Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar
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Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar was a radio drama about a freelance insurance investigator that aired from February, 1949 to September 30, 1962 on CBS. There were 811 episodes in the 12 year run and over 720 still exist today.
Charles Russell was the first to star as Johnny Dollar, the smart and tough detective, who would toss silver dollars as tips to bellhops. With the first three actors to play Johnny Dollar there was little to distinguish it from other detective series' at the time (Richard Diamond, Philip Marlowe & Sam Spade) however after a year long break (Aug 54 to Aug 55) the show changed from a 30 minute, one episode a week affair to a bigger fifteen minute, five nights a week series.
This also introduced the most successful Johnny Dollar in Bob Bailey who had just come off another large detective series in Let George Do It. With a new lead and now 75 minutes of air time (minus commercials), there was more time to develop good storylines and more interesting characters.
The episodes usually started with a phone call from an insurance agent, calling on Johnny to investigate an unusual claim. The story is recounted as Johnny lists each line item from his "action-packed expense account".
The episodes generally finish with Johnny tallying up his account and travelling back to Harford, Conneticut which is where he is based.
Actors who played Johnny Dollar
- Dick Powell (Audition Show in 1948)
- Charles Russell (February 1949 - January 1950)
- Edmund O'Brien (February 1950 - September 1952)
- John Lund (November 1952 - September 1954)
- Gerald Mohr (Audition Show in 1955)
- Bob Bailey (October 1955 - November 1960)
- Bob Readick (December 1960 - June 1961)
- Mandel Kramer (June 1961 - September 1962)
See also
Was also a comic series released by Moonstone Books.
External links
- [1] (http://www.thrillingdetective.com/dollar_johnny.html)