen for: The mystery of the stolen portrait and the identity of who attacked George and why the painting was so valuable.
Let George Do It: Portrait of a Suicide (HSG Syndication) (1952)
George Valentine investigates after a concerned milk deliveryman reports seeing a woman dangerously close to a bridge railing. George discovers the woman is Mrs. Blair, whose husband claims she's away at a rest home recovering from a nervous breakdown, yet evidence suggests she's been in their home recently—including a slashed portrait of another woman.
A rural countryside area with bridges and farmland, and the Blair household · George Valentine, Mr. Stangle, Mr. Blair, Mrs. Blair, Dr. Der Fee, Angel
Listen for: The revelation that Mrs. Blair has been secretly in the house and may have destroyed a portrait in jealous rage; Dr. Der Fee's cryptic mention of poison and 'homicidal' tendencies
Let George Do It: Portuguese Cove (1950)
George Valentine arrives in the coastal town of Portuguese Cove to investigate a mysterious incident involving the respected Captain Lamego, who struck a mailman. As George probes deeper, he uncovers troubled secrets within the Lamego family—including references to a dead twin and cryptic warnings about Joe Murphy, a sailor friend who died in Manila six months ago.
Portuguese Cove, a fishing village where the Lamego family operates a tuna boat and holds considerable influence in the community. · George Valentine, Captain Lamego, Mrs. Jewell, The mailman, So Sad, Johnny, The twins
Listen for: The mystery surrounding Captain Lamego's sudden violent outburst, the significance of the dead twin, and what really happened to Joe Murphy that has the captain so distraught.
Let George Do It: Problem Child (1948)
George Valentine is hired by Barbara Eversole, a woman who stands to lose custody of her twelve-year-old daughter Penny on Friday. Barbara claims she was framed on a drunk driving charge involving a man named Dan Edwards, but Edwards tells a different story to the courts. George must uncover the truth about that night at Club 44 before the custody hearing, while navigating the interference of Jerry's overbearing mother and brother who want to take Penny away from Barbara.
California, including the Eversole home and Club 44 nightclub · George Valentine, Miss Brooks, Barbara Eversole, Penny Eversole, Dan Edwards, Mrs. Ebersole (Jerry's mother), Leonard Ebersole
Listen for: George's investigation into what really happened on the night of the alleged drunk driving incident, and whether Dan Edwards' account or Barbara's story holds up under scrutiny.
Let George Do It: Problem Child (aka-The Unfit Mother) (1948)
George Valentine is hired by Barbara Eversole, who risks losing custody of her twelve-year-old daughter Penny on Friday. Barbara was arrested for drunk driving, but she claims she was framed by Dan Edwards during a night out at Club 44. Penny blames her mother for her father Jerry's death in a car accident a year ago, and Jerry's family is pushing the court to take the girl away. George must prove Barbara's innocence before the custody hearing.
A city with nightclubs and courts; the Eversole home in Lakeside Heights; Club 44 nightclub; Denfault College (in flashbacks) · George Valentine, Barbara Eversole, Penny Eversole, Miss Brooks, Jerry Eversole's mother, Leonard Eversole, Dan Edwards
Listen for: George's investigation into what really happened the night Barbara was arrested; the revelation of Dan Edwards's true character and connection to Jerry Eversole; whether Penny will learn the truth about her father.
Let George Do It: Run Until Dead (1949)
George Valentine is hired by investigator Mr. Fenwick to look into why his old friend Mr. Atkins has suddenly cut off contact. George drives out to Atkins' house and discovers the man has died from a stroke that occurred under mysterious circumstances. A man visited Atkins' daughter Molina that afternoon, upsetting both her and her father, and Atkins was found trying to reach someone named Fierick when he collapsed on the stairs.
A California town and Mr. Atkins' house, present day in the evening and night · George Valentine, Angel Brooks, Mr. Fenwick, Molina Atkins, Mr. Atkins, Lieutenant Barkley, Mr. Sooterman, The housekeeper
Listen for: The mystery of who visited Molina Atkins and why Mr. Atkins was so desperate to call someone named Fierick before his fatal stroke
Let George Do It: Sabotage (1951)
George Valentine is hired by the Acme Mining and Smelting Company to investigate sabotage at their tin mines in Bolivia. Production has mysteriously slowed despite productive mines, and a train full of ore has vanished en route to the coast. George and his secretary Miss Brooks pose as a photographer and reporter to uncover the plot, while George prepares to fly over the railroad route with Jose, a local pilot, to search for the missing train.
Bolivia, including Acme Mining Company offices in an unnamed city and the Bolivian tin mines · George Valentine, Miss Brooks, Mr. Carter, Ed Burke, Jose
Listen for: George's investigation into the disappearance of a train carrying ore from the mines, his suspicions about Jose's convenient appearances, and the revelation that East German managers at the mines may have communist sympathies
Let George Do It: Sabotage (1952)
George Valentine is hired by ACME Mining and Smelting Company to investigate sabotage at their tin mines in Bolivia that's slowing production and threatening America's defense program. A ore train carrying hundreds of tons of tin disappeared en route from the mines to the coast, and George, posing as a news photographer, teams up with his secretary Brooksie and a local pilot named Jose to search for it from the air.
Bolivia, South America - ACME Mining Company office in town and the surrounding Bolivian landscape with mountain mines and railroad routes · George Valentine, Brooksie (Miss Brooks), Mr. Carter, Mr. Burke, Jose
Listen for: George and Jose taking to the air in Jose's plane to search for the missing ore train along the mountain railroad route
Let George Do It: Santa Claus in Glass (1950)
George Valentine receives an unexpected Christmas visitor when an elevator man named Ferdy delivers a special package to his neighbor Eric Sutch. When George and his companion Brooks investigate, they discover that Sutch is missing from his apartment, and a mysterious woman claiming to be Mrs. Sutch has arrived at the building looking for her husband.
George Valentine's apartment building on Christmas Day, with neighboring apartments in the same building. · George Valentine, Claire Brooks, Ferdy the elevator man, Eric Sutch, Leopold J. Farnham, Mrs. Sutch
Listen for: The mystery of Eric Sutch's disappearance and the arrival of his estranged wife on Christmas, plus the suspicious special delivery package.
Let George Do It: Second Degree Affection (1950)
George Valentine takes on a case from Paul Barron, a public stenographer whose brother Ricky Stevens is on trial for murder after robbing and killing a woman who owned a check-cashing service in an industrial city. Stevens is convicted in five minutes by the jury, but Paul believes his brother knows something that could help his case and hires George to talk to him before sentencing. George soon discovers that $60,000 from the robbery has disappeared, and multiple people—including an insurance investigator and Stevens' former employer—are watching Paul, apparently suspecting she may be involved with the money.
An industrial city and its jail, with scenes in a bar and police headquarters. · George Valentine, Miss Brooks, Paul Barron, Ricky Stevens, Lieutenant Riley, Gus, Fat Lindell
Listen for: A case involving a stolen $60,000, conflicting motives among those watching Paul, and George's investigation into whether Ricky Stevens truly has information that could save his life.
Let George Do It: Sedan From The City (HSG) (1950)
George Valentine is called to the small town of Broomeville to investigate the murder of Mervin Brewster, a beloved broom factory owner who was shot through his front door window by a stranger in a big black sedan from the city. The mystery deepens when George discovers that despite the sedan's visit, there are no footprints at the murder scene—only trampled rubber boot prints—and clues suggest the killer may be someone local rather than the mysterious visitor from out of town.
Broomeville, a small town, and the Brewster home where the murder occurs · George Valentine, Lieutenant Haster, Mrs. Brewster, Fred Mackenzie, Miss Brooks
Listen for: George's investigation into the apparent contradiction between the visiting sedan and the evidence suggesting a local murderer; the discovery of rubber boot prints and a tripwire alarm on the neighbor's property.
Let George Do It: See Me Once, You've Seen Me Twice (1951)
Private detective George Valentine is hired by young Wallace to investigate a mysterious man threatening to kill him over a girl named Lucy Lamaro, a dancer living in a fancy apartment building. George discovers Lucy has just hired a new partner named Audrey Murphy for a shadow dancing act, but complications arise when a theatrical booking agent is found murdered and the threatening man—a small-time criminal named Lefty Muscat—turns up dead as well, with all evidence pointing to Audrey.
A city with drugstores, apartment buildings, a theatrical booking agency, and a boarding house; present day. · George Valentine, Wallace, Lucy Lamaro, Audrey Murphy, Lefty Muscat, Franz Kling, Lieutenant Johnson, Miss Brooks
Listen for: The clever twist involving Lucy's dead sister and the use of contact lenses to change eye color; the way George uncovers that Lucy herself may be the murderer using a false double identity to frame someone for the crimes.
Let George Do It: Seed of Destruction (1952)
George Valentine is hired by Mrs. Creighton to investigate the mysterious disappearance of her husband Dan, a movie theater owner who vanished three weeks ago after receiving a phone call at one of his theaters in Ridley Plains. With only a photograph and the knowledge that a woman called him, George begins checking the facts, including questioning Mrs. Creighton's brother Stan Collins and theater manager Ralph Holder about the circumstances of Dan's disappearance.
A city with a fleet of taxi cabs and a chain of small movie theaters, particularly Ridley Plains theater · George Valentine, Mrs. Creighton, Stan Collins, Lieutenant Johnson, Ralph Holder, Paul Dor
Listen for: George Valentine's investigation into Dan Creighton's vanishing act, the details about the mysterious phone call, and the discovery of financial tensions between the partners
Let George Do It: Serenade to the Southern Star (1949)
George Valentine boards a cruise ship called the Southern Star to investigate mysterious disappearances connected to a wealthy passenger named Mrs. Devereux. A musical trio claims that Mrs. Devereux has become obsessed with their members, and two previous men associated with her—a cellist named Jose and her former husbands—have vanished without a trace. George must uncover the truth about Mrs. Devereux's deadly intentions before the ship departs.
The S.S. Southern Star, a cruise ship departing for a voyage, and the dock area before departure. · George Valentine, Paul Brooks, Stuart Madrama, Fabio, Mrs. Devereux, Jose, Captain Kelly, Gangplank attendant
Listen for: The mysterious threat letter delivered to the musicians, clues about Mrs. Devereux's past victims, and George's clever tactics as he boards the ship and begins his investigation among the crew and passengers.
Let George Do It: Snookums (1946)
George Valentine agrees to care for a dog named Snookums for a couple of days while the owner, Mr. Ralston, needs it out of his house. George soon discovers that Snookums is actually a large, valuable dog stolen from society matron Madam Charlotte Cornwall Smith, who entered him in a dog show. George must figure out how to return the dog to its rightful owner without alerting the police.
George Valentine's office and apartment in the city. · George Valentine, Claire, Mr. Ralston, Sonny, Madam Charlotte Cornwall Smith
Listen for: George's comedic struggles with the oversized dog who eats six pounds of food a day, knocks people down, and causes chaos in his home; the discovery that the dog is stolen property; and George's attempt to sneak the dog out using a baby buggy to avoid police detection.
Let George Do It: Snookums the Lap Dog (1946)
George Valentine agrees to watch Snookums, a lap dog left by his client Mr. Ralston for a couple of days. The next morning, George discovers from the newspaper that Snookums is actually Hercules, a valuable dog stolen from socialite Madam Charlotte Cornwall Smith, and now wanted by the police. George and his associates must figure out how to return the dog to its rightful owner without getting caught.
George Valentine's office and apartment in the city · George Valentine, Claire, Mr. Ralston, Sonny, Madam Charlotte Cornwall Smith
Listen for: George's efforts to secretly return the stolen dog to Madam Cornwall Smith while avoiding the police; the comical chaos of hiding a large dog in a baby buggy
Let George Do It: Snow Blind (1949)
George Valentine is hired by a wealthy married woman to keep tabs on a handsome Austrian ski instructor at a mountain resort, suspecting her husband's affection is wandering. When the woman's husband mysteriously dies in a car accident on a dangerous mountain road, George must unravel whether it was truly an accident or carefully orchestrated murder.
A ski resort at Sun Mountain Lodge during a snowstorm, including a mountain cabin and dangerous canyon roads. · George Valentine, Mrs. Morris, Hans, Dr. Morris, Dorothy Brooks, Sheriff, Stella
Listen for: The clever twist where the murder weapon becomes the murderer's escape route; George's deduction that axle grease on Hans's arm proves he tampered with the doctor's car.
Let George Do It: Solo in Whispers (1950)
Private investigator George Valentine receives a mysterious package from opera singer Pietro Saville containing a blank record and a cryptic letter about an unexplained whisper. When Valentine visits Saville's house, he discovers the man has been murdered, struck down with a golden object. The murder weapon appears connected to an opera about a golden rooster, and a hidden recording on the record contains a whispered message that may identify the killer.
The country home of opera singer Pietro Saville; George Valentine's office · George Valentine, Brooksie, Pietro Saville, Mrs. Saville, Riley
Listen for: The mysterious whispered message hidden on the record; the connection between the opera 'The Golden Cockle' and the murder weapon; Mrs. Saville's evasive answers about the record and her past scandals
Let George Do It: Solo in Whispers (aka-So Low in Whispers) (1950)
George Valentine receives a mysterious package containing a blank phonograph record and a cryptic letter from opera impresario Pietro Saville, who asks George to call him about an unexplained whisper. Before George can respond, he learns that Saville has been murdered, struck down by a golden rooster-headed cane. George must unravel the connection between the strange record and Saville's death.
An opera singer's hillside home and George Valentine's office, in the American West. · George Valentine, Miss Brooks, Pietro Saville, Inspector Riley, Lorna Saville, Gus
Listen for: The mystery of the blank phonograph records, the encoded whispered message, and the significance of Salome's dance to the murder.
Let George Do It: Stand-In for Murder (1948)
Private investigator George Valentine agrees to help Bill Moran, a man being blackmailed by eastern gamblers into committing a crime. Moran asks George to impersonate him at a rendezvous at the Hawthorne hotel, claiming he doesn't even know what the job entails. When George arrives at the appointed place, he finds a man named Charles Clayton dying from a knife wound, and the secretary Theo Brown emerges from the next room, framing George perfectly for the murder.
A city with the Hawthorne hotel, Colonial Savings Bank, and the Samba restaurant on Doris Boulevard; takes place over one day and night. · George Valentine, Bill Moran, Theo Brown, Lieutenant Riley, Hollis
Listen for: The setup of an elaborate frame with threatening letters, fingerprints, and a convenient witness; George's theory that someone else is behind the murder and is using both Moran and the secretary.
Let George Do It: Stolen Goods (1951)
When George Valentine's secretary Miss Brooks returns from shopping, she discovers a valuable diamond and emerald necklace hidden in her packages along with a mysterious note asking her to hold it as stolen goods. After learning from a pawnbroker that the necklace is worth $15,000, George rushes back to her apartment only to find it ransacked and Miss Brooks missing. Now George must track down who planted the necklace and find his kidnapped secretary before it's too late.
George Valentine's office, Miss Brooks's apartment, and the streets of the city including a pawn shop and department store. · George Valentine, Miss Brooks, Mo (pawnbroker), Lieutenant Johnson, Mysterious thief
Listen for: The tension builds as George discovers the necklace is real and valuable, then returns to find Miss Brooks gone and her apartment destroyed. Watch for George's attempts to track down the culprit through the department store where Miss Brooks shopped.
Let George Do It: Stranger Than Fiction (1949)
George Valentine is hired by Victoria Beasley, a society woman concerned that her husband Samuel's bestselling novel features a real woman from their social circle. When George arrives at the Beasley home to investigate, he finds that someone has just attempted to shoot Samuel in his study, and Lieutenant Riley arrives to take over the case, suspecting one of several people close to the family.
The Beasley home in Deer Lake Park, a wealthy community, with references to George's office in town · George Valentine, Victoria Beasley, Samuel Beasley, Michael Waldron, Peggy Wilkinson, Lieutenant Riley, Brooksie Brooks, Sally
Listen for: A lighthearted mystery that turns serious when an attempted murder interrupts George's investigation into the origins of a controversial novel's characters; watch for the revelation of the suspicious gold cigarette lighter and the tangled relationships among the suspects.
Let George Do It: Sucker Stunt (1951)
George Valentine takes on a case when Tim, a young photographer, hires him to investigate an older man named Florio who has won Tim's affections away from his estranged wife. George poses as a customer to meet Florio at his exchange shop, but the investigation takes an unexpected turn when George receives word of a highway robbery nearby and realizes Tim may not be who he claims to be.
A small town and surrounding areas, including Florio's exchange shop that buys and sells jewelry, leather goods, and musical instruments. · George Valentine, Tim, Florio, Angel, Ben Roberts, Sheriff
Listen for: George's clever undercover tactics as he attempts to gather information about Florio by selling him a camera, and the revelation that Tim may be connected to a recent armed robbery.
Let George Do It: Sudden Storm (1950)
George Valentine receives a letter from a man claiming to be the notorious "Quotation Mark Killer," a serial murderer who has been terrorizing the region for a year. The killer, who believes he is punishing sinful women, writes from an isolated cabin in Adobe Valley and hints that he may end his life. George and his assistant arrive at the desolate area to investigate and search for the fugitive before he can carry out his apparent plan.
Adobe Valley Inn and the surrounding desolate region of Adobe Valley, a remote and nearly uninhabited area during a severe storm. · George Valentine, Miss Brooks, Lieutenant Riley, The innkeeper, Ralph, The prospector
Listen for: The chilling letter from the killer confessing his crimes and expressing suicidal intent; police details about the killer's methods and profile; the questioning of the sparse inhabitants of the isolated area.
Let George Do It: Surprise, Surprise (1952)
George Valentine is summoned by Lenore to visit her mysterious Uncle Glenn at his country estate, who has promised her a surprise. Upon arrival, they discover that Uncle Glenn has just suffered a terrible car accident and is dying. As he drifts in and out of consciousness, he summons George and asks for help with a final, urgent matter.
Uncle Glenn Justor's large country house, a few hours from the city · George Valentine, Lenore, Miss Brooks, Uncle Glenn Justor, Dr. Hammer, Miss Metzen, Uncle Jason
Listen for: The shocking discovery of Uncle Glenn's accident and his dying request for George's assistance
Let George Do It: Surprise, Surprise! (1952)
George Valentine is asked by Lenore Metzen to investigate a mysterious "surprise" message from her Uncle Glenn, a wealthy but cruel and reclusive man she hasn't seen in years. When George and his friend Miss Brooks arrive at Uncle Glenn's estate, they discover he's dying from a recent car accident and has summoned them to serve as witnesses while he dictates his will.
Uncle Glenn Juster's large estate in Point Summit, a few hours from the city · George Valentine, Lenore Metzen, Miss Brooks, Uncle Glenn Juster, Dr. Hammer, Uncle Jason
Listen for: The mystery of what surprise Uncle Glenn has planned and why he suddenly wants to make a will, with hints of family secrets and tension between the relatives.
Let George Do It: Sweet Are the Uses of Publicity (1950)
George Valentine is hired by publicity agent Jacob Flannery to work as a bodyguard at a fancy party. Flannery reveals his shocking secret: his most famous client, the glamorous and romantic Caleb Romano, doesn't actually exist. Flannery created the fictional character to build his business, but now Romano has become a problem he can't control.
San Francisco Bay area, starting at an uptown venue and moving to a ship departing for Europe · George Valentine, Jacob Flannery, Pete the bartender, Miss Brooks
Listen for: The clever setup of Flannery's confidence scheme involving a non-existent celebrity client, and how George must manage the chaos when reporters show up demanding to meet the phantom Caleb Romano in person
Let George Do It: Sweet Poison (1949)
Private detective George Valentine is called to the home of painter Wentworth Jonas to investigate what Gloria Bishop claims is a murder. When Valentine arrives, he discovers the "victim" is actually Jonas's cat, Harold, who appears to have died from eating poisoned chocolate creams. The candy was sent to Jonas in a mysterious package with no return address, suggesting someone may have been trying to poison the artist himself.
Wentworth Jonas's home and studio at 603 North 72nd Street; a men's magazine office · George Valentine, Gloria Bishop, Wentworth Jonas, Melville Barn, Miss Brooks
Listen for: The mystery of who sent the poisoned chocolates to Jonas and why they wanted him dead; the revelation of what happens to Melville Barn, who received the candy box from Jonas around noon
Let George Do It: Tag! You're It! (1950)
George Valentine becomes entangled in a deadly mystery when he finds a letter in a woman's purse warning that someone is trying to murder him. The letter leads him to discover that a killer is making phony contest calls to random people, luring them to dangerous locations with promises of prizes. When a young woman named Dorothy Cheever is found shot dead after answering one of these fake calls, Valentine races to prevent more deaths and unmask the murderer.
A radio station in the city, with scenes also taking place at police headquarters, an alley in the commercial district, and a studio basement. · George Valentine, Lieutenant Riley, Mrs. Oscar Pettiman, Johnny Russell, Dorothy Cheever, F.J. Holman, Ansel, Mr. Kennedy
Listen for: The mysterious lisping voice on the phone saying 'Hello from Tag, you're it, you're wealthy' as the killer's calling card, and the climactic confrontation in the soundproof Studio B where George unmasks the murderer with a clever trick involving the on-the-air light.
Let George Do It: The Ant Hill (1950)
George Valentine takes on a case to help a dying slot machine repairman named Trailer find his girlfriend Betty, hoping the man will reveal what he knows about a criminal slot machine operation. As George investigates the mysterious
A city with an Ant Hill district containing flop houses and penthouses; a nightclub; a police hospital; an apartment building · George Valentine, Lieutenant Riley, Claire Brooks, Betty, Trailer, Louis, Mr. Wilton, Mr. Black
Listen for: A complex criminal organization structured like a pyramid; the revelation that Trailer is actually Mr. Black in disguise; Louis's desperate ambition leading to violence; the irony of a crime boss unable to trust that a girl could genuinely like him
Let George Do It: The Bad Little God (1952)
George Valentine is hired by Mr. Latham to investigate trouble surrounding an Oriental idol the collector recently acquired and publicly displayed. After anonymous threats and offers to buy it, George agrees to safeguard the idol and track down those involved, including an art dealer named Radnik who claims the piece was smuggled into the country.
A city with Oriental art dealers, a collector's apartment, Union Station, and George Valentine's apartment building. · George Valentine, Miss Brooks, Mr. Latham, Radnik, Ling, Joan Bartlett
Listen for: The mysterious idol that attracts unwanted attention from multiple parties; a street fight interrupted by unexpected help from the collector's servant; a late-night visitor with a gun demanding the idol.
Let George Do It: The Bewildered Bird Watcher (1948)
Bird watcher Dr. Wormsley contacts private investigator George Valentine after witnessing what he believes was a murder from his apartment window—a man being pushed off a roof at the River House. George investigates the exclusive apartment building to verify the doctor's story and discovers whether the crime was real or imagined.
The River House, an exclusive apartment building overlooking the river; also George Valentine's office. · George Valentine, Dr. Elliot Wormsley, Brooksie, Mrs. Paula Dunlap, Philip Dunlap, Hal Sterit, Mr. Stevens
Listen for: The mystery of whether Dr. Wormsley actually witnessed a murder or was deceived by distance and circumstances; George's investigation at the River House and interactions with its residents.
Let George Do It: The Bookworm Turns (1950)
George Valentine is hired by Paul Humber, owner of a rare bookshop, to catch a mysterious intruder who has broken in for two nights without stealing anything. When George stakes out the shop, they spot the burglar's flashlight, but he escapes down the alley. That night, a fire breaks out in the bookshop, aimed at destroying it, though the fire department arrives in time to prevent total loss.
A rare bookshop in the city, with an adjacent apartment building, during the night · George Valentine, Paul Humber, Otto Coolidge, Rosa Brooks, Fire investigator, Suspicious man in collarless shirt
Listen for: The mystery of why someone is breaking into the bookshop without stealing anything, and the connection between the burglaries and the deliberately set fire
Let George Do It: The Brookdale Orphanage (1946)
George Valentine, a private investigator, is visited by movie star Jimmy Jones, who confesses he's terrified of horses after an accident and can't appear at the annual benefit for the Brookdale Orphanage where he promised to ride his famous horse Thunderbolt. George assures Jimmy he'll handle the situation, but after meeting the orphans who idolize Jones as their "big brother," George realizes he's made a promise he may not be able to keep.
George Valentine's office and the Brookdale Orphanage · George Valentine, Jimmy Jones, Claire Brooks, Sonny Brooks, Mrs. Martin, An orphan girl
Listen for: The warmth between George and a young orphan girl who wants to play horses with him, and Jimmy Jones's confession of his deep fear despite his tough cowboy image
Let George Do It: The Brothers Mc Intosh (1950)
George Valentine receives a letter from Jasper, butler to wealthy brothers Mervin and Bill McIntosh, warning that someone intends to kill Mervin. When George arrives at their house, he finds Bill injured in a car accident and confessing that he deliberately drove off the road. Bill reveals that Fillerie, recently released from prison after losing his business when Mervin came to town, has threatened revenge and lured Mervin to a meeting that night—and Mervin has not been seen since.
Harbor Town · George Valentine, Jasper, Bill McIntosh, Mervin McIntosh, Fillerie, Lieutenant Riley, Doctor
Listen for: The mystery of Mervin's disappearance and whether Fillerie has killed him or if there is more to the story than Bill's confession reveals.
Let George Do It: The Chair of Humanities (1950)
Private investigator George Valentine is called urgently to the home of Professor Edward Cable at Dearly College, where Cable's beautiful wife Gloria initially claims nothing is wrong. However, Gloria is revealed to be packing to leave, and the Professor soon confesses to Valentine that someone is trying to murder him. As Valentine investigates the household dynamics, he uncovers secrets involving the Professor's devoted sister-in-law Jesse and a mysterious visitor named Bill Rosseter who appears to have some kind of hold over the Professor.
Faculty row at Dearly College, the home of Professor Cable · George Valentine, Mrs. Gloria Cable, Professor Edward M. Cable, Jesse, Bill Rosseter
Listen for: The revelation of who is trying to murder Professor Cable and why Bill Rosseter has such power over him
Let George Do It: The Common Denominator (1952)
George Valentine is hired by Mrs. Tommy Trask, who claims to have had premonitions of two murders before they occurred. She now fears another death may be coming and asks George to help prevent it. George must determine whether Mrs. Trask possesses genuine psychic abilities or has obtained advance knowledge of the killings through some other means.
A city with Club 52, a gambling establishment, and various residences and offices · George Valentine, Miss Brooks, Mrs. Tommy Trask, Tommy Trask, Dr. Schroeder, Hank
Listen for: The mystery of how Mrs. Trask knew about the murders in advance and whether George can uncover the true source of her knowledge before another murder occurs
Let George Do It: The Corpse That Took a Powder (1948)
George Valentine receives a desperate note from Marsha Palmer asking for help. When George and his partner arrive at her apartment, they find her apparently dead from suicide, complete with a note and a gun. However, when George steps away to call the police, the body mysteriously vanishes, leaving behind only the letter and an unused weapon.
An apartment building in the city, specifically apartment 3A where Marsha Palmer lives. · George Valentine, Brooksie, Marsha Palmer, Glenn Stratton, Riley, Lieutenant
Listen for: The mystery of the vanishing corpse and whether Marsha Palmer's death was truly a suicide or something more sinister.
Let George Do It: The Corpse on a Caper (1949)
George Valentine is hired to escort the body of Consuelo Benales, a nineteen-year-old girl from a wealthy Mexican family, back to Mexico City for burial. When he arrives at the funeral parlor, he discovers the body has been stolen and finds himself caught between a desperate man claiming to be her husband and criminals who want to keep the corpse hidden.
A funeral parlor, and the surrounding area near Cliffbriar College for wealthy young ladies · George Valentine, Miss Burdick, Mr. Adlet, Miss Purdy, Ruxine, Bo Skarback, Ginger Santos, Danny
Listen for: The investigation into the stolen corpse and the suspicious death certificate dated after the girl's death; the search for Dr. Elwood Dryden
Let George Do It: The Coward (1949)
George Valentine is called to investigate a bizarre case when Douglas French sends him an accusatory telegram claiming Valentine murdered 37 people. French himself is found shot on a bridge, and a magazine article reveals the truth: during World War II, a group of four were forced to betray the location of 37 refugees fleeing Singapore, and one of them was a coward who informed on the others. Now that the article has exposed this secret, the four survivors—scattered across the country—begin receiving mysterious telegrams, and a writer who knew the truth is found dead.
A city in the American West, involving investigations at hospitals, telegram offices, a botanical study, and various locations connected to the four survivors of the Singapore wartime incident. · George Valentine, Douglas French, Lieutenant Riley, Enzo Onslow, Nick Atkins, J.J. Farrell, Brooksie, Emil Martinez
Listen for: The revelation of the coward's identity and motivation, the connection between the mysterious telegrams and the wartime betrayal, and the tragic reason behind the attempted murder.
Let George Do It: The Dark Chain (1949)
George Valentine is called to a farm to investigate the theft of an heirloom cameo brooch. Mrs. Purcell suspects her neighbor Luke Schroeder, a paroled thief, but George finds the situation more complicated when he discovers Mrs. Purcell's mentally simple adult son Buddy and the mysterious presence of a girl named Maria on the property.
A farm in the countryside, including Mrs. Purcell's house and neighboring property · George Valentine, Mrs. Purcell, Buddy Purcell, Luke Schroeder, Simon, Maria
Listen for: George's investigation into the stolen brooch and the strange dynamics between Buddy, Maria, and the suspicious Luke Schroeder
Let George Do It: The Dead of Night (1952)
George Valentine is contacted urgently by Frank Summers in the dead of night about a terrible situation: Mr. Milburn has been murdered, and his estranged wife June has received a threatening call from the killer saying she will die for the crime. George must find the real murderer and prove Mrs. Milburn's innocence before suspicion falls entirely on her.
A beach community with scattered houses, George's office, police headquarters, and the telephone company office. · George Valentine, Frank Summers, June Milburn, Lieutenant Johnson, Mrs. Raleigh, Judge Paul Raleigh
Listen for: The mysterious dead-sounding voice on the phone, the details about the murder weapon and the clock stopped at ten, and the revelation that Mrs. Milburn was on a party line at the beach.
Let George Do It: The Deadly Pines (1952)
George Valentine receives a letter from Dave Herron, a young forest owner in the logging town of High Timber, asking for help investigating a series of deliberately set forest fires that have been destroying property. Four fires have been set in recent weeks, each carefully placed at natural fire lines, and they're threatening to ruin Herron and others in the community. Valentine arrives in town to investigate who is behind the mysterious arson.
High Timber, a small logging town surrounded by pine forests · George Valentine, Dave Herron, Artie (diner worker), Miss Brooks, C.J. Murdoch (lumber owner), Stan Kubrick (former logger), Frank Redland (sheriff)
Listen for: Valentine's investigation into who is setting the forest fires and his encounters with the townspeople who all seem to have motives and fears about the blazes destroying their timber holdings.
Let George Do It: The Discovery of Ponce, the Lion (HSG) (1951)
Private investigator George Valentine arrives in Baja Junction to investigate the return of Ponce the Lion, a man just released from jail after serving time for manslaughter. The town fears Ponce has vowed revenge against those who testified against him, but when George confronts him, Ponce claims he has changed and made some kind of important discovery that has transformed him.
Baja Junction, a small town in the Pacific region with an Oriental section and various local businesses including Toli's dance hall and a jazz house. · George Valentine, Miss Brooks, Franco, Lawrence Pinkney, Ponce the Lion, Phil Minahan, Buster
Listen for: George's investigation into whether Ponce's threats of revenge are genuine or if his claim of personal transformation is sincere; the mystery of Ponce's alleged discovery.
Let George Do It: The Eight Ball (1951)
George Valentine arrives at the Summer Springs Hotel after being hired by a mysterious group of town leaders to investigate corruption and gambling rackets in their fair city. When he discovers a dead man posing as him in his hotel room, George must figure out who the imposter is and who killed him before he can even begin his investigation.
Summer Springs Hotel in a mid-sized American town, plus a drive-in on the edge of town · George Valentine, Angel, Nielsen, Vic, Emmet, Neil, Lemuel, Harold Stark
Listen for: George's clever plan to escape suspicion by swapping wallets with the dead imposter and reporting his own death to the police so he can work freely on the case
Let George Do It: The Eight Ball (AFRS #16) (1951)
Detective George Valentine arrives in Summer Springs to secretly investigate allegations that the town is a center for organized collection rackets. When a man impersonating him is found murdered in his hotel room, Valentine must work to clear himself and figure out who is trying to stop him before he can begin his investigation.
Summer Springs, a small exclusive town; a hotel and surrounding areas · George Valentine, Angel Brooks, Nielsen, Vicki, Emmett Waller, Mayor Vickery, Harold Stark, Hotel clerk
Listen for: The mix-up of identities and the urgency of the murder mystery that puts Valentine in danger before his case even begins.
Let George Do It: The Elusive Hundred Grand (1949)
George Valentine is hired by famous entertainer Walter Haney to spend a weekend at a resort hotel in Los Rositas, California. Haney's real assignment is for George to purchase a valuable Renaissance vase from an art dealer named Durgson for $15,000, which Haney believes is the mate to another masterpiece worth $100,000 that a wealthy cattleman named Hank McCraery owns and will buy from him. The catch is that Haney owes a gambling syndicate over $100,000 and is forbidden from gambling himself, so he needs George to make the risky art deal on his behalf.
Los Rositas, California, at a fashionable resort hotel (the Pioneer Hotel with the Peacock Room) and surrounding areas of the town. · George Valentine, Angel Brooks, Walter Haney, Adele (Walter's sister), Mario, Lola, Hank McCraery, Durgson
Listen for: The scheming of entertainer Walter Haney involving a valuable art purchase, the mysterious warnings from Mario and Lola, and the complications arising from Haney's debt to a gambling syndicate.
Let George Do It: The Empress of Fish Falls (1949)
Private investigator George Valentine's fishing vacation is interrupted when he and his secretary Brooksie discover a murdered midget in the water. The dead man's watch identifies him as Merle Bender, general manager of Fargo's Circuses. George's investigation leads him to Fish Falls, a small town that has become home to retired circus performers, and to the mysterious Empress of Fish Falls, a wealthy woman who runs the community from her riverside castle.
Fish Falls, a small riverside town that has become a haven for retired circus sideshow performers, and the Empress's castle on the river. · George Valentine, Brooksie, Lieutenant Riley, Colonel Gerald P. Fargo, Merle Bender, The Empress (Mrs. Bender), Rubberface, Castle the butler
Listen for: The mystery of who killed Merle Bender and why; the connection between the dead man and the Empress; the quirky personalities of the circus folk who populate the town.
Let George Do It: The Father Who Had Nothing to Say (1948)
George Valentine takes on a case for Ralph Lochner, a young man about to be admitted to the bar who has discovered that the evidence against his adoptive father's biological father—convicted years ago for murdering a woman named Lillian Wayne—was largely circumstantial. Ralph believes his father may be innocent and asks George to help reopen the case, despite the risk that his secret parentage could become public and ruin his engagement to a society girl.
A city with a penitentiary, police department, law offices, and various locations connected to a ten-year-old murder case · George Valentine, Miss Brooks, Ralph Lochner, Mr. Lochner, Harry Peterson, Lieutenant Riley, Mike Donnelly, Mr. Jeffries
Listen for: George pursues leads on the Lillian Wayne murder case, interviewing witnesses and uncovering details that may contradict the original conviction.
Let George Do It: The Fearless Clown (HSG) (1951)
George Valentine is hired by Relita, a circus performer in strawberry-colored tights, to protect a fearless clown named Fofo from murder. Relita confesses she once wrote a letter threatening to kill Fofo, but the letter has gone missing from her dressing room, and she fears someone will use it to frame her for his murder. George must find the missing letter and discover who took it before Fofo meets a deadly end.
A circus, including the big top and performers' dressing rooms · George Valentine, Relita, Fofo the clown, Freddy, Brooksie
Listen for: A tense mystery unfolds as George investigates backstage at the circus, interviewing Relita and discovering that a threatening letter has vanished and could be used to frame her for murder.
Let George Do It: The First Client (1946)
George Valentine, a newly independent private investigator, acquires his first client when mystery writer Jonathan Winters arrives at his office claiming he is about to be murdered. Before Valentine can learn more, Winters collapses, and when Valentine and his new assistant Sonny Brooks return to the office, the body has vanished. Valentine must now solve the mystery of the disappeared client before the police arrive.
George Valentine's new private detective office in a city building, and Jonathan Winters' home study. · George Valentine, Sonny Brooks, Claire Brooks, Jonathan Winters, Mrs. Winters, Caleb
Listen for: The comical dynamic between George and his pushy young assistant Sonny; George's skepticism about Winters' murder claim; the mysterious disappearance of the body and Winters himself.
Let George Do It: The Floaters (1950)
George Valentine is called to a remote motel on the Mexican border by Bernice Hillary, a young woman from Minnesota who has stumbled into a dangerous situation. She discovers two dead bodies in an adjacent cabin—a woman named Helga who has been illegally trying to enter the country, and a sickly American man who knew her. Now George must uncover the truth behind what appears to be a murder disguised as a suicide.
A motel on the Mexican border near the American-Mexican boundary line. · George Valentine, Bernice Hillary, Helga, Fred Dexter, Janie the chambermaid
Listen for: The mystery of the two dead bodies and whether Helga's death was truly a suicide or something more sinister; George's investigation into the identity and background of the mysterious coughing man.
Let George Do It: The Flowers That Smelled of Murder (1948)
George Valentine arrives at Western State University to investigate murder threats against Professor Cobaur, a brilliant botanist who is developing a new orchid variety. The professor is surrounded by suspicious relationships: his student Louise D'Raine and her husband Michael (both ex-GIs), the professor's wife, and his department head, all with potential motives connected to his groundbreaking botanical experiments and the flower's intended name.
Western State University campus, including student housing and the university greenhouse · George Valentine, Miss Brooks, Louise D'Raine, Michael Durane, Steven, Professor Cobaur, Mrs. Cobaur, Department Head
Listen for: The conflicting accounts of whether murder attempts are real or imaginary, the rivalry over naming rights to the new orchid, and the romantic tensions surrounding the handsome professor
Let George Do It: The Forgotten Murder (1952)
Private investigator George Valentine is hired by Felicity Graham, who suspects that a man named Paulos visiting from South America is actually James Cartwright, her cousin Laura's husband who supposedly died in a murder-suicide fifteen years ago. Felicity believes Cartwright murdered Laura and faked his own death to escape with her inherited fortune, which he had secretly moved to Los Altos. Valentine agrees to investigate whether Paulos is truly Cartwright in disguise.
New York City, primarily at Felicity Graham's home at Burlington Terrace; also involves South America and Los Altos. · George Valentine, Felicity Graham, Paul Henry, Laura Cartwright, James Cartwright, Paulos, The Maid
Listen for: A tense meeting between Valentine and the mysterious Mr. Paulos; revelations about James Cartwright's cruel nature and his scheme to steal Laura's money; the mystery of whether Paulos is actually the supposedly deceased Cartwright.
Let George Do It: The Four Seasons (1952)
George Valentine is hired by the elegant Donna Lawson Nichols to deliver four priceless Rubens miniatures worth $50,000 to a gallery in Wainsville. On his way to make the delivery, George is forced off the road by a truck and knocked unconscious. When he comes to, the miniatures have vanished, but he finds a $20,000 check signed by Jason Renschler of the Renschler Galleries instead.
A small town with roads leading to Wainsville; George's office; the road where the accident occurs; a police station. · George Valentine, Donna Lawson Nichols, Brooks, Mr. Renschler, Sergeant, Charles Nichols
Listen for: George's past connection to Donna from their college days; the mysterious truck that forces him off the road; the appearance of the check from Renschler instead of the miniatures; the police investigation into the missing paintings.
Let George Do It: The Four-Sided Triangle (1949)
George Valentine is hired by Owen Marby, a Canadian novelist, to investigate whether his old friend Dr. Kenneth Sterritt's death was truly an accident or murder. Marby suspects Sterritt's beautiful wife Julia and a man named Charles Dallason of foul play, noting that Sterritt had expressed marital unhappiness before his fatal car crash on foggy Eagle Canyon Drive. George's assistant Claire infiltrates Julia and Charles's car to eavesdrop on their conversation, and their nervous behavior about Marby's arrival suggests guilt.
A city with mountain roads; Eagle Canyon Drive where Dr. Sterritt died in a car accident; Julia and Charles's haunts including restaurants and mountains. · George Valentine, Owen Marby, Julia Sterritt, Charles Dallason, Claire Brooks, Eddie
Listen for: The tense dinner party at Julia's mountain home; whether Marby will expose Julia and Charles's relationship; clues about the true nature of Dr. Sterritt's death.
Let George Do It: The Ghost of Ireland Betty (1954)
George Valentine is hired by Miss Dowdy, companion of the late Ireland Betty, to investigate Professor E.L. Gifford, who plans to purchase an old Italian villa-style house. Miss Dowdy is concerned about the sale because the house holds special significance, though she hesitates to explain why. When Valentine meets both Christine O'Casey, the young heir who wants to sell, and Professor Gifford, a psychic researcher, tensions arise over the house's future.
An enormous, rambling Italian villa-style house where Ireland Betty once lived, with Miss Dowdy still residing there. · George Valentine, Miss Dowdy, Christine O'Casey, Professor E.L. Gifford, Mr. Eustace
Listen for: Hints about why Miss Dowdy and Ireland Betty regarded the house as special, and what supernatural elements may be connected to it.
Let George Do It: The Ghost of Ireland Betty (Olan Soule) (1954)
George Valentine receives a letter from Miss Dowdy, companion to the late Ireland Betty O'Casey, asking him to investigate Professor E.L. Gifford from Denver. The professor is interested in purchasing an old Italian villa-style house that belonged to Ireland Betty and now is being sold by her niece Christine. Miss Dowdy seems determined to prevent the sale and hints that the house holds special significance, while the professor proves to be an eccentric student of psychic research.
An old Italian villa-style house, formerly owned by Ireland Betty O'Casey, now being prepared for sale by her niece Christine. · George Valentine, Miss Dowdy, Christine O'Casey, Professor E.L. Gifford, Mr. Eustace
Listen for: The mystery of why Miss Dowdy is so opposed to Professor Gifford buying the house and what secret significance the old house holds.
Let George Do It: The Ghost on Bliss Terrace (1948)
George Valentine is hired by a community group led by Mrs. Angela McCauley to investigate an allegedly haunted house on Bliss Terrace. The empty Mitchell house has spooked the neighborhood with reports of mysterious faces in windows and strange music, but George learns that the house's owner, railroad engineer Sam Mitchell, was murdered a month ago in an unsolved killing. George must determine whether the supernatural reports are genuine or something more sinister is at work.
Bliss Terrace, a residential neighborhood, centered on the empty Mitchell house where an unsolved murder occurred. · George Valentine, Mrs. Angela McCauley, Angel (George's assistant), Lieutenant, Fred Horton (milkman), Tommy (neighborhood boy), Mrs. Mitchell (Sam's widow), Paul Hart
Listen for: The details of the mysterious faces and music heard coming from the Mitchell house, and George's investigation into whether the supernatural reports are connected to Sam Mitchell's unsolved murder.
Let George Do It: The Golden Lizard (1950)
George Valentine is hired by a yacht broker to investigate the sale of a luxury vessel called the Golden Lizard and find out who currently owns it, with the expectation of competitive bidding from a South American company. When George meets the ship's owner, Señor Bolivar de Limbrofso, he discovers the elderly Argentine has no real intention of selling his beloved vessel and is instead entertaining a young Danish woodworker named Paul and a South American engineer named Enrico who recently drowned under mysterious circumstances.
The Golden Lizard, a luxury yacht anchored at a hotel, and surrounding locations in 1950. · George Valentine, Mr. Murray (yacht broker), Señor Bolivar de Limbrofso, Paul (Danish woodworker), Enrico (South American engineer), Signora (Señor's companion)
Listen for: The mystery surrounding Enrico's drowning and George's investigation into the true situation with the yacht's ownership and the suspicious activities aboard the ship.
Let George Do It: The Gray Stone Ghost (1952)
George Valentine is invited to Greystone, a moated mansion, to investigate a ghostly haunting. Mrs. Gray claims to have seen her husband's face at her bedroom window two weeks after his burial, and a portrait of him has mysteriously disappeared and reappeared with blood stains. George and his assistant Miss Brooks arrive to uncover whether a genuine ghost or something more sinister is at work.
Greystone, a moated English manor house with a drawbridge · George Valentine, Miss Brooks, Mrs. Gray, Dwight, Amanda, Stevens the butler, Ronald Gray, Sylvia Gray
Listen for: George's investigation of the ghostly occurrences at the moated mansion, including the mysterious bust, the missing portrait, and an explosion rigged with an alarm clock
Let George Do It: The Graystone Ghost (1952)
George Valentine arrives at Greystone, the isolated mansion of Mrs. Gray, to investigate a supposed ghost haunting. Mrs. Gray believes her deceased husband is somehow appearing in her home, with strange occurrences including a mysterious face in her bedroom, a missing portrait, and a sculptor's bust found on the ground. As George and his assistant Ms. Brooks begin their investigation, a dynamite explosion in the kitchen reveals someone is playing dangerous pranks.
Greystone mansion, an English-style castle with a moat and drawbridge, isolated from the outside world. · George Valentine, Ms. Brooks, Mrs. Amanda Gray, Ronald Gray, Sylvia Gray, Stevens the butler
Listen for: Who is behind the ghostly hauntings and the dangerous explosions? What is their motive for terrorizing Mrs. Gray?
Let George Do It: The Hand In The Coconut (1950)
George Valentine is called to a quarantined ship by the elderly big-game hunter Mr. Stang, who claims that the ship's second mate Lars Mickelson has stolen his prized field glasses and other items during the voyage. Stang wants George to find evidence and serve as a witness so he can take legal action against the thief. George boards the ship, which is full of wild animals awaiting delivery to zoos, and confronts Mickelson about the stolen glasses.
A quarantined ship docked at a pier, carrying a cargo of wild animals including a panther, a 33-foot constrictor, and poisonous snakes. · George Valentine, Mr. Stang, Lars Mickelson, Captain Tig, Mr. Bowling, Baba
Listen for: The opening explanation of the "hand in the coconut" trap: how a monkey reaches into a coconut to grab something inside but cannot pull its fist back out because greed overcomes fear. This concept becomes a metaphor for Mickelson's own predicament with the stolen goods.
Let George Do It: The Hearse That Was Painted Pink (1948)
George Valentine is hired to romance a woman named Lila Parker in order to flush out a fugitive criminal named Frank Granby, who is hiding somewhere in town and competing with a powerful businessman named Gorman. George is coerced into the job when Gorman's men threaten to harm his secretary Brooksie if he refuses, and George begins attempting to win over the reluctant and dismissive Lila.
A hotel and surrounding locations in an unnamed town, including a nightclub or entertainment venue where Lila performs. · George Valentine, Brooksie, Lieutenant Raleigh, Gorman, Raymond, Ernie, Lila Parker, Frank Granby
Listen for: George's forced attempts to charm the uninterested Lila, the threats posed by Gorman's criminal organization, and the tension between George's secretary Brooksie and Lieutenant Raleigh who suspect George is in trouble.
Let George Do It: The High Price of a Penny (1950)
George Valentine arrives at Fish Lake country to investigate a potential swindle targeting an elderly couple named the Mooms. A mysterious lawyer named Mr. Fowl has hired George to stop Clifford, a worthless nephew, from bilking the wealthy Mooms out of a fortune using a diamond bracelet scheme. However, George arrives to find the situation far more complicated than anticipated.
Fish Lake country, including a rural road, cabins, and Mr. Fowl's home · George Valentine, Mr. Fowl, Clifford, The Mooms, Detective
Listen for: A suspicious car accident on a dark road, cryptic warnings about a bad penny, and revelations about who stands to inherit the Mooms' million-dollar estate
Let George Do It: The Host of Casa Diablo (1949)
George Valentine is hired to bring back Earl Bixby, a fugitive witness willing to testify against corrupt officials, from Mexico to the city. Valentine and his assistant Miss Brooks travel by bus to San Salvador to find Bixby, but they discover that others are determined to prevent his return, by any means necessary.
A small bus traveling through Mexico to the village of San Salvador, and the surrounding mountainous terrain · George Valentine, Miss Brooks, Leafy Lake Soper, Earl Bixby, Emilio, McLean, Christine Craig, Red
Listen for: The tense cat-and-mouse game aboard the bus as Valentine tries to outwit McLean and the other antagonists who want to stop him from reaching Bixby; a physical confrontation that nearly forces the bus off a mountain road.
Let George Do It: The House That Jack Built (1950)
Private investigator George Valentine is hired by Lacey Jack at a nightclub to provide protection during a dangerous night. Jack reveals he is a crime writer who works as a special deputy for the DA's office and plans to meet an informant with damaging facts about powerful criminals in the city. Valentine agrees to stay at Jack's apartment with his assistant Miss Brooks to guard Jack's family while he ventures out into the night.
A nightclub called the Casino, and Lacey Jack's apartment in the city · George Valentine, Miss Brooks, Lacey Jack, Lila, Mickey, Joe, Duke Avis, Lieutenant Riley
Listen for: The mysterious appearance of a man named Uncle Marmaduke at Jack's apartment and hints that Lacey Jack may not be who he claims to be
Let George Do It: The Impatient Redhead (1948)
George Valentine, a private investigator, is hired by Blanche Leggler, a wealthy brewery heiress, to discover why the man she loves—Vicente Montoya, a polished Spanish nobleman—has been hesitant to commit to her despite their year-long relationship. Blanche has noticed Vicente has a peculiar pattern of only pursuing women with red hair, and she wants George to uncover what stands in the way of their marriage.
The city, including Blanche's apartment at the Raleigh Towers, the Oval Room at the Stapas Hotel, and various other locations · George Valentine, Blanche Leggler, Vicente Montoya, Carl, Thomas Sloan, Miss Brooks
Listen for: George's investigation into Vicente's past and his mysterious attachment to red-haired women; the revelation of Thomas Sloan's unrequited feelings for Blanche; and Vicente's cryptic confession about the woman he truly loves.
Let George Do It: The Investment (1946)
George Valentine's lawyer neighbor Spencer hires him to buy 100 shares of Mizzouma Limited stock using a $5,000 check from an anonymous client before the market closes at three o'clock. George sends his office boy Sonny to deliver the check to a brokerage firm, but Sonny forgets the firm's name and leaves the check with the wrong company, forcing George and his staff to frantically search the security exchange building to retrieve it.
George Valentine's detective office building in the city; later the security exchange building · George Valentine, Spencer, Sonny, Claire, Al Meltzer, Mr. Bellin
Listen for: The comedic confusion over Sonny mishearing the firm name as 'Jelly-Cohen Bean' (which sounds like jelly bean candy) and then forgetting it entirely; George's frustration over the nail in his shoe delaying him; the race against the three o'clock market closing deadline.
Let George Do It: The Iron Cat (1950)
George Valentine is hired by a desperate man named Ramsey who fears he might harm himself or others. Through a hidden tape recorder, Ramsey discovers his wife Martha, his best friend Edward Dill, and a doctor named Dr. Baldwin are conspiring against him—possibly to have him committed so they can steal his share of a valuable business deal worth a million dollars. George begins investigating the scheme while Ramsey reveals evidence of the deception.
Ramsey's office and home, a decorator's office, and Edward Dill's apartment · George Valentine, Ramsey, Martha, Edward Dill, Dr. Baldwin, Robert
Listen for: The revelation on the tape recorder of Martha's conversation with Edward Dill; George discovering Robert beaten in Ramsey's house; the exposure of the plot to commit Ramsey and steal his business.
Let George Do It: The Iron Hat (1952)
George Valentine receives a letter from Robert Cornelius, owner of the Iron Hat restaurant, asking for help recovering stolen evidence of corruption that was taken from his safe. When one of gangster Hager's hoodlums tries to intimidate George into dropping the case, George suspects Hager is behind the theft and confronts him directly.
The city, including George's office and the Iron Hat restaurant · George Valentine, Miss Brooks, Hager, Robert Cornelius, Miss Madill, Alan Dolan
Listen for: George's encounter with the intimidating hoodlum at his office, his first meeting with restaurant owner Cornelius who reveals the stolen evidence, and his bold confrontation with the gangster Hager about the break-in
Let George Do It: The Last Payoff (1951)
George Valentine is hired by Buster Bartone, an ex-convict, to investigate who ransacked his room while he was knocked unconscious. The only clue is that the intruder was searching for something specific but left behind Buster's valuable wristwatch. As George digs deeper, he uncovers connections to John Logan, a man from Buster's past, and discovers a murder has been committed at the local clay pits.
A small town during a rainstorm, involving Buster's room, John Logan's office and house, and clay pits outside town. · George Valentine, Buster Bartone, John Logan, Mrs. Logan, Mr. Reese, Ms. Brooks, Sheriff
Listen for: The developing mystery of who ransacked Buster's room and what they were searching for, the appearance of Mr. Reese with a threatening message, the murder at the clay pits, and George's discovery that a large man in a dark blue raincoat was seen fleeing the scene.
Let George Do It: The Lie That Came True (1948)
Magazine editor Arnold Loomis writes to private investigator George Valentine with a disturbing confession: he lied to police about being robbed at gunpoint, claiming a man took $1,000 he'd lost at the racetrack. Now an innocent man named Neil Denquist has been arrested for the crime, found with the exact bills Loomis described. Loomis is tormented by his fabrication but fears the truth will destroy his marriage and land him in jail.
A city with a racetrack, police headquarters, and jail cells; George Valentine's office. · George Valentine, Arnold Loomis, Brooksie, Neil Denquist, Francine Denquist, Mrs. Denquist, Lieutenant
Listen for: The ingenious twist that Denquist's false confession was actually meant to provide him an alibi for a far more serious crime—a murder that took place at the exact time he claimed the robbery occurred.
Let George Do It: The Little Man Who Was Everywhere (1948)
George Valentine is hired by Vivian Newcomer, who claims a mysterious little man with thick glasses is stalking her, appearing everywhere she goes and sending threatening notes. George discovers the man is Harry Stearner, whose wife died in a fire at one of Newcomer's apartment buildings in the River Flats, and that several more fires have since broken out in the same dilapidated buildings. As George investigates whether Stearner is responsible for both the harassment and the arsons, he begins to suspect a darker purpose behind the fires than simple revenge.
A city with an old River Flats section containing aging apartment buildings and tenement houses; George's office and various locations around the city · George Valentine, Vivian Newcomer, Harry Stearner, Angel, Mr. Whelton, Lieutenant
Listen for: The unfolding mystery of who is really setting the fires in Newcomer's buildings and whether Stearner's strange behavior masks a more complex scheme
Let George Do It: The Malignant Heart (1948)
George Valentine receives a letter from Edna Pallas, a woman concerned about her millionaire husband Walter's bizarre behavior. Once retired and respectable, Walter has begun stealing from stores, mocking religion, ruining his business partner, and generally acting cruel and obnoxious. Edna asks George to investigate what has caused this dramatic change in her husband's character. George agrees to take the case and travels to the Pallas estate to meet Walter in person.
The Pallas estate and surrounding town, 1948 · George Valentine, Bruxy, Mrs. Edna Pallas, Walter Pallas, Lucy, Chief Hagotty, Lieutenant Riley
Listen for: George's witty banter with his partner Bruxy, Walter Pallas's mockingly cruel behavior, and the mystery of what has caused Walter's dramatic personality change since his retirement
Let George Do It: The Man Behind the Frame (1951)
George Valentine is called to the county jail by a man named Vic Burnett to help a young office clerk named Lawrence Ferguson who has been arrested for the murder of Sally Fife, a woman he met at a bar the night before. Ferguson was found fleeing the scene and has confessed, but Valentine decides to investigate the circumstances surrounding the case.
A county jail and surrounding areas of an unnamed city, where a murder investigation is taking place. · George Valentine, Lawrence Ferguson, Vic Burnett, Lieutenant Johnson, Sally Fife
Listen for: George Valentine's investigation into whether the young clerk actually committed the murder or has been framed, and his questioning of Ferguson's confession.
Let George Do It: The Man From Jaune Cache (HSG) (1951)
George Valentine is hired by Franklin Scott to identify a mysterious man in a white linen suit watching his house. The man claims amnesia and carries a calling card for Jack McDonald, a suicide victim from South America. When Scott's sister Mary arrives to meet her husband Sid Forrest, who was supposedly returning from mining in French Guiana, complications multiply—the ship Forrest traveled on reports he went overboard, but a man matching Forrest's description is already present in the household.
A city with a waterfront, aboard the Golden Drake ship, and Scott's home; the story involves connections to French Guiana and the town of Jaune Cache. · George Valentine, Franklin Jay Scott, Miss Brooks, Mary Forrest, Sidney Forrest, Mr. Amblar, Lieutenant Johnson, Captain Task
Listen for: The clever revelation that Forrest faked his own death by going overboard to escape McDonald's pursuit, and that the suicide note was written after the supposed death—a key detail that unravels the entire mystery.
Let George Do It: The Man Under the Elm Trees (1949)
George Valentine arrives at Mayville College in response to a letter from Del Hankham, who is worried that his sister Tisha, recently widowed and in possession of forty thousand dollars in life insurance money, is being targeted by Rick Stevenson, a smooth-talking jewelry salesman who has recently arrived in town. When George questions the eccentric boarder Skinny Adams about a mysterious man under the elm trees, Adams becomes evasive and paranoid.
Mayville College, a small college town, at Mrs. Packlett's boarding house and its grounds during a holiday weekend. · George Valentine, Del Hankham, Tisha, Rick Stevenson, Mrs. Packlett, Skinny Adams, Miss Brooke
Listen for: The mysterious reference to a man under the elm trees, Skinny Adams' strange behavior and warnings, and the setup of Rick Stevenson's scheme to gain access to Tisha's money.
Let George Do It: The Man Under the Elm Trees (Olan Soule) (1954)
George Valentine arrives in the small college town of Mayville at the request of Del Hannigan, who fears his sister Tisha—a widow with a substantial life insurance settlement—is being manipulated by a smooth-talking boarder named Stevenson who claims to sell jewelry. George poses as a friend visiting the Packler boarding house, where he encounters the eccentric Skinny Adams and begins to investigate Stevenson's true intentions.
Mayville, a small college town during a faculty welcoming picnic at a boarding house. · George Valentine, Del Hannigan, Tisha Packler, Skinny Adams, Stevenson, Mrs. Packler
Listen for: The mysterious boarder Stevenson's background and his relationship with Tisha Packler; the significance of Skinny Adams and his unusual behavior; what Hannigan suspects Stevenson is really after beyond flattery.
Let George Do It: The Marauder (HSG) (1951)
George Valentine arrives at a remote, snowed-in resort owned by the increasingly unhinged Hans Bjorkman, who has become obsessed with hunting a large cat that has been prowling the property. George must figure out what is really happening at this isolated location where tension and fear run high, and everyone seems caught up in Bjorkman's mounting hysteria over the mysterious creature he calls the Marauder.
A small, deserted resort in a mountainous area during a harsh winter with ice and hailstones; the property is isolated and snow-bound. · George Valentine, Hans Bjorkman, Pennock, Olga, Rafe Saxon, Miss Brooks
Listen for: The mysterious cries of the prowling cat that has everyone on edge, and Hans Bjorkman's escalating paranoia and erratic behavior as he obsessively hunts the creature.
Let George Do It: The Meddler (1951)
Sally Riker, a college freshman, visits private investigator George Valentine in distress. She reveals that a mysterious gunshot was fired in Henry Mayhew's home where her mother works as a secretary, followed by a broken window and suspicious behavior from the household members. George agrees to investigate the incident by posing as a handyman to repair the damage and uncover what really happened.
George Valentine's office and the Mayhew home on Fairway Terrace · George Valentine, Sally Riker, Angel, Claire Brooks, Mrs. Riker, Henry Mayhew, Mr. Dwight
Listen for: A mysterious gunshot at a wealthy man's home, a burned chair, a suspicious key found in the garden, and hints of hidden secrets among the household members.
Let George Do It: The Meek Mr. Murch (1948)
Actor Peter Murch, known for playing meek comedic roles, hires private investigator George Valentine to help him overcome his psychological split personality by exposing him to excitement and danger. Murch believes that experiencing real thrills will help him resolve his internal conflict so he can take on a starring role in his next film.
A city with various locations including a vegetarian restaurant, Mark Logan's pool hall and grill, and an amusement park with a tunnel of love ride · George Valentine, Peter Murch, Booksy (George's secretary), Mark Logan, Len Dimick, Jimmy (tunnel operator)
Listen for: The contrast between Murch's mild public persona and his claim to have a violent alter ego; George's attempts to provide him with exciting situations at a pool hall and then at the tunnel of love attraction; mysterious murder references within the tunnel of love
Let George Do It: The Money Maker (1948)
A foreign government's special paper for printing counterfeit currency has been stolen from the Bonded Paper Corporation, and George Valentine is hired to recover it before the thieves can use it. With the help of the police and a reformed informant named Jigger Collins, George must track down Fred Bigelow, a master counterfeiter believed to be behind the theft.
A city with the Bonded Paper Corporation, police headquarters, and the Clam Shell Hotel · George Valentine, Angel Brooks, Martin Kirsch, Lieutenant, Jigger Collins, Fred Bigelow
Listen for: George going undercover as a recently released convict named Arch Sundit to meet the master counterfeiter Fred Bigelow
Let George Do It: The Motif Is Murder (1949)
Private investigator George Valentine receives a letter from someone claiming to have murdered three seemingly unconnected people—a surgeon, a fortune teller, and a diamond cutter—bound together by a mysterious motif. George and Lieutenant Riley set up a phone trace to catch the killer, but when a beautiful model named Honey Evans becomes the next target, events spiral dangerously out of control.
A city with George Valentine's detective office, police headquarters, and apartment buildings; St. Mary's Hospital is mentioned. · George Valentine, Lieutenant Riley, Miss Brooks, Honey Evans, The Killer
Listen for: The mysterious caller's increasingly chilling remarks about the murders and his obsession with a hidden motif connecting the victims; the tense phone conversation setup and Honey Evans' urgent modeling appointment that puts her in danger.
Let George Do It: The Murder of a Mind (1948)
George Valentine receives a desperate letter from Laura Burke, asking him to visit her husband Joe, an old army friend now confined to a sanitarium. Joe returned from an overseas job with an export company in a confused mental state following an explosion, unable to speak or move properly. George and his companion visit Joe at the sanitarium run by the mysterious Dr. Taruk, where something about the situation feels wrong to George.
A sanitarium in a remote valley, and the surrounding area; flashbacks to George's army days and Joe's recent work abroad. · George Valentine, Laura Burke, Joe Burke, Dr. Taruk, Rodney, Dr. Hunter, Brooks
Listen for: George's instincts about the sanitarium and Dr. Taruk; the mystery of Joe's true condition; the suspicious circumstances around the explosion; the significance of the face powder Joe gave to Laura.
Let George Do It: The Mystic (1952)
Rita Morton hires detective George Valentine to investigate Calma the Mystic, a spiritualist who has gained influence over Rita's wealthy aunt Emma Breckenridge through séances. Rita believes Calma is a charlatan preying on her aunt's grief over her deceased husband. George and his assistant Miss Brooks attend a séance at the aunt's home where Calma attempts to prove his supernatural powers by revealing a secret message the late Mr. Breckenridge wrote to his wife.
The séance takes place at Mrs. Emma Breckenridge's home in River Park in the present day, with an earlier scene at George Valentine's office. · George Valentine, Miss Brooks, Rita Morton, Pat Breckenridge, Mrs. Emma Breckenridge, John Chadwick, Martha Hadley, Calma the Mystic
Listen for: The séance conducted by Calma the Mystic and his supposed communication with the deceased Mr. Breckenridge; George Valentine's skeptical observations of the spiritualist's methods.
Let George Do It: The Next to the Last Guest (1949)
George Bellentine, a lawyer, is called to the hotel room of an elderly man named Sternman who is running out of time as his hotel is being torn down. Sternman wants George to help distribute his substantial estate to three worthy recipients: an honest accountant named Henry Freeholder, a proud young boxer called Kid McClint, and his niece Francis O'Neill. George begins visiting these potential beneficiaries to explain Sternman's intentions, but his visit to Kid McClint at a local bar ends violently when the young man attacks him.
A condemned hotel being torn down to make room for a drugstore, and a neighborhood bar · George Bellentine, Sternman, Angel, Francis O'Neill, Henry Freeholder, Kid McClint, Louis the bartender
Listen for: The revelation of why Sternman has chosen these three people and what happens when George tries to inform them of their potential inheritance.
Let George Do It: The Noose Hangs High (1951)
George Valentine is hired by a magazine editor to investigate why two brothers, Jared and Tom Binks, have remained isolated in their house for ten years since an ornithologist named Ansel Fairweather hanged himself there. When George gains entry by posing as a fire inspector, he discovers mysterious nooses tied throughout the house and strange shadows appearing on the walls, suggesting something sinister is occurring behind the locked doors.
The Binks brothers' house at 37 Ashton Street, where an ornithologist named Ansel Fairweather committed suicide ten years earlier. · George Valentine, Tom Binks, Jared Binks, Magazine Editor, Janet
Listen for: The mysterious nooses appearing throughout the house and the shadow of a noose on the stairway wall that the brothers claim they did not tie.
Let George Do It: The Old Style (1950)
Private detective George Valentine is contacted by Jeremiah Stark, an antiquarian who runs a curio shop specializing in artifacts from famous murders. Stark receives an anonymous music box in the mail with a love poem printed on it and a tag bearing tomorrow's date on the bottom—suggesting a murder is planned. Valentine investigates the mysterious sender, a tall graying man Stark saw two days ago, tracing him to Mr. Elmington, a wealthy retired barrel hoop manufacturer.
A curio shop on South Lane, a barber shop, and an apartment building in the city · George Valentine, Jeremiah Stark, Angel, Mr. Elmington, Joe Murphy, Emily Castell, Manicurist
Listen for: The mysterious music box with its sentimental poem, the cryptic date tag predicting murder, and the discovery that links the music box to a young manicurist named Emily Castell
Let George Do It: The Pay-Off Is Murder (1949)
George Valentine is hired by Dara Wyatt to prevent her husband Johnny, a boxer, from throwing Friday's fight against Pat Driscoll. Johnny has been pressured into taking a dive by gangster Douglas Hager, who has taken over the fight rackets. Dara wants her husband to fight honestly instead, even though it means defying powerful criminals who have bet a quarter million dollars on the fix.
A boxing arena and training facilities in an unnamed city; the story centers around a scheduled fight at the Christopher Arena. · George Valentine, Dara Wyatt, Johnny Wyatt, Douglas Hager, Pat Driscoll, Steve Helianis, Brooksie
Listen for: George's attempts to free Johnny from his contract with corrupt manager Helianis and to stand up to gangster Hager's threats; the growing tension as Friday's fight approaches with competing forces trying to control the outcome.
Let George Do It: The Payoff is Murder (1949)
George Valentine receives a letter from Doris Wyatt, whose husband Johnny is a boxer scheduled to fight Pat Driscoll Friday night at Christopher Arena. She wants George to stop Johnny from throwing the fight as arranged by gangster Douglas Hager, fearing her husband will be hurt and trapped in the racket. George agrees to help Johnny win honestly instead, confronting both Hager and Johnny's manager Halianis to free him from their control.
Christopher Arena and surrounding locations including a gymnasium and sanatorium; a boxing world controlled by racketeers · George Valentine, Doris Wyatt, Johnny Wyatt, Douglas Hager, Pat Driscoll, Steve Halianis
Listen for: George's clever maneuvering to break Johnny free from the fixed fight; the tension between Doris's love for her husband and her desperation to escape the criminal underworld; confrontations between George and the gangsters threatening violence.
Let George Do It: The Perfect Alibi (1949)
When a woman claiming to hate her husband asks George Valentine for help, he discovers the man has been arrested for murdering a business associate named Chauncey at the Cedar Crest apartment house. The husband, Pharrell, has no alibi for the shooting, though his wife insists his character proves his innocence. George begins investigating the case with Lieutenant Riley while questions arise about who really killed Chauncey.
A city with the Cedar Crest apartment house; various locations including street corners and a newspaper office · George Valentine, Laurie Farr, Pharrell, Lieutenant Riley, Chauncey, Brooks, Jefferson
Listen for: A murder mystery involving a business dispute, an alibi investigation, and questions about whether the accused man is truly guilty
Let George Do It: The Perfect Specimen (1948)
Dr. Norman Penford receives an anonymous death threat predicting his murder on Tuesday night by shooting. He hires private investigator George Valentine to prevent it. Valentine discovers the doctor has a complicated past: a first wife Jane from whom he's divorced and still paying alimony, and a son Wesley from that marriage who wants nothing to do with him, while his current son Eric seems unaware of his half-brother's existence.
A city with Dr. Penford's home and office in a brownstone house; the story begins when Valentine is hired to protect the doctor from the threatened murder. · George Valentine, Claire Brooks, Dr. Norman Penford, Eric Penford, Jane Penford, Wesley Penford, Lieutenant Riley
Listen for: The mystery of who wrote the death threat and why, the revelation of Dr. Penford's hidden past and estranged son, and what Valentine and the police discover through surveillance of the doctor's activities.
Let George Do It: The Picnic (1946)
George Valentine and his secretary Claire decide to have a picnic in the country with Claire's brother Sonny. They stop at a deserted, boarded-up house and discover a slipper with a note written in orange lipstick claiming someone is being held prisoner inside. Despite Claire's objections, George decides to investigate the mysterious message.
A boarded-up house in the country and its surrounding grounds · George Valentine, Claire, Sonny, An old woman
Listen for: The discovery of the mysterious slipper and note, George's decision to break into the house at nightfall, and the team's exploration of the upper floors
Let George Do It: The Prairie Dog (1951)
George Valentine is called in by Lieutenant Dancing to investigate the murder of Jerry Mace, a private investigator who worked for an independent insurance company. The case connects to a serial criminal known as the Prairie Dog, responsible for multiple robberies and murders across the city. George's investigation leads him to a pawn shop in the seediest part of town, where suspicious activity and a peculiar black safety match suggest a connection to his quarry.
A city with a rough industrial district known as the Prairie, including police headquarters, the streets, and a pawn shop in the seedier section of town. · George Valentine, Lieutenant Dancing, Jerry Mace, Felix, Angel
Listen for: References to the Prairie Dog criminal, clues involving black safety matches and greasy gloves, and the connection between Jerry Mace's insurance investigation and the pawn shop.
Let George Do It: The Problem of Joe Martin (1949)
George Valentine is hired by Señor Stoso to track down Joe Martin, a man who survived a plane crash in South America and refuses to answer letters about a $10,000 settlement from the aircraft company. Valentine travels to Martin's isolated coastal home to deliver the money, but finds the household tense and evasive, with Martin himself mysteriously absent on constant walks.
A house on the coast near a foggy, isolated area; Joe Martin's home · George Valentine, Señor Stoso, Joe Martin, Mrs. Martin, Lawrence Kegley, Douglas Dole, Rick Wind, Brooks
Listen for: The mystery of why Joe Martin avoids contact and refuses the settlement money; the tension in his household and the suspicious behavior of those around him.
Let George Do It: The Public Eye (1951)
George Valentine receives an urgent call from Mrs. Pearson asking him to protect her husband, a prominent public figure, from blackmail. A man named Baines is demanding fifty thousand dollars and threatening to reveal compromising information about an indiscretion involving a woman named Estelle. George agrees to meet the blackmailer, but the situation quickly becomes complicated when he encounters violence.
A city politician's office, a country resort area, and a park bench · George Valentine, Mr. Pearson, Mrs. Pearson, Baines, Chester, Estelle
Listen for: The details of what Pearson did that's being used against him, and what happens when George confronts the blackmailer Baines
Let George Do It: The Robber (1946)
Private investigator George Valentine is called to the Harding bookshop by the widow of an eccentric book dealer who died in his sleep. Mrs. Harding suspects her husband hid money in the shop and believes someone broke in to search for it, possibly her late husband's nephew Frank. Valentine and his assistants begin investigating the mysterious death and the missing money.
The Harding bookshop and surrounding areas in an unnamed city · George Valentine, Claire, Sonny, Mrs. Harriet Harding, Frank, Alice Barry the nurse, Dr. Mark
Listen for: A cryptic clue about Mary and her little lamb that emerges during Valentine's interview with the nurse, setting the stage for a search through the children's book section of the shop.
Let George Do It: The Rose Petal Staircase (1949)
George Valentine receives a cryptic letter from Professor Fulton, a genealogist searching for something in the old Senator Culliver house in the town of Culliver. The house is now inhabited by the senator's two surviving daughters, Claudine and another sister, who have kept a mysterious vigil there for fifteen years since their youngest sister Esther's death. When George arrives at the decaying mansion with its famous rose petal-colored marble staircase, he discovers a disturbing secret hidden within its walls.
