1001 RADIO DAYS
Radio Days, When Radio Was King- brings you a wide variety of entertainment from the golden age of radio - drama, detective, suspense, comedy, sci-fi, theater- and much more. The selection and quality of the shows is excellent.. Brought to you by 1001 Stories Podcast Network. Hosted by Jon Hagadorn. We appreciate reviews!
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THE BATON SINISTER and THE FATTED CALF PHILIP MARLOWE PRIVATE DETECTIVE
12/31/2025
THE BATON SINISTER and THE FATTED CALF PHILIP MARLOWE PRIVATE DETECTIVE
Elements of mystery have always been represented in literature, but the detective story didn't arrive on the scene until the mid 1800's. Edgar Allan Poe's The Murders in the Rue Morgue, published in 1841, was the first. The Murder's main character, C. Auguste Dupin, was a brilliant detective who relied on superior deductive powers to solve the crime. He and his unnamed narrator companion solved this and two other mysteries.
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DRAGNET THE MOTHER-IN-LAW MURDERS and SPRING STREET GANG
12/28/2025
DRAGNET THE MOTHER-IN-LAW MURDERS and SPRING STREET GANG
Dragnet, the brainchild of Jack Webb, may very well be the most well-remembered, and the best, radio police drama series. From September, 1949 through February 1957, Dragnet's 30 minute shows, broadcast on NBC, brought to radio true police stories in a low-key, documentary style.
/episode/index/show/a6ea6985-55a0-45bb-92aa-97bf321e1545/id/31326457
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THE AMY BRADSHAW MATTER A JOHNNY DOLLAR MYSTERY
12/27/2025
THE AMY BRADSHAW MATTER A JOHNNY DOLLAR MYSTERY
Johnny Dollar Insurance Investigator was one of the most popular detective shows on radio- and for good reason- a lively script, great voice acting, and top quality production. One of our favorite series at 1001!
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HOW I PLAYED SANTA CLAUS YOURS TRULY JOHNNY DOLLAR
12/24/2025
HOW I PLAYED SANTA CLAUS YOURS TRULY JOHNNY DOLLAR
Our favorite insurance detective catches a jewelry store thief and chases bullets in the progress...
/episode/index/show/a6ea6985-55a0-45bb-92aa-97bf321e1545/id/31326177
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THE LONELY HEARTS MATTER YOURS TRULY JOHNNY DOLLAR
12/21/2025
THE LONELY HEARTS MATTER YOURS TRULY JOHNNY DOLLAR
Bob Bailey, generally thought of as the most popular of the Johnny Dollars, brought a new interpretation to the character – tough, but not hard-boiled; streetwise, but not overly cynical, Bailey's Dollar was smart and gritty when he had to be. But Bailey's Johnny Dollar was also human. His character would get emotionally involved in a number of his cases. He had a streak of impatience, and would occasionally not fully listen to a witness and rush off on a tangent before realizing his mistake.
/episode/index/show/a6ea6985-55a0-45bb-92aa-97bf321e1545/id/31326342
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THE MARKHAM MATTER YOURS TRULY, JOHNNY DOLLAR W BOB BAILEY
12/20/2025
THE MARKHAM MATTER YOURS TRULY, JOHNNY DOLLAR W BOB BAILEY
I stumbled across this great series just recently and it's already one of my favorites in the detective genre. The main character, Johnny Dollar, is an insurance fraud investigator who gets assigned all kinds of jobs across the US. The writing, sound effects, acting- are all top notch. I think you will enjoy this as well- Please share with friends and Apple users please review us and mention this show if you like it. Each "Act" is actually two episodes. Enjoy!
