Old Time Radio Shows

Bob Bailey , Radio Voice of Johnny Dollar If there was any one show which proved just how great Golden Age Radio could be, it was Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar . The stories about "the man with the action-packed expense account" became historically important because of a scheduling fluke which made Johnny Dollar the second-to-last broadcast of the Golden Age on September 30, 1962 (followed by the last broadcast of Suspense ). Although it is ultimately a matter of opinion, it is safe to say that Johnny Dollar was not "the best" show of the era or even the best detective show. In a genre which had become increasingly predictable and formulaic, the fabulous freelance insurance investigator brought a refreshing, almost cheery take on the sometimes seedy and noir -ish world of the Private Eye . During the period when Network Radio was losing popularity and sponsor support, Johnny Dollar explored new and different ways to deliver stories to the audience. ...

Radio Drama "died" on Sept 30, 1962, with the closing broadcasts of Suspense! and Yours Truly Johnny Dollar . When CBS canceled these two series, the Golden Age of Radio ended, a victim of the increasing influence of Television. To quote Fibber McGee and Molly 's Old Timer, “That ain't the way I heared it...” The rise of television expediated the demise radio drama as a commercial endeavor in the United States, but radio drama (or "Audio Theater") is simply too effective as a storytelling medium to die away altogether. There are still markets that regard  Radio Drama highly, even when it competes with Television. Radio Drama, Soap Operas, and Comedy Programing remain a staple of British radio. In parts of the world that were slower to get television, such as South Africa and the Australian Outback, Radio Drama held on as a readily accessible form of electronic entertainment, although often subsidized. In the US, radio drama held on in a few out...

Radio detective dramas ofte n ne eded a "hook" in order to stand out in the crowded postwar marketplace. Shows of all types used some sort of gimmick to attract listeners. The real trick was to hold enough listeners to get the program renewed for the next season. Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar held listeners until the end of the golden age of radio era. Few detective radio programs had as many gimmicks as Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar . Being smart-mouthed, independent, and tough had appeal for an audience filled with veterans adjusting to work-a-day civilian life, and tough, smart-mouthed, independent detectives filled the airwaves. A popularly gimmick was the method a detective would find his cases. In Box 13 , Dan Holiday, played by Alan Ladd , had a decidedly generalized Want Ad that brought him interesting clients. Frank Sinatra as Rocky Fortune found cases when he went out on temporary employment. There would be no lack of jobs for Johnny Dollar a...