The Senator Culliver house in the town of Culliver, a decaying mansion dominated by a marble staircase the color of faded rose petals · George Valentine, Professor Fulton, Claudine, Esther (deceased), Johnny (cab driver), Hubert
Listen for: The mystery of what Professor Fulton was searching for in the house, the secret surrounding Esther's death fifteen years ago, and the dark truth the two sisters have been guarding
Let George Do It: The Roundabout Murder (1949)
George Valentine receives a letter from Arnold Kyle, who admits to giving poisoned whiskey to Cleo Dawson but claims he didn't murder her. When Valentine investigates, Kyle's story centers on a mysterious stranger named Walt at Donovan's tavern who gave him the bottle. As Valentine digs deeper, he encounters radio commentator Wayne Medford, who offers to finance the investigation in exchange for dramatizing the case on his program.
A city with Donovan's tavern, a cheap hotel, a police office, and George Valentine's office. · George Valentine, Arnold Kyle, Lieutenant, Miss Brooks, Cleo Dawson, Walt, Charlie Drake, Wayne Medford
Listen for: The mysterious stranger Walt in the leather jacket with the studded belt, and what connection Wayne Medford's interest in the case might reveal.
Let George Do It: The Scream of the Eagle (1950)
George Valentine is hired to protect an heiress named Matilda Jonathan from a ruthless lawyer named McNeil who plans to swindle her out of a five-million-dollar inheritance. However, George discovers that Matilda drowned over a year and a half ago, and her body was never found. Now a young woman named Irma has appeared claiming to be Matilda, recovered from amnesia, but multiple imposters are also staking claims to the fortune.
A lawyer's office in the city, with references to a mountain town and a lake where Matilda supposedly drowned. · George Valentine, Jameson, Mr. McNeil, Irma, Johnny, Fernandez, Broxton, James P. O'Meara
Listen for: George investigates whether Irma is the real Matilda Jonathan by checking for identifying marks and evidence. A sailor named Fernandez is brought in to identify her, but he's killed by a hit-and-run truck before he can do so. George discovers scratches on Fernandez's arms from handling birds, connecting him to falconry and Matilda's past.
Let George Do It: The Seven Dead Years (1948)
George Valentine takes on a case for investigator Samuels, who believes a man named McLean murdered his wife seven years ago, though the body was never found. With the seven-year legal period for declaring someone dead approaching, Samuels wants George to pose as a model for McLean, a sculptor, to get close to him and uncover the truth. George begins to suspect that McLean's wife may still be alive, waiting out the seven years so they can collect insurance and disappear together.
A sculptor's studio in a town called Portister, and George's office. · George Valentine, Miss Brooks, Samuels, McLean, Nana Kenyon
Listen for: The clever setup of George going undercover as a model while suspecting the wife might be alive; the discussion of how difficult it is to dispose of a body; George's plan to use a newspaper gossip column to flush out Mrs. McLean.
Let George Do It: The Seven Murder (1948)
George Valentine investigates a puzzling case when a man named Neil Denquist confesses to robbing banker Lomas, despite Lomas later admitting he fabricated the entire robbery story. As George digs deeper, he discovers that Denquist may be taking the blame for a crime to create an alibi for something far more sinister that occurred at the same time.
A city police station, Lomas's home, the county jail, and the streets of the city · George Valentine, Lomas, Neil Denquist, Mrs. Francine Denquist, Miss Brooks, Lieutenant Riley, John Hafie
Listen for: The clever revelation that Denquist's false confession masks a connection to a murder investigation; the irony of Lomas's fabricated robbery story exposing a real crime.
Let George Do It: The Silent Waterfall (1950)
George Valentine receives an urgent summons from a mysterious woman named Dora Duncan to visit her home at Waterfall House on South River Road. When George and his assistant arrive that evening, they discover that Dora, a recently returned traveler from India, has disappeared under puzzling circumstances, last seen in a small dollhouse by the river near a waterfall.
Waterfall House on South River Road, a country estate with a fireplace, hunting trophies, and a small dollhouse by a river with a waterfall nearby. · George Valentine, Booksy, Dora Duncan, Cynthia, Jake Mannering, Everett Stone
Listen for: The mysterious circumstances of Dora's disappearance and why she summoned George to her home in the first place.
Let George Do It: The Smugglers (1948)
George Valentine is contacted by Laura Burke, the wife of an old army friend, to help her husband Joe who has returned from working in Egypt in a catatonic state following an industrial accident. George and his assistant Brooks visit Joe at a sanitarium run by Dr. Taruk, where something seems increasingly suspicious about Joe's condition and the circumstances surrounding his deterioration.
A sanitarium in a valley, run by an export company called Kesting Limited; California · George Valentine, Brooks, Laura Burke, Joe Burke, Dr. Taruk, Rodney, Mr. Kesting
Listen for: George's growing suspicions about Dr. Taruk's motives and Joe's true condition; a mysterious car accident on the way from the sanitarium; Laura's desperation and the strange details of Joe's breakdown
Let George Do It: The Spider and the Fly (1950)
George Valentine receives a letter from Mrs. Ponsonby, an upset newcomer to Oakview County, asking for his help investigating her mysterious neighbors at the Barker estate. She claims they've nearly caused her death by tearing up a road and behaving strangely. When George and his partner visit the property, they discover the truth behind the family's seclusion: Emmy Lunsford, now living there with Frederick, was once in love with Frederick when he was married to her best friend Francis, and she's now reclaimed both the house and the man after Francis's death.
The Barker estate in Oakview County, a secluded honeymoon cottage surrounded by high walls and fences. · George Valentine, Mrs. Ponsonby, Mary, Emmy Lunsford, Jeffrey Barker, Frederick Lunsford
Listen for: The revelation of Emmy's long-held secret love and her reunion with Frederick after his first wife's death; Mrs. Ponsonby's gossipy concerns being exposed as meddling.
Let George Do It: The Spirit World (1948)
Private investigator George Valentine is hired by Gilbert Dressler, a desperate man recently returned from ten years in the desert, to investigate the influence of Madam Margot, a spiritualist medium who claims to contact the dead. Dressler fears that Margot's séances are draining his fiancée Gabrielle of her money and sanity following the death of Gabrielle's mother, Mrs. Turner. George and his partner Brooksie visit Margot's parlor to assess whether she is a genuine medium or a clever fraud operating an elaborate con.
A spiritualist medium's parlor in the city, filled with exotic furnishings, crystal balls, and occult paraphernalia; also flashbacks to George's past in North Africa. · George Valentine, Brooksie, Gilbert Dressler, Madam Margot, Haseem, Margot's assistant, Gabrielle Turner, Vida Paterson, Gabrielle's aunt
Listen for: George's skeptical investigation into Margot's methods, Margot's attempts to impress with her supposed psychic knowledge, and the growing tension between the séance participants.
Let George Do It: The Stand-In (1952)
George Valentine is knocked unconscious in an alley while following a mysterious man who has been watching him and his secretary Miss Brooks. He wakes in a wealthy household where he discovers he's been mistaken for Paul Gibson, a man recently arrived from Australia. Paul's stepsister Gloria has decided to marry him for his inheritance, and she's enlisted his lookalike to help with some unknown scheme.
George's office, a restaurant, city streets and alley, and the Gibson family home · George Valentine, Miss Brooks, Gloria Bradley, Paul Gibson, Emily, Henry
Listen for: George's confusion upon waking and his discovery that someone has arranged for him to pose as Paul Gibson; the revelation of Gloria's plan to marry Paul for his fortune
Let George Do It: The Starlight Pier (1952)
Private investigator George Valentine is hired by Ike Mannis, owner of the Starlight Pier amusement zone, to investigate a series of sabotage incidents. Two accidents involving the Ferris wheel and tunnel of love ride have occurred on consecutive Fridays, each carefully tampered with by someone knowledgeable about carnival machinery, threatening to ruin Mannis's business as customers stay away in fear.
Starlight Pier amusement zone, featuring various rides including a Ferris wheel, tunnel of love, and carousel. · George Valentine, Ike Mannis, Miss Brooks, Ned Parker, Wheels, Zelda
Listen for: George investigates the sabotaged rides and questions the pier's workers, while a fortune teller named Zelda warns him of danger ahead.
Let George Do It: The Symbol Three (1952)
George Valentine receives a desperate call from Mrs. Laswell, whose husband has been plagued by mysterious accidents ever since a sinister voice telephoned her two weeks ago, whispering cryptically about "Symbol Three, the key to destiny." Two accidents have already occurred—the death of her husband's dog and a car crash involving their chauffeur—with the voice promising a third and final accident. George agrees to investigate and uncover the truth behind these seemingly impossible incidents.
The Laswell home and surrounding areas in an unnamed city. · George Valentine, Mrs. Laswell, Martin Laswell, Johnny Givens
Listen for: The mysterious telephone voice predicting accidents; George's investigation into the chauffeur's unexplainable car crash; the revelation of what Symbol Three truly means.
Let George Do It: The Tears of Sorrow (1950)
George Valentine arrives at Stillman's Last Chance, a remote desert motel, to help a traveling salesman who was mysteriously beaten and warned to stop asking questions. Upon investigation, George discovers that Charlie, a cook at the motel, has died under suspicious circumstances, and a valuable silver casket lies hidden in his locked room. As George questions the motel's inhabitants about Charlie's death and the casket's contents, he uncovers motives rooted in greed and jealousy among those at the establishment.
Stillman's Last Chance, a remote motel and bar in the desert near the California-Arizona-New Mexico border. · George Valentine, Guthrie, Max Stillman, Lucy, Charlie, Doctor, The Cook
Listen for: The mystery of what killed Charlie and who knew about the valuable silver casket hidden in his room.
Let George Do It: The Treasure Of Millie's Wharf (1950)
George Valentine receives a letter from Millie, a woman living in a quiet coastal town, who claims her parrot found a mysterious map marked with an X pointing to an underwater location. When George arrives to investigate, he discovers that a stranger named Dr. Labor recently visited the town, obtained a boat, and mysteriously departed by ship. George pursues Labor to uncover what treasure or secret lies beneath the waters near Millie's Wharf.
Millie's Wharf, a quiet coastal town with shallow bay waters, islands, and sandy shores where Spanish ships once sailed. · George Valentine, Millie, Cupid (parrot), Uriah James, Dr. Labor, Captain (ship captain), Mac
Listen for: A mysterious map with an X marking an underwater location, a parrot who steals secrets, and a stranger who vanishes by sea.
Let George Do It: The Treasure of Millie's Wharf (1950)
George Valentine arrives at Millie's Wharf after Millie writes to him about a mysterious map her parrot found, marked with an X that points to a location underwater near the historical islands. When someone shoots at the bird, George realizes others are after the same treasure and must track down a mysterious stranger named Dr. Labor who rented a boat the night before and is now heading out to sea.
Millie's Wharf, a small coastal town on the Bay of Islands with a history of Spanish galleons and buried treasure legends. · George Valentine, Millie, Cupid (Millie's parrot), Uriah James, Dr. Labor, A large man on the beach
Listen for: The mystery deepens as George pursues Dr. Labor across the sand dunes and discovers a ship waiting offshore with a crew loading water tanks, suggesting a larger operation at work.
Let George Do It: The Ugly Duckling (1950)
George Valentine is hired by music patron Yasha Hardwick to investigate the troubled marriage of composer Edmund Salter and his wife Mary. Mary devoted her career to supporting Edmund, a wealthy but cold and self-absorbed composer, only to find herself exhausted and unhappy. When Edmund suddenly dies, George begins to uncover suspicious details about his death and the various people who stood to gain from it.
The Salter home and surrounding town, 1950. · George Valentine, Miss Brooks, Yasha Hardwick, Mary Salter, Edmund Salter, Dr. Robinson, Diane Luskin, Mrs. Rapple
Listen for: A mystery surrounding the death of a famous but unlikeable composer, with questions about whether Edmund Salter's death was natural or caused by an overdose of medicine.
Let George Do It: The Violent Van Pattens (1952)
Private investigator George Valentine and his secretary Miss Brooks are summoned to Foghorn Island by a woman named Leader Van Patten, who mentions a family curse of violence born from the sea and the island's isolation. Valentine arrives to find that Leader's niece Lita has secretly married a man named Jim Simmons against her wealthy uncle Captain Van Patten's wishes, and Valentine has been hired to deliver this difficult news to the temperamental patriarch.
Foghorn Island, a remote private island that was once home to a lighthouse, now inhabited by the Van Patten family in an old lighthouse building · George Valentine, Miss Brooks, Leader Van Patten, Max, Rachel, Lita Simmons, Jim Simmons, Lloyd Rankin
Listen for: The sabotaged boat that prevents Valentine's escape from the island, and Captain Van Patten's surprisingly pleasant reaction to learning of his niece's secret marriage
Let George Do It: The Violent Van Pattons (1952)
George Valentine and his associate Miss Brooks arrive at Foghorn Island to help Lita Van Patten announce her secret marriage to Jim Simmons to her uncle, the Captain. What seemed like a simple errand becomes complicated when the Captain's volatile temper and family tensions threaten to derail the happy news, and someone sabotages the boat's engine, stranding everyone on the island.
Foghorn Island, a remote island with an old lighthouse, home to the Van Patten family. · George Valentine, Miss Brooks, Captain Van Patten, Lita Van Patten Simmons, Jim Simmons, Rachel Van Patten, Max, Lloyd Rankin
Listen for: The mystery of who sabotaged the boat engine and what dangerous secrets the volatile Van Patten family harbors.
Let George Do It: The Voice of the Giant (1950)
George Valentine is hired to investigate the mysterious situation at an old manor house where a young woman named Charlotte has suddenly demanded an annulment from her new husband Walter Stanton just two weeks after a hastily arranged wedding. When George arrives, he finds Charlotte withdrawn and her father recently deceased, while an enormous nine-foot-tall clock—the titular Giant—dominates the household and hasn't stopped running for three centuries.
A country manor house with a collection of clocks, including a massive nine-foot-tall clock called the Giant; a small train station and neighboring farm in the countryside. · George Valentine, Charlotte, Walter Stanton, Uncle Kyle, Charlotte's father
Listen for: The explanation for Charlotte's sudden annulment demand and the mysterious circumstances surrounding her father's death and the family's obsession with time and clocks.
Let George Do It: The White Elephant (1950)
George Valentine receives a mysterious letter from Alice May Edmond, a reclusive woman living in a sprawling 42-room mansion called the White Elephant. She offers him $1,000 to catch her murderer, and when George visits her home to investigate, someone poisons her milk right before his eyes. Now George must uncover who among her scheming relatives wants her dead and out of the valuable property.
The White Elephant, a large old-fashioned 42-room mansion in the commercial district, number one bar Salamu Square. · George Valentine, Alice May Edmond, Doctor, Steve (Alice's brother), Cousin Yule, Jensen (servant), Molly (Irish servant girl from the past)
Listen for: The mystery of who tried to poison Alice Edmond and why her relatives are so eager to get her out of the house; the significance of the song 'Molly Brannigan' and the Irish servant girl from twenty years ago.
Let George Do It: The Witch of Mill Hollow (1950)
When a fire destroys the old mill in Mill Hollow, a woman's body is found in the ruins—Miss Abby, the town's piano teacher who has recently acquired a sinister reputation. George Valentine arrives to investigate whether her death was accidental or something more deliberate, as he discovers that Miss Abby's behavior changed dramatically about a year ago, leading townspeople to whisper about witchcraft and curse her with suspicion.
Mill Hollow, a small town in 1950, centered around the local fire department, Miss Abby's home, and the burnt remains of the old mill. · George Valentine, Salas Oric, Mr. Stern, Mr. Brooks, Doc Ransom, Miss Abby
Listen for: The mystery of how Miss Abby's reputation transformed from beloved piano teacher to feared figure, and whether her strange behavior and cryptic pronouncements made her a target for revenge or merely mark her death as tragic accident.
Let George Do It: The Wolf Pack (1948)
George Valentine receives a letter from Emily asking him to help her friend Eddie Prokosh, a sixteen-year-old boy being released from a work camp after serving time for being caught in a stolen car. Emily fears Eddie will turn to crime to prove everyone's low expectations of him correct. George investigates Eddie's case, talking to Emily, Eddie's estranged father, and a local political organizer, while also learning of a neighborhood troublemaker named Stan Lucas who may have played a role in Eddie's troubles.
Chelsea Square Park and neighborhood in the city · George Valentine, Ruxie, Emily, Eddie Prokosh, Mr. Prokosh, Mr. Morris, Stan Lucas
Listen for: George's investigation into Eddie's past and the mysterious role of Stan Lucas in the stolen car incident; Eddie's pride and resistance to help after his father disowned him.
Let George Do It: The Woman in Black (1951)
George Valentine is hired by Gladys Jenkins, a press agent who resurrected the career of a mysterious charlatan called Gregory. Now Gladys fears she has made a terrible mistake, as Gregory has returned to his old temple and begun taking on clients again. She is terrified of him and wants to quit her job, but Gregory refuses to let her leave. George investigates the situation at Gregory's deserted mansion to uncover what Gregory is truly up to.
A deserted mansion converted into a temple, a city neighborhood, and various indoor locations · George Valentine, Gladys Jenkins, JJ Cleary, Gregory, Brooks, A woman in black
Listen for: The mysterious atmosphere surrounding Gregory's return to his fraudulent spiritual business, Gladys's escalating fear of her former client, and hints of Gregory's sinister intentions toward those around him.
Let George Do It: The Woman in Black (aka-Lady In Black) (1951)
Press agent Gladys Jenkins resurrects the reputation of Gregory, a once-famous but washed-up crystal ball reader, to make money from his comeback. Now a mysterious Woman in Black visits Gregory repeatedly, a skeptical writer who threatened to expose the fraud lies hospitalized with claw wounds, and Gladys finds herself unable to quit despite her growing fear of what Gregory may actually be capable of doing.
Gregory's old deserted castle-like house, recently reopened as a spiritual temple in California · George Valentine, Gladys Jenkins, Gregory, The Woman in Black, Joe Brady
Listen for: The mystery of the Woman in Black and what Gregory's true powers might be; the explanation for Joe Brady's mysterious injuries; whether George can help Gladys escape her situation.
Let George Do It: There Ain't No Justice
George Valentine is called to the small town of Melody by Abner, who's locked in the sheriff's office after a jail fire. A prisoner died in the fire under mysterious circumstances, and Abner fears he'll be killed if he reveals what he knows. George investigates the dead man's identity and the circumstances surrounding his death, suspecting foul play by the corrupt police chief McNabb.
Melody, a small town in the Valley, primarily at the sheriff's office and jail · George Valentine, Abner, Hank, Police Chief McNabb, Brooks
Listen for: The mystery of why a prisoner died before the jail fire, the corrupt practices of Police Chief McNabb, and whether the fire was deliberately set to cover up evidence of a crime
Let George Do It: There Ain't No Justice (HSG Syndication) (1952)
George Valentine receives a desperate call from a man named Abner, who is locked in the sheriff's office in the small town of Melody after a jail fire. Abner claims a prisoner died before the fire started, not in it, and hints that the local police chief is involved in covering up the death. George and his secretary Brooksy drive to investigate the mysterious death of an unknown man.
Melody, a small town in the valley with a jail that recently burned down; the Sheriff's office. · George Valentine, Brooksy, Abner, Hank, Chief McNabb, Sergeant
Listen for: A man's cryptic phone call reporting a prisoner's death before a jail fire; accusations of police corruption; George's investigation into whether the death was murder covered up by arson.
Let George Do It: Three Times and Out (1952)
George Valentine is hired by Lawrence Sage, a wealthy businessman who has survived two murder attempts: a bomb planted in his car and poison added to his milk. As George investigates the household staff, he uncovers secrets about both Frederick, the chauffeur who is on parole through Sage's custody, and Mrs. Hastings, the longtime housekeeper who stands to lose her inheritance when Sage revises his will.
Lawrence Sage's home and office in the city · George Valentine, Lawrence Sage, Mrs. Sage, Frederick, Mrs. Hastings, Dr. Van
Listen for: George's investigation into who is trying to kill his client and what motives the household staff might have for the murder attempts
Let George Do It: Till Death Do Us Part (1949)
George Valentine is hired by Lydia Tarbell to investigate her sister Edie's new husband, Cliff LeVire, a charming younger man and former dancer whom Lydia suspects married Edie only for her money. George travels to the beach to confront LeVire, and shortly after arriving at the Tarbell house, a flower box nearly kills George on the balcony, leading Lydia to accuse Cliff of attempted murder.
The Tarbell house on a hill overlooking the bay, near the beach; a foggy evening. · George Valentine, Miss Brooks, Max, Lydia Tarbell, Cliff LeVire, Edie LeVire, Damien
Listen for: The tension between Lydia's suspicions about Cliff's motives and Edie's defense of her new husband; the mysterious falling flower box that nearly kills George.
Let George Do It: Too Near the Sky (1949)
George Valentine receives a mysterious letter from Sonia Belsing asking him and his sister Claire to pose as relatives at a penthouse party on the 32nd floor of the Hargrove building. Once they arrive, they discover the party is actually much smaller than expected, with only a few guests gathered in this high-rise location. Sonia hints that murder is involved in her request for George's help, but refuses to explain the details until they meet in person.
The Hargrove building in the city, particularly the 31st and 32nd floors (executive offices and penthouse), late at night. · George Valentine, Claire (his sister), Sonia Belsing, Vivian Hargrove, Eric Sims, Rob Munningo, Peter Cannon
Listen for: The mysterious circumstances surrounding Sonia's cryptic warning about murder; the tension between the guests at the penthouse party; hints about why George and Claire were really summoned to this isolated location high above the city.
Let George Do It: Tune on a Triangle (1951)
George Valentine is tricked into a publicity stunt by press agent Jerry Briskin involving circus aerialist Estella Tigris. When George rescues the woman from a ledge, he gets caught up in a dangerous love triangle involving Estella, her jealous husband Fador, and her current partner Ferelli. Before George can untangle himself from the mess, Estella is murdered in her dressing trailer, and both men become suspects.
A circus with big top, trailers, and animal enclosures in an unnamed city. · George Valentine, Briskin, Estella Tigris, Fador, Ferelli, Lieutenant Johnson, Brooks
Listen for: The rescue scene from a ledge with George talking down a woman in danger, and the investigation that follows as George pieces together a murder plot involving a love triangle and stolen jewelry.
Let George Do It: Uncle Harry's Bones (1951)
Private investigator George Valentine is called to a remote rural area by Sophie Strudivant, who fears that an uncle may not be who he claims to be. When a skeleton is discovered in the lake, George must determine whether the bones belong to the real Uncle Harry, who disappeared five years ago, or someone else entirely.
A rural area near Looney Bend, around the Strudivant property and surrounding farms · George Valentine, Miss Brooks, Sophie Strudivant, Doc Sellers, Ham Lincoln, Douglas Kent, Sheriff
Listen for: A mystery involving mistaken identity and a skeleton pulled from a lake, with questions about whether the bones belong to the missing Uncle Harry or an imposter.
Let George Do It: Under the River (1948)
George Valentine, a private investigator, is hired by William Kane, president of Kane and Bauer's tunnel construction company, to investigate mysterious accidents plaguing their tunnel project beneath a river. Kane suspects his partner Jim Bowers may be sabotaging the work to force the company to lose the job to a rival firm, Cameron Construction, which has made Bowers a lucrative offer. George and his secretary Brooksie go undercover as a reporter and photographer to investigate the tunnel operation.
A tunnel construction site beneath a river, with offices above ground and the tunnel operation below. · George Valentine, Brooksie (George's secretary), William Kane, Jim Bowers, Sanders, Charlie, Hagen, Young Davis
Listen for: The clash between the two partners as accidents continue to plague the tunnel project; George's investigation into whether Bowers is deliberately causing the mishaps.
Let George Do It: Under the River (aka Tunnel Project) (1948)
George Valentine is hired by William Kane, president of Kane and Bauer's tunnel construction company, to investigate mysterious accidents plaguing their tunnel project under a river. Kane suspects his partner Jim Bowers is sabotaging the work to force the company to lose the contract to the rival Cameron Construction Company, who has made Bowers an attractive job offer. George and his secretary Brooks pose as a reporter and photographer to gain access to the tunnel and investigate.
A tunnel construction site beneath a river, with the main action taking place in the tunnel itself and at the construction company offices above. · George Valentine, Brooks, William Kane, Jim Bowers, Sanders, Charlie, Hagen, Davis
Listen for: The pressure of working deep underwater, the camaraderie and tension between the two partners, and mounting evidence of deliberate sabotage on the job site.
Let George Do It: Valley Sunset (1949)
Private investigator George Valentine arrives at Valley Sunset Winery in California after receiving a mysterious letter from fourteen-year-old Rachel Agagenic, who fears her uncle Joseph and brother Demetro may kill each other. George discovers the family is torn by secrets: Joseph has taken the blame for a hit-and-run accident involving a man named Sudsy and paid $20,000 to a racketeer named Ty Wendell for blackmail. When Wendell is murdered that afternoon, suspicion falls on young Silvio, whose letter confessing to theft was meant to control his movements.
Valley Sunset Winery near Fresno, California, in September · George Valentine, Rachel Agagenic, Joseph Agagenic, Silvio Agagenic, Demetro Agagenic, Ty Wendell, Sudsy, Sheriff Simpson
Listen for: The poetic, old-world Eastern European patriarch Joseph wrestling with family loyalty and honor; George untangling blackmail, hit-and-run accidents, and murder; the revelation that Joseph tore up the incriminating letter before his fatal stroke.
Let George Do It: Vultures on the Wing (1949)
George Valentine is hired to retrieve a briefcase containing priceless paintings by Sebastian Zundud that were lost during the Nazi occupation. The plan involves a woman swapping the briefcase in a powder room while George waits in the lobby, but multiple dangerous parties—including the mysterious Jim Fowler and other interested collectors—are also after the paintings.
A hotel lobby and powder room in what appears to be a contemporary American city. · George Valentine, Mrs. Burnett, Mick, Jim Fowler, Van Brokeland
Listen for: The tense negotiations over the valuable paintings, George's confrontations with multiple rivals seeking the briefcase, and the escalating danger as various parties close in on the exchange.
Let George Do It: War Maneuver (1952)
George Valentine investigates when a young woman named Laura Gillespie is killed and her body is found under a car belonging to Simon Palcheck, a gentle man who works at Thornton's toy factory. The evidence suggests Palcheck has been framed for the murder, and George must uncover the real culprit before the innocent man is convicted.
A city with a police station, toy factory, import-export business, and various streets including Manson Street · George Valentine, Mrs. Fenton, Miss Brooks, Simon Palcheck, Lieutenant Johnson, Sergeant, Laura Gillespie, Mr. Gillespie
Listen for: George's investigation reveals that Laura Gillespie's death was a deliberate frame-up rather than an accident, with clues pointing to her workplace and connections to the toy factory and import business.
Let George Do It: What's Become of Terry Cable (HSG) (1951)
When Shorty McGowan finds his friend Terry Cable's watch in a pawn shop, he becomes worried about what has happened to the man. George Valentine takes on the case to discover why Cable disappeared from the neighborhood, working through Cable's former employer, local business owners, and eventually uncovering Cable's true occupation.
A city with warehouses, a pub on the east side, and various businesses including a gambling establishment run by Loose Sprinkle. · George Valentine, Shorty McGowan, Fat Williams, Mr. Manx, Mr. Everett
Listen for: The gradual revelation that Terry Cable is not the person everyone assumes him to be, and George's realization that Cable's mysterious behavior and disappearance have an innocent explanation.
Let George Do It: Who Is Sylvia (1948)
George Valentine receives a desperate letter from Leslie Graham, asking him to discover whether Graham's beautiful wife Sylvia loves him or is involved with another man. When George visits the Graham household, he finds a tense domestic situation with the arrival of a handsome visitor named Tom Vickers. George's investigation into Sylvia's past reveals a troubling pattern that raises dark questions about her character and intentions.
The Graham household and George Valentine's office, 1948 · George Valentine, Miss Brooks, Leslie Graham, Sylvia Graham, Tom Vickers, Lieutenant Riley
Listen for: The revelation of Sylvia's mysterious past, the tense confrontation between Leslie and Sylvia, and the surprising turn of events that ends the case
Let George Do It: Your Money or Your Life (1949)
George Valentine receives a desperate letter from Fred Dundee, who admits to stealing money to pay off a debt to Phil Pagano, a loan shark working for Douglas Harger. Fred wants George to expose Harger's criminal racket. George takes the case for free and confronts Harger at his Melody Club, extracting $350 from him. When the police prove unhelpful, George and his assistant Miss Brooks devise a plan to get closer to Pagano by having Brooks pose as a woman in need of money.
A city with the Melody Club, Molly's Cafe on Pierpont Street, and various other locations including a police station and Pagano's apartment. · George Valentine, Fred Dundee, Miss Brooks, Douglas Harger, Phil Pagano, Lieutenant Riley
Listen for: The clever confrontation between George and Harger at the club, and the developing scheme to trap Pagano through Miss Brooks's impersonation.
Boston Blackie: 158 episode guides
Boston Blackie: A Boat In The Street (1949)
Boston Blackie investigates when a body is discovered on a boat left on Montgomery Street. Press agent Gregory Thompson from Imperial Studios claims it's all part of a publicity stunt to promote the studio's new film "High and Dry," but Inspector Faraday suspects Thompson may be responsible for the murder.
Hollywood and the streets of the city, including Imperial Studios and a boat on Montgomery Street · Boston Blackie, Inspector Faraday, Gregory Thompson, Linda, Jules Arnold, Mary, Lily, Jeffrey Good
Listen for: The classic Boston Blackie introduction and his investigation into whether a murder was genuinely committed or staged as a film publicity stunt
Boston Blackie: A New Face For Joe Harvey (1946)
A man claiming to be Joe Harvey, a thief who stole $50,000 from his firm, is arrested by police who believe he is Donald Tate, a cop killer. Harvey insists he had his face surgically altered by a doctor named Weaver to escape detection, but the operation went wrong and gave him Tate's appearance. Boston Blackie becomes involved when Harvey begs him to verify his true identity before the real Tate escapes justice.
City streets, police headquarters, Doc Weaver's apartment, and a taxi cab in an unnamed city during the present day. · Joe Harvey, Doc Weaver, Boston Blackie, Inspector Faraday, Mary Wesley, Officer/Police
Listen for: The mystery of Joe Harvey's true identity and whether Doc Weaver will confirm Harvey's story before it's too late. Listen for Boston Blackie's investigation into Doc Weaver's apartment and his conversation with Mary Wesley about the case.
Boston Blackie: A Vase Leads To Murder (1946)
Boston Blackie investigates when a messenger boy is murdered at Mary Wesley's apartment after delivering a vase she purchased at auction. A man in a green hat had desperately wanted the vase and even threatened Mary with a gun to buy it, but the real mystery deepens when an x-ray examination reveals the vase appears to be empty.
Boston; Mary Wesley's apartment, an auction house, and an x-ray laboratory · Boston Blackie, Mary Wesley, Inspector Faraday, The man in the green hat, A messenger boy, Mr. Danny
Listen for: The puzzle of why a man would commit murder over what appears to be a worthless factory-made vase with nothing inside it; Boston Blackie's clever use of modern x-ray technology to investigate the crime
Boston Blackie: Aggie Rogers Murder (1947)
Boston Blackie investigates the mysterious Rogers Mansion after hearing reports of moaning from inside the boarded-up house. When he and Inspector Faraday force their way through the cluttered interior, they discover the body of Aggie Rogers, the wealthy older sister who has not left the house in 25 years, killed by a blow to the head.
The Rogers Mansion, a famous eccentric house in the city with boarded-up windows and rooms filled with junk, boxes, barrels, and papers. · Boston Blackie, Inspector Faraday, Mrs. Crane, Aggie Rogers, Martha Rogers, Officer Dugan
Listen for: The eerie atmosphere of the cluttered mansion and the discovery of Aggie's body in a locked room full of accumulated junk.
Boston Blackie: Alibi Time (1948)
Boston Blackie is asked to provide an alibi for Jack Davis, a criminal who claims he couldn't have murdered the Barrows brothers because Blackie was with him at 9:25, five minutes before the shooting. Inspector Faraday investigates Davis's claim, examining whether Davis could have traveled the five miles to commit the crime in that time window.
City streets and police precinct, during a nighttime murder investigation · Boston Blackie, Jack Davis, Inspector Faraday, Mary, Mike, Tony, Blondie
Listen for: The clever details about Davis's alibi—the exact time, the five-mile distance, and the crucial question of how Davis could have reached the crime scene without a car stopping at the house.
Boston Blackie: Amadon Pearls (1949)
Boston Blackie joins two other thieves in planning to steal the famous Amadon pearls from old man Mario's estate, believing them to be worth half a million dollars. All three discover their stolen prizes are worthless duplicates when they attempt to fence them, but the real pearls vanish from Mario's safe, leading to murder and a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse as Blackie pursues the true thief.
The city, including old man Mario's estate, a jeweler's shop, and a boat · Boston Blackie, Mary, Doc Singer, Marcia Keegan, Gertie, Old Man Mario, Inspector Faraday, Guimpy the fence
Listen for: The clever scheme of fake pearls hidden in a safe to catch thieves in the act, and the twist that the real Amadon pearls go missing anyway
Boston Blackie: Amnesia Victim (1945)
Boston Blackie encounters Arthur Burke, a man suffering from amnesia who was knocked unconscious three weeks ago and found with a murder weapon in the office of reformer George Dibby. Burke fears he may have killed Dibby and seeks Blackie's help to discover the truth before turning himself in to police. When a mysterious woman named Janet calls to claim she knows the killer's identity, Blackie finds himself caught between helping Burke, dealing with gangster Tom Roach, and unraveling the real circumstances of Dibby's death.
Boston, spanning Blackie's apartment, Dibby's office, the police station, the Ocean Hotel, and Tom Roach's establishment. · Boston Blackie, Mary Wesley, Arthur Burke, Inspector Faraday, George Dibby, Tom Roach, Janet Carrie, Peggy
Listen for: The key details of Arthur Burke's amnesia and his discovery with the murder weapon; the mysterious woman Janet's promise to reveal the killer's identity; Boston Blackie's plan to prove Tom Roach committed the murder.
Boston Blackie: Archie Grants Club77 (1949)
Danny Jackson, a collection man for slot machine racket owner Archie Grant, double-crosses his boss by skimming $25,000 from collections and hiding it in a subway locker. When he claims to have been held up, his girlfriend Cindy loses the locker key by dropping it into one of Grant's machines. Danny forces Boston Blackie to break open the locker, only to find the money missing. Grant kills a storekeeper named Feld who wanted the machines removed from his shop, and now Blackie must gather proof of Grant's guilt.
Club 77, a slot machine operation in the city, and surrounding locations including a subway station and a stationery store · Boston Blackie, Archie Grant, Danny Jackson, Inspector Faraday, Cindy, Harry, Mr. Feld, Chuck
Listen for: A recording device hidden in a food cart that captures Archie Grant's confession to murder
Boston Blackie: Atkins Jewel Thief (1945)
A valuable pearl necklace disappears from Dr. Williams's home safe while the household staff member Robert is present. Inspector Faraday investigates, but Robert insists the pearls are hidden somewhere in the house despite a thorough search. Boston Blackie arrives on the scene, confident he can solve the case that has the Inspector puzzled.
Dr. Williams's home, with various rooms including an apartment upstairs and a safe in the main room. · Boston Blackie, Inspector Faraday, Dr. Williams, Mrs. Williams, Robert, Mabel, Rollins, Thompson
Listen for: Boston Blackie's confident approach to solving the theft, the Inspector's frustration with the case, and hints about where the hidden necklace might be.
Boston Blackie: Black Market Blackieaka-black Market Meat Ring (1944)
Boston Blackie is pulled into a black market meat smuggling ring when thugs threaten him to join their operation. Meanwhile, a legitimate cattle rancher named Miss Parker seeks his help getting her trucks through to customers, revealing that the same black market gang has been hijacking her shipments. Blackie decides to fight the black market operation.
A city with meat smuggling operations and police department; Blackie's apartment. · Boston Blackie, Shorty, Steve, Miss Parker, Inspector Faraday, Matthew
Listen for: The clash between Blackie's forced involvement in the black market scheme and his decision to help an honest rancher fight the same gang; his interactions with the skeptical Inspector Faraday.
Boston Blackie: Blackie And Mary Go To Canyon Dude Ranch (1949)
Boston Blackie and his companion Mary check into Canyon Dude Ranch under assumed names for a vacation, but discover the owners are running a lonely hearts racket. A young ranch worker named Tom has disappeared after threatening to blackmail them, and Blackie suspects foul play when he finds wedding rings hidden in the owners' cabin belonging to missing women from the past two years.
Canyon Dude Ranch, a resort in the mountains · Boston Blackie, Mary, Inspector Faraday, Henry Canyon, Agatha Canyon, Katherine Sloane, Tom, Slim
Listen for: Blackie's clever use of Mary's charm to gather evidence, the revelation of the hidden wedding rings, and Henry's confession under pressure when he believes Blackie is running away with Mary.
Boston Blackie: Blackie Framed For Killing John Cummings (1948)
Boston Blackie is arrested for the murder of John Cummings when a witness identifies his picture, though he claims he was in Central City at the time. Inspector Faraday locks him up to handle the case alone, but unknown to the police, criminals travel to Central City to silence the hotel clerk who can verify Blackie's alibi.
A police station and jail, with scenes at the Rex Hotel in Central City. · Boston Blackie, Inspector Faraday, Mary, Lila, Sergeant Matthews, William, Eddie Manton, Spoke
Listen for: Blackie's claims of innocence and his alibi at the hotel; the criminals' plot to prevent the truth from coming out; Mary trying to help Blackie prove where he was.
Boston Blackie: Blackie Goes To Jail For Diamond Theft (1946)
Boston Blackie is arrested and convicted of stealing $100,000 worth of diamonds from Gotham's, based on evidence presented by Inspector Faraday who found him trying to sell the jewels. Sentenced to 10 to 20 years in prison, Blackie maintains his innocence while his friend Mary Wesley vows to prove his innocence and find the real thief. Behind bars, Blackie encounters his cellmate Bill Jackson and learns of an escape plan being discussed among the prisoners.
A city courtroom and state penitentiary · Boston Blackie, Inspector Faraday, Mary Wesley, Bill Jackson, The Judge, The Warden
Listen for: The dramatic trial verdict, Blackie's stoic response to his sentence, Mary's determination to clear his name, and the beginning of a prison escape plot
Boston Blackie: Blackie Jilts Mary (1945)
Boston Blackie breaks off his romance with Mary, leaving her confused and hurt. When she discovers a mysterious address in his apartment, she becomes determined to find out what is really going on. Meanwhile, two criminals plan to use Blackie as a patsy for a bank robbery by framing him for a candy store holdup.
Boston, various locations including Blackie's apartment, a criminal hideout, and a candy store · Boston Blackie, Mary, Shorty, Bernie, Leach, Joe
Listen for: The criminals' scheme to frame Blackie for a robbery they plan to commit, and how Blackie manages to escape from the ropes binding him
Boston Blackie: Blackie Kidnapped (1945)
Boston Blackie is kidnapped from his apartment by a group of criminals who force him to write a note claiming he's gone to Chicago on a case. While his friends search for him, Inspector Faraday investigates a connection to Carolyn Johnson, a woman in jail who may know the location of stolen money from the Eggetsville Bank. Blackie's captors keep him imprisoned and try to extract information from him about the money.
Boston; Blackie's apartment, police station, and jail · Boston Blackie, Inspector Faraday, Shortie, Tony, Mary Wesley, Sergeant Rowan, Carolyn Johnson, Pete
Listen for: The kidnapping of Blackie and the mystery surrounding stolen bank money and Carolyn Johnson's connection to it
Boston Blackie: Blackie Loves Helen (1948)
Boston Blackie falls in love with Helen Carver and breaks up with his longtime girlfriend Mary Wesley. When Helen asks Blackie to prove his devotion by opening a safe for her, his loyalties and judgment are put to the test as mysterious complications emerge.
Boston, various indoor locations including Blackie's place and Johnson's residence · Boston Blackie, Helen Carver, Mary Wesley, Joe (the tail), Inspector, Johnson, King
Listen for: Romantic tension between Blackie and Helen, the surprise introduction of Helen to Mary, a mysterious safe containing valuable papers, and blackmail involving fifty thousand dollars.
Boston Blackie: Blackie Shoots A Watchman (1947)
Boston Blackie approaches a criminal named Fredericks with an offer to join his robbery gang, claiming he needs money. Fredericks agrees to let Blackie participate in a job that night as a trial. Meanwhile, Mary Wesley has hired a detective agency to follow Blackie's every move, and Blackie himself has arranged for Inspector Faraday to be informed of the job so he can arrest Fredericks and his gang.
A city with criminal underworld operations and police detective agencies; various locations including an office, streets, and a building used for a robbery. · Boston Blackie, Mary Wesley, Fredericks, Tommy, Bill, Inspector Faraday, Dick Colmer
Listen for: Blackie infiltrating a criminal gang while secretly working with the police; tense moments during a nighttime robbery where Blackie must shoot a watchman to maintain his cover.
Boston Blackie: Blackie Steals Necklace For Charity (1945)
Boston Blackie is approached by elderly Mrs. Van Devere with an unusual request: she wants him to steal a valuable family heirloom necklace from her own safe so she can sell the diamonds and donate the proceeds to charity, since the necklace cannot be legally sold or given away. Blackie agrees to help with the theft, but when Inspector Faraday arrives to investigate the robbery, complications arise.
Boston; Mrs. Van Devere's home and Inspector Faraday's office · Boston Blackie, Mrs. Van Devere, Inspector Faraday, Mary, Maggie
Listen for: A clever theft conducted for charitable purposes, and the complications that follow when the police investigate the missing necklace.
Boston Blackie: Blackie46-11-1909750000Dollar Necklace
A man named Otis hires the Reese brothers to steal his wife's $50,000 diamond necklace so he can collect insurance money. The brothers carry out the theft at a nightclub, but then realize they've been set up for a double-cross and hand the necklace off to Boston Blackie to handle. Blackie must now figure out what's really going on and return the necklace to its rightful owner.
A nightclub and various locations around the city, late evening and following morning. · Boston Blackie, Bill Reese, Harry Reese, Mr. Otis, Mrs. Otis, Inspector Faraday, Mary Wesley
Listen for: The Reese brothers' suspicion that they've been double-crossed, Blackie's mysterious phone call about the necklace, and the tangled scheme involving the stolen diamond necklace.
Boston Blackie: Blackie47-02-181107Years Bad Luck For Florence Wells
Florence Wells, the temperamental star of a musical comedy show, calls Boston Blackie to her dressing room claiming she's in desperate trouble and fears something will happen to her soon. Blackie arrives for their 7:30 appointment, but before he can speak with her, Florence is found dead in the street, eight blocks away from the theater, despite having been seen entering her dressing room just minutes before.
A theater with dressing rooms and backstage areas, and the surrounding city streets. · Boston Blackie, Florence Wells, Barbara, Tom, Mary, Inspector Faraday, Joe, Mr. Brown
Listen for: The mystery of how Florence Wells left her locked dressing room and ended up dead in the street; the tensions between Florence, Barbara, and Tom that set up the motive for murder.
Boston Blackie: Blackie47-03-1111310th Street Gym And Stolen Car Ring
Boston Blackie discovers that boys have stopped attending the 10th Street Gymnasium, lured away by Joe Easton, an ex-convict who has recently been released from jail and is throwing money around. When Blackie learns from the police commissioner that over 200 cars have been stolen in the past month, he suspects Easton is running a car theft ring and recruiting neighborhood boys to help him.
The 10th Street Gymnasium and various locations around the city including a car garage · Boston Blackie, Mary, Tom Alison, Bobby Barton, Joe Easton, Farrity, Police Commissioner, Harry
Listen for: The scheme to steal automobiles and recruit young boys into the criminal operation; Blackie's determination to stop Easton and protect the youth of the city.
Boston Blackie: Blackie49-02-0921350000Dollars In Bonds To Be Divided
When Paul Martin mysteriously disappears from a rooftop where he's waiting with his girlfriend Marge and two criminal associates, Whitey and Gabel Conant, Boston Blackie is called in to investigate. Blackie quickly deduces that Paul staged an elaborate vanishing act using a rope to impress his reluctant girlfriend, but the truth proves far darker when Paul is found dead with five bullets in him.
A rooftop in the city, and later a farmhouse basement · Boston Blackie, Marge Stanton, Paul Martin, Whitey, Gabel Conant, Terry Thompson, Dick Palmer
Listen for: The clever misdirection of Paul's staged disappearance and the discovery of his murder; Boston Blackie's deductive reasoning as he unravels the truth behind the vanishing act.
Boston Blackie: Blackies Car Kills A Woman (1945)
Boston Blackie's car is found at a garage by police investigating a hit-and-run death. A woman named Karen Forbes was killed the night before, struck by a black convertible. Blackie insists his car couldn't have been stolen and is taken to police headquarters, where Captain Faraday reveals he actually believes Blackie is innocent and encourages him to investigate the real culprit. Blackie visits the Forbes family home to uncover the truth.
A garage, police headquarters, a car, and the Forbes family home in the city · Boston Blackie, Mary Wesley, Captain Faraday, Paul Forbes, Tom Wellington, Carolyn Forbes (deceased)
Listen for: Blackie's clever reasoning as he questions the Forbes family about who might have used his car to commit the hit-and-run, and his tense verbal sparring with Captain Faraday who secretly wants him to solve the case.
Boston Blackie: Blood On Blackies Sleeve (1945)
Boston Blackie is warned by Carol Williams that Fred Olin, just released from prison, intends to kill him as revenge for sending him to jail. When Blackie learns that Fred has been murdered at a hotel, Inspector Faraday suspects Blackie of the crime. As Blackie investigates, he discovers that multiple people—including Fred's brother John, Fred's business associate Bill Andrews, and Carol Williams herself—had motives and opportunity to kill Fred.
A city hotel and surrounding locations · Boston Blackie, Inspector Faraday, Carol Williams, Fred Olin (deceased), John Olin, Bill Andrews, Suzanne
Listen for: A mystery with multiple suspects, each with strong reasons to want Fred Olin dead, and Blackie working to uncover the truth while under suspicion himself.
Boston Blackie: Boxers Murder Case (1945)
Boston Blackie confronts boxer Bob Johnson about throwing his fight against Hollister after being pressured by gamblers. When Johnson unexpectedly wins the fight anyway, Hollister disappears from his own victory party, and Blackie must uncover what happened to him.
A boxer's dressing room and training area, a boxing arena during a fight, and a victory celebration party · Boston Blackie, Bob Johnson, Inspector Farraday, Jackie, Hollister, Carolyn Smith, Joe
Listen for: The exciting play-by-play of the boxing match in the sixth round, and the revelation of what becomes of the gambling syndicate's man Hollister after Johnson's unexpected victory.
Boston Blackie: Broken Clock Murder (1949)
Boston Blackie wakes to find a dead body outside his apartment—a man named Baker who was trying to buy a nightclub called the Club Simpson. A scrap of paper found in Blackie's closet bearing a phone number leads to Joey Wall, who appears to have acquired the club that very morning. Blackie must uncover whether Wall killed Baker to eliminate the competition for the nightclub purchase.
Boston, primarily Blackie's apartment and the police station, with references to the Club Simpson nightclub. · Boston Blackie, Baker, Inspector Faraday, Joey Wall, Edgar Simpson, Frankie, Mr. Wall
Listen for: The crucial detail about the broken clock that marks the time of the option deadline for the club purchase, and how a simple piece of paper in Blackie's closet becomes the key to solving the murder.
Boston Blackie: Burning His House Behind Him (1947)
Sue Adams comes to Boston Blackie in fear for her life, confessing that she helped Joe Lang bury his murdered wife Sally in the basement. She believes Lang plans to kill her at his mountain cabin. When Inspector Faraday arrives with an accusation based on a call from Sally's brother Billy Wilson, Blackie reveals the truth and heads to Lang's house to investigate. As the fire suddenly breaks out, Blackie finds himself trapped inside with flames spreading rapidly.
Boston Blackie's apartment, then Joe Lang's house during a fire · Boston Blackie, Sue Adams, Joe Lang, Inspector Faraday, Billy Wilson, Sally Lang
Listen for: Blackie's clever handling of the murder case and his narrow escape from the burning house; the revelation of Billy Wilson's blackmail scheme; the tense confrontation between Blackie and the murderers.
Boston Blackie: Carl Browning Cleaning Shop (1946)
Carl Browning, owner of a cleaning shop, is visited by extortionist Jerry Buck demanding $100 a week or he'll destroy the business. Carl seeks help from his friend Boston Blackie, who promises to help. That night, Carl goes to the gym and dinner with his friend Randy, then returns home early the next morning to find Carl dead in bed with no apparent marks or signs of struggle.
A city with a cleaning shop, gym, and restaurant; Port Smith is mentioned as a nearby location · Boston Blackie, Carl Browning, Randy, Jerry Buck, Mrs. Brown, The Doctor
Listen for: An extortion scheme and a mysterious death that appears natural but Boston Blackie suspects is murder
Boston Blackie: Clyde Winston Photographer (1948)
Photographer Clyde Winston is shot dead in his studio at four o'clock. Boston Blackie investigates when a model named Evelyn Anderson, who had an appointment with Winston just before his death, becomes a suspect. A sawed-off shotgun hidden in the car of Evelyn's boyfriend Bill Jackson complicates matters as both face police suspicion.
Winston's photography studio and the Harry Conover model agency in the city, with scenes at a restaurant and police headquarters. · Boston Blackie, Inspector Faraday, Mary, Evelyn Anderson, Bill Jackson, Clyde Winston, Joe King, Harry Conover
Listen for: The clever detail of how the shotgun was smuggled into the locked studio in a model's hat box, and Boston Blackie's reasoning about the crime's impossibilities.
Boston Blackie: Cobbs Trucking Company (1948)
When a murdered body is found in Johnny Vail's car trunk, he's arrested for killing his partner Erwin Cobb. But Boston Blackie believes Vail is innocent and investigates the trucking company office to find the real killer before Vail takes the fall for a crime he didn't commit.
A city with a trucking company office; police headquarters · Boston Blackie, Johnny Vail, Inspector Farthe, Mary, Mr. Roberts, Frankie, Joe, Harry
Listen for: Boston Blackie's investigation into a murder framed on an innocent truck driver, with Roberts emerging as a suspicious character with a motive.
Boston Blackie: Cover Up For Mary (1945)
A man named John Richards is found dead in his house, which has been set on fire. Boston Blackie is discovered to have written a threatening letter to Richards, and Inspector Faraday believes Blackie murdered him and set the fire to cover it up. Blackie insists he wrote the letter to protect his friend Mary Wesley, who had also threatened Richards after he refused to leave her alone.
A city with police headquarters and the burned house of John Richards at 571 Munden Street. · Boston Blackie, Inspector Faraday, Mary Wesley, John Richards, The Rook, Shorty
Listen for: The confrontation between Boston Blackie and Inspector Faraday as Faraday pieces together what he believes happened, and Blackie's explanation of why he covered up for Mary.
Boston Blackie: Crooked Carver Brother (1947)
When stolen money and a murder weapon are found in his dresser drawer, Donald Carver is arrested for a robbery and double murder at his brother Kenneth's employer's office. Boston Blackie doubts the guilt of a man careless enough to hide such evidence so obviously and begins his own investigation into the deaths of Mr. Williams and his secretary Miss Holloway.
Boston; a business office and the Carver family home · Boston Blackie, Donald Carver, Kenneth Carver, Mrs. Carver (Donald's mother), Inspector Faraday, Mary, Mr. Williams, Miss Holloway
Listen for: The tense family dynamics between the lazy Donald and his hardworking brother Kenneth; Boston Blackie's reasoning about why the evidence seems too convenient; the discovery of the footprints in the mud around the Carver house.
Boston Blackie: Dead Aunt Sarah (1947)
A man named Williams hires Bill Lynch, a shady character, to provide him with an alibi for the time of a wealthy woman's death. When the woman is found shot, Boston Blackie investigates and discovers that the victim's niece Sue has accused her cousin Robert of the murder. As Blackie digs deeper, he uncovers conflicting alibis and must determine who truly killed the woman and why.
A city with multiple locations including Lynch's place and a police investigation scene. · Boston Blackie, Bill Lynch, Sue Williams, Robert Williams, Frank, Inspector, Mary Westley
Listen for: Blackie investigating a murder with conflicting alibis, interrogating suspects about their whereabouts, and uncovering the truth behind the killing.
Boston Blackie: Death Comes To The Harmonica Man (1947)
Henry Peterson, a harmonica player new to town, becomes caught between Sally Rogers, who has abandoned her boyfriend Bill Foster for him, and Foster himself, a dangerous racketeer who threatens violence. When Sally's jealous threats drive Henry to leave, a wounded man appears at Bill Foster's apartment claiming to be Henry and accusing Sally of shooting him.
A city apartment building; Boston Blackie's office and apartment · Boston Blackie, Henry Peterson, Sally Rogers, Bill Foster, Inspector Faraday, Mary
Listen for: The mystery of the shooting victim's true identity and whether Henry Peterson is really alive; the harmonica as a means of verification
Boston Blackie: Death Wish (1947)
Boston Blackie locates Jimmy Wells, a salesman who has apparently decided he wants to be killed by the underworld. Despite Wells' insistence on being left alone, Blackie becomes convinced something sinister is afoot and takes Wells into police custody for protection. Blackie then investigates to discover who wants Wells dead and why.
Boston, including Jimmy Wells' home, police station, streets, and Blackie's apartment building · Boston Blackie, Lucky, Jimmy Wells, Dorothy Wells, Inspector Faraday, Walter Branch, Tommy, Mary
Listen for: Boston Blackie's determination to protect a man who doesn't want to be protected, and the revelation that Jimmy Wells owes gambling debts to Walter Branch
Boston Blackie: Diamonds Stolen From Kingston (1948)
Boston Blackie and his gang steal diamonds from Kingston's office, but a dispute over the split leads to gang member Danny Morris being shot dead. When police arrest Blackie and his associates, he must convince Inspector Farley of their innocence while pursuing his own investigation into who really killed Morris.
Boston, a police precinct, and Kingston's office · Boston Blackie, Joey Sometimes, Mike Graves, Danny Morris, Inspector Farley, Charlie Kingston, Mary
Listen for: Boston Blackie's clever scheme to prove his alibi and outwit both the police and his own gang members.
Boston Blackie: Dolly Preston Calls For Help (1949)
Boston Blackie receives a mysterious phone call from a woman claiming she's about to be killed at a specific address. When Blackie and the police arrive, they find the house supposedly empty for three years. A woman matching the description of the caller is found at a nearby candy store, but she's identified as Dolly Preston—who supposedly died three years ago. Blackie investigates the house and discovers dangerous secrets connected to a missing $600,000.
A city neighborhood featuring a vacant house, a candy store, and various locations including an apartment building and a real estate office. · Boston Blackie, Inspector, Mary, Dolly Preston, Roger, Bud Blake, Mrs. Nogra
Listen for: A mystery involving a supposedly dead woman who reappears, missing money, and the dangerous criminal Bud Blake who seems connected to the case.
Boston Blackie: Eva Cronin Is Stalked (1947)
Eva Cronin has been stalked for two weeks by a mysterious man who appears everywhere she goes, staring at her from windows and across streets. Boston Blackie learns from Inspector Faraday that this stalker may be a serial killer who watches his victims before striking, and he takes on the case to catch him before Eva becomes his next victim.
Boston, including Eva Cronin's apartment building on Elm Street, a restaurant, police headquarters, and a house on Eastern Road · Eva Cronin, Boston Blackie, Inspector Faraday, Mary, Bob, Eva's father, Officers Eddie and Marty, William
Listen for: Eva's growing fear as the stalker continues to appear; Boston Blackie's explanation of the killer's psychology; the police stakeout and Blackie's arrival at the house where Eva is waiting
Boston Blackie: Farady Shot (1946)
Inspector Faraday is shot and hospitalized after criminals attempt to kill him in retaliation for his work on a case. Boston Blackie visits Faraday in the hospital and vows to solve the case independently, much to the inspector's annoyance. Blackie confronts the man he believes is behind the shooting, only to be beaten and thrown out into the street.
A city hospital and the office of a crime boss; the story begins with Inspector Faraday leaving police headquarters and being shot, then moves to his hospital room. · Inspector Faraday, Boston Blackie, Mary, Rollins, Tony, Barker, Rocky Baldwin, Mrs. Atley
Listen for: The familiar dynamic between Boston Blackie and Inspector Faraday; a violent confrontation in the crime boss's office; discussion of who ordered Faraday's shooting.
Boston Blackie: Five Bullets In Don Anderson (1948)
A man named Don Anderson is found dead from five bullet wounds at his home. Boston Blackie is seen fleeing the scene with a gun and becomes the prime suspect, but he claims he was actually chasing the real killer after hearing the shots fired. Blackie must find the true murderer before the police arrest him for a crime he didn't commit.
A city with Anderson's house, Boston Blackie's apartment, a tailor shop, and various street locations. · Boston Blackie, Inspector Faraday, Deputy Inspector Will, Mary, Charlie Kingston, Harky (Archie), Mr. Wilson, George Simms
Listen for: Blackie's discovery of three clues—a flattened nail dropped by the killer, the killer's Hamburg hat, and a glimpse of the murderer—which he uses to track down George Simms and uncover the real killer's identity.
Boston Blackie: Framed By A Film (1947)
Boston Blackie is framed for a warehouse robbery and murder when incriminating film footage shows him at the scene with a gun. Inspector Faraday knows the evidence is too convenient to be real, but Blackie confesses to the crime anyway, drawing police attention while he attempts to infiltrate the criminal gang responsible for the actual theft and killing.
Boston; a police precinct, a warehouse on Front Street, Blackie's apartment, and the waterfront near a cafe · Boston Blackie, Inspector Faraday, Mary (Miss Wesley), Billy Boy, Joe, The Boss, Dick Colmer
Listen for: The clever use of fake motion pictures as evidence, Blackie's calculated confession to attract the real criminals' attention, and the interplay between Blackie and Inspector Faraday who understands the frame-up but must pursue him anyway.
Boston Blackie: Fred Palmers Dock Racket (1949)
Boston Blackie investigates the suspicious death of Chuck Sloane, a dock worker found crushed under a crate at a warehouse run by Fred Palmer. When evidence suggests the crate was deliberately cut, Blackie becomes convinced that Palmer is operating a protection racket and may be behind Sloane's murder.
A dock warehouse and surrounding locations in the city, including Maggie's restaurant and Palmer's back room office. · Boston Blackie, Fred Palmer, Spogarn Morton, Sam, Inspector Faraday, Maggie, Voghorn Martin, Chuck Sloane
Listen for: The investigation into whether Sloane's death was an accident or murder, Palmer's protection scheme demanding payoffs from workers, and Blackie's confrontation with Palmer over the illegal racket.
Boston Blackie: Gambler Joe Garland Killed (1946)
Boston Blackie is present when gambler Joe Garland is shot dead in his home. Locked in an adjoining room during the murder, Blackie becomes Faraday's prime suspect. The only item missing from Garland's safe full of valuable jewels and cash is an ordinary piece of flagstone, which the insurance company had refused to insure for $20,000. When a desperate man named Jack Evans contacts Blackie saying his fiancée's life is in danger and that she knows why Garland was killed for the stone, Blackie rushes to help—only to discover the mystery involves an old blind man's letters.
Boston, primarily in Joe Garland's home and later city streets and police headquarters. · Boston Blackie, Inspector Faraday, Joe Garland, Charlie Kingston, Mary, Rollins, Wayne (insurance agent), Jack Evans
Listen for: The puzzle of why an ordinary piece of flagstone is worth killing for; Boston Blackie's witty banter with Inspector Faraday as he's accused of murder; the revelation that three people know the stone's true value.
Boston Blackie: Grannys Witchcraft (1946)
Boston Blackie attends a costume party where an old woman claiming to be named Granny warns him that death is coming for him, specifically mentioning a blue limousine. When a blue car nearly runs Blackie down the next day, he takes the warning seriously and visits Granny's address to learn more. He discovers that Granny appears to be a young woman in disguise who seems to know details about the attempt on his life.
Boston, at a costume party and various locations around the city including Granny's house at 50 Lincoln Lane · Boston Blackie, Mary Wesley, Granny, Lucky, Inspector, Mary (party guest)
Listen for: The mystery of Granny's true identity and how she knows about the murder plot against Blackie; the significance of the blue limousine
Boston Blackie: Harry Benson Murders His Wife (1946)
Harry Benson stands trial for the murder of his wife, who was found dead from a bullet wound in her city apartment. The defense argues that Mrs. Benson killed herself out of despondency and that Harry has an airtight alibi—he was 320 miles away at Mount Lock when the death occurred. The jury acquits him, but Mrs. Benson's brother John becomes convinced that Harry is guilty and vows to take justice into his own hands.
A city courtroom and surrounding locations including Blackie's office, a newspaper office, and Harry Benson's home · Boston Blackie, Harry Benson, John Jealousen, Inspector Faraday, Mary, Mr. Holloway, Judge, Mr. Ward
Listen for: A murder trial where an alibi saves the day, followed by the victim's brother seeking revenge outside the law and Boston Blackie's involvement in the case
Boston Blackie: Harry Walker Murdered (1948)
Harry Walker is murdered in the street, and Inspector Farady brings the case to Boston Blackie for help. With a murder gun traced to a stolen firearm and only a vague description of the killer—a large man with a crooked nose—the investigation widens as Walker's frightened wife goes into hiding after witnessing something she shouldn't have.
The city streets and Blackie's apartment; also a drugstore phone booth where Mrs. Walker makes a desperate call to her brother. · Boston Blackie, Inspector Farady, Mary Wesley, Harry Walker, Mrs. Walker (Roger's sister), Roger, Jim Delaney, Sergeant Matthews
Listen for: The clues pointing to Killer Carson, a former heavyweight fighter; Mrs. Walker's terrified phone call revealing she witnessed something; the murder weapon's stolen registration leading nowhere obvious.
Boston Blackie: Horseroom Thefts (1947)
A gunman robs a horseroom of $18,000, claiming to work for a boss who doesn't want Boston Blackie interfering with his gambling operations. Later, a polite thief breaks into Blackie's apartment and steals $20,000 in charity money that Blackie was holding for a children's home, leaving Blackie furious but unable to stop him.
Boston, including a horseroom, Blackie's apartment, and the city streets · Boston Blackie, Jeff Lawson, Mrs. Clara Martin, Mary Wesley, The thief, Jane, Becky
Listen for: The contrast between the gunman's crude robbery and the thief's unfailingly polite demeanor as he steals from Blackie; Blackie's struggle when the charity money is taken
Boston Blackie: Hypnotic Murder (1945)
When cigarette girl Joan Thompson is found with a murdered man and blood in her car, she's arrested for killing Henry Bryson. But Boston Blackie suspects she's covering for someone else and investigates at the Boulevard Club where she works, discovering that hypnosis may hold the key to the real killer's identity.
The Boulevard Club nightclub and surrounding locations in the city. · Boston Blackie, Inspector Faraday, Joan Thompson, Mary, Flaky Frankie, Dr. James Harris, Mr. Williams
Listen for: The mystery of who really killed Henry Bryson and what role hypnosis plays in the crime. Pay attention to what Boston Blackie learns about Dr. James Harris and the hypnotist's act at the club.
Boston Blackie: Imperial Oil Company Racket (1949)
A phony oil stock racket operated by the sophisticated Count von Bernard comes to Boston Blackie's attention when a man named Anthony Dalton, who shares Blackie's nickname due to his dark hair, is mistaken for him by a confidence man trying to sell oil shares. Blackie traces the printed stock certificates to an illegal printing press and becomes entangled with Olivia Barton, Bernard's beautiful accomplice, who uses her charms to disarm and trap him. With Blackie held prisoner and the count planning his death, Mary Wesley races against time to reach him before it's too late.
A city with police headquarters, printing operations, apartments, and various businesses involved in a stock fraud scheme. · Boston Blackie, Count von Bernard, Olivia Barton, Mary Wesley, Anthony Dalton, Smitty (Walter Smith), Inspector Faraday, Homer
Listen for: The clever use of a flower and perfume to exploit a suspect's allergy; Olivia's expert rope-tying skills and her betrayal of Boston Blackie; the tailor's records that help track down the racket's participants.
Boston Blackie: Insurance And Wrecked Cars (1948)
When Carl Pettit calls Boston Blackie for help with a scheme involving insurance fraud and a wrecked car, Blackie heads to meet him. But he arrives to find Pettit murdered, and the police suspect Blackie of involvement. Blackie begins investigating the insurance scheme that seems connected to the killing.
A city apartment building and surrounding areas; a mountain road where a car went over a cliff · Boston Blackie, Inspector, Carl Pettit, Frankie, Johnny, Charlie, Wilson, Harry
Listen for: A clever insurance fraud scheme involving a wrecked car; Blackie's investigation into Pettit's murder; confrontations with the criminals involved in the racket
Boston Blackie: Invention Worth Killing For (1948)
Boston Blackie investigates the murder of Roger Harrison, an inventor who registered at a hotel under tight security and refused to give out his room number. A rubber plant delivered to Harrison's room becomes the key to solving how the killer discovered the victim's location, leading Blackie to a flower shop where a mysterious blonde woman purchased the plant.
A hotel and a flower shop in the city · Boston Blackie, Mary, Roger Harrison, Inspector Farley, Bill, Sarah
Listen for: The clever murder method using a flower delivery to track down the victim's hotel room, and the revelation that a blonde woman bought the murder weapon's delivery vehicle
Boston Blackie: Jack Small Alias Bill Bigelow (1947)
Boston Blackie and Charlotte are sent by Shorty to collect a $500 debt from Jack Small, who is now hiding under the alias Bill Bigelow and working at a quarry. When Blackie and Charlotte arrive at Small's apartment to confront him, they discover he has been killed in a dynamite blast at the quarry that morning.
Boston, including a candy shop near a quarry and Small's apartment building, with scenes at police headquarters and a work quarry. · Boston Blackie, Charlotte, Inspector Faraday, Detective Waterman, Jack Small (alias Bill Bigelow), Shorty, Eddie Carter, Barbara
Listen for: The ironic twist where the criminal Boston Blackie seeks to collect a debt just as his quarry is killed before he can reach him; the suspicious timing of Small's death during a quarry blast.
Boston Blackie: Jackie Meers Prison Break (1948)
Jackie Meers and his gang escape from prison using an ingenious method of communication that leaves authorities baffled—they coordinate their break without seeing, talking to, or signaling each other. Boston Blackie, who put Jackie away and fears the gang's revenge, becomes involved in the case when the gang kills a night watchman during a safe robbery. Blackie pieces together the puzzle of how they managed their escape.
A prison, the city, and various locations including a safe job site and police offices. · Boston Blackie, Jackie Meers, Joe, Warden Mills, Inspector Faraday, Bolo, Apollo, Anthony
Listen for: The clever explanation of how the gang coordinated their prison break without direct communication, and Blackie's deduction of their method.
Boston Blackie: Jacques Pierre And The Diamonds (1947)
Boston Blackie takes on an insurance case involving two stolen diamonds. When a French buyer named Jacques Pierre arrives to purchase the stones from a fence named Dalton, Blackie infiltrates the meeting in disguise to recover the gems before the sale is completed.
A fence's office in the city where stolen diamonds are being sold to a foreign buyer. · Boston Blackie, Inspector Faraday, Ernest Harvey, Shorty, Dalton, Jacques Pierre, Jerry, Bob
Listen for: Blackie's clever impersonation of a Frenchman and his attempt to outmaneuver the thieves and fence in a tense negotiation over the valuable diamonds.
Boston Blackie: Jailbirds Murdoch And Dawson (1947)
Boston Blackie is drawn into a dangerous situation when radio singer Duke Collins calls for help after being threatened by an unknown man, only to be violently attacked before Blackie can reach him. Meanwhile, two escaped convicts named Murdoch and Dawson are hiding out and waiting for a coded message through the radio that will tell them when and where to meet their accomplice Sam for their getaway.
A city with a jail and detention facility; various indoor locations including an apartment building and a hideout room. · Boston Blackie, Inspector Faraday, Murdoch, Dawson, Mary, Duke Collins, Professor, Sam
Listen for: A coded radio message that will signal the criminals when to make their escape, and the connection between the threats to Duke Collins and the escaped convicts' plans.
Boston Blackie: Jerry Williams Fixed Court Case (1946)
Jerry Williams walks free from court after witnesses fail to appear against him in a murder trial, thanks to intimidation by his gang. Boston Blackie is set to testify against Williams in an upcoming trial, but the gang visits Blackie with threats involving an innocent woman named Mary Wesley, forcing Blackie to make a dangerous deal with Detective Faraday.
A courthouse and Boston city streets; later Boston Blackie's office and apartment · Boston Blackie, Jerry Williams, Judge, Detective Faraday, Mary Wesley, Bozo, Mac, Buzz
Listen for: The tense confrontation between Blackie and the Williams gang as they threaten an innocent woman to keep him silent; the clever negotiation between Blackie and Detective Faraday as they work out a risky plan
Boston Blackie: Jewelry Store Owner Is Killed For A Watch (1949)
A jewelry store owner is found dead in his shop with no apparent motive—nothing was stolen. Boston Blackie becomes entangled in the case when his own gun and wristwatch, left at the jeweler for repair, turn up next to the body of a man named Danny Chico. Inspector Faraday suspects Blackie of both murders.
A city jewelry store and Boston Blackie's apartment, late evening into night. · Boston Blackie, Inspector Faraday, Danny Chico, The Jeweler (Mr. Stone), Christine Nelson (Cora Neal), Mary
Listen for: The mystery of why Mr. Stone was killed when nothing was stolen, and why Blackie's personal effects connect him to Danny Chico's death.
Boston Blackie: Joe Adams Drowned (1947)
A woman named Valerie Johnson calls looking for Joe Adams, but discovers he has been murdered by criminals who drowned him in a bathtub. The killers plan to dispose of his body, but it ends up in the sea lion pool at the zoo where Boston Blackie and his friend Mary Wesley discover it while watching the animals being fed. Inspector Faraday arrives to investigate the death, initially believing it a suicide, but Blackie suspects foul play.
A small town and the city zoo, primarily at the sea lion pool where the body is discovered. · Boston Blackie, Tiny, Frank Horton, Plank, Joe Adams, Valerie Johnson, Smitty, Inspector Faraday
Listen for: The criminals' casual conversation about drowning Joe Adams and deciding where to dump his body; Blackie's deduction that the death was murder rather than suicide; the discovery of the corpse during the sea lion feeding time at the zoo.
Boston Blackie: Joe Crain Hired Killer (1947)
When hired killer Joe Crane is called to Peterson's house for a mysterious job, Peterson claims he wants to stage a robbery by having Crane tie him up and gag him. But Boston Blackie soon finds himself caught between a desperate businessman desperate to borrow money and a suspicious murder that may not be what it appears to be.
Boston, various locations including Peterson's house and Blackie's office · Boston Blackie, Joe Crane, Arnold Peterson, Bill Smith, Inspector Faraday, Mary, Sally Peterson
Listen for: The twist involving Joe Crane's true connection to the Peterson family; Blackie's telephone conversations as he investigates the case; Inspector Faraday's discovery about Mrs. Peterson's maiden name.
Boston Blackie: Joe Delivers The Goods (1947)
When Joe Barton, a young man working at his parents' tourist cabin motel, disappears without explanation, his worried mother and father seek out Boston Blackie for help. A mysterious phone call told Joe's girlfriend Sylvia that he was buying a bus ticket, but when Blackie investigates, he discovers no ticket was sold and begins to suspect someone is deliberately misleading them about Joe's whereabouts.
A small town with a tourist cabin motel on Highway 19, a filling station, and a bus terminal · Boston Blackie, Joe Barton, Sylvia, Martha Barton, John Barton, Miss Wesley
Listen for: The mystery of Joe's disappearance deepens as Blackie discovers the bus terminal ticket story is false, and learns that Joe was frightened and said he was in some kind of jam before vanishing.
Boston Blackie: Joe Gates Murdered On Sightseeing Tour (1949)
A murder victim is discovered on a Chinatown sightseeing tour, stabbed to death in broad daylight. Boston Blackie becomes entangled in the case when he visits an auction house run by a suspicious character named Harry Slocum, uncovering a web of blackmail and hidden identities.
San Francisco's Chinatown and surrounding areas, including a sightseeing tour bus, an auction gallery, and a boat on the water · Boston Blackie, Mary, Harry Slocum, Joe Gates, Beasy, Cleft, Homer, Matilda
Listen for: The contrast between the cheerful tour guide's patter and the grim discovery of a corpse; the killer's confession about using a knife; Blackie's clever deduction that the body's complete lack of identification is itself a clue
Boston Blackie: Joe Nelsons Pet Shop Gambling Scheme (1947)
Boston Blackie investigates the murder of reformed ex-convict Joe Nelson, who ran an honest pet shop. When Nelson's body is found in Blackie's apartment, Blackie must clear himself while uncovering who really killed Nelson and why they framed him for the crime.
