Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: The Real Smokey Matter 09/18/1960

Choice Classic Radio Detectives | Old Time Radio

Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar investigates a report that underworld figure Smokey Sullivan has died in an arson attack at the Millers

Key takeaways

• A news report claims a body found in the Millersburg Toy Company ashes was identified as Smokey Sullivan via a distinctive ring.
• The ring used for identification was one previously linked to Sullivan's time in Dannemora Prison.

Main topics

• Arson investigation
• Insurance risk assessment

Notable quotes

The real Smokey Matter.

Conclusion

A high-stakes detective story demonstrating how theatricality and medi

Transcript preview

Speaker 1 (0:00) Welcome to Choice Classic Radio, where we bring to you the greatest old-time radio shows. Like us on Facebook, subscribe to us on YouTube, and thank you for donating at choiceclassicradio.com. Speaker 1 (0:14) Johnny Speaker 5 (0:14) Dollar. Well, Speaker 4 (0:15) it's about time. Speaker 1 (0:16) Huh? Speaker 4 (0:16) John, where have you been? Speaker 5 (0:18) Oh, I just took a couple of days off to... Now, wait a minute. Who are you? Speaker 4 (0:22) This is Harry Branson at Philadelphia Mutual Liability and Casualty Insurance Company. Speaker 5 (0:26) Harry, where have you been? Speaker 4 (0:28) What? Speaker 5 (0:28) Well, do you know it's been six or seven months since you've called me in on something? Speaker 4 (0:32) No, no. It's only been a little over five months. Five and a half months, I should say. As a matter of fact, it's been five... Okay, Speaker 5 (0:40) okay, Harry. So where have you been? Speaker 4 (0:42) Well, as a matter of fact, I've been right here in my office at Philadelphia Mutual here on Walnut Street. Speaker 5 (0:47) John, Speaker 4 (0:48) you're trying to change the subject. Speaker 5 (0:50) Yeah? From what? Speaker 4 (0:51) Why, from the insurance matter that has me concerned at the moment. Speaker 5 (0:54) What insurance matter? Speaker 4 (0:56) The one I'm calling about, of course. Speaker 5 (0:59) Harry... After Speaker 4 (1:00) all, it was you who insisted that we sell him Speaker 5 (1:02) the policy. Oh, it was, huh? Though for the life of me, I Speaker 4 (1:04) still can't believe that that's his true, his legitimate name. Smokey Sullivan. Speaker 5 (1:09) Well, it's as true and legitimate as any... Smokey? Well, what about him? Speaker 4 (1:14) John. Speaker 5 (1:15) Yeah, well? Speaker 4 (1:15) I told you it was only because of your stubborn insistence that we agreed to ensure that... that underworld character. Speaker 5 (1:23) Okay, okay. So what's happened to him? Speaker 4 (1:25) Has something happened to him, John? Speaker 5 (1:27) Well, has it? Speaker 4 (1:28) I don't know. Speaker 5 (1:29) Well, if you don't know... Harry, for... Harry. Well, will you see what you can do about it? But you... You haven't told me about what? Good Speaker 4 (1:38) heavens, man, do I have to give you a printed diagram, spell out everything? Speaker 5 (1:41) Okay, okay, Harry. I'll grab a train, maybe a plane. I'll be down there to see you. Speaker 4 (1:46) Well, now, I don't know that that's at all necessary. Speaker 5 (1:48) It is if I'm to get any sense out of you. Speaker 4 (1:51) Why, John. Yeah. Speaker 4 (2:00) CBS Radio brings you Bob Speaker 5 (2:02) Bailey and the exciting adventures of the man with the action-packed expense account, America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator. Yours truly, Johnny Dollar. Expense account submitted by Special Investigator Johnny Dollar to the Philadelphia Mutual Liability and Casualty Insurance Company Home Office, Philadelphia. Investigation of the real sea matter. Speaker 5 (2:38) In spite of the way he sounds, in spite of his being a literal-minded, excitable worrywart, Harry Branson is a good insurance man. Whatever he lacks in, well, imagination spark, he more than makes up for in methodical attention to every detail of his office operation. Paradoxically, then, except for Harry himself, Philly Mutual's home office ticks along like a smooth running watch. If I was promised an assignment at 9 o'clock of a Monday morning, believe me, it was never a second late. Now, was there ever any question about the size of my fee or expense account, so long as it was justified? Which is one reason I always jumped at the chance to take on a case from Philly Mutual. And now, if my old friend Smokey Sullivan was in trouble... Okay, then. Expense account, item 1, 1425, taxi out to Bradley Field, plane to Philadelphia, taxi into Harry Branson's office on Walnut Street. Speaker 5 (3:31) Okay, Harry, what's it all about? Speaker 4 (3:33) John, John, I tried to tell you over the phone it was not necessary for you to come on down here. What Speaker 5 (3:38) you told me over the phone didn't make any sense. Speaker 4 (3:41) And I suppose you'll expect the company to pay your expense account. Speaker 5 (3:44) Ah. We shall just see about that. Oh, now, wait a minute. Yes? Speaker 4 (3:49) Well... Speaker 5 (3:50) Well? Speaker 5 (3:52) Now look, Harry, if something serious has happened to Smokey Sullivan... Speaker 4 (3:56) Did I say anything like that over the telephone? Speaker 5 (3:58) Well, I'm sure you didn't waste your company's precious money on a long-distance call just to say good morning to me. Of course not. And you did mention Smokey. Speaker 4 (4:05) I certainly did. Well, come on, Harry. What's it all about? Arsonist. Thief. racketeer mixed up in more unlawful illegal sordid crimes and by his own admission too well so what if he was he Speaker 5 (4:17) isn't anymore john i Speaker 4 (4:19) i certainly hope you're right Speaker 5 (4:20) i am right Speaker 4 (4:21) but he did have a record and why a fine conservative respectable old company like philadelphia why you should demand that we issue a combination life and accident policy on such a such a person what's the matter you got off Speaker 5 (4:35) your rocker or something Speaker 4 (4:35) beg your pardon don't you Speaker 5 (4:37) realize that your company and half a dozen others all over the country ought to be proud to serve a guy like Smokey. Speaker 4 (4:43) Insure him for nothing, too, and for as much as he wants. John, a company hardly prospers by doing a thing like that. Speaker 5 (4:52) Harry, don't you read the reports on my investigation? Of course. Don't you know that two out of the last four cases I've handled for this grand and glorious company of yours would never have been