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THE SILENT QUEEN JOHNNY DOLLAR INSURANCE INVESTIGATOR
12/17/2025
THE SILENT QUEEN JOHNNY DOLLAR INSURANCE INVESTIGATOR
As originally conceived, Johnny Dollar was a smart, tough, wisecracking detective who tossed silver-dollar tips to waiters and bellhops. While a;ways a friend of the police, Johnny Dollar wasn;t always a stickler for the law. CBS Radio revived Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar in October 1955 with a new leading man, a new director, and a new format. The program changed from a 30-minute, one-episode-per-week program to a 15-minute, five-nights-a-week serial[2] (Monday through Friday, 8-8:15pm EST) produced and dire
/episode/index/show/a6ea6985-55a0-45bb-92aa-97bf321e1545/id/31327477
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THE SHEPHARD MATTER JOHNNY DOLLAR INSURANCE INVESTIGATOR
12/14/2025
THE SHEPHARD MATTER JOHNNY DOLLAR INSURANCE INVESTIGATOR
As originally conceived, Johnny Dollar was a smart, tough, wisecracking detective who tossed silver-dollar tips to waiters and bellhops. While a;ways a friend of the police, Johnny Dollar wasn;t always a stickler for the law. CBS Radio revived Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar in October 1955 with a new leading man, a new director, and a new format. The program changed from a 30-minute, one-episode-per-week program to a 15-minute, five-nights-a-week serial[2] (Monday through Friday, 8-8:15pm EST) produced and dire
/episode/index/show/a6ea6985-55a0-45bb-92aa-97bf321e1545/id/31327482
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THE DUKE RED MATTER YOURS TRULY JOHNNY DOLLAR
12/13/2025
THE DUKE RED MATTER YOURS TRULY JOHNNY DOLLAR
Johnny goes to California to investigate a $65,000 claim on a racehorse who was injured and had to be destroyed. 5 PARTS Original Radio Broadcast Dates: January 23 and 24, 1956 Originated from Hollywood Stars: Bob Bailey as Johnny Dollar.Barbara Fuller, Barbara Eiler, Herb Butterfield, John Stephenson, Parley Baer, Will Wright, Bob Bruce, Forrest Lewis
/episode/index/show/a6ea6985-55a0-45bb-92aa-97bf321e1545/id/39308260
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THE CRONIN MATTER (5 PARTS) W BOB BAILEY YOURS TRULY, JOHNNY DOLLAR
12/10/2025
THE CRONIN MATTER (5 PARTS) W BOB BAILEY YOURS TRULY, JOHNNY DOLLAR
Joe Parker of Surety Mutual calls Johnny to ask him to attend a party to be given by Dolly McLean. Dolly, Johnny knows, was known during the roaring twenties as the Champagne Dream Girl and the Dancing Darling. When Dolly married Barnaby Cronin he purchased a rare and valuable piece of jewelry, the "Circle of Fire" necklace, and presented it to her as a wedding gift. Now Barnaby has been dead ten years and the precious necklace has been tucked away in a bank lock box. When Dolly decides to throw a party for old times sake, and plans on wearing necklace, Joe fears the necklace will be a target of theft and wants Johnny to protect it. Excellent script by Les Crutchfield. Featuring: Bob Bailey, Virginia Gregg, Shirley Mitchell, Vivi Janiss, Barbara Fuller, Betty Rubin, John Dehner, Parley Baer
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THE LORKO DIAMONDS MATTER (5 PART BOB BAILEY EPISODE) YOURS TRULY, JOHNNY DOLLAR
12/07/2025
THE LORKO DIAMONDS MATTER (5 PART BOB BAILEY EPISODE) YOURS TRULY, JOHNNY DOLLAR
One of the best Johnny Dollar episodes, in 5 parts, Johnny Dollar investigates the theft of 100,000 in diamonds from Algiers and winds up in the middle of a deadly intrigue. Join us , won't you? at 1001 RADIO DAYS
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FATHER KNOWS BEST THE SHARED CHRISTMAS GIFT
12/06/2025
FATHER KNOWS BEST THE SHARED CHRISTMAS GIFT
Christmas gifts were a lot simpler back in the 50's., and the kids were nevertheless feeling guilty after receiving a lot of nice gifts from Dad and seeing him only receive two lesser gifts. So they hatched a last minute plan to make good.....