Boston, including Blackie's apartment and Joe Nelson's pet shop · Boston Blackie, Joe Nelson, Frank Nelson, Mary, Faraday
Listen for: A mysterious killer reveals he murdered Joe Nelson over a dispute about using the pet shop as a front for gambling, then attempts to coerce Frank Nelson into partnership in the scheme.
Boston Blackie: John Frawley Reads That He Is Dead (1949)
John Frawley returns from seven years in Africa to claim his inheritance, but his brother Edward has declared him dead to keep the entire fortune. When Frawley seeks out Martha Blake, the family's former servant who can identify him, he discovers she has been murdered. Now Frawley must find another way to prove his identity before his brother can consolidate his claim to the family's two million dollars.
A city in America, including Frawley's apartment building and Kay Morton's apartment · Boston Blackie, John Frawley, Edward Frawley, Martha Blake, Inspector Faraday, Kay Morton
Listen for: The mystery of who killed Martha Blake and whether John Frawley can prove his identity despite his brother's scheme
Boston Blackie: Johnny Burns Imported Wool (1947)
Smuggler Johnny Burns arranges to bring imported woolens into the country via helicopter, partnering with Sam Blaine to finance the scheme. When Burns delivers the goods to Mr. Martin and makes a fortune, he decides to cut Blaine out of their partnership and shoots him, leaving Blaine wounded and able to report the crime to police.
City streets, apartments, and police headquarters in the present day · Boston Blackie, Johnny Burns, Sam Blaine, Inspector Faraday, Mary Wesley, Mr. Martin, Miss Rosie
Listen for: A smuggling scheme involving imported woolens, a partnership gone wrong, and a shooting that sets Boston Blackie on the case to uncover the truth behind Sam Blaine's shooting.
Boston Blackie: Kidnapped Murderer (1949)
Boston Blackie springs Bugs Martin from police custody, convinced of his innocence in Joe Williams's murder. But Martin is immediately kidnapped by Williams's associates, who believe Martin killed their boss and stole from the organization. Blackie must uncover the real killer before Martin is silenced permanently.
Boston, primarily at police headquarters and various locations around the city · Boston Blackie, Bugs Martin, Detective Faraday, Happy, Mary Wesley, Luke
Listen for: The tension between Blackie's maverick methods and official police procedure; the revelations about Joe Williams's death and the criminal underworld's involvement; the jealous confrontation at the episode's end.
Boston Blackie: Kids Killing (1948)
A young boxer is shot and killed in the ring during a fight with Tony Fresco in front of thousands of spectators, yet no one admits seeing the shooting. Boston Blackie investigates the murder, uncovering tension between the boxer, his trainer Duffy, and a man named Grant who had pressured the kid to throw the fight.
A boxing arena and surrounding locations in the city; the present-day narrative includes a televised boxing match. · Boston Blackie, the Kid (young boxer), Tony Fresco, Grant, Duffy (trainer), Mary, Mr. Cooley (sports writer), Dorothy
Listen for: The dramatic moment when the boxer is revealed to have been shot during the live boxing match; Boston Blackie's investigation into who had motive and opportunity to commit the murder.
Boston Blackie: Killer Lightning (1948)
Doctor Carson calls Boston Blackie to investigate the mysterious death of Donald Archer, who was found dead in a meadow after being struck by lightning in an unusual manner. Blackie begins to suspect murder, but Archer's body has disappeared from its original location, only to be discovered again in a roadside ditch bearing fresh bullet wounds.
A city and surrounding countryside during a violent rainstorm, including a laboratory and doctor's office · Boston Blackie, Doctor Carson, Donald Archer, Martin, Hester, Mr. Crane, Sergeant Magus, Inspector Carraday
Listen for: The clever murder scheme using a lightning strike as cover, and Blackie's investigation into the suspicious circumstances surrounding Archer's death
Boston Blackie: Kingston And The15-story Disappearing Office Building (1948)
Charlie Kingston purchases a 15-story office building for a million dollars from real estate dealers Henry Driggs and Jim Blaine, but when he returns the next morning, the building has vanished and only a vacant lot remains. Boston Blackie investigates the swindle, confronting the dealers and uncovering a murder connected to the scheme.
Boston, at various locations including a real estate office and the corner of Oak and Smith Street where a vacant lot stands. · Boston Blackie, Charlie Kingston, Henry Driggs, Jim Blaine, Inspector Faraday, Peggy Driggs
Listen for: A clever real estate swindle involving a disappearing building, a shooting, and Blackie's interrogation of the con artists as the plot unravels.
Boston Blackie: Larry The Kid Vs Savinni (1947)
A young boxer named Larry the Kid is approached by a man offering him ten thousand dollars to throw an upcoming fight against Savini. When Larry refuses, Boston Blackie advises him to go to the police. Blackie works with the authorities to trap the fixer and protect the honest fighter.
Boston, including Blackie's apartment, a police station, and a boxing gym. · Boston Blackie, Larry the Kid, Savini, Larson, Inspector Faraday, Mary, Charlie Kingston, Bernie
Listen for: The confrontation between Larson and his mysterious boss, where Larson is pressured to take the fall for the fight-fixing scheme; Inspector Faraday's interrogation of Larson; Boston Blackie's advice to the kid to trust the police.
Boston Blackie: Lighthouse Ghost (1947)
When a ship crashes on the reefs near Rocky Island lighthouse, losing valuable cargo and killing three crew members, the ship's captain claims they were north of the lighthouse but somehow ended up on the rocks to the south. Captain Ross mentions a mysterious "ghost light" that may have misled them. Boston Blackie investigates the lighthouse and discovers a dead body at the top of the tower.
Rocky Island lighthouse and surrounding waters in 1947 · Boston Blackie, Charlie, Mary, Mr. Kingston, Captain Ross, Frank Carla, Lena (lighthouse keeper's wife), Merton
Listen for: A shipwreck mystery involving a ghost light, a dead body in the lighthouse tower, and questions about whether the accident was truly an accident or something more sinister.
Boston Blackie: Ma Vie Perfume (1949)
A woman purchases a cat because she claims it will save her life. Meanwhile, Boston Blackie investigates a perfume company scheme involving fake sales and stolen goods, uncovering a criminal operation where empty bottles are refilled and sold fraudulently.
A perfume company office and a criminal hideout in the city · Boston Blackie, Pierre, Miss Bertrand, Rose Barton, Mr. Francois, Mr. Jackson, Pete, Jack
Listen for: The mysterious woman's claim about needing a cat to save her life, and Boston Blackie's investigation into the perfume fraud scheme
Boston Blackie: Madame Zina Fortune Teller (1949)
At a carnival, fortune teller Madame Zina predicts that Boston Blackie will soon be involved in a death. When a woman in a monkey suit is found shot dead, Blackie investigates to discover that the killing was no accident and that the carnival's owner may not be who he claims to be.
A traveling carnival with various attractions, tents, and midway games · Boston Blackie, Mary Wesley, Madame Zina, Pop, Rhoda, Cooper, Inspector Faraday, Flint
Listen for: A fortune teller's cryptic prediction that sets events in motion; the revelation of a false identity; Boston Blackie's deduction based on geography and Australian knowledge
Boston Blackie: Marked Money (1948)
Boston Blackie finds himself at a bank during a robbery where a man is shot and killed. The dead man, Gatling, was standing in front of a woman named Mary Wesley, and Blackie was standing behind Gatling. Inspector Faraday realizes that Mary Wesley might be able to identify the actual robber who was behind Gatling, putting her in danger when the criminals learn she could describe them.
A bank in the city, later the morgue and police station. · Boston Blackie, Inspector Faraday, Mary Wesley, Weaver, Gatling, Bart
Listen for: The clever setup where Blackie's position at the bank makes him a suspect, and the dangerous realization that Mary Wesley could identify the real robber.
Boston Blackie: Mary At Sea (1945)
Boston Blackie boards an overnight ship to Westfield with his friend Mary, only to discover a dead woman named Charlotte Haken in their cabin. Inspector Faraday arrives to investigate, and Blackie becomes the prime suspect simply because he found the body. As the ship prepares to set sail, Blackie must uncover the real killer while dealing with Faraday's suspicions and a mystery surrounding why the body was found in a different cabin than where Mrs. Aiken was supposed to be staying.
An overnight passenger ship sailing from Westfield, in and around the ship's cabins and captain's quarters. · Boston Blackie, Mary, Inspector Faraday, Captain Randall, Charlotte Haken, Martha Vale, Bob
Listen for: Witty banter between Blackie and Mary about ship accommodations, the discovery of the body, and Blackie's clever observations that hint at the real mystery of why the victim was found in the wrong cabin.
Boston Blackie: Mary Disappears (1945)
Boston Blackie sends his friend Mary to pose as a hired girl on the Bolton farm to investigate whether fugitive Donald Bolton is hiding there. When Blackie arrives the next morning and finds that the Boltons claim they never hired anyone, he discovers that Mary has vanished without a trace.
The Bolton farm and surrounding countryside, along with a telephone switchboard office in the city · Boston Blackie, Mary Wesley, Mr. Bolton, Mrs. Bolton, Judd Garson, Eddie, Shorty
Listen for: The mystery of Mary's disappearance and what happened to her between her phone call to Blackie and his arrival at the farm the next morning
Boston Blackie: Mid-air Diamond Theft (1947)
A chartered airplane carrying a valuable million-dollar diamond makes an emergency landing with chaos in its wake. When the plane touches down, two men are found knocked out and tied up, a private detective named Jack Evans is dead, and the diamond has vanished. Boston Blackie arrives on the scene to help solve the mystery of what happened during the flight and track down the missing gem.
A private airplane in flight and on the ground; also an office where Mr. Blaine is waiting to be seen. · Boston Blackie, Mr. Wilson, Jack Evans, Inspector Farraday, Bob Johnson, Mr. Blaine, Mary
Listen for: The dramatic account of the mid-air chaos, Boston Blackie's investigation into the theft and murder, and his attempts to uncover what really happened aboard the plane.
Boston Blackie: Millicent Bromley Kidnapped (1947)
Millicent Bromley, a 22-year-old girl, has been kidnapped and Inspector Faraday leads a desperate police search to find her. When Shorty, an associate of Boston Blackie, claims to have the girl in his room, the police rush to investigate, only to discover she's been taken again by a mysterious professor who plans to use a trained dog to collect a $50,000 ransom.
The city police homicide department, Shorty's room, and a mysterious hideout where the kidnapped girl is being held. · Inspector Faraday, Shorty, Boston Blackie, Millicent Bromley, Professor, Tommy, Bill, Mr. Bromley
Listen for: The ingenious ransom scheme involving a specially trained dog that will carry the money through terrain impassable to man, and the tension between Inspector Faraday's determination to catch the kidnappers and Mr. Bromley's fear of endangering his daughter.
Boston Blackie: Mrs Boston Blackie (1945)
Boston Blackie receives a visit from a woman claiming to be his wife, who blackmails him for ten thousand dollars over a scandal from his past. When Lester Allen arrives looking for his own wife, confusion erupts as a second woman appears claiming to be Blackie's wife, and a call to Springfield confirms a Boston Blackie was recently married there. Blackie must unravel who these women are and why they're impersonating his spouse.
Boston Blackie's apartment and surrounding city locations · Boston Blackie, Mrs. Boston Blackie (Joan Blake), Lester Allen, Mary
Listen for: A tangled case of mistaken identities and blackmail involving multiple women claiming to be Mrs. Boston Blackie, with a marriage certificate from Springfield adding to the mystery.
Boston Blackie: Mrs George Trillings Maid Is Murdered (1948)
A maid named Sarah Jeffery is found murdered in the bedroom of wealthy widow Mrs. George Trilling's apartment. Inspector Faraday investigates what appears to be a case of mistaken identity, with Sarah possibly killed in an attempt on Mrs. Trilling's life. Boston Blackie, initially on vacation, becomes drawn into the case when he learns the police are baffled by both motive and clues.
Mrs. Trilling's apartment in the city; police homicide department; Boston Blackie's residence · Boston Blackie, Inspector Faraday, Mrs. George Trilling, Sarah Jeffery (the maid), Mary, Eddie Blake, Mr. Downey
Listen for: The opening confrontation between Mrs. Trilling and her maid Sarah about housekeeping duties; Eddie Blake's kitchen set sales pitch at the door; the revelation that Blake is part of a criminal scheme involving the maid as a contact; the admission that the maid was killed by mistake.
Boston Blackie: Murder Aboard Ship (1946)
Boston Blackie boards the freighter Swan in the harbor to meet his friend Shorty's acquaintance, cabin boy Jimmy Adams. Instead, he discovers a murder has taken place: the ship's passenger Mr. Crandall, who owned the cargo being transported, has been killed in his cabin. With Inspector Faraday investigating and three suspects who all had access to the victim's quarters, Blackie begins piecing together clues involving a planned mutiny and the valuable cargo.
Aboard the freighter Swan, anchored in the harbor. The action takes place in the captain's quarters and nearby areas of the ship. · Boston Blackie, Mary, Inspector Faraday, Captain Harlan, Mr. Peterson (First Mate), Mr. Crandall (passenger), Jimmy Adams (cabin boy), Shorty
Listen for: Blackie's clever deduction about the connection between the mutiny plot and the murder, as he works to identify the killer among the three suspects who had access to Crandall's cabin.
Boston Blackie: Murder At The Movies (1945)
Boston Blackie agrees to serve as a technical advisor on a movie studio's safe-cracking scene. While watching the filming, an actress named Gladys Ronson is found dead inside a prop trunk during shooting, and Blackie must help Inspector Faraday unravel the mysterious circumstances of her death.
A movie studio during the filming of a motion picture, including the sound stage and police laboratory. · Boston Blackie, Inspector Faraday, Mr. Smith, Miss Westin, Mary, Gladys Ronson, Jack Winters, Johnson
Listen for: The puzzle of how Gladys Ronson was killed inside a locked trunk with no bullet hole and no gun fired from inside or outside of it.
Boston Blackie: Murder At The Rodeo (1946)
At a rodeo, rider Bell Adams is thrown from her horse and seriously injured. She claims Hazel Henry, a rival rider, sabotaged the horse to kill her. Boston Blackie arrives at the rodeo to investigate, but suspicion soon falls on Hazel's husband Slim, who may have staged the accident himself to eliminate both his wife and his girlfriend Bell.
A rodeo arena and grounds, with stables, corrals, and a constable's office. · Boston Blackie, Bell Adams, Hazel Henry, Slim Waters, Mary, Inspector Faraday, Doc, Bonnie
Listen for: A mystery of attempted murder at a rodeo, with Blackie untangling competing suspects and motives while a thrown knife reveals hidden allegiances.
Boston Blackie: Murder In The Music Room (1945)
Boston Blackie visits music publisher Joe Hendrix to ask him to consider publishing a mediocre song written by Blackie's friend Mary's cousin. While Blackie is there, Dick Altman, one of Hendrix's contracted songwriting team, is found dead in the music room. Blackie and Mary discover the body, and Inspector Farraday quickly suspects them and the other songwriter, Bill Rutley, whose wife was also present.
Joe Hendrix's music publishing office in the city, where songwriters and composers work in a piano room. · Boston Blackie, Mary Wesley, Joe Hendrix, Dick Altman, Bill Rutley, Mrs. William Rutley, Inspector Farraday
Listen for: The awful song "In a Blue Canoe with You" that Mary's cousin wrote; the revelation that Dick Altman and Bill Rutley had taken out a hundred-thousand-dollar partnership insurance policy; the discovery of Dick Altman's body in the music room and the initial investigation.
Boston Blackie: Murder In The Piano Room (1949)
Boston Blackie takes a terrible song from Mary's cousin to music publisher Joe Hendrix, hoping the professional songwriting team of Dick Alton and Bill Rutley might improve it. When Blackie visits the piano room to find the composers, he discovers Dick Alton has been murdered, and the investigation quickly intensifies as police arrest Mrs. Rutley on suspicion of homicide.
A music publisher's office and piano room, with scenes at a police station and a bar. · Boston Blackie, Mary, Joe Hendrix, Dick Alton, Bill Rutley, Mrs. William Rutley, Inspector Faraday, Tommy
Listen for: The dreadful song 'In a Blue Canoe with You' that sets the plot in motion, and Blackie's witty banter with Mary and Joe Hendrix as the mystery unfolds.
Boston Blackie: Murder Of John Austin (1947)
John Austin, a fabulously wealthy landowner, is found dead in the middle of an open field on his estate with a blow to the back of his head. The puzzle deepens when investigators discover no footprints, tire tracks, or signs that anyone followed him into the field or that his body was carried there. Boston Blackie joins Inspector Faraday in unraveling the impossible crime.
An exclusive private estate with a mansion, private golf course, airport, and 400 acres of forest on the outskirts of the city. · Boston Blackie, Inspector Faraday, Mr. Austin (stepson), Alice Austin (stepdaughter), Jim Saunders (Alice's fiancé), Mary, John Austin (deceased)
Listen for: The ingenious method of murder using an airplane, and Boston Blackie's deduction that solves the seemingly impossible crime.
Boston Blackie: Murder On Cedar Street (1946)
Boston Blackie is lured to a house on Cedar Street where he discovers a dead blonde woman. Arrested for the murder, Blackie learns the victim is Marion Williams, a member of a holdup gang. While in jail, Blackie sends a locket containing a man's picture to Mary Wesley, hoping she can identify the killer, but her investigation leads nowhere.
Boston, including Cedar Street, a police station, jail, and a bank · Boston Blackie, Inspector Faraday, Mary Wesley, Marion Williams, Joe Thompson
Listen for: The mystery of who sent Blackie to the murder scene and who the man in the locket photograph is; a bank robbery attempt by members of the holdup gang.
Boston Blackie: Murder On The Trapeze (1946)
At a circus, trapeze artist Valerie Gunan plunges to her death during her act. Before performing, she gave Mary Westby a letter expressing her fear that she would be murdered, though she didn't know who might do it. Boston Blackie investigates whether her death was truly an accident or foul play, questioning her husband and uncovering tensions within the act.
A circus, with scenes at the trapeze platform, animal cages, and the performer's dressing area. · Boston Blackie, Mary Westby, Valerie Gunan, Mr. Johnson (Valerie's husband), Inspector Farday, Jolaine
Listen for: The tense confrontation between Blackie and Johnson about whether Valerie's death was accidental or deliberate murder; Valerie's ominous letter predicting her own death.
Boston Blackie: Murdered Show Dog Owner (1946)
Boston Blackie finds two champion show dogs that have run away from the Lawrence estate and calls their owner, Linda Lawrence. When Linda and her sister Beatrice arrive to collect the dogs, Blackie learns that their aunt, Marilyn Lawrence, was murdered the night before. Intrigued, Blackie offers to help find the killer, setting events in motion at the Lawrence household.
Boston; the Lawrence estate; Boston Blackie's home · Boston Blackie, Mary, Linda Lawrence, Beatrice Lawrence, Marilyn Lawrence (deceased), Mr. Wellington, Mrs. Lawrence
Listen for: The champion show dogs Angel and Spartan; the mystery of Marilyn Lawrence's murder; Beatrice's strange hostility and sudden takeover of household control.
Boston Blackie: Nobody At The Door (1949)
Boston Blackie finds a mysterious empty envelope slipped under his door, which sets off a chain of events involving a crooked senator named James Martin. A small-time criminal named Johnny steals incriminating papers from his boss Charlie Evans and attempts to frame the senator by placing evidence under Blackie's door, but the plan goes dangerously wrong when Johnny demands a position in the senator's organization.
A city apartment building and surrounding urban locations including the senator's office. · Boston Blackie, Mary, Mike Faraday, Senator James Martin, Charlie Evans, Johnny, Ginger, Dallas
Listen for: A mysterious empty envelope, stolen evidence against a corrupt senator, and Blackie's involvement in uncovering a criminal conspiracy.
Boston Blackie: Only One Way Out For Me (1946)
Boston Blackie reads about textile manufacturer Ralph Burton's apparent suicide and dismisses it as straightforward. When creditor Charlie Kingston visits Blackie and expresses guilt over pressuring Burton, he asks Blackie to investigate whether Burton's death was truly suicide. Despite Inspector Faraday's certainty and a handwriting expert's confirmation of the suicide note's authenticity, Blackie decides to reopen the case against the inspector's orders.
Boston, including Blackie's apartment, police headquarters, and Tony's establishment · Boston Blackie, Mary, Inspector Faraday, Charlie Kingston, Ralph Burton, Mrs. Burton, Joe Flynn, Tony
Listen for: The tension between Blackie's instincts about Burton's death and the official conclusion of suicide; Mrs. Burton's evasive responses when confronted by Blackie; the developing mystery of what really happened to Ralph Burton
Boston Blackie: Open Season On Henry Williams (1947)
Boston Blackie is called by a man named Henry Williams who claims he's the real target of a murderer—another Henry Williams, a philanthropist, was killed by mistake that morning. Williams says he's a legitimate businessman expanding into territory controlled by the dangerous racketeer Joe Carter, who has threatened him and apparently hired someone to kill him. Blackie agrees to help track down Carter and stop him.
Boston; various locations including Henry Williams's office, Blackie's place, and a newspaper office · Boston Blackie, Henry Williams, Inspector Faraday, Joe Carter, Mary, Jim
Listen for: The mix-up between two men with the same name, and Blackie's determination to catch Joe Carter and prove that the philanthropist's death was a case of mistaken identity.
Boston Blackie: Oscar Wolfe Troublemaker (1945)
Boston Blackie discovers a desperate woman fleeing from Oscar Wolfe, a troublemaker who preys on people. Blackie confronts Wolfe in his office with threats to stop his criminal activities, but when Wolfe is found dead the next morning, Blackie becomes the prime suspect based on a recording of his threatening words.
Boston Blackie's apartment and Oscar Wolfe's office in a hollow building downtown · Boston Blackie, Oscar Wolfe, Mrs. Lawson, Mary, Tony, Charlie
Listen for: A woman's desperate plea for help; Blackie's confrontation with the criminal Wolfe; the discovery of Wolfe's murder and the recorded evidence against Blackie
Boston Blackie: Phonograph Murder (1947)
Boston Blackie is invited to dinner at the home of James Grant, but arrives to find Grant has been shot dead just 25 minutes earlier. Grant's brother Bill flees the scene and is arrested on a train, but Blackie suspects there's more to the murder than meets the eye and begins his own investigation.
A city apartment building, primarily the home of James Grant, with scenes on a train and in the building superintendent's quarters. · Boston Blackie, Mary Wesley, Helen Martin, James Grant, Bill Grant, Inspector Faraday, Mr. Matthews
Listen for: A mysterious phonograph record that threatens Grant's life, the superintendent's involvement in an apartment robbery scheme, and Blackie's clever manipulation of Matthews to extract information about the murder.
Boston Blackie: Pierre The Designer (1946)
Boston Blackie is accused of robbing Roger Olsen's safe, which contained $25,000 in cash and an IOU signed by Pierre, a fashion designer. Inspector Faraday believes Pierre bribed Blackie to steal the IOU since it was due the next morning. When Blackie and Faraday visit Pierre's office to confront him, they discover the designer dead with no marks on his body and no fingerprints at the scene.
Boston; Roger Olsen's office in the Bridge Building, Pierre's fashion design studio · Boston Blackie, Inspector Faraday, Roger Olsen, Pierre, Mary Wesley, Harry, Blinky, Mary Topp
Listen for: The mystery of who really robbed Olsen's safe and murdered Pierre; Blackie's attempts to prove his innocence while uncovering the real culprit.
Boston Blackie: Poetry In My Soul (1947)
Boston Blackie investigates the murder of Mayor Rogers, who is shot from a rooftop across from City Hall. Blackie quickly deduces the shots came from the building next door, but the real puzzle is why the mayor was the target—or was he merely in the wrong place at the wrong time?
Boston, at and around City Hall, the rooftops and offices of nearby buildings, and Harry Johnson's home · Boston Blackie, Inspector Faraday, Mary, Officer Williams, Harry Johnson, Mrs. Johnson, Rex Martin, Carter
Listen for: Blackie's method of deduction as he pieces together clues from the crime scene; the revelation of who really wanted to kill whom and why
Boston Blackie: Professor Beasley Is Murdered (1948)
Professor Beasley, who has never been late to class in 30 years, fails to arrive for his morning lecture at Daniel College. When Professor Stevens addresses the waiting students, he announces that Beasley has been murdered—and suggests the killer is among them. Boston Blackie arrives at the college to investigate the case, discovering that several people had reason to want the professor dead.
Daniel College campus, a classroom, and the Dean's office · Boston Blackie, Inspector Faraday, Professor Beasley, Professor Stevens, Ross Hunter, Sally, Tom, Dean Emerson
Listen for: Boston Blackie investigating a murder at his old college, with multiple suspects including a student athlete facing an important exam and a professor who benefits from Beasley's death.
Boston Blackie: Pudgy And The Stolen Tire Racket (1949)
Boston Blackie discovers a ring of car and tire thieves operating from a garage. After following the gang's courier Pudgy and getting run off the road, Blackie ends up in the hospital but hatches a plan to infiltrate the operation by posing as a tire deliverer to catch Cyclone, the gang's boss, red-handed with evidence of the theft racket.
A hospital and a garage used as a front for a stolen car and tire ring in the city · Boston Blackie, Mary Wesley, Inspector
Listen for: The clever scheme Blackie devises to catch the criminals, and whether he can pull it off despite his injuries and the gang's suspicions.
Boston Blackie: Reynolds And The Stolen Goods (1948)
Boston Blackie visits a jewelry store and accidentally gives a password for stolen goods by joking about buying a expensive necklace for a dime. The jeweler, John Reynolds, realizes his mistake and calls his wife in a panic, mentioning a letter that will explain everything to the police. Reynolds is found dead, the letter has disappeared, and Blackie must investigate whether Reynolds was a fence operating a stolen jewelry ring.
A jewelry store and Reynolds' home in the city · Boston Blackie, John Reynolds, Mrs. Reynolds, Mr. Grant, Carter, Faraday
Listen for: The clever use of a ten-cent code phrase to identify buyers of stolen jewelry, and the mystery of the missing letter that holds the key to Reynolds' death.
Boston Blackie: Richard Allistar Disappears In Vacant Lot (1948)
A taxi driver reports that a mysterious passenger vanished without a trace in a vacant lot on 10th Street. When a well-dressed body is found dead nearby on 11th Street, Boston Blackie and his companion Mary investigate and discover the corpse belongs to Richard Alistair, a man whose wife has been searching for him. The mystery deepens when cryptic notes with names and numbers are discovered hidden in the dead man's clothing.
New York City streets, including a vacant lot between tenements on 10th and 11th Streets, and a police morgue · Boston Blackie, Mary, Inspector Faraday, Sergeant, taxi driver, Officer Wilson, Richard Alistair's wife, Richard Alistair
Listen for: Boston Blackie's witty banter with Mary as they uncover clues to Richard Alistair's mysterious death; the cryptic notes with names and numbers that may hold the key to solving the crime
Boston Blackie: Richards Diamond Case (1945)
Boston Blackie is called in by John Richards to authenticate a valuable diamond before purchase. When Richards is murdered that night, Blackie becomes the prime suspect after Inspector Faraday discovers he has a bullet wound in his shoulder. Blackie must clear his name while evading the police and dealing with additional complications from a dog bite complaint.
Boston, including Blackie's apartment, police headquarters, a taxicab, and a library · Boston Blackie, Inspector Faraday, John Richards, Myra Richards, Carolyn, Mary, Charlie Kingston, Robert Washburn
Listen for: The interplay between Blackie's quick thinking and Inspector Faraday's suspicions, the clues about who actually shot Richards, and the complication of the dog bite that also puts Mary in danger with the police.
Boston Blackie: Riding Stable (1948)
Boston Blackie arrives at a riding stable where a man named Jim Leslie has been killed by a horse that he habitually teased. Inspector Faraday initially rules it an accident, but Blackie suspects murder and begins investigating the relationships and quarrels surrounding the stable.
A riding stable and surrounding locations in the city, late at night · Boston Blackie, Inspector Faraday, Mary Wesley, Johnny, Jim Leslie, David Hanley, Miss Baker, Leslie's maid
Listen for: Blackie's investigation into who really killed Jim Leslie and his discovery of various suspects with motives, including conflicts over a woman and financial troubles
Boston Blackie: Robertson Poisons Wife Beverly Over The Telephone (1948)
When Beverly Robertson is found dead with poison in her system and the telephone still in her hand, Inspector Faraday rules it a suicide. But Boston Blackie suspects murder and begins investigating her husband Tom Robertson, a man with secrets and a suspicious alibi.
A small town with a drug store, a business office, and the Robertson home · Boston Blackie, Inspector Faraday, Tom Robertson, Beverly Robertson, Miss Martin, Miss Garber, pharmacist
Listen for: The chilling opening scene where a husband poisons his wife over the telephone; Boston Blackie's investigation into whether the death was truly suicide or carefully staged murder; the revelation of Tom Robertson's criminal connections.
Boston Blackie: Sam Bellows Is Dead (1945)
Boston Blackie tells Inspector Faraday he has murdered a man named Sam Bellows to gain access to Bellows' heavily guarded brownstone house. When the inspector reluctantly investigates, they discover Bellows is indeed dead, stabbed in the chest in his wheelchair, and uncover a household containing more than just the victim.
Boston; a brownstone house at the corner of West Boulevard and 110th Street; Mary's home; police headquarters · Boston Blackie, Inspector Faraday, Mary, Charlie Kingston, Sam Bellows, The maintenance man, Frank Lewis, Larry Addington
Listen for: Blackie's clever ruse to gain entry to a locked house; the revelation of Bellows' murder; the discovery of who else inhabits the mysterious brownstone.
Boston Blackie: Sam Fishers Past (1947)
Sam Fisher, a successful businessman plagued by amnesia from an accident ten years ago, approaches Boston Blackie seeking help to discover his true identity and past. When Fisher learns that his friend Roger may have uncovered something damning about him—possibly a murder—he disappears after leaving his club. Police investigating his vanishing discover a taxi driver dead at the waterfront, connecting Fisher to a homicide case.
A city with a billiards club and waterfront, ten years after Sam Fisher's mysterious accident in Kansas City. · Sam Fisher, Boston Blackie, Rita Fisher, Roger Ainsley, Lieutenant Martin, Inspector Faraday
Listen for: The revelation of what Roger discovered about Sam Fisher's past, why the taxi driver was killed, and whether Sam Fisher is truly responsible for the crimes coming to light.
Boston Blackie: Star Of The Nile (1944)
Boston Blackie boards a train from Chicago to New York where he encounters the charming Helen Carrou at dinner. During the meal, a valuable emerald called the Star of the Nile—worth $200,000 and being transported by jeweler executive George Stevens—disappears. Inspector Faraday quickly suspects Blackie of the theft, but Helen provides him with an alibi, forcing the inspector to reconsider his assumptions.
A train traveling between Chicago and New York, primarily in the dining car and during police questioning. · Boston Blackie, Inspector Faraday, George Stevens, Helen Carrou, Chief Matthews
Listen for: The interplay between Blackie's charm and quick thinking as he navigates suspicion, Faraday's exasperation with Blackie's predictable involvement in crimes, and hints that the real solution may lie in Stevens' own carelessness.
Boston Blackie: Steal Or Be Killed (1947)
Boston Blackie pursues a man named Martin who has stolen rings from a jewelry store. When Martin cleverly tosses the rings into a Salvation Army Santa Claus's collection bucket to hide them, Blackie and Faraday must track down the Santa to recover the stolen goods before Martin retrieves them himself.
A city during Christmas Eve, including a dock, jewelry store, and street corners where Salvation Army Santas collect donations. · Boston Blackie, Faraday, Clark, Martin, Henry James (Santa Claus), Mary
Listen for: The clever hiding of stolen rings in a Santa's collection bucket, and Blackie's determination to outwit both a criminal and the holiday season.
Boston Blackie: Stolen Rings At Christmas (1948)
On Christmas Eve, a man named Martin is accused of stealing rings from a jewelry store. Boston Blackie investigates and discovers Martin threw the rings into a Salvation Army Santa Claus's collection bucket while fleeing. Blackie and Inspector Faraday track down the Santa Claus, but find evidence that someone else may have gotten to him first.
Christmas Eve in the city, including a jewelry store, police headquarters, a ship's gangplank, and various street locations · Boston Blackie, Inspector Faraday, Joe Martin, Clark, Zabi, Henry James
Listen for: The mystery of whether the Santa Claus still has the rings, and what has happened to him when Blackie and Faraday finally locate him
Boston Blackie: The Apartment Swindler (1946)
Boston Blackie investigates a real estate swindle involving the Bryant apartment house project. Swindlers Davidson and his partner have been collecting $300 deposits from unsuspecting customers like Jim Palmer for apartments in a building not yet constructed, planning to pocket roughly $100,000 and flee town before their scheme is discovered.
A real estate office in town and surrounding streets; a new apartment house construction project · Boston Blackie, Mary, Jim Palmer, Davidson, Tom Johnson, Bill, Charlie, Mr. Bryant
Listen for: Boston Blackie confronts the swindlers and exposes their scheme to the building's owner; a car crash sequence during a chase down a hillside
Boston Blackie: The Armored Car Murder Case (1947)
An armored truck carrying $100,000 crashes off a road, and the money disappears. Guard Jack Brewster, who should have been on the truck, surfaces alive and contacts Boston Blackie, asking for help to prove his innocence in the robbery. Blackie agrees to meet Brewster at his apartment, but danger lurks as mysterious criminals plan their own visit to the same location.
A city with streets, apartments, and an armored truck route; Blackie's home and Jack Brewster's apartment at 824 East 40th Street. · Boston Blackie, Jack Brewster, Doris Brewster, Mary, Inspector Faraday, Harry, Bob, Tom
Listen for: The confrontation at Brewster's apartment as multiple parties converge with different intentions; Blackie's investigation into the armored car robbery and Brewster's innocence.
Boston Blackie: The Backstage Murder (1946)
Boston Blackie reluctantly agrees to perform in a Gilbert and Sullivan benefit production at a reopened theater for the Orphans Foundation. During dress rehearsal, a body is discovered in a trunk on stage—Roger Nolton, the theater superintendent—murdered with a knife. Blackie investigates, finding marked playing cards in Nolton's pocket that suggest he may have been involved in a card game with friends.
A reopened theater staging a benefit performance of Gilbert and Sullivan's Mikado, and backstage areas including the superintendent's apartment and a club. · Boston Blackie, Mr. Merryweather, Mary Wesley, Roger Nolton, Inspector Lawrence, Mrs. Nolton, Arnold Grimes, Lester Boswell
Listen for: Boston Blackie's comedic reluctance to wear tights for the role of Nanki-Poo, the discovery of the body during rehearsal, and the clue of marked playing cards that points toward a card game gone wrong.
Boston Blackie: The Baseball Player Murder (1946)
A baseball player named Mike Allen is shot and killed during a game at the ballpark. Inspector Ferris investigates the crime, initially suspecting Boston Blackie, who had received a mysterious phone call from Allen before the game. Blackie is released but later returns to the ballpark at night with his companion Mary to reconstruct the crime and test the inspector's theory about the angle of the fatal shot.
A baseball stadium during and after a day game, and later at night when Blackie returns to investigate. · Boston Blackie, Inspector Ferris, Mike Allen, Lefty Jones, Mary, Rollins
Listen for: Blackie's clever reconstruction of the crime at second base, where he and Mary test the theory about the shooter's angle from the grandstand; the revelation about two different types of baseball slides and how the victim's position matters to the investigation.
Boston Blackie: The Blaine Brothers Pawn Shop Murder (1946)
Boston Blackie is asked by pawnbroker Paul Blaine to help recover a stolen diamond that Blaine accepted as collateral on a loan. When Blackie arrives at the shop to assist, he discovers Blaine has been murdered. Inspector Faraday suspects an ex-convict recently released from prison, but evidence begins to point in unexpected directions.
A pawn shop on 71st Street and surrounding city locations · Boston Blackie, Mary Westley, Paul Blaine, Inspector Faraday, Rollins, Harry, Helen
Listen for: The details of the stolen diamond, the ex-convict suspect, and Blackie's alibi for the time of the murder
Boston Blackie: The Bombing Of Joe Ingalls (1948)
When a bomb destroys Joe Ingalls' house, killing him, Boston Blackie investigates the murder. A witness reports seeing two men across the street from the house with an open window just before the explosion, suggesting the bomb was tossed from a distance rather than planted inside.
A city street where Joe Ingalls' house has been bombed, with investigation scenes at the crime scene and various locations around town. · Boston Blackie, Inspector Matthews, John G. Sullivan, Mary Wesley, Joe Ingalls
Listen for: The clever detective work as Blackie pieces together clues about the bomb and the two mysterious men, plus the surprise phone call from Sullivan that may not be what it seems.
Boston Blackie: The Brandon Jewel Robbery (1946)
Boston Blackie purchases a watch for Mary's cousin Trudy at Brandon's jewelry store, but when Mary later goes to have it engraved, she discovers the store owner Mr. Brandon dead. Blackie arrives to help Mary secure the scene, but both are taken to police headquarters for questioning when a special policeman discovers the body.
A city with Brandon's jewelry store, a restaurant, and police headquarters; the action takes place over an evening from dinner time to late night. · Boston Blackie, Mary, Trudy (Mary's cousin), Mr. Brandon, Inspector Faraday, Special Policeman
Listen for: The mystery of who killed Mr. Brandon and why; Blackie's interactions with Inspector Faraday; clues about the murder weapon and the circumstances of Brandon's death.
Boston Blackie: The Butcher Boy Gang (1947)
Inspector Faraday learns from an informant named Sammy about a planned armored truck robbery by the Butcher Boys gang. However, Sammy is captured by the gang's ruthless leader Van Alastair, who forces him to reveal what he told the police. Van Alastair changes plans and targets a shipment of automobiles instead, while ordering the elimination of both Sammy and Boston Blackie.
Boston, involving police headquarters, Van Alastair's residence, and the countryside where the gang operates. · Boston Blackie, Inspector Faraday, Sammy (the informant), Van Alastair (Butcher Boys gang boss), John Butcher, Ted Butcher, James (Van Alastair's servant)
Listen for: The tension between Boston Blackie's independent investigation and Inspector Faraday's official police work, Van Alastair's cold calculation as he shifts the gang's criminal target, and Sammy's tragic fate as a caught informant caught between the mob and the law.
Boston Blackie: The Case Of The Three-way Split (1945)
Boston Blackie receives a lavender-scented letter from Anne Martin, widow of a deceased gangster, asking him to help find $50,000 her husband hid before dying in prison. When three of Harry Martin's old cellmates are released from jail and return to town, Anne fears they'll locate the money first. Blackie investigates the connection between Anne and the three ex-convicts, but his inquiries lead him into a dangerous situation involving a mysterious body.
Boston city streets and Blackie's apartment, present day · Boston Blackie, Mary, Anne Martin, Jack Winters, Bob Talmadge, Esther Brown, Inspector Faraday
Listen for: The mysterious disappearance of a body from Blackie's apartment and what connection it has to the hidden $50,000 and the three released convicts.
Boston Blackie: The Derailed Gold Train (1946)
Boston Blackie is stranded in Danville for six hours waiting for a train when a woman named Margaret Perkins asks for his help finding her missing brother Harry, who left a cryptic note mentioning the Metropolitan Flyer. When Blackie learns that an abandoned, wrecked car stopped the Metropolitan Flyer on the tracks the previous day, he investigates and discovers the vehicle was deliberately placed there and purchased just an hour before the train arrived.
Danville, a town with a railroad station and crossing where a train derailment or collision nearly occurs. · Boston Blackie, Margaret Perkins, Harry Perkins, Mary, Mr. Washburn, Mr. Boswell, train crew members
Listen for: Blackie's deductions about the deliberately wrecked car and what stopping the Metropolitan Flyer might mean for finding Harry Perkins.
Boston Blackie: The Devon Caretaker Murderaka-the Caretaker Of Devon Estate (1944)
Boston Blackie is arrested when blood-stained coat bearing his label is found, connecting him to the murder of Andrew Lawrence, caretaker of the Devon estate. Blackie escapes and investigates, discovering the hat check girl who switched the coat labels has been killed, forcing him to seek answers at the Devon estate itself.
A nightclub check room, police station, Lincoln Apartments, and the Devon estate · Boston Blackie, Inspector Faraday, Shorty, Mary, Miss Morrison, Jerry, Andrew Lawrence
Listen for: Blackie's escape from Inspector Faraday and his investigation into the switched coat and the murdered hat check girl; mysterious disturbances at the Devon estate
Boston Blackie: The Diamond Smugglers (1946)
Boston Blackie investigates a diamond smuggling operation when he's contacted by his friend Charlie Kingston, who wants to purchase diamonds from a man named Lewis. Blackie meets Lewis and examines the stones, which Lewis claims are worth far more than the asking price of fifty thousand dollars.
A hotel room and various locations in the city · Boston Blackie, Charlie Kingston, Mr. Lewis, Inspector Faraday, Papa, Mama, Kyle
Listen for: Blackie's investigation into why Lewis is selling valuable diamonds at such a low price, and whether the stones are legitimate or stolen
Boston Blackie: The Disappearing Body (1946)
Boston Blackie finds himself in serious trouble when his girlfriend Mary discovers a dead body hidden in his dining room. When Inspector Faraday arrives investigating a robbery and shooting, Blackie must prove his innocence and figure out how the corpse ended up in his apartment.
Boston Blackie's apartment in the city, and a robbery victim's home · Boston Blackie, Mary, Inspector Faraday, Charlie, Jacklin Smith, Jenkins, Mr. Kingston
Listen for: The mystery of the disappearing body and Blackie's attempts to clear himself while Mary doubts his innocence
Boston Blackie: The Disappearing Plane (1946)
Boston Blackie is expected to arrive on Flight 68 into Boston, but the plane goes missing four hours overdue with no crash reports. Inspector Faraday suspects the worst, but Blackie mysteriously calls from his plane, which appears to have landed elsewhere without official notification. The disappearance of the aircraft raises questions about what really happened.
Boston airport and surrounding areas, 1946 · Boston Blackie, Inspector Faraday, Shorty, Mary Wesley, Joe, Johnny, Seamus Wesley
Listen for: The mystery of the vanished airplane and Blackie's unexpected phone call revealing he is safe but the plane's location remains unknown.
Boston Blackie: The Ghost Of Florence Newton (1947)
Boston Blackie picks up a young woman named Florence Newton who claims to be heading to her father's farm, but when he arrives at the house, she vanishes from the car. The farmer reveals his daughter drowned in the creek three years ago. Now Blackie must testify at the trial of Butch Heathers for murder, but the defense attorney uses the ghost story to cast doubt on Blackie's credibility as a witness.
Little Bend and the surrounding countryside, including a courtroom during the trial of Butch Heathers · Boston Blackie, Florence Newton, Mr. Newton, Inspector Faraday, Sheriff O'Pill, Butch Heathers, Mary, Reporter Oldfield
Listen for: The mystery of the ghostly girl and how it affects Blackie's crucial testimony in the murder trial; the defense attorney's clever exploitation of the ghost story to undermine the prosecution's case.
Boston Blackie: The Hooded Gang Protection Racket (1946)
A protection racket gang operates with masked members who know each other only by numbers. When one of their shakedown men extorts $5,000 from candy shop owner Howard by threatening his wife, Boston Blackie steps in with an offer to loan Howard the money and catch the extortionist. Inspector Faraday arrives at the shop and mistakes Blackie's involvement for guilt, complicating the trap.
A candy shop in the city, with a back room where Blackie can hide. · Boston Blackie, Inspector Faraday, Howard, Mrs. Howard, The Shakedown Man, Masked Gang Members
Listen for: A tense confrontation between Boston Blackie and Inspector Faraday over the protection money, with the threat of violence against Howard's wife hanging over the entire situation.
Boston Blackie: The Jim Williams Inheritance Case (1946)
At the trial of Jim Williams, accused of murdering his wife, the chief witness John Bernard recants his testimony, claiming police beat him into falsely accusing Williams. Boston Blackie investigates the case and arranges a secret meeting with Hazel, a maid, who reveals that she believes Bernard himself killed Mrs. Williams—a woman who was obsessively pursuing him and threatening to leave her husband for him.
A courtroom, Boston police office, John Bernard's apartment at the Barclay House, and the lower deck of the Ben Island ferry. · Boston Blackie, Inspector Faraday, John Bernard, Jim Williams, Mary Wesley, Hazel, District Attorney
Listen for: The contradiction in Bernard's testimony about the murder and Hazel's revelation about Mrs. Williams's unrequited pursuit of Bernard.
Boston Blackie: The Jonathan Diamond (1944)
Boston Blackie is arrested in Chicago based on a false identification by Miss Moray, who claims he stole money from her grandfather. However, once alone with him, she reveals the truth: she needs his help recovering the Jonathan Diamond, a valuable gem that was stolen from her apartment. The diamond belongs to her fiancé George Atwater's father, and she must return it by tomorrow night when George returns from a trip. Blackie escapes from custody and heads to New York to recover the diamond before the theft is discovered.
Chicago and New York, 1944. Police headquarters, a hotel room, and the Atwater house. · Boston Blackie, Inspector Faraday, Miss Moray, George Atwater, Detective Monahan, Shorty, Duke Warlum
Listen for: Blackie's clever escape from handcuffs and police custody using only a handkerchief; his banter with Miss Moray as she manipulates him into helping her; Shorty's street-level information about the diamond theft and Duke Warlum's involvement.
Boston Blackie: The Lenny Powell Murder (1946)
A private airline is struggling financially when Joe arranges a lucrative charter flight for a mysterious passenger named Lenny Powell, who is carrying $25,000 in cash to Branchville. When the three airline employees discover Powell dead in the administration building with the money missing, they debate whether to call the police. Joe insists on involving the authorities and calls Boston Blackie for help, believing either Tex or Bill is the murderer.
A private airport with administration building and hangars, and the city of Branchville. · Joe, Emily, Tex, Bill, Lenny Powell, Avery, Boston Blackie, Inspector Farley
Listen for: A tense murder mystery with suspicion falling on three men, the only people who knew about Powell's visit and the cash he carried. Boston Blackie arrives to investigate after the police prove unable to solve the case.
Boston Blackie: The Manletter Bank Caseaka-fifty Hunter Street (1944)
When a mysterious letter promises to stop a bank foreclosure if Boston Blackie visits a house on Hunter Street, he goes to investigate. But he's ambushed, knocked unconscious, and his gun is stolen—only to be found at the scene of a murder. Inspector Faraday arrests Blackie for killing private detective Fred Viswell, convinced the evidence is ironclad.
Boston, present day; Hunter Street, the bank, and Blackie's apartment · Boston Blackie, Inspector Faraday, Jean, Arthur Manletter, Shorty, John Partridge, Fred Viswell
Listen for: The mysterious setup and the frame that lands Blackie under arrest for a murder he didn't commit; Shorty's comic relief as Blackie's sidekick.
Boston Blackie: The Merry-go-round Murder (1946)
Boston Blackie discovers a dead body dressed in riding habit, slumped on a wooden horse of a merry-go-round running at two in the morning in the park. The victim is John Van Dorn, a well-known horseman, and Blackie learns that Van Dorn had complained to the Park Commission about the carousel, threatening its closure. As Blackie investigates the carousel owner Pete Carson and visits Van Dorn's widow, a lawyer named Wilcox blocks further questioning and throws Blackie out of the house.
A city park with a merry-go-round, and the Van Dorn residence, during the early morning hours. · Boston Blackie, Mary Wesley, Inspector Faraday, Pete Carson, John Van Dorn (deceased), Mrs. Van Dorn, Mr. Wilcox (lawyer)
Listen for: The bizarre image of a murder victim posed on a carousel horse, and Blackie's growing suspicion that there is more to Pete Carson's story than the lawyer will allow.
Boston Blackie: The Missing String Of Pearlsaka-old Lady Forced To Steal (1944)
Inspector Faraday suspects Boston Blackie of stealing a string of pearls from Gordon's jewelry shop, but Blackie discovers that elderly Mrs. Phillips, a longtime shop clerk, actually took them. Mrs. Phillips confesses she was forced to steal the pearls by someone who is now blackmailing her and demanding she obtain a valuable ruby as well. Blackie decides to help the desperate woman by retrieving the ruby himself, even as Faraday lays a trap to catch him in the act.
Boston, primarily at Gordon's jewelry shop and Mrs. Phillips' apartment · Boston Blackie, Inspector Faraday, Mrs. Phillips, Shorty, Mr. Gordon
Listen for: Blackie's plan to outwit both the blackmailer and Inspector Faraday's trap using a hollowed-out cigar
Boston Blackie: The Murdered Sword Swallower (1946)
At a carnival, sword swallower Lillian is found murdered with a blade through her heart. Boston Blackie investigates before Inspector Faraday arrives, suspecting a jealous suitor named Bob Hendricks. But when Hendricks is discovered dead from a similar sword wound, Blackie must reconsider who the real killer is among the carnival's peculiar residents.
A carnival with various attractions including a sideshow, tunnel of love, and roller coaster. · Boston Blackie, Mary Wesley, Inspector Faraday, Jackson, Mabel the bearded lady, Bob Hendricks, Lillian the sword swallower
Listen for: Blackie's clever deduction about romantic motives for murder; the reveal that both victims died from sword wounds; Blackie and Mary's playful banter and their plan to sneak back onto the carnival grounds despite Faraday's orders.
Boston Blackie: The Murdered Truck Driver (1946)
Boston Blackie's visitor Linda Crane reports that her husband Mark, a truck driver for the Big Green Line Trucking Company, has been missing for 24 hours after a quarrel. When Blackie reads the newspaper headlines, he discovers that Mark Crane has been found dead, apparently killed during a hijacking of his truck. Blackie joins Inspector Faraday at the trucking company offices to investigate the murder.
Boston; the Big Green Line Trucking Company offices and surrounding areas · Boston Blackie, Mary (Blackie's associate), Inspector Faraday, Linda Crane, Mark Crane (deceased truck driver), Mr. Green (trucking company owner), Joe Baxter (foreman and dispatcher)
Listen for: Boston Blackie's quick thinking and banter with Inspector Faraday; the revelation that the truck was traveling empty, not carrying cargo as initially assumed; Blackie's clever infiltration of the guarded trucking company office
Boston Blackie: The Murdering Cuckoo Clock (1946)
A grandfather clock delivered to Richard Van Horn's home becomes an instrument of murder when it kills two men in succession. Boston Blackie investigates the deaths of young Walter Stone and Van Horn himself, both connected to the deadly timepiece rigged with a poison needle in its winding mechanism. As Blackie races to uncover who orchestrated these murders, suspicion falls on various parties connected to the clock and its victims.
A clock shop and the Van Horn residence in the city, where a deadly grandfather clock becomes the center of a murder investigation. · Boston Blackie, Mary Wesley, Walter Stone, John Stone, Inspector Pardee, Richard Van Horn, Mrs. Van Horn, Mr. Stone
Listen for: The clever murder method using a poisoned needle hidden in a clock's winding key, Blackie's reasoning about the killer's knowledge of timing, and the revelation of a second victim killed by the same deadly clock.
Boston Blackie: The Murdock Gang Strikes (1947)
Boston Blackie learns from Sergeant Matthews that the Murdock Gang has reorganized and is planning something major. Deputy Inspector Wells, ambitious to take over Inspector Faraday's job while Faraday is on vacation, attempts to keep Blackie away from the case and even has a man sent to forcibly remove him from headquarters. Blackie discovers the gang is targeting a diamond company safe containing half a million dollars in jewels and plans to murder the company owner, Henry Carson, making it look like suicide.
Boston, police headquarters and various city locations including a diamond company · Boston Blackie, Mary, Inspector Faraday, Sergeant Matthews, Deputy Inspector Wells, Murdock Gang members (Dom, Tom), Henry Carson
Listen for: The tension between Boston Blackie and Deputy Inspector Wells over control of the Murdock Gang case, and Blackie's determination to stop the gang's plan to rob the diamond company and murder its owner.
Boston Blackie: The Old Shoe Clue (1947)
Boston Blackie receives a mysterious package containing an old, battered shoe along with $1,000 and instructions to deliver it to the police. When police detective Farraday checks the shoe against a decade-old unsolved murder case involving a shoe print, Blackie suspects the shoe may be connected to the killing. Blackie visits Eddie Maley, the prime suspect from years ago, to investigate the matter.
Boston, primarily Blackie's office and Farraday's police headquarters, with a visit to Eddie Maley's establishment · Boston Blackie, Mary, Crubble, Dick Farraday, Eddie Maley, Sam
Listen for: The mysterious delivery of a worn shoe worth $1,000, the connection to an old murder case, and Blackie's confrontation with the prime suspect Eddie Maley
Boston Blackie: The Peters Mix-up (1947)
Police fish a dead body from a lake with an identification card bearing Boston Blackie's name as the emergency contact. The body is identified as Walter Peters, a man Blackie claims never to have met. When a mysterious woman named Beth who runs a tugboat summons Blackie to her vessel, he discovers Peters alive and working on the boat, creating a bewildering mystery of doubled identities.
A lake, police headquarters, Boston Blackie's apartment, and a tugboat at the waterfront · Boston Blackie, Inspector Faraday, Mary, Beth, Walter Peters, Joe, Donnie, Dick Palmer
Listen for: The puzzle of Walter Peters appearing both dead and alive, and the cryptic warnings about what will happen if Peters shows up at Blackie's apartment at four o'clock
Boston Blackie: The Randolph Construction Gang Bank Robbery (1947)
When the Parkway Bank is robbed and a guard is shot dead, Boston Blackie discovers that the thieves used a phony street construction operation as cover for the heist. The criminals posed as street workers with a truck bearing distinctive license plates, and they covered their escape with the noise of street drilling. Blackie pursues the investigation, suspecting the robbery may be connected to a street commission employee named John Manders whose truck was reported stolen.
A city with the Parkway Bank on Sunset Parkway, street commission workshop, police office · Boston Blackie, Inspector Faraday, Harry the doorman, Williams the bank guard, John Manders, Mary
Listen for: A bank robbery disguised as street construction work, with Blackie hot on the trail of the real culprits and their use of false but distinctive license plates as a clue.
Boston Blackie: The Record Collector (1948)
When Boston Blackie visits Inspector Faraday at the police station, the Inspector reveals a series of robberies timed to requests played on disc jockey Jack Lascoulay's popular radio show. Someone calling himself a record collector has been phoning in song requests that coincide with holdups, using the radio program as a signal for a gang's next job. Blackie and the Inspector decide to monitor Lascoulay's broadcast to catch the criminal.
Boston, including the police station, Lascoulay's radio station studio, and various crime scenes around the city. · Boston Blackie, Inspector Faraday, Jack Lascoulay, The Record Collector, Guy Lombardo, Larry, Henry, Tony
Listen for: The mysterious phone calls from the record collector requesting specific songs, which are actually signals for the robbery gang. Listen for clues about which song request will signal the next crime.
Boston Blackie: The Rockwell Diamond (1946)
Boston Blackie is detained on a transcontinental flight when a young woman named Marie accuses him of stealing her grandfather's diamond. She later reveals the truth: she fabricated the theft accusation to reach Blackie, and now desperately needs his help to recover the Rockwell diamond, a valuable gem that was stolen from her apartment and must be returned before her fiancé George Atwater arrives back in town tomorrow night.
An airplane, a police station, Chicago, and the Atwater house · Boston Blackie, Marie, Inspector Farraday, George Atwater, Sergeant Rollins, Tony, Shorty
Listen for: Blackie's clever escape from custody and his investigation into who really stole the Rockwell diamond
Boston Blackie: The Search For Jim Gary (1947)
Boston Blackie receives a mysterious note directing him to meet John Rodney at 624 Chemistry Street, the very address where a major fire has just broken out. Meanwhile, a woman named Jean Marsh calls the police claiming she knows the identity of the serial arsonist terrorizing the city and has proof to back up her accusation.
A city plagued by a series of fires; the action includes a firehouse, Blackie's apartment, and the scene of a major fire at 624 Chemistry Street. · Boston Blackie, Mary Wesley, Lieutenant, Inspector Faraday, John Rodney, Jean Marsh, Joe
Listen for: The connection between the mysterious John Rodney note and the fire at the exact address Blackie is summoned to; Jean Marsh's revelation about the arsonist's identity; the search for John Rodney, who is the only missing tenant from the boarding house.
Boston Blackie: The Skating Rink Murders (1946)
A woman is found dead at a skating rink wearing an expensive diamond ring worth $50,000 that she never owned. Boston Blackie investigates when the victim's roommate identifies her as Jane Carter, but a man claiming to be her husband appears with a perfect alibi and a wedding certificate proving he gave her the ring as a gift.
A skating rink and surrounding locations in the city, including police headquarters and the Ludlow Hotel · Boston Blackie, Inspector Faraday, Mary, Martha Williams, Jane Carter, Jack Ellis, Janssen
Listen for: The mystery of why Jane Carter was murdered and who really placed the valuable ring on her finger, as Boston Blackie discovers the husband's alibi and address are fake.
Boston Blackie: The Stolen Car Ring (1946)
Boston Blackie helps his friend Mary Wesley report her stolen 1942 Buick convertible to Inspector Faraday. Meanwhile, a crooked garage operation run by Bill Morton is revealed to be systematically stealing cars, replacing their engines with motors from wrecked vehicles, and reselling them for profit. When Mary visits the garage looking to rent a car while hers is missing, Blackie discovers the connection between the theft ring and her stolen vehicle.
A city garage and police office · Boston Blackie, Mary Wesley, Inspector Faraday, Bill Morton, Tom, Pete, Harry
Listen for: The details of the stolen car ring's operation as Blackie uncovers how they swap engines and resell stolen vehicles.
Boston Blackie: The Stolen Rare Book (1946)
A valuable first edition of a rare book goes missing from the city library when its attendant suddenly collapses from knockout drops. Boston Blackie investigates when a young woman named Vivian Peterson is found alone in the vault, and suspicion falls on her connection to Harold Benson, a rare book dealer. The case takes a darker turn when Benson is found murdered.
A city library vault and surrounding locations including a rare book dealer's store · Boston Blackie, Jane Calvin, Vivian Peterson, Mary Wesley, Harold Benson, Inspector Faraday
Listen for: Boston Blackie's investigation into the theft of Brad Ray's Faust, a priceless first edition, and his discovery that the real culprit may not be who it first appears to be
Boston Blackie: The Twin Murders (1948)
Two people are shot dead at exactly midnight, twenty miles apart, but ballistics prove both bullets came from the same gun—an impossible crime that baffles the police. Boston Blackie investigates the connection between the victims: Carl Johnson, a man the police suspect was killed by someone named Bill King, and Sarah Adams, a former burlesque queen. As Blackie digs into their backgrounds, he uncovers a web of relationships and motives that might explain how one gun could kill two people simultaneously.
A city with a nightclub or theater district; police headquarters; various locations twenty miles apart where the murders occur. · Boston Blackie, Inspector Faraday, Bill King, Carl Johnson, Sarah Adams, Mac
Listen for: The clever premise of how a single gun fired at midnight could kill two people twenty miles away at the exact same time, and Blackie's investigation into the relationships between the victims and Bill King.
Boston Blackie: The Undersea Murder (1946)
Deep-sea divers discover a fortune in gold aboard a sunken ship, but the discovery turns deadly when one partner attempts to murder the other underwater. When the supposedly dead diver surfaces alive and vows revenge, his sister seeks out Boston Blackie to prevent a murder before it happens.
Boston, including an office, a waterfront house, and diving operations at a sunken ship called the Argus · Boston Blackie, Sarah Bronson, Bill Bronson, Larry Matthews, Charlie Kingston, Walter
Listen for: The tense confrontation between Sarah and her brother Bill after his near-fatal diving accident; Blackie's investigation into the dangerous triangle of the two divers and their valuable discovery; the mounting danger as Larry Matthews becomes the target of revenge.
Boston Blackie: The Valuable Door Buzzer (1947)
Boston Blackie investigates a mysterious door buzzer smuggled into the country by a man named Taylor, who received it from Pierre Lascale in Paris. When two criminals named Tom Downey and Joe Small learn that Taylor has the buzzer, they pursue him to obtain it, believing it opens a safe containing valuable items.
Paris and the United States, involving smuggling and a mysterious safe · Boston Blackie, Henry Taylor, Pierre Lascale, Tom Downey, Joe Small, Harry Johnson, Inspector
Listen for: The puzzle of what the simple door buzzer really opens and why it's so valuable that men will kill for it
Boston Blackie: The Wentworth Diamonds (1945)
A criminal syndicate plans to steal the Wentworth diamonds from the Manchester Museum during their transfer from the National Vaults, framing Boston Blackie for the heist by dressing one of their gunmen as him and planting evidence in his apartment. Blackie learns of the plot through his friend Shorty and must find a way to clear himself while staying in the city.
Boston, 1945. Various locations including Blackie's apartment, streets, and telephone calls. · Boston Blackie, Mary Wesley, Shorty, Inspector Faraday, Charles Kingston, Lady Wentworth
Listen for: The criminals' scheme to frame Boston Blackie unfolds through Shorty's warning and Blackie's attempts to reach Inspector Faraday. Blackie decides to stay in town despite pressure to leave, and calls his associate Charles Kingston in Chicago for help.
Boston Blackie: The William Larson Extortion Murder Case (1948)
William Larson, a wealthy man supporting his late brother's children, is being extorted by two criminals who demonstrate their seriousness by firing a rifle through his window. Desperate for help, Larson calls Boston Blackie to come to his house that evening. When Blackie arrives, he finds Larson dead, shot twice in the head while sitting in his library chair.
A town with a quiet residential neighborhood; Larson's house in Cedar Lane and its library · Boston Blackie, William Larson, Jane, Roger, Kerry, Inspector, Harry, Jim
Listen for: The extortionists demonstrate their deadly intent; Larson's urgent plea for Blackie's help; the discovery of Larson dead in his library chair with two bullet wounds to the head.
Boston Blackie: The Winthrop Jewel Robberies (1946)
Insurance agent Emo Barnes enlists Boston Blackie to solve a baffling theft at the Winthrop Jewelry Company, where diamonds are disappearing almost daily from the workroom. Three diamond setters work in the shop, and all three are thoroughly searched at the end of each day, yet the diamonds vanish without a trace. Blackie goes undercover as a new employee to uncover how the thief is smuggling the gems out of the supposedly secure operation.
The Winthrop Jewelry Company workroom on the twelfth floor of a building overlooking the river, early 1940s · Boston Blackie, Emo Barnes, Shorty, Hans Van Hooten, John Glass, Jim Aldrich, Mr. Winthrop, Miss Winthrop
Listen for: Blackie's clever deductions as he examines the workroom for clues, his banter with his sidekick Shorty, and the tense interactions between the three suspects as they accuse one another of the thefts
Boston Blackie: The Worthington Ghost (1946)
Boston Blackie takes in a terrified maid named Madeline Burns who claims to have seen a ghost at the Worthington mansion. After calming her down at his apartment with help from nurse Mary Wesley, Blackie and his partner Shorty visit the mansion to investigate, where they find Mrs. Worthington, a former concert pianist, who dismisses Madeline's claims as hysteria. When Blackie returns to his apartment, he discovers that Madeline has died under mysterious circumstances while in his care.
Oakland, California - Blackie's apartment and the Worthington mansion · Boston Blackie, Shorty, Mary Wesley, Madeline Burns, Mrs. Worthington, Inspector Faraday
Listen for: The investigation into what really frightened the maid and the circumstances surrounding her sudden death
Boston Blackie: The Worthington Pearls (1945)
When the stolen Worthington pearls turn up in Boston Blackie's raincoat pocket during a police search, Blackie must figure out how they got there and who really stole them before both Inspector Faraday and the dangerous Duke track him down demanding the jewels.
Boston Blackie's apartment and surrounding locations in the city · Boston Blackie, Inspector Faraday, Shorty, Mary Wesley, Duke, Johnny
Listen for: The clever banter between Blackie and Inspector Faraday as Blackie talks his way out of suspicion, and the escalating danger when Duke confronts Blackie over the missing pearls.
Boston Blackie: Tom Evers Murder With An Alibi (1946)
Boston Blackie receives a visit from John Blake, who boasts that he will murder a man named Thomas Evers and challenges Blackie to prove he did it. When Evers is found shot dead shortly after, Blackie must determine whether Blake is truly responsible and how he managed to commit the crime with such a bold announcement beforehand.
Boston Blackie's apartment, Thomas Evers' home, and various locations around the city · Boston Blackie, John Blake, Mary Wesley, Inspector Faraday, Thomas Evers, Bill Johnson, Evers' brother
Listen for: A clever murderer's challenge, a phone conversation interrupted by gunshots, and the discovery of a murder weapon hidden in leaves
Boston Blackie: Tom Walton Escapes (1948)
Tom Walton, a dangerous criminal, has escaped police custody while being transported and is heading back to the city seeking revenge on Boston Blackie. When Walton captures Blackie, he demands a $10,000 ransom from Blackie's girlfriend Mary Wesley, threatening to kill him if the money isn't delivered.
A city with Blackie's apartment, police headquarters, and various urban locations connected by phone · Boston Blackie, Mary Wesley, Henry Lewis, Joe, Tom Walton, Sal, Inspector
Listen for: The tense cat-and-mouse game between Blackie and the escaped criminal Walton, the ransom demand, and Blackie's attempts to escape from his captors
Boston Blackie: Tv Poisoning (1945)
During a televised civic forum broadcast, council member Baxter dies suddenly on camera, apparently poisoned. Inspector Faraday suspects Boston Blackie, who was present at the event, but Blackie learns from Baxter's secretary that the dead man was about to expose city councilman Ralph Thomas for illegally farming out municipal contracts. Blackie sets out to confront Thomas before Faraday does, suspecting the poisoning may have been orchestrated at a dinner held at Thomas's house earlier that evening.
A television studio broadcasting a civic forum, and various locations around the city including Thomas's home and bowling alley. · Boston Blackie, Inspector Faraday, Mary Wesley, Baxter, Ralph Thomas, Rex Daniels, Mr. Waters, Charlie Kingston
Listen for: The intriguing premise of a murder committed live on television, and Blackie's race against Faraday to uncover the truth about Thomas's corruption.
Boston Blackie: Uncle Frank Murdered By Joe Parker (1946)
When Uncle Frank Wilson is murdered on a Tuesday afternoon, police suspect his nephew Joe Parker, who stands to inherit. Parker claims he was fixing plumbing at his landlord's apartment all day Tuesday, and his alibi appears to hold when the landlord confirms it. Boston Blackie, convinced of Parker's guilt, must uncover the truth behind this seemingly perfect alibi.
Boston, including an apartment building and police headquarters · Boston Blackie, Joe Parker, Uncle Frank Wilson, Inspector Farraday, Aunt Margaret, Lucky, Tilly Blaine, Diana Larson
Listen for: Boston Blackie's investigation into Joe Parker's alibi and his suspicions that something doesn't add up in the murder case.
Boston Blackie: Voice Impersonator (1946)
Boston Blackie receives a visit from Jim Martin, who asks to borrow ten thousand dollars and then claims he needs to borrow something else—Blackie's voice. An actor named Tom Jenkins practices imitating Blackie's distinctive speech patterns. Using the imitation, Jenkins makes phone calls pretending to be Blackie, telling Mike Burns that Jim Martin plans to kill him and directing Burns to an abandoned gas station, where police are waiting in ambush. When Burns survives the trap and discovers what happened, he arrives at Blackie's place seeking revenge, convinced that Blackie himself orchestrated the setup.
A city theater, Boston Blackie's apartment, and an abandoned gas station on Route 20 · Boston Blackie, Jim Martin, Tom Jenkins, Mike Burns, Inspector Faraday, Mary, Tony
Listen for: The repeated voice imitation practice sessions as Tom Jenkins perfects his impersonation of Boston Blackie's distinctive saying, 'So long, keep your head on the water'; the phone calls made using the fake Blackie voice; and the confrontation at Blackie's apartment when Mike Burns arrives seeking vengeance.
Boston Blackie: Wind Blows West (1948)
Three men are murdered, each connected to the bestselling book "The Wind Blows West" by author John Gaylord. Boston Blackie investigates the mysterious killings and seeks to discover the author's real identity, suspecting the answer holds the key to stopping a fourth murder.
A city bookshop, a publisher's office, and various locations around town in the present day. · Boston Blackie, Mary, John Gaylord, Alfred Copeland, Joe Park, Ginny, Coco
Listen for: Boston Blackie's investigation into why readers of a bestselling book are being systematically murdered, and his efforts to uncover the true identity of the mysterious author.
Boston Blackie: Wrestling Ring Murder (1948)
When a promising young wrestler named Tiny Mountain makes his debut against the established champion Stretcher Lewis at the local arena, Lewis is found dead in his dressing room after the match. Boston Blackie arrives on the scene as Inspector Faraday investigates the murder, with suspicion falling on the powerful newcomer.
A wrestling arena and hotel in the city, including the dressing rooms and lobby. · Boston Blackie, Tiny Mountain, Inspector Faraday, Bill Chase, Henry, John Farber, Stretcher Lewis, Mary
Listen for: The wrestling match sequence, the discovery of Stretcher Lewis's body, and Boston Blackie's interactions with Inspector Faraday as the investigation begins.
Boston Blackie: Xx-xx-xxxxx Who Killed John Davis
Boston Blackie investigates the death of John Davis, who was stabbed in his home. Inspector Faraday had offered Davis police protection after escaped convict Barton threatened to kill both Davis and Ross for their testimony against him at trial, but Davis was murdered before protection could be arranged. Blackie must determine who killed Davis and why.
Boston, at Davis's home and police locations · Boston Blackie, Inspector Faraday, Barton, Davis, Ross, Mary, Doc
Listen for: Blackie's investigation into Davis's murder and his discovery that Barton, the obvious suspect, may not be the killer; the mystery of who searched Davis's home and what they were looking for.
Broadway Is My Beat: 125 episode guides
Broadway is My Beat: A Fixed Prize Fight (1949)
Detective Danny Clover visits Stilman's gymnasium and watches young welterweight fighter Barry Rogan prepare for an important bout at Madison Square Garden on Friday night. When Clover later learns that the syndicate and a mysterious businessman called Big Sig are in town, he begins to suspect something sinister may be connected to Rogan's upcoming fight.
New York City, primarily around Times Square, a boxing gymnasium, and various locations where Detective Clover makes inquiries · Detective Danny Clover, Barry Rogan, Jack Jackson, Louise Lindsay, Tony Florida, Big Sig
Listen for: The detective's growing concern about Barry Rogan's involvement with Louise Lindsay and the revelation that the syndicate has interest in Friday's fight
Broadway is My Beat: Buddy Malpaugh and the Jeweled Scimitar (1951)
Detective Danny Clover and Sergeant Gino investigate when millionaire Buddy Malpaugh is slugged and robbed of a jeweled scimitar belonging to Genghis Khan. The case leads them through Philadelphia detective Mike Shrek, a mysterious woman named Rima IX, and a master criminal named Lance Lash who seems always one step ahead. As Christmas approaches on Broadway, the detectives must unravel a complex web of deception to recover the priceless artifact.
New York City, particularly Broadway and its surroundings, including police headquarters, Buddy Malpaugh's apartment, the Stacey Arms hotel, and a museum featuring Far Eastern artifacts. The episode takes place during the Christmas season. · Detective Danny Clover, Sergeant Gino Tataglia, Buddy Malpaugh, Mike Shrek, Rima IX, Mr. Zowe, Lance Lash, Dr. Sinsky
Listen for: The interplay between Detective Clover and the eager but desk-bound Sergeant Gino, who dreams of going out on a real case; the appearances of the boastful Philadelphia detective Mike Shrek with his tall tales about the Philadelphia-Camden Bridge; the revelation of the fake scimitar and the true location of the genuine article; and the final confrontation with the master criminal Lance Lash.
Broadway is My Beat: Joan Ellen's Body (1953)
Detective Danny Covener investigates a murder when a young woman named Georgie is found dead in the trunk of a stolen car. The car was taken by a girl from North Dakota who borrowed it for a joyride, but the real mystery deepens when Covener learns the vehicle belonged to a friend of Joan Allen, a beautiful woman whose husband Robert is a wealthy art collector and historian.
New York City, primarily Broadway and a police headquarters, with a visit to the Allen apartment filled with classical art and antiquities · Detective Danny Covener, Margarita, Georgie, Joan Allen, Robert Allen
Listen for: The atmospheric opening describing Broadway as a detective's beat, the interrogation of the young car thief, and Covener's visit to the elegant Allen household where he learns about Joan's complicated relationships
Broadway is My Beat: Laugh-A-Minute Tyler (1953)
Detective McCarthy investigates the murder of Tyler Gosdon, a practical joker found beaten to death in an alley behind West Third Street. As McCarthy questions those who knew the victim, he discovers Tyler had connections to at least two women and uncovers a web of relationships and conflicts that may have led to his death.
