the shifty looker matter: Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar (August 27, 1961)

“the shifty looker matter” is an episode of Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar, the old-time radio show, first broadcast August 27, 1961. Listen free on Stupid Potato.

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What happens

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

Characters: 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.

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.