/episode/index/show/a6ea6985-55a0-45bb-92aa-97bf321e1545/id/31326027
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SLATE'S OLD FLAME and THE TERMINAL KEY BOLD VENTURE
12/03/2025
SLATE'S OLD FLAME and THE TERMINAL KEY BOLD VENTURE
We had it all...just like Bogie & Bacall" is how the famous song goes, and they had it all for awhile- a Hollywood married couple that appeared in films and in their radio show- Bold Venture. Bold Venture was a syndicated radio series that aired from 1951 to 1952. Bogart plays Slate Shannon, owner of a Cuban Hotel before Castro came and took it all away, and Lauren Bacall goes by the name of Sailor Duvall.Just like in real life, they own a sailboat and spend a bunch of time in it while they encounter ever
/episode/index/show/a6ea6985-55a0-45bb-92aa-97bf321e1545/id/31322077
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MURDER IN THE YUCATAN and SHANNON'S A SUCKER BOLD VENTURE
11/30/2025
MURDER IN THE YUCATAN and SHANNON'S A SUCKER BOLD VENTURE
"We had it all...just like Bogie & Bacall" is how the famous song goes, and they had it all for awhile- a Hollywood married couple that appeared in films and in their radio show- Bold Venture. Bold Venture was a syndicated radio series that aired from 1951 to 1952. Bogart plays Slate Shannon, owner of a Cuban Hotel before Castro came and took it all away, and Lauren Bacall goes by the name of Sailor Duvall.Just like in real life, they own a sailboat and spend a bunch of time in it while they encounter eve
/episode/index/show/a6ea6985-55a0-45bb-92aa-97bf321e1545/id/31322132
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THE SALT CITY MATTER YOURS TRULY, JOHNNY DOLLAR
11/29/2025
THE SALT CITY MATTER YOURS TRULY, JOHNNY DOLLAR
Bob Bailey, generally thought of as the most popular of the Johnny Dollars, brought a new interpretation to the character – tough, but not hard-boiled; streetwise, but not overly cynical, Bailey's Dollar was smart and gritty when he had to be. But Bailey's Johnny Dollar was also human. His character would get emotionally involved in a number of his cases. He had a streak of impatience, and would occasionally not fully listen to a witness and rush off on a tangent before realizing his mistake.
/episode/index/show/a6ea6985-55a0-45bb-92aa-97bf321e1545/id/31326397
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THE PHANTOM CHASE MATTER YOURS TRULY JOHNNY DOLLAR
11/26/2025
THE PHANTOM CHASE MATTER YOURS TRULY JOHNNY DOLLAR
Each story of the Bailey years started with a phone call from an insurance executive, calling on Johnny to investigate an unusual claim. Each story required Johnny to travel to some distant locale, usually within the United States but sometimes abroad, where he was almost always threatened with personal danger in the course of his investigations. Johnny's file on each case was usually referenced as a "matter," as in "The Silver Blue Matter" or "The Forbes Matter". Later episodes were more fanciful, with tit
/episode/index/show/a6ea6985-55a0-45bb-92aa-97bf321e1545/id/31325097
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THE CRYSTAL LAKE MATTER JOHNNY DOLLAR
11/23/2025
THE CRYSTAL LAKE MATTER JOHNNY DOLLAR
Each story of the Bailey years started with a phone call from an insurance executive, calling on Johnny to investigate an unusual claim. Each story required Johnny to travel to some distant locale, usually within the United States but sometimes abroad, where he was almost always threatened with personal danger in the course of his investigations. Johnny's file on each case was usually referenced as a "matter," as in "The Silver Blue Matter" or "The Forbes Matter". Later episodes were more fanciful, with tit
/episode/index/show/a6ea6985-55a0-45bb-92aa-97bf321e1545/id/31325347
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THE LOST BY A HAIR MATTER and THE NIGHT IN PARIS MATTER YOURS TRULY, JOHNNY DOLLAR
11/22/2025
THE LOST BY A HAIR MATTER and THE NIGHT IN PARIS MATTER YOURS TRULY, JOHNNY DOLLAR
The format best remembered was instituted by writer-director Jack Johnstone. Each case usually started with a phone call from an insurance adjuster, calling on Johnny to investigate an unusual claim: a suspicious death, an attempted fraud, a missing person, or other mysterious circumstances. Each story required Johnny to travel to some distant locale, usually within the United States but sometimes abroad, where he was almost always threatened with personal danger in the course of his investigations. He would compare notes with the police officials who had first investigated each strange occurrence, and followed every clue until he figured out what actually happened. Johnny's file on each case was usually referenced as a "matter," as in "The Silver Blue Matter" or "The Forbes Matter". Later episodes were more fanciful, with titles like "The Wayward Trout Matter" and "The Price of Fame Matter" (the latter featuring a rare guest-star appearance by Vincent Price as himself; here Price and Dollar team up to retrieve a painting stolen by Price's insurance agent). Johnny usually stuck to business, but would sometimes engage in romantic dalliances with women he encountered in his travels; later episodes gave Johnny a steady girlfriend, Betty Lewis. Johnny's precious recreational time was usually spent fishing, and it was not uncommon for Johnny's clients to exploit this favorite pastime in convincing him to take on a job near good fishing locations. His past was rarely mentioned, but Dollar in “The Bennett Matter” described himself as a four-year US Marine veteran who then worked as a police officer for a decade before changing careers to insurance investigation.