New York City, including the Lane Hotel on West 39th Street, a city morgue, an alley behind West Third Street, and an apartment on East 58th Street near the East River · Detective McCarthy, Mr. Dorsey, Mr. Clover, Tyler Gosden, Miss Tankersley, A woman at the hotel, Valerie Moore
Listen for: The discovery of Tyler's body and the initial questioning of hotel staff and acquaintances who knew him as a prankster and ladies' man; the emergence of Valerie Moore as a person of interest.
Broadway is My Beat: Nick Norman and Santa Claus (1949)
Detective Danny Mallory arranges for Nick Norman, an ex-con safe cracker recently released from prison, to play Santa Claus at the Police Athletic League's Christmas party. When a warehouse owner demands $750 in overdue rent before the party can proceed, Danny must find a way to save the children's celebration while keeping a close eye on his reformed criminal Santa.
New York City police headquarters and the streets of Broadway on Christmas Eve, with a children's Christmas party planned at a warehouse clubhouse. · Danny Mallory, Nick Norman, Marty Weddnick, Sergeant Tagglia, Macrulen Curcio
Listen for: The ironic tension between giving an ex-safe cracker a second chance as Santa Claus and the complications that arise when duty, trust, and Christmas spirit collide.
Broadway is My Beat: Spring Death Is `Round the Corner (1953)
Detective Danny Clover investigates when an old man named Harry Carson is found catatonic in a rooming house, clutching a fired .38 caliber gun and refusing to speak. The detective discovers that Carson's successful lawyer son, Robert, sends his father $150 weekly, but a bank clerk reveals the old man hands the money over to an unknown person every Monday at a street corner. When a man is found shot with a .38, Clover must uncover the connection between the silent father, the secretive money transfers, and the murder.
New York City, Broadway area; a rooming house; Robert Carson's apartment building; a bank; police headquarters and morgue · Detective Danny Clover, Harry Carson, Robert Carson (Bob), Dr. Finsky, Lieutenant Denison, Bank clerk Mr. Whitfield
Listen for: The atmospheric opening describing spring coming to Broadway; the mystery of why Harry Carson won't speak; the revelation of the weekly Monday money handoff at a street corner; the discovery of the murder victim
Broadway is My Beat: The Alice Mayo Murder Case (1952)
Detective Danny Clover responds to an anonymous call reporting a murder at the 18th Hotel. He finds Alice Mayo dead in her apartment, and her husband Fred reveals that Alice had recently befriended a man named Ernie Britt at a local dance club. Clover begins investigating Ernie's whereabouts, discovering that Ernie made preparations that evening—ordering flowers and getting groomed—suggesting he had a significant appointment at nine o'clock.
New York City Broadway, from Times Square to Columbus Circle; the 18th Hotel; the Regency Friendship Club; a barbershop; detective headquarters · Detective Danny Clover, Fred Mayo, Alice Mayo, Ernie Britt, Detective Muckerman, Mr. Mann, Dance club manager, Barber
Listen for: The investigation unfolds as Clover traces Ernie Britt's movements on the night of Alice Mayo's murder, following clues about a mysterious nine o'clock appointment and his preparations to see someone named Alice.
Broadway is My Beat: The Amelia Lane Murder Case (1952)
Detective Danny Clover investigates the murder of Amelia Lane, a librarian at the Bentley Foundation, who was shot with a 25-caliber weapon at close range. He begins questioning those who visited the library the day before, starting with a young university student, a professor of romance languages, and others on the withdrawal list.
New York City, primarily the Bentley Foundation library and the university, in November · Danny Clover, detective, Amelia Lane, librarian, Abby Forrest, university student, Dr. Lebering, professor, Michael Brady
Listen for: The investigation unfolds through interviews with people who had contact with the victim, revealing details about her character and the circumstances surrounding her death.
Broadway is My Beat: The Amelia Ramirez Murder Case (1950)
Detective Danny Clover investigates the murder of Emilio Ramirez, a young Puerto Rican man found stabbed during evening prayers in a storefront chapel in Spanish Harlem. With the help of Detective Johnny, who grew up in the neighborhood, Clover begins tracking down leads about the victim's life, his living situation, and his connection to a local establishment called the Casa of Lady Luck.
Spanish Harlem (the Barrio) in New York City, including tenement buildings on 99th Street, a storefront chapel, and the Casa of Lady Luck gambling joint on 96th Street · Danny Clover, Johnny, Contuarius, Martinez, Lady Luck (referenced)
Listen for: The atmospheric noir opening describing Broadway at dusk; the cultural tensions and language barriers in the immigrant community; the clues surrounding Emilio's life and why he was placed at the gambling establishment
Broadway is My Beat: The Andrew Jenkins Case (1949)
A young man named Andrew Jenkins disappears from a New York hotel on his wedding anniversary after leaving to buy his wife a surprise present. Detective Danny Clover investigates when Mrs. Jenkins reports him missing, tracing his steps to a pawn shop where he purchased an old-fashioned gold watch at an auction, only to find that he left the shop with two other men and hasn't been seen since.
New York City, Times Square and Broadway, a police precinct, and a pawn shop · Detective Danny Clover, Mrs. Jenkins, Andrew Jenkins, Eddie the pawn shop owner, Sergeant, two unknown men
Listen for: The mystery of why Andrew Jenkins left with two strangers after buying a watch, and what happened to him afterward.
Broadway is My Beat: The Ann Cornell Murder Case (1950)
A man riding a sightseeing bus witnesses a murder through a window—a woman being strangled in an apartment near 35th Street and 1st Avenue. Detective Danny Voker investigates and discovers the victim is Ann Cornell, an eighteen-year-old piano student from Iowa who came to the city a month ago to study at a music school. As Voker questions those who knew her, he begins piecing together the circumstances of her death.
New York City, including a sightseeing bus, an apartment near 35th Street and 1st Avenue, police headquarters, and a music school · Detective Danny Voker, Mr. Goodwin, Muggie, Sandy McKay, Mrs. Spence, Alonzo, Blanche
Listen for: A piano student's murder witnessed from a passing bus, and the detective's investigation into the lives of those who knew her
Broadway is My Beat: The Anna Compton Murder Case (1951)
A woman's body is discovered in a car parked on Broadway, shot once in the back. Detective Danny Clover traces the vehicle's registration to Edward Bishop and learns that the victim, Anna Compton, has been having an affair with him. When Clover visits Anna's husband Leo in New Rochelle, Leo reveals that he discovered the affair through an expensive bracelet and even paid Bishop $200 for it—yet Anna left with Bishop anyway.
New York City, primarily Broadway and the surrounding neighborhoods, with a scene in New Rochelle at the Compton home and the Hunter Galleries on the Avenue of the Americas. · Detective Danny Clover, Edward Bishop, Anna Compton, Leo Compton, Officer Captain, Doc, Edward Bishop's roommate, Bishop's employer
Listen for: The atmospheric opening narration capturing Broadway at dawn, the discovery of the body in the parked car, and the revelation of the affair through Leo Compton's account of the expensive bracelet and his payment to Bishop.
Broadway is My Beat: The Artie Blanchard Case (1953)
Detective Denison investigates the death of Artie Blanchard, found on the marquee of the Hotel Marquis with counterfeit money in his pockets. Blanchard's partner Joe Tobin reveals they came to the city together to buy a filling station, and Denison discovers Blanchard had been with widow Dorothy Miller the night before, who was selling her late husband's filling station to him.
New York City, Times Square area; the Hotel Marquis and surrounding streets; a widow's home · Detective Denison, Artie Blanchard, Joe Tobin, Hotel Manager Hockstater, Mrs. Dorothy Miller, Danny
Listen for: The detective's investigation into whether Blanchard jumped or was pushed, the significance of the counterfeit money found on the body, and Mrs. Miller's connection to the victim and the filling station deal.
Broadway is My Beat: The Barbara Hunt Murder Case (1953)
Police detective Danny Clover investigates an attempted murder on New York's Broadway. A woman named Barbara Hunt is found shot in her upstairs apartment by a real estate agent, and Clover begins interviewing those connected to her, including the rental broker Tierney, her husband Nick Hunt, and a friend named Mrs. Billy Scott.
New York City, including an apartment building on East Sixtieth Street and a real estate broker's office · Danny Clover, police detective, Barbara Hunt, shooting victim, Mr. Adams, real estate client, John Tierney, real estate broker, Nicki Hunt, Barbara's husband, Mrs. Billy Scott, Barbara's friend
Listen for: The mysterious circumstances surrounding Barbara Hunt's past as a dancer from the 1920s and why someone would want to harm her now.
Broadway is My Beat: The Barton Russell Murder Case (1953)
Detective Danny Clover is summoned to the East River where a cabin cruiser named Pitcairn is found adrift with blood aboard but no one on deck. The boat belongs to Barton Russell, a wealthy man prone to minor legal troubles. With Russell missing and his boat discovered empty and bloodstained, Clover begins investigating his disappearance by questioning Russell's current wife Ethel, her Uncle Stanley Taggart, and gathering background on Russell's past.
New York City, primarily the East River waterfront and the homes of the wealthy, in the early morning hours of a spring day · Danny Clover, Detective, Ethel Russell, Barton Russell, Uncle Stanley Taggart, Anderson, Sergeant Gorkin
Listen for: The moody opening narration about Broadway and the discovery of the abandoned, blood-stained cabin cruiser; the interviews with Mrs. Russell and her uncle about Barton's whereabouts; the revelation of Russell's previous marriage and divorce settlement
Broadway is My Beat: The Ben Elliot Murder Case (1950)
Detective Danny Cauber investigates when Rhoda Flynn, convinced her father was poisoned despite a coroner's report and exhumation proving otherwise, repeatedly comes to him for help. The case takes a new turn when Dr. Bernard Burke, Rhoda's stepfather, reports that expensive gold used for dental work has been stolen from his office, and reveals that Rhoda hired private investigator Ben Elliot to look into the theft rather than reporting it to police.
New York City, primarily Broadway and the surrounding neighborhoods; a dental office run by Dr. Burke on 147th Street · Detective Danny Cauber, Sergeant Taggley, Rhoda Flynn, Dr. Bernard Burke, Mildred Burke, Ben Elliot, Frank Norman
Listen for: The complex family dynamics between Rhoda, her mother Mildred, and stepfather Dr. Burke; the stolen dental gold and its connection to Rhoda's obsession with her father's death; Frank Norman and his relationship with Rhoda.
Broadway is My Beat: The Ben Justin Murder Case (1950)
Detective Danny Clover investigates the murder of Ben Justin, a former insurance investigator shot in an alley. Justin dies before revealing who shot him, leaving Clover to piece together the case by interviewing his widow, his former employer at Imperial Insurance, and the Reed siblings—a young couple acquitted of murdering Mrs. Colton, a case Justin had investigated.
New York City, primarily Broadway and surrounding locations including police headquarters, Justin's apartment on West 86th Street, Imperial Insurance Company offices on lower Broadway, and the Reed residence. · Danny Clover, Ben Justin, Evelyn Justin, Mr. Colvin, Johnny Reed, Doddy Reed
Listen for: The investigation unfolds through a series of interviews that reveal Ben Justin's suspicious connection to the Reed siblings and his mysterious role in a high-profile murder case. The detective must determine if his newfound friendship with the acquitted pair had a deadly cost.
Broadway is My Beat: The Bob Foster Murder Case (1952)
Detective Danny Clover discovers the skeleton of Bob Foster buried in the cellar of a condemned building scheduled for demolition. Foster disappeared five years ago after allegedly stealing his nightclub partner's payroll. The investigation leads Clover to Joe Turner, Foster's former partner at the Blue Sheen nightclub, who has since become a broken man living on skid row.
New York City, November; a condemned nightclub building being demolished, a skid row bar called the Jukebox and Fat Cat, and Ms. Devlin's apartment · Detective Danny Clover, Bob Foster, Joe Turner, Aggie Blaine, Ms. Devlin
Listen for: The noir atmosphere of Broadway at night, Joe Turner's fractured confessions about Foster's theft and the nightclub's failure, and Detective Clover's methodical questioning as the mystery unfolds
Broadway is My Beat: The Celia Jordan Murder Case (1950)
Detective Danny Clover investigates the disappearance of Celia Jordan after finding blood stains in her apartment. Her wealthy suitor Paul Chelsea claims she's been killed, suspecting a man named Cliff Moore, an army veteran recently discharged for mental reasons who had once dated Celia. Clover tracks down Cliff and discovers he spent the previous evening with Celia, but Cliff's account of their time together remains evasive.
New York City in summer, including Celia Jordan's apartment, a bar on Third Avenue, and a hotel on 70th Street · Danny Clover, Paul Chelsea, Celia Jordan, Cliff Moore, Detective Mugerman, Charlie the bartender
Listen for: A classic noir investigation with atmospheric descriptions of summer heat on Broadway, the detective's matter-of-fact approach to questioning, and mounting tension around the missing woman and the mysterious Cliff Moore
Broadway is My Beat: The Charles Crandall Murder Case (1951)
A man is found dead in an alley near Solly's bar with only an expensive wristwatch and a parking ticket in his pockets. Detective Clover traces the parking ticket to Charles Crandall, a longshoreman, and brings him to the morgue to identify the body. Crandall denies knowing the dead man but reveals he was at Solly's bar the previous night, where a mysterious girl named Helen approached him after he confided in the bartender about needing money for an engagement ring.
Broadway and Times Square area of New York City, including an alley near Solly's bar on Third Avenue, a rooming house on West 17th Street, police headquarters, and a morgue. · Detective Clover, Charles Crandall, Muggaben, The landlady, Rosemary, Solly, Helen
Listen for: The atmospheric opening description of Broadway, the discovery of the body in the alley, and Crandall's evasive responses when confronted with the dead man's identity.
Broadway is My Beat: The Charles and Jane Kimball Murder Case (1950)
Detective Danny Clover investigates the discovery of a car pulled from the East River containing the bodies of newlyweds Charles and Jane Kimball, who were shot multiple times. The couple, married just two days earlier and heading to Niagara Falls, were found with bullet holes in their chests, yet the car shows no sign of crashing through the bridge's guard rail despite being submerged thirty feet underwater.
New York City, primarily around the East River and the Miller family home, during the discovery and investigation of a murder case. · Danny Clover, Sergeant Tautaglia, Mrs. Miller, Ben Miller, Charles Kimball, Jane Kimball
Listen for: The atmospheric opening describing Broadway's neon landscape; the mystery of how a car entered the river without damaging the bridge; Danny Clover's questioning of the grieving parents about their daughter and son-in-law.
Broadway is My Beat: The David Blaine Murder Case (1951)
Detective Danny is called to a luxury apartment building where David Blaine lies dead from a gunshot wound on the fourth floor. While Miss Carol mourns her fiancé and insists he killed himself out of shame over a secret, the medical examiner raises a troubling question: if Blaine died in a rigid muscle spasm with his arms at right angles, how did the gun end up on the floor instead of in his hand?
A luxury apartment building on Broadway in New York City, primarily the detective's office and the building where David Blaine is found dead · Danny, Miss Carol, Dr. Sinsky, Richard Fallon, Mr. Blaine
Listen for: The medical examiner's crucial observation about the gun's location and the victim's body position, which casts doubt on the suicide theory
Broadway is My Beat: The Dion Hartley Murder Case (1950)
Detective Danny Clover receives an urgent summons to the apartment of Dion Hartley, a wealthy magazine satirist who claims he will be murdered within a week. Hartley reveals he has deliberately manipulated a group of people into emotional turmoil for his own amusement and now wants Clover to prevent his death while he watches the drama unfold like a play. Clover begins investigating the suspects Hartley hints at, including a writer named Camden Drake and a woman named Joan York.
New York City, primarily Manhattan including Dion Hartley's luxurious apartment in a prestigious neighborhood and Gramercy Park. · Detective Danny Clover, Dion Hartley, Camden Drake, Joan York
Listen for: The peculiar dynamics between Clover and Hartley as Hartley describes his cruel emotional games, and the cryptic references to various people who might want Hartley dead, particularly the revelation about Joan York.
Broadway is My Beat: The Dr Robbie Mc Clure Murder Case (1949)
Police Lieutenant Danny Clover investigates the murder of Dr. Robbie McClure, who is found dead in police headquarters with a gunshot wound from what appears to be a .22 caliber weapon. The case takes a curious turn when Clover learns that McClure left his office late at night with a striking woman, visiting a wealthy eccentric toy manufacturer named Mr. Fletcher who claims to be McClure's patient.
New York City, including police headquarters, Dr. McClure's office building, a taxi cab, and Mr. Fletcher's elaborate mansion decorated with nursery rhyme murals. · Lieutenant Danny Clover, Dr. Robbie McClure, Sergeant Tagglea, Pippett the night watchman, Irv the cab driver, Rose, Mr. Fletcher
Listen for: The atmospheric opening that establishes Broadway as the detective's beat, the peculiar description of Mr. Fletcher's fantastical toy-filled mansion, and the mystery of the unknown woman who accompanied Dr. McClure to Fletcher's house.
Broadway is My Beat: The Dr Robert Stafford Murder Case (1950)
Detective Danny Clover responds to a murder at the Ramsey Apartments where a well-dressed man is found shot dead in an elevator. With no identification on the body, Clover begins questioning the building's residents to uncover the victim's identity and motive for murder.
The Ramsey Apartments in New York City, spanning the elevator, apartments on the sixth floor, and police headquarters. · Detective Danny Clover, Eddie Amboy, elevator operator, Mary Conrad, Martha, Jonathan Quill, Harold Black
Listen for: The elevator operator Eddie Amboy's account of finding the body, and the suspicious reactions of the apartment tenants when shown the victim's photograph.
Broadway is My Beat: The Earl Lawson Murder Case (1951)
On a June day in Times Square, wealthy stockbroker Earl Lawson is found stabbed to death in the crowd. Detective Clover investigates the case, questioning Lawson's brother who is a social worker and claims he was having brunch when the murder occurred. A photograph taken at Times Square captures the image of a man with a knife, identified as Ray Brewer, a man recently discharged from a county hospital for incurables where he was dying of a heart condition.
Times Square and the homes of the wealthy Lawson family in New York City · Detective Clover, Earl Lawson, Lawson's brother, Peggy Drake, Ray Brewer, Sergeant Taglium, Danny, Mugga-man
Listen for: The vivid description of Times Square on a summer day and the detective's methodical investigation as he tracks down clues from a photograph taken at the scene.
Broadway is My Beat: The Elaine Hill Murder Case (1950)
Detective Danny Clover arrives at an expensive hotel to find Elaine Hill, a perfume demonstrator, murdered in a guest's room. A salesman named Jeffries claims he discovered her body after taking a shower, and a bellboy allegedly witnesses his innocence. As Clover investigates, he uncovers mysterious circumstances surrounding the girl's death, including a cryptic visit to Room 302 the week before that left her in tears.
An expensive hotel in New York City, spanning a guest room, the lobby, and a detective's office. · Danny Clover, Joe Graham, Mr. Jeffries, Elaine Hill, Fred Chandler, Anna Lee, Laszlo
Listen for: The detective's methodical questioning as he sifts through contradictory accounts and suspicious details. Pay attention to the mystery caller in Room 302 and what frightened Elaine Hill in the days before her death.
Broadway is My Beat: The Eleanor Corbett Murder Case (1951)
Detective Danny Clover investigates the murder of a young woman found beaten and thrown from a tenement building. The victim is identified as Eleanor Corbett, the wife of a man who claims he didn't know she had gone out the night before. As Clover questions residents and follows leads, a suspect emerges in the form of Al Martin, a man who saw the victim and whose roommate Frank Hager reveals Martin left town hastily for California.
A tenement neighborhood on Broadway in New York City, with scenes including a backyard where the body is found, tenement rooms, police offices, and a workplace. · Danny Clover, Detective Muckerman, Mr. Corbett, Eleanor Corbett, Lusk, Al Martin, Frank Hager, Mrs. Bob
Listen for: The atmospheric opening describing the Broadway moon and tenement life; the discovery of the body and initial investigation; the identification of the victim through her husband; the questioning of building residents and the suspicious disappearance of Al Martin to California.
Broadway is My Beat: The Elizabeth Price Murder Case (1951)
Detective Danny Clover investigates the death of Elizabeth Price, a lonely woman from Vermont who dies at a Manhattan hotel from poisoning. When a jazz singer named Billy Bailey is also found dead, stabbed in his apartment, Clover must uncover the connection between the two murders and find the killer before another life is lost.
New York City: police headquarters, the Region Hotel, Club Domino in Greenwich Village, and various street locations; also references to Middlesex, Vermont · Detective Danny Clover, Elizabeth Price, Johnny Price, Shaw, Mr. Miller, Billy Bailey, Dr. Stensky, Night clerk
Listen for: The atmospheric opening and closing narration that captures the mood of Broadway at night; the tender interrogation of the grieving seventeen-year-old Johnny; the revelation of the killer's motive rooted in family loyalty and loss.
Broadway is My Beat: The Eugene Bullock Murder Case (1949)
Detective Danny Clover is called to Primrose Sanitarium where an unidentified man has been brought in with a fatal knife wound. The man dies before he can be identified. When Clover begins investigating, he discovers the dead man is Eugene Bullock, a visitor to New York whose wife reports he went out the previous evening to meet with a man named Ethan Brancher. Clover visits Brancher at his elaborate tropical-themed home to question him about the meeting.
New York City, primarily a sanitarium in Harlem and Ethan Brancher's tropical-themed apartment on Gramercy Park · Danny Clover, Dr. William Elre, O'Hara S. Vesper, Mrs. Eugene Bullock, Ethan Brancher
Listen for: A mysterious unidentified stabbing victim whose identity leads the detective to a wealthy man with secrets from his past involving a stolen pearl and a South Seas island.
Broadway is My Beat: The Eve Hunter Murder Case (1952)
Detective Danny Clover investigates the murder of Eve Hunter, a young woman found stabbed with a matador's sword in a room in Spanish Harlem. The case leads him to Juan Cinto, a famous Spanish bullfighter, and the various people in his circle who all had connections to the victim.
New York City, primarily Spanish Harlem and Park Avenue, with references to events in Spain · Detective Danny Clover, Eve Hunter, Ted Hunter, Juan Cinto, Cadiz, Senora Cinto, Nicholas Minacho, Valdez
Listen for: The distinctive noir narration that frames the story with poetic descriptions of Broadway and the barrio; the Spanish language dialogue and the tensions between the characters; the revelation of the killer's identity in the final confrontation.
Broadway is My Beat: The Francie Green Murder Case (1950)
Detective Danny Clover investigates threats against Francie Green, a 20-year-old cigarette girl who has survived two murder attempts in days. When Francie is hospitalized after being pushed toward a subway train, Clover learns she may be connected to the recent murder of Joe Padget at the Oasis nightclub, where she works. The detective pursues leads that point toward Ray Fennell, a projectionist who was in jail the night of Padget's murder but has a suspicious relationship with the victim's widow.
Broadway in New York City, including the Oasis nightclub, a hospital, and a movie theater on 42nd Street · Danny Clover, Francie Green, Dr. Sinsky, Henry Miller, Joe Padget, Mrs. Padget, Ray Fennell, Detective Mugamun
Listen for: The atmospheric opening describing Broadway as Detective Clover's beat, the mystery of who wants Francie Green dead, and the interrogation of Ray Fennell in the projection booth
Broadway is My Beat: The Frank Briscoe Murder Case (1950)
Detective Danny Clover investigates the murder of Frank Briscoe, found shot in his apartment hotel room. A waste basket fire attracts the manager's attention, and a mysterious phone caller named Eddie Cutler is on the line when Clover arrives. The case deepens when a young woman named Della Sloan, who had briefly checked into the same building, is found murdered in her apartment across town.
New York City: Broadway, Times Square, apartment hotels, employment agency in the Empire State Building, drugstore, police headquarters · Detective Danny Clover, Frank Briscoe, Sylvia Briscoe, Eddie Cutler, Della Sloan, the manager, Taglier, Joseph Petty
Listen for: A clever trap set by Sylvia Briscoe and Eddie Cutler to frame each other for the murders they committed together, with Clover piecing together the pattern of the crimes through a chance phone call that repeats the killer's method.
Broadway is My Beat: The Frank Conway Murder Case (1950)
Detective Danny Clover investigates the murder of Frank Conway, a Texan found shot in a hotel room at the Olympian Hotel. The room belongs to Henry Sherwood, who lent it to a man named Eddie Donald while away in Cleveland. Clover must track down Eddie Donald and uncover his connection to the dead man and a mysterious woman named Liz Nelson.
New York City, particularly Broadway and the Olympian Hotel; also LaGuardia Airport and various locations around the city. · Detective Danny Clover, Matthew Porter, Frank Conway, Henry Sherwood, Eddie Donald, Mom (Mrs. Toby), Magna, Liz Nelson
Listen for: The atmospheric opening describing Broadway at dawn, the discovery of the body in the hotel room, and Clover's interviews with the hotel staff and suspects as he pieces together the mystery.
Broadway is My Beat: The George Lane Murder Case (1953)
Detective Danny Clover investigates the stabbing of George Lane, a wealthy businessman found critically wounded in a cheap hotel room registered under a false name. Lane had attended a dinner party at his employee Harry Webster's home the previous evening, where he entertained the family and offered to escort Webster's daughter Sylvia home afterward. Now Clover must determine who wielded the knife and why someone wanted the prominent businessman dead.
Broadway in New York City, a cheap hotel called the Duane Hotel, the Webster family home, and a record shop on 58th Street · Detective Danny Clover, Detective Denison, George Lane, Harry Webster, Mrs. Webster, Sylvia Webster, Hotel Clerk, Mr. Sussman
Listen for: The distinctive noir narration that opens and closes scenes, establishing the atmosphere of Broadway; details about Lane's activities the night before and his relationships with those around him; clues about why someone would want him dead.
Broadway is My Beat: The Georgia Gray Murder Case (1951)
Detective Danny Clover responds to a murder at a Broadway dance palace where Georgia Gray, a young dancer, has been stabbed with a jackknife. Georgia dies before revealing her killer's identity, but evidence points to Nicky Gannon, a dancer with ties to Broadway's underworld. Danny investigates whether Nicky killed his former girlfriend out of jealousy or if darker forces in the criminal world were responsible.
Broadway and the surrounding neighborhoods of New York City, including a diamond dance palace, a tenement on Mott Street, and police headquarters. · Danny Clover, Georgia Gray, Nicky Gannon, Nicky's mother, Benny, Fran Holland
Listen for: The distinctive noir narration that frames the investigation of Georgia's murder, moving from the glittering dance halls to the gritty tenements where the real motives begin to emerge.
Broadway is My Beat: The Gordon Merrick Murder Case (1952)
Detective Danny Clover investigates the murder of Gordon Merrick, a theatrical backer shot in the back in his penthouse apartment. Merrick had called Carol Royce, an actress he was in love with, to invite her for a champagne supper, but she refused and stayed home. The trail leads to Vic Kane, a man Carol loves, whose gun goes missing and whose alibi proves questionable.
New York City on a rainy night, including a penthouse apartment on the 40th floor, Carol Royce's home, and a rooming house on Third Avenue · Danny Clover, Gordon Merrick, Carol Royce, Vic Kane
Listen for: The moody jazz-inflected narration describing the rain-soaked streets of Broadway and the interplay between the romantic triangle that surrounds the murder
Broadway is My Beat: The Harold Clark Murder Case (1950)
Detective Danny Clover investigates the murder of Harold Clark, found shot dead in the hallway of the El Royale apartment building. Clark's wife claims she was borrowing tea bags from their neighbor Lloyd Raimi when her jealous husband came after her, knocked on Raimi's door, and was shot. Clover must determine what really happened and find Raimi.
New York City, primarily the El Royale apartment building on West 58th Street, also a tattoo parlor and police headquarters. · Detective Danny Clover, Mrs. Clark, Lloyd Raimi, Mugga-bun, Dr. Sinsky, Mr. Wilkins, Berkey (tattoo artist), Sergeant
Listen for: The atmospheric description of Broadway and Times Square; the interrogation of Mrs. Clark; the investigation into Lloyd Raimi's background through apartment records and a tattoo parlor; Detective Clover's conversation with his sergeant about a clue involving a tattoo.
Broadway is My Beat: The Harry Brian Murder Case (1953)
Detective Danny Clover investigates the death of John Rand, a bedridden invalid whose autopsy reveals he died of alkaloid poisoning rather than natural causes. With the dead man's jealous wife accusing the live-in nurse Bonnie Ward of murder, Clover must track down the nurse before she does something drastic.
New York City, particularly Broadway and police headquarters, during a hot summer day · Detective Danny Clover, Mugwen, Dr. Sinsky, Dr. Montoya, Mrs. Rand, Bonnie Ward, Angela Kenny
Listen for: The distinctive opening narration about Broadway at noon; the investigation of a poisoning case that may not be what it seems; a tense climax involving a woman on a high ledge threatening to jump.
Broadway is My Beat: The Harry Gray Murder Case (1953)
Detective Danny Clover investigates the shooting death of Harry Gray, a war veteran and member of the Last Friend Club. Gray dies in the hospital, and Clover must untangle the complicated web of relationships between Gray and his close friends Mark and Della Anderson to discover who pulled the trigger.
New York City, primarily Broadway and the Last Friend Club, a veterans' hangout on West 41st Street, in April during the 1950s · Detective Danny Clover, Harry Gray, Mark Anderson, Della Anderson, Nicki Casserie, Dr. Sinsky, Joel Rios, Sergeant Denison
Listen for: The poetic, noir-tinged narration that opens and closes the episode; the exploration of how war bonds people together and how gratitude can become a burden; the revelation of conflicting loyalties and desperate acts born from complicated friendship.
Broadway is My Beat: The Harry Moore Murder Case (1952)
Detective Danny Clover investigates the murder of Harry Moore, a 41-year-old construction contractor found shot in his East Side apartment around three o'clock in the afternoon. Moore's wife Vivi has an alibi at a tea luncheon, but Clover must track down the circumstances surrounding Moore's death and identify a mysterious man named Joe Connell that Moore was seen meeting with at a local bar days before his murder.
New York City, particularly Broadway and the East Side, including Harry Moore's apartment building, a construction site at 30th and East River, and various bars and streets of the city · Detective Danny Clover, Mrs. Vivi Moore, Steve Nelson, Joe Connell, Bartender at Venson's
Listen for: The atmospheric descriptions of June in New York, the detective work as Clover canvasses bars and the streets searching for leads, and the mysterious connection between Harry Moore and Joe Connell that emerges from the bartender's testimony
Broadway is My Beat: The Helen Carrol Murder Case (1950)
Detective Danny Clover finds a confused young woman named Linda Arnold wandering the streets with no memory of who she is. After taking her home to her apartment, Clover discovers her aunt Helen Carroll dead in the kitchen, stabbed with a letter opener that was found in Linda's purse. When Ted Raymond, Linda's boyfriend, learns of the death, he confesses to the murder and is arrested, but Clover suspects the truth may be more complicated.
New York City, specifically the Broadway area and apartment buildings in the tenements · Danny Clover, Linda Arnold, Helen Carroll, Ted Raymond, Muggerman, Dr. Sinsky
Listen for: The investigation of Helen Carroll's murder as Detective Clover questions whether Ted Raymond's confession is genuine or if the traumatized Linda Arnold is guilty, with hints of a troubled past between Linda and her aunt.
Broadway is My Beat: The Helen Selby Murder Case (1953)
A young woman named Helen Selby is found shot in an apartment on West 39th Street after a moving man arrives to collect her furniture. Detective Danny Clover investigates and learns that Helen worked as a secretary at the Sun Up to Sun Down Trucking Company and had recently befriended a truck driver named Chris Miller. As police piece together Helen's final days, they race to understand who wanted her dead and why her belongings were being moved to a brownstone on East 78th Street.
New York City in January, spanning from an apartment building on West 39th Street to the Sun Up to Sun Down Trucking Company on Perry Street and a brownstone on East 78th Street. · Detective Danny Clover, Mr. Barnes, the moving man, Helen Selby, the victim, Alex, Leo Pearson, Chris Miller, truck driver, Morgan, police officer, Doctor
Listen for: The mystery of who shot Helen Selby and why she was having her belongings moved to a new address, along with details about her relationships with the people around her.
Broadway is My Beat: The Henry Baker Murder Case (1949)
Detective Danny Clover encounters Henry Baker, an eccentric millionaire giving away money on Broadway. When Baker's brother George asks Clover to help keep Henry out of an institution, Clover agrees to arrange medical care. But soon Henry claims his brother is trying to murder him, and Clover discovers a fired gun under Henry's bed and broken glass from an interior window—raising questions about whether the threat is real.
Broadway in New York City and Henry Baker's apartment building, during December · Detective Danny Clover, Henry Baker, George Baker, Ben Croft, the landlord, Dr. Michel Sinclair
Listen for: The interplay between Henry Baker's apparent madness and the mysterious evidence of gunfire; the landlord Ben Croft's cynical observations about people and money.
Broadway is My Beat: The Hilda Bruce Murder Case (1953)
A young boy named Jimmy Bruce discovers his mother Hilda murdered in their apartment on West 18th Street. Detective Danny Clover investigates the crime, questioning Jimmy about a man he saw running and hiding in the alley the night before. As Clover pursues leads, he tracks down two suspects: Nick Silver and Harry March, Hilda's ex-husband who had recently rekindled contact with her through repair work.
New York City, primarily the West 18th Street neighborhood in Manhattan, with scenes at police headquarters, Harry March's repair shop, and various city streets. · Detective Danny Clover, Jimmy Bruce, Hilda Bruce (deceased), Charlotte Lane, Nick Silver, Harry March, The Super
Listen for: A tense murder investigation unfolding across the city, with Detective Clover following multiple leads and interrogating witnesses and suspects who had connections to the victim. Listen for the boy's revelation about seeing a man running from the scene and the detective's discovery of Hilda's ex-husband's recent visits to her apartment.
Broadway is My Beat: The Hope Anderson Murder Case (1950)
Detective Danny Clover is called to the Marbury Apartments in Greenwich Village where he finds Hope Anderson dead in a courtyard fountain. The building manager, Viola Walker, discovered the body and reports that Hope roomed with Jackie Logan. Clover learns that Hope had two rivals for her affections—an older man and a younger man—but Jackie refuses to name them. When fingerprints on the murder weapon, a recently fired Luger, match those of Alan Harper, Clover goes to the home of Alan's mother to question him.
New York City, including the Marbury Apartments courtyard in Greenwich Village and the Warren residence. · Detective Danny Clover, Viola Walker, Jackie Logan, Alan Harper, Mrs. Vera Warren, Philip Warren, Taggler
Listen for: The interplay between Clover's methodical detective work and the emotional reactions of those questioned; the revelation of the love triangle surrounding Hope Anderson; Mrs. Warren's maternal defense of her son contrasted with her stepfather's belief in Alan's guilt.
Broadway is My Beat: The Howard Crawford Murder Case (1951)
A man drowns at a public swimming pool in the Bronx, and his locker is robbed. When the medical examiner performs an autopsy, he discovers the man was actually murdered—not by drowning, but by improper artificial respiration administered by the lifeguard on duty. Detective Danny Clover must investigate whether the lifeguard's poor technique was negligence or intentional murder.
The Bronx, New York City; a public swimming pool and police headquarters · Danny Clover, Dr. Cinsky, Russ Gaby, Bob
Listen for: The twist that the lifeguard's artificial respiration technique caused the victim's death; the detective's interrogation of the lifeguard about whether the poor resuscitation was accidental or deliberate.
Broadway is My Beat: The Jane Arnold Murder Case (1950)
Detective Danny Pober arrives at a gala spring gathering of the International Order of Fuzzy Bears to find entertainer Jane Arnold dead in her sequined costume. A magician named Marvin the Great claims she remains hypnotized from his act, but Pober quickly determines she has been poisoned. With the victim's identity confirmed and suspicion falling on entertainers and Fuzzy Bears alike who all had access to poisoned drinks, Pober begins questioning the performers who were present at the event.
New York City, including the International Order of Fuzzy Bears hall where a spring gathering takes place, and various locations where Pober questions entertainers the following day. · Danny Pober, Robert Grover, Marvin the Great, Jane Arnold, Celia Stewart, Ernie, Joe Lilly, Charlie
Listen for: The mystery of who poisoned Jane Arnold's drink at the Fuzzy Bears party, and what Pober learns from questioning the entertainers and those connected to the victim.
Broadway is My Beat: The Jane Darwell Murder Case (1949)
Detective Danny Clover receives a typewritten note predicting the murder of Jane Darnell, but arrives too late to prevent her death by strangulation. When the killer strikes again, murdering Mary Smith with an ice pick and leaving cryptic notes asking "What girl next?", Clover races to identify and protect the third intended victim, Sally Webb, uncovering a connection between all three women through a fatal car accident from a year earlier.
New York City, primarily Manhattan and a tool manufacturing plant in New Jersey, including a department store and subway. · Detective Danny Clover, Jed Stacy, scandal columnist, Jane Darnell, Mary Smith, Sally Webb, Mac Taylor, Sergeant Tartaglia, Freddie Nae
Listen for: The atmospheric narration of Detective Clover describing Broadway and the killer's twisted logic; the revelation that Mac Taylor (formerly Quimby) murdered the three women to avenge his wife's death in the auto accident; the climactic confrontation in the department store where Taylor takes his own life.
Broadway is My Beat: The Jimmy Dorn Murder Case (1949)
Detective Danny Clover investigates the apparent suicide of Jimmy Dorn, a man who recently won $17,000 in a sweepstakes lottery. Despite the case being ruled a suicide after Dorn jumped in front of a subway train, something about the death troubles Clover. His investigation leads him to discover that Dorn was once part of a circus act called the Three Whirling Tornadoes, alongside performers Joe Daniloff and a man named Brody, suggesting there may be more to the story than a simple suicide.
New York City, primarily Third Avenue tenements and Broadway, with flashbacks to a circus past · Danny Clover, a detective, Jimmy Dorn, the deceased, Mrs. Dorn, Jimmy's wife, Capeck, a freelance photographer, Patsy Mack, a circus promoter, Joe Daniloff, a circus performer, Brody, a circus performer
Listen for: The detective's growing suspicion that Jimmy Dorn's death was not a suicide, and clues about Dorn's mysterious past as a circus performer
Broadway is My Beat: The Joan Fuller Murder Case (1950)
A young woman's body is discovered in Central Park Lake, and detective Danny Clover must identify her. The dead girl is revealed to be Joan Fuller, a secretary who borrowed her employer's expensive clothes to impress a young man from her hometown of Muncie, Indiana. Clover tracks down the man and questions him about his connection to the victim.
New York City: Central Park Lake, police headquarters and morgue, an exclusive dress shop on Park Avenue, Gladys Hampton's mansion on Fifth Avenue, and a shabby hotel room. · Danny Clover, detective, Joan Fuller, the victim, Gladys Hampton, advertising executive and Joan's employer, Johnny Barrett, young man from Muncie, Roderick, exclusive fashion designer
Listen for: The atmospheric opening that evokes the loneliness of Broadway at night; the morgue scene where several people fail to identify the body; the fashion designer's revelation that the expensive clothes belonged to his client Gladys Hampton; and the tense hotel room confrontation between Clover and the mysterious Johnny Barrett.
Broadway is My Beat: The Joan Gale Murder Case (1950)
Detective Danny Clover investigates the murder of Joan Gale, a woman found dead in a flower shop. His investigation leads him to John Ripley, a man having an affair with the victim, and Roy Austin, a clerk at the flower shop with a mysterious past from Scranton.
New York City, primarily Broadway and Times Square area, including a flower shop, the Dunhill Apartments, police headquarters, and a shoe distribution business · Danny Clover, police detective, Joan Gale, murder victim, Roy Austin, flower shop clerk, John Ripley, victim's lover, Mrs. Ripley, John's wife, Mr. Coupleheim, flower shop owner, Frank, house detective at the Dunhill Apartments, Sergeant Tate
Listen for: The distinctive opening narration about Broadway at night, the investigation's twists revealing blackmail and hidden identities, and the climactic chase through city streets with religious imagery
Broadway is My Beat: The Joan Stanley Murder Case (1953)
Detective Danny gets an early morning tip from his partner about Mark Nelson, a man beaten the night before who accused a girl named Joan Parker of robbery. When Danny and his partner visit Joan Parker's apartment, they discover signs of a violent struggle and blood in the sink. Now Mark Nelson has disappeared, and his worried wife reveals he never came home, while his wedding ring mysteriously arrived in the mail that morning.
New York City, specifically Broadway and the surrounding neighborhoods including tenement buildings on West 19th Street, police precincts, and various bars and apartments. · Detective Danny, Detective Muggaman, Mark Nelson, Joan Parker, Mrs. Nelson, Doctor Sinsky
Listen for: The distinctive noir narration describing the Broadway setting and the unfolding investigation, plus the tension between Mark Nelson's accusation against Joan Parker and the mysterious circumstances that follow.
Broadway is My Beat: The Joe Blair Murder Case (1951)
Detective Danny Clover investigates the murder of Joe Blair, a young hitchhiker stabbed to death in an expensive hotel room. The victim's only clue is a set of dance tickets from a dime-a-dance hall, which leads Clover to interview Vicki, a dance hostess who spent time with Blair the night he died. Through her, Clover learns that Blair mentioned needing to see a man named John Logan in the morning, setting the stage for deeper inquiry into the victim's mysterious business in the city.
New York City, from a midtown hotel to a dime-a-dance hall on Seventh Avenue · Danny Clover, Joe Blair, Vicki, Tommy, Gino, John Logan, Ruth, Al
Listen for: The gritty noir atmosphere of Broadway at night, the interview with Vicki at the dance hall revealing Blair's mention of John Logan, and Tommy's jealous confrontation over Vicki's involvement with the case.
Broadway is My Beat: The Joe Gruber Murder Case (1951)
A man with a gun hijacks a hearse during a funeral, escaping from police by hiding in the coffin. Detective Clover investigates the murder of a neighbor who tried to stop the killer, and questions Mrs. Conlin about why the gunman tried to break into her apartment the night before.
New York City on a hot summer day, including a funeral, police station, and Mrs. Conlin's apartment building · Detective Clover, Danny, Sergeant Geno, Lucian Cobb, funeral director, Mrs. Conlin, Catherine, Myra, Hearse driver
Listen for: The clever escape method using the hearse and coffin, and the mystery of why Mrs. Conlin was the gunman's target
Broadway is My Beat: The Joe Quito Murder Case (1950)
Detective Danny Clover encounters Joe Keto, a man recently released from prison, in a Times Square subway tunnel late at night. The next morning, Clover is called to investigate Keto's murder in the tunnel. His inquiries lead him to Holly Parker, a woman who was making coffee for Keto in his Harlem apartment, and to an old newspaper clipping about a 1938 robbery case in which Keto received a twelve-year sentence instead of the one-year term his lawyer Ralph Ferguson had promised him.
New York City: Times Square subway tunnel, Harlem apartment on Amsterdam Avenue, and the East River Athletic Club · Detective Danny Clover, Joe Keto, Holly Parker, Ralph Ferguson, Grant Murray, Lee Baker, Mickey
Listen for: The tension between Clover and the recently-paroled Keto in their first meeting; Holly Parker's emotional reaction to learning of Keto's death; Ralph Ferguson's dismissive attitude toward the murdered man and his former clients.
Broadway is My Beat: The Joe Turner Murder Case (1953)
Rookie policeman Joe Turner is found stabbed to death on a Hudson River dock. Detective Danny Markleman investigates when Turner's old friend Roy calls the Turner home just before the murder, and Betty Turner arrives at the crime scene distraught. Markleman must uncover what brought Turner to the dock and what connection Roy has to the killing.
New York City, including a Hudson River dock, the Turner home, and police headquarters · Detective Danny Markleman, Joe Turner, Betty Turner, Roy
Listen for: The details of Joe Turner's phone call from Roy, what drew the rookie policeman to the dock, and why a riot call is made during the investigation
Broadway is My Beat: The Joey Condon Murder Case (1953)
Detective Danny Clover investigates the murder of Gino Hurt, a dying man found in a furnished room on West 49th Street. The trail leads to Joey Condon, a trumpet player at the Pinwheel Club, and a couple named Charlie and Laura Wood who were seen with Joey at a late-night party that lasted nearly 24 hours.
Broadway and Times Square area of New York City, including a furnished room on West 49th Street and the Pinwheel Club on West 52nd Street. · Detective Danny Clover, Gino Hurt, Joey Condon, Avery, Charlie Wood, Laura Wood
Listen for: The atmospheric opening describing Broadway at night, the investigation beginning with a dying man's report, and the discovery that Laura Wood has disappeared with Joey Condon after an all-night party.
Broadway is My Beat: The Joey Croft Murder Case (1952)
Detective Danny Clover investigates the murder of Joey Croft, a man found stabbed to death and buried in the sand at Coney Island. The investigation leads Clover to Croft's palace of fun at Coney Island, where his female partner points him toward a suspect named Fred Moore, a man with a criminal past who reportedly had a grudge against the victim.
Coney Island and the surrounding area, including a morgue, an amusement palace, and the Ocean Rest Hotel · Danny Clover, Joey Croft, The Female Partner, Fred Moore, Mr. Zabrowski, Markham
Listen for: The atmospheric noir narration that frames the investigation, the confrontation with Joey Croft's business partner at the palace of fun, and the crucial lead from the hotel owner Zabrowski about Fred Moore's threats against the victim.
Broadway is My Beat: The Joey Herbie and Beebe Murder Case (1953)
Detective Danny Clover investigates the death of Nancy Lee Hunter, a reckless young woman who crashed her car into a building and died from poison. Three years earlier, Nancy Lee had made a drunken pact with three friends—Joey Pell, Herb Murray, and BB Barrett—taking out a life insurance policy with a double indemnity clause, with each friend contributing $15,000 and naming themselves as beneficiaries. Now that Nancy Lee is dead four days before the three-year mark, the detective must determine whether her death was accidental or murder.
New York City, primarily a police headquarters and surrounding Broadway locations including rooming houses and streets of Manhattan · Detective Danny Clover, Joey Pell, Herb Murray, BB Barrett, Nancy Lee Hunter, Sergeant Geno, Mrs. Herb Murray
Listen for: The tense interrogations of the three beneficiaries as Detective Clover probes their motives and alibis; the revelation of the insurance scheme; Joey's emotional confrontation with BB about Nancy Lee's new boyfriend; the discovery of the mechanical bear taken from Nancy Lee's car.
Broadway is My Beat: The John Dobson Murder Case (1952)
Police detective Danny Clover investigates the poisoning of John Dobson, a Park Avenue businessman found unconscious in his parked car on East River Drive. Dobson's wife claims he left their apartment to visit an old friend, Floyd Gilmore, but Clover must uncover the truth about Dobson's movements and relationships before the man dies in the hospital.
New York City in 1952: a police emergency hospital, a Park Avenue apartment, a bachelor's flat in Gramercy Park, and the New Howard Hotel on the East Side. · Danny Clover, Dr. Sinsky, John Dobson, Mrs. Edna Dobson, Floyd Gilmore, Isabel Martin
Listen for: The clever unraveling of Dobson's last hours as Clover pieces together conflicting stories from his wife, his friend Gilmore, and the woman Dobson was supposed to meet. Watch for the twist when Gilmore's story changes under questioning.
Broadway is My Beat: The John Elgin Murder Case (1952)
Detective Danny Clover receives a confession from a man who witnessed what he believes was a murder on a rooftop in the East 30s—a man pushed off a building. The death had been ruled a suicide of John Elgin, but this eyewitness account suggests otherwise. Clover begins investigating, questioning Elgin's widow and tracking down a woman connected to the victim.
New York City, primarily in the East 30s neighborhood, police headquarters, and various locations connected to the investigation of John Elgin's death. · Detective Danny Clover, Mr. Greenhouse, Captain Colvin, Mrs. Elgin, Gino, Detective Margarmin, Gladys Haywood
Listen for: The vivid opening narration about April on Broadway and the city at twilight; the tension between the eyewitness and Detective Clover as the man confesses to witnessing the murder; Clover's pursuit of new leads despite the official suicide ruling.
Broadway is My Beat: The John Lomax Murder Case (1949)
Detective Danny Clover investigates a curious case when a drunk man claiming to be John Lomax appears at a hotel, insisting he's alive despite being declared dead in a hit-and-run accident four days earlier. When Clover visits Lomax's widow and discovers a mysterious pianist living in her home, he begins to suspect the identity of the dead man may not be what it seems.
Broadway and Times Square area of New York City, including a hotel, the Lomax home in Queens, and a Turkish bath called Baghdad's. · Detective Danny Clover, Louis Box, John Lomax, Martha Lomax, Paul Rand, Ephraim, Waldo
Listen for: The setup of a murder mystery hinged on mistaken identity, with questions about who really died in the hit-and-run accident and what role Paul Rand plays in the Lomax household.
Broadway is My Beat: The John Mooney Murder Case (1952)
Detective Danny Clover investigates the John Mooney murder case when a man named Myron Grace is arrested for passing a thousand-dollar bill from a five-year-old payroll robbery in which a messenger was killed. The bill leads Clover to suspect Less Cheney, recently released from prison, and the detective begins tracking down leads through the Broadway underworld.
Broadway and the surrounding neighborhoods of New York City, including a police station, Less Cheney's apartment, and various street locations. · Detective Danny Clover, Myron Grace, Miss Holland, Less Cheney, Mrs. Cheney, Benny
Listen for: A description of the man who sold the hot money bill to Grace, and the revelation that old Bunny Fame may have information about where the counterfeit money originated.
Broadway is My Beat: The John Nelson Murder Case (1953)
Detective Mugerman investigates the murder of John Nelson, a quiet man found stabbed to death in his hotel room at the Ruxton Hotel. Nelson's possessions reveal newspaper clippings about famous big game hunters Lila and Victor Soutro, leading the detective to question Lionel Foster, Lila's widowed husband, about the connection between the deceased and the adventuring couple.
New York City, including the Ruxton Hotel, a police precinct, and a taxidermy museum · Detective Mugerman, Danny, Gino, Lionel Foster, Tina, Margaret, John Nelson
Listen for: The detective's methodical investigation as he uncovers the mystery surrounding John Nelson's past and his connection to the famous hunters Lila and Victor Soutro; Gino's colorful asides about his daughter Tina and the romantic allure of adventure.
Broadway is My Beat: The John Rand Murder Case (1953)
Detective Danny Clover investigates the death of John Rand, a wealthy cotton importer, when an autopsy reveals he died of alkaloid poisoning despite his doctor's initial reluctance to perform one. Suspicion falls on Bonnie Ward, Rand's young nurse who recently received a bequest in his will, but she flees when she learns of the poisoning discovery. A desperate situation develops when Ward is spotted on a twelfth-floor ledge threatening to jump.
New York City, from police headquarters to the homes and streets of Broadway and surrounding neighborhoods, during a hot summer day. · Danny Clover, Mugglin', Dr. Sinsky, Dr. Montoya, John Rand, Mrs. Rand, Bonnie Ward, Angela Kenny
Listen for: The atmospheric opening describing Broadway at noon, the tense interrogations of Mrs. Rand and Angela Kenny about Bonnie Ward's whereabouts, and the climactic emergency call about a woman on a ledge threatening to jump.
Broadway is My Beat: The John Stewart Murder Case (1953)
Detective Danny Clover investigates the stabbing of John Stewart, a novelty store worker slashed in the subway the previous night. When Stewart refuses hospital care and disappears, Clover seeks him out at his place of business, where Stewart's partner Robert reveals curious details about the wounded man's recent absences and mysterious enemies.
New York City, primarily Broadway and Times Square area, including a police hospital, police headquarters, and Globe Novelties and Notions store on West 12th Street · Danny Clover, John Stewart, Dr. Finsky, Leonas Stewart (John's sister-in-law), Robert (John's business partner)
Listen for: The atmospheric opening that establishes the Broadway setting; the mystery of John Stewart's unknown assailant; hints about Stewart's secret enemies and what he might have done to provoke them; details about Stewart's unusual collections of matchbook covers, seashells, and broken glass.
Broadway is My Beat: The Johnny Hill Murder Case (1950)
Detective Danny Clover investigates the murder of Johnny Hill, a Chicago hoodlum found dead in his penthouse at the Hotel Haddon. The case leads Clover from the crime scene through the city's nightlife to the exclusive Griffin Club, where Hill had spent time the evening before his death.
New York City, primarily Broadway and surrounding areas, including the Hotel Haddon penthouse and the Griffin Club · Detective Danny Clover, Alan Finch, Moro, Benny Fane, Mrs. Crane (Betsy), Nick Joyner, Mary Bishop, Johnny Hill
Listen for: The atmospheric opening describing Broadway at nightfall, Clover's investigation across various nightclubs and establishments, and his interrogation of Mrs. Crane at the exclusive Griffin Club
Broadway is My Beat: The Joseph Brady Case (1953)
Detective Danny Clover investigates the murder of Joseph Brady, a well-to-do inventor, killed in an alley by a bullet fired at close range. A neighborhood drunk named Herbie Lennon is found with the murder weapon and no memory of the shooting, while a refined woman named Sally Carr confesses to the crime, claiming she killed Brady to protect Herbie. As Clover digs deeper, he uncovers a web of deception spanning five years.
Broadway and the surrounding New York City neighborhoods, including Brooklyn and East 48th Street, in January · Detective Danny Clover, Herbie Lennon, Sally Carr, Joseph Brady (deceased), Hazel Thomas, Mrs. Taylor, Sergeant Gino, Lieutenant Proteglia
Listen for: A complex mystery involving mistaken identity, misdirection through false confession, and a revenge plot dating back five years; pay attention to the details about Joseph Brady's invention and his past relationships in the neighborhood.
Broadway is My Beat: The Julie Dixon Murder Case (1949)
Detective Danny Clover is asked by a judge to mediate between a father and daughter with a complicated past. Nelson Jennings spent ten years in Sing Sing for a manslaughter conviction and is being released on parole, but he insists his identity remain hidden from his 20-year-old daughter Ruth, who recently learned he is alive. Clover must decide whether to reunite them or honor the father's wish to remain dead to his child.
New York City, including the Cleveland Hotel and a rooming house off-Broadway · Detective Danny Clover, Judge Summers, Nelson Jennings, Ruth Jennings, Johnny Milton
Listen for: Clover's difficult choice about whether to bring father and daughter together despite Jennings' wishes, and Ruth's emotional response to learning the truth about her father's past.
Broadway is My Beat: The Julie Dixon Murder Case (1950)
Detective Danny Clover investigates the disappearance of Julie Dixon, a poor girl engaged to wealthy lawyer Alex Melbourne. After spreading rumors through an informant to flush out leads, Clover is ambushed and knocked unconscious at Pier 38, only to wake up in a hotel room where he discovers connections between Melbourne, a professional wrestler named Max Magnificent, and the case.
New York City, including Broadway, Times Square, a penny arcade, the East River docks, the Ashton Hotel, a wrestling arena, and a lawyer's office with walnut paneling · Danny Clover, Alex Melbourne, Julie Dixon, Danny (possibly another character), Rupert, Max Magnificent, Mabel
Listen for: The detective's investigation into Julie Dixon's disappearance unfolds through encounters with a mysterious wrestler and his valet, leading to unexpected connections with the missing woman's fiancé.
Broadway is My Beat: The Kurt Bower Murder Case (1951)
Detective Clover investigates art collector Mr. Hanson's warning that his wife Nola may come to harm. Hanson hints at danger from Kurt Bauer, a young European skier Nola has befriended, or from his daughter Connie, who harbors jealousy toward her stepmother. As Clover gathers statements from those involved, the tension mounts around what threat actually faces Nola.
New York City, primarily an art collector's home filled with antiquities and a Rockefeller Plaza ice skating rink · Detective Clover, Mr. Hanson, Nola Hanson, Kurt Bauer, Connie Hanson
Listen for: The detective's investigation into cryptic warnings of violence; the conflicted emotions surrounding the beautiful but troubled Nola Hanson; Kurt Bauer's involvement with the family.
Broadway is My Beat: The Larry Moore Murder Case (1952)
Detective Danny Clover arrests Johnny Welch for the murder of his wife Fay, but Welch is acquitted in court. Days later, a man named Larry Moore is beaten up by Welch, who accuses him of killing Fay. Now with a new victim and a suspect who won't press charges, Clover must uncover the truth behind Fay's death.
Broadway and the streets of New York City, January · Danny Clover, Johnny Welch, Larry Moore, Ida Gray, Sergeant Geno
Listen for: The complex relationship between Clover and Welch, the mystery of who really killed Fay, and why Welch remains convinced of Moore's guilt despite his acquittal.
Broadway is My Beat: The Laura Burton Murder Case (1950)
Detective Danny Clover investigates the strangled death of Laura Burton, a wealthy heiress found dead in a cheap waterfront hotel. Her husband Robert Burton, a charming dockworker who married into money, becomes the prime suspect when he disappears after the discovery of her body. Clover tracks Burton down and brings him in for questioning, but Burton's smooth lawyer has already coached him on what to say.
New York City, primarily the waterfront and Park Avenue, including a cheap waterfront hotel and a wealthy Park Avenue mansion. · Detective Danny Clover, Robert Burton, Laura Burton, Muriel Carlson, Laura's sister, Marty Dixon, dockworker and Burton's former roommate, Detective Mugam
Listen for: The atmospheric noir opening describing Broadway and the waterfront, the discovery of Laura Burton's body, Clover's interviews at the Park Avenue mansion and among Burton's waterfront acquaintances, and Burton's evasive interrogation with his lawyer's coaching.
Broadway is My Beat: The Lily Nelson Murder Case (1951)
Detective Danny Clover investigates the death of Lillian Nelson, a famous Broadway actress found dead in her apartment with slashed wrists and a razor blade nearby. The death appears to be suicide, but as Danny questions those close to her—a devoted taxi driver, the theater owner, and her psychiatrist—each reveals their own complicated feelings about the beautiful star and provides disturbing clues about what really happened.
Broadway and surrounding areas of New York City, including Lillian Nelson's brownstone apartment in Washington Square and a theater. · Danny Clover, Lillian Nelson, Frank, Theater owner, Dr. Kovac, David Knight
Listen for: The emotional testimonies of the people in Lillian Nelson's life as Detective Clover pieces together the mystery of her death, and Dr. Kovac's shocking assertion that it was not suicide.
Broadway is My Beat: The Lois Conrad Murder Case (1952)
Detective Danny Clover investigates the stabbing death of Lois Conrad, a student at the Globe secretarial school, found murdered in the recreation room early one April morning. Clover interviews the school staff, the girl's father, and her boyfriend Frankie Wilson at the boat shed in Central Park, learning that Lois was last seen leaving the boating lake at midnight, claiming she needed to go home.
New York City in April, including the Globe secretarial school, a brownstone apartment building on the West Thirties, and Central Park's boating lake. · Detective Danny Clover, Mrs. Schur, Mrs. Lindsey, Carlos, Mr. Conrad, Frankie Wilson, Detective Muggaben, Lieutenant Geno
Listen for: Clover's methodical questioning and the contradictions that emerge about Lois's movements the night she died, along with hints about her manipulative behavior toward the men in her life.
Broadway is My Beat: The Lt Jimmy Hunt Murder Case (1950)
Detective Danny Clover investigates the death of Lieutenant James Hunt, a war veteran found stabbed in his hospital bed at St. Anthony's. Initially ruled a suicide, the priest reveals the wound's location makes murder far more likely. Clover must uncover who wanted the troubled soldier dead and why.
New York City, including St. Anthony's Hospital, a pool room on 16th Street off 8th Avenue, and police headquarters. · Danny Clover, Sister Angela, Father, Jimmy Hunt, Fred Owen, Virginia Scott, Mickey Bianco, Sergeant Tautaglia
Listen for: The mystery of who murdered the wounded veteran soldier and why someone would target a man already broken by war.
Broadway is My Beat: The Lucille Baker Murder Case (1951)
A woman named Lucille Baker is found strangled in her tenement apartment. Police detective Danny Clover investigates the discovery made by her husband Charlie and his coworker Bob Kolker, who found her after returning from an office party. As the detective interviews those who knew her, a picture emerges of a shy woman with secrets, including the attention of a coworker named Teddy Fletcher who had long harbored romantic feelings for her.
New York City tenement and office building, during the 1950s · Danny Clover, Charlie Baker, Bob Kolker, Lucille Baker, Ruthie Alexander, Teddy Fletcher
Listen for: The detective's methodical questioning of suspects and witnesses as the case unfolds, revealing conflicting accounts of the night of the murder and the dead woman's relationships.
Broadway is My Beat: The Lynn Halstead Murder Case (1952)
Detective Danny Clover arrives at the city morgue where a young woman named Lynn Halstead has been found dead in the river after three days. Her father identifies her body, revealing she came to New York three years ago from Akron and worked as a private secretary. Clover begins investigating Lynn's life, uncovering a secretive existence—she kept her workplace hidden from those close to her and gave only a phone number and mailbox address to the men she knew.
New York City, primarily Manhattan: the city morgue, Gramercy Park apartments, a coffee shop at 48th and 3rd Avenue, and the Equitable Building on Madison Avenue in the 40s. · Detective Danny Clover, Dr. Hoskin, Lynn Halstead's father, Mr. Clement (apartment manager), Gene Blake (coffee shop owner), John Martin (real estate office)
Listen for: A murder mystery unfolds as Clover interviews the people in Lynn's life and discovers she deliberately concealed details about her employment and movements, suggesting her death may be connected to secrets she kept hidden.
Broadway is My Beat: The Marcia Dean Murder Case (1950)
Bank teller Harry Dean steals $20,000 from his employer after receiving a ransom demand for his wife Marcia. He pays the money as instructed at a beach resort, but Marcia never comes home. Detective Danny Clover discovers that Marcia was never kidnapped—she was murdered, and her husband orchestrated the crime with his accomplice.
New York City, including police headquarters, Queens, Brooklyn vacant lot, and a beach resort hotel called the Idle Wild Arms in Rockaway · Detective Danny Clover, Harry Dean, Marcia Dean, Sergeant Tartaglia, Edith Keller, Stan Hodeck, Dr. Sandskink, Mr. Graham
Listen for: The hard-boiled narration of Detective Danny Clover as he uncovers a scheme involving murder, blackmail, and betrayal within a marriage; the cab driver's crucial role in the investigation.
Broadway is My Beat: The Marty Connell Murder Case (1952)
Detective Danny Clover investigates the discovery of a gun and blood stains on an East River dock. The weapon is traced to a shipment of munitions aboard a ship at the pier, and suspicion falls on Marty Connell, a dock worker who failed to appear at his job and didn't come home the previous night.
New York City waterfront, East River docks, and the surrounding neighborhoods of Broadway and Times Square area. · Detective Danny Clover, Gino, Tommy Londoner, Mrs. Connell, Marty Connell
Listen for: The poetic, atmospheric narration that opens and closes scenes; the investigation of the stolen gun from the munitions shipment; the tense interrogation of Mrs. Connell about her missing husband's whereabouts.
Broadway is My Beat: The Mary Demming Murder Case (1950)
Detective Danny Clover investigates the knife-murder of Mary Deming, a young woman found dead in her room at Mrs. Branch's boarding house. With little to go on except a high school yearbook, Clover begins tracking down four people who were close to Mary during their school days, starting with football star George Ferris and gentle Lillian Hess.
New York City, 1950. Mrs. Branch's boarding house, a department store, and the homes of high school friends. · Danny Clover, Mrs. Branch, Mary Deming, Mugerman, George Ferris, Lillian Hess
Listen for: The narrator's evocative descriptions of Broadway's seedy underbelly and the victim's mysterious past; the detective's methodical questioning of Mary's old schoolmates, each revealing different aspects of the dead woman's troubled life.
Broadway is My Beat: The Mary Gilbert Murder Case (1949)
Detective Danny Clover investigates the murder of Mary Gilbert, a jewelry shop owner's daughter, shot during a late-night robbery. Maury Brandeis has been convicted and is scheduled for execution Monday morning, but Mary's mother insists her son is innocent. Clover begins reexamining the evidence, starting with interviews of the victim's father and following a lead about a coat given to a shop boy named Robert Shaw.
New York City, Broadway area; a jewelry shop; Harlem · Danny Clover, Mrs. Brandeis, Mr. Brandeis, Maury Brandeis, Sergeant Tautaglia, Phil Alexander, Nicki Thomas, Charles Gilbert
Listen for: The detective's growing doubts about the convicted man's guilt and the mysterious coat that may hold a clue to the real killer's identity.
Broadway is My Beat: The Mary Murdock Murder Case (1949)
Detective Danny Clover is approached by Peter Daly, a convention visitor from Arkansas, who reports being blackmailed by a red-haired woman named Rita Rondell over a compromising photograph taken at a nightclub. When Clover investigates the woman's apartment, he discovers her dead, and must determine whether the distraught Daly—who expressed murderous anger toward her—is responsible or merely an unfortunate suspect.
New York City, primarily the 47th Street Station House, a nightclub called the High-Hat Club, and Rita Rondell's apartment · Detective Danny Clover, Peter Daly, Ben Cotton, Mrs. Daly, Rita Rondell, Art Smith, Sergeant Tom
Listen for: The classic blackmail scheme gone wrong, with Clover's investigation leading from a simple extortion case to a murder mystery and the question of Daly's guilt or innocence.
Broadway is My Beat: The Mary Murdock Murder Case (1950)
Detective Danny Clover is visited by a mysterious woman at police headquarters who dies of poison shortly after arriving. The woman is identified as Mary Murdoch, wife of gangster Vic Murdoch who was imprisoned 20 years ago. When Clover learns that Vic has recently been released and is running a speakeasy, he seeks him out, only to discover Vic murdered with an ice pick. As Clover investigates, he uncovers a tangled web involving a hidden sum of $100,000, Mary's infidelity, and a reporter with dangerous secrets.
New York City, primarily Manhattan including police headquarters, a speakeasy on First Avenue, an apartment in the East 60s, Harlem, and Wall Street Bank · Detective Danny Clover, Mary Murdoch, Vic Murdoch, Jimmy Ames, Suzy Lane, Joe Miami, Dr. Sinsky, Sergeant Tautaglia
Listen for: The atmospheric noir narration by Detective Clover describing the streets of Broadway; the recreation of a 1920s speakeasy with period music and dialogue; the revelation of secrets surrounding the hidden money and romantic betrayal.
Broadway is My Beat: The Mary Smith Murder Case (1951)
Detective Danny Clover investigates the murder of a woman found dead in the Hotel Savannah, registered as Mary Smith. When fingerprints reveal her true identity as Peg Ramsay, a talented editor at the publishing firm Taggart and Ramsay, Clover begins uncovering the connections between her professional life, her discoveries of new literary talent, and the mysterious people in her circle.
New York City, primarily the Hotel Savannah and the offices of Taggart and Ramsay publishing firm on Madison Avenue. · Danny Clover, Sergeant Gino Ataglia, Mr. Burgess, Mr. Taggart, William Walter, Mrs. Janice Kirk
Listen for: The atmospheric opening describing Broadway at night, the details about Peg Ramsay's secret identity and her role as a book editor, and the emerging mystery surrounding the writer William Walter she helped bring to the city.
Broadway is My Beat: The Mary Trevor Murder Case (1952)
Mary Trevor, a young woman found stabbed on a Times Square subway platform, lies dying in police emergency hospital. Detective Clover investigates her background, learning she lived a somewhat disconnected life from her father and relied financially on her wealthy friend Joan Hunt. The detective discovers that Mary recently left town with Hunt's fiancé Robert Gray and another couple for a remote honeymoon cottage, and they have just returned to the city.
New York City, October; subway platform at Times Square, hospital, detective headquarters, Park Avenue apartment · Detective Clover, Mary Trevor, Mr. Trevor (Mary's father), Joan Hunt, Robert Gray, Hospital Carter, Subway Guard
Listen for: The hard-boiled detective work begins as Clover traces Mary Trevor's connections and learns of a mysterious trip upstate with her wealthy friend's fiancé.
Broadway is My Beat: The Max Wendell Murder Case (1950)
Detective Danny Clover receives an urgent call from Max Wendell, a man rehabilitated from his past as a drug addict. When Clover arrives at Wendell's shop on 39th Street, a gunman shoots and kills Wendell before fleeing, forcing Clover to fire at the attacker. The investigation reveals a stolen shipment of narcotics worth $100,000 from the Acme Pharmaceutical Company and a dead guard, with suspicion falling on delivery driver Wilbur Douglas.
New York City's Broadway and Times Square area in April; Max Wendell's shop on 39th Street; the Acme Pharmaceutical Company garage and loading platform. · Danny Clover, Max Wendell, Sergeant Anthony, Wilbur Douglas, Mr. Vaughn, Miss Westfall, Peg Chewy, Zack Bailey
Listen for: The framing of the narrative as Detective Clover's account of the morning's violent events, from a routine call about narcotics distribution to a murder investigation tied to a major pharmaceutical robbery.
Broadway is My Beat: The Mei Ling Murder Case (1949)
Detective Danny Clover is called to Grand Central Terminal's track 23, where he discovers the body of a beautiful young woman named Mei Ling with a bullet wound between her eyes. The girl had been carrying a priceless statue of the goddess Kuan Yin, which is now missing from the scene. Clover's investigation leads him to John Smith, a collector of Chinese artifacts who reveals that the fabulous statue had vanished from Hong Kong.
New York City: Detective Clover's office at police headquarters, Grand Central Terminal's 125th Street Station, and John Smith's home filled with Chinese artifacts · Danny Clover, Mei Ling, John Smith
Listen for: The discovery of Mei Ling's body on the train and the revelation that a priceless statue is missing from the scene.
Broadway is My Beat: The Morris Bernstein Murder Case (1950)
Detective Danny Glover discovers the beaten body of Morris Bernstein, a bakery truck driver for the Felder Bakery, dumped in the street at four in the morning. A baseball cap found at the scene is traced to an eighteen-year-old named Gabe Kirby, who claims he lost it a month ago and was sleeping in a club room run by a man named Richard Peel the night of the murder.
New York City, primarily Broadway and the surrounding neighborhoods including the Felder Bakery and a garage on Conway Street, circa 1950. · Detective Danny Glover, John (fellow officer), Louis Felder (bakery owner), Morris Bernstein (victim), Sid Norman (bakery employee), Gabe Kirby (suspect), Richard Peel
Listen for: The detective's methodical questioning of witnesses and suspects as he pursues the lead of the baseball cap, and Gabe Kirby's evasive answers about his whereabouts the night of the murder.
Broadway is My Beat: The Mrs Webb Murder Case (1953)
Detective Culver investigates an attempted murder when someone tries to smother Mrs. Webb with a pillow while she sleeps. Her husband Joe comes home and claims he scared off an intruder who fled down the fire escape, but his drunken state and admission of an affair with another woman, Helen French, cast suspicion on his account of events.
New York City, primarily in an apartment building and the police squad car traveling through the city on an August night. · Detective Danny Culver, Mrs. Webb, Joe Webb, Mugam (Detective), Helen French, Don
Listen for: The atmospheric opening about August on Broadway, the investigation of the attempted murder, the revelation of Joe Webb's affair, and the questioning of Helen French about her relationship with Webb.
Broadway is My Beat: The Otto Prokosh Murder Case (1949)
Detective Danny Clover investigates the murder of Otto Prokosh, a vain Austrian acrobat shot backstage at the Dodge Theater during a performance. As Clover interviews suspects including the theater manager Georgie Houston, his wife Ruth, comedian Shelley Sheldon, and the eccentric dancer Lee Emery, he uncovers a tangle of jealousy and hidden motives behind the killing.
The Dodge Theater on Broadway in New York City, Police Headquarters, and the East River docks, during a July heat wave in the late 1940s. · Detective Danny Clover, Georgie Houston, Ruth Houston, Otto Prokosh, Lee Emery, Shelley Sheldon, Sergeant Tataglia, Mugga-Vin
Listen for: The atmospheric descriptions of Broadway at day and night, the contrast between the theater's laughter and the grim backstage discovery, and the philosophical musings of the troubled dancer Lee Emery as he discusses his art and his music.
Broadway is My Beat: The Pablo Molari Murder Case (1951)
Detective Danny Clover investigates the murder of Pablo Molari, a young man found dead outside the Hudson Club on a Manhattan side street. The victim was beaten to death, and Clover's questioning of club president Johnny Hammett and doorman Toby Nelson reveals that Pablo had just been initiated into the club the previous night. Clover's inquiries lead him to Paula Chopak, a young woman connected to the club, who appears reluctant to speak with him despite her mother's insistence that she has something important to tell the police.
