The Crystal Lake Matter - Ep 4: Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar (August 16, 1956)

“The Crystal Lake Matter - Ep 4” is an episode of Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar, the old-time radio show, first broadcast August 16, 1956. Listen free on Stupid Potato.

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What happens

Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives at Crystal Lake to investigate the murder of Edward Russell, who came to the area searching for someone named Bill. Dollar narrows his suspects to boatkeeper Bill Jensen and cabin buyer Mr. Putnam, but both deny knowing Russell. As Dollar struggles to find solid evidence, the taxi driver Hiram—who may have been a key witness—is found dead in a ravine.

Crystal Lake, a resort town with a boathouse, cabins, and hotel; Denver is also mentioned

Characters: Johnny Dollar, Deputy Sheriff Ants Garrett, Bill Jensen, Mr. Putnam, Mrs. Leona Russell, Hiram (taxi driver), Benny Norton, Bixby

Listen for: The discovery of a matching padlock as evidence; the revelation that Putnam lied about his wife knowing of his cabin purchase; the mysterious appearance and death of Hiram the taxi driver; Russell's widow Leona appearing at the hotel.

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.