[5] In "The Blackburn Case" Dollar also refers to his time as a Pinkerton Detective. Each story was recounted in flashback, and every few minutes the action would be interrupted by Johnny listing a line item from his expense account, which served as an effective scene transition. Most of the expense account related to transportation, lodging, and meals, but no incidental expense was too small for Johnny to itemize, as in "Item nine, 10 cents. Aspirin. I needed them." The monetary amounts weren't always literal: the smallest line item Johnny ever recorded was "two cents: what I felt like" after a professional setback; the largest was "one million dollars" (the way he felt after finding a missing woman and her daughter in a snowbound cabin). The episodes generally finished with Johnny tallying up his expense account and traveling back to Hartford, Connecticut, where he was based. Sometimes Johnny would add a sardonic postscript under "Remarks," detailing the aftermath of the case. ("The Todd Matter," which especially disgusted Johnny, ended abruptly with "Remarks – nil!") In later seasons the character Johnny Dollar had a radio program within the fictional series, in which he recounted his adventures as true events, with other characters recognizing Dollar's voice from the radio; in the episode “The Salkoff Sequel Matter” Johnny’s radio show becomes an important plot point.
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THE WILL AND A WAY MATTER and THE BOLT OUT OF THE BLUE MATTER YOURS TRULY JOHNNY DOLLAR
11/19/2025
THE WILL AND A WAY MATTER and THE BOLT OUT OF THE BLUE MATTER YOURS TRULY JOHNNY DOLLAR
The format best remembered was instituted by writer-director Jack Johnstone. Each case usually started with a phone call from an insurance adjuster, calling on Johnny to investigate an unusual claim: a suspicious death, an attempted fraud, a missing person, or other mysterious circumstances. Each story required Johnny to travel to some distant locale, usually within the United States but sometimes abroad, where he was almost always threatened with personal danger in the course of his investigations. He would compare notes with the police officials who had first investigated each strange occurrence, and followed every clue until he figured out what actually happened. Johnny's file on each case was usually referenced as a "matter," as in "The Silver Blue Matter" or "The Forbes Matter". Later episodes were more fanciful, with titles like "The Wayward Trout Matter" and "The Price of Fame Matter" (the latter featuring a rare guest-star appearance by Vincent Price as himself; here Price and Dollar team up to retrieve a painting stolen by Price's insurance agent). Johnny usually stuck to business, but would sometimes engage in romantic dalliances with women he encountered in his travels; later episodes gave Johnny a steady girlfriend, Betty Lewis. Johnny's precious recreational time was usually spent fishing, and it was not uncommon for Johnny's clients to exploit this favorite pastime in convincing him to take on a job near good fishing locations. His past was rarely mentioned, but Dollar in “The Bennett Matter” described himself as a four-year US Marine veteran who then worked as a police officer for a decade before changing careers to insurance investigation.[5] In "The Blackburn Case" Dollar also refers to his time as a Pinkerton Detective. Each story was recounted in flashback, and every few minutes the action would be interrupted by Johnny listing a line item from his expense account, which served as an effective scene transition. Most of the expense account related to transportation, lodging, and meals, but no incidental expense was too small for Johnny to itemize, as in "Item nine, 10 cents. Aspirin. I needed them." The monetary amounts weren't always literal: the smallest line item Johnny ever recorded was "two cents: what I felt like" after a professional setback; the largest was "one million dollars" (the way he felt after finding a missing woman and her daughter in a snowbound cabin). The episodes generally finished with Johnny tallying up his expense account and traveling back to Hartford, Connecticut, where he was based. Sometimes Johnny would add a sardonic postscript under "Remarks," detailing the aftermath of the case. ("The Todd Matter," which especially disgusted Johnny, ended abruptly with "Remarks – nil!") In later seasons the character Johnny Dollar had a radio program within the fictional series, in which he recounted his adventures as true events, with other characters recognizing Dollar's voice from the radio; in the episode “The Salkoff Sequel Matter” Johnny’s radio show becomes an important plot point.