Broadway in Manhattan, from Times Square area to the tenements and side streets, primarily the Hudson Club and surrounding neighborhood, early 1950s. · Danny Clover, Pablo Molari, Johnny Hammett, Toby Nelson, Paula Chopak, Mrs. Chopak
Listen for: The distinctive opening narration establishing Broadway's dark atmosphere before dawn, and the tense interrogation scenes as Clover pieces together the connections between the victim and the Hudson Club members.
Broadway is My Beat: The Paul Clark Murder Case (1951)
Detective Clover investigates the murder of a young boy found dead in Central Park near the lake at 110th Street. A distinctive antique ring found on the body leads him to the Garland family, where he learns the ring once belonged to the deceased Mrs. Renee Garland and was left to her son Earl. As Clover pursues leads and questions suspects, including the mysterious Nagle who frequents the park, the case begins to reveal connections between the dead boy and the troubled Garland household.
New York City, primarily Central Park and a Fifth Avenue mansion, during the 1950s · Detective Clover, Detective Muggerman, Mr. Huston, Earl Garland, Nagle, Gina
Listen for: The atmospheric opening narration establishing the seedy side of Broadway; Clover's questioning of the jeweler Huston about the antique ring; the eerie encounter in Earl Garland's cold, candlelit mansion; Nagle's mysterious account of seeing a girl at the lake the night before the murder.
Broadway is My Beat: The Paul Thomas Murder Case (1949)
Lieutenant Danny Clover runs into Paul Thomas, a young man he'd helped get a job months earlier. Paul hints he's in trouble but rushes off to work. That afternoon, Clover is summoned to the office of Jay Arrakarian, a gem dealer, who claims Paul has absconded with a hundred thousand dollars worth of diamonds. Clover visits Paul's mother in Harlem to learn more about the boy's whereabouts.
New York City, primarily Broadway and Harlem, including the Paramount Building gem dealer's office and a tenement rooming house · Lieutenant Danny Clover, Paul Thomas, Jerry Kirk, Jay Arrakarian, Mrs. Thomas
Listen for: The mystery of what happened to Paul Thomas and the missing jewels; whether Paul is a thief or a victim
Broadway is My Beat: The Paul Tracy Murder Case (1952)
Detective Danny Clover investigates the murder of Paul Tracy, a jeweler found shot in his shop during an apparent robbery. As evidence emerges about missing inventory and Tracy's personal relationships, a troubled picture develops of the victim's life—his devoted but resentful daughter who cared for him, and a young woman named Mary who had fallen in love with him despite her father's disapproval.
New York City Broadway, primarily a jewelry shop on 46th Street and police headquarters · Detective Danny Clover, Sergeant Gina Tichel, Paul Tracy (victim), Miss Tracy (Paul's daughter), Charles Gower, Mary Gower
Listen for: The atmospheric opening describing Broadway at night, the discovery of Tracy's body in his locked jewelry shop, and the revelation of romantic entanglements surrounding the victim
Broadway is My Beat: The Peggy Warner Murder Case (1953)
Detective Clover investigates the poisoning death of Peggy Warner, a young woman found in an alley early one morning. The investigation leads him to Tate's Bar where Peggy worked, and then to Charles Blake, a man she met there, whose family had briefly employed her as a maid before dismissing her for her drinking and behavior.
New York City, particularly Broadway and Times Square area, including Tate's Bar and the Blake residence; the story unfolds on a cold February morning starting at the police hospital and moving through various locations as the detective investigates. · Detective Clover, Peggy Warner, Tate (bar owner), Charles Blake, Mrs. Blake, Tom Blake
Listen for: The poetic opening narration about Broadway and the winter morning that sets the noir tone; the bartender's account of Peggy's behavior and her connection to Charles Blake; Mrs. Blake's defensive reactions and the phone call from her son Tom.
Broadway is My Beat: The Philip Hunt Murder Case (1951)
Detective Danny follows the case of Philip Hunt, a retired securities investor shot dead in his Fifth Avenue apartment during a chaotic party. The investigation leads from two dazed partygoers—wealthy Lois Hunt and Corporal Tommy—through a cigarette lighter traced to artist Willard Jordan, uncovering a tangled web of strangers, models, and missing persons.
New York City, primarily Fifth Avenue and surrounding locations in 1951 · Detective Danny, Philip Hunt, Lois Hunt, Corporal Tommy, Dr. Sinski, Willard Jordan, Mrs. Jordan, Pepe Klobner
Listen for: The unraveling mystery of who fired the fatal shot at Philip Hunt and why the cigarette lighter becomes a crucial clue leading police to artist Willard Jordan
Broadway is My Beat: The Raymond Grant Murder Case (1952)
Detective Danny Clover investigates the murder of Raymond Grant, a milk delivery man found beaten to death outside an apartment building. A young graduate student named Miss Deli discovered the body when she came home from a party, and Clover must uncover what made the seemingly ordinary milkman a target for violence.
Broadway and various New York locations including a dairy, Staten Island, and the apartment building where Raymond Grant is killed · Detective Danny Clover, Miss Deli, Mr. Perry (dairy foreman), Mrs. Grant (Raymond's wife)
Listen for: The poetic, noir-influenced narration describing the winter setting and the investigation as Clover interviews witnesses and travels to confront Mrs. Grant about her husband's mysterious behavior and hidden income
Broadway is My Beat: The Ricardo Miguel Murder Case (1951)
A young man named Ricardo Miguel is found stabbed to death in the cellar of a Spanish Harlem cantina, having been knifed in an alley outside. Detective Gomez investigates the murder, questioning those who knew Ricardo, including the girl he loved, Reyna Martinez, and Senor Larka, the owner of the pastry shop where Ricardo worked baking pastries and cakes.
Spanish Harlem and the Barrio in New York City, including a cantina, a pastry shop, and Reyna's room · Detective Gomez, Ricardo Miguel, Reyna Martinez, Senor Larka, Luis
Listen for: The detective's careful questioning of suspects and witnesses as the mystery of Ricardo Miguel's murder begins to unfold, with hints that jealousy and romance may be motives.
Broadway is My Beat: The Robert Turk Murder Case (1952)
Detective Danny Malloy responds to a murder call at the home of Robert Turk on East 63rd Street, where he finds Turk dead with a twisted neck in a room filled with exotic idols and ritualistic objects. A drugged woman is found at the scene who was apparently involved with Turk through some kind of cult activity centered on black magic and love potions.
New York City, 1952: Robert Turk's apartment on East 63rd Street and Mara Spencer's home · Danny Malloy, Muggerman, Mara Spencer, Johnny Longstreet, Robert Turk
Listen for: The detective's investigation into the mysterious death surrounded by occult paraphernalia, and Mara's account of her involvement with Turk and his cult practices involving exotic drugs and ritualistic objects meant to rekindle romance.
Broadway is My Beat: The Roberto Segura Murder Case (1950)
Detective Danny Clover investigates the murder of Roberto Segura, a young man found stabbed in an apartment on 116th Street. The victim was in love with Christina, the daughter of the wealthy and aristocratic Don Eduardo Perez, who forbade their relationship. As Clover gathers information from those who knew Segura, including his roommate boxer Johnny Martinez and the eccentric young amateur detective Joe Candelaria, the case begins to unravel.
116th Street off Amsterdam Avenue in New York City, a Spanish-speaking neighborhood; Don Eduardo's house; a jail; Papa Candelaria's private club · Detective Danny Clover, Christina, Don Eduardo Perez, Christina's mother, Roberto Segura (victim), Johnny Martinez (boxer), Joe Candelaria (11-year-old boy), Papa Candelaria
Listen for: The atmospheric description of the crime scene with Christina and the murdered Segura; the tense confrontation between Detective Clover and the proud Don Eduardo over access to his daughter; Johnny Martinez's bitter reflections on his own failed life paralleling Segura's death; the charming intrusion of young Joe Candelaria claiming to be a private investigator.
Broadway is My Beat: The Robin Forrest Murder Case (1953)
Detective Danny Clover investigates a drunk woman found with a bloody knife in her purse near midnight. She turns out to be Joan Tracy, the wife of a concerned man who arrives at headquarters. After a tense confrontation, Joan appears unstable and threatens violence. Investigation reveals she left a village nightclub with a man named Robin Forrest, who rents an attic room nearby.
New York City: police headquarters, village streets, the Crocodile Club on Bank Street, a corner rooming house with an attic room · Detective Danny Clover, Lieutenant Mugaven, Joan Tracy, Harold Tracey, Marty (taxi driver), Club manager, Robin Forrest
Listen for: The atmospheric opening description of Broadway at night; the tense interrogation scenes at headquarters; the cab driver's account of picking up Joan Tracy; the discovery of Robin Forrest's whereabouts.
Broadway is My Beat: The Russ Warner Murder Case (1952)
Detective Danny Clover investigates a shooting at a Broadway bar where Russ Warner, a Chicago visitor, is found with a bullet wound in his shoulder. Warner claims he accidentally fired a gun he found in the back room, but Clover discovers Warner was recently in a fight with Joe Hayden and uncovers a more complex story involving old Chicago connections.
Broadway in New York City, primarily a bar with a back room, and police headquarters · Detective Danny Clover, Russ Warner, Joe Hayden, Lordy (Joe's companion), Bar owner, Sergeant
Listen for: The atmospheric opening describing Broadway at night; the investigation into the shooting and Warner's conflicting stories; revelations about Warner's fight with Hayden and connections to Chicago
Broadway is My Beat: The Ruth Larson Murder Case (1951)
Detective Clover investigates two murders on Broadway: first, the brutal killing of 14-year-old Ruth Larson, found in a vacant lot with a fractured skull caused by a gun butt, and then the discovery of Mrs. Beatrice Murray, a charitable middle-aged woman, murdered in her backyard under similar circumstances. With no apparent motives for either crime, Clover struggles to find the connection between the two victims and identify the killer.
Broadway and the surrounding streets of New York City, including the city morgue, Detective Clover's office, and residential homes · Detective Clover, Mr. Larson, Mrs. Larson, Ruth Larson, Danny, Dr. Sinsky, Mr. Murray, Beatrice Murray
Listen for: The distinctive narration of Detective Clover reflecting on the brutal crimes, the contrast between the victims' innocence and the violence done to them, and the mounting tension as two seemingly unrelated murders suggest a pattern
Broadway is My Beat: The Ruth Nelson Murder Case (1952)
Detective Danny Glover investigates the murder of Ruth Nelson, a woman found stabbed in her rooming house on the same day she was released from a 30-year prison sentence for killing her husband with an axe. The case leads him to interview the prison warden and a mysterious secretary named Louise Downey who had visited Ruth just before her death.
New York City, including a rooming house, a women's state prison farm upstate, and a mansion on Fifth Avenue · Detective Danny Glover, Margaret, Ruth Nelson, Miss Fembrass (prison warden), Louise Downey, Jonathan Hartch
Listen for: The atmospheric opening describing Broadway at dusk; the discovery of Ruth Nelson's murder weapon and prison discharge papers; the revelation that Ruth served 30 years for killing her husband; the lead to Louise Downey as a person of interest.
Broadway is My Beat: The Ruth Shay Murder Case (1953)
Detective Danny Clover investigates the murder of Ruth Shea, a woman found shot dead near the river. Her husband Robert Shay is notified at the morgue and insists he did not kill her, claiming to have worshiped her. When an old photograph reveals Ruth was once a beautiful socialite, a mysterious woman named Diner Martin calls to offer information about who may have killed her.
New York City's Broadway district and the city morgue · Detective Danny Clover, Robert Shay, Ruth Shea, Gena, Diner Martin, Lieutenant
Listen for: The circumstances of Ruth Shea's murder and why her appearance has changed so dramatically since a photograph taken two years earlier.
Broadway is My Beat: The Sgt Gordon Ellis Murder Case (1949)
Detective Danny Clover investigates the murder of Sergeant Gordon Ellis, who was shot and killed during the escape of prisoner Tommy Mann. Danny suspects that Ellis's death was no accident and that powerful forces orchestrated Mann's breakout, leading him to confront the wealthy and mysterious Mr. Faulkner and his attorney, and ultimately to seek out Tommy Mann's mother in the tenements where both men grew up.
Broadway and Times Square in New York City, from police headquarters to the wealthy estates overlooking the East River to the tenement neighborhoods where the characters grew up. · Danny Clover, Tommy Mann, Sergeant Gordon Ellis, Officer Quinn, Mr. Faulkner, James Arnold, Janie, Mrs. Mann
Listen for: The hard-boiled narration of Detective Clover as he prowls the city investigating Ellis's murder; the confrontation with Mr. Faulkner about Tommy Mann's escape; Clover's return to his childhood neighborhood.
Broadway is My Beat: The Sherman Gates Murder Case (1949)
Detective Danny Clover investigates the death of Sherman Gates, found dead in a movie theater from what appears to be poisoning. The case seems straightforward until Clover discovers Gates visited a photographer the day before and received pictures of cats, and learns that Gates had recently called a woman named Irene Vincent at a fashionable apartment house, complicating the question of whether this was truly a suicide.
Broadway and Manhattan, including a movie theater, the Carnegie Hotel, a photography shop on 10th Avenue, and a fashionable apartment house on East Sixty Street. · Danny Clover, Maxie, Dr. Jeffrey Connor, Sherman Gates, Lee Crandall, Mr. Quimby, Irene Vincent
Listen for: The mystery of why a man would commit suicide at a movie theater and what significance the cat photographs hold; the nature of Sherman Gates' relationship with Irene Vincent.
Broadway is My Beat: The Silks Bergen Murder Case (1949)
Detective Danny Clover receives a key from jockey Silks Bergen to retrieve a personal check from a locker at LaGuardia airport terminal. When Clover later encounters the mysterious Marty at a hotel, he is confronted about his conversation with Silks Bergen and finds himself drawn into a dangerous situation involving threats and guns. Clover loses consciousness and awakens to find himself in a hotel room with a man named Gil Sherry, who speaks cryptically about money, detectives, and a corpse.
Broadway and a seedy hotel called the Last Paddock Hotel in New York City · Danny Clover, Silks Bergen, Joe Mayduck, Marty, Rings Belling, Tinker, Dolly, Gil Sherry
Listen for: The mysterious circumstances surrounding Silks Bergen's request, the threatening confrontation with Marty and his associates, and Gil Sherry's cryptic revelations about a corpse and detective work.
Broadway is My Beat: The Sophie Brettin Murder Case (1953)
Detective Mugivan arrives at a tenement building where Sophie Bretton, an elderly woman known in the neighborhood as a spiritual advisor, has been shot dead. A man named Harry Madison is found wounded in the same room, shot while chasing the killer. As detectives investigate the sparse clues left behind, they begin to piece together the mysterious circumstances of the crime.
A tenement building on Broadway in Times Square, New York City; also a hospital emergency room and police headquarters. · Detective Mugivan, Danny, Sophie Bretton, Harry Madison, Dr. Sinsky, The Super, Geno
Listen for: The detectives' discovery of Sophie Bretton's collection of occult and metaphysical books, the mysterious cigarette lighter with initials, and a cryptic appointment marked 'Sophie, 10 o'clock' that may hold the key to the murder.
Broadway is My Beat: The Stacy Parker Murder Case (1953)
Detective Danny Covert investigates the murder of Stacy Parker, a jeweler found dead in the apartment of a married couple, Johnny and Anna Lin. Parker had visited the apartment to collect a debt, and now both the Lins have disappeared, leaving Covert to unravel the circumstances of the killing.
Manhattan in July, including an upscale apartment building on the East Sixties, a jewelry shop on Madison Avenue, police headquarters, and the streets of Broadway. · Detective Danny Covert, M. Norton, the apartment building manager, Mr. Miller, Parker's jewelry shop clerk, Stacy Parker, the murdered jeweler, Johnny Lin, Anna Lin, Gino
Listen for: The poetic narration that opens the episode, setting the summer atmosphere of Broadway; Detective Covert's methodical investigation moving from the crime scene to interviews with the building manager and the jeweler's clerk.
Broadway is My Beat: The Steve Courtney Murder Case (1950)
Detective Danny Clover receives an anonymous call claiming that wealthy industrialist Stephen Courtney was murdered, not dead from heart failure as his physician Dr. Fulbright certified. Clover investigates the circumstances of Courtney's death at his Long Island estate, interviewing the doctor, Courtney's daughter Lilla, and her brother, uncovering puzzling details about the old man's final hours.
New York City and Long Island; present day in 1950, following Stephen Courtney's death on June 16th. · Detective Danny Clover, Stephen Courtney, Dr. Arthur Fulbright, Lilla Courtney, Joseph O'Donnell, Hugh Courtney
Listen for: The mysterious anonymous female caller who accuses the doctor of murder; the unexplained radio in Courtney's room when he was forbidden to have one; Joseph O'Donnell's strange psychic premonitions; the hints of motive among the heirs now enriched by Courtney's death.
Broadway is My Beat: The Sybil Crane Murder Case (1953)
Detective Danny Malloy investigates the stabbing of Sybil Crane, a young bookkeeper found bleeding on a Broadway street. The mysterious woman, discovered by a compassionate landlady named Gwen and her friend Doc, is rushed away but her identity remains unknown until fingerprints reveal her to be Sybil Crane, a well-paid employee of Superior Tool and Die Company who manufactured government-contracted items.
Broadway in New York City at night, a brownstone rooming house, police headquarters, and the Superior Tool and Die Company factory. · Detective Danny Malloy, Gwen, Doc Roundtree, Gene, Sybil Crane, Young lady at Superior Tool and Die Company, Employer at Superior Tool and Die
Listen for: The opening description of Broadway as a bustling nighttime street, Gwen's account of finding the wounded girl on her front stoop, and details about Sybil Crane's unusually high salary at the factory.
Broadway is My Beat: The Ted Ebberly Murder Case (1951)
Detective Danny Clover investigates the murder of Ted Ebberly, a shoe salesman beaten to death in an alley behind a bar on 139th Street. Ross Lock, a former boxer turned model maker, is arrested at the scene, but the case grows more complicated when a woman named Carol Bennett, who witnessed the fight, is found strangled to death in the Harlem River.
New York City, including a bar on 139th Street, police headquarters, and a boxing gym on Amsterdam Avenue · Detective Danny Clover, Ross Lock, Jack Coboy, Detective Mugwen, Carol Bennett, Billy Webster
Listen for: The investigation into Ross Lock's involvement in the alley fight, the discovery of Carol Bennett's body, and the emerging questions about who really killed Ted Ebberly and why Carol was silenced.
Broadway is My Beat: The Ted Forstek and Ruth Ballard Murder Case (1950)
Detective Danny Clover investigates the murder of Ruth Ballard, a young woman shot to death in a parked car alongside Ted Forstach, who survives the attack but remains unconscious. As Clover notifies the grieving families and searches for answers, police trace a vehicle involved in the crime to a delivery truck registered to someone named George Kilbert.
New York City, including a secluded road used as a lover's lane, police headquarters, the Ballard home, the Forstach candy and stationary store on Amsterdam Avenue, and a hospital. · Danny Clover, Ted Forstach, Ruth Ballard, Mr. Ballard, Mrs. Forstach, Mr. Forstach, Sergeant Chino, Dr. Sensky
Listen for: The atmospheric description of Broadway and the city at night; Clover's difficult notifications to the families; the clues emerging from the crime scene including tire marks and paint scrapings; the discovery of the registered vehicle at a cleaning establishment.
Broadway is My Beat: The Ted Lawrence Murder Case (1953)
Detective Mugam investigates the murder of Theodore Lawrence, a wealthy and well-liked man found shot in his apartment after a woman's distressed phone call. The investigation leads to Grace Austin, whose fingerprints are found throughout the apartment, but a shocking discovery complicates the case when Grace is found dead in an alley.
New York City, Broadway area and police headquarters; Theodore Lawrence's apartment; Park Avenue Athletic Club; an alley · Detective Mugam, Danny, Theodore (Teddy) Lawrence, Grace Austin, Johnny Austin, Carl
Listen for: The atmospheric opening about Broadway's streets; the initial phone call reporting the murder; the discovery of the body and fingerprint evidence; the twist ending involving Grace Austin's death.
Broadway is My Beat: The Thelma Harper Murder Case (1950)
Detective Danny Clover investigates a murder in Central Park when a woman named Thelma is found shot to death. The investigation leads him to Mark Guilford, whose wife Janet recently attempted suicide, and Clover must determine whether Mark is connected to the crime or if darker secrets lie beneath the surface of their troubled marriage.
New York City, primarily Broadway and Central Park, including a rooming house on West 16th Street and police headquarters · Danny Clover, Mark Guilford, Janet Guilford, Dr. Simpson, Dr. Sensie
Listen for: The gritty noir atmosphere of 1950s Broadway, the tense interrogation between Clover and Mark in his sparse room, and the revelation of the connection between Janet's suicide attempt and the murder victim Thelma.
Broadway is My Beat: The Thomas Hart Murder Case (1951)
Detective Danny Clover investigates the murder of Thomas Hart, a dress rack pusher for Sinclair Stylcraft who is found dead on a Broadway street with scissors in his back. Clover's questioning of Hart's employer Justin Sinclair and visits to Hart's shabby rooming house and to Mrs. Sinclair's home reveal mysterious connections and raise more questions about who wanted Hart dead and why.
Broadway in New York City, a dress manufacturing company, a rooming house, and a residential home · Detective Danny Clover, Thomas Hart, Justin Sinclair, Miss Croft, Jonesy, Mrs. Sinclair, Muggleman
Listen for: The distinctive opening and closing descriptions of Broadway's contrasting day and night atmospheres, and Clover's methodical detective work as he follows clues from the crime scene through interviews with key figures in Hart's life.
Broadway is My Beat: The Tom Keeler Murder Case (1951)
Detective Danny Clover investigates the murder of Tom Keeler, a man found shot twice in a cheap hotel room—killed by two different caliber bullets. The investigation leads from the hotel to a bank and to connections with George Webber, a lawyer whose partner Paul Marley claims Webber has been on Fire Island since the day before yesterday.
New York City, primarily Broadway and the surrounding areas including a hotel on West 25th Street, the Great Northern National Bank, and a law office in a building with suite twelve. · Detective Danny Clover, Dr. Cinsky, Randy Quantrell, Paul Marley, George Webber
Listen for: The distinctive hard-boiled narration by Detective Clover describing the Broadway crime beat and the mysterious circumstances surrounding the two bullets from different guns used to kill Tom Keeler.
Broadway is My Beat: The Tommy Stafford Murder Case (1950)
Detective Danny Clover investigates the murder of Tommy Stafford, a jewelry messenger stabbed to death on a Coney Island roller coaster. The case expands when a second messenger, Ed Drasko, becomes a suspect but is found dead in a hall of mirrors, and stolen jewels worth $100,000 surface in unexpected places. Clover uncovers a elaborate scheme involving Madame Sibyl and her associate Victor.
New York City, primarily Coney Island and its midway attractions, including a roller coaster, jewelry shop, fortune teller's booth, and hall of mirrors. · Detective Danny Clover, Tommy Stafford, Ed Drasko, Gerald Fuffman, Madame Sibyl, Victor Amalfi, Frank Christian, Paul Otis
Listen for: The atmospheric opening describing Broadway's glamor and danger; the tense confrontation in the hall of mirrors; the revelation that Drasko's gun had no fingerprints; Clover's realization that he was manipulated into killing an already-dead man.
Broadway is My Beat: The Tony Blair Murder Case (1952)
Broadway detective work begins when Tony Blair, who runs a dance studio, reports that one of his young dancers, Sylvia Douglas, fears she will be killed by a man named Peter Churo, a soldier she met in England. The investigation leads from Churo, who makes wooden toys and harbors feelings for Sylvia, to Johnny Moore, a longshoreman at the docks who has recently met and become involved with the dancer.
New York City, primarily on Broadway and the East River docks at Pier 16 · Tony Blair, Sylvia Douglas, Peter Churo, Johnny Moore, Danny Clover
Listen for: The poetic, hard-boiled narration that captures the atmosphere of the city streets and docks; the tense interrogations that gradually reveal the complicated relationships surrounding Sylvia Douglas.
Broadway is My Beat: The Val Dane Murder Case (1949)
Detective Danny Clover investigates the death of Val Dane, a famous writer found dead in a locked, fortress-like room atop his penthouse. The discovery is made when a flagpole painter accidentally drops his paint bucket through a skylight, revealing Dane's body. Though surrounded by jars of food, Dane died of starvation, leaving Clover to untangle the mystery of how a man with plenty to eat could starve to death.
New York City and Val Dane's penthouse fortress, present day · Danny Clover, Clem Picasso, Val Dane, Joandine Dane, Lyle Brooks, Cynthia Troy
Listen for: The unraveling details of Val Dane's isolated death chamber and the revelation of his cruelty through his novel 'The Great Fake,' which has created a list of potential suspects including his ex-wife, his ghost writer, and a woman he portrayed mercilessly in his latest book.
Broadway is My Beat: Tom and Alice Corey Suicide Pact (1950)
A desperate phone call reports that a man named Corey has killed his wife and himself. Detective Danny Clover and his partner must search through multiple Coreys in the city to find the victims, eventually locating Tom and Alice Corey dead in their apartment. As the investigation begins, witnesses reveal troubling details about the couple's deteriorating relationship.
New York City, 1950. Police headquarters, various apartment buildings, and the Corey residence at 1520 W46, apartment 2A. · Danny Clover, Tom Corey, Alice Corey, Detective Mugerman, Miss Stanley, Henry Fairchild
Listen for: The frantic opening phone call that sets the investigation in motion, the detectives systematically checking multiple Coreys in the phone book, and Miss Stanley's account of the couple's recent behavior at a bridge game.
Broadway is My Beat: Wanted for Murder (1953)
Detective Danny Covert interviews Myra Fuller, who discovered that her fiancé Ernest Lane—a man she's known only a few months—is wanted for murder in connection with his wife's death in 1950. When she refuses to reveal Lane's whereabouts, Covert has her followed to learn where she leads them.
New York City, primarily Broadway and police headquarters, with scenes in bars, parks, apartments, and the subway · Detective Danny Covert, Myra Fuller, Ernest Lane, Lieutenant, Detective Denison, Detective Muglevin, Genoa
Listen for: The poetic, atmospheric narration of Broadway life in springtime; the moral dilemma of a woman caught between love and duty; the stakeout procedures of 1950s detective work.
Nick Carter, Master Detective: 129 episode guides
Nick Carter - A Cat Brings Death (1944)
Detective Nick Carter visits Police Lieutenant Riley, who is under pressure to solve a series of jewel robberies. When Mrs. Dudley Banks, the Commissioner's aunt, arrives to report that her prized lemon-colored Persian cat Fluffy has been stolen from her home, Carter becomes intrigued by the unusual case and decides to investigate, despite Riley's skepticism.
Police headquarters and Mrs. Dudley Banks' home in the city · Nick Carter, Lieutenant Riley, Commissioner Clark, Mrs. Dudley Banks, Caddington the butler, Ms. Conroy
Listen for: Carter's unconventional reasoning about why a stolen cat might be significant; Mrs. Dudley Banks describing Fluffy's disappearance and the suspicious visitor from the ladies' auxiliary.
Nick Carter - The Case of Make-Believe Murder (1945)
Nick Carter is invited to join the exclusive alphabet club and attends an initiation dinner where the members stage a make-believe murder mystery as a prank. When Carter and his associate Patsy arrive, they find a body on the floor dressed as Santa Claus, but what begins as an elaborate hoax turns into a real murder when Carter realizes a fifth shot was fired among the blanks meant for the fake killing.
The alphabet club, an exclusive gathering of prominent men, in a room decorated for an initiation ceremony featuring a make-believe murder setup. · Nick Carter, Patsy Bowen, Sergeant Matheson, Arnold Archer, Nelson Burns, Walter Crane, George Dennis
Listen for: Nick Carter's deduction about the fifth shot that reveals the murder is real; the members' explanations of the initiation prank and their relationships; Sergeant Matheson's investigation into the suspects.
Nick Carter - The Case of the Flowery Farewell (1948)
When wealthy industrialist Miles Kincade is found dead in a lake with a flowery suicide note in his car, his friends the Holts ask Nick Carter to investigate their suspicions that he was murdered. Nick discovers evidence of a break-in at Kincade's home and learns from the autopsy that the victim's lungs contained chlorinated water—not lake water—suggesting foul play.
A city including Kincade's home, Nick's office, and the offices of various professionals. · Nick Carter, Patsy, Mrs. Douglas Holt, Douglas Holt, Miles Kincade, Harry Otis, Sergeant Malthuson, Melvin Dudley
Listen for: The autopsy reveals chlorine in Kincade's lungs, proving the lake water couldn't be the source of his death and confirming murder rather than suicide.
Nick Carter - The Case of the Invisible Treasure (1948)
Nick Carter and his assistant Patsy become entangled in a mystery when a bottle of rare cologne called Heavenly Sin causes a scene at a department store perfume counter. After a man desperately tries to buy every bottle and offers money for more, Patsy is mysteriously pushed in front of a taxi. The broken cologne bottle is lost in the accident, but Nick suspects the cologne itself holds a valuable secret that someone is willing to kill for.
A department store on Fifth Avenue in New York City, and the surrounding streets · Nick Carter, Patsy, Al Harper, Department store clerk, Young woman at perfume counter, Aggressive man seeking cologne
Listen for: The mysterious importance of the Heavenly Sin cologne and why someone would resort to attempted murder to obtain it.
Nick Carter - The Case of the Luminous Spots (1947)
When Smokey Bates, a member of Nick Carter's downtown boys club, is recruited into a burglary ring led by a criminal named Noonan, a janitor discovers the theft in progress. A struggle ensues and the janitor is shot dead. Nick must identify the killer among his 120 club members before the murderer can cover his tracks.
The downtown boys club gymnasium and basement, and an apartment building at 120 Amps Down Avenue in the city · Nick Carter, Patsy, Matty, Smokey Bates, Noonan, Fran Hollis, Jerry, Jean
Listen for: The clues Nick discovers at the crime scene: a torn piece of wool from a sweater, a silver pin with the initials DBC from the boys club, fresh scratches on the door lock, burnt paper matches, and a screwdriver with matching metal flakes
Nick Carter - The Case of the Man Who Died Twice (1948)
Nick Carter and Patsy arrive in southern Florida to wrap up a case, but before they can leave for New York, they discover a car wreck with a burned body inside. What appears to be a simple accident takes a sinister turn when Nick notices telltale signs of murder. The dead man, registered as George Brennan, had connections to a construction company in Ohio, and Nick must uncover who he really was and why someone wanted him dead.
Southern Florida, near Bay City; the Bayview Hotel; a rural road at night · Nick Carter, Patsy, Sheriff Dale, Mike Talbot, George Brennan
Listen for: Nick's deduction about the car accident being murder based on examining the gear shift and burn marks; the discovery of George Brennan's true identity through a matchbook from a construction company in Ohio.
Nick Carter - The Case of the Martyred Rat (1948)
Nick Carter is hired by freight company owner Mr. Barton to investigate the hijacking of a truck carrying $30,000 worth of cargo. The truck driver Red Kennedy was shot during the robbery. As Nick investigates, he discovers that another driver, Les Garner, was supposed to make the run but stayed home drunk that day. Nick finds red clay on Les's car that matches clay from the hijack site, suggesting Les may have been involved in tipping off the hijackers.
A city and surrounding area including a freight company warehouse, a side road 50 miles west of the city, and Ketterey's boarding house. · Nick Carter, Patsy Bowen, Red Kennedy, Mr. Henry Barton, Les Garner, Emas Ketterey
Listen for: Nick's investigation uncovers suspicious circumstances around driver Les Garner and his connection to the hijacking through chemical analysis of red clay evidence.
Nick Carter - The Case of the Phantom Shoplifter (1949)
Nick Carter investigates a series of expensive fur coat thefts from Warren's Specialty Shop. When a suspected shoplifter named Peggy Matthews is found strangled in her rooming house, the case takes a sinister turn. Nick must uncover who really stole the coats and who murdered the young woman.
A city with Warren's Specialty Shop, cheap rooming houses, and a police precinct, during Christmas Day 1949. · Nick Carter, Sergeant Matheson, Peggy Matthews, Mr. Dodd, Miss Bowen, Mr. Warren, Bruno Celia, Patsy
Listen for: The discovery of Peggy Matthews' body and Nick's investigation into the mysterious fur coat thefts and her murder.
Nick Carter - The Case of the Sunken Dollar (1947)
Master detective Nick Carter investigates the murder of Jason Grange, a rare coin dealer, who is shot three times through the heart. The killer steals an extremely valuable 1804 silver dollar worth $10,000, one of only three known to exist. Nick theorizes the murder was committed to advertise the theft so the killer can counterfeit and sell multiple copies of the rare coin.
New York City, primarily in Jason Grange's coin shop near Maiden Lane and later Nick Carter's office and laboratory · Nick Carter, Patsy Bowen, Sally Ann Mason, Mr. Brown, Jason Grange, Maddie, Louie, Betsy
Listen for: The clever deduction about why only one coin was stolen despite the availability of cash and valuable items; the revelation that the 1804 silver dollar was written in blood by the killer, not the victim; and Nick's theory about counterfeiting rare coins for profit.
Nick Carter - The Case of the Unexpected Corpse (1948)
In the small Texas town of Plain City, oil man Leonard Atwell is found shot dead in his car. Sheriff Tabor suspects a hitchhiker, especially after a drifter named Morgan is caught trying to sell Atwell's watch and ring. Nick Carter arrives on a social visit and begins examining the evidence at the sheriff's office, uncovering puzzling details that suggest the case may not be as straightforward as it appears.
Plain City, Texas, and surrounding areas including a filling station on the highway to Dallas. · Nick Carter, Patsy Boyne, Sheriff Tabor, Buck Henderson, Colonel Gardner, Morgan, Leonard Atwell
Listen for: Nick's observation about the adhesive tape on Atwell's hand—it was too clean to have been there long—and the deputy's discovery that someone with white hair accompanied Atwell at a filling station 30 miles away.
Nick Carter - The Case of the Vanishing Weapon (1949)
When Nick Carter and his assistant Patsy encounter a car accident on the road, they find a dying woman who whispers that her husband will kill his next wife for insurance. The woman, Kay Bolton, dies from her injuries. Nick becomes suspicious of her husband's involvement and pushes for an autopsy despite Bolton's resistance, but the investigation reveals no evidence of tampering with the vehicle or poisoning.
Elm City and surrounding roads, a farm · Nick Carter, Patsy Bourne, Chief of Police, Kay Bolton, Mr. Bolton, Mac McEwen, Sam Webb
Listen for: Nick Carter's investigation into whether Kay Bolton's death was truly an accident or a carefully planned murder by her husband for insurance money, despite the absence of physical evidence.
Nick Carter - The Mystery of Hangman's Wood (1945)
Nick Carter is called to a remote location near the Potomac River to investigate a mysterious phenomenon reported by Professor Markerk, a renowned archaeologist. During a full moon, a ghostly shadow of a hanged man appears on the side of an old barn near Hangman's Wood, though nothing physical casts the shadow. When Nick, his secretary Patsy, and the Professor investigate, they discover fresh wagon tracks leading into and out of the supposedly locked barn, suggesting a more earthly mystery beneath the supernatural appearance.
Hangman's Wood near the Potomac River, Virginia, where pirate caves are being investigated and an old gallows tree stands near an abandoned barn. · Nick Carter, master detective, Patsy Bowen, his secretary, Professor Markerk, an archaeologist, Harvey, the Professor's assistant
Listen for: The clever deduction about the wagon tracks suggesting a hidden human explanation for the ghostly shadow, and Nick's method of investigating the barn door.
Nick Carter Master Detective - An Angle on Murder (1943)
Nick Carter arrives at a banker's office for an appointment with John Hamill, who suspects one of his four partners is embezzling money. Before the showdown can occur, Hamill is shot dead in the hallway. Nick discovers a gun in Cornish's office—the murder weapon—and Cornish flees. Nick later receives a call from Cornish asking him to meet at an abandoned house, but finds only emptiness waiting.
A Manhattan banker's office building and an abandoned house at 1813 Oak Street · Nick Carter, Patsy, Cubby, John Hamill, Tom Briddock, Hamill Garrick, Arthur Nelson, Alan Cornish
Listen for: The mysterious circumstances of Hamill's death in a hallway with no apparent killer, the damning evidence against Cornish, and the cryptic meeting at the empty house
Nick Carter Master Detective - Blue Mink (1946)
Nick Carter goes undercover in a department store with his assistant Patsy to catch fur thieves who have been stealing expensive pelts. When Patsy spots a suspicious customer with a large bundle, Nick investigates and spots a stolen blue mink coat at a theater, leading him to follow a trail of thieves connected to the store heists.
A large department store and a theater in the city · Nick Carter, Patsy, Ms. Cheryl, Miss Bowen
Listen for: Nick's disguise as a store employee, Patsy's undercover work spotting the suspicious customer, the identification of the rare blue mink coat, and the confrontation at the theater that sets up the mystery of who the real thieves are
Nick Carter Master Detective - Death After Dark (1944)
When two young women disappear from a city park during an evening tennis outing, Nick Carter is called in to investigate. What he discovers is far more sinister than a simple kidnapping—the victims are found dead with mysterious puncture wounds in their necks, and witnesses describe being attacked by strange, silent creatures that seemed to drop from the trees in the darkness.
A city park and surrounding areas, at night; the investigation spans from the tennis courts through the woods to the homes of the victims and witnesses. · Nick Carter, Phil, Betty Graham, Gertrude Chase, Dora Mason, Ed
Listen for: The description of the mysterious attackers—silent, barefooted creatures that hiss like snakes and attack from above; the peculiar wounds on the victims' necks; and the strange-smelling cloth used to render victims unconscious.
Nick Carter Master Detective - The Body on the Slab (1943)
Nick Carter takes a case from a man whose friend Vernon Wallace disappeared after a poker game at a disreputable waterfront saloon run by a one-legged man called Bill. Nick goes undercover to the establishment, feigns losing at cards, and accepts the offer of a room to stay the night, where he discovers bloody clothing hidden in a closet—evidence of foul play.
A rundown saloon-gambling house on West Street by the waterfront, and Nick Carter's office · Nick Carter, Mr. Burnett, Vernon Wallace, Bill, Mike, Penny
Listen for: Nick discovers Bill's involvement in Vernon Wallace's disappearance and learns that a taxi with a distinctive dent in the back was waiting outside the saloon when Vernon left with an unidentified companion.
Nick Carter Master Detective - The Case of the Bearded Queen (1947)
A new car stolen from reporter Scubby Wilson leads Nick Carter to investigate a gang of teenage car thieves. When Danny Walker, a former member of Nick's downtown boys club, is arrested for the theft, Nick discovers the boy has quit the club and fallen in with criminals. Nick visits a garage run by the friendly old man Pops Bainbridge, where neighborhood kids hang out, and uncovers a mysterious clue: playing cards with a bearded queen drawn on them.
A city with a downtown boys club, police station, and a garage on West Pine Street where neighborhood teenagers gather. · Nick Carter, Patsy Vaughn, Scubby Wilson, Danny Walker, Sergeant Brady, Pops Bainbridge, Joe Ferney
Listen for: The mysterious playing cards with the bearded queen drawn on them, and Nick's attempts to get Danny Walker to reveal who is behind the car theft ring.
Nick Carter Master Detective - The Case of the King's Apology (1948)
Wealthy collector Robert Bixby is found dead in his library, strangled with a broken neck. Nick Carter receives a mysterious phone call urging him to come quickly, but when he arrives with Sergeant Betty, they discover Bixby's body. Under the victim's feet, they find a letter dated 1780 signed by King George III—an apparent royal apology. Nick suspects the letter is a forgery and believes finding the forger may lead him to the killer.
New York City: Nick Carter's office and the library of wealthy collector Robert Bixby's home. · Nick Carter, Patsy Bowen, Sergeant Betty, Robert Bixby, Thomas Gall, Gun Prior, Rita
Listen for: Nick's deduction that the royal letter is a forgery; the mysterious phone call that lures Nick to the murder scene; the revelation that Gall and Rita have been plotting to use forged letters for profit.
Nick Carter Master Detective - The Case of the Lucrative Wrecks (1947)
Nick Carter is hired by an insurance underwriters association to solve a wave of car thefts plaguing their clients. After discovering a criminal ring is systematically wrecking new cars and reselling them, Nick plants three stolen vehicles equipped with hidden radio transmitters to track the gang to their hideout.
A city with a garage operation and railroad tracks, during an unspecified time period in the 1940s. · Nick Carter, Mr. Benson, Betsy, Bob Anderson, Peggy Anderson, Dylan, Rocky, Miss Collins
Listen for: The clever use of radio transmitter technology hidden in new cars to track down the car theft gang; the tension as Nick pursues a stolen vehicle through city streets and narrowly misses being stopped by a passing train.
Nick Carter Master Detective - The Case of the Midway Murders (1948)
Nick Carter arrives at the Idle Hour amusement park to meet his friend George Haley, who has been following a man named Joe Lester that he recognizes from his days as a guard at Bayside Penitentiary. While riding the whirlwind roller coaster with his companion Patsy, Nick witnesses George fall to his death from the car ahead. Nick quickly determines the death was murder, not an accident, based on dried blood on the back of George's head from a blow struck before the fall.
The Idle Hour amusement park on a warm summer evening, primarily at the whirlwind roller coaster and the animal show concession. · Nick Carter, George Haley, Patsy, John Broden, Slim Watson, Sergeant Mathison, Lillian Latour, Woody
Listen for: The revelation that Joe Lester, the man George was following, died twelve years ago while escaping from Bayside Penitentiary, raising the question of who George was really following and why.
Nick Carter Master Detective - The Case of the Missing Piano Player (1947)
Nick Carter receives a visit from Mr. Riddon, who suspects the roulette wheel on a gambling ship off the Atlantic coast is rigged and wants Nick to investigate in exchange for the promise of recovering his losses. Before Nick can leave on his fishing vacation, he boards the ship with his assistant Patsy, where they meet a young woman named Miss Edwards searching for her brother Bill, the piano player who disappeared the previous night under mysterious circumstances.
A gambling ship anchored off the Atlantic coast, near Thompson's Cove; Nick's office. · Nick Carter, Patsy, Mr. Riddon, Bill Edwards, Miss Edwards, Mr. Simmons, Gus, Sergeant Madison
Listen for: The disappearance of piano player Bill Edwards, the rigged roulette wheel scheme, and Nick's confrontation with the ship's boss Simmons.
Nick Carter Master Detective - The Case of the Wandering Macaroni (1947)
Nick Carter agrees to help an old friend retrieve a mysterious metal container hidden inside a dish of macaroni at a cafeteria, but he must beat a dangerous man in a green hat to get it. When Nick and his secretary Patsy secure the dish, they're kidnapped by the green hat man and taken to a warehouse where a mysterious colonel demands the container.
New York City, including Nick Carter's office, a cafeteria at 47th Street and Avenue M, and a warehouse by the docks · Nick Carter, Patsy Thorne, Ben Griswold, Green Hat, The Colonel
Listen for: The clever identification signal with broken glasses at the cafeteria, the tense chase with hot coffee, and Nick and Patsy's escape attempt through a warehouse grating
Nick Carter Master Detective - The Corpse in the Cab (1944)
When taxi driver Shorty Bentano picks up two passengers who ask him to drive through the park, one of them turns out to be dead by the time Shorty realizes something is wrong. Nick Carter takes the case and discovers the victim is Professor Ivan Johnson, a history teacher who was on his way to the police station to report something important. Nick must uncover what the professor knew and who wanted to silence him before he could talk to the authorities.
New York City, including a city park, streets, taxi cab, and police headquarters. · Nick Carter, Shorty Bentano, Lieutenant Riley, Professor Ivan Johnson, Patsy
Listen for: Nick's deductive reasoning about the chalk under the victim's fingernail, and his theory that the professor was killed to prevent him from reaching the police station.
Nick Carter Master Detective - The Drug Ring Murder (1943)
Nick Carter is called to the morgue by Lieutenant Riley to identify a body washed ashore—a man carrying one of Nick's business cards. The corpse turns out to be Dr. Stanley Phillips, a research chemist Nick has worked with before. Examination of the body reveals Phillips was murdered by a left-handed killer. Nick and his assistant Patsy investigate the Phillips estate on Long Island Sound, where they encounter Phillips's sister Rose and family friend Richard Coles, then face gunfire from an unknown assailant inside the house.
New York City, including the morgue, Nick Carter's office, and the Phillips estate on Long Island Sound with a private laboratory yacht · Nick Carter, Patsy Bohn, Lieutenant Riley, Dr. Stanley Phillips, Rose Phillips, Richard Coles, Tom Marks
Listen for: Nick's deduction about the left-handed killer based on marks on the body; the discovery of Tom Marks's gloves as evidence; the mystery of who shot at Nick in the Phillips house
Nick Carter Master Detective: An Eye for an Eye (1945)
Nick Carter arrives in Watertown to pay respects to the family of Tom Fraser, a young policeman killed in the line of duty. Upon arrival at the Fraser home, he discovers the family in turmoil: the mother is in a disturbed mental state, and the son Don is found dead from poisoning. Nick becomes embroiled in a murder investigation where suspicion falls on multiple family members, each with potential motives.
The Fraser family home in Watertown and its surroundings, and the local police station. · Nick Carter, Patsy, Lieutenant Riley, Sharon Fraser, Dr. Gavin, Mrs. Fraser, Don Fraser, Sheriff Welch
Listen for: Nick Carter's deductive reasoning as he uncovers the truth behind Don Fraser's death and navigates the family's secrets and tensions.
Nick Carter Master Detective: Carter's Christmas Adventure (1943)
Nick Carter investigates a wealthy businessman named Ben Raspour who refuses to contribute to the settlement house Christmas party and dismisses Christmas as wasteful nonsense. Determined to understand why this successful man is so bitter toward the holiday, Nick enlists his friends to dig into Raspour's past while preparing the annual Christmas celebration for underprivileged children.
New York City, including a settlement house, Nick Carter's office, and Raspour's residence, on Christmas Eve · Nick Carter, Scubby Wilson, Ben Raspour, Riley, Patsy, Fred Anderson, Chris
Listen for: The revelation of Ben Raspour's connection to a boxer named Chris and a shared past that explains his hatred of Christmas; the unfolding mystery of what happened between them years ago.
Nick Carter Master Detective: Death Behind the Scenes (1945)
At the Republic Theatre, director Charles Forrest is rehearsing a new play about Lord Byron, starring imported French actor Paul Weimar. When a series of dangerous accidents plague Weimar—a collapsing chair, a falling sandbag, and now a real bullet fired instead of a blank during rehearsal—Nick Carter is called in to investigate. Weimar suspects someone is trying to kill him or drive him from the production, and suspicion falls on American actor Richard Rowland, who was passed over for the lead role.
The Republic Theatre backstage and stage, during rehearsals of a play about Lord Byron · Nick Carter, Charles Forrest, Paul Weimar, Richard Rowland, Betty, Rogers, Bradley
Listen for: The investigation into who switched the blank cartridge for a real bullet and whether the accidents are intentional sabotage or murder attempts.
Nick Carter Master Detective: Death Goes to the Post (1945)
Nick Carter becomes intrigued when he spots Colonel Pembert's wife pawning expensive pearls at a pawn shop. He investigates the situation at the racetrack where the Colonel's horse, Speed Queen, is heavily favored to win. However, the horse unexpectedly loses to Sonny Boy, and Nick discovers that a small-time tout named Pinky Deams somehow knew the outcome in advance and collected substantial winnings. When Nick tries to investigate further, he receives a mysterious and gruesome package at his office.
World City during the racing season, including a pawn shop, the racetrack, and Nick's office · Nick Carter, Patsy, Colonel Pembert, Mrs. Pembert, Al the pawnbroker, Pinky Deams, Disson
Listen for: The mysterious circumstances surrounding the rigged horse race, the identity of whoever sent the gruesome package, and what they want from Nick
Nick Carter Master Detective: Death Plays the Lead (1944)
Nick Carter investigates the murder of Margot Craven, a leading lady in a USO Theater production at an Army training camp, who is shot in her dressing room during a show. With multiple suspects—including her husband Ross, theater director Dexter who loved her, and actor Carl Shaw—Nick must uncover who fired the fatal shot and uncover a possible spy ring connected to the crime.
A USO Theater at an Army training camp during a rainy evening performance · Nick Carter, Patsy, Scubby, Major Wayne, Mr. Dexter, Margot Craven, Ross Craven, Patty Bird
Listen for: The clue that breaks the case as Nick pieces together the contradiction in the suspects' stories and discovers who had access to Margot's gun
Nick Carter Master Detective: Death by Ricochet (1945)
John May confesses to accidentally killing Randolph Marquis, heir to the Marquis fortune, with a ricochet bullet from his practice shooting in a gravel pit a quarter mile away. Nick Carter is hired to investigate and prove the death was purely accidental, so May won't face future liability, but his inquiries at the Marquis estate meet with hostility and mystery.
A town with a gravel pit, the Marquis estate, and surrounding properties on or near a highway · Nick Carter, John May, Patsy, Randolph Marquis, Clara Marquis, Theresa Marquis, Dave Barton, Old Man Brundage
Listen for: Nick's investigation into whether the ricochet bullet could truly have traveled a quarter mile from the gravel pit to kill Randolph, and Clara Marquis's urgent summons to see Nick Carter as she lies ill
Nick Carter Master Detective: Death in the Pines (1944)
When a truck driver is murdered during a hijacking operation, Nick Carter investigates a protection racket targeting produce shipments from New Jersey to New York markets. A year-long scheme of extortion and violence escalates with the driver's death, and Nick must uncover whether the leak comes from inside the trucking company or from the criminal gang itself.
New Jersey and New York, involving truck routes carrying produce and a state police investigation into organized hijacking operations · Nick Carter, Patsy Bowen, Mr. Tate, Al Lapparo, Dave Morgan, State Trooper, Regan, Jake
Listen for: Nick's clever deduction that someone inside Tate's company is connected to the hijackers, his decision to place Patsy as a typist and another operative as a truck driver to gather information, and the revelation that the driver was shot rather than burned to death
Nick Carter Master Detective: Death in the Pool (1944)
Nick Carter investigates the murder of Arthur Reeves, found stabbed in a lily pool at the Grey Bar apartments. Reeves' ex-wife Sally, who discovered the body, becomes the prime suspect, but Nick's assistant Patsy insists on her innocence and begs Nick to prove her friend didn't kill her ex-husband.
The Grey Bar apartments and surrounding areas, including a police station and a fur shop · Nick Carter, Patsy, Sally Reeves, Lieutenant Riley, Arthur Reeves, Mr. Workman
Listen for: A mink coat helps Nick solve the mystery of who really killed Arthur Reeves.
Nick Carter Master Detective: Eight Records of Death (1946)
Nick Carter receives a mysterious box purchased at an unclaimed package auction, containing a blood-stained dress, a photograph, and eight phonograph records. The records reveal the voice of Nancy Deering, a wealthy woman being held prisoner in her own house by her cousin Olive and Olive's husband Ralph, who are attempting to force her to sign over her estate. Nancy desperately recorded her story, hoping someone would find the records and avenge her murder.
Nick Carter's office and Mr. Field's rooms; Nancy Deering's house where she is held prisoner · Nick Carter, Bazzie, Mr. Field, Nancy Deering, Ralph, Olive, Alex
Listen for: The phonograph records revealing Nancy's account of being held captive by relatives seeking her fortune, her failed escape attempts, and the escalating threat to her life
Nick Carter Master Detective: Four Rings Of Death (1945)
Nick Carter arrives at Tory Island with his assistant Patsy to help decipher a secret code that reveals the location of a buried treasure worth over two million dollars, hidden there by four wealthy Tories during the American Revolution. When they discover one of the heirs, Cyrus J. Trial, murdered with a bullet through his head, and his crucial napkin ring—part of the cipher—nearly stolen, Nick must identify the killer before the treasure is lost forever.
Tory Island, a small rocky island off the Long Island shore, during a stormy night in 1945 · Nick Carter, Patsy, Colonel Howard, Andrew Jessup, Cyrus J. Trial, Matt O'Dell, Peter Brady, Cecil Whittemore
Listen for: The mystery of the four napkin rings that together form a cipher to the treasure's location, and which of the suspects—possibly the obsessed former worker Charlie Vain—murdered the heir to steal the ring.
Nick Carter Master Detective: Kidnapped for Sale, Part 1 (1944)
When Mary Anders leaves her eight-month-old baby with a seemingly respectable couple recommended by a doctor while she travels to Texas to care for her ill husband, she returns to find the doctor denies ever knowing her and the couple has disappeared. Nick Carter discovers that Mrs. Anders has fallen victim to a criminal ring that steals babies from desperate mothers and sells them to eager adoptive parents.
A city with nursing homes, office buildings, and the Stanley Building; the story begins in Nick Carter's office and moves to various locations around town. · Nick Carter, Patsy Bower, Mary Anders, Dr. Arnold, Mr. Gilbert, Mrs. Gilbert
Listen for: The chilling details of how criminals pose as respectable medical professionals to gain the trust of vulnerable mothers, and Nick Carter's growing suspicion that he recognizes the criminal mastermind from somewhere in his past.
Nick Carter Master Detective: Kidnapped for Sale, Part 3 (1944)
Nick Carter escapes from a sealed vault and searches Doc Arnold's apartment for evidence about a baby-stealing ring. After a chase through the city, Nick reaches police headquarters and tells Lieutenant Raleigh about Mrs. Anders, whose baby was taken without a signed release—giving them grounds to arrest Arnold. Meanwhile, Arnold's criminal boss learns that Nick survived and is now working with the police.
A city with Arnold's apartment, city streets, and police headquarters · Nick Carter, Patsy, Dutch, Doc Arnold, Lieutenant Raleigh, Mrs. Anders, The Chief
Listen for: The discovery that Arnold failed to get a signed release from Mrs. Anders, which becomes the concrete evidence needed to break the baby-selling ring; Dutch reporting to the mysterious Chief about Nick's survival
Nick Carter Master Detective: Kidnapped for Sale, Part 8 (1944)
Nick Carter rushes to the Phelps estate after learning that a man with a foreign accent—who has been stealing babies and selling them to adoptive couples—plans to visit Randolph Phelps, a board member of the Infants' Hospital. Nick and his assistant Scubby arrive ahead of the suspect and hide to eavesdrop as Phelps meets with the man, who attempts to bribe him for access to hospital adoption records and information about mothers in financial difficulty.
The Phelps estate on River Road in the countryside near Midvale, with focus on Phelps's study. · Nick Carter, Scubby Wilson, Randolph Phelps, Harry Farr, Danny the Frenchman
Listen for: The revelation of the baby-stealing gang's operation and their attempt to corrupt a hospital official; Nick's recognition of the suspect as Danny the Frenchman from a rum-running gang fifteen years prior.
Nick Carter Master Detective: Mind over Murder (1945)
Nick Carter takes on a case when a mysterious young man with amnesia arrives at his office, claiming to have woken in a stranger's apartment with no memory of his identity or past. The man carries $10,000 in cash and diamond earrings, raising questions about whether he's involved in a crime. As Nick and Patsy investigate, they discover the woman who helped him is in police custody for hiding a gun—the very gun used to kill a man near the waterfront—and a business card found in the man's possession leads them to another dead body.
Nick Carter's office, Laura David's apartment at 7684 Windsor Road, a dry cleaning shop, police headquarters, and McAllister's library. · Nick Carter, Patsy, John Powell (the amnesiac client), Laura David, Dr. Bourne, Lieutenant Riley, Warren McAllister
Listen for: The discovery of the gun hidden in a rice can, the mysterious baggage label from the ship Abercrombie found in the suit lining, and the unexpected death of Warren McAllister.
Nick Carter Master Detective: Missing-Harold Ascort (1944)
Detective Nick Carter is called to the home of Mrs. Ascort, whose son Harold has been kidnapped. A ransom note demands they not call the police. Carter examines the note and traces the paper to a hotel, where he finds a suspicious signature in the register belonging to a man named James Scannott. The description matches Jack Vincent, a forger and con man whom Carter sent to prison three years ago—and who was recently released.
A hotel and Grady's Bar in the city · Nick Carter, Patsy Boone, Mrs. Ascort, Cubby, Clerk, Jack Vincent, Bill
Listen for: The investigation of a kidnapping through clues hidden in the ransom note's paper and handwriting, leading to the identification of a dangerous criminal.
Nick Carter Master Detective: Murder Goes to College (1944)
Nick Carter arrives at Mount Albans College for Girls when the dean calls him to investigate the death of Edith Jordan, a student found dead with sleeping capsules and an empty water glass beside her bed. The dean fears news of the suicide will damage the school's reputation, but as Nick questions the dead girl's three close friends, a troubling picture emerges: Edith was recently afraid of something, locked her door unlike other students, and someone had even shot at her in the woods weeks earlier.
Mount Albans College for Girls · Nick Carter, Patsy Bowen, Dean Margaret Collingwood, Edith Jordan, Eric Grinnell, Miss O'Hearn, Ellen Brown
Listen for: Nick's investigation reveals contradictions suggesting Edith's death may not be the suicide it appears to be, and clues pointing to a deeper mystery involving fear, danger, and threats to the young student.
Nick Carter Master Detective: Murder by Fire (1945)
Nick Carter rescues a woman from a burning button factory, but she dies from her injuries. Investigation reveals the victim is Jenny Baker, the factory bookkeeper, who was deliberately gagged and locked in a closet before the fire was set. Factory owner Oscar Warren becomes a suspect, especially after his partner Alfred Hoffman—who recently fought with Warren and was forced out of the business—cannot be found and threatens revenge from his gas-filled apartment.
A button factory in the downtown district during a fire, then various locations including Warren's office and Hoffman's apartment. · Nick Carter, Patsy, Battalion Chief, Oscar Warren, Jenny Baker, Riley, Alfred Hoffman, Hamilton (Warren's lawyer)
Listen for: The discovery of Jenny Baker bound and gagged in the factory closet; accusations against Warren regarding insurance fraud and his disputes with his partner Hoffman; the mystery of who deliberately trapped the victim in the burning building.
Nick Carter Master Detective: Murder by Magic (1944)
Nick Carter's assistant Scobby arrives in Chicago in a mysterious daze, discovering he's been transformed into a red-haired gangster in a zoot suit with no memory of how he got there. A strange little man claiming to be a mystic named Cheaty confronted him at the airport, and now Scobby finds himself registered at a cheap hotel, apparently wanted for murder, with no idea what happened to him.
Chicago, 1944 - an airport, an airplane, and the seedy Hotel Prince Royal · Nick Carter, Scobby, Patsy, Cheaty the Mystic, Dolly, Hotel Clerk
Listen for: The bizarre encounter with the mysterious Cheaty at the airport and Scobby's confused awakening in the wrong body and wrong place.
Nick Carter Master Detective: Murder in a Decanter (1944)
Nick Carter attends a New Year's party at the home of Mr. Corden when a young woman named Carla Benton asks for his help finding her brother Wallace, who was supposed to take her home. When Nick checks the locked den upstairs where Wallace may have gone, he discovers the body of Mrs. Corden, the hostess, with her skull crushed. The police arrive and suspect Wallace Benton of the murder, but Nick believes the case is far more complex than it appears.
Mr. Corden's home during a New Year's party; particularly a locked den on the second floor where the body is discovered. · Nick Carter, Patsy, Mr. Corden, Macley, Carla Benton, Wallace Benton, Mrs. Corden, Lieutenant Riley
Listen for: The mystery of how Wallace Benton disappeared from a locked room and whether he is truly guilty of Mrs. Corden's murder, as Nick Carter begins to unravel the case.
Nick Carter Master Detective: Murder in the Crypt (1943)
A museum guard disappears from the Egyptian Museum and is found dead inside a sealed crypt containing ancient treasures. Nick Carter must uncover whether the death was murder or something more sinister, as a mysterious librarian claims to have witnessed a supernatural guardian protecting the tomb's secrets.
An Egyptian Museum with a sealed crypt on the second floor containing ancient artifacts and mummy cases · Nick Carter, Patsy, Lieutenant Rannish, Dr. Walnamal, Professor Glinton, Lieutenant Riley, Madame Dachlau
Listen for: The mystery of how the guard ended up dead inside a locked crypt, what treasure lies within the tomb, and whether the supernatural warnings from Madame Dachlau about Anubis the Jackal God have any truth to them
Nick Carter Master Detective: Murder in the Night (1944)
When a murder occurs at a remote house in upstate New York, Sheriff Summers calls on his vacationing friend Nick Carter to help solve the case. A man breaks into the home of Henry and Laura Parsons in the dead of night, shoots Henry through the head, and attempts to silence his wife by gagging, tying her up, and turning on the gas. Laura survives and can describe her attacker.
A small county in Upper New York State; the Parsons' bungalow on the edge of a cliff overlooking a river · Nick Carter, Sheriff Walt Summers, Patsy, Laura Parsons, Henry Parsons, Doc Winslow, Jed Peters
Listen for: The description of the intruder—medium-sized, unshaven with a scar across his forehead and cheek—and his attempt to frame the killing as a burglary gone wrong. Nick hints he may recognize the culprit.
Nick Carter Master Detective: Murder on Mad Mountain (1944)
Nick Carter and his companion Patsy are traveling by train over Mad Mountain during a severe blizzard when the engine becomes stuck in heavy snow. While the crew works to signal an approaching second section, an avalanche sweeps down the mountainside. The flagman, Carney, is found dead at the bottom of a canyon ravine, and Nick suspects there is more to this accident than meets the eye.
A train crossing Mad Mountain during a blizzard, including the train cars and the snow-covered mountainside. · Nick Carter, Patsy, Conductor Robert Bonner, Pauline Hall, Carney the flagman
Listen for: The mystery of how the flagman died and whether the avalanche was truly an accident or something more sinister. Nick's detective skills come into play as he investigates the suspicious circumstances surrounding Carney's death.
Nick Carter Master Detective: Nine Hours to Live (1944)
Johnny Waldron, convicted of murdering Mrs. Fielding and robbing her safe, is scheduled to be executed at midnight. With only hours to live, he requests a final meeting with Nick Carter and asks the master detective to investigate whether he's truly guilty, particularly for the sake of his devoted wife Laura. Carter agrees to look into the case, but has very little time and no clear leads beyond the missing Fielding jewels that were never recovered.
A state prison death house and Nick Carter's detective office in the city, with references to the Fielding residence where the crime occurred. · Nick Carter, Johnny Waldron, Laura Waldron, Patsy, The Warden, District Attorney, Tom Fielding, Mrs. Fielding
Listen for: Nick Carter's rapid investigation into whether Waldron is truly guilty, the significance of the missing jewels, and clues about what really happened the night Mrs. Fielding was murdered.
Nick Carter Master Detective: Nine Hours to Live (1946)
Johnny Waldron sits on death row with just hours to live, convicted of robbing the Fielding safe and murdering Mrs. Fielding. He asks detective Nick Carter to visit him and requests that Carter investigate to prove his innocence—not to save him, but to clear his name for the sake of his wife, Laura. With time running out, Carter agrees to look into the case and races against the clock to find evidence.
A state prison death row and the surrounding area, with flashbacks to investigations; present day 1946. · Nick Carter, Johnny Waldron, Laura Waldron, Patsy Bowen, The Warden, Loysh
Listen for: A race-against-time murder investigation as Carter searches for the real thief and killer of Mrs. Fielding, with the execution clock ticking down and Johnny's fingerprints on the murder weapon pointing against him.
Nick Carter Master Detective: Poison with a Past (1945)
Nick Carter investigates the mysterious death of a man named Shelby, who dies in agony at Professor Travers's apartment during a gathering of Vedanta Society members. The victim shows signs of poisoning, but laboratory analysis of cigarettes and ash found at the scene reveals nothing unusual, leaving Nick to uncover what poison was used and who administered it.
Professor Travers's apartment and Nick Carter's office · Nick Carter, Patsy, Riley, Professor Alexander Travers, Mary Devine, Dr. Starr, Shelby
Listen for: The mysterious poison that kills Shelby and Nick's investigation into the Vedanta Society members present at the scene
Nick Carter Master Detective: Ready for Murder (1945)
Nick Carter investigates the death of John Ames' Aunt Mary, ruled a suicide by aconite poisoning, but John believes it was murder. Three Ames heirs have died in four years under suspicious circumstances, and suspicion falls on the Purcells, long-time farm managers who would inherit the property. Nick examines the evidence and the household at the Ames farm to uncover the truth behind what appears to be a carefully planned series of crimes.
The Ames farm and hotel, a small town with a history of suspicious deaths among the Ames family · Nick Carter, Patsy Bowen, John Ames, Chief Danish, Adam Purcell, Paul Purcell, Lizzie Gregg, McTavish
Listen for: Nick Carter's investigation into whether Aunt Mary's death was suicide or murder, and his examination of the pattern of deaths among the Ames heirs
Nick Carter Master Detective: Records of Death (1944)
Nick Carter receives a mysterious box addressed to a non-existent person, containing phonograph records on which a woman named Nancy Deering has secretly recorded her desperate situation—she is being held prisoner and fears for her life. As Carter listens to the records, he learns of a sinister plot involving her stepchildren Ralph and Olivet, and discovers clues pointing to Toronto, Canada, where he must unravel a complex mystery of disappearance and murder.
A detective's office in New York, later Toronto, Canada and Deering Hall estate · Nick Carter, Patsy, Chief of Police (Toronto), Nancy Deering, Ralph, Olivet, Alex Leleenwa, Nancy's father
Listen for: The chilling phonograph records Nancy secretly made describing her captivity, the clues embedded in the mysterious box's contents, and the revelation of who has truly disappeared and who is an imposter
Nick Carter Master Detective: State's Prison Evidence (1943)
When Nick Carter arrives at a mansion where a man has been found shot dead, the victim's niece Ella insists it's murder despite evidence pointing to suicide. She notices the supposed suicide note was written with the wrong type of pen and the locked desk couldn't have been opened by her uncle. Nick investigates the dead man's mysterious past marriage to a woman named Sarah, uncovering a connection to a convict who recently escaped from state's prison.
A city mansion and its surrounding areas, plus Sarah Charvelle's residence and state's prison · Nick Carter, master detective, Ella Bo, the victim's niece, Enos Charvelle, the dead man, Sarah Charvelle, the victim's estranged wife, Patsy, Nick's associate, Barney McCoy, escaped convict, Governor
Listen for: Ella's clever observations about the suicide note's handwriting and pen type; Nick's decision to go undercover in state's prison; the revelation that the will may be forged despite matching the uncle's handwriting
Nick Carter Master Detective: Strands of Murder (1944)
Nick Carter arrives at a theater in the West 40s where producer Riley is rehearsing a new play called "The Sacrifice." When Nick insists on entering despite Riley's orders to keep people out, he discovers that Leo Brane, one of the play's stars, has been murdered backstage—stabbed with a Grecian dagger. With only seven people in the theater at the time, Nick must determine which of the three leading women or four men committed the crime.
A theater in the West 40s of New York City, in the heart of the theater district, during a rehearsal for a new theatrical production. · Nick Carter, Patsy, Riley, Leo Brane, Della Claire, Mara de Brea, Leader Limman, Bellac Lass
Listen for: Nick investigates the murder using clues from black hairs found on the dagger handle and the discovery that the murder weapon came from the costume daggers worn by the female cast members. He notes the layout of the theater and learns that the killer could have accessed the murder scene from multiple directions.
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Case of Make-Believe Murder (AFRS Mystery Playhouse) (19
Nick Carter is invited to join the exclusive Alphabet Club, where his initiation involves solving a staged make-believe murder as part of an elaborate prank by the club's charter members. However, when the mock murder turns real and club member George Dennis is found dead from an actual gunshot wound during the staged scenario, Carter must uncover which of the three remaining men—Archer, Burns, or Crane—committed the actual murder.
The exclusive Alphabet Club, a private club in an elegant mansion where the Alphabet Club charter members have staged an elaborate murder mystery game. · Nick Carter, Patsy Boyne, Sergeant Madison, Arnold Archer, Nelson Burns, Walter Crane, George Dennis
Listen for: The clever setup of a staged murder that becomes genuine tragedy, and Carter's deduction that a fifth shot was fired among the four blanks, proving one of the men committed actual murder while using the make-believe scenario as cover.
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Case of Shakespeare's Ghost (1945)
Nick Carter investigates a fraud case when a rare book dealer named Rodney Stone swindles collector J.T. Reed out of a valuable first folio Shakespeare, but the case becomes a murder investigation when they discover Stone's decapitated body in his locked hotel room on the 23rd floor. The murder weapon is a sixteenth-century claymore sword, and the gruesome method recalls an old legend about Shakespeare's ghost taking revenge on anyone who steals a copy of the plays signed by Ben Jonson.
New York City, including Nick Carter's brownstone mansion office and a hotel on the 23rd floor in 1946 · Nick Carter, Patsy, J.T. Reed, Rodney Stone
Listen for: Nick's detective methods as he examines the crime scene and gathers evidence, including analysis of the bloodstained sword and testing blood samples; the legend of Shakespeare's ghost and its connection to the stolen book
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Case of the Absent Clue (1948)
Nick Carter learns that his old friend Paul Elliott, who runs a small candy store with his wife Ruth, is being threatened by Jeff Greeley, a racketeer trying to force him into selling numbers slips. When Nick and his assistant Patsy arrive at the store to help, they discover Paul has been murdered with a crowbar. Ruth witnessed the killing and can identify the killers, while Nick finds evidence in a ledger suggesting Greeley may be hiding at a farm he recently purchased.
A small candy store in the suburban town of Beechwood, and Nick Carter's office in the city. · Nick Carter, Patsy, Jeff Greeley, Paul Elliott, Ruth Elliott, Sergeant Mathison, Mary
Listen for: The discovery of Paul's body, Ruth's eyewitness account of the murder, and Nick's deduction that Greeley may be hiding at a farm.
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Case of the Barefoot Banker (1947)
Arthur Colby, a respected banker, comes to Nick Carter claiming he has lost $20,000 during a mysterious period of amnesia. He withdrew the money from his bank but cannot remember what happened to it and suspects he hid it somewhere. Carter takes the case but finds Colby's story suspicious, noticing inconsistencies in his pattern of behavior that suggest he may be planning something more sinister.
New York City, including Arthur Colby's home and Dr. Henderson's office in Eastview · Nick Carter, Arthur Colby, Mrs. Colby (Arthur's wife), Richard (Arthur's brother), Dr. Henderson (psychiatrist)
Listen for: The mystery of Arthur Colby's missing $20,000 and whether his mental blackouts are genuine or part of an elaborate scheme to disguise a larger crime.
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Case of the Boy Who Got Lost (1948)
Nick Carter investigates the murder of Stan Powers, a pool room operator, who is found dead with a knife in his back. A 16-year-old boy named Billy Turner was last seen at Powers' establishment, and evidence at the scene—including a cigarette lighter and a horn-handled knife with face powder on it—points in puzzling directions. Nick must determine whether Billy is guilty, a witness, or an innocent pawn caught in a dangerous situation.
A slum district pool room and its back room, where Stan Powers operates his business; the streets and Nick's office. · Nick Carter, Patsy Bowen, Roy Turner, Billy Turner, Stan Powers, Crow Jackson, Matty (police officer)
Listen for: The discovery of the horn-handled knife with white face powder on its handle, suggesting a woman's involvement; the missing $7,000 from the supermarket heist; the cigarette lighter traced to Billy Turner; and Nick's theory that the powder on the knife may be more important than finding Crow.
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Case of the Bull and the Bear (1948)
Jeff Powell and Dodie Murray are recruited into a counterfeiting scheme by Sidney Poor, who teaches them how to use fake bills at a department store. When they attempt the con, a store detective named Roberts is shot and killed. Nick Carter investigates and discovers the bullet was meant for Jeff, not Roberts, suggesting someone is trying to silence the young couple about the operation.
A department store, police headquarters, and Sidney Poor's candy shop in a rundown neighborhood · Nick Carter, Jeff Powell, Dodie Murray, Sidney Poor, Roberts, Patsy, Benny, Maddie
Listen for: Nick's deduction that the fatal shot came from the fire stairs door and was meant for Jeff Howe, not the detective; Jeff's confession that Sidney Poor set up the counterfeiting racket; the mysterious visitor Thor arriving at Poor's shop asking questions about the case.
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Case of the Candidate's Corpse (1948)
Detective Nick Carter reluctantly takes a case to protect politician Milton Nigel at a political rally in Springville, suspecting gangster involvement. When Carter visits Nigel's hotel suite, he discovers a dead woman—a dancer from the carnival—weighted down in the bathtub. Both Nigel and his wife had opportunity and motive, and Carter must uncover who killed the mysterious girl and why her body ended up in the politician's bathroom.
A small town with a political rally and carnival, including a hotel and carnival grounds · Nick Carter, Milton Nigel, Mrs. Wilton Nigel, Patsy, Sergeant Matheson, Rosita
Listen for: The discovery of the murdered dancer in the bathtub and Carter's investigation into the connections between the carnival girl, the politician, and his suspicious wife.
