Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. This
is your host, Adam Graham. If you have a comment, email it
to me Box thirteen at Great Detectives dot net. Follow us on Twitter at
Radio Detectives, and check us out on Instagram, Instagram, dot com,
slash Great Detectives. If you are enjoying this podcast, please follow us using
your favorite podcast software. Our listener support campaign continues. You can become one
of our ongoing Patreon supporters for only two dollars per month. As a Patreon
supporter, you will receive a monthly update from me, along with the ability
to vote for our summer series for the Amazing World of Radio, and at
the Shawmas level of four dollars or more per month, you will be able
to access our premium site without dynamic concerted ads. You can become one of
our Patreon supporters at Patreon dot Great Detectives dot net. You can also mail
in a donation to Adam Graham peelbox one pive nine one three. That's Peelbox
one, pive nine thirteen, Boise, Idaho eight three seven one five and
I want to go ahead and thank John, Carolyn and Robert for supporting the
program that way. Thank you so much for your support. Now we're going
to get into this week's yours truly Johnny Dollars serial will be presenting episodes one
and two today and the concluding episodes on Friday, so you can obviously listen
to them all together on Friday if you want. But the original air dates
April the twenty third and twenty fourth, nineteen fifty six. And this is
The Lonely Hearts Matter, Episodes one and two from Hollywood. It's time now
for Johnny Dollar davel with Johnny Northwest. Surety, Oh hi you Dave.
How's the family growing like weeds? You wouldn't even recognize? I guess not.
It's been a long time. Say yeah, you've freed the moment,
Johnny. Now there's nothing going on here except the rent. What's on your
mind? I don't know exactly. Maybe smoke, maybe a fire. I
got a girl here, you executives really live? Well, she's pretty enough
to say, why don't you come on over here and meet her? Social
or do I get paid for it? You get paid? Jay Dollers shallow
personal attention to Lonely Hearts specialists. Why did you say that, say what
lonely hearts? I don't