/episode/index/show/a6ea6985-55a0-45bb-92aa-97bf321e1545/id/39034085
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THE ONLY ONE BUTT MATTER and THE FRANTIC FISHERMAN MATTER YOURS TRULY, JOHNNY DOLLAR
11/16/2025
THE ONLY ONE BUTT MATTER and THE FRANTIC FISHERMAN MATTER YOURS TRULY, JOHNNY DOLLAR
The format best remembered was instituted by writer-director Jack Johnstone. Each case usually started with a phone call from an insurance adjuster, calling on Johnny to investigate an unusual claim: a suspicious death, an attempted fraud, a missing person, or other mysterious circumstances. Each story required Johnny to travel to some distant locale, usually within the United States but sometimes abroad, where he was almost always threatened with personal danger in the course of his investigations. He would compare notes with the police officials who had first investigated each strange occurrence, and followed every clue until he figured out what actually happened. Johnny's file on each case was usually referenced as a "matter," as in "The Silver Blue Matter" or "The Forbes Matter". Later episodes were more fanciful, with titles like "The Wayward Trout Matter" and "The Price of Fame Matter" (the latter featuring a rare guest-star appearance by Vincent Price as himself; here Price and Dollar team up to retrieve a painting stolen by Price's insurance agent). Johnny usually stuck to business, but would sometimes engage in romantic dalliances with women he encountered in his travels; later episodes gave Johnny a steady girlfriend, Betty Lewis. Johnny's precious recreational time was usually spent fishing, and it was not uncommon for Johnny's clients to exploit this favorite pastime in convincing him to take on a job near good fishing locations. His past was rarely mentioned, but Dollar in “The Bennett Matter” described himself as a four-year US Marine veteran who then worked as a police officer for a decade before changing careers to insurance investigation.[5] In "The Blackburn Case" Dollar also refers to his time as a Pinkerton Detective. Each story was recounted in flashback, and every few minutes the action would be interrupted by Johnny listing a line item from his expense account, which served as an effective scene transition. Most of the expense account related to transportation, lodging, and meals, but no incidental expense was too small for Johnny to itemize, as in "Item nine, 10 cents. Aspirin. I needed them." The monetary amounts weren't always literal: the smallest line item Johnny ever recorded was "two cents: what I felt like" after a professional setback; the largest was "one million dollars" (the way he felt after finding a missing woman and her daughter in a snowbound cabin). The episodes generally finished with Johnny tallying up his expense account and traveling back to Hartford, Connecticut, where he was based. Sometimes Johnny would add a sardonic postscript under "Remarks," detailing the aftermath of the case. ("The Todd Matter," which especially disgusted Johnny, ended abruptly with "Remarks – nil!") In later seasons the character Johnny Dollar had a radio program within the fictional series, in which he recounted his adventures as true events, with other characters recognizing Dollar's voice from the radio; in the episode “The Salkoff Sequel Matter” Johnny’s radio show becomes an important plot point.
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DRAGNET TRIPLE PLAY: THE BIG TAR, BIG MANNEKIN, BIG HANDSOME BANDIT
11/14/2025
DRAGNET TRIPLE PLAY: THE BIG TAR, BIG MANNEKIN, BIG HANDSOME BANDIT
Dragnet, the brainchild of Jack Webb, may very well be the most well-remembered, and the best, radio police drama series. From September, 1949 through February 1957, Dragnet's 30 minute shows, broadcast on NBC, brought to radio true police stories in a low-key, documentary style. The origins of Dragnet can be traced to a semi-documentary film, "He Walked by Night" from 1948, in which Webb had a small role. Both employed the same Los Angeles Police Department technical adviser, used actual police cases and presented the case in "just the facts" manner that became a hallmark of Dragnet. It is interesting to note that Webb employed that format in other radio series, some pre-dating the film mentioned above. Dragnet was a long running radio and television police procedural drama, about the cases of a dedicated Los Angeles police detective, Sergeant Joe Friday, and his partners. The show takes its name from an actual police term, a dragnet, meaning a system of coordinated measures for apprehending criminals or suspects. Dragnet was perhaps the most famous and influential police procedural drama in American media history. The series gave millions of Americans a feel for the boredom and drudgery, as well as the danger and heroism, of real life police work. Dragnet earned praise for improving the public opinion of police officers. Actor and producer Jack Webb's aims in Dragnet were for realism and unpretentious acting. He achieved both goals and Dragnet remains a key influence on subsequent police dramas in many media. The shows cultural impact is demonstrated by the fact that even after five decades, elements of Dragnet are known to those who have never heard nor seen the program. The ominous four note introduction to the brass and tympani theme music, titled Danger Ahead, is instantly recognizable as well as the shows opening narration: "Ladies and gentlemen, the story you are about to hear is true. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent." The original Dragnet starring Jack Webb as Sergeant Joe Friday ran on radio from June 3rd, 1949 to February 26th, 1957; and on television from December 16th, 1951 to August 23rd, 1959, and from January 12th, 1967 to April 16th, 1970. All of these versions ran on NBC. There were two Dragnet feature films, a straight adaptation starring Jack Webb in 1954, and a comedy spoof in 1987. There were also television revivals, without Webb, in 1989 and 2003.