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Case of the Careless Employees (1947)
Nick Carter investigates a series of three deaths among window cleaners at the Park Window Cleaning Company, all occurring within two weeks. While authorities rule them accidental falls, Nick suspects foul play, especially since the rival Community Window Cleaning Corporation has suffered no similar losses and stands to gain from Park's misfortunes.
New York City skyscrapers and window cleaning company offices · Nick Carter, Patsy, John Farron, Bill Stevens, Marston, Maddie, Fred Whaley, Mabel Lanigan
Listen for: Nick's suspicions about deliberately arranged accidents targeting a specific company to force it out of business; the rivalry between the Park and Community window cleaning corporations
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Case of the Classical Clue (1948)
When eccentric millionaire Henry Worth is found murdered in his music room with a knife in his throat, Nick Carter is called in to investigate. Worth was alone in his mountaintop mansion the previous evening, and a radio tuned to a classical music station provides a crucial clue to the time of death. Nick must sort through the household members and their conflicting accounts to find the killer.
Henry Worth's private mountain mansion and Nick Carter's office · Nick Carter, Patsy Bowen, Henry Worth, Claudia Rowe, Don Worth, Morgan Fenwick, Chief Benson, Carl Franklin
Listen for: The significance of the radio station and musical programming in establishing the time of the murder; the revelation of Worth's plans to force his ward Claudia to marry his nephew Don.
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Case of the Clue Called X (1948)
Joe Gibbs, a man Nick Carter once helped get paroled, is in trouble again. When Joe's wife Edna finds a diamond ring in his coat after he comes home drunk and beaten following a night at a bar, she fears he has stolen it or worse. Nick and Patsy investigate, following the trail from the bar where Joe spent the evening to a diamond dealer's office in an office building.
A city with bars, office buildings, and police headquarters; post-war era (1948). · Nick Carter, Patsy Bowen, Joe Gibbs, Edna Gibbs, Sergeant Madison, Barney, Pete the bartender, Mr. Foster
Listen for: The mystery of the diamond ring and Joe's whereabouts; Sergeant Madison's revelation about a robbery and homicide at the jeweler's office.
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Case of the Crystal Prophecy (1947)
Nick Carter investigates a series of suspicious suicides among middle-aged widows with money. A mysterious fortune teller named Elbe has been telling wealthy women they will take their own lives, then offering to prevent the tragedy for large sums of money. When Martha Langdon receives a dire prophecy from Elbe's crystal ball, she must determine whether the prediction is genuine or part of a sinister scheme.
Nick Carter's office and various locations in the city, including a fortune teller's residence, spring 1947 · Nick Carter, Betsy, Maddie, Robert Winter, Martha Langdon, Elbe, Camelia
Listen for: The crystal ball prophecy that sets Martha's fate in motion, and whether Elbe's visions are real or an elaborate con to extort money from vulnerable wealthy women.
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Case of the Demented Daughter (1946)
Young June Kemple sends back her engagement ring, convinced she is going insane with strange noises and inexplicable chills. Her fiancé Randy Wyatt turns to Nick Carter, certain that June's claims of mental deterioration are false. Nick begins investigating the household, discovering unusual details in June's suicide note and uncovering financial motives tied to her father's will.
New York City, including Nick Carter's office, the Kemple household, and various locations around the city. · Nick Carter, Randy Wyatt, June Kemple, Phyllis Benson, Alex Benson, Mrs. Everett, Scobby
Listen for: The revelation of who is deliberately causing June's symptoms and why they stand to benefit from her institutionalization.
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Case of the Devil's Left Eye (1948)
Nick Carter investigates the death of wealthy Jonathan Briggs, found shot in his locked study with an antique flintlock musket. The police believe it was an accident, but Carter suspects foul play, especially since Briggs' nephew Harry stood to inherit millions and owed a gambling debt to the ruthless Lucky Bristol.
New York City, Jonathan Briggs' mansion study and Harry Willard's apartment · Nick Carter, Miss Borne, Kirby, Jonathan Briggs, Harry Willard, Lucky Bristol, Sergeant Mathison
Listen for: How did the complicated flintlock musket fire by itself, and who had the motive and opportunity to kill Briggs?
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Case of the Disappearing Corpse (1946)
Nick Carter arrives at the fashionable apartment of Anthony Miller, where the man is found dead with a pistol in his hand. The case appears to be suicide until Carter examines the murder weapon and discovers that while a shell has been fired, the barrel is clean—suggesting the gun was not used to kill Miller. Carter realizes this is murder, not suicide, and that whoever committed the crime must be someone inside the locked apartment.
A fashionable duplex apartment at 717 West Hampton Street, New York City, on an ordinary morning. · Nick Carter, Matty (Sergeant Mathis), Dr. Rodney, Jordan (butler), Mr. Warner (Miller's nephew), Anthony Miller (deceased), Mr. Miller's niece
Listen for: The clever detective work of Nick Carter as he examines the murder weapon and recognizes the signs of foul play where others see only suicide.
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Case of the Double Frame (1948)
Johnny Wade is released from prison after three years, bitter and seeking revenge against Ford and Bisbee, who he believes framed him for stealing $20,000. Nick Carter, an old friend who knew Johnny from his youth, attempts to help the troubled young man while investigating whether Johnny was truly guilty of the crime.
State Penitentiary, prison gate, Ford and Bisbee's office, Daddy Greer's establishment, various city locations · Nick Carter, Johnny Wade, Patsy Bowen, Sergeant Mathison, Ford, Bisbee, Minor, Daddy Greer
Listen for: Johnny's bitter confrontation with Ford and Bisbee at their office; Nick Carter's investigation into the original $20,000 theft; the revelation that Bisbee made a suspicious stock purchase shortly after the theft.
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Case of the Exploded Alibi (1947)
Nick Carter investigates the murder of Sam Hildered, the night watchman at an art museum, who is found shot three times in the Egyptian section. A valuable scarab from collector Tyler Vandivere's display has been stolen. Nick narrows his suspects to three known crooks with expertise in rare antiquities, but discovers that all three are currently imprisoned or missing, leaving the case seemingly without an obvious culprit.
A city art museum in the Egyptian section, and Nick Carter's office, during the early morning hours and following day in the post-war era. · Nick Carter, Patsy, Officer Bert, Sergeant Matty, Professor Steiner (museum curator), Sam Hildered (murdered night watchman), Doc Bradley, Tyler Vandivere (collector)
Listen for: Nick's keen observation of the murder weapon and the stopped watch that indicates the time of death; his method of eliminating suspects through criminal records and expertise requirements; the revelation that the three most likely thieves are all unavailable.
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Case of the Failing Eyes (1948)
Nick Carter receives word that his old friend Fred Thomas has died under suspicious circumstances on a farm in western Pennsylvania. Arriving in the small town of Westville to investigate, Carter discovers that Fred's apparent suicide may be murder, and uncovers a scheme involving fraudulent eye examinations being conducted in the area.
Westville, Pennsylvania and surrounding farmland, 1948 · Nick Carter, Patsy Bowen, Sheriff Parsh, Fred Thomas, Blake, Ransom, Mr. Thomas
Listen for: The clever deduction about the fingerprints on the gun revealing murder rather than suicide, and hints of a mysterious racket involving false eye examinations targeting the townspeople.
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Case of the Fatal Redhead (1948)
Nick Carter is called to a nightclub by Mrs. Gray, who fears her elderly father-in-law Howard Gray will marry Delores Dawn, a beautiful young redhead performer, tonight. When Gray is found shot dead in Delores' dressing room with her gun, the case quickly becomes more complicated when a second man—trumpet player Larry Michaels, Delores' ex-boyfriend—is also found dead under mysterious circumstances.
Mark Brennan's 60 Club nightclub in the city, and various connected locations including a dressing room and office. · Nick Carter, Patsy, Mrs. Gray, Delores Dawn, Howard Gray, Larry Michaels, Mark Brennan, Sergeant Mathison
Listen for: The investigation into two murders at the nightclub, with suspicion initially falling on Larry Michaels, but complications arising when Nick notices inconsistencies in the sergeant's theory about how the second murder could have occurred.
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Case of the Forgetful Killer (1948)
A two-bit crook named Whitey Gear is shot dead at First and Water Streets with a note bearing Don Mason's name in his pocket. Don Mason, sales manager at Hughes Publishing and engaged to the boss's daughter, claims he can't remember where he was last night due to blackouts. When Nick Carter investigates, he finds Don's gun has three recently fired bullets, and gray tweed fibers from Don's coat match those found under Whitey's fingernails.
A city waterfront district and Hughes Publishing House office, during the night and following morning. · Nick Carter, master detective, Don Mason, sales manager at Hughes Publishing, Whitey Gear, a small-time crook, Chris Bentley, Don's roommate and fellow salesman, Mr. Hughes, publishing house owner, Sergeant Matty
Listen for: Nick Carter begins his investigation into Whitey's murder, uncovering suspicious evidence that points toward Don Mason while Don struggles to recall his movements from the previous night.
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Case of the Gold-Headed Cane (1947)
Detective Nick Carter boards a ship to catch Sir Armand Coleman, who is suspected of stealing fifty carats of diamonds from a South African mine by hiding them in his gold-headed cane. When Carter arrives, he discovers Coleman has been murdered in his cabin with a knife through his throat, and the diamonds have vanished from their hiding place.
A diamond mine in South Africa and a ship bound for the United States · Nick Carter, Patsy, Sir Armand Coleman, Gig, Mr. Hopkins, Mr. Filbert, Captain, Madame Duquesne
Listen for: The mysterious murder of Coleman, the missing diamonds, and clues involving the gold-headed cane, the angle of the knife throw, and ink spots on bills.
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Case of the Graveyard Gunman (1948)
When criminal Nate Benedict escapes from prison, Nick Carter is called in to track him down. A murder in Nick's own office and a mysterious visitor offering to recover stolen jewels for a reward set Nick on the trail of a dangerous conspiracy connected to Benedict's original crime.
New York City, including Nick Carter's office, Felix Garth's home, the Melbourne Arms apartment building, and Wildwood Cemetery · Nick Carter, Patsy Bowen, Nate Benedict, Kay Florian, Felix Garth, Sammy Gates, Sergeant Matty Matherson
Listen for: The investigation unfolds through Nick's phone calls and office visits, leading to a stakeout at an apartment and a tense cemetery confrontation
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Case of the Great Impersonation (1948)
Nick Carter receives a call from old friend Jack Blaney, a newspaper editor in Center City who claims to have discovered evidence of a major criminal organization involved in gambling, stolen cars, black market materials, and counterfeiting. Jack wants Nick's help gathering proof before he takes action. Nick agrees to catch the next train, but the mob has tapped Jack's phone and plans to eliminate him.
Center City, primarily the offices of the Daily Crusader newspaper and the Bradford Hotel · Nick Carter, Jack Blaney, Chief Ramsey, Patsy, Connie Mills, Mr. Hanford, Arlie Grinner, Ollie Grinner
Listen for: The discovery of counterfeit money in Connie Mills' hotel room and the revelation of connections between the local gang and counterfeiter Arlie Grinner
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Case of the Haunted Burial Cave (1954)
Nick Carter arrives at a remote archaeological expedition near the Canadian border investigating an attack on expedition leader Cole Adams inside an unexplored burial cave. Adams was nearly strangled by an unknown assailant, and the local authorities refuse to help, claiming the cave is sacred and haunted. Carter must uncover whether the attack was motivated by superstition, jealousy, or something else entirely.
A remote archaeological camp near an unexplored burial cave close to the Canadian border, about 30 miles from the nearest town. · Nick Carter, Cole Adams, Miss Bowen, Kevin Farrell, Sam Big Eagle, Jeff White
Listen for: The mystery of who attacked Cole Adams in the cave and why, involving questions of superstition, jealousy, and hidden motives among the expedition members.
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Case of the Henpecked Husband (1948)
Professor Thompson, a mild-mannered man, visits Nick Carter seeking help to stop his roulette system from working too well—he's winning far more money than he intended. That evening at a casino, the Professor wins $22,000 and is persuaded to stay and gamble further. The next morning, he is found stabbed to death in a ditch, his pockets emptied of the cash he was carrying.
A city and its suburbs, primarily involving a casino and Professor Thompson's home in Eastview · Nick Carter, Matty (Sergeant Maferson), Professor Thompson, Scubby Wilson, Mrs. Thompson, Wilfred, Maxie, Daisy
Listen for: The mystery of why Professor Thompson was killed and by whom, and whether his roulette winnings were the motive for his murder
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Case of the Hermit Thrush (1947)
When lawyer Leonard Kelsey can't reach his reclusive client Otis Kavanaugh at his mansion, he arrives with police to discover the housekeeper Miss Drew murdered. Kavanaugh, who has locked himself away for fifteen years following a broken engagement, immediately becomes the prime suspect. Nick Carter agrees to track down the missing man before he strikes again.
A decaying mansion and the surrounding area; a tourist camp on Highway 47 · Nick Carter, Matty, Leonard Kelsey, Otis Kavanaugh, Miss Drew, Miss Bose
Listen for: The mystery of who truly killed Miss Drew and what Kavanaugh's connection to someone named Oliver might be; a dangerous car chase that interrupts Nick's investigation
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Case of the Homely Bride (1948)
Tony Barkley, a charming but unscrupulous criminal, tricks the timid and homely Agnes Perry into eloping with him so he can extort money from her wealthy father. Nick Carter uses radio broadcasts to warn officials not to perform the marriage, but the ceremony takes place anyway. When Agnes discovers Tony's true motives and his cruel nature, she flees the cabin during the night and returns home, locking herself away and refusing to speak to anyone.
A city and surrounding upstate towns; includes the Perry home, a radio station, and a remote cabin used as a honeymoon cottage. · Nick Carter, Agnes Perry, Tony Barkley, Mr. Perry, Linda Forsyth, Patsy
Listen for: The clever use of radio broadcasts to spread a warning, the confrontation between Tony and Agnes when his scheme is revealed, and the mystery of what happened in the cabin that night.
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Case of the Howling Horse (1945)
Nick Carter investigates a bizarre case upstate involving Dr. Lucas, a wealthy explorer who has brought mysterious horses back from his travels. These creatures are said to howl, kill cattle, and have apparently murdered a man, yet when the sheriff searched Lucas's estate, no horses were found. Nick and reporter Scabby decide to investigate the strange estate under cover of darkness.
Nick Carter's laboratory in a brownstone mansion in the city, then upstate at Dr. Lucas's 700-acre forest estate · Nick Carter, Patsy, Scabby, Sheriff Veen, Dr. Lucas, Jed Storm
Listen for: The mystery of the howling horses and why they vanish when the sheriff searches the property; Nick's past intelligence work investigating Dr. Lucas
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Case of the Jewelled Queen (1947)
Nick Carter investigates the death of Jeremy Hawthorne, an elderly chess player found in his basement apartment with an apparent suicide note. Carter quickly discovers the note was forged and Hawthorne was murdered, not a suicide. A rhinestone medallion from the Month Club nightclub found at the scene points Carter toward a dancer named Jenny Valentine and a tangled web of debt, stolen property, and deception surrounding a valuable jeweled queen.
New York City, including Hawthorne's basement apartment, the Month Club nightclub, and a chess club · Nick Carter, Patsy, Jeremy Hawthorne, Monk, Hopkins, Jenny Valentine
Listen for: Nick Carter's clever deduction that the suicide note was forged because there was no ink bottle in Hawthorne's room, and his determination to follow the clue of the nightclub medallion to solve the murder
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Case of the Last Old Timer (1948)
When safecracker Nitro Nelson is released from prison after 25 years, a series of safe robberies begins plaguing the city. Nick Carter is called to investigate the first job at a fish company, where the night watchman has been murdered and a safe blown open. As Nick and his old associate Waldo examine the evidence, they discover fingerprints matching Nitro Nelson, suggesting the aging criminal has returned to his trade.
Nick Carter's detective office and a fish company factory in the city · Nick Carter, Waldo McLinn, Patsy, Cornelius Jones, Mullen, Nitro Nelson, Dan Brinkley
Listen for: Waldo's nostalgic reminiscing about the old days of detective work and his conviction that Nitro Nelson is behind the crimes; Nick's discovery of fingerprints confirming Waldo's suspicions; mysterious references to a courtroom memory from 25 years ago that troubles Nick.
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Case of the Little Old Ladies (1946)
Nick Carter's assistant McLinn searches for a red-haired witness to an automobile accident, but his inquiries at a house on the edge of town lead to a puzzling discovery. He finds a young man named Waldo tied up in an empty house, and the two old ladies who lived there have mysteriously vanished. Nick realizes this case involves far more than locating a witness—a burned piece of paper reveals connections to a bank robbery and a large payroll theft.
A town with a neighborhood on the edge, an empty house, and references to the Brownson Industrial Corporation across the river on Market Street. · Nick Carter, master detective, McLinn, Nick's assistant, Waldo, Mr. Sweet, Mary and Edith, two old ladies, Patsy
Listen for: The mystery of why the old ladies tied up Waldo, what the burned paper from the bank robbery means, and how the missing witness case connects to a $153,000 payroll theft.
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Case of the Littlest Gangster (1948)
Nick Carter investigates when a group of boys, led by young Bubbs Harris, fall under the influence of gangster Moxie Reed. After a club fire damages a building, the boys need $200 to avoid reform school, and Moxie convinces them to steal guns and terrorize the landlady into silence. When the planned shooting happens, someone is killed by a stray bullet.
A city neighborhood with poor sections, an old empty house on Porter Street, and residential streets where the action unfolds. · Nick Carter, Bubbs Harris, Tim Newton, Moxie Reed, Mrs. Harris, Mrs. Telman, Patsy, Mr. Riley
Listen for: The tragic consequences of a child criminal's choices and how peer pressure and bad influences can lead even young boys into serious crime.
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Case of the Magic Rope (1948)
When the great magician Carlos Conestro is found stabbed to death in his workshop, Nick Carter investigates a case centered around a mysterious rope illusion. Conestro's protégée Alma Whiting, a contender for a $10,000 magic award, was the last person seen with him, and questions arise about Conestro's fatal accident from the year before.
The Elton Theatre and Conestro's workshop, during a magicians' competition for the Fulton Award. · Nick Carter, Patsy Boehm, Carlos Conestro, Alma Whiting, Mrs. Conestro, Mr. Fulton
Listen for: Details about the mysterious rope illusion that Conestro claimed would mystify the world, and the circumstances of his earlier accident that left him in a wheelchair.
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Case of the Make-Believe Robbery (1946)
A movie production company poses as legitimate filmmakers to set up an elaborate robbery at a jewelry store. When a woman is killed during the heist and a million dollars in jewels disappear from the safe, Nick Carter investigates what appears to be a carefully planned crime using false identities and forged credentials.
A jewelry store in the city, also involving a sound equipment company office and detective headquarters. · Nick Carter, Mary, Waldo, Mr. Rinegold, Lester Green, Mickey Armbusto, Fred Harlan, Ted Kramer
Listen for: Nick Carter's investigation into the fake movie production scheme, the discovery that the alarm wire was cut, and clues about the mysterious Fred Harlan and the blonde-haired man who posed as a film director.
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Case of the Missing Street (1947)
When contractor Wally White discovers that blueprints for a building project reference a street corner that doesn't exist in Greenwich Village, he suspects fraud. Along with his sister Jean, Wally seeks help from detective Nick Carter, who uncovers an elaborate scheme: the Cosmopolis Company is sending fake construction blueprints to contractors across the country, collecting deposits they never intend to return. Carter traces the operation to a mail drop and prepares to catch the criminals behind it.
New York City, primarily Greenwich Village and an office building serving as a mail drop for the fraudulent Cosmopolis Company · Nick Carter, Patsy Bowen, Wally White, Jean White, Doris Foster, Nixon
Listen for: The clever deduction about the non-existent street intersection, the revelation of the construction bid scam, and Nick Carter's plan to record conversations using a hidden ventilator and wire recorder.
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Case of the Missing Thumb (1947)
When a veterans' organization office is burgled and a watchman is killed, the stolen item isn't cash but a subscription list of 20,000 veteran names. Nick Carter identifies the safe-cracker's technique from his files and traces it to a man named Alfnyk—but discovers the suspect is actually Steve Evans' father Laurie, a hardware store owner who claims to have gone straight ten years ago. When Nick and Sergeant Mathers visit the store to question him, they find Laurie murdered behind the counter.
New York City, including a hardware store, a detective office, and the burgled office of United Veterans Incorporated · Nick Carter, Steve Evans, Sergeant Mathers, Laurie Evans, Patsy
Listen for: The clever way Nick Carter identifies the safe-cracker through his personal technique on the job, and the shocking discovery of Laurie Evans' murder that complicates the case.
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Case of the Nameless Blonde (1948)
Nick Carter returns to his office to find an elegant blonde woman dead at his desk, poisoned with arsenic. With no identification on the body, Nick pursues a clue found in a key case marked "Simon Grenander" that leads to the home of a recently deceased real estate magnate. When a retired sea captain contacts the police claiming he can identify the mysterious woman, he is shot dead before he can reveal her name.
Nick Carter's office and detective work around the city, including a mansion on Lafayette Road and various locations as Nick pursues the case · Nick Carter, Patsy, Sergeant Matherson, Weber the caretaker, Mr. Whitaker, Captain Ernest McIntyre
Listen for: Nick's investigation of the mysterious poisoned woman, clues from the key case, and the mysterious interference from someone trying to prevent the woman's identity from being revealed
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Case of the Perfect Alibi (1947)
Nick Carter is hired by Paul Sanders, a man who accidentally collides with him while driving, claiming that William Lasher will be murdered that night and that he himself has the strongest motive for killing him. Nick agrees to take the case for $10,000 and works with Sergeant Matheson to establish Lasher's whereabouts and safety. Despite their precautions and police surveillance, Lasher is found dead in his study, poisoned from a drink offered by an unknown visitor.
New York City, including a theatre, Lasher's home, and police headquarters. · Nick Carter, Patsy Bon, Paul Sanders, William Lasher, Joey Wilson, Sergeant Matheson, Pete Arnold
Listen for: The mystery of how the murderer bypassed Nick's protective measures and entered Lasher's locked study; the identity of the visitor who shared drinks with Lasher; confirmation of the poison used.
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Case of the Perfect Alibi (1949)
Special Prosecutor Leonard Winston is murdered at midnight in his apartment. Rocky Crane, a racketeer whose brother was executed by Winston a year earlier, becomes the prime suspect. However, Rocky produces a traffic ticket from Lake Hillman, 150 miles away, issued at the exact time of the murder, apparently giving him a perfect alibi. Nick Carter agrees to help Sergeant Malas investigate the case and uncover the truth behind this seemingly ironclad defense.
Lake Hillman resort town and the city, at midnight and the following morning · Nick Carter, Patsy, Chief Brody, Rocky Crane, Leonard Winston, Sergeant Malas, Red Crane
Listen for: The mystery of how Rocky could have committed the murder while holding a traffic ticket proving he was 150 miles away at the time, and the suggestion that something is amiss in Lake Hillman.
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Case of the Persistent Beggars (1947)
A sophisticated begging racket operates across the city, with mysterious boss commanding organized panhandlers to extract money from citizens. When one of these beggars commits murder during a robbery, Nick Carter sees an opportunity to investigate the mysterious leader behind the operation.
The city, including a riverfront warehouse hideout, police headquarters, and city streets · Nick Carter, Sergeant Matherson, Patsy Bowen, Big Louis Arkin, The Boss, Foxy Farrell, John Prentice
Listen for: Nick's realization that the panhandler problem is actually an organized racket, the murder victim's identification of her killer as Foxy Farrell, and Big Louis Arkin's defiant attitude when questioned
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Case of the Poker Murders (1946)
Nick Carter takes on a case involving a criminal mastermind known as the Ace of Spades, who has been striking at insurance warehouses and leaving playing cards as calling cards. When two police officers are murdered in the condemned slum area where the criminal is believed to be hiding, Nick joins forces with Sergeant Matheson to track down this clever and egotistical criminal before he strikes again.
A condemned slum area in the waterfront section of the city, filled with abandoned tenements and dark streets; also Nick Carter's office and police headquarters. · Nick Carter, Sergeant Matheson, Ralph Williams, Patsy, The Ace of Spades, Queen of Hearts, Nolan, Carnes
Listen for: The mysterious Ace of Spades criminal organization leaving poker hands at their crime scenes, and the search through the darkened tenement district for the gang's hidden headquarters.
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Case of the Policy Makers (1947)
Nick Carter investigates a murder-blackmail scheme after Harvey Craig, a state senate candidate, is forced to pay $50,000 to two men who claim he hit and killed a pedestrian. The dead man had an insurance policy naming Harvey as beneficiary. Nick suspects this is part of a larger racket targeting wealthy citizens, and he and Patsy go undercover as servants in the home of a suspicious man named Bentley to get closer to the truth.
A major city with waterfront slums; Harvey Craig's campaign headquarters; Mr. Bentley's mansion with valuable artwork and antiques. · Nick Carter, Patsy, Harvey Craig, Julia Prentice, Joe, Tom, Frank Hudson, Mr. Bentley
Listen for: Nick and Patsy's undercover investigation deepens as they pose as domestic servants in Bentley's household, where the suspected blackmailers Joe and Tom also work.
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Case of the Priceless Prose (1947)
Nick Carter investigates the murder of Victoria Bankraft and the theft of her great-grandfather's priceless original manuscripts from Bankraft Hall. When a rare book dealer named Arthur Haskell summons Nick to his store with urgent news about the theft, he is shot dead before he can reveal what he knows, and Nick must uncover the connection between the murdered sisters, the stolen manuscripts, and those who deal in rare books.
Bankraft Hall, a rare bookstore, and Professor van Leiden's study filled with valuable manuscripts and books · Nick Carter, Patsy Bowen, Julia Bankraft, Victoria Bankraft, Taylor Bankraft, Arthur Haskell, Professor van Leiden
Listen for: The clever clue hidden among the books in Professor van Leiden's library that leads Nick to the stolen manuscript, and the revelation of who is behind the theft and murder
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Case of the Professional Beggar (1948)
When a frightened boy delivers a misdirected letter to Nick Carter's office, Nick discovers the boy witnessed a murder that morning—the killing of assistant DA Billy Davis. The letter, addressed to neighbor Mr. Van Dyke, comes from Major Hector Dowd. Nick traces the boy to the Major's house and learns he saw a man named Gatsley shoot Davis on Holland Street. Now the Major has hidden the boy in his basement and made a mysterious phone call, his intentions unclear.
A brownstone mansion on the corner of Fifth and Fourth in the city; Holland Street where the murder occurs; Major Dowd's house next door to Nick Carter's office. · Nick Carter, Patsy Bowen, Sergeant Maddie Mathis, Billy Davis, Mr. Van Dyke, Major Hector Dowd, Rodney, Gatsley
Listen for: The connection between Major Dowd and the murder; why the Major is hiding the boy; what the Major's phone call to the neighbor means for everyone's safety.
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Case of the Quiet Roommate (1948)
Nick Carter is hired by Mr. Fenrus, owner of an exclusive fashion store, who claims to be blackmailed by Mary Danville over stolen dress designs. When Nick visits the apartment shared by Mary and her roommate Sally Carlisle, he discovers Mary's body in her bedroom—shot through the temple. Jerry Bartlett, the store's fashion designer, arrives at the apartment armed and discovers the detectives already inside.
An exclusive fashion store and the apartment of Sally Carlisle and Mary Danville in the city · Nick Carter, Patsy, Sally Carlisle, Mr. Fenrus, Mary Danville, Jerry Bartlett
Listen for: The mystery of who shot Mary Danville and why, the question of who leaked the exclusive dress designs to cut-rate stores, and Jerry Bartlett's unexpected appearance at the apartment with a gun
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Case of the Red Arrow (1948)
Nick Carter arrives at the historic Hartwell estate to investigate a mysterious ghost haunting the property. Miss Harriet Hartwell claims that a supernatural apparition—the spirit of Chief Red Arrow, a Native American whose grave was disturbed—has been appearing and frightening the household for the past three months. Disguising himself as a scholar interested in psychic phenomena, Nick settles in to uncover whether the hauntings are genuine or the work of someone with sinister intentions.
The Hartwell estate, a historical mansion about 50 miles up the river, built on land that was once a Native American burial ground. · Nick Carter, Patsy, Miss Harriet Hartwell, Lisa Mayberry, Gerald, Miss Abby, General Absolom Hartwell
Listen for: Nick's investigation into whether the ghost of Chief Red Arrow is real or an elaborate hoax designed to drive Miss Harriet from her home and its valuable collections.
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Case of the Red Goose Murder (1946)
A girl singer at the Red Goose nightclub is found strangled in her dressing room, her handbag emptied of the $150 payroll she was carrying. Sergeant Madison arrives to investigate what appears to be a robbery murder, while Patsy Bowen assists in questioning the club's staff and examining evidence collected by Marie, the club photographer.
The Red Goose nightclub on West 7th Street, second floor dressing room and darkroom · Patsy Bowen, Scubby, Sergeant Madison, Art Bradley, Paula, Marie, Van Keppel
Listen for: The discovery of the strangled singer, the missing money from her handbag, and Marie's photographs that capture clues in the background of the nightclub scenes
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Case of the Salesman of Death (1948)
Nick Carter investigates a threatening letter sent to wealthy Park Avenue philanthropist Mrs. Benjamin Gordon, warning that a death prayer has been placed upon her. Hours after receiving the letter, Mrs. Gordon falls down the stairs and dies. Nick traces the letter to Rama, a self-proclaimed Oriental mystic who runs the Temple of Thought and claims to sell death prayers to clients for a fee.
New York City, including Mrs. Gordon's Park Avenue mansion and the Temple of Thought on Second Avenue · Nick Carter, Patsy, Mrs. Benjamin Gordon, Albert Farmer, Miss Bowen, Blake Gordon, Rama, High Priest of the Temple of Thought, Matty
Listen for: The mysterious death prayer scheme and Rama's claim that he was paid five hundred dollars by an unknown client to pray for Mrs. Gordon's death, with the money and instructions arriving by mail.
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Case of the Sick Statue (1945)
Nick Carter receives a desperate letter from a housemaid named Maisie Leeds working at wealthy art collector Horace Allen's mansion on Park Avenue, claiming that a mysterious plague called Bronze Disease is afflicting the household's prized bronze statues. When Nick and his secretary Patsy visit the house to investigate, they discover Maisie has been murdered and stuffed in a bronze chest, her neck bearing traces of silver polish around the strangulation marks.
New York City, including Nick Carter's brownstone office, Horace Allen's mansion on Park Avenue, an art dealer's showroom at the Plaza, and an employment agency on Vanderbilt Street · Nick Carter, Patsy Boon, Maisie Leeds, Horace Allen, Peter Craig, Cengen Arrowfield
Listen for: The mysterious connection between Bronze Disease, the murdered maid, and the hidden laboratory; why silver polish was found on the victim; and who really killed Maisie Leeds
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Case of the Star of Evil (1948)
Detective Nick Carter is called to the Brentwood Arms Hotel where film producer Irving Malcolm reports his seventeen-year-old daughter Linda missing. While investigating, Carter and his assistant Patsy discover a valuable diamond called the Star of Evil has been stolen from the Maharaja of Jannapur's suite on the 15th floor. Carter finds a mysterious green rug out of place and bloodstains that suggest something sinister may be hidden behind a closet door.
The luxurious Brentwood Arms Hotel in Hollywood, including the Maharaja's private floors and Linda Malcolm's room · Nick Carter, Patsy Boone, Irving Malcolm, Linda Malcolm, Romney Lewis, The Maharaja of Jannapur, Jerry Lawson, Mr. Pringle
Listen for: The discovery of blood stains and a hidden closet that may reveal what happened to the Maharaja and the stolen Star of Evil diamond
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Case of the Substitute Slayer (1948)
Radio soap opera writer Clara Corbin receives threatening letters from someone claiming she will be murdered if she doesn't stop writing about a love triangle involving her brother-in-law Larry Harris. Nick Carter investigates whether the threats are real or part of a scheme to manipulate the plot of her show, discovering tensions between Clara, her sister Sue, and Larry that blur the line between fiction and reality.
Nick Carter's office and the homes of the Harris family in the city · Nick Carter, Clara Corbin, Patsy Bowen, Larry Harris, Sue Harris
Listen for: The confusion between Clara's radio serial and real life, the revelation of whether the threatening letters are genuine, and which character might be behind the murder threats
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Case of the Talking Tree (1945)
When a murdered tramp is found stabbed on a trolley car, Nick Carter discovers an uncut opal worth considerable money hidden in the victim's clothing. The dying man's cryptic final words—"killed by talking tree"—puzzle Nick, but a jeweler reveals the opal was recently appraised by two men: a tramp-like figure and a well-dressed professor named Stevens. Nick and Patsy set out to locate Professor Stevens at the university to unravel the mystery.
New York City, including a trolley car, Nick's brownstone mansion study, a jewelry appraising office downtown, and the university. · Nick Carter, Patsy, Mr. Peter Simpson, Sergeant Matheson, Mr. Foreman, Professor W.A. Stevens
Listen for: A mysterious reference to a "talking tree" in a murder victim's dying words, and the appearance of an uncut opal worth considerable money as a key clue.
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Case of the Tattooed Cobra (1948)
When a body bearing the distinctive tattoo of the missing heir to the Bristol estate is pulled from the East River, Nick Carter investigates a murder with three million dollars at stake. But when a man claiming to be Alec Bristol appears at the estate, Nick must determine which one is the real heir and who committed the murder.
New York City, including the Bristol estate, Nick Carter's office, and the East River · Nick Carter, Sergeant Matheson, Mr. Alvin Hammond, George Davison, Alec Bristol, Dobson, The Police Captain
Listen for: The clever use of a distinctive tattoo as identification, and the twist of two men claiming to be the same person
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Case of the Two-Faced Firemaster (1947)
Nick Carter investigates the illegal sale of untraceable firearms after two teenagers attempt a holdup at a hardware store, leaving one dead. A professional gun smuggler has been removing serial numbers and selling weapons to criminals, and Nick poses as a gangster from St. Louis to infiltrate the operation and trace the guns back to their manufacturer.
A city with a hardware store on 10th Avenue, a police station, a hospital, and the offices of a gun manufacturing firm called Rodney Valens, Inc. · Nick Carter, Batsy, Waldo, Scubby, Johnny Maclin, Fred, Mr. Gerard, Sergeant Brady
Listen for: Nick's clever method of recovering serial numbers from filed firearms using chemical reagent to reveal the original stamps in the metal's crystalline structure, and his undercover operation as a tough gangster named King from St. Louis.
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Case of the Unwanted Wife (1948)
Nick Carter and his secretary Patsy witness a dramatic scene outside an exclusive hotel when a woman in a blue coat flees from a man claiming to be her husband and a nurse, crying out that they're trying to have her committed to an asylum. After Mack McGowan, the hotel's house detective, persuades them to release her, Nick decides to investigate by contacting the woman's lawyer in San Francisco. The lawyer, John Ramsey, reveals that Mrs. Barton was planning to divorce her financially motivated husband and asks Nick to look into whether she's truly mentally ill or being framed.
New York City, primarily the Van Onom Hotel and Nick Carter's office, with contact to San Francisco · Nick Carter, Patsy, Mack McGowan, Mr. Barton, Mrs. Lola Barton, Mary the nurse, John Ramsey, Dr. Leonard Jarvis
Listen for: The puzzling detail that Dr. Jarvis noted a lack of coordination in Mrs. Barton's movements that doesn't match her diagnosed condition, and Nick's discovery that the nurse's hair color differs from the description of the Travis girl he was tracking.
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Case of the Vanishing Postman (1945)
Nick Carter and his secretary Patsy discover an old postman's bag in an alley, containing seven-year-old undelivered mail and a bullet. The postman, Robert Draper, disappeared seven years ago and was accused of stealing $10,000 in securities. Nick begins delivering the delayed mail to track down what really happened to Draper, uncovering a web of deceit, loan sharking, and murder.
A great city during a rainstorm, with scenes in various locations including alleys, homes, a garage, an apartment building, a bowling alley, and a city hospital. · Nick Carter, Patsy Bowen, Robert Draper, Dan Barnes, Ben Kramer, Parker Flint, Shelley, Jennifer West
Listen for: The clever use of delayed mail delivery as a detective tool, the revelation of how a head wound caused blindness and amnesia, the unmasking of a son-in-law's murderous plot, and the touching subplot of a seven-year-old marriage proposal.
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Case of the Wandering Corpse (1948)
A 17-year-old street hoodlum named Lefty Adams is accused of shooting a police officer during a robbery attempt. Nick Carter takes on the case after Lefty's desperate mother begs for his help, believing her son is innocent. As Nick begins investigating the crime scene and interviewing witnesses, he discovers some puzzling details that don't quite add up with the police's seemingly airtight case.
The lower east side of the city, including Milligan's bar and grill, a crime scene street, and a secondhand pawnshop, in 1948. · Nick Carter, Patsy Boone, Lefty Adams, Mrs. Adams, Sergeant Vaddy, Officer O'Malley (deceased), The drunk victim, The pawnshop owner
Listen for: Nick's careful questioning of the pawnshop owner about the number of shots fired, and his observation about the suspicious blood stain on the officer's right shoulder—details that suggest the straightforward case may be more complicated than it appears.
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Case of the Wrong Mr Wright (1948)
Mrs. Wright believes her nephew Charles tried to murder her by pushing her wheelchair off a cliff three weeks ago. Nick Carter investigates the family's finances and discovers Charles is deeply in debt, having even tried to secure a loan by claiming he would soon inherit his aunt's estate. After a tense birthday party at the Wright mansion, Charles collapses and dies after eating one of his aunt's special Swiss chocolates.
The Wright Pharmaceutical Company estate and mansion, fall 1948 · Nick Carter, Patsy, Mrs. Madge Wright, Charles Wright, Janet Wright, Johnny Wright, Sergeant Matheson
Listen for: A poisoning mystery unfolds as Nick Carter pieces together motive and opportunity in the Wright family drama.
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Double Disguise (1944)
When Nick Carter stops a desperate unemployed man attempting to rob him, he discovers the man's wife has mysteriously vanished after leaving stolen money from a banker's recent murder. Nick uncovers a clever frame-up and finds the stolen bills connected to a second crime: a daring robbery of negotiable bonds from an express company vault in Colorado. As the cases intertwine, Nick suspects a dangerous criminal mastermind is orchestrating both crimes.
A city and surrounding areas, including a boarding house, an express office, and references to Colorado · Nick Carter, Chester Brown, Stella Brown, Patsy, Riley, Michael Stillfield, Mr. Johnson, Clint Bartow
Listen for: Nick Carter's detective reasoning as he connects two seemingly separate crimes and identifies a likely suspect from his past; the mystery of Stella Brown's disappearance and the stolen bills left as a frame-up.
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Drums of Death (1944)
Nick Carter investigates a case involving Dr. Congo, a witch doctor who claims to have spent fifteen years in Africa studying voodoo. After Mrs. Galli visits the doctor's office seeking medical help, he threatens her life with a voodoo curse, demanding $10,000 and warning that she will die when he sounds his drums three times. Nick takes the case seriously when the drums are heard twice, and begins searching for Mrs. Galli's nephew Walter, who introduced her to the mysterious doctor.
New York City, including Vanderbilt Square, a doctor's office, Mrs. Galli's home, and the Bubble Bath Cafe. · Nick Carter, Patsy, Mrs. Galli, Dr. Congo, Walter Galli, Bartender
Listen for: The mysterious drums of the voodoo curse and Nick Carter's investigation into whether Dr. Congo's witchcraft threats are real or merely psychological manipulation.
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Echo of Death (1943)
Nick Carter is summoned to Echo Valley Lodge when James Thirlo, a prominent financial columnist on the verge of exposing a major corruption scheme, disappears. Upon arrival, Nick and his assistant Patsy encounter a mysterious plane fleeing the area and discover its pilot dead in the trees with a broken neck, raising questions about whether Thirlo's disappearance is connected to foul play.
Echo Valley Lodge, a remote private hunting lodge known for its natural echoing phenomenon, and the surrounding woodlands · Nick Carter, Patsy, James Thirlo, Mr. Manson, Mrs. Thirlo, The mysterious pilot
Listen for: The explanation of Thirlo's disappearance and the identity of those behind the mysterious plane; whether the corruption scheme Thirlo was investigating connects to his vanishing
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Flying Duck Murders (1943)
Nick Carter arrives at the remote Flying Duck Mine in Montana to investigate the deaths of two detectives who came before him. The mine's superintendent Nate Crosby immediately orders Nick (working undercover as Dave Jarvis) to leave, but Nick refuses to abandon the case. Nick discovers that three caskets have mysteriously arrived at the mine and suspects they may contain clues to the murders.
The Flying Duck Mine in wild Montana country · Nick Carter, Scabby, Mr. Del Rimple, Nate Crosby, Mr. King, Pollard
Listen for: Nick's investigation into the mysterious deaths and his discovery of the caskets at the mine; Crosby's suspicious behavior and attempts to drive Nick away
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Funeral Wreath (1944)
Lieutenant Riley arrives at Nick Carter's office with a troubling case: while staking out Pine Street where robberies have occurred, Riley left his post for a few minutes to phone about his wife's baby. During his absence, he spotted a man in undertaker's garb leaving old man Bramwell's house and depositing a funeral wreath on the door—and moments later learned that Bramwell had been murdered. The man knocked Riley down and escaped, leaving behind only an engraved business card for Jay Atherton Osgood, an undertaker. Nick takes the case and begins investigating the mysterious murderer who announces his victim's death with a funeral wreath.
Nick Carter's office in the city; Pine Street neighborhood; the Bramwell house · Nick Carter, Patsy, Lieutenant Riley, George Bramwell, Officer Green, Jay Atherton Osgood, Johnny
Listen for: The peculiar detail of the funeral wreath left at the murder scene; Nick's deduction that the business card, though engraved and genuine, was likely picked up rather than belonging to the killer; Nick's request to search the Mortician's Annual for information on Jay Atherton Osgood.
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Glass Coffin (1943)
Detective Nick Carter arrives at a locked movie studio to investigate a jewel robbery attempt involving actress Lulu Dorey, only to discover a murder has occurred. When he finds an electrician dead on a sound stage, killed by a blowgun from above, the mystery deepens as a second body—camera assistant Bill Daley—turns up with a knife in his throat, both weapons connected to an old, unfinished voodoo-themed picture the studio made years ago.
An abandoned movie studio that has been closed for ten years, now being used to film a new picture. The action centers on the sound stages and back rooms where mysterious props from an old film remain stored. · Nick Carter, Patsy, Joseph Stone, Lulu Dorey, Lieutenant Riley, Gabe Gaitman, Boyd, Bill Daley
Listen for: The investigation into why someone is using weapons from the old voodoo picture to commit murders, and what was hidden in the locked storage room that Boyd was heading toward when he died.
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Haunted Rocking Chair (1945)
Nick Carter investigates a haunted rocking chair on Shipwreck Island, which supposedly belonged to a deceased woman with voodoo powers who cursed the Trumbull family generations ago. The chair is said to rock before family members die, and it has recently begun rocking again, frightening the family's housekeeper Maria. Carter travels to the remote estate to uncover what actually causes the chair to move and to investigate a mysterious death connected to the phenomenon.
Shipwreck Island, an old Victorian mansion that is the Trumbull family estate, built three generations ago by sea captain Obadiah Trumbull. · Nick Carter, Tony, Maria, Mrs. Pussy, Eric Trumbull, Captain Ralph Trumbull
Listen for: The legend of the rocking chair and the curse of Obadiah Trumbull's last wife; Nick's skeptical approach to the supernatural claims; the arrival at the mysterious island mansion.
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Man Who Lived Too Long (1945)
Inventor Mr. Baker arrives at Lieutenant Riley's office claiming that World Research has murdered him by saturating his body with gamma rays from a hidden projector in his laboratory equipment. Nick Carter and Patsy begin investigating Baker's extraordinary accusations, but when they visit his lab, they find him genuinely dead—shot with a .25-caliber automatic. Nick must determine whether Baker's gamma ray murder story was real or a cover for something else entirely.
A city police office, an inventor's laboratory on the top floor of a building, and the surrounding urban area · Nick Carter, Patsy, Lieutenant Riley, Mr. Baker, John Dre, Julia Baker
Listen for: The mysterious setup of Baker's gamma ray murder claim and the shocking discovery of his actual shooting death; Nick's deduction that the gun was wiped clean, proving murder rather than suicide; the revelation that Baker's invention is worth a fortune and stands to benefit his sister Julia.
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Museum Tragedy (1945)
Nick Carter arrives at a museum where the night watchman, Sam Hildred, has been shot three times and killed. A valuable Egyptian scarab known as the Angotara Scarab has been stolen from a broken display case. The watchman's shattered watch stopped at 2:27, marking the time of the murder, and a gun with three fired shots is found at the scene.
A museum housing Egyptian relics and antiquities, visited in the early morning hours after the crime is discovered. · Nick Carter, master detective, Patsy, Nick's associate, Officer Bert, Lieutenant Riley, Lieutenant Bradley, Duck, the medical examiner, Mr. Steiner, the museum curator, Sam Hildred, the murdered watchman
Listen for: Nick Carter's deduction as he examines the crime scene, the significance of the shattered watch stopped at 2:27, and the mystery of who stole the priceless Angotara Scarab and murdered the watchman.
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Numbers Murders (1944)
Nick Carter is called to investigate a series of murders connected to a numbers gambling operation. After a lottery winner named Benny Smith is killed and robbed of his $50,000 winnings, Nick discovers that Duke Dawson, who runs the numbers game, has also been murdered in his office. The killer appears to have inside knowledge of the operation and strikes before the winners can spend their money.
A city with an active numbers gambling racket, including back street saloons and Duke Dawson's numbers operation office above a bar. · Nick Carter, Lieutenant Riley, Patsy (Betsy), Benny Smith, Duke Dawson, Lucky Coons, Steve the piano player
Listen for: The clever piano player who signals warnings, the burnt matches in the Duke's ashtray suggesting an unexpected visitor, and clues about who profits from eliminating the Duke's winning players.
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Professor's Secret (1944)
A professor's revolutionary Z-ray machine, capable of healing wounds, is stolen by gangsters who plan to use it for criminal purposes. Nick Carter picks up the trail and must locate both the missing inventor and his daughter before the criminals can force the professor to make the machine operational.
A professor's laboratory and various locations in and around town, including a hotel and the gangsters' hideout. · Nick Carter, Scobby, Professor (Jean's father), Jean, Bill, Jake, Tony, Trapp
Listen for: Nick Carter using lip-reading at a restaurant to uncover the robbery plot, the discovery of a money belt as a clue, and the identification of a doctor treating a patient with an Asiatic skin disease to track down the gang members.
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Slingshot Murders (1944)
Nick Carter investigates a suspicious setup near a bank when his young assistant Penny reports seeing four men stationed in vacant stores flanking the building on payroll delivery day. A shootout erupts at the bank, leaving Nick wounded and a large sum of money stolen, but Penny provides a crucial clue about a sniper in a nearby building that may crack the case wide open.
Nick Carter's office, a street near a bank in the city, a hospital · Nick Carter, Patsy, Penny, Lieutenant Riley, Doctor
Listen for: Penny's account of the suspicious men and his discovery of the sniper's location; the bank robbery and shootout; Nick's determination to follow the lead despite his injury.
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Substitute Bride (1943)
Nick Carter is called in to help Ellen Marvin find his fiancée Alice Evans, who disappeared from the ship after returning from South America. When Nick meets the young woman claiming to be Alice at her hotel, something seems oddly wrong. Nick begins investigating her true identity while also searching for Alice's missing father, a wealthy man who was supposed to meet the boat but never arrived.
New York City, including a ship dock, the Hamilton Park Hotel, and Nick Carter's office. The story begins with Alice's arrival from South America. · Nick Carter, Ellen Marvin, Alice Evans, The Purser, Penny, Bazzie, Lieutenant Riley, The Taxi Driver
Listen for: Nick's growing suspicion that the woman at the hotel is not the real Alice Evans, and clues about the missing father with distinctive white side whiskers and the mysterious stop at David Winslow's house.
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Unwilling Accomplice (1944)
A master criminal who has been robbing high society homes and banks taunts Lieutenant Riley by throwing a stone through his window, challenging him to bring in Nick Carter. When Wayne Belden, president of the National Loan and Trust Company, vanishes from his locked office on a Saturday afternoon, Carter and Riley discover him murdered. A robbery of fifty thousand dollars from the bank vault complicates the case, and Carter becomes convinced that Belden's daughter's fiancé, the wealthy Butler Pierce, is both the murderer and the elusive society burglar.
New York City, including police headquarters, the Belden house, and the National Loan and Trust Company bank · Nick Carter, Lieutenant Riley, Butler Pierce, Olive Belden, Wayne Belden, Mr. Cook
Listen for: Nick Carter's deductive reasoning as he pieces together clues from a broken cufflink with blood on it, Pierce's unexplained glove-wearing, and his suspicious presence at the crime scene
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Vanishing Lady (1945)
When Harold Ashford's pregnant wife Nora suddenly vanishes on her way to Mercy Hospital, he calls in Nick Carter to investigate. The mystery deepens when the taxi driver who drove her to the hospital swears he saw her climb the front steps and open the big door, yet the hospital staff insists she never entered. Nick must uncover what happened to the vanishing lady.
Nick Carter's laboratory in a brownstone on the corner of Fifth and Fourth; later, the streets and Mercy Hospital. · Nick Carter, Mrs. Patsy Bowen, Harold Ashford, Nora Ashford, Chief Petty Officer Jim Stanley, Uncle Timothy Brent, Uncle Paul Brent, Joe the taxi driver
Listen for: The mysterious letter from a supposedly dead man that triggers the crisis; the taxi driver's account of seeing Nora enter the hospital; the puzzle of how she entered but was never found inside.
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Witch of Donderberg Mountain (1945)
Author Roger Winthrop rents an old house in the Catskills to research folklore and superstitions for his novel, but finds himself caught up in a sinister mystery when his servant Jacob dies a violent death. Winthrop believes the death was caused by a hex placed on Jacob by the last of the notorious Brocken family, an old maid named Hermina who is rumored to practice witchcraft on Donderberg Mountain.
Nick Carter's brownstone office in the city and the remote Brocken house in the Catskills near Donderberg Mountain · Nick Carter, Patsy Bowen, Roger Winthrop, Jacob, Hermina Brocken
Listen for: The mysterious death of the servant Jacob and the investigation into whether the local witch Hermina Brocken's hex was truly responsible or if there is a more earthly explanation for his violent end.
Nick Carter Master Detective: The Witness Saw Nothing (1946)
Nick Carter investigates when a vacuum cleaner salesman named Albert Higgins comes to him claiming he has survived three suspicious accidents in one day. Carter suspects these are no accidents but deliberate murder attempts, and he must discover why someone wants Higgins dead and what connection exists to a nearby crime.
New York City, including a house on London Lane, a subway platform, an office, and city streets · Nick Carter, Albert Higgins, Barbara, Wilson
Listen for: The dramatic confrontation between criminals and an elderly landlady, the vacuum cleaner salesman's narrow escapes, and Nick Carter's deduction that accidents are actually murder attempts
Nick Carter Master Detective: Webs of Murder (1945)
Nick Carter agrees to pick up a valuable shipment of spider webs from a woman named Miss Lewis who collects them for military use in gun sights and bombsites. When Nick arrives at her conservatory on Cherry Street with his assistant Patsy, Miss Lewis shows him how she harvests webs from Black Widow spiders. While the shipment is being prepared, Nick discovers Miss Lewis has been murdered and all the webs have vanished, with only Nick's own gun left at the scene.
A spider web collection conservatory on Cherry Street, and Nick Carter's car in a town with naval buildings and a police department. · Nick Carter, Patsy, Miss K. Lewis, Miss Bowen, Jim Baldwin, Pete Moro, Lieutenant Riley
Listen for: The fascinating details of how Black Widow spider webs are collected and prepared for military use, and the mystery of who murdered Miss Lewis and stole the valuable shipment.
Nick Carter, Master Detective: Dead Witnesses (1944)
Nick Carter discovers notorious gangster Slug Baron shooting Louis Morelli from a getaway car. Three witnesses volunteer to testify against Slug, but one is quickly murdered. Detective Pete, another key witness, is found dead in his garage under suspicious circumstances. Now Nick himself is targeted, as Slug methodically eliminates witnesses to cover his tracks.
A city under the control of gangster Slug Baron, including streets, detective headquarters, the Cascade nightclub, and Pete's garage. · Nick Carter, Pete, Slug Baron, Louis Morelli, Riley, Pazee, Betsy, Fletcher
Listen for: The revelation of Morelli's connection to Slug Baron and what information he brings to Nick at the nightclub.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: 97 episode guides
Richard Diamond - Fred Sears Murder Case (1949)
Private detective Richard Diamond is hired by wealthy Fred Sears to follow his wife Mary, who is romantically involved with nightclub owner Lorne Oliver. After a confrontation at the Stork Club between Sears, Oliver, and gossip columnist Jimmy Cello, Diamond discovers that Sears has been murdered in his office. With multiple suspects and conflicting alibis, Diamond races to uncover the real killer before the police make an arrest.
New York City, including Diamond's office, the Stork Club nightclub, Lorne Oliver's Monarch Club, newspaper offices, and various apartments · Richard Diamond, private detective, Fred Sears, wealthy import expert, Mary Sears, Fred's wife, Lorne Oliver, nightclub owner, Jimmy Cello, gossip columnist, Helen Asher, Diamond's date, Walt, police sergeant, Herman Sharp, Oliver's employee
Listen for: The clever banter between Diamond and various characters, the escalating tension at the Stork Club, and Diamond's investigation unraveling contradictions in the suspects' stories about their whereabouts the night of the murder
Richard Diamond - The Bloody Hat Case (1949)
A taxi driver brings private detective Richard Diamond a bloody hat and fired pistol found in a Flatbush gutter. Diamond traces the hat to Bertram Kalmus, a vice president, and discovers the gun belonged to a girl's apartment where a man has been killed. George Watkins, Kalmus's boss, confesses to the shooting, but Diamond suspects the case is not what it appears.
New York City, including a bistro on 48th Street, a hat shop on Fifth Avenue, apartment buildings, and police headquarters. · Richard Diamond, Lieutenant Walt Levinson, Hennessy the cab driver, Bertram Kalmus, George Watkins, Mrs. Kalmus, Nan Phillips, Sergeant Otis
Listen for: Diamond's clever deduction as he uncovers a frame-up involving a staged fight, blank cartridges, and a silencer. Pay attention to how he catches Kalmus in a crucial mistake about knowing the dead girl's name.
Richard Diamond - The Tom Waxman Bombing Case (1949)
When a bomb arrives at the Waxman home addressed from California, it kills union organizer Tom Waxman and hospitalizes his wife and mother. Police arrest Tom's brother Phil, who had been investigating a corrupt organization called the Labor's Assistance League in California. Private detective Richard Diamond, a family friend, must uncover who really sent the package and why, while Phil refuses to cooperate with authorities.
New York City, including Diamond's office on Broadway and 53rd Street, a police precinct, Waxman's factory workplace, a hospital, and various city locations · Richard Diamond, private detective, Lieutenant Walt Levinson, Phil Waxman, Tom Waxman, Mama Waxman, Marge, Tom's wife, Ralph Pryor, John Wagner, a lawyer
Listen for: The mystery deepens as Diamond discovers connections between Tom's anti-league speeches, Phil's undercover work in California, and a package that may not have come from where it appeared to originate. Watch for the revelation of who planted the bomb and why, and the dramatic confrontation in an alley.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: A Christmas Carol (1949)
Richard Diamond adapts Dickens' Christmas Carol for a modern crime story set in New York. Miserly pawnbroker Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by the ghost of his dead partner Jacob Marley, who warns that three spirits will show Scrooge his past, present, and future to save him from damnation. Through these supernatural encounters, Scrooge confronts how his greed has hurt those around him, especially his employee Bob Cratchit and Cratchit's sickly son Tiny Tim.
New York City, a side street off Broadway; Scrooge's office and rooms above it; various locations visited by the spirits including tenements, the river district, graveyards, and Cratchit's home. · Richard Diamond, Ebenezer Scrooge, Jacob Marley, Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim, Fred (Scrooge's nephew), Fezziwig, Ghost of Christmas Past
Listen for: A comedic modern adaptation of the Christmas Carol with detective story characters; plenty of snappy 1940s New York dialogue and wisecracks; the spirits' supernatural visitations including Marley's ghost appearing in a door knocker; touching moments involving Tiny Tim and the Cratchit family; Scrooge's eventual transformation and redemption.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: Bill Kirby Murder Case (1949)
Private detective Richard Diamond is hired by Mrs. Kirby to find her son Bill, a fellow detective who has been acting strangely, receiving mysterious money, and then disappearing after leaving her a cryptic package. When Richard discovers Bill has been murdered, he must uncover the truth behind a hidden shoe containing a secret shipping code that connects to a dangerous smuggling operation.
New York City, including Richard Diamond's office, the Kirby house on Amsterdam Avenue, a bar on Columbus Avenue, a shoe repair shop, and Continental Shipping Company at 18 North River. · Richard Diamond, private detective, Mrs. Lenoa Kirby, Bill Kirby, private detective and her son, Gloria, Mrs. Kirby's daughter, Helen, Richard's secretary and girlfriend, Lieutenant Walt Levinson, police officer, Sergeant Otis, police sergeant, James Willis (James Koslick), criminal turned shipping company employee
Listen for: The mystery of the shoe left in the bread box with suspicious numbers written inside; the connection between Bill Kirby's death and a gold shipment scheme; Richard's tough-guy banter with Helen about her baby picture; and the revelation of James Willis's criminal past as a safe cracker.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: Butchers and Protection Racket (1950)
Private detective Richard Diamond is hired by butcher shop owner Angelino to investigate a protection racket targeting independent butchers. Two muscle men, Red and Carl, have been collecting weekly payments from shop owners and beating those who refuse to pay. Diamond goes undercover as a butcher's assistant to identify the racketeers and trace their operation back to its source.
New York City, primarily around butcher shops on 10th Avenue, police precinct, Tiny Easter's office on East 48th Street, and a warehouse by the 14th Street docks. · Richard Diamond, private detective, Angelino, butcher shop owner, Red Dylan, muscle man and collector, Carl Tate, muscle man and collector, Tiny Easter, crime boss, Lieutenant Walt Levinson, police officer, Helen, woman in Diamond's life
Listen for: Diamond's comedic banter as he works undercover in the butcher shop, his confrontations with the racketeers, and his escalating conflict with Tiny Easter that leads to a climactic shootout at the warehouse.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: Charles Walsh and Bob Wells (1949)
Two escaped convicts from Sing Sing—Charles Walsh and Bob Wells—break out of prison with murderous intentions. Walsh has sworn to kill Richard Diamond, the detective who sent him up for life, and Wells has his own vendetta. The fugitives kidnap Helen Asher to use as bait to lure Diamond into a trap where they can exact their revenge.
New York City, including Diamond's office on Broadway, police precinct, a delicatessen on 24th Street, and various locations around the city. · Richard Diamond, Charles Walsh, Bob Wells, Lieutenant Levinson, Helen Asher, Francis, Otis, Wilbur Troy
Listen for: The clever fire alarm scheme to rescue Helen without alerting the escaped convicts, and the tense confrontation between Diamond and the fugitives.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: Christmas Show (1951)
Richard Diamond, a private detective, closes his agency for Christmas and decides to tell his favorite holiday story. He reimagines Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol with his police department friends, casting a miserly businessman named Scrooge who despises Christmas and mistreats his employee Bob Cratchit. When three spirits visit Scrooge on Christmas Eve, they show him his past, present, and future, leading him to confront the consequences of his selfish ways.
New York City, on a side street off the Bowery, during Christmas time, with scenes in Scrooge's office, his room, the Cratchit family home, and a graveyard. · Richard Diamond, Ebenezer Scrooge, Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim, Jacob Marley's ghost, The Ghost of Christmas Past, The Ghost of Christmas Present, The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come
Listen for: A comedic retelling of A Christmas Carol with modern-day characters and fast-paced banter; the three spirits' visits to Scrooge; Scrooge's transformation and his ultimate generosity toward Bob Cratchit and Tiny Tim; the ending celebration with caroling.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: Dead Man's Letter (1950)
A dying man staggers into Richard Diamond's office and hands him a sealed envelope before collapsing. When two thugs chase Diamond to prevent him mailing it, he addresses it to police and gets it into the system. Later, a beautiful woman named Nancy Lang hires him to guard her party, but Diamond senses something is wrong. The mystery deepens when bodies begin turning up and Diamond discovers the envelope contains half of a map leading to stolen gold bullion hidden somewhere near Key West.
New York City and Key West, Florida · Richard Diamond, Nancy Lang, Lieutenant Walton Levinson, Sergeant Otis, Julio Ortiz (also known as Guillardo), John Bishop, Bernard Coombs, The Chief of Police (Key West)
Listen for: A complex mystery involving a sealed envelope, a map to hidden gold, and a South American rebel leader using an assumed identity. The story unfolds across multiple locations as Diamond pursues the truth behind the murders and the treasure.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: Dead Man's Letter (AFRTS) (1950)
A dying man stumbles into detective Richard Diamond's office, hands him a mysterious sealed envelope, and collapses dead. Diamond mails the envelope to police Lieutenant Levinson before being attacked by two men, then awakens from a drugged stupor to find his office ransacked. A wealthy woman named Nancy Lang hires him to guard her party, but Diamond soon discovers she and her mysterious South American guest Señor Guillardo are connected to a missing million dollars in gold bullion and a map that holds the key to its location.
New York City and Key West, Florida · Richard Diamond, Lieutenant Walt Levinson, Nancy Lang, Señor Guillardo (real name Julio Ortiz), Bernard Combs, John Bishop, Sergeant Otis, Key West Police Chief
Listen for: A fast-paced mystery adventure involving a dead pilot, a hidden treasure map split in two halves, and a dangerous smuggling scheme that takes Diamond from his office to a party to the Florida Keys, featuring gunplay, drugging, and a climactic pursuit by boat.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: Diamond 50-12-xx (xxx) The Chapel Hill Case (AFRTS)
Richard Diamond and Lieutenant Walt Levinson travel to the University of North Carolina for a police symposium. They meet Isabelle Corona, a Swiss policewoman, on the train. When she is found murdered in her hotel room, Diamond and Levinson investigate, suspecting a local photographer who seemed to recognize her. Their clever deductions about silver nitrate and dental evidence point toward a solution.
A train to North Carolina, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and the surrounding town during a Peace Officers Symposium · Richard Diamond, Walt Levinson, Helen, Otis, Isabelle Corona, William Avery, Sheriff Simmons, Christopher Kevin
Listen for: Diamond and Levinson's witty banter as they investigate a murder at a police convention; clever detective work involving unconventional clues like a bitten apple and silver nitrate
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: Diamond in the Rough (1949)
Richard Diamond, a private detective, is beaten up by two thugs and offered $1,000 to investigate whether a man was actually killed. The chairman of the parole board claims his son Roger may have been framed into committing murder by associates of a convict named John Alter, who wants early release. Diamond must determine if the killing was real or staged to blackmail the parole board chairman into freeing Alter.
New York City, including Diamond's office, a police precinct, and various city locations; references to a prior incident in Florida. · Richard Diamond, Lieutenant Blevinson (Walt), Otis, The parole board chairman, Roger (the chairman's son), Lenore Brown, John Alter, Ziggy
Listen for: The humorous banter between Diamond and the police detectives; the explanation of the blackmail scheme involving the parole board; Diamond's investigation into whether the murder was real or faked.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: Edna Wolfe Case (1950)
Private detective Richard Diamond is hired by Edna Wolfe to follow her husband George, whom she suspects of seeing another woman named Nancy. Diamond tails George to an apartment building where he finds Nancy Fowler dead from a gunshot wound, with George fleeing the scene. The police arrest George based on circumstantial evidence, but Diamond begins to suspect the case is more complicated than it appears.
New York City, including an apartment building on 47th Street, the Gilded Cage nightclub, and various city locations · Richard Diamond, Edna Wolfe, George Wolfe, Nancy Fowler, Lieutenant Levinson, Eddie Young, Gus Winkler, Walt
Listen for: The revelation of who actually killed Nancy Fowler and why Edna Wolfe set up her own husband; the twist involving planted evidence and a frame-up; Richard Diamond's clever trap to catch the real killer.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: Elaine Tanner Case (1950)
Richard Diamond is hired by wealthy Morris Clinton to find a girl named Elaine Tanner who lived in a shabby boarding house. When Diamond is shot at after visiting the boarding house and the manager is later murdered with Diamond's own gun, Diamond finds himself arrested as a suspect. He must uncover the real connection between Clinton, his chauffeur Christopher, and Elaine Tanner to clear his name.
A big city with a cheap boarding house on Parker Avenue, the Blue Falcon Night Club, Morris Clinton's residence, police headquarters, and Elaine's apartment. · Richard Diamond, Morris Clinton, Christopher, Elaine Tanner, Lieutenant Walt Levinson, Otis, The boarding house manager, Gladys
Listen for: The mystery of why a valuable book drives the plot, and how a blackmail scheme involving Clinton connects to the murder.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: Fifty Thousand Dollar Diamond Heist (1949)
Private detective Richard Diamond is hired by a mysterious client to deliver a package to Philadelphia, but he discovers it contains stolen diamonds from the police commissioner's house—a robbery that also resulted in the gardener's murder. Diamond realizes he's been set up as a patsy and must outwit the real thieves to clear his name and solve the case.
New York City, including Diamond's office, the police commissioner's house, a Greenwich Village café called Pietro's, and various city locations. · Richard Diamond, Helen, Walt Levinson, Otis, Finniest Burton, Mr. Elliot, Vince Mayer, Joe the Barber
Listen for: Diamond's clever double-cross of the jewel thieves, his witty banter with police lieutenant Walt Levinson, and the surprising revelation about his butler Francis impersonating him.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: Ice Pick Murder (1950)
Richard Diamond investigates when a mysterious man is found dead outside his office door with an ice pick in his back. The only clue is a membership card from the Apollo Health Club. Diamond's inquiry into the club leads him to discover a secret connected to a special juice bar and uncovers a motive for murder tied to blackmail and exposure.
New York City, including Richard Diamond's office, the Apollo Health Club, Leon's restaurant, and the city morgue · Richard Diamond, Seymour, Helen, Lieutenant Levinson, Dr. Emerson Van Arthur, Red Byron, Rudy Lubin, Leon
Listen for: Diamond's playful banter with Seymour about judo and wrestling; the investigation at the Apollo Health Club; Seymour's elaborate description of his muscle injuries using anatomical terms; the discovery of the poisoned juice bar and the killer's confession.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: Joyce Wallace (1950)
Actress Joyce Wallace hires private detective Richard Diamond after someone shoots at her through her apartment window. She refuses to involve the police due to custody concerns in her separation from playwright husband Barton Webb. When Diamond investigates, a package of flowers arrives at her theater dressing room containing a snake, terrifying Joyce who has a lifelong phobia of them.
New York City, including Joyce Wallace's apartment, the Strand Theatre dressing room, police precinct, and Barton Webb's apartment · Richard Diamond, Joyce Wallace, Barton Webb, Lieutenant Levinson, Walt, Sergeant Otis, Pop the doorman
Listen for: The witty banter between Richard Diamond and the police lieutenant at the precinct; Dick Powell's smooth narration of Diamond's observations; the comedic opening with Diamond's absurd detective agency advertisements.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: Little Chiva (1951)
Private detective Richard Diamond is hired by a dying Haitian farmer, Abel Gunther, to investigate mysterious illnesses and crop failures on his farm that he suspects are connected to a wealthy planter named Arthur Cotswold rather than voodoo. When Gunther dies in Diamond's New York office, the detective travels to Haiti to continue the investigation, discovering that Cotswold may be deliberately sabotaging the local farmers' livelihoods.
Haiti and New York, primarily on the Gunther farm and Cotswold plantation in the West Indies · Richard Diamond, Abel Gunther, Little Chiva, Inspector La Planche, Arthur Cotswold, Jocelyn, Walt Levinson, Big Chiva
Listen for: A dramatic voodoo ceremony performed to honor the dead, and a shocking revelation involving two brothers with supernatural connections to the case
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: Louis Spence Case (1950)
Detective Richard Diamond is called to the Fifth Precinct police station where escaped lunatic Lewis Spence has taken Lieutenant Levinson hostage with a bomb containing one hundred sticks of dynamite. Spence demands that the mayor jump from City Hall by noon or he will detonate the bomb, killing everyone in the building. Diamond must find a way to stop Spence before time runs out.
Fifth Precinct police station and surrounding areas of the city, with a clock counting down to noon · Richard Diamond, Lieutenant Walt Levinson, Sergeant Otis, Lewis Spence, Helen, Dr. George Thacker, Dr. Robert Carroll
Listen for: The tense cat-and-mouse psychological game between Diamond and Spence, Diamond's conversation with the psychiatrist about Spence's condition, and the clever use of music as a distraction device
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: Lt. Levinson Kidnapped (1950)
Lieutenant Levinson, a friend of private detective Richard Diamond, is kidnapped by Bert Fisher, a condemned criminal whose brother was sent to the electric chair by Levinson years ago. Fisher threatens to kill Levinson if his execution proceeds at midnight. Diamond works with the police to track down Fisher's whereabouts before time runs out.
New York City, including the Bowery, 52nd Street jazz clubs, Route 51, and a remote cabin · Richard Diamond, Lieutenant Levinson, Captain Collins, Sergeant Otis, Bert Fisher, Lou Baxter, Mary Sinclair, The Dean
Listen for: The race against the clock to save the lieutenant's life, the tragic killing of the Dean, and the tense confrontation at the cabin
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: Lt. Levinson Kidnapped (1953)
Richard Diamond investigates the kidnapping of Lieutenant Lovinson, who has been taken by Bert Fisher, a criminal seeking revenge because the lieutenant sent Fisher's brother to the electric chair. With Fisher's execution scheduled for midnight, Diamond must locate the lieutenant and Fisher before time runs out.
New York City and surrounding areas, including the Bowery, 52nd Street jazz clubs, and a cabin on Route 51 · Richard Diamond, Captain Collins, Sergeant Otis, Lieutenant Lovinson, Bert Fisher, Dean, Lou Baxter, Mary Sinclair
Listen for: Diamond's investigation of underworld connections, his visit to the Dean in the Bowery, a gunfight and murder at the rooming house, the tense confrontation at Danny's Diner, and the final rescue attempt at the cabin
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: Lt. Levinson Kidnapped (AFRTS) (1953)
Lieutenant Levinson is kidnapped by Bert Fisher, who threatens to kill him when his brother Art is executed at 11 p.m. tonight. Richard Diamond teams up with Captain Collins to find the lieutenant before the deadline, following a trail that leads from the murder of an informant to a remote cabin on Route 51.
New York City and Route 51, a remote area with a diner and cabin; spans from morning through late evening. · Richard Diamond, private detective, Captain Collins, Lieutenant Levinson, Bert Fisher, Otis, Lou Baxter, Mary Sinclair, Dean
Listen for: Diamond's investigation techniques and his willingness to work outside the law; the tense countdown to the 11 p.m. execution; action sequences including gunfire and a final cabin rescue.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: Marilyn Connors Case (1951)
When the attractive Marilyn Connors hires Richard Diamond to protect her from her husband Joe, who is being released from prison after ten years, Diamond initially takes the case but is fired by Martin Cope, Marilyn's boss and lover, who owns the nightclub where she works. Diamond later agrees to take the job again at the urging of Cope's attorney William Sloan, but finds Joe Connors shot dead in Marilyn's locked apartment.
New York City, primarily Martin Cope's nightclub and Marilyn Connors' apartment on West 74th Street · Richard Diamond, Marilyn Connors, Martin Cope, Joe Connors, Lieutenant Levinson, William Sloan, Bernie, Francis
Listen for: The clever locked-room mystery and how Bernie the piano player used a duplicate key to frame Martin Cope for a murder he didn't commit; Diamond's colorful narration and snappy dialogue with the police lieutenant.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: Martin White Sees Dead Men (1950)
Martin White, a college student and war veteran, approaches private detective Richard Diamond claiming he's spotted a man he saw killed during World War II at Cassino. The man, Paul Jarvis, now appears to be using the alias John Blackwell and attending Barrett College. White fears Jarvis and wants Diamond to investigate quietly without alerting authorities, fearing they'll think he's suffering a relapse from his previous hospitalization.
Barrett College campus and surrounding areas in the present day; flashbacks to World War II military action at Cassino, Italy · Richard Diamond, Martin White, Paul Jarvis/John Blackwell, Nan White (Martin's wife), Lieutenant Walt Levinson, Susie (college records clerk)
Listen for: The tense pool house confrontation where Diamond confronts Jarvis; the detailed wartime flashback explaining the history between White and Jarvis; Susie's flirtation with Diamond at the college records office
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: Mary Bellman Killed (1950)
Richard Diamond is hired by attorney Raymond R. Waldron to investigate a case involving his client, the beautiful Mary Bellman, who claims to fear for her life. When Diamond arrives at Mary's address expecting a simple meeting, he is knocked unconscious and his gun is stolen. He awakens to find Mary shot dead, and becomes the prime suspect when gangster Louis Hall discovers the murder weapon is Diamond's missing pistol.
