Yours Truly Johnny Dollar - "The Touch of Midas Matter Part 5" (Old Time Radio)

This is Part 5 of a five-part serial from the classic Old Time Radio series "Yours Truly Johnny Dollar," originally broadcast on CBS in 1956. Bob Bailey stars as Johnny Dollar, a hard-boiled insurance investigator tasked with investigating a major claim following a deadly cave-in at the Midas Touch gold mine in Kingman, Arizona. The central mystery involves three insured brothers who died in the accident, and Johnny must determine whether the cave-in was genuinely accidental or something more sinister. The investigation requires him to examine the mine's promoter, the quality and authenticity of the ore, and the circumstances surrounding the supposed accident. The episode is set in desert country near Lake Mohave and follows Johnny as he pursues leads through the evidence. The episode runs 16 minutes total, with a newly produced contextual introduction by Victor Sterling (48 seconds), the original 1956 broadcast (approximately 14.5 minutes), and a brief closing announcement. The audio has been cleaned and mastered for modern listening. As the concluding installment of the serial, this episode presumably resolves the mystery and wraps up the narrative threads established across the five-part arc. The episode is written, directed, and produced by Jack Johnstone.

Verdict: A competent classic radio mystery that delivers on its premise, but as Part 5 of a serial, it's only worthwhile for listeners already invested in the story arc.

Fiction rubric

• Writing 3/5 20%

  Classic radio drama writing from 1956 with competent mystery plotting, though source material provides no specific dialogue or script details to assess originality or sharpness.

• Performance and production 3/5 20%

  Bob Bailey as established lead performer in the series; audio professionally cleaned and mastered for modern listening, but no details on acting quality or sound design specifics provided.

• Plot momentum 3/5 15%

  As Part 5 of a serial, momentum depends on prior episodes; the setup suggests forward movement toward resolution but source material doesn't confirm pacing or dramatic payoff.

• Substance 3/5 15%

  Mystery investigation with multiple plot threads (three deaths, promoter questions, ore authenticity) suggests solid content, but 14.5 minutes of actual broadcast limits depth; no indication of filler or padding.

• Delivers on its title 4/5 15%

  Title promises the fifth part of a serial mystery; description confirms investigation of the Midas Touch mine claim, three deaths, and surrounding questions—directly on target.

• Value for time 3/5 15%

  16 minutes total with introduction and closing; 14.5 minutes of actual content is reasonable for a radio episode, though as Part 5 of a serial, value depends on prior investment.

How we score Fiction

Worth it if you've followed the first four parts of "The Touch of Midas Matter" or are a devoted Old Time Radio enthusiast seeking authentic 1950s detective drama.

Based on the episode description. AI-generated; it can be wrong.