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THE BIG MANNEKIN and THE BIG CANDY JAR DRAGNET
11/12/2025
THE BIG MANNEKIN and THE BIG CANDY JAR DRAGNET
Dragnet, the brainchild of Jack Webb, may very well be the most well-remembered, and the best, radio police drama series. From September, 1949 through February 1957, Dragnet's 30 minute shows, broadcast on NBC, brought to radio true police stories in a low-key, documentary style. The origins of Dragnet can be traced to a semi-documentary film, "He Walked by Night" from 1948, in which Webb had a small role. Both employed the same Los Angeles Police Department technical adviser, used actual police cases and presented the case in "just the facts" manner that became a hallmark of Dragnet. It is interesting to note that Webb employed that format in other radio series, some pre-dating the film mentioned above. Dragnet was a long running radio and television police procedural drama, about the cases of a dedicated Los Angeles police detective, Sergeant Joe Friday, and his partners. The show takes its name from an actual police term, a dragnet, meaning a system of coordinated measures for apprehending criminals or suspects. Dragnet was perhaps the most famous and influential police procedural drama in American media history. The series gave millions of Americans a feel for the boredom and drudgery, as well as the danger and heroism, of real life police work. Dragnet earned praise for improving the public opinion of police officers. Actor and producer Jack Webb's aims in Dragnet were for realism and unpretentious acting. He achieved both goals and Dragnet remains a key influence on subsequent police dramas in many media. The shows cultural impact is demonstrated by the fact that even after five decades, elements of Dragnet are known to those who have never heard nor seen the program. The ominous four note introduction to the brass and tympani theme music, titled Danger Ahead, is instantly recognizable as well as the shows opening narration: "Ladies and gentlemen, the story you are about to hear is true. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent." The original Dragnet starring Jack Webb as Sergeant Joe Friday ran on radio from June 3rd, 1949 to February 26th, 1957; and on television from December 16th, 1951 to August 23rd, 1959, and from January 12th, 1967 to April 16th, 1970. All of these versions ran on NBC. There were two Dragnet feature films, a straight adaptation starring Jack Webb in 1954, and a comedy spoof in 1987. There were also television revivals, without Webb, in 1989 and 2003.
/episode/index/show/a6ea6985-55a0-45bb-92aa-97bf321e1545/id/38951000
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THE BIG SWITCH and THE BIG GONE DRAGNET
11/09/2025
THE BIG SWITCH and THE BIG GONE DRAGNET
Dragnet, the brainchild of Jack Webb, may very well be the most well-remembered, and the best, radio police drama series. From September, 1949 through February 1957, Dragnet's 30 minute shows, broadcast on NBC, brought to radio true police stories in a low-key, documentary style. The origins of Dragnet can be traced to a semi-documentary film, "He Walked by Night" from 1948, in which Webb had a small role. Both employed the same Los Angeles Police Department technical adviser, used actual police cases and presented the case in "just the facts" manner that became a hallmark of Dragnet. It is interesting to note that Webb employed that format in other radio series, some pre-dating the film mentioned above. Dragnet was a long running radio and television police procedural drama, about the cases of a dedicated Los Angeles police detective, Sergeant Joe Friday, and his partners. The show takes its name from an actual police term, a dragnet, meaning a system of coordinated measures for apprehending criminals or suspects. Dragnet was perhaps the most famous and influential police procedural drama in American media history. The series gave millions of Americans a feel for the boredom and drudgery, as well as the danger and heroism, of real life police work. Dragnet earned praise for improving the public opinion of police officers. Actor and producer Jack Webb's aims in Dragnet were for realism and unpretentious acting. He achieved both goals and Dragnet remains a key influence on subsequent police dramas in many media. The shows cultural impact is demonstrated by the fact that even after five decades, elements of Dragnet are known to those who have never heard nor seen the program. The ominous four note introduction to the brass and tympani theme music, titled Danger Ahead, is instantly recognizable as well as the shows opening narration: "Ladies and gentlemen, the story you are about to hear is true. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent." The original Dragnet starring Jack Webb as Sergeant Joe Friday ran on radio from June 3rd, 1949 to February 26th, 1957; and on television from December 16th, 1951 to August 23rd, 1959, and from January 12th, 1967 to April 16th, 1970. All of these versions ran on NBC. There were two Dragnet feature films, a straight adaptation starring Jack Webb in 1954, and a comedy spoof in 1987. There were also television revivals, without Webb, in 1989 and 2003.
