The S.S. Malay Trader Ship: Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar (February 10, 1950)

“The S.S. Malay Trader Ship” is an episode of Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar, the old-time radio show, first broadcast February 10, 1950. Listen free on Stupid Potato.

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What happens

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

Characters: 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

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.