New York City, including Diamond's apartment, Waldron's law office, the Ace High Club nightclub, a police station, and Bellevue Hospital · Richard Diamond, Raymond R. Waldron, Mary Bellman, Lieutenant Walt, Louis Hall, Jean Willis, John Webb, Otis
Listen for: The solution reveals that Raymond R. Waldron is actually John Webb, a criminal Diamond had sent to prison years earlier, who murders Mary and frames Diamond for revenge. The trap set at the hospital exposes both Jean Willis's protective obsession with Louis Hall and Webb's attempt to finish Diamond.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: Messenger Service, Paddy Clark (1950)
A messenger delivering a mysterious envelope to Richard Diamond is found shot dead outside Diamond's apartment door. Diamond and Lieutenant Levinson investigate the murder and discover the envelope was sent by Patty Clark, a cigar store owner in Diamond's building. When Diamond visits Clark's room, he finds him also murdered, and two armed visitors—Agnes and Paul—burst into his office demanding the envelope at gunpoint.
New York City, primarily Diamond's apartment building on East 51st Street, a messenger service office, and a cigar store in Diamond's building lobby. · Richard Diamond, Lieutenant Levinson, Otis, Sergeant Walt, Myrtle Tibbles, Miss Ogilvie, Mr. Cartwright, Agnes
Listen for: A tense mystery with multiple murders, a counterfeiting racket, and gunplay. Pay attention to why Patty Clark sent the envelope to Diamond and who is really behind the killings.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: Mike Burton Murder Case (1950)
When a wrestler named Tobias Briggs hires private detective Richard Diamond to investigate the death of his friend Mike Burton—a truck driver killed in a supposed hit-and-run accident—Diamond discovers a connection to the Cross-State Trucking Company. His investigation uncovers a smuggling operation using hollowed-out baseball bats to transport stolen jewels, run by the company's owner Harry Fenner and driver Roy Cooley, who feared Mike would expose their scheme.
A city with a trucking company warehouse, gym, police precinct, and Fenner's Long Island colonial house · Richard Diamond, Tobias Briggs, Mike Burton, Roy Cooley, Harry Fenner, Patty Dablonsky, Tim Lasko, Lieutenant Walt Levinson
Listen for: The clever use of hollowed baseball bats as smuggling containers, Richard Diamond's witty interior monologue, the physical confrontation between Toby and the criminals, and the resolution revealing Mike's involvement with the smuggling operation
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: Missing Night Watchman (1953)
When a night watchman disappears along with $50,000 in rare gems from an importing company's shop, private detective Richard Diamond is hired to recover the jewels before the eccentric collector who owns them demands an accounting. The investigation leads Diamond through a tangle of suspicious characters, a mysterious antique Buddha with ruby eyes, and a body pulled from the river.
New York City and Long Island, 1953. The Far East Importing Company shop, Diamond's detective office, police precinct headquarters, Lassdown's house on Long Island, and various city streets and residences. · Richard Diamond, Helen, Mr. Crimby, Arthur Bluck, Philip Lassdown, Lieutenant Levinson, Otis
Listen for: The banter between Diamond and his secretary Helen, the colorful descriptions of Lassdown's eccentric personality and theatrical complaints, the police procedural details including ballistics analysis of the antique gun, and the escalating confrontations as the case unravels.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: Mona Lisa Murder (AFRTS) (1950)
Private detective Richard Diamond is hired by wealthy art collector Arnold Bryce to investigate grounds for divorce from his beautiful wife Della, whom Bryce suspects of seeing an old boyfriend. When Diamond visits the Bryce home, he discovers a household filled with modern art—except for one painting, a copy of the Mona Lisa, which captivates the family's devoted butler Timothy. Before Diamond can report his findings, Bryce is murdered with a fireplace poker, and Diamond begins to suspect the killer's identity lies in an unexpected obsession.
The Bryce home on Riverside Drive in New York City, an opulent mansion filled with modern art. · Richard Diamond, Arnold Bryce, Della Bryce, Timothy, Walt Levinson, Sergeant Otis, The Maid
Listen for: A haunting song about the Mona Lisa that Diamond uses to put Timothy in a vulnerable emotional state, and the shocking revelation of why someone would kill over a painting.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: Monsieur Bouchon (1951)
Private detective Richard Diamond accepts a $200 fee from a mysterious woman named Yvonne to pick up a sample jar of face cream from a Frenchman named Monsieur Bouchon arriving on a ship in New York. Diamond soon finds himself caught between competing interests in the cosmetics business when Bouchon's sample turns out to be a booby trap and a valuable sapphire becomes the object of a dangerous treasure hunt.
New York City, including Diamond's apartment, various hotels, and Greenwich Village apartment building · Richard Diamond, Yvonne, Monsieur Bouchon, Robert Muckler, Berta, Walt
Listen for: Diamond's trademark wisecracking narration and witty banter with the eccentric Frenchman Bouchon; the climactic confrontation involving the hidden sapphire and the revelation of Yvonne and Bouchon's smuggling operation.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: Mr Victor's Daughter (1950)
Richard Diamond is hired by newspaper magnate George Victor to protect his daughter Cathy from a frame-up orchestrated by crime boss Aaron Ziegler, who wants to stop Victor from exposing his numbers racket. Diamond must find Cathy and prevent Ziegler from planting narcotics on her before the newspaper's ten o'clock deadline.
New York City, including a newspaper office, the Nocturne Club, Chinatown, and a private establishment run by Fushin. · Richard Diamond, George Victor, Cathy Victor, Aaron Ziegler, Doug Saxon, Lieutenant Walt Levinson, Tony, Wu Li
Listen for: Diamond's wisecracks and banter throughout his investigation, the tense confrontation with Ziegler, and his final showdown with Saxon in Chinatown.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: Mr. Walker's Problem (1952)
Private detective Richard Diamond takes a case from nervous plumber Thomas Walker, who suspects something criminal involving a chemist named Joseph Carter. Diamond agrees to shadow Carter after Walker arranges to meet him for lunch, but Walker is mysteriously killed before the meeting, leaving Diamond to uncover a dangerous scheme before the culprits strike again.
City streets, Diamond's detective office, a bar, Carter's chemistry shop next to a bank, police precinct · Richard Diamond, Helen, Thomas Walker, Joseph Carter, Sandra Browning (also calling herself Mrs. Carter), Dave Johnson, Walt Levinson, Horace Kratchmeyer
Listen for: The clever setup of a shadow job that turns deadly; the surprise revelation that Sandra Browning and Mrs. Carter are the same person; the gang's plan to break through the shop wall into the bank vault.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: Mrs X Can't Find Her Husband (1950)
Richard Diamond is hired by a mysterious woman who calls herself Mrs. X to find her husband Richard, who disappeared while they were walking together in New York City. Mrs. X refuses to explain why she cannot go to the police or reveal her husband's last name, though she insists she can pay Diamond's fees and that something shocking happened to Richard earlier that morning.
New York City, including Charlie's bar, the Fifth Precinct police station, and various locations around the city · Richard Diamond, Mrs. X (June Allison), Charlie (bartender), Lieutenant Levinson, Sergeant Otis, Helen
Listen for: The comedic banter between Richard Diamond and Charlie the bartender, Diamond's reluctant agreement to help the mysterious Mrs. X despite her refusal to provide basic information, and the running joke about people claiming to have seen Mrs. X somewhere before
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: Photographer's Card (1950)
Streetside photographer George Phipps gives Richard Diamond a mysterious calling card containing a negative, claiming he's being tailed. After Phipps is murdered, Diamond discovers the negative shows two criminals and a man with a briefcase caught in the background of an innocent street photograph. Diamond must identify the killers and uncover what they were protecting before the case closes.
New York City streets, Diamond's office, Phipps' apartment on Bleaker Street, the Speedy Photo Lab, and a hotel on 25th Street · Richard Diamond, Walt Levinson, George Phipps, Tony Payton, Louie Rousso, Andrew Troop, Fran, Sergeant Otis
Listen for: The clever plot device of an innocent street photograph capturing evidence of a crime; Diamond's witty banter with Lieutenant Levinson and his secretary Fran; the final comedic scene at a bowling alley where Fran critiques Diamond's street dialect.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: Private Eye Test (1950)
Richard Diamond must pass an examination to keep his private detective license, but while taking a practical test in the police basement, he discovers that fellow detective Pat Romero has been murdered. Diamond must solve the case quickly to help his friend Lieutenant Levinson, uncovering a blackmail scheme and a killer with expensive taste in shoes.
1950s New York City, primarily the 5th Precinct police station, Richard Diamond's office on Broadway, Romero's offices, and Amos Fletcher's nightclub · Richard Diamond, Lieutenant Walt Levinson, Pat Romero, Amos Fletcher (the Patent Leather Kid), Sergeant Otis, Helen (Richard's secretary), Phil (the postman)
Listen for: The clever detective work as Diamond pieces together clues from patent leather shoes and a missing bullet, plus the witty banter between Diamond and his various antagonists, especially the obnoxious Romero and the resourceful Lieutenant Levinson
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: Ralph Chase Case (1949)
Private detective Richard Diamond is hired by Ralph Chase to prevent his stepdaughter Elizabeth from marrying gangster Murray Lang after her probation expires Monday. That evening, someone takes a shot at Chase in his library, and Diamond later discovers Lang's body in the garden, shot with Elizabeth's gun. As Diamond investigates, he uncovers a web of motives and discovers the crime's true architect.
The Chase mansion in Sands Point, Long Island, and Richard Diamond's office in New York City · Richard Diamond, Ralph Chase, Elizabeth, Chris, Murray Lang, Helen Asher, Lieutenant Levinson
Listen for: A twisting mystery where nothing is quite as it seems, featuring gunshots in the night, a murder in the garden, and a detective piecing together lies and deception among a household full of suspects with competing interests.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: The Al Brenners Case (1952)
Private detective Richard Diamond agrees to help a professional stool pigeon named Tiny Gillespie locate fugitive Al Brenners, who is hiding from a grand jury investigation, for a split of the $5,000 reward. When Tiny fails to meet Diamond at their arranged location and is later found beaten to death, Diamond must track down Brenners before the police do—following clues that lead him to a rest home on Long Island where danger awaits.
Long Island, New York, primarily at the Hillview Rest Home, with scenes also at Diamond's office, the Purple Glider bar, and a police station. · Richard Diamond, Tiny Gillespie, Al Brenners, Lieutenant Walt Levinson, Stringer, Helen, Samson the bartender, Alf
Listen for: The tense cat-and-mouse game between Diamond and Brenners at the rest home, the frightening encounter with the giant in the basement, and the climactic gunfight that reveals who has been pulling the strings all along.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: The Bald Head Case (1950)
Richard Diamond investigates the death of John Wiley, found with a broken neck on a vibrating table at Pat Stens' hair salon. With only the salon staff and two customers present, Diamond must determine which of them killed the wealthy man. The investigation reveals Wiley was a blackmailer, and Diamond discovers a connection between the victim and one of the salon workers.
New York City, primarily at Pat Stens' hair salon and surrounding locations including a sanitarium in New Jersey · Richard Diamond, Pat Stens, Lieutenant Walt, John Wiley, Mary Carol, Robert Wells, Jacob Green, Lillian Wooster (Baker)
Listen for: The clever trap Diamond sets by getting Lillian to work on him while on the vibrating table, where she reveals her knowledge of blackmail and her motive through her bitter comments about her father's suicide.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: The Betty Moran Case (1949)
Richard Diamond takes a case from wealthy William Moran, who claims his wife Betty was being blackmailed and suggests she was driven to murder and suicide. When Diamond investigates the death of Mac Grayson, the alleged blackmailer, and traces connections to others involved in the scheme, he uncovers a darker truth hidden beneath the police's quick conclusion of murder-suicide.
New York City, including Diamond's office overlooking Broadway, police precinct, Skid Row and the Parrot Club, Fink's apartment, and a ferry to Staten Island · Richard Diamond, William Moran, Betty Moran, Mac Grayson, Lieutenant Walt Levinson, Sergeant Otis, Wilbert Truett, Leo Fink
Listen for: Diamond's casual philosophy about his work, his banter with police contacts, his encounter with the perpetually drunk Wilbert Truett in the Parrot Club, and the climactic chase through the ferry's engine room
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: The Big Foot Grafton Case (AFRTS) (1953)
Private detective Richard Diamond is pulled into a case when a women's softball team asks him to find their missing second baseman, Lottie Wierich. Meanwhile, police lieutenant Walt pressures Diamond to attend the funeral of notorious criminal Bigfoot Grafton, whose body was supposedly fished from the harbor. As Diamond investigates Lottie's disappearance, he discovers dangerous connections to Grafton and becomes entangled in a web of murder and threats.
New York City, including West Franklin, a cemetery, a women's softball park, a dental office, and various city locations · Richard Diamond, Walt (police lieutenant), Billy (first baseman), Lottie Wierich (missing second baseman), Joe Gabberding (messenger/gunsel), Bigfoot Grafton (criminal), Dr. Percy Almond (dentist), Helen (Lottie)
Listen for: The chemistry between Diamond and the police lieutenant, with sharp banter and interruptions; the revelation that Grafton may still be alive; the climactic fight scenes; and Diamond's romantic moment with the rescued Lottie at episode's end.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: The Blind Man And The Cop Killer (1950)
When a narcotics officer is shot and killed on a city street, Richard Diamond investigates and discovers that a blind pencil vendor named Pop is somehow connected to the crime. Pop is being blackmailed by Chick Russo, a drug dealer from his past who threatens to reveal Pop's secret daughter unless Pop helps distribute narcotics hidden in pencils. Diamond must uncover Russo's identity and stop him before he strikes again.
A big city with a waterfront district, police precinct, Diamond's office building, and street corners where pencil vendors operate. · Richard Diamond, Lieutenant Walt Levinson, Pop (the blind pencil vendor), Chick Russo, Bill Walton (the murdered officer), Arthur Phillips (insurance company witness), Mrs. Margaret Walker (witness), Helen (Diamond's girlfriend)
Listen for: The clever trap Diamond sets by disguising himself as the blind Pop to draw out the killer, and the confrontation in the basement where identities are revealed.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: The Blue Serge Suit (1951)
Richard Diamond is hired by fastidious haberdashery owner David Barr to guard his shop after a series of thefts targeting blue serge suits and material. When Diamond himself is attacked and stripped of a blue serge suit he was protecting, the case deepens into an espionage ring using tailored blue serge suits to smuggle secret defense information out of the country via coded invisible ink.
New York City, primarily Madison Avenue and surrounding areas including Barr's haberdashery shop, Diamond's apartment, and a clothing supply warehouse. · Richard Diamond, David Barr, Walt (police sergeant), Huntz, Gabe, Leonard Kingsley, Hans
Listen for: The clever spy scheme involving invisible coded messages hidden in blue serge material; Diamond's wisecracks and banter with the perpetually offended Barr; the physical comedy when Diamond is stripped of his suit and has to walk in his underwear.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: The Brown Envelope Case (1951)
Private detective Richard Diamond's car is hit by a getaway vehicle in a traffic collision. When a dead man turns up in his office demanding a brown envelope, and police reveal the hit was connected to a $600,000 armored car robbery, Diamond must piece together the mystery of what envelope the criminals think he has and why they're willing to kill for it.
New York City, including Diamond's detective office, Larson's garage, the Blue Duck nightclub, and city streets. · Richard Diamond, Helen Asher, Lieutenant Levinson, Sergeant Fraser, Dora Markham, Paul Schenell, Walt, Cismattin
Listen for: The witty banter between Richard Diamond and his secretary Helen, the escalating tension as Diamond discovers the stolen money, and the climactic shootout at the abandoned Blue Duck nightclub.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: The Butcher Shop (1951)
Private detective Richard Diamond is approached by Angelino Giuseppe, a butcher shop owner who represents a group of independent butchers being extorted by a protection racket. Two violent collectors, Carl and Red, visit shops demanding weekly payments and beat those who refuse. Diamond goes undercover as a butcher's assistant to identify the racketeers and trace their operation back to its source.
New York City, primarily in and around Angelino's butcher shop, a police precinct, Tiny Easter's office on East 48th Street, and a warehouse at the 14th Street docks near the river. · Richard Diamond, Angelino Giuseppe, Carl Tate, Red Dillon, Tiny Easter, Walt (Lieutenant), Sergeant Otis, Lefty
Listen for: Diamond's comedic banter while working as a butcher, his descriptions of the two racketeers, the violent confrontation in the warehouse, and his predicament stuck on a catwalk above a criminal.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: The Carnival (1951)
Private detective Richard Diamond is hired by Adam Rayburn, a seven-foot-tall carnival performer, to discover what trouble his love interest Rowena is hiding. Diamond takes Rowena out for drinks and learns she has expensive tastes, but when he questions her about her past, a fire breaks out in the carnival tent killing chorus girl Dixie Jones. The fire was deliberately set, turning the death into murder, and Diamond must uncover the connections between Rowena, the carnival owner Dave Sylvester, and the dead girl.
A traveling carnival and the surrounding town in 1951 · Richard Diamond, Adam Rayburn, Rowena, Dave Sylvester, Paula Sylvester, Dixie Jones, Walt
Listen for: The vivid carnival atmosphere with barking vendors and mechanical rides, the contrasting relationship between the towering Adam Rayburn and petite Rowena, and the climactic chase through a hall of mirrors at the carnival fun house
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: The Carnival Case (1950)
Richard Diamond takes an undercover job at a carnival as a barker for the girl show after a fortune teller named Tony Lawrence hires him. Four men have been murdered over the past year, all apparently killed because they showed romantic interest in Tony. When another young man is murdered at the carnival, Diamond investigates among the carnival performers—a clown, a strongman, and a hula dancer—who were present when the victim asked Tony for a date.
A traveling carnival on the midway and surrounding trailers; also Richard's office and a city hotel. · Richard Diamond, Helen, Tony Lawrence (Madame Tanya), Chuckles the Clown, Samson the Strongman, Karen the Hula Dancer, Lieutenant Max Talbert, Sergeant Otis
Listen for: The detective work unfolds as Richard questions the carnival performers and discovers a crucial clue about Leonardo's physical stature that exposes the killer's fatal mistake.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: The Caspary Case (1951)
Private detective Richard Diamond is hired by a woman claiming to be Mrs. Phil Caspery, who fears her husband will kill her after discovering he's been stealing from his business partner Max Bruno. That night, Diamond finds Mrs. Caspery dead in her apartment and is knocked unconscious by an unknown attacker. When he awakens, police arrest Phil Caspery for the murder, but Diamond begins to suspect the real culprit may be someone else entirely.
New York City, including Richard Diamond's office, the Caspery apartment, Max Bruno's office on Sixth Avenue, the rooftop nightclub, and various city streets · Richard Diamond, Phil Caspery, Mrs. Caspery, Max Bruno, Tony Garcia, Walt (taxi dispatcher), Hat-check girl, Singer
Listen for: Diamond's wisecracking narration as he unravels a complex murder plot involving stolen money and mistaken identities; a tense car chase ending at the Washington Bridge; a final confrontation at the nightclub with gunfire and a dramatic revelation.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: The Cover-Up Murders (AFRTS) (1950)
A mysterious killer phones Lieutenant Levinson promising to murder someone at eight o'clock that evening. True to his word, a man is stabbed to death on Broadway at precisely that hour. The killer calls again threatening another murder the same time the next night, and then a third victim falls at eight o'clock. Detective Rick Diamond and Lieutenant Levinson must uncover the madman's motive and identity before he strikes again.
New York City, including Broadway, Madison Square Garden, Rockefeller Center, Grand Central Station, police precinct, and the Reeves house · Richard Diamond, private detective, Lieutenant Levinson, Sergeant Otis, Walt (Rick's friend at the precinct), Mrs. Louise Weiss (widow), Martin Weiss (brother of victim), Abraham Weiss (first victim), Leon Ellis (second victim, fight manager)
Listen for: The killer's menacing phone calls with his distinctive voice; the clever detective work revealing a personal motive hidden behind apparent random murders; the crucial tape recording that catches a crucial contradiction in testimony
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: The Dixon Case (1952)
When Fred Lane hires Richard Diamond to locate blackmailer Louis Dixon, Diamond begins tracking the elusive criminal through the city's underworld. But before Diamond can find him, Dixon appears at the Lane house and kills Fred in a struggle. Now Diamond must solve the murder while pursuing a man who seems impossible to trace.
A mid-size American city with various bars, the Brewster Hotel, a penny arcade, and Diamond's detective office · Richard Diamond, private detective, Fred Lane, Diamond's client, Mary Lane, Fred's wife, Louis Dixon (also known as Jack Layton), blackmailer and murderer, Lieutenant Walt Levinson, police officer, Rabbit Jones, informer, Squeaky Horner, informer, Helen Asher, Diamond's secretary
Listen for: The clever investigation unfolds through Diamond's interviews with street informants, a surprising reversal when the supposed victim's widow is revealed as the mastermind, and witty banter between Diamond and his secretary Helen about his business practices.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: The Eddie Burke Case (1952)
Private detective Richard Diamond is visited by a violent man named Eddie Burke who claims Diamond has a package belonging to him, supposedly given to Diamond by a woman named Casey for safekeeping. When Diamond denies knowledge of any package, Burke beats him up as a warning. Diamond investigates, discovering that the package contains counterfeit printing plates from an old case, and that Burke's ex-girlfriend Nancy Casey is somehow involved in the scheme.
The city, including Diamond's detective agency, police precinct, Manny Warren's garage on 71st Street, Nancy Casey's apartment building on the west side, and the Carter Hotel. · Richard Diamond, Eddie Burke, Nancy Casey, Lieutenant Walt Levinson, Manny Warren, Helen, Bill
Listen for: The interplay between Diamond and his romantic interest Helen at the beginning and end, showing their witty banter; the escalating violence and betrayal as the case unfolds; and the tragic final revelation about Casey's desperation.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: The Eddie Garrett Case (1949)
Richard Diamond is asked by Bill Garrett, a man on death row, to help keep his younger brother Eddie from following the same criminal path. Diamond visits Eddie's gang hangout and discovers the seventeen-year-old has become involved with Sam Parrish, a numbers racket boss who's recruiting the boys for car theft. When Diamond tries to intervene, he's beaten unconscious, and Eddie becomes entangled in kidnapping and violence that threatens innocent lives.
New York City, 1949: candy stores, a youth gang club called The Panthers on 26th Street, a warehouse at the foot of 14th Street, and various city streets and apartments. · Richard Diamond, Bill Garrett, Eddie Garrett, Sam Parrish, Bart Nippon, Nancy Hyde, Lieutenant Robinson, Lieutenant Walt
Listen for: The contrast between Diamond's hard-boiled cynicism and his willingness to help a death row inmate save his brother; the gang slang and street culture of post-war youth; the tense climax at Parrish's warehouse with the kidnapped girl.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: The Eight O'Clock Killer (1953)
A mysterious caller threatens to murder someone at eight o'clock and makes good on his promise, killing a man on Broadway. When he calls again promising another murder at the same time that evening, Lieutenant Levinson and private detective Richard Diamond race to stop him—but another victim falls at Madison Square Garden, and then a wealthy man is killed near his home. As the killer continues his nightly murders and taunts the police, Diamond suspects the deaths may not be random.
New York City, including Broadway, Madison Square Garden, Grand Central Station, and Rockefeller Center · Richard Diamond, Lieutenant Levinson, Walt (Sergeant Otis), George Reeves, Abraham Weiss, Leon Ellis, Arthur Reeves, Mrs. Weiss
Listen for: The tension builds as each eight o'clock deadline passes with another murder, and Diamond pieces together a connection between the victims and the killer's identity.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: The Enigma Of Big Ed (1952)
Richard Diamond takes a job as a factory worker at Big Ed Barton's metalworks to investigate a series of dangerous accidents that have spooked the workforce. Two men have been killed in the past month, and workers are quitting in fear the plant is jinxed, but Diamond suspects foul play designed to force Barton to close the business.
The Barton Metalworks factory and Richard Diamond's apartment in the city · Richard Diamond, Big Ed Barton, Steve Miller, Helen Asher, Otto Schmidt, Fred Lawson
Listen for: The revelation of who is sabotaging the plant and why, involving a long-simmering dispute over partnership and ownership
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: The Evans Farmer Case (1950)
When Dr. Evans calls Richard Diamond with a mysterious $1,200 proposition about insurance fraud, the doctor is found dead—apparently a suicide. But Diamond suspects otherwise and begins investigating a connection between Evans, a man named George Farmer who burned to death in a cabin, and an insurance policy. The investigation leads Diamond to uncover a murder plot involving forged signatures and eliminated witnesses.
New York City and Sportsman's Retreat lodge in the North Woods · Richard Diamond, Lieutenant Levinson, Dr. William Evans, Mrs. Farmer, Sergeant Otis, Martin Ames, Arthur Peterson, Pop Stone
Listen for: The solution to why Dr. Evans was pushed from a window and how George Farmer's death connects to insurance fraud and forgery.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: The Fixed Fight Case (1950)
Richard Diamond is called in by his friend Frank Bowers, a boxing manager, to investigate a fixed fight involving Frank's fighter Max Farmer, who inexplicably loses to an underdog. The next morning, Diamond learns that Frank has apparently committed suicide by jumping from the Brooklyn Bridge, but Diamond suspects foul play and begins investigating the connections between the fixed fight and Frank's death.
New York City, including a boxing arena, Frank's gymnasium, a nightclub called the Silver Circle, and the Brooklyn Bridge. · Richard Diamond, Frank Bowers, Max Farmer, Helen, Lorna Thorne, Ben Lamb, Lieutenant Walt Olstead, Sergeant Otis
Listen for: Diamond's clever deduction about how a suicide was faked using diving skills, connecting Max Farmer's Olympic diving background with Marshall Wayne to solve how Frank was actually murdered; the revelation that Lorna Thorne, a dancer and bookie, was the brains behind the scheme.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: The Garrabaldi Case (1952)
Private detective Richard Diamond is hired by Janet Collins to find a witness named Tony Garibaldi, who allegedly saw her brother Bert murdered a bookie. Bert has been convicted and is scheduled to be executed the next day. Diamond tracks down Tony and learns the case is far more complicated than it appears, involving blackmail and a conspiracy to force false testimony.
New York City, including Diamond's office, apartment buildings, a pool room, a dry cleaning shop, and various locations across the city · Richard Diamond, Helen Asher, Janet Collins, Bert Collins, Freddy, Tony Garibaldi, Lieutenant Levinson, Sneasy Williams
Listen for: The clever coin-flip gambit Diamond uses to distract the gunman Freddy, and the revelation that Tony witnessed not Bert but someone else committing the murder
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: The George Lexington Murder Case (1950)
Private detective Richard Diamond is hired by George Lexington, who claims to fear for his life. When Diamond arrives for their appointment, he finds Lexington shot and stabbed to death, with his former fiancée June Morris holding a smoking gun. The investigation reveals that Lexington was actually a criminal with a record under the alias Jack Short, and that someone else stabbed him before Morris fired the fatal shot.
New York City, primarily in George Lexington's home on Long Island and the Fifth Precinct Police Station, with visits to June Morris's apartment and newspaper morgue files. · Richard Diamond, Lieutenant Walt Elvinson, June Morris, George Lexington (Jack Short), Lucius Farnsworth, Mrs. Judea Wright, Arthur the butler
Listen for: The clever logical deduction by which Diamond and Lieutenant Elvinson determine that the stabbing occurred before the shooting, proving Morris could not have committed the murder. The revelation that lawyer Lucius Farnsworth was blackmailing victims through his client Lexington and orchestrated the frame-up. Farnsworth's dramatic attempted escape through a window.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: The Grey Man (1951)
Private detective Richard Diamond takes on a mysterious case when a man with an ashen gray complexion hires him to locate a missing science professor within five hours, revealing he has only that long to live. Diamond discovers the case involves a tangled web of blackmail, a tragic suicide, and a quest for revenge that could end in murder.
New York City and State College, on a snowy Saturday afternoon and evening in 1951 · Richard Diamond, Roger Vegas, Professor Lewis Carnes, Drusilla Carnes, Sergeant Otis, Lieutenant Levinson, George Youngwell
Listen for: The distinctive description of Vegas's ghostly gray skin and the revelation of his poisoning with silver salts; the confrontation in the science building basement where Vegas confesses to murder; the twist ending where Vegas learns he will survive his poisoning.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: The Hank Burton Case (1952)
Richard Diamond is hired by the dying criminal Hank Burton to locate a girl named Lee Thorpe before Burton turns himself in to the police. Diamond's investigation takes a dark turn when he discovers that Thorpe has been murdered, and he finds himself drawn into a dangerous web of betrayal and revenge involving Burton's former associates.
New York City, including a warehouse on Front Street, a pool room on Third Street, the Bluebird Club, the city morgue, and a ferry on the Christopher Street route. · Richard Diamond, Helen Asher, Hank Burton, Shrimp Martin, Lieutenant Walt Levinson, Davey Thorpe, Lee Thorpe
Listen for: The tense confrontation at the warehouse where multiple murders are revealed, and Diamond's clever use of the candle to turn the tables on his would-be killers.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: The Hollywood Story (1953)
Private detective Richard Diamond travels to Hollywood at the request of wealthy film producer George L. Harvey, who is being blackmailed by a beautiful woman named Mary Conrad. When Diamond arrives to investigate, he discovers Mary murdered in her home, and Harvey becomes the prime suspect. Diamond must uncover the real killer before Harvey takes the fall.
Hollywood, California and Las Vegas, Nevada in the 1950s · Richard Diamond, George L. Harvey, Fred Kane, Mary Conrad, Mary Langley
Listen for: Diamond's witty first-person narration as he navigates the Hollywood elite, his dangerous confrontation in the Las Vegas desert, and the revelation of a complex murder scheme involving blackmail and greed.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: The Hollywood Story (AFRTS) (1953)
Richard Diamond travels to Hollywood to investigate blackmail against producer George L. Harvey, who is being threatened by a beautiful woman named Mary Conrad demanding $100,000. When Diamond arrives at Mary's house for a rendezvous, he discovers she has been murdered, and Harvey claims he didn't kill her. Diamond must uncover who really committed the crime before Harvey becomes the prime suspect.
Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Malibu, and Las Vegas in 1953 · Richard Diamond, George L. Harvey, Fred Kane, Mary Conrad, The fat man from the Ace of Clubs
Listen for: The clever way Diamond pieces together the blackmail scheme and murder plot, moving between California and Nevada; his witty banter about Hollywood and motion pictures; the tense desert confrontation scene.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: The Homing Pigeon Case (1950)
Richard Diamond investigates a blackmail scheme involving two unconnected men being extorted by someone using an unusual method: a homing pigeon named Andy. When both victims reveal they have false teeth made by the same oral surgeon, Diamond zeroes in on Dr. Cutler's office as the source of the blackmailer's information.
New York City, primarily Richard Diamond's office and Dr. Cutler's dental office on Madison Avenue · Richard Diamond, Roger Renard, John Miller, Lieutenant Walt Levinson, Sergeant Otis, Dr. Cutler, Miss Barrow, Helen
Listen for: The clever connection between two blackmail victims linked only by their mutual dentist; the revelation of Miss Barrow's crime and capture; the running gag about Renard's new false teeth that click and make bird-like sounds
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: The House Of Mystery Case (1949)
Private detective Rick Diamond is hired by widow Julia Bates to spend the night at her mansion and protect her from supernatural threats. Her late husband Warner, a mystic who filled the house with secret rooms and passages, swore on his deathbed he would return at the end of three months to take her to the spirit world. Tonight is that night, and Julia fears for her life.
The Bates House on Temple Street, a large mysterious mansion filled with secret passages and hidden rooms built by Julia's late husband Warner to reflect his mystical beliefs. · Rick Diamond, private detective, Julia Bates, widow and client, Lieutenant Walt Levinson, police officer, Sergeant Otis, police sergeant, Cain, the butler, Mr. Anderson, Warner's lawyer and executor, Helen, Rick's girlfriend
Listen for: A ghostly voice claiming to be the dead husband Warner, strange sounds in the house, the discovery of a bloody corpse that vanishes, and Rick's investigation of the supernatural occurrences threatening Julia's inheritance.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: The Ice Pick Murder Case (1953)
When a small dark man with an ice pick in his back collapses at Richard Diamond's office door, the detective begins investigating. Diamond discovers the victim, Rudy Lubin, carried a card from the Apollo Health Club and learns that the club's owner, Dr. Emerson Van Arthur, is running an illegal operation connected to narcotics. Meanwhile, Red O'Brien, a gymnast friend of Diamond's who was supposed to meet him for dinner, is found dead at the club with a broken neck after supposedly falling from the rings.
New York City, primarily Richard Diamond's office, the Apollo Health Club, and Leon's restaurant · Richard Diamond, Helen, Seymour, Lieutenant Levinson, Dr. Emerson Van Arthur, Red O'Brien, Rudy Lubin
Listen for: Richard Diamond's witty banter with his friend Seymour about judo and self-defense; the discovery of opium-laced wheat germ at the health club juice bar; the revelation that Dr. Van Arthur murdered both Rudy Lubin and Red O'Brien to protect his drug operation.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: The Jacoby Case (1949)
Richard Diamond is called to police headquarters when a notorious criminal named Leon Jacoby illegally returns to the United States after six years of deportation. Jacoby has already murdered two men who testified against him, and Walt, the police lieutenant, fears he'll attempt to kill the third witness—Richard himself. Richard must track down Jacoby's hideout before the killer can strike.
New York City, primarily the Fifth Precinct Police Station, a pool hall on Church Avenue, apartment buildings, and city streets and alleys. · Richard Diamond, Walt (Lieutenant), Sergeant Otis, Leon Jacoby, George Vail, Mrs. Vail, Helen
Listen for: The witty banter between Richard and his police contacts, Richard's clever tactics to locate Jacoby's hideout by planting a listening device in Vail's apartment, and the tense confrontation in the alley when Richard finally corners Jacoby.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: The Jean Cooper Murder Case (1949)
Richard Diamond investigates the death of Jean Cooper, a young woman run over by a car in Central Park. Tom Cook, the driver, claims she was pushed in front of his vehicle, but police suspect him of manslaughter. Diamond discovers the case connects to a blackmail scheme and a recent gangster killing, unraveling a complex web of revenge and deception.
New York City, primarily Central Park, police precincts, apartments, and the freight yards near the North River · Richard Diamond, private detective, Tom Cook, the driver, Earl Cook, Tom's father and a politician, Jean Cooper, the victim, John Cooper, Jean's ex-husband, Lieutenant Walt Lemonson, Sergeant Otis, Lou Spiegel, a gangster
Listen for: The clever deduction connecting a magazine found in the victim's apartment to the blackmail letters, revealing the killer's identity through cut-out type matching the magazine's pages
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: The Jewel Thief (1950)
Richard Diamond investigates the murder of a man named Wells, whose body is found in his apartment with $100,000 in stolen jewels hidden in the water pipes. A tipster named Mario Chimino had alerted police to the jewels' location, but has since disappeared. Diamond must uncover the truth behind the murder, the jewels, and the mysterious Chimino before the jewels are claimed by Wells's wife.
New York City, including the Fifth Precinct Police Station, Greenwich Village, a schooner landing, and a fishing boat in open water · Richard Diamond, Lieutenant Walter Levinson, Sergeant Otis, Mrs. Wells, Mario Chimino, Vladimir Sokolowski, Bob (boat operator)
Listen for: The clever twist revealing the body in the morgue is not Wells but Chimino, and the revelation that Wells himself orchestrated the entire scheme using his wife as an accomplice; Diamond's witty banter with Levinson and Otis, and his charming interrogation of Mrs. Wells.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: The John Blackwell Case (1949)
Private detective Richard Diamond takes a strange client who claims he's going to commit a murder and wants professional advice on police procedures. When Diamond tries to call police, he's locked in a closet at gunpoint. After breaking free and getting shot at by the mysterious client's hired killer, Diamond teams up with Lieutenant Walt and Sergeant Otis to identify the would-be murderer before a crime occurs.
New York City, including Diamond's detective office, a newspaper office, an artist's studio, and a penthouse benefit party in Helen Asher's building · Richard Diamond, Helen Asher, Lieutenant Walt, Sergeant Otis, Johnny Blackwell, Mrs. Blackwell (Rita), Big Man McCarthy, Adam Worcester
Listen for: Diamond's wise-cracking dialogue and constant yo-yo tricks; the mystery of identifying the man with initials J.B.; the climactic revelation at the benefit party; the attempted murder on the terrace
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: The Lady In Distress (1951)
Richard Diamond, a private detective desperate for rent money, takes on a mysterious client who arrives at his office with $300 but dies of poisoning before explaining her trouble. Diamond discovers her name is Doris Romano and becomes determined to help her even in death, uncovering a dangerous conspiracy involving counterfeit money, a dead Treasury agent, and connections to her estranged sister.
New York City and Brooklyn, including Diamond's detective office, a gray house in Brooklyn used for counterfeiting, Kitty Bronson's apartment on 63rd Street, and various police locations. · Richard Diamond, Helen, Otis, Lieutenant Walt Levinson, Doris Romano, Joe Riley, Kitty Bronson, Dale F. Bronson
Listen for: A woman's mysterious death, the discovery of a counterfeit money operation, and the revelation of a family tragedy connecting the victims to Diamond's case.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: The Lynn Knight Case (1949)
Private detective Richard Diamond agrees to protect Miss Lynn Knight after she reports two attempts on her life. When shots are fired during an attempted kidnapping, Diamond investigates and discovers that a photograph taken at the Circus Club may hold the key to the case, leading him to uncover a dangerous connection to a recent gangland murder.
New York City, including Richard Diamond's office, the Circus Club nightclub, the Fifth Precinct police station, and various locations around Manhattan · Richard Diamond, Lynn Knight, Lieutenant Levinson, Sergeant Otis, Monsieur Davis, Lou Garzonie, Helen
Listen for: The opening monologue describing New York City; the interaction between Diamond and his telephone operator Helen; the photography darkroom scenes; the climactic confrontation in the apartment on West 45th Street
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: The Man Who Hated Women (1949)
Richard Diamond is drawn into investigating a series of brutal murders of women across the city when his old police friend Lieutenant Walt asks for help. A killer who appears to hate women has claimed three victims in three weeks, leaving the police baffled and the public in panic. When Diamond identifies a suspicious pattern in the crime locations and timing, he and Walt stake out a bowling alley bar where one victim was last seen alive.
New York City, present day; a bowling alley bar and surrounding areas; a police precinct; various locations within a ten-mile radius of the city. · Richard Diamond, Lieutenant Walt, Sergeant Otis, Ed Cody, John McCarthy, Martha Kirk, The Killer, Helen Asher
Listen for: Dick Powell's clever banter with Lieutenant Walt and his assistant, the building tension as Diamond stakeouts the killer at the bowling alley, and the shocking confrontation in the car when the killer's violent nature is finally revealed.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: The Man Who Hated Women (1950)
Richard Diamond investigates a series of brutal murders plaguing the city. When a third body is discovered by the roadside, Walt pressures Diamond to help crack the case. Diamond notices the killings follow a pattern within a circular area and theorizes the killer departs from a location around 2:45 AM, pointing police toward nightspots that stay open late. Diamond's investigation leads him to a bowling alley bar where he identifies a suspect and sets up a dangerous trap to catch him red-handed.
A city's fifth police precinct, nightclubs and bars throughout the city, roadside locations, and a parking lot at night · Richard Diamond, Walt Levinson, Helen, Sergeant Otis, Ed Cody, John McCarthy, Martha Kirk, the bartender
Listen for: The clever deduction about the circular pattern of murders and the time frame, the witty banter between Diamond and Walt, the tense stakeout and trunk-riding climax, and the light comedic ending with Diamond and Helen
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: The Man With The Scar (1951)
Private detective Richard Diamond is beaten unconscious by two thugs who warn him not to accept a job from a Mr. Warden. Despite the warning, Diamond takes the case: Warden's son Roger believes he killed a man while defending a girl named Lenore Brown in Florida, but now both the girl and the supposed victim have disappeared. Warden suspects the incident was staged to blackmail him into freeing a convict named John Altar from prison. Diamond must find the man with the scar and uncover the truth.
New York City and prison, with flashbacks to events in Florida; includes locations in Greenwich Village, East River, and Chinatown · Richard Diamond, Helen, Warden, Yuki, Salvador, Sergeant Otis, Lenore Brown, John Altar
Listen for: The clever banter between Diamond and Sergeant Otis about the word "sloth"; Diamond's wry observations as he follows the case; the tense confrontation at the Tenji restaurant on the final address.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: The Martha Campbell Kidnap Case (1950)
When wealthy philanthropist Martha Campbell is kidnapped, her niece Diana hires private detective Richard Diamond to protect her fiancé Ira Stewart during the ransom delivery in Central Park. Diamond and Stewart are ambushed during the exchange, knocked unconscious, and the money disappears—but when they recover, they discover Mrs. Campbell's body already in the car, murdered days earlier.
New York City, primarily Manhattan including Park Avenue, Central Park, and a police precinct; also a zoo with animal enclosures including a bear pit. · Richard Diamond, Helen, Diana Campbell, Martha Campbell, Ira Stewart, Sergeant Otis, Lieutenant Walt Davis, Willie the Knife Foster
Listen for: The clever twist revealing that Stewart himself orchestrated the kidnapping to steal the money; Diamond's witty banter with Helen and Sergeant Otis; the climactic chase through the zoo ending at the bear pit.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: The Martin Hyer Case (1949)
Private detective Richard Diamond is hired by June Hires to follow her husband Martin, who she claims is running around with another woman. Diamond tails Martin to an apartment building where he discovers the body of a young woman named Sally Maxwell, shot dead. Martin is found at the scene with a gun, but Diamond becomes suspicious of the evidence and begins investigating whether Martin is truly guilty or has been framed.
New York City, including Diamond's office, a nightclub called the Cellar Club, and an apartment building · Richard Diamond, June Hires, Martin Hires, Sally Maxwell, Leon Fisk, Lieutenant Walt
Listen for: The clever detective work as Diamond pieces together the murder plot, the tense confrontation at the apartment, and the final revelation of the conspiracy
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: The Merry-Go-Round Case (1952)
Private detective Richard Diamond hunts for Smiley Brill, a small-time criminal who shot police officer Ben Johnson during a robbery and fled. Diamond follows leads from the Bowery to a merry-go-round amusement park, where Brill is hiding with help from his uncle Joe, who runs the Toy Land attraction. As Diamond closes in on his quarry, the confrontation escalates into a final shootout on the fairground.
New York City, including the Bowery, a theater, a rooming house, and the Toy Land amusement park with its merry-go-round on 34th Street · Richard Diamond, Helen Asher, Lieutenant Walter Levinson, Ben Johnson, Smiley Brill, Leo Watts, Jewel Sank, Bertie Morgan
Listen for: The contrast between Diamond's tough detective work and his playful relationship with his secretary Helen; the moral debate when Diamond must convince Joe Brill that his nephew is a murderer, not just a car thief; the climactic chase and shootout among the carnival rides.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: The Misplaced Laundry Case (1950)
Richard Diamond's evening takes a strange turn when he picks up the wrong laundry bundle late at night from a man with a gun. The next morning, the laundry owner who made the mistake is found murdered, and Diamond discovers coded numbers on a shirt in the wrong bundle that lead to a dangerous criminal operation.
New York City, including Diamond's apartment, Helen's mother's home on Long Island, the Blue Bell Laundry, Superior Cleaning and Dyeing Works, and various street corners · Richard Diamond, Helen, Helen's mother, Walt (Lieutenant), Mr. Green, John Jones, Charlie Asher, Arthur Levin
Listen for: The coded message hidden in the shirt collar (A4 5L meaning 6 a.m. at 46th and Lexington), which becomes the key to unraveling a major narcotics operation run through laundry services
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: The Oklahoma Cowboy Murder Case (1950)
Private detective Richard Diamond is hired by wealthy Oklahoma rancher Clay Baxter to investigate his brother Wil's death, officially ruled a horse-riding accident. Diamond travels to the small town of Okmulgee, Oklahoma, where he examines the body and the scene of the incident, becoming convinced that Wil was deliberately murdered. As Diamond gathers evidence and interviews witnesses, he uncovers a complex murder plot involving a hat pin weapon and a carefully staged accident.
Okmulgee, Oklahoma in the present day; a remote cattle ranch and the surrounding desert landscape · Richard Diamond, Clay Baxter, Wil Baxter, Mrs. Baxter, Sheriff Jim Billings, Frank Kelly, Luke Maryweather, Phineas Maryweather
Listen for: The distinctive dialogue between Diamond and the locals, the reveal of the murder weapon and method during the autopsy discussion, and the climactic confrontation in the mine shaft where the killer is exposed and apprehended.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: The Oklahoma Cowboy Murder Case (AFRTS) (1953)
Private detective Richard Diamond travels to Oakmogiel, Oklahoma, when rancher Clay Baxter hires him to investigate his brother's death. The sheriff calls it an accident—Will Baxter was thrown from his horse and struck his head on a rock—but Clay suspects foul play, particularly since Will's wealthy widow stands to inherit the substantial ranch. Diamond discovers the death was no simple accident and must uncover who orchestrated the murder.
Oakmogiel, Oklahoma, a cattle ranching town with a population of 17,000, including Will Baxter's ranch forty miles outside town and a nearby mine shaft. · Richard Diamond, private detective, Clay Baxter, rancher, Sheriff Jim Billings, Will Baxter, Clay's brother (deceased), Wilma Baxter, Will's widow, Frank Kelly, ranch foreman, Luke and Finneas Merryweather, miners, Doc, the coroner
Listen for: Diamond's struggles as a New York city detective learning to ride horses in the Oklahoma desert; his investigation revealing the murder weapon was a long needle jabbed through the victim's eye; the climactic trap set in the mine shaft to catch the killer.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: The Pete Rocco Case (1950)
Richard Diamond is hired by Mrs. Rocco to recapture her escaped son Pete, a murderer, and return him to prison. Diamond learns Pete has hidden $50,000 from a bookie job and is waiting in the city for word from an associate before retrieving it. As Diamond closes in on Pete through the underworld, he discovers the person Pete is waiting for has a deadly agenda of his own.
The city, including a cigar shop on Mulberry Street, a police precinct, an Atlas Alley bowling alley, and various street locations. · Richard Diamond, Pete Rocco, Danny Rocco, Mrs. Rocco, Sergeant Otis, Lieutenant Walt Robinson, Rasko Ward, Helen
Listen for: Diamond's witty banter with Sergeant Otis and Lieutenant Robinson; his confrontation with Pete Rocco and the bowling alley meeting with Rasko Ward; the final revelation in the darkened cigar shop.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: The Plaid Overcoat Case (1951)
When a man claiming to be Duke Crandall, a fugitive wanted for blackmail, walks into Richard Diamond's office and beats him up, Diamond sets out to find him. As Diamond searches the city, he discovers that the man in the distinctive plaid overcoat may not be who he claims to be, and he becomes entangled in a dangerous scheme involving a criminal gambler.
A city featuring Diamond's detective office, the Blue Chip Club, Patty Carroll's apartment, Joey Thompson's watch repair shop on Fountain Street, and a warehouse in the warehouse section of town. · Richard Diamond, Helen Asher, Duke Crandall, Benny Rathman, Walt Levinson, Patty Carroll, Joey Thompson
Listen for: Richard Diamond's first encounter with the mysterious man in the plaid overcoat, the revelation of who is actually behind the assaults, and the confrontation in the warehouse between Diamond, Duke, and the real culprit.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: The Ralph Baxter Case (1950)
Private detective Richard Diamond is called by his friend Walt at the police station to help track down Ralph Baxter, a dangerous convict who escaped from prison that morning along with seven other men in an elaborate break involving a garbage truck. When Jean Lawrence, a woman connected to one of the escapees, turns up murdered in the river, Diamond investigates and discovers she knew William Nash, a man with a criminal record. Nash becomes a key to finding Baxter.
A city with a fifth precinct police station, a diner and motel on the outskirts of town, an apartment building, a garage, and a jewelry store. · Richard Diamond, Walt Levinson, Helen, Ralph Baxter, Sergeant Andre Klum, Jean Lawrence, William Nash, Tony Laguetti
Listen for: The running jokes between Diamond and the new Sergeant Klum, whom Diamond finds ridiculous; the clever scheme to use Nash as bait to draw out Baxter; the stakeout and final confrontation at the roadside diner.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: The Rawlins Case (1951)
Private detective Richard Diamond is reluctant to take a case from wealthy businessman B.E. Rollins, who wants him to find his brother Martin—recently released from prison after embezzling $100,000. But when someone threatens Diamond over the phone, warning him away from the job, his curiosity is piqued and he accepts. Upon meeting Rollins in his garden, Diamond agrees to investigate, only to have the old man shot dead moments later—an apparent murder by Martin, according to Rollins' secretary Collins.
New York City, including Rollins' estate garden, Virginia Carter's apartment, and a musicians' union office. · Richard Diamond, private detective, B.E. Rollins, wealthy businessman, Collins, Rollins' secretary, Martin Rollins, B.E.'s brother, Virginia Carter, Martin's former girlfriend, Lieutenant Levinson, police officer
Listen for: The clever twist that turns an apparent murder-suicide into a framed crime, and Diamond's deduction based on a simple physical detail.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: The Red Rose (1951)
Private detective Richard Diamond takes on a desperate client, John Alistair, who once hired a killer through an underworld contact named Gimpy but now wants to call off the assassination after receiving financial help from his brother-in-law. When Gimpy turns up murdered, Diamond must track down the unknown assassin before he completes his job, following only a single clue: the killer wears a red rose in his buttonhole.
A major American city with skid row bars, a dance studio, apartment buildings, a hotel, and police precinct. · Richard Diamond, John Alistair, Gimpy, Sergeant Walt Otis, Belle DiCanto, Tommy Drago, Giulio Bessotti, Hermann Clipp
Listen for: The clever use of a red rose as the killer's signature, and Diamond's trademark witty banter with Sergeant Otis and his girlfriend Helen; the tense climax on the hotel fire escape.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: The Rifle Case (1953)
Private detective Richard Diamond agrees to protect Gustav Haydn, an elderly German gunsmith who has developed a new rifle and fears it will be stolen. When two men brutally beat Diamond seeking plans Haydn allegedly gave him, the case takes a sinister turn as Haydn disappears from Grand Central Station and Diamond must track him to a remote cabin in the Catskills to uncover a web of espionage.
New York City and the Catskill Mountains, present day. · Richard Diamond, Gustav Haydn, Lieutenant Levinson (Walt), Anna Ehrlich, William Ehrlich, Albert (Baxter), The ticket agent
Listen for: The tense beating scene in Diamond's office, the mysterious disappearance at Grand Central, and the shocking revelation of William Ehrlich's true allegiance at the cabin.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: The Ruby Idol Case (1949)
Richard Diamond falls asleep reading a detective magazine and dreams of a case involving Leland L. Leeds, a nervous man who appears at his apartment claiming his life is in danger because he possesses a cursed ancient idol worth a fortune. When Leeds is struck by a car and dies, Diamond investigates the people around him—Leeds's sister Nina, a doctor named Roger Miller, and a museum curator named George Brodine—to determine who killed him and why.
New York City, primarily in and around Richard Diamond's apartment at 975 Park Avenue and the Leeds family house in Jackson Heights. · Richard Diamond, Helen Asher, Francis, Leland L. Leeds, Nina Leeds, Dr. Roger Miller, George Brodine, Lieutenant Levinson
Listen for: The twist ending that reveals this entire case is just Richard Diamond's dream while he was napping on his couch reading a detective magazine. The story plays with the tropes of pulp detective fiction, complete with an unexpected killer reveal that seems to wrap everything up—until Diamond wakes up.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: The Simpson Case (1952)
Richard Diamond is hired by a wealthy woman to protect her husband John Simpson, an oil tycoon who was shot at in his garden. Simpson reveals he received a threatening letter referencing a mining partner named Frank Victor who died in a cave-in twenty years earlier in Africa. Diamond investigates the mystery while Simpson asks him to pick up a mysterious package from a bar.
Long Island and New York City, primarily at the Simpson estate and various locations around the city · Richard Diamond, Mrs. Simpson (Jane), John Simpson, Ralph Simpson, Professor Fisher, Lieutenant Levinson, Earl Collins
Listen for: The solution to who sent the threatening letter and attempted to kill Simpson; the revelation of the bomb plot and the use of hypnosis in the crime
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: The Singing Critic (1949)
Private detective Richard Diamond finds himself caught between admiring tenants who love his singing and one disgruntled neighbor who despises it. When a mysterious man named Jones hires another detective to silence Diamond, our hero gets trapped in an ice box, then a steam bath, while trying to track down who's behind the scheme.
New York City, including Diamond's apartment building, the fifth precinct police station, a warehouse, and a massage parlor. · Richard Diamond, Helen Asher, Sergeant Otis, Lieutenant Levinson, Ernest Lumpkin, Pat Kosak, John Jones
Listen for: Diamond's comic banter with Sergeant Otis, his singing (which causes unexpected trouble), and the escalating scheme to silence him involving an ice box and steam room.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: The Singing Critic (AFRS) (1949)
Private detective Richard Diamond finds himself the unwilling star of his neighbors' affections when they begin writing him letters begging him to sing regularly from his apartment. When his voice gives out after an enthusiastic performance, a mysterious man named Ernest Lumpkin approaches another detective with a scheme to silence Diamond's singing. Diamond receives a cryptic call from someone named Jones claiming to be in danger, leading him on a bizarre chase through an icebox and steam bath.
New York City, primarily Richard Diamond's apartment, the Fifth Precinct police station, and various other locations including a frozen food warehouse and a Swedish massage parlor. · Richard Diamond, Helen (Diamond's girlfriend), Sergeant Otis, Lieutenant Levinson, Ernest Lumpkin, John Jones, Mrs. Louise Cartwright, Ellen (fan)
Listen for: The witty banter between Diamond and Sergeant Otis at the police station, Diamond's comedic singing performance that strains his voice, and the escalating physical traps designed to trap him in cold and hot environments for exactly thirty minutes each.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: The Stolen Purse (1949)
A black patent leather purse left behind at a newspaper stand becomes the center of a deadly mystery when Richard Diamond agrees to find its owner. The purse triggers a chain of violence involving a counterfeit ring, a stolen fortune, and murder, forcing Diamond to uncover the truth before more people die.
New York City, including Diamond's office on 53rd Street, a downtown hotel, a newspaper stand, Helen Asher's residence at 975 Park Avenue, the Adams Hotel on 28th Street, the East River shacks, and a subway station at 34th Street. · Richard Diamond, Glenda, Helen Asher, Lieutenant Levinson, Francis, Dorothy King, Stanley, Al
Listen for: The interplay between Diamond and Lieutenant Levinson; the comedic banter between the bumbling thugs; the tense confrontations in Dorothy King's hotel room and the subway station finale.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: The White Cow Case (1952)
Private detective Richard Diamond accepts a mysterious assignment from Arthur Stevens to retrieve a rare European art object from Miami, Florida, with a substantial payment offered. Upon arriving in Miami, Diamond's contact is murdered in his hotel room, and he finds himself caught between Stevens, a dangerous man named Lucius Timkin who also seeks the object, and local police who suspect him of the crime.
Miami, Florida and New York, primarily in hotels, bars, a restaurant, and a hardware shop. · Richard Diamond, private detective, Helen Asher, his secretary, Arthur Stevens, his client, Lucius Timkin, a criminal seeking the object, George Shelton, Diamond's contact and a smuggler, Mary Albright, an attractive blonde Diamond meets in Miami, Lieutenant Breake, Miami police, Martin, Timkin's henchman
Listen for: The witty banter between Diamond and his secretary Helen at the start; Diamond's encounters with the mysterious and charming Mary Albright; his interrogations by the skeptical Lieutenant Breake; and the revelation about what the White Cow actually contains.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: The William Holland Case (1953)
Private detective Richard Diamond is hired by Arthur Holland to find his brother William, who disappeared in San Borja, Bolivia a month ago after writing about suspicious activities in the remote mountain town. Diamond and his associate Walt Levinson travel to South America, where they discover that the town's seemingly respectable leader Louis Frober is actually extracting pitch blend—not tin—from the mines and working for the Soviet Union.
San Borja, Bolivia, a remote town 10,000 feet high on a plateau, and New York City · Richard Diamond, Walt Levinson, Arthur Holland, Louis Frober, Mrs. Frober, Paul Yavachik, William Holland
Listen for: The tension builds as Diamond investigates the mines at night, discovers the true cargo being mined, and makes a dramatic phone call to the American Embassy in La Paz while gunfire erupts around him.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: The Wolfe Murder Case (AFRTS) (1953)
Richard Diamond is hired by Mrs. Edna Wolf to follow her husband George, whom she believes is seeing another woman. Diamond tails George to an apartment building where he finds the man fleeing a murder scene—a young woman named Nancy Fowler lies dead with a bullet wound. George is arrested, and evidence points to his guilt: his gun, his fingerprints, and a bracelet with his handwriting. But Diamond grows suspicious when he uncovers a connection to Eddie Young, owner of the Gilded Cage nightclub where Nancy worked, and a phone call made from the dead girl's apartment to the Wolf house at a crucial time.
New York City, including apartment buildings, a nightclub called the Gilded Cage, and police precinct · Richard Diamond, Mrs. Edna Wolf, George Wolf, Nancy Fowler, Lieutenant Levinson, Otis, Eddie Young, Gus Winkler
Listen for: The clever frame-up uncovered through a fake staged scene, and the revelation of who really orchestrated the murder and planted evidence
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: Thomas Jason Case (1949)
Private detective Richard Diamond is hired by wealthy retired broker Thomas Jason, who suspects his adopted stepdaughter Carol is plotting to kill him to inherit his estate. Diamond's investigation leads him to a private sanitarium called Home Sweet Home, where Jason has mysteriously been admitted, and he uncovers a sinister scheme involving the facility's doctor.
New York City, including Diamond's office, the police precinct, Thomas Jason's home on East 66th Street, and the Home Sweet Home Rest Home sanitarium in Baychester · Richard Diamond, Thomas Jason, Carol Jason, Lieutenant Levinson, Sergeant Otis, Dr. Thorne, Brazo, Helen
Listen for: The comedic banter between Diamond and Sergeant Otis at the police station, and the contrast between Diamond's tough-guy detective routine and his romantic evening with Helen at the end of the episode.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: To Guard A Seal (1950)
Private detective Richard Diamond is hired by a mysterious client named Casper Wellington to guard and protect someone named Timothy until he can be put on a train out of town. Diamond accepts the lucrative job despite knowing nothing about who or what he's protecting. When a crate arrives at his office, Diamond discovers Timothy is actually a live seal—and the situation rapidly spirals into chaos involving gangsters, murder, and hidden diamonds.
New York City, including Diamond's office building on River Street, the police station, Wellington's house, and Grand Central Station · Richard Diamond, Casper Wellington, Helen, Timothy the seal, Lieutenant Walt Levinson, Sergeant Otis, George and Tony (the two gunmen)
Listen for: The comedic running gag of Diamond having to care for an increasingly beloved seal, the escalating confusion as various parties pursue Timothy, and Dick Powell's dry delivery of wisecracks even while being threatened at gunpoint.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: William Carter Loses Memory (1949)
Private detective Richard Diamond is hired by the family of William Carter, a young man found wandering with amnesia after disappearing for a night. Under narco-synthesis at Bellevue Hospital, Carter confesses to killing a man named Herbert Fisher in the apartment of a woman named Helena. Diamond investigates and discovers the case is more complicated than it appears, with Helena herself becoming a suspect.
New York City, including Bellevue Hospital, the Fifth Precinct Police Station, and Helena Fisher's apartment on 51st Street · Richard Diamond, Dr. Edward Gerson, William Carter, Helena Fisher, Lieutenant Walt Levinson, Sergeant Otis, Herbert Fisher, Mrs. Carter
Listen for: The confrontation scene in Helena Fisher's apartment where the truth about the murder emerges, revealing that Helena, not William Carter, actually killed her husband with the poker.
Richard Diamond, Private Detective: William Logan And The Ivory Statue (1950)
Private detective Richard Diamond receives a package from a dying merchant seaman named William Logan, who tells him it contains an ivory statue and that he's being followed. After Logan is murdered in Diamond's office, a mysterious man breaks in seeking the statue. Two dangerous men—the tall, skeletal Leopold Titus and a turbaned figure named Ahmed Beneath—pursue Diamond, each wanting the statue for different reasons, forcing him to uncover what the small carved figure truly represents.
New York City, primarily Diamond's office and apartment on East 51st Street, with a climactic scene at Titus's house on Long Island · Richard Diamond, Helen, Walt, Lieutenant Lotus, William Logan, Charles Fraley, Leopold Titus, Ahmed Beneath
Listen for: The revelation of the statue's significance as a symbol of leadership in a secret cult, the competing motivations of the various characters who pursue it, and Diamond's moral dilemma about destroying the statue at the end
The Adventures of Philip Marlowe: 103 episode guides
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: 001 Red Wind (1948)
Private investigator Philip Marlowe is drawn into a dangerous case when a mysterious woman in a balaero jacket appears at his apartment building, the same night a man named Waldo is shot in a nearby bar. The woman, Lola Bosseline, is desperate to recover a valuable pearl necklace stolen by Waldo, but the investigation spirals into blackmail, murder, and betrayal as Marlowe uncovers a web of secrets involving stolen bills, a dead man in Waldo's apartment, and a ruthless killer.
Los Angeles on a hot night when the Santa Ana winds blow through the city, including bars, apartment buildings, and the Pacific coast near Malibu. · Philip Marlowe, Lola Bosseline, Waldo, Baldy, Leon Velasanos, Frank Bosseley, Eugenie Colchenko, Detective Lieutenant Ibarra
Listen for: The atmospheric description of the oppressive desert heat and wind that sets the mood for chaos and danger; the hard-boiled detective narration capturing Marlowe's cynical observations; the revelation that the pearls Lola treasured are fakes; the final scene of Marlowe discarding the phony pearls into the ocean.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: 002 The Persian Slippers (1948)
Private detective Philip Marlowe is hired by Carl Delaney to find his wife Norma, who disappeared thirty-six hours earlier after a quarrel. Marlowe's investigation leads him to Madam Jeanette, a fortune teller on Olvera Street, and to Pierre Gillum, a man with connections to Norma's past. As Marlowe pursues the case through the fog-shrouded night, he uncovers a complex scheme involving jealousy, blackmail, and murder.
Los Angeles in 1948, including the Hollywood Hills, Olvera Street, a bar, Madam Jeanette's cottage, Pierre Gillum's apartment at the Beachwood apartments, Carl Delaney's house on Holly Crest Road, and the Bradford Arms Hotel · Philip Marlowe, Carl Delaney, Norma Delaney, Madam Jeanette, Pierre Gillum, Lieutenant Ibarra, Charlie the bartender, Pinky the newsboy
Listen for: Marlowe's internal monologue as he navigates the foggy Los Angeles night, the clever twist involving the Persian slippers that reveals the identity of the murder victim, and the final confrontation at the Bradford Arms Hotel
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: 003 The Panama Hat (1948)
Private detective Philip Marlowe is hired by Isabelle Gordon to protect her husband Bruce, a photographer who has been receiving threatening unsigned letters and is being watched by a mysterious man in a white Panama hat. When Bruce is kidnapped and a ransom demand is made, Marlowe must uncover the truth behind the abduction and the murder of a man named Skip-a-Martin.
Los Angeles and Malibu, California, including the Fairchild Estate, the Pelican Inn, the Wilshire Gardens bungalows, and Pacific Palisades · Philip Marlowe, Isabelle Gordon, Bruce Gordon, Uncle Avery Fairchild, Skip-a-Martin, Brock, Carla Winters, Lieutenant Ibarr
Listen for: The revelation of Bruce Gordon's involvement in his own kidnapping scheme, the connection between the white Panama hat and the central mystery, and Marlowe's discovery of the photograph hidden in Bruce's studio
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: 004 Where Theres a Will (1948)
Private detective Philip Marlowe is hired to help three heirs—Edward Shields, his cousin Harlan Crane, and secretary Barbara Haynes—locate $300,000 in bonds hidden by their eccentric aunt Bernice. The aunt's will requires them to find the bonds within 24 hours using three transparent map pieces that only reveal the location when combined. Marlowe soon discovers that someone is willing to kill to keep the others from the prize, and he must navigate a web of deception on Twin Islands to uncover who is really behind the scheme.
Los Angeles and Twin Islands in Indian Lake in the San Bernardino Mountains · Philip Marlowe, Edward Shields, Harlan Crane, Barbara Haynes, Bernice (deceased aunt), Luther Willard, Jambul (caretaker), The little man with a scar
Listen for: The reveal of who planned the murders and sabotage, Marlowe's witty commentary about the heirs and their schemes, and the unmasking of the real conspirators among the trio.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: 005 The Heart of Gold (1948)
Private detective Philip Marlowe accepts a case from a mysterious Helen Asher, who pays him fifty dollars to investigate a man named Elliot Purdue. When Marlowe arrives at the wealthy home of Arthur Stewart to report his findings, he discovers that the woman he was hired to investigate—introduced as Mrs. Asher—has apparently shot herself. As Marlowe digs deeper into the circumstances surrounding her death, he uncovers a web of deception involving a small-time bookie, a nightclub singer, and a dark secret from an accident in Canada three years earlier.
Los Angeles, including North Ogden Street, Bel Air, the Conga Club on Sunset Strip, and the Regent Apartments on Doheny. · Philip Marlowe, Helen Asher, Arthur Stewart, Elliot Purdue, Benita Malone, Robert the butler, Lieutenant Ibora
Listen for: The clever use of the heart-shaped locket and its photograph as the key piece of evidence that unravels the entire mystery, along with the shock revelation about the switched identities.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: A Seaside Sabbatical (1951)
Private detective Philip Marlowe is called to a seaside town by Dale Higgins, who sends an urgent wire but then cancels the appointment, saying the situation has resolved itself. After Marlowe agrees to leave, a frightened young woman calls his name in the fog and begs for his help, claiming she's in danger from someone named Bao and fears for her life.
Long Beach at night, a seaside town with the Ship's Galley restaurant, the Quick Quack shooting gallery, and the fog-shrouded streets near the warehouse district at 7th and Anaheim. · Philip Marlowe, Dale Higgins, Red, the young woman
Listen for: The mysterious identity of the young woman and what threat Bao represents; why Higgins cancelled despite his urgent summons; what danger the woman faces.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: Face to Forget (1950)
Private detective Philip Marlowe has been searching for Dave Stroud, a young man who abandoned his job and fiancée Ellen Wyatt without explanation. Marlowe tracks Stroud to a rooming house and learns he's taking the 10 o'clock train to San Francisco. Marlowe boards the same train, hoping to find Stroud and uncover what drove him to disappear.
Los Angeles and aboard a train to San Francisco, 1950s · Philip Marlowe, Ellen Wyatt, Dave Stroud, The Landlord, Arbags
Listen for: Marlowe's investigation unfolds as he searches the train for his quarry, encountering various passengers including a talkative man named Arbags and a quiet stranger in the dining car.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: Heir for G-String (1951)
Private investigator Philip Marlowe is hired by a Philadelphia lawyer named Martin Almond to locate a man named Buff Ryan, who came west a year ago and has been missing for about six months. Marlowe's search leads him to an East Los Angeles address, where he discovers a blonde woman living in a small house behind the main residence. The woman's photographs reveal she knows Buff Ryan intimately, though she refuses to cooperate with Marlowe's questions. He follows her to her job at a burlesque theater, where she performs under the stage name Blossom.
Los Angeles in summer, including the Broadview Hotel, East Los Angeles residential streets, and a burlesque theater downtown. · Philip Marlowe, Martin Almond, Buff Ryan, Blossom, C.A. Douglas
Listen for: Marlowe's wry observations about air conditioning, Philadelphia lawyers, and trench coats; his technique of pursuing reluctant witnesses; the revelation of Blossom's connection to Buff Ryan through her photographs.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: Heir for G-String eprehearsal (1951)
Private detective Philip Marlowe is hired by a Philadelphia law firm to locate a man named Buff Ryan and inform him of a $5,000 inheritance from a woman named Julie Leader. Ryan hasn't been seen in six months at his last known address in East Los Angeles. Marlowe's investigation leads him to a mysterious blonde woman who appears to have a personal connection to Ryan and works as a dancer at a burlesque house downtown.
Los Angeles in summer, including the Broadview Hotel downtown, an East Los Angeles neighborhood on Wearing Street, and a burlesque theater on Skid Row · Philip Marlowe, Martin Almond, Buff Ryan, Julie Leader, C.A. Douglas, Blossom
Listen for: Marlowe's sardonic observations about air conditioning and his encounters with the mysterious blonde woman who refuses to discuss Buff Ryan
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: Mexican Boat Ride (1949)
Private investigator Philip Marlowe is hired by a man confined to darkness with a temporary eye ailment to investigate why his wife was seen on a boat off the Mexican coast, despite her supposed fear of water. Marlowe travels to Ensenada to find the woman, but discovers he's become entangled in a dangerous situation involving mysterious figures and threats.
Los Angeles and Ensenada, Mexico in 1949 · Philip Marlowe, Carl Esterbrooke, Ona Esterbrooke, a man with frog-like eyes in a grey suit, Crabby, a knife-wielding attacker
Listen for: Marlowe's sharp observations about his clients' secrets and his characteristic wisecracks as he navigates from a wealthy man's darkened bedroom to a Mexican hotel and into a dangerous confrontation.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: Nether Nether Land (1951)
Private detective Philip Marlowe is awakened in the middle of the night by a frightened young woman named Carolyn Shepherd who claims someone has been following her. After Marlowe makes coffee and takes a quick shower, Carolyn mysteriously disappears from his apartment, leaving only a billfold behind. Marlowe begins investigating her background, discovering she moved out of her previous address six weeks ago without leaving a forwarding address.
Los Angeles; Marlowe's apartment and a residential building where Carolyn previously lived · Philip Marlowe, Carolyn Shepherd, Simon, Hester Hutchinson
Listen for: The mystery of who is following Carolyn Shepherd and why she fled Marlowe's apartment; Marlowe's investigation into her past
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: Nether Nether Land eprehearsal (1951)
Detective Philip Marlowe is interrupted during his desperately needed sleep by Carolyn Shepherd, a frightened young woman claiming someone has been following her. After Marlowe showers and changes, Carolyn mysteriously vanishes from his apartment, leaving him to track down answers about who she really is and why she came to him.
Los Angeles: Marlowe's apartment building and surrounding neighborhood, late night into early morning · Philip Marlowe, Carolyn Shepherd, Dee Dee Reynolds, Simon (apartment dweller), Mr. Norton (neighbor), Hester Hutchison (building manager)
Listen for: The mystery of Carolyn's sudden disappearance and her connection to Dee Dee Reynolds; Marlowe's determination to find out who is following the girl and why
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: Night Tide (1949)
Private detective Philip Marlowe is hired by Mike Basso to find out what recently-released convict Johnny Dyke intends to do after serving three years in prison for a crime Dyke claims he didn't commit. When Basso is found murdered with a knife in his back, all evidence points to Dyke as the killer, but Marlowe discovers the frame is more complex than it appears.
San Pedro waterfront and docks in Los Angeles, late evening through night · Philip Marlowe, Mike Basso, Johnny Dyke, Christine Dyke, Ed Geils, Sharky, Ginger
Listen for: The clever revelation that solves the case hinges on a detail about the tide and what could or couldn't be seen from certain locations at specific times.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: Red Wind (1947)
Private investigator Philip Marlowe closes his office early on a hot desert wind evening and stops at a bar for a drink. A man is shot dead by a mysterious gunman, and minutes later, a tall brown-haired woman in a blue dress appears at Marlowe's apartment building, claiming to be in trouble. She reveals the dead man was her former chauffeur who stole something valuable from her, but darker forces are closing in.
Los Angeles, a bar, and Marlowe's apartment building on a hot desert wind evening · Philip Marlowe, The bartender, Waldo, The tall brown-haired woman, Baldy, A drunk patron
Listen for: The mystery of what was stolen, the connection between the dead chauffeur and the woman's husband, and why Baldy is hunting everyone involved
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: Red Wind (1948)
Private investigator Philip Marlowe has a quiet evening interrupted when a man is shot dead in a nearby bar before asking about a beautiful woman in a distinctive jacket. When the same woman appears at Marlowe's apartment building, she draws him into a complex case involving stolen pearls, blackmail, and murder. As bodies pile up and secrets unravel, Marlowe must navigate between protecting the woman and uncovering the truth.
