The Elliott Champion Matter: Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar (December 12, 1952)

“The Elliott Champion Matter” is an episode of Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar, the old-time radio show, first broadcast December 12, 1952. Listen free on Stupid Potato.

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What happens

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

Characters: 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

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.