/episode/index/show/a6ea6985-55a0-45bb-92aa-97bf321e1545/id/38950330
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THE FRISCO FIRE MATTER and THE FAIR WEATHER FRIEND MATTER YOURS TRULY JOHNNY DOLLAR
11/08/2025
THE FRISCO FIRE MATTER and THE FAIR WEATHER FRIEND MATTER YOURS TRULY JOHNNY DOLLAR
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar is a radio drama that aired on CBS Radio from February 18, 1949 to September 30, 1962.[1][2] The first several seasons imagined protagonist Johnny Dollar as a private investigator drama, with Charles Russell, Edmond O'Brien and John Lund portraying Dollar in succession over the years. In 1955 after a yearlong hiatus, the series came back in its best-known incarnation with Bob Bailey starring in "the transcribed adventures of the man with the action-packed expense account – America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator." There were 809 episodes (plus two not-for-broadcast auditions) in the 13-year run, and more than 710 still exist today.[3] Jim Cox's book American Radio Networks: A History cites "886 total performances" which includes repeat performances. The format best remembered was instituted by writer-director Jack Johnstone. Each case usually started with a phone call from an insurance adjuster, calling on Johnny to investigate an unusual claim: a suspicious death, an attempted fraud, a missing person, or other mysterious circumstances. Each story required Johnny to travel to some distant locale, usually within the United States but sometimes abroad, where he was almost always threatened with personal danger in the course of his investigations. He would compare notes with the police officials who had first investigated each strange occurrence, and followed every clue until he figured out what actually happened. Johnny's file on each case was usually referenced as a "matter," as in "The Silver Blue Matter" or "The Forbes Matter". Later episodes were more fanciful, with titles like "The Wayward Trout Matter" and "The Price of Fame Matter" (the latter featuring a rare guest-star appearance by Vincent Price as himself; here Price and Dollar team up to retrieve a painting stolen by Price's insurance agent). Johnny usually stuck to business, but would sometimes engage in romantic dalliances with women he encountered in his travels; later episodes gave Johnny a steady girlfriend, Betty Lewis. Johnny's precious recreational time was usually spent fishing, and it was not uncommon for Johnny's clients to exploit this favorite pastime in convincing him to take on a job near good fishing locations. His past was rarely mentioned, but Dollar in “The Bennett Matter” described himself as a four-year US Marine veteran who then worked as a police officer for a decade before changing careers to insurance investigation.[5] In "The Blackburn Case" Dollar also refers to his time as a Pinkerton Detective.
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THE SHANKAR DIAMOND MATTER and THE JIMMY CARTER MATTER YOURS TRULY, JOHNNY DOLLAR
11/05/2025
THE SHANKAR DIAMOND MATTER and THE JIMMY CARTER MATTER YOURS TRULY, JOHNNY DOLLAR
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar is a radio drama that aired on CBS Radio from February 18, 1949 to September 30, 1962.[1][2] The first several seasons imagined protagonist Johnny Dollar as a private investigator drama, with Charles Russell, Edmond O'Brien and John Lund portraying Dollar in succession over the years. In 1955 after a yearlong hiatus, the series came back in its best-known incarnation with Bob Bailey starring in "the transcribed adventures of the man with the action-packed expense account – America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator." There were 809 episodes (plus two not-for-broadcast auditions) in the 13-year run, and more than 710 still exist today.[3] Jim Cox's book American Radio Networks: A History cites "886 total performances" which includes repeat performances.[ The format best remembered was instituted by writer-director Jack Johnstone. Each case usually started with a phone call from an insurance adjuster, calling on Johnny to investigate an unusual claim: a suspicious death, an attempted fraud, a missing person, or other mysterious circumstances. Each story required Johnny to travel to some distant locale, usually within the United States but sometimes abroad, where he was almost always threatened with personal danger in the course of his investigations. He would compare notes with the police officials who had first investigated each strange occurrence, and followed every clue until he figured out what actually happened. Johnny's file on each case was usually referenced as a "matter," as in "The Silver Blue Matter" or "The Forbes Matter". Later episodes were more fanciful, with titles like "The Wayward Trout Matter" and "The Price of Fame Matter" (the latter featuring a rare guest-star appearance by Vincent Price as himself; here Price and Dollar team up to retrieve a painting stolen by Price's insurance agent). Johnny usually stuck to business, but would sometimes engage in romantic dalliances with women he encountered in his travels; later episodes gave Johnny a steady girlfriend, Betty Lewis. Johnny's precious recreational time was usually spent fishing, and it was not uncommon for Johnny's clients to exploit this favorite pastime in convincing him to take on a job near good fishing locations. His past was rarely mentioned, but Dollar in “The Bennett Matter” described himself as a four-year US Marine veteran who then worked as a police officer for a decade before changing careers to insurance investigation.[5] In "The Blackburn Case" Dollar also refers to his time as a Pinkerton Detective.
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THE VILLAGE OF VIRTUE MATTER and THE CARSON ARSON MATTER YOURS TRULY, JOHNNY DOLLAR
11/02/2025
THE VILLAGE OF VIRTUE MATTER and THE CARSON ARSON MATTER YOURS TRULY, JOHNNY DOLLAR
Each story of the Bailey years started with a phone call from an insurance executive, calling on Johnny to investigate an unusual claim. Each story required Johnny to travel to some distant locale, usually within the United States but sometimes abroad, where he was almost always threatened with personal danger in the course of his investigations. Johnny's file on each case was usually referenced as a "matter," as in "The Silver Blue Matter" or "The Forbes Matter". Later episodes were more fanciful, with tit
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THE KRONER CUTLASS and THE NAZI BUZZ BOMB DANGEROUS ASSIGNMENT
10/29/2025
THE KRONER CUTLASS and THE NAZI BUZZ BOMB DANGEROUS ASSIGNMENT
Dangerous Assignment was an NBC radio drama starring Brian Donlevy broadcast in the US 1949–1953. It preceded the James Bond character and books and may well have inspired them.
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THE SILENT QUEEN MATTER YOURS TRULY JOHNNY DOLLAR
10/27/2025
THE SILENT QUEEN MATTER YOURS TRULY JOHNNY DOLLAR
Each story of the Bailey years started with a phone call from an insurance executive, calling on Johnny to investigate an unusual claim. Each story required Johnny to travel to some distant locale, usually within the United States but sometimes abroad, where he was almost always threatened with personal danger in the course of his investigations. Johnny's file on each case was usually referenced as a "matter," as in "The Silver Blue Matter" or "The Forbes Matter". Later episodes were more fanciful, with tit
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THE JOLLY ROGER FRAUD MATTER JOHNNY DOLLAR
10/25/2025
THE JOLLY ROGER FRAUD MATTER JOHNNY DOLLAR
Bob Bailey, generally thought of as the most popular of the Johnny Dollars, brought a new interpretation to the character – tough, but not hard-boiled; streetwise, but not overly cynical, Bailey's Dollar was smart and gritty when he had to be. But Bailey's Johnny Dollar was also human. His character would get emotionally involved in a number of his cases. He had a streak of impatience, and would occasionally not fully listen to a witness and rush off on a tangent before realizing his mistake.
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LIVING DEATH and DEAD GIVEAWAY TALES OF THE TEXAS RANGERS
10/22/2025
LIVING DEATH and DEAD GIVEAWAY TALES OF THE TEXAS RANGERS
Tales of the Texas Rangers, a western adventure old-time radio drama, premiered on July 8, 1950, on the US NBC radio network and remained on the air through September 14, 1952. Movie star Joel McCrea starred as Texas Ranger Jayce Pearson, who used the latest scientific techniques to identify the criminals and his faithful horse, Charcoal, to track them down. The shows were reenactments of actual Texas Ranger cases.The series was produced and directed by Stacy Keach, Sr., and was sponsored for part of its ru
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