Los Angeles on a hot night when the Santa Ana wind blows through the city, including a bar, Marlowe's apartment building, the home of Frank and Eugenie Bartley, and Waldo's apartment. · Philip Marlowe, Lola Bosseline, Waldo, Baldy, Leon Velasanos, Frank Bartley, Eugenie Colchenko, Lieutenant Ibarra
Listen for: The atmospheric description of the desert wind's effect on the city and its people; Marlowe's hard-boiled narration as he pieces together the blackmail scheme; the revelation that the pearls Lola treasured are actually phony glass.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: Sound and the Unsound (1951)
Private detective Philip Marlowe is called to investigate strange tapping sounds coming from his neighbor's bungalow at a modest court. When he and his elderly neighbor Lucille Bellows investigate, they discover the building's resident Clinton Rogers has just returned home from out of town, claiming he made the noises with his suitcases. Marlowe notices something doesn't add up about Rogers' story and finds a suspicious crack in the wall that suggests someone was searching for something.
A bungalow court in Los Angeles, late evening · Philip Marlowe, Lucille Bellows, Clinton Rogers, Barbara Curtis, Mr. Larry
Listen for: The mysterious tapping sounds that prompt the investigation, and hints of what Clinton Rogers might be hiding
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Angry Eagle (1950)
Philip Marlowe, posing as a sports writer from Detroit, arrives at Clovea Lake training camp in the Malibu mountains to help his friend Babe Durney protect young fighter Danny Eagle. Lance, the camp's manager, has fired Danny after a confrontation over Lance's wife Myra, and now threatens to have his muscle man rough up the kid. Marlowe must gain Lance's trust while keeping Danny safe from harm.
Clovea Lake training camp, a converted summer hotel in the Malibu mountains about 20 miles outside the film colony, featuring boxing rings, cabins, and a lake a hundred feet below a cliff's edge. · Philip Marlowe, Babe Durney, Danny Eagle, Raleigh Lance, Myra Lance, Weatherwax, Kelly
Listen for: Marlowe's investigation into Lance's operations and his growing awareness of the tensions between Lance, his wife Myra, and the fighters at the camp; the revelation that Marlowe is a private detective despite his cover story.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Anniversary Gift (1950)
Private detective Philip Marlowe is hired by Stanley Tana to recover his late wife's platinum wristwatch, set with emeralds and inscribed with a loving anniversary message. The watch disappeared after Mrs. Tana died of a heart attack in their Beverly Hills garage, and Mr. Tana believes it is somewhere in Camino Beach. Marlowe begins his search at this small oceanside town, tracking down leads through pawn shops and local contacts.
Beverly Hills and Camino Beach, California · Philip Marlowe, Stanley Tana, Catherine Tana, Margaret Tana, Chip Menashe, Sean, Ziegler, Leon Stice
Listen for: Marlowe's investigation into the missing platinum wristwatch and the mysterious murder of Leon Stice; the connection between the watch and the body found on an isolated beach
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The August Lion (1949)
Private investigator Philip Marlowe finds a dead woman in his apartment, brought there by his old acquaintance Judd, who confesses he was involved with the victim, Eileen Voss, a stockbroker. Judd begs Marlowe to find the real killer before police discover his involvement and expose his criminal past. Marlowe discovers a gold lion tie clasp at the victim's home and encounters a dimpled man searching for Voss, who claims she owed him fifty thousand dollars.
Los Angeles, including Marlowe's apartment, Eileen Voss's home at 91 Hollycrest Drive, and the Garden Room nightclub. · Philip Marlowe, Judd, Eileen Voss, Detective Lieutenant Matthews, The dimpled man, Judy Monday, Burlaffy
Listen for: Marlowe's growing web of clues connecting a mysterious lion-adorned tie clasp, a debt of fifty thousand dollars, and the performers at the Garden Room nightclub.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Baton Sinister (1949)
Private detective Philip Marlowe is hired by a nervous importer named Schindler to deliver a valuable 15th-century tapestry to a collector in Seattle. After retrieving the tapestry from a bus station locker, Marlowe is attacked by a scarred man named A-car seeking revenge against Myron Loft, and then knocked unconscious by a mysterious woman in a green veil who steals the tapestry from his office.
Los Angeles and environs, including Marlowe's apartment, a bus depot, an alley, and his office. · Philip Marlowe, Schindler, Myron Loft, A-car, Arthur Merritt, Lieutenant Matthews, Woman in green veil
Listen for: Discussion of the valuable tapestry, its theft, and the mysterious baton sinister marking on the Duke's shield; encounters with the revenge-seeking A-car and the woman in green.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Bedside Manners (1950)
Private investigator Philip Marlowe, recovering from a broken leg in his apartment, takes on a case for Odine Patterson when her brother Maynard receives a blackmail demand for fifty thousand dollars from someone called Fish. Maynard can't remember what happened during a drunken night out at the Colony Club, so Marlowe begins investigating from his sickbed, tracing Maynard's movements through gambling establishments and trying to identify the mysterious Fish before the deadline passes.
Los Angeles, including Philip Marlowe's apartment, the Colony Club, and various gambling locations in the valley · Philip Marlowe, Odine Patterson, Maynard Patterson, Fish, Fay Hoffman, Hunger Malloy, Sid Rayfield
Listen for: The mystery of who Fish is and what happened to Maynard Patterson during his blackout; Maynard's fragmented memories of a large old-fashioned house with high ceilings and ornate chandeliers
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Bid for Freedom (1950)
Private detective Philip Marlowe is approached by a woman named Helen Asher at a restaurant who asks him to find someone named Leon Rodell. When she abruptly leaves, Marlowe follows and discovers she's actually Charlotte Rodell, a patient who has escaped from a psychiatric nursing home. Dr. Chidere asks Marlowe to find Charlotte and return her before the police do, providing him with an address from her lost handbag.
Los Angeles, California, including a restaurant, a psychiatric nursing home, and the San Fernando Valley hills · Philip Marlowe, Helen Asher (Charlotte Rodell), Leon Rodell, Dr. Chidere, Elton Hook
Listen for: A mystery involving a woman's escape from a mental institution and her desperate search for her husband, with questions about her mental state and the true reasons behind her confinement.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Big Book (1950)
Private detective Philip Marlowe investigates the death of Jane Temple, a middle-aged woman found shot in her skid row apartment, initially ruled a suicide. When a shoemaker named Nodella approaches him with a scrapbook containing Jane's theatrical past and a hidden clipping linking a man named John Gordon to theater embezzlement in 1928, Marlowe discovers that Jerome Laki, now a successful Hollywood agent, may be connected to both the crime and Jane's mysterious past.
Los Angeles, including a skid row rooming house where Jane Temple dies, the street outside, and Nodella's shoe repair shop across the way. · Philip Marlowe, Lieutenant Mooney, Lieutenant Matthews, Jane Temple, Andrew Nodella, Jerome Laki, John Gordon
Listen for: The revelation of Jane Temple's theatrical past through her scrapbook and the mysterious connection between Jerome Laki and John Gordon that suggests a motive for murder.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Big Step (1950)
When Betty Chanter, a waitress, asks private investigator Philip Marlowe to help find her friend Shirley Vitello, she explains that Shirley became frightened after reading something in the newspaper and vanished. Marlowe investigates, discovering that Shirley—a chemist's assistant—took a gun and booked a flight to New York under an assumed name. A newspaper clipping about a man hit by a taxi who confessed to a crime before losing consciousness suggests the connection to Shirley's sudden disappearance.
Los Angeles, including Veteran Avenue where Shirley lives, Dr. Softman's laboratory on Melrose, Gilbert's studio in Benedict Canyon, and a shoe repair shop where Marlowe begins his investigation. · Philip Marlowe, Betty Chanter, Shirley Vitello, Dr. Abraham Softman, Gilbert Vitello
Listen for: Marlowe's matter-of-fact narration and the revelation of the mysterious newspaper clipping about a man's deathbed confession that triggers Shirley's flight.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Birds on the Wing (1949)
Philip Marlowe is hired by Miss Pembroke, guardian of her wealthy but irresponsible nephew Page Pembroke, to investigate trouble he has gotten into in Oxnard, California. Page has lost five million dollars, and Miss Pembroke stands to lose her lucrative job managing his estate if he disappears or is institutionalized. Marlowe travels to Oxnard where a county fair is being held and begins searching for Page among the midway attractions.
A Hollywood bar, then Oxnard, California, at a county fairgrounds and midway during a county fair. · Philip Marlowe, Miss Pembroke, Page Pembroke, Kingston, Taffy, Mitch Maynard
Listen for: Discussion of a dangerous parachute act where people jump from a biplane, and questions about someone named Kingston's activities late at night near parachute equipment.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Black Halo (1949)
Private detective Philip Marlowe is hired by Felix Drum, an importing executive in a wheelchair, to find his missing assistant Julia Perry, a blonde woman who vanished three days ago. Marlowe's investigation leads him from Drum's Santa Barbara estate to Los Angeles, where a matchbook found in Julia's cottage points him to the elegant Mrs. Eve Bentley. When Marlowe questions Mrs. Bentley about her connection to the missing woman, she admits the matches likely came through her fiancé, Marvin Whitaker, who works in the perfume business like Julia.
Southern California, primarily Santa Barbara and Los Angeles, during a three-day rainstorm in 1949 · Philip Marlowe, Felix Drum, Julia Perry, Ruby, Mrs. Eve Bentley, Marvin Whitaker
Listen for: The discovery of the matchbook as a crucial clue, Ruby's suspicious behavior with the postcard, and Mrs. Bentley's mysterious explanation involving her fiancé
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Bums Rush (1949)
Private detective Philip Marlowe receives a letter from his Aunt Jessie in Montana asking him to find a man named Jonathan Midas who has run away from his love. The trail leads Marlowe to Los Angeles where he visits a wool business and encounters a mysterious man claiming to be Ross J. Crowley of Canada, who bears a striking resemblance to the photograph of Midas in Marlowe's pocket.
Montana and Los Angeles, including a wool merchant's office and warehouse district · Philip Marlowe, Aunt Jessie, Jonathan Midas, Ross J. Crowley, Mr. Hirsch, A chorus girl
Listen for: A fast-paced mystery with Marlowe using clever deception to track down his quarry, featuring exchanges about wool quality and mistaken identities as the detective tries to unravel whether Crowley and Midas are the same man.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Busy Body (1949)
Private detective Philip Marlowe is hired by Liz Stewart to find her missing fiancé Dean Howard, who was supposed to meet her but never arrived and mysteriously mentioned a horrible mistake on the phone. Marlowe's investigation at Howard's house leads him into a dangerous situation involving debts, a mysterious blonde visitor, and a discovery that suggests violence has occurred.
Los Angeles, including a coffee shop at Franklin and Bronson, Dean Howard's house at 312 Normandy, and the neighboring house. · Philip Marlowe, Liz Stewart, Dean Howard, Uncle Hanley Stewart, Agatha Lambrigger, Leo, Carol
Listen for: Marlowe is knocked out and hidden in a broom closet, only to find a cedar chest filled with blood; his neighbor Agatha rushes from the driveway in terror.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Cloak of Kamehameha (1949)
Private detective Philip Marlowe travels to Honolulu after being hired to handle a transaction involving a valuable feathered cloak belonging to Hawaiian royalty. A wealthy young woman named Lani Kalya has purchased the cloak to resell for profit, but Marlowe discovers someone else has already claimed his hotel reservation and identity, suggesting complications ahead.
Los Angeles and Honolulu, Hawaii in 1949, involving a taxi ride, an airport, an airplane, and the Halamorna Hotel · Philip Marlowe, Lani Kalya, Pollard Schimbers, An unnamed Chinese man in a Panama hat
Listen for: The mystery of who is impersonating Marlowe and what complications surround the valuable feathered cloak of Kamehameha
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Cloak of Kamehameha (1950)
Private detective Philip Marlowe is hired by Pollard Schindler to travel to Hawaii and retrieve a valuable feathered cloak of King Kamehameha from a young woman named Lani Collier, who plans to resell it to a New York millionaire. When Marlowe arrives at the Halimorana Hotel in Honolulu, he discovers that someone else has already checked in using his name, and a mysterious blonde woman claims she just left the real Philip Marlowe at the beach.
Los Angeles and Honolulu, Hawaii; the Halimorana Hotel and its surroundings · Philip Marlowe, Pollard Schindler, Lani Collier, Leland Dunn, desk clerk at Halimorana Hotel
Listen for: The contrast between the tough private eye and the tropical island setting; the mystery of the impostor Marlowe; the valuable historical Hawaiian artifact at the center of the plot
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Collectors Item (1950)
Private detective Philip Marlowe tails a suspicious character for a coin dealer client, only to discover he's been chasing an empty hat in a taxicab. When Marlowe reaches the dealer's shop, he finds the man murdered and a rare Confederate half-dollar missing from its display case. Marlowe tracks the culprit to a mansion in Sherman Oaks, where a volatile Southern collector named Appleboro and his hired thug stand in his way.
Los Angeles, including a coin dealer's shop, various streets, and Sherman Oaks · Philip Marlowe, Rayati, Appleboro, Sour Face, Joe
Listen for: Marlowe's wry observations as he unravels the scheme, Appleboro's obsessive ranting about the stolen Confederate coin, and the tense confrontation that leaves Marlowe outmatched against two men
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Dancing Hands (1949)
Private detective Philip Marlowe is hired by Beth Tyler to investigate a man, leading him to the Saddle Club nightclub where Beth and her identical twin sister Edie perform a piano act. When a mysterious and menacing character named Sippy appears, the evening descends into chaos: Edie is attacked in her dressing room, Sippy is found murdered at a motel, and $30,000 in gambling debts hangs over the club owner Neil Redmond. As Marlowe pieces together the clues—a stolen green purse, dancing hands in the dark, and a murder—he must determine which twin is guilty and uncover the truth before it's too late.
Los Angeles, primarily at the Saddle Club nightclub and surrounding locations including the Arrow Motel and Beth Tyler's cottage on Hazelteen Street · Philip Marlowe, Beth Tyler, Edie Tyler, Neil Redmond, Sippy, Paul Ceder, George (waiter)
Listen for: The clever use of the 'dancing hands' imagery from the piano act as a motif; Marlowe's deductive reasoning as he untangles the web of deception between the identical twins; the tense confrontations with the menacing Paul Ceder over the missing $30,000; the twist revelation of which twin committed murder and why.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Dark Tunnel (1950)
Private detective Philip Marlowe is approached by a young man named Ira Clausen, who has been beaten up in an alley by a man named Link Austin. Clausen asks Marlowe to find his missing girlfriend Julia Thayer, who disappeared a month ago after working at the Blossom Dance Land. When Marlowe learns that a prominent crime figure named Fay Patilio has been killed in a car crash under mysterious circumstances, he begins to uncover connections that lead him to investigate a warehouse in East Los Angeles.
Los Angeles, including a cheap hotel room, bars, dance halls, and an industrial warehouse in East LA · Philip Marlowe, Ira Clausen, Link Austin, Julia Thayer, Fay Patilio, Louie, Joe Stapp, Pork
Listen for: Marlowe's wise-cracking narration and dialogue as he pieces together clues about Julia's disappearance and its connection to the death of gangland figure Fay Patilio
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Dear Dead Days (1951)
Private detective Philip Marlowe is hired by the elderly and genteel Mrs. Phoebe Cardwell to locate Stevens, her former chauffeur who now works for another family in Pasadena. Mrs. Cardwell misses Stevens's regular Thursday visits and is concerned about his absence, though she cannot afford to employ him herself since her husband's death in 1948.
Venice and Pasadena, California in 1951 · Philip Marlowe, Mrs. Phoebe Cardwell, Matilda Reed, Stevens, Kip Harcourt, The Brands
Listen for: Marlowe's wry observations about his clients and the case, the contrast between Mrs. Cardwell's faded gentility and her present circumstances, and the developing connection between Marlowe and the young Mrs. Harcourt.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Deep Shadow (1950)
Private investigator Philip Marlowe is hired by Harvey Kettering to find his fiancée Shirley Doyle, who disappeared after receiving a mysterious note at her apartment asking her to meet someone named Francis Dragato. When Marlowe investigates, he discovers that Eddie, the owner of the Blue Chip nightclub where Shirley and Kettering had been the night before, has been murdered that morning. The police believe a young blonde woman is responsible for the killing.
Studio City and Hollywood, California, including the Blue Chip nightclub and various locations around the city. · Philip Marlowe, Harvey Kettering, Shirley Doyle, Eddie, Cocky Netherlands, Lieutenant Matthews
Listen for: The investigation into Shirley's disappearance becomes entangled with a murder investigation when Marlowe learns the nightclub owner has been killed. Listen for clues about Shirley's connection to Eddie and the mysterious note from Francis Dragato.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Dude from Manhattan (1949)
Philip Marlowe arrives at Rainbow Ranch, a guest dude ranch operated by his old acquaintance Buck Lawson, expecting a quiet vacation in the Arizona desert. When a temperamental black stallion named Thunder causes trouble and Marlowe witnesses a heated argument between guests Mr. and Mrs. Morton over a lost emerald, he finds himself drawn into the ranch's personal conflicts despite his intention to rest.
Rainbow Ranch, a guest dude ranch in the Arizona desert, featuring cabins, stables, a bar, and bunkhouse · Philip Marlowe, Buck Lawson, Virgil Sawyer, Mr. Morton, Mrs. Morton, Mr. Doherman
Listen for: Marlowe's casual involvement in the Mortons' marriage troubles and the mystery surrounding the lost emerald; the tension over the dangerous black stallion Thunder and why Virgil Sawyer is leaving the ranch
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Eager Witness (1949)
Private detective Philip Marlowe testifies at the trial of Earl Jernigan, a gambler accused of murdering horse trainer Kurt Hopper. When a prominent real estate broker named Leonard Gaines provides an alibi claiming Jernigan spent the entire day with him, the case seems to collapse. But Marlowe is hired by Gail Hopper, the victim's daughter, to prove Gaines is lying and uncover the real killer before the jury votes.
Los Angeles and Sunland Sulfur Springs resort, 1949 · Philip Marlowe, Earl Jernigan, Leonard Gaines, Gail Hopper, Debbie Jansen, Eugene Maory, Langley, Judge Albert Winston
Listen for: A murder at a health spa, a blackmail scheme that goes wrong, courtroom testimony that turns the case upside down, and gunplay in the dark woods.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Easy Mark (1949)
Philip Marlowe is hired by Mrs. Corey Gilbert to find a blackmailer. When he investigates, he discovers her husband Ross badly beaten by a thin, bearded man, and follows a suspicious character named Plummer to a bungalow in Beverly Hills where he meets the mysterious and seductive Nanette Lamont. Marlowe begins to uncover connections between Plummer, Nanette, and various people connected to Ross Gilbert, but the full scope of the blackmail scheme remains unclear.
Los Angeles and Beverly Hills, 1949—including an unfinished house on Melrose, the Camden Arms Court bungalows, and various office and residence locations. · Philip Marlowe, Mrs. Corey Gilbert, Ross Gilbert, Plummer, Nanette Lamont, Marsh
Listen for: Marlowe's hardboiled narration as he pieces together the blackmail plot, the seductive French-accented Nanette Lamont's denials and threats, and the mysterious Plummer's involvement in Ross Gilbert's beating.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Ebony Link (1949)
Philip Marlowe is hired by Ivan Pack, a man in a wheelchair, to find out who is blackmailing him for fifty thousand dollars. A mysterious redhead visits Marlowe first with a false story, and a blackmail letter written on distinctive stationery leads him to the Beverly Crest Hotel, where he discovers a redheaded manicurist named Rhea Fleming may be involved in the scheme. Marlowe finds an ebony cufflink at the scene of a hit-and-run and must unravel the blackmail plot before the deadline.
Los Angeles, including Marlowe's apartment building, the Beverly Crest Hotel, and various city streets. · Philip Marlowe, Ivan Pack, Rhea Fleming, Leona Pack, Ramsay, Moro Chek
Listen for: The distinctive ebony cufflink that becomes a key clue, the blackmail letters on special stationery, the hit-and-run car with license number 440, and revelations about Leona Pack's past imprisonment.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Fatted Calf (1949)
Private detective Philip Marlowe is hired by Junius Poppy, creator of the Peter Pageant comic strip, to investigate his assistant Sid Kagan's wife Louise. Louise recently spent a week in San Francisco and has been evasive about her activities, standing Poppy up for a meeting after being frightened by a rough-looking man. Marlowe agrees to meet Louise in Poppy's place at a nightclub to learn what she's hiding.
Los Angeles, including Studio City, the San Fernando Valley, and a nightclub called the Talisman, during a rainstorm · Philip Marlowe, Junius Poppy, Louise Kagan, Sid Kagan, Bert Flack, Maynard Roper
Listen for: The distinctive voice of Gerald Moore as Marlowe, and the hard-boiled atmosphere of this Raymond Chandler adaptation with its cynical detective narration
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Feminine Touch (1949)
Private investigator Philip Marlowe is hired by Baldwin Granville to keep his daughter Adrian away from Pepper Riggs, a daredevil motorcyclist who performs on the Wall of Death at the Redondo Pier. When Marlowe investigates the stunt riders, he discovers tension among the performers—Lou Bryan is accused of losing his nerve, and there are hints of sabotage brewing among the group.
Los Angeles, including the Bel-Air estates and the Wall of Death motorcycle stunt show at Redondo Pier · Philip Marlowe, Adrian Granville, Baldwin Granville, Pepper Riggs, Lou Bryan, Mickey North, Moon, Mr. Hadley
Listen for: The clash between Marlowe's skepticism and Adrian's fascination with danger; tensions among the motorcycle performers hinting at larger trouble ahead; the mysterious threats and accusations of sabotage
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Fifth Mask (1950)
Private detective Philip Marlowe is called to Vivian Barr's apartment by a frightened woman claiming a man named Fred Sears, burned in a hotel fire six months ago, has threatened her life. Marlowe refuses to take the case without more information, but when Vivian calls back insisting she'll tell him everything, he returns to find her murdered and a mysterious man named Douglas Peck fleeing the scene.
Hollywood and Los Angeles, present day · Philip Marlowe, Vivian Barr, Fred Sears, Pomeroy, Douglas Peck
Listen for: Marlowe's hard-boiled reasoning about why he won't work without facts; the discovery of Vivian's body and the cryptic note from Sears; Marlowe's pursuit of the fleeing suspect.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Final Payment (1950)
Philip Marlowe visits death row inmate Billy Scenerro, who is scheduled for execution that evening for a robbery-murder. Scenerro reveals that the jewels he allegedly stole and claimed were lost at sea actually still exist, and he asks Marlowe to find them and return them to the widow of the man he killed before his execution.
A state penitentiary in California, September 1950. The action centers on the warden's office and death row. · Philip Marlowe, Warden Riker, Sergeant Kennedy, Billy Scenerro, Emil Nagrado, Mrs. Nagrado, Jesse Tap
Listen for: Marlowe's investigation into the whereabouts of the stolen jewels and his meeting with Scenerro, who seeks redemption before his execution.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Fine Italian Hand (1949)
Philip Marlowe is hired by Mr. Angelo, who runs a small amusement park, to investigate a dangerous love triangle involving his son Bernardo. The young veteran has fallen for a dancer named Paula, who belongs to Frank Saffron, a ruthless gambler. Marlowe must uncover whether Paula genuinely loves Bernardo or is merely using him as part of Saffron's game, before the situation turns violent.
Los Angeles area, including an amusement park at Magnolia and Van Nuys Boulevard, Frank Saffron's gambling ranch house south of Ventura, and a dance studio on Wilshire Boulevard. · Philip Marlowe, Mr. Angelo, Bernardo Angelo, Frank Saffron, Paula, Red-faced man, Cleaning woman
Listen for: Marlowe's investigation as he tracks Paula to a dance studio and breaks into Saffron's office to uncover the truth about the dangerous entanglement.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Foxs Tail (1950)
Private investigator Philip Marlowe is hired by Oren Medcap to impersonate a dead man named Max Redmond. Redmond was blackmailed by Justin Shepard into silence about a valuable nail polish formula and subsequently took his own life. Marlowe's task is to convince Shepard that Redmond is still alive and refusing to leave town, hoping to force a settlement in an upcoming trial before Shepard realizes the truth.
Los Angeles, including the Blue Chip Bar on Melrose, the Garden Court apartment on South Ogden, and the Hollywood Hills along Lookout Road. · Philip Marlowe, Oren Medcap, Max Redmond, Louise Redmond, Justin Shepard, Gaffey
Listen for: Marlowe's dangerous masquerade as a dead man and his confrontation with Shepard's enforcer in the hills.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Friend from Detroit (1949)
Private investigator Philip Marlowe receives a frantic midnight call from Dave Pryor, a coffee shop owner, reporting that his wife Betty has vanished after a shot was fired through their back door. When Marlowe investigates, he discovers a man's hat with initials V.V.R. at the scene and is accosted by a mysterious figure who warns him to stay away from Betty and Dave, mentioning $25,000. Marlowe's search leads him to a hotel where a man has been murdered and money stolen, with witnesses reporting a woman fleeing the scene.
Los Angeles, primarily in Dave Pryor's home and backyard, then a local hotel where a murder has occurred. · Philip Marlowe, Dave Pryor, Betty Pryor, Van Remini, Lieutenant Barra, The mysterious man with the gun
Listen for: The mysterious connection between Betty Pryor, the $25,000, and the murder at the hotel; who the mysterious man threatening Marlowe really is; the significance of the hat with initials V.V.R.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Girl from Pitchfork Corners (1950)
Private detective Philip Marlowe is hired by Donna Rollins to trail a man named Arnold Latimer to San Francisco, but discovers the case is far more complicated than it appears. When Marlowe returns to Donna's house, he finds her dead—shot twice in the back—and becomes entangled in a blackmail scheme involving a small-town girl named Beverly Cheskin, her lover Doug Sattler, and a gambling racketeer named Herbert Ring.
Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley, including a train to San Francisco, Donna Rollins' house on North Bronson Drive in Hollywood, the Old Mexico Club in Studio City, Vista Point in the valley, and police headquarters. · Philip Marlowe, Donna Rollins, Beverly Cheskin, Doug Sattler, Herbert Ring, Arnold Latimer
Listen for: A hard-boiled detective story with multiple layers of deception, blackmail, and murder. Listen for the relationship between the idealistic country girl and her sophisticated city boyfriend, and how a simple case of surveillance becomes a deadly tangle of crossed loyalties and secrets.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Glass Donkey (1950)
Private detective Philip Marlowe learns that his old acquaintance Helen Lofton has been murdered—shot at close range on the stairs of her home with no apparent motive. Marlowe takes the case personally, discovering a mysterious glass donkey figurine with a missing hind leg at the crime scene, and begins investigating Helen's boss and recent acquaintances.
Los Angeles, including Marlowe's apartment, the police morgue, Helen's house on Sunset Boulevard, and Maffy's home on Ogden Drive. · Philip Marlowe, Helen Lofton, Lieutenant Matthews, Lila Hughes, Norman Maffy, Mrs. Maffy
Listen for: Marlowe's pursuit of a mysterious figure in Helen's backyard and his discovery of the broken glass donkey figurine, which may be connected to the murder.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Gold Cobra (1950)
Philip Marlowe is hired by the nervous Roth Wyngham to help transport a valuable gold cobra to Chicago. Wyngham claims the cobra is a gift to repay an old friend, but a pursuer named Aqbar is after it. After a high-speed chase through the city, Marlowe retrieves what he believes is the cobra from a hotel checkroom, only to have a red-haired woman pull a gun on him and steal both the suitcase and his car.
Los Angeles, streets and hotel, with plans to travel to Chicago · Philip Marlowe, Roth Wyngham, Aqbar, Jake, Red-haired woman
Listen for: The tense cat-and-mouse game between Marlowe, Wyngham, and the mysterious Aqbar as they pursue the valuable gold cobra through city streets and hotels.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Green Witch (1949)
Private detective Philip Marlowe is hired by a worried real estate man named John Bishop to locate Dale Estes, an escaped convict who has just broken out of an Illinois prison and may be seeking revenge. Bishop fears Estes will strike during a masquerade party at the Pacific Palace that night, so Marlowe must find him before the evening festivities begin. Marlowe's search takes him through the shadowy streets of Los Angeles on Halloween, following slim leads and encountering various characters, while Bishop arranges a devil costume for Marlowe to wear to the masquerade.
Los Angeles on Halloween night, 1949; Spanish restaurants, gyms, fishing piers, a costume shop, and suburban Pacific Palisades · Philip Marlowe, John Bishop, Dale Estes, Madeline Hughes, Alberto Zendaro
Listen for: Marlowe's investigation through the city's underworld on Halloween; encounters at various locations where he searches for Estes; the mysterious visitor in a brown tweed suit; the fitting of Marlowe's devil costume at Zendaro's shop; Bishop's growing anxiety about the masquerade party that evening
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Grim Echo (1950)
Private detective Philip Marlowe is stranded by a blizzard when his car skids off a mountain road. He finds refuge at a nearby lodge, but discovers the residents despise him—he once shot and killed Virgil Barroki in self-defense during an investigation in Los Angeles. Now Marlowe is trapped in the snow with the dead man's widow and other members of Barroki's family, all consumed by rage and seeking revenge.
A mountain lodge during a severe blizzard, with Marlowe's car stuck in a ditch on the road below · Philip Marlowe, Donna, Helen, Mrs. Barroki, Ralph Tillman, Old Jacker, the gas station boy
Listen for: The revelation of why Marlowe killed Virgil Barroki and how the residents of the lodge plan to take their revenge on the trapped detective
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Grim Hunters (1949)
Private detective Philip Marlowe receives a panicked call from Helen Palmer claiming she needs help urgently, but when he rushes to her address in the Hollywood Hills, he discovers it's actually a scavenger hunt party. Later that night, Lieutenant Ebarra calls Marlowe to inform him that Helen Palmer is dead, and Marlowe must follow a mysterious woman to a cottage on North Ogden Drive where she confronts him with a gun.
Hollywood Hills and Los Angeles, night time · Philip Marlowe, Helen Palmer, Lieutenant Ebarra, Mr. Grover, Thaddeus, Larry Samples, Mooney, Miss Langley
Listen for: A scavenger hunt turns deadly when one of the party guests is found murdered, and Marlowe finds himself drawn into a dangerous investigation involving a mysterious woman with a gun.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Hairpin Turn (1950)
Detective Philip Marlowe is hired by Mr. Vanimonee to investigate his headstrong 26-year-old niece Kay and her mysterious boyfriend. When Marlowe visits a local private investigator named Mutt Pomeroy for information, he finds the office ransacked. Following leads to a man named Cliff Lace, Marlowe discovers a tangle of romantic complications involving multiple women and dangerous secrets.
Los Angeles, including the Vanimonee estate on Sunset Boulevard, Mutt Pomeroy's office on Bronson, and Cliff Lace's bungalow at the foot of the Hollywood Hills. · Philip Marlowe, Kay Vanimonee, Mr. Vanimonee, Mutt Pomeroy, Cliff Lace, Estelle
Listen for: The sound of gunshots from Kay's target range in a converted garage; Marlowe's hard-boiled narration connecting the clues; tension-filled dialogue as Marlowe confronts Cliff Lace about the ransacked office and learns of conflicting romantic entanglements.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Hard Way Out (1948)
Private investigator Philip Marlowe is hired by factory president August Quig to find general manager Frank Emery, who has embezzled $60,000 and disappeared. Marlowe meets Emery's beautiful wife Sheila and discovers the couple has been living far beyond Emery's stated salary, with an expensive car, a sailboat, and a beach cottage. As Marlowe investigates, he encounters Keith Slater, the wayward son of Quig's late partner, lurking near the Emery house.
Los Angeles, including a factory building, the Golden Crown cocktail lounge on Santa Monica Boulevard, the Emery home in Brentwood, and the beach near Santa Monica · Philip Marlowe, August Quig, Frank Emery, Sheila Emery, Keith Slater
Listen for: The mystery of how Frank Emery afforded his lavish lifestyle on $175 a week, and what connection Keith Slater has to Emery's disappearance
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Headless Peacock (1949)
Philip Marlowe is hired by Ruth Dennis to find out about her boyfriend Gordon, who may be involved with stolen property—specifically a valuable headless peacock figurine worth $100,000 that was stolen months ago from eccentric millionaire Isaac B. When Marlowe investigates the theft and traces a connection to a betting operation disguised as a hat shop in Beverly Hills, he discovers a beautiful blonde woman making mysterious phone calls at the scene.
Los Angeles and Beverly Hills, including Marlowe's office, Isaac B's mansion on West Adams Boulevard, and a hat shop called Lester's that serves as a front for illegal gambling · Philip Marlowe, Ruth Dennis, Gordon Holzer, Isaac B, Everett Buzzwell, Ransom, a blonde woman
Listen for: The opening narration about crime as a 'suck-as-road nose,' the description of the stolen headless peacock and its $100,000 value, and Marlowe's discovery of the betting operation hidden behind the hat shop.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Heart of Gold (1948)
Private detective Philip Marlowe accepts a mysterious assignment from Helen Asher, who sends him fifty dollars and asks him to investigate a man named Elliot Purdue. When Marlowe arrives at Mrs. Asher's residence to report his findings, he discovers she has apparently shot herself. But the case proves far more complex than a simple suicide when Marlowe uncovers connections between Purdue, a nightclub singer named Benita Malone, and a heart-shaped gold locket.
Los Angeles in 1948, including Marlowe's office, North Ogden Street, Stewart's mansion in Bel Air, the Conga Club on Sunset Strip, police headquarters, and the Regent Apartments. · Philip Marlowe, Helen Asher, Arthur Stewart, Elliot Purdue, Benita Malone, Lieutenant Ibora, Roberts the butler, Casey from the police lab
Listen for: The revelation that the woman who died was not who everyone believed her to be, the significance of the heart-shaped locket containing a revealing photograph, and how a simple insurance fraud scheme led to murder.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Heat Wave (1949)
Private detective Philip Marlowe is hired by Karen Driscoll Jr. to discover whether a mysterious dancer performing as "the Heat Wave" at a burlesque theater is actually her estranged sister Midge. Karen fears her sister is staging this public humiliation to ruin her wedding to a diplomat's son, happening tomorrow. Marlowe must uncover the dancer's identity before the midnight reveal.
Los Angeles during a heat wave in August, including the Palace Theater of Burlesque on Main Street and an airport cocktail lounge. · Philip Marlowe, Karen Driscoll Jr., Midge Driscoll, Jesse, Hinky Bonds, Tracy Leake, Josh Freeman
Listen for: Marlowe's investigation of the mysterious masked dancer, his encounters with the theater's security and the comic Hinky Bonds, and the revelation of family secrets and rivalry.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The High Collared Cape (1950)
Private detective Philip Marlowe is hired by prima ballerina Vivian Ordway to find André, a sick and troubled ballet impresario who has disappeared. Marlowe tracks André to an apartment hotel, where he finds the man in a disturbed mental state, muttering dark thoughts about someone named Imogen Wyatt. When Marlowe investigates a car in the building's garage, he discovers evidence that it was recently in an accident and hastily repaired—suggesting André may be involved in something far more sinister than a nervous breakdown.
Los Angeles, including a theater, Vivian Ordway's ballet company, the Winthrop Arms apartment hotel on Havenhurst Drive, and an underground garage. · Philip Marlowe, Vivian Ordway, André, George Melekov, Imogen Wyatt, Baker, Stanley, Garage attendant
Listen for: The mysterious man in the high-collared cape seen by the garage attendant, and the significance of the freshly replaced headlight on the car.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The House That Jacqueline Built (1949)
Philip Marlowe is hired by Professor Phoenix Piper, who has returned from a year of botanical research in South America only to discover that the house where he stored all his notes and research papers has vanished. Marlowe begins investigating the mysterious disappearance, learning that the house belonged to Catherine Stuyvesant and was moved six months earlier by the Gilligan wrecking and moving company under mysterious circumstances.
A coastal city with residential neighborhoods and a moving company office; the investigation begins at Marlowe's office and expands to include interviews with neighbors and company employees. · Philip Marlowe, Professor Phoenix Piper, Stephanie Fraser, Catherine Stuyvesant, Mrs. Elmo Laitrok, Bessie, Botten Schleig
Listen for: The curious details about why a house was moved in such a rush and where it was ultimately taken; the mention of an old woman's barge and shipping something out to sea.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Indian Giver (1949)
Private detective Philip Marlowe is called to a curio dealer's shop after a mysterious pottery bowl is stolen. The bowl bears unusual inscriptions that fascinate both an archaeologist and a woman claiming Apache heritage, each eager to possess it for their own reasons.
Los Angeles, a curio shop and downtown streets at night, the Walker Hotel · Philip Marlowe, Alex Van Nord, Fenor, Mona Waters, Uncle George Waters
Listen for: The mystery of who truly owns the pottery bowl and what its inscriptions reveal about Apache heritage
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Iron Coffin (1950)
Philip Marlowe is hired by Mrs. Newbold to find her daughter Irene's fiancé, Bennett Baragos, a history student who has become obsessed with 16th-century Spanish history and disappeared a month ago. Mrs. Newbold believes they may be at a reconstructed Spanish castle built on the California coast near Morro Bay, a place locals claim is haunted by sealed coffins kept in its depths.
Los Angeles and the California coast near Morro Bay, including a reconstructed 16th-century Spanish castle on Point Starrow. · Philip Marlowe, Mrs. Newbold, Irene Newbold, Bennett Baragos, Chesty
Listen for: Marlowe's skeptical attitude toward the supernatural as he learns about the castle's dark history and the mysterious sealed coffins beneath it.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Key Man (1949)
Philip Marlowe meets a nervous client at a movie theater who hires him for fifty dollars to ensure safe passage to the airport, claiming a dangerous man named Hippo Kovac is threatening his life. After driving to the client's house to retrieve a suitcase, Marlowe discovers his client Mark Hummel dead in the bedroom, killed by a blow from a crystal ball, with the murder weapon and a mysterious key left at the scene.
Los Angeles, including the Boulevard cinema, Mark Hummel's house on Fountains, and Hippo Link's underground parking garage on Santa Monica Boulevard · Philip Marlowe, Mark Hummel, Hippo Kovac, Hippo Link, a brown-eyed blonde woman, Poom
Listen for: The murder mystery unfolds as Marlowe investigates the cryptic key found at the crime scene and the connection between the victim, the garage owner Hippo Link, and the dangerous Kovac.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Kid on the Corner (1949)
Detective Philip Marlowe is approached by a street newspaper vendor named Tommy about his missing Uncle Bert Lawson, who has mysteriously left town with two hundred dollars and a cryptic note. Following the trail, Marlowe discovers that Bert is entangled with the Conning family—a house divided by infidelity, where the husband is involved with Carole King, an ice skater at the Igloo nightclub, while his wife Julia squanders the family fortune.
Hollywood, California, including a street on Hollywood Boulevard, the Connings' home, a cafeteria, and the Igloo nightclub. · Philip Marlowe, Tommy, Uncle Bert Lawson, Lester Conning, Julia Conning, Susan Conning, Carole King
Listen for: A young boy's desperate plea for help finding his missing uncle leads Marlowe into a dangerous tangle of family secrets, infidelity, and hidden trouble.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The King in Yellow (1947)
Philip Marlowe is called to the Carlton Hotel on the Sunset Strip in the middle of the night to deal with a noisy guest named King Leopold, a trumpet player in yellow pajamas. When Marlowe ejects the disruptive pair, he discovers the woman has a gun and blue bruises around her throat, suggesting she's been strangled. The mystery deepens when Marlowe learns the woman gave a false name at the hotel.
Hollywood after midnight, including the Carlton Hotel on the Sunset Strip and the Club Belvedere · Philip Marlowe, King Leopold, George Millar, Marilyn Delormay, A girl with red hair
Listen for: Marlowe's investigation into who King Leopold really is and why the mysterious woman checked into an expensive hotel under a false name with visible signs of violence.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Ladies Night (1950)
Private detective Philip Marlowe is hired by Gigi Onsby, a magazine editor, to find a missing woman named Clarice Lawrence who has disappeared from her hotel and hasn't been seen in two days. Marlowe's search leads him to Annie Stringer's Hollywood Health Club for women, where he discovers Clarice has been spending mysterious time and possibly meeting with a man.
Hollywood, California, including Marlowe's apartment, the Tulip Room nightclub, a hotel, and Annie Stringer's Hollywood Health Club · Philip Marlowe, Gigi Onsby, Clarice Lawrence, Annie Stringer
Listen for: Marlowe's investigation into Clarice Lawrence's disappearance and his encounters with the various women involved in the case
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Lady Killer (1949)
When handsome composer Paul Niles hires private detective Philip Marlowe for protection from a vengeful woman named Nora Kirby, Marlowe refuses without knowing the full story. Hours later, Niles is found dead in his studio, and Marlowe finds himself investigating a tangled web of blackmail, jealousy, and hidden motives among the wealthy Negrado family and those connected to a tragic accident from Nora's past.
Hollywood and surrounding areas including Cold Water Canyon, the Negrado mansion, Marlowe's office, and a motel bungalow · Philip Marlowe, Paul Niles, Nora Kirby, Lynn Horton, Garrett Horton, Mr. Negrado, Mrs. Negrado, Detective Lieutenant Matthews
Listen for: A tense confrontation in a gas-filled bungalow where Marlowe must prevent both a murder and an explosion
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Lady in Mink (1949)
Private investigator Philip Marlowe is hired by Grace Tyler to find her sister June Drake, who has sent a suicide note saying she's trapped with no way out. Marlowe begins searching through the fog-shrouded streets of Los Angeles, following leads from a mysterious man named Frank Melnyk to June's boyfriend Hugh Jaffe. As Marlowe digs deeper into June's life, he discovers a tangle of affairs and broken relationships that may hold the key to her disappearance.
Los Angeles, 1949, in the fog-covered city including a hotel cocktail lounge, Beverly Hills, a walk-up hotel on Main Street, and various residences · Philip Marlowe, Grace Tyler, June Drake, Frank Melnyk, Hugh Jaffe, Mrs. Jaffe (Margarita)
Listen for: Marlowe's hard-boiled narration as he pieces together the mystery of June Drake's disappearance, sharp dialogue revealing the complicated relationships between the suspects, and the ominous foreshadowing of violence to come
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Last Laugh (1949)
Philip Marlowe, a private detective, is summoned to the will reading of Julius Spangler, a practical joker who once threw him down the stairs as a prank. Marlowe joins five other heirs on rain-soaked Catalina Island to hear the reading of Spangler's half-million dollar estate. The will contains unexpected and peculiar bequests that seem designed to mock and manipulate those who inherit.
Catalina Island, during a rainstorm; begins in Marlowe's Los Angeles office and includes a ferry journey to the island · Philip Marlowe, Darwin, Julius Spangler, Matthew Spangler, Nikki, Roderick, Melissa, Millicent Burke Ashby
Listen for: The eccentric nature of Spangler's will and the strange conditions attached to each heir's inheritance; tensions among the six heirs as they gather in the library for the reading
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Last Wish (1950)
Private investigator Philip Marlowe is asked by Dr. Talman to find Jack Schiller, the son of a dying man named Jacob Schiller who desperately wants to see his boy one last time before passing away. The old man is headed to Israel that very night, and time is running out. Marlowe's investigation leads him to the Sherry Towers apartment building and then to the Crown Club, where he catches a glimpse of Jack with a mysterious woman.
Los Angeles, including Dr. Talman's office, the Sherry Towers apartment building on Wilshire Boulevard, and the Crown Club nightclub. · Philip Marlowe, Dr. Sam Talman, Jacob Schiller, Jack Schiller, Peggy Grant, The doorman at Sherry Towers, Lieutenant Matthews
Listen for: The story of a dying man's last wish and Marlowe's race against the clock to reunite father and son before the old man passes away.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Little Wishbone (1949)
Philip Marlowe meets a charming woman named Cordelia Jones over a chicken at a butcher shop, and they begin a romantic relationship. When Marlowe spots a mysterious fat man at a square dance who terrifies Jonesy, she flees and disappears. Marlowe discovers the man is a wanted murderer and learns that a hit-and-run death occurred in Laguna Beach a month earlier, forcing him to confront a dangerous mystery connected to his lost love.
Los Angeles and Laguna Beach, California, in the present day with flashbacks to events a month earlier · Philip Marlowe, Cordelia Jones (Jonesy), Orland Begley (also known as Jim Oley, James Holland, Big Lo), Lieutenant Matthews, Mr. Early, Mrs. Winkle, Mr. Schwartz
Listen for: The charming opening scene where Marlowe and Jonesy compete for a chicken at the butcher shop, and Marlowe's growing realization that the woman he loves is connected to a dangerous criminal and a fatal hit-and-run accident
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Lonesome Reunion (1949)
Private detective Philip Marlowe is hired by Kay Gordon to deliver a mysterious satchel to her brother Joe Gordon in Phoenix. But when a criminal named Marty Stapka steals the bag through an open window, Marlowe learns the satchel contains valuable financial documents worth $120,000. The theft connects to a bank robbery in the small town of Lonesome, Arizona two years prior, and Marlowe must travel there to unravel the tangled affair.
Arizona, beginning in Phoenix and heading to the small town of Lonesome, Population 802 · Philip Marlowe, Kay Gordon, Joe Gordon, Marty Stapka, Sam Dietrich, Gigi Ganther
Listen for: The confusion and complications that mount as Marlowe realizes he's been caught in the middle of a scheme involving stolen goods, ex-convicts, and a two-year-old crime.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Long Arm (1950)
Private detective Philip Marlowe is drawn into the troubles of Ernie Parch, an ex-con who contacts him after his wife Grace is murdered. Ernie claims he's being framed for the killing and reveals he was recently released from prison after serving time for a gun planted on him during a raid at a local casino. When Marlowe finds Grace's body in Ernie's car, he must uncover the truth before the suspicious Detective Sturman arrives.
Bay City, a seacoast town twenty miles southwest of Los Angeles, known for its gambling houses and corrupt elements within the police force. · Philip Marlowe, Ernie Parch, Grace Parch, Detective Lieutenant Sturman, Art Manelli, Lou Gumborsky
Listen for: The exploration of Ernie's troubled marriage, his suspicions about who might have framed him, and Marlowe's dangerous encounter with the dapper casino owner Art Manelli in Ernie's car.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Long Rope (1949)
Private detective Philip Marlowe is hired by the wealthy Sydney Vanita to fly a valuable string of pearls to Chicago. When Marlowe arrives at Vanita's home for their meeting, he finds the man dead from a heart attack—and the pearls missing from the wall safe. Marlowe must uncover who stole the pearls and why a mysterious nurse never arrived at the appointment.
Los Angeles, including Vanita's home on Adams Boulevard, a nurse's registry, and Vivian Russell's art studio in Hollywood near Bronson. · Philip Marlowe, Sydney Vanita, Temple, Vivian Russell, Nick Takalakis, Miss Drew
Listen for: The mysterious phone number on the cash register receipt, the missing pearls worth $30,000, and the nurse who never showed up.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Long Way Home (1951)
Philip Marlowe is hired to find Amy Harper, a young woman who disappeared Monday morning while supposedly taking laundry to a local laundromat in the San Fernando Valley. Her mild-mannered husband Enos reports she left home around nine o'clock and never returned, and the laundromat attendant confirms she did drop off laundry that day. Marlowe begins investigating her disappearance by checking hospitals, calling relatives, and visiting transportation offices around the area.
The San Fernando Valley in Southern California, including the Hopper residence, a local laundromat community center, and various transportation offices. · Philip Marlowe, Enos Hopper, Amy Harper, Cousin Beatrice, Ray
Listen for: Marlowe's methodical investigation techniques as he gathers information about Amy's last known movements and searches for clues about her whereabouts.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Man on the Roof (1950)
Private investigator Philip Marlowe is hired by an elderly Spanish woman named Señora Andrabi to help her son Pedro, who has been beaten and fired from his job at the Brucher-Fugh Company warehouse. Pedro was accused of involvement in hijackings of freight shipments, though his mother insists he is innocent. Marlowe visits the warehouse to investigate and encounters the mysterious Cori Haines, a glamorous redhead in a mink coat, along with the rough warehouse manager Connor who warns him to stay out of the matter.
Los Angeles, including a Spanish home and the Brucher-Fugh Company warehouse on Commercial Street in downtown LA · Philip Marlowe, Señora Andrabi, Pedro Andrabi, Alex Brucher, Connor, Cori Haines, Helen Castile
Listen for: Marlowe's investigation into the warehouse hijackings and his encounters with the mysterious Cori Haines and the threatening Connor; the mysterious phone call that changes Brucher's plans
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Medium Was Rare (1951)
Private investigator Philip Marlowe is preparing for a fishing vacation when Mrs. Lillian Collins appears at his apartment, desperate for help recovering jewelry worth $10,000 that was stolen from her bedroom the night before. She refuses to call the police because her husband Leonard is away on business back east and she fears the theft will become public knowledge. As Marlowe investigates the circumstances of the robbery, he discovers that Mrs. Collins had removed the jewelry from a safe deposit box with the intention of pawning it to cover a gambling debt unknown to her husband.
Los Angeles and the surrounding area, including Mrs. Collins' home in La Corral and Marlowe's apartment · Philip Marlowe, Mary, Cookie, Lillian Collins, Leonard Collins, Sylvia, Pat
Listen for: The details of how the jewelry disappeared from the bedroom with French doors opening onto a terrace, and whether Marlowe can recover it before Leonard Collins returns home
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Monkeys Uncle (1950)
Private detective Philip Marlowe is hired by Wesley McDuff, who claims he's been swindled out of thirty thousand dollars by Lord Ashley Duke and his wife for a trained chimpanzee named Cornelius. When Marlowe confronts the so-called Lord and Lady about the deal, they insist the chimp is theirs and they're taking him on the road, but McDuff seems desperate to get the animal back before they leave town.
Los Angeles, including Lord Ashley Duke's home, a drugstore near Worsing Square, and a freight house · Philip Marlowe, Wesley McDuff, Lord Ashley Duke, Lady Ashley Duke (Gert), Merle Bremmer, Cornelius the chimpanzee, Junior, Kipling
Listen for: A phony English lord and lady arguing about money and a chimpanzee, and Marlowe's growing suspicion that there's more to this case than a simple dispute over an animal purchase.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Name to Remember (1949)
Philip Marlowe is hired by Eddie Malitz, a war surplus businessman, to find out information about a mysterious man. When Marlowe visits Eddie's house to investigate, he encounters a violent stranger in a t-shirt who punches him and flees after getting what he came for. Marlowe then discovers Eddie's girlfriend Ruth Dunn at the house, and together they find Eddie dead in the garage with a crushed skull. Now Marlowe must uncover the connection between Eddie's death, the violent stranger, and a man named Clay from Nevada.
Los Angeles, primarily Eddie Malitz's home and surrounding areas, with connections to Mexico City and Nevada. · Philip Marlowe, Eddie Malitz, Ruth Dunn, Lieutenant Ibarra, Tina Malitz, Lou Tripp, The Man in the T-shirt
Listen for: The mystery of who the man in the t-shirt is and what he was searching for in Eddie's house; the significance of Ruth Dunn's letters and the man named Clay from Nevada.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Old Acquaintance (1948)
Private detective Philip Marlowe is hired on New Year's Eve by insurance broker Paul Riker to find his fiancée Nancy Marshall, who has disappeared and told Riker she's in terrible trouble. When someone takes shots at Marlowe's office, he pursues the shooter's pickup truck and then investigates Nancy's villa, where he discovers a newspaper story about three escaped convicts—including a man named Steve Doyle whose photograph matches one found in Nancy's home. Marlowe encounters a mysterious woman at the villa who identifies herself as an old acquaintance and forces him at gunpoint into a closet before disappearing.
Los Angeles on New Year's Eve: Marlowe's office, Nancy Marshall's villa on North Havenhurst Drive, and Jerry Graff's mechanic shop and slot machine operation. · Philip Marlowe, Paul Riker, Nancy Marshall, Steve Doyle, The mysterious woman, Jerry Graff, Fred, Lieutenant Ibarra
Listen for: The identity and motives of the mysterious woman at Nancy's villa; the connection between escaped convict Steve Doyle and Nancy Marshall; what Jerry Graff reveals about his involvement with the pickup truck and the escaped convict.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Open Window (1949)
A terrified woman appears at private detective Philip Marlowe's apartment with complete amnesia—she doesn't know her own name, why she's being followed, or how she arrived in Los Angeles. All she has are a few clues: a card with Marlowe's name, an address on North Virgil Avenue, and a snapshot album missing one picture. Marlowe begins investigating her mysterious past, discovering connections to a man named Tompkins who has suddenly fled town to Vancouver with cash provided by a mysterious red-haired man connected to a dive bar.
Los Angeles, California—Marlowe's third-floor apartment, a run-down rooming house on North Virgil Avenue, and a dive bar called the Pearls on Highland Avenue near 3rd Street. · Philip Marlowe, The amnesia victim woman, Jake Philpotts, Tompkins, The red-headed man, Cooper, Gerard, Norm
Listen for: A woman's desperate plea for help, the gruff manager Jake Philpotts revealing clues about Tompkins's sudden departure, and cryptic conversations at the bar suggesting trouble involving a woman and betrayal.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Orange Dog (1949)
Private detective Philip Marlowe is hired by a man named Shelley to look into his sister Marion's involvement with a San Francisco broker named Lou Horn. When Marlowe visits Shelley's home, he discovers a dead body behind the couch with no identification. After reporting the body to police, Marlowe pursues a lead about a mysterious orange dog of Faux, a supposedly non-existent Chinese artifact said to be worth twenty thousand dollars, which may hold the key to the case.
Los Angeles, including Marlowe's office, Shelley's home on Los Fearless, and a curio shop in Chinatown owned by James Tang. · Philip Marlowe, Shelley, Marion, Lou Horn, Lieutenant Borret, James Tang
Listen for: Marlowe's investigation into the orange dog of Faux and its connection to Marion and the murder; the mysterious long-haired man fleeing in a green coupe; the revelation that the supposedly worthless artifact is worth a fortune.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Panama Hat (1948)
Private detective Philip Marlowe accepts a case to protect photographer Bruce Gordon from anonymous death threats at his uncle's Malibu estate. When Bruce is kidnapped and a ransom demanded, Marlowe must uncover the truth behind the white Panama hat-wearing figure and the shadowy connections between the Gordon family and others involved in the case.
Malibu, California and surrounding areas including Hollywood, Pacific Palisades, and Ventura; takes place primarily at the Fairchild estate and various locations around Los Angeles · Philip Marlowe, Isabelle Gordon, Bruce Gordon, Avery Fairchild, Skip-a-Martin, Brock, Carla Winters, Lieutenant Ebarra
Listen for: The mystery of the white Panama hat worn by the mysterious figure; the details of Bruce Gordon's kidnapping and the ransom demand; Marlowe's discovery of the photograph hidden in Bruce's studio; the connection between Skip-a-Martin, Carla Winters, and the kidnapping scheme
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Parrots Bed (1950)
Private investigator Philip Marlowe is hired by a woman named Daphne McGregor to find a hard-drinking sailor named Lash Lauterbach before a ship departs at four in the morning. McGregor reveals the real stakes: Lauterbach knows the location of a valuable map to a bed of black pearls hidden on Parrot Island, and a rival sailor named Rupert Semble is also after him.
San Pedro, California, including the Pirate's Cove bar, a hotel, and the docks at night · Philip Marlowe, Daphne McGregor, Lash Lauterbach, Rupert Semble, Ted Peterson
Listen for: Marlowe narrowing down leads on Lauterbach's whereabouts while dodging a knife-wielding assailant and learning the true value of finding the mysterious sailor.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Persian Slippers (1948)
Private detective Philip Marlowe is hired by Carl Delaney to find his wife Norma, who disappeared after a quarrel. Marlowe's investigation leads him to Madam Jeanette, a fortune teller, and to Pierre Gillum, a man with a mysterious past connection to Norma. As Marlowe pieces together the puzzle, he discovers that Norma has killed her jealously possessive husband and staged an elaborate deception involving Madam Jeanette.
Los Angeles in 1948, including the Sunset Strip, Hollywood Hills, Olvera Street, a bar, Madam Jeanette's cottage, Pierre Gillum's apartment, Carl Delaney's house, and the Bradford Arms Hotel. · Philip Marlowe, Carl Delaney, Norma Delaney, Madam Jeanette, Pierre Gillum, Lieutenant Ibarra, Charlie the bartender
Listen for: The clever use of the Persian slippers as the key clue that reveals the true identity of the body in the car; Marlowe's internal monologue as he investigates; the twist ending where Norma fakes her own death using Madam Jeanette's body.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Pigeons Blood (1949)
A mysterious woman with soft brown eyes and a French accent hires private detective Philip Marlowe to locate a collection of thirty rare pigeon's blood rubies worth $150,000, stolen from her friend Vivian's family by a wealthy businessman named Marty Loomis. Marlowe's investigation leads him into a dangerous underworld of criminals and fences as he searches for the stolen jewels.
Los Angeles, including a hotel bar, Marty Loomis's house on North Crossmore Street, and a tropical fish shop on La Siena near Melrose. · Philip Marlowe, Chaudine (the woman who hires Marlowe), Vivian, Marty Loomis, Big Mouth, Lefty, Zig Slater, Tony
Listen for: Marlowe's tough-talking inner monologue as he navigates danger from criminals and discovers a network of thieves and fences while searching for the missing rubies.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Promise to Pay (1949)
Private detective Philip Marlowe is hired by Garfield Randall, a rising executive, to recover a gambling marker worth $1,000 that the man lost at a gaming club. The marker is being held by Terry Dodge, Randall's former girlfriend, who is demanding $20,000 to keep quiet about the debt. Marlowe's investigation into the blackmail scheme leads him to discover that Terry has been murdered, and he must uncover who killed her and find the marker before it destroys his client's career.
Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley in the late 1940s, including a cottage on Sunswept Drive, a gambling club on North Lancashire Boulevard, and Randall's hillside home. · Philip Marlowe, Garfield Randall, Terry Dodge, Maxine Rossi, Paul Naylor, Rip Strannigan, Quincy
Listen for: The mystery of who murdered Terry Dodge and why; the hunt for the missing gambling marker; Marlowe's encounters with dangerous criminals and an unexpected ally; a climactic confrontation that results in a fatal car crash.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Quiet Magpie (1950)
Vincent Callaway stands trial for murdering his father, Homer Callaway, with the prosecution building a case based on motive—Vincent's extravagant lifestyle, his recent marriage to a showgirl against his father's wishes, and Homer's plan to change his will. Philip Marlowe is hired by Felix Lohman, Homer's old friend, to investigate, as Felix believes Vincent is innocent and suspects something far more complicated involving blackmail and a mysterious man named Stonor.
Los Angeles—a courtroom during Vincent Callaway's murder trial, and later the streets and homes of the city as Marlowe begins his investigation. · Philip Marlowe, Vincent Callaway, Homer Callaway, Felix Lohman, Joyce, Stonor, The District Attorney
Listen for: Felix Lohman's sudden collapse in the courtroom and his equally sudden recovery; his cryptic hints about blackmail and a suspicious man with gold teeth; Marlowe's first glimpse of the mysterious Stonor outside Joyce's home.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Restless Day (1949)
When a yacht explodes and sinks at Santa Monica with a man aboard, everyone assumes it's an accident—except the man himself, who appears at detective Philip Marlowe's door claiming he's Benjamin Rollins and that someone tried to murder him. Marlowe must investigate three suspects: Rollins' ex-partner Walter Pittman, his business manager Arthur Slater, and his wife Lucille, while someone continues trying to kill the supposedly dead man.
Los Angeles area including Santa Monica, a yacht, Slater's cottage, the Rollins home, and Inspiration Point overlooking the sea. · Philip Marlowe, Benjamin Rollins, Lucille Rollins, Arthur Slater, Walter Pittman, Angie Gordon
Listen for: The clever plot twist involving Rollins' hair curler invention that everyone is after, and the climactic confrontation at Inspiration Point where the real murderer is finally revealed.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Rustin Hickory (1949)
Private detective Philip Marlowe is drawn into a murder investigation when schoolteacher Joan Madden contacts him in a panic after a man she met is killed. Joan had been posing for glamour photographs with photographer Aubrey Nickle, but when he takes her to an upscale nightclub, he becomes distracted and distant, eventually sending her away with a cryptic note just before shots ring out. Joan discovers Nickle dead and flees, but now someone is pursuing her, and Marlowe must navigate the dangerous world of Hollywood racketeers and murder.
Los Angeles, including Philip Marlowe's apartment, a nightclub called Cyrano's on the Strip, a photography studio, and Dawson Memorial Hospital. · Philip Marlowe, Joan Madden, Aubrey Nickle, Sy Nester, Erm-God Fury, Ham Lacey, Detective Lieutenant Matthew, Dr. Chambers
Listen for: The tension builds as Marlowe uncovers connections between two murders and realizes there's more at stake than a simple crime of passion. Watch for the appearance of the mysterious 'frogman' who pursues Joan, and the revelation of Ham Lacey's role in Sy Nester's death.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Sea Horse Jockey (1950)
Private detective Philip Marlowe is hired by the ailing Mrs. Lola Demerus to guard a valuable seahorse brooch—a six-inch jeweled figurine worth $50,000—while it's being sold to a San Francisco dealer. When Marlowe arrives at her home, he finds Mrs. Demerus dead, the brooch stolen, and a mysterious new lawyer supposedly hired that day. As Marlowe investigates, he uncovers a second murder: a bearded sailor named Paul Crater shot dead in his Surfside home, setting off a chain of revelations about blackmail, resentment, and theft.
Los Angeles and Surfside, 1950. The investigation moves from a barber shop to Mrs. Demerus's Victorian cliff-side home, a beachfront boatyard, a bar on Front Street, and a cramped house in the Surfside neighborhood. · Philip Marlowe, Lola Demerus, Gillian Demerus, Bertie Lockfield, Jug Nolan, Paul Crater, Lieutenant Matthews, Helen Crater
Listen for: A clever twist involving mistaken identity and the revelation that the seemingly loyal companion is the real culprit. Listen for Marlowe's methodical piecing together of clues—from a cigarette paper to a beard—that expose layers of deception and hidden motives beneath the surface of this seaside mystery.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Soft Spot (1950)
Private detective Philip Marlowe is hired by Earl Hanley, a newspaper circulation businessman, to find an old gardener named John Cooper who has disappeared after stealing some valuable silver goblets from Hanley's mansion. Marlowe learns that Hanley sympathizes with Cooper because fifteen years ago he was in a similar desperate situation himself. Using the clues of Skid Row connections, a taste for Aces Up cigars, and whittling as a hobby, Marlowe begins searching the bars and shelters of the city's poorest district.
Los Angeles during a thick fog, primarily on Skid Row and in the wealthy Los Feliz neighborhood · Philip Marlowe, Earl Hanley, John Cooper, Skeeter
Listen for: The hardboiled detective work as Marlowe searches the seediest parts of town for a down-and-out gardener, with the twist that his employer sympathizes with the thief's circumstances.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Strangle Hold (1949)
Private detective Philip Marlowe is hired by radio transcription company owner Manny Faber to find proof supporting inflammatory statements made by now-deceased sports commentator Frank Gaynor about wrestler John Peachy Keene. Keene is suing Faber for slander, and Marlowe must locate evidence that Gaynor's accusations were factual or Faber faces a costly lawsuit. Marlowe begins his investigation at Gaynor's private recording studio, where he encounters trouble.
Los Angeles, 1949: a wrestling arena, Manny Faber's home in the Hollywood hills, and Frank Gaynor's private recording studio on Sunset Boulevard. · Philip Marlowe, Manny Faber, John Peachy Keene, Jules Caesar, Frank Gaynor, Ruth Gaynor, Coll Bennett
Listen for: A tense investigation into a dead man's accusations, the mystery of the brunette woman connected to the wrestler, and danger lurking in a soundproof studio after dark.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Sword of Cebu (1950)
Philip Marlowe is hired by Henry Palm, a pearl importer, to recover a stolen sword of Cebu that arrived from his murdered business partner in Manila. The sword, whose handle and sheath form a complete pattern when together, has vanished from Palm's house, and a planted rent receipt leads Marlowe to a beach shack in Venice where he confronts a mysterious blonde woman who claims to have the sword but demands a high price for its return.
Los Angeles and Venice, California, 1950 · Philip Marlowe, Henry Palm, Eugene Voss, Babisco, Hideki, Miss Saunders, Kurt
Listen for: A classic detective mystery involving an Oriental artifact, international intrigue connected to Manila, and a dangerous woman with secrets about the sword's true value.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Tale of the Mermaid (1949)
Private investigator Philip Marlowe receives an urgent call from a nurse after a man named Stanley Ott is critically injured in a car accident. Before falling into a coma, Ott pleads with Marlowe to stop a girl in a plaid coat from meeting someone at two o'clock to collect $75,000. With only cryptic clues and the name Constantine to go on, Marlowe races against time to uncover the mystery of the mermaid.
Los Angeles and the San Pedro waterfront, present day · Philip Marlowe, Corey Riggs, Stanley Ott, Prince Constantine Chevenoff, Louis Paradise, Evelyn Van Oen
Listen for: The unfolding mystery of the mermaid and the $75,000 scheme, with Marlowe pursuing clues from the hospital to the waterfront to an exotic house where he discovers a dead body and overhears a suspicious phone conversation.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Torch Carriers (1950)
Private detective Philip Marlowe encounters a frightened young woman named Claire at a hotel bar and agrees to help her recover a borrowed diamond bracelet from a loan shark named Larry Sulfin. His investigation leads him through a dangerous web of people connected to a fatal car accident and a woman named Janice Trauer who died two nights before.
Los Angeles, including a hotel bar at Wilshire Gardens, an old foundry in East Los Angeles, and Larry Sulfin's bungalow in Hollywood near Lucerne. · Philip Marlowe, Claire Osman, Larry Sulfin, Madge Gilbert, Cobra, Freeman Best, Janice Trauer
Listen for: A noirish tale of misguided love and loyalty, with Marlowe uncovering secrets about a car accident, a dead woman, and the lengths people will go to protect those they care about.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Uneasy Head (1950)
Private detective Philip Marlowe arranges to meet a man named Sammy Archer at a bar to discuss a business deal, but someone slips a Mickey into his drink and he passes out. When he wakes and tracks down Archer at his apartment, Marlowe discovers the man dead with a knife in his back. The case connects to a stolen diamond tiara worth a hundred grand that disappeared from a Palm Springs mansion, with Archer apparently posing as a gardener at the time of the theft.
A bar in Hollywood and Sammy Archer's basement apartment, with the investigation leading toward Palm Springs · Philip Marlowe, Sammy Archer, Slattery, Louie, Detective Remini
Listen for: The clever setup where Marlowe is drugged at the bar, the gruesome discovery of Archer's body, and the connection between a murdered two-bit thief and a high-society jewel heist
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Unfair Lady (1949)
Private detective Philip Marlowe is hired to travel to a remote mining town in Mexico near the Arizona border to catch a thief systematically stealing diamonds from Mr. Bjornsson's mine. Upon arrival at the isolated compound, Marlowe meets the multi-millionaire mine owner, the stern Captain Lupino who guards the property, and the Austins who are staying as guests while their own house is being built. A mysterious tall man with wavy hair was spotted near the grounds the previous night, and Marlowe learns that a black market diamond smuggler named Nut Campbell has been operating in the region.
A diamond mining compound at Rislow, a remote hamlet 100 miles south of Nogales, Arizona, near the Mexican border, featuring a large open-pit mine surrounded by barbed wire fencing and armed guards. · Philip Marlowe, Mr. Florie, Mr. Bjornsson, Captain Juan Lupino, Helen Austin, Kelly Austin, M.J. Calder, Nut Campbell
Listen for: Marlowe's investigation into the diamond thefts and his encounters with the suspicious characters at the mine, particularly his conversation with Helen Austin and the mysterious Calder.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Vital Statistic (1950)
Private detective Philip Marlowe is hired by Mrs. Terry LeBar, a silk merchant's wife, to identify a woman in black slacks who has been following her. When Marlowe visits Terry's home to report, he's knocked down the stairs by the mysterious woman, who is searching for something. Marlowe discovers the study has been ransacked and Terry is missing.
Los Angeles, including bars, dance studios, and Terry LeBar's house in the Beechwood Circle area of the hills · Philip Marlowe, Mrs. Terry LeBar, Joe Temple, Harlan Casey, Vince LeBar, The woman in black slacks
Listen for: A tale of missing love letters, jealous husbands, and a mysterious woman who will stop at nothing to find what she's after in this classic hard-boiled detective story.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The White Carnation (1950)
Philip Marlowe is called in when his friend Casey reports that Dr. Ben Reynolds, a young physician due to be married tomorrow, has mysteriously disappeared after visiting a flower shop and becoming terrified upon seeing something there. Marlowe discovers a dead man named Gregory Toledo in Ben's apartment, and soon finds the flower shop owner, Harlan Steiner, dead from an apparent heart attack—with forty thousand dollars missing from his safe and a lipstick-stained cigarette at the scene.
Los Angeles, primarily around Ben Reynolds' apartment and Steiner's Flowers on Temple Street, with scenes at a police station and Sarkesian's gypsy cellar restaurant. · Philip Marlowe, Casey (best man), Dr. Ben Reynolds, Margaret Van de Vere, Gregory Toledo, Lieutenant Matthew, Harlan Steiner, Ruby Vadena
Listen for: The mystery of why Ben Reynolds feared Gregory Toledo, where Ben has gone, what connection exists between the flower shop owner's death and the missing forty thousand dollars, and Ruby Vadena's role in the events.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Young Mans Fancy (1951)
Private detective Philip Marlowe stops at a fruit stand run by Alex Leznovich to buy limes for a Moscow mule on a scorching Los Angeles summer day. He overhears a heated argument between Alex and his son Dominic about the young man's recent behavior. While making purchases around the neighborhood, Marlowe learns that Dominic has changed dramatically since leaving school in the spring, neglecting his responsibilities and spending time with a truck driver at Soli's bar.
Los Angeles shopping district on a hot summer day, including Alex's fruit stand, a nearby shop, and a service station · Philip Marlowe, Alex Leznovich, Dominic, Miss Gabriel, Nick
Listen for: The casual mystery building around young Dominic's sudden behavioral changes and what might be driving them; Marlowe's observations about how the neighborhood is reacting to the boy's transformation.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: Trouble Is My Business (1947)
Private detective Philip Marlowe is hired by a stern old man named Jeter to investigate a gold digger named Harriet Huntress who plans to marry Jeter's adopted stepson Grover, and to look into forged IOUs allegedly signed by Grover for $50,000 owed to gambler Marty Estelle. When Marlowe discovers that the handwriting expert analyzing the documents has been murdered, the case becomes far more dangerous than anyone anticipated.
Los Angeles, including Sunset Boulevard, the El Milano Hotel on North Sycamore, and various offices around the city · Philip Marlowe, Mr. Jeter, Harriet Huntress, Grover, Marty Estelle, John D. Arbergast, house detective
Listen for: The interplay between Marlowe's tough-guy attitude and his moral code as he navigates multiple suspects with unclear motives; Harriet Huntress's revelation of her vendetta against Jeter for ruining her father; the sudden violence that erupts when Grover arrives at Harriet's hotel room.
Adventures of Philip Marlowe: Where Theres a Will (1948)
Private detective Philip Marlowe is hired to help three heirs locate $300,000 in hidden bonds left by their eccentric late aunt, with a 24-hour deadline to find them on Twin Islands in Indian Lake. A mysterious woman enlists his help the night before, and soon Marlowe discovers that not everyone in the search party is being truthful about their intentions.
Los Angeles and Twin Islands in Indian Lake, San Bernardino Mountains; the story spans about 24 hours from Marlowe's apartment to a lawyer's office to a hillside house in Laurel Canyon to the remote islands. · Philip Marlowe, Barbara Haynes, Edward Shields, Harlan Crane, Luther Willard, Jambul, The little man with a scar
Listen for: A clever mystery involving deception and a search for hidden bonds. Listen for Marlowe's tough-talking narration, the tension between the three heirs as they search the island, and the revelation of who has been plotting against whom throughout the case.
The Adventures of Philip Marlowe: Who Shot Waldo (1947)
Private detective Philip Marlowe witnesses a shooting at a bar and becomes entangled in a web of blackmail involving a priceless pearl necklace, stolen bills, and a mysterious woman. As bodies pile up and secrets unravel, Marlowe must navigate between protecting his client and solving the murder of the man called Waldo.
Los Angeles, including bars, apartment buildings, and the beach at Malibu, on a hot night when the Santa Ana desert wind is blowing · Philip Marlowe, Lola Barcely, Waldo, Leon, Frank Passaleil, Jeannie Colchink, Baldy, Van Hefflin
Listen for: The atmospheric opening describing the Santa Ana wind's effects on the city; the tense confrontation between Marlowe and the killer Baldy in his apartment; the revelation of the blackmail scheme involving the pearls and unpaid bills; Marlowe's final act of justice at Malibu