The Barbara James Matter: Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar (June 29, 1950)

“The Barbara James Matter” is an episode of Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar, the old-time radio show, first broadcast June 29, 1950. Listen free on Stupid Potato.

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What happens

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

Characters: 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

Written from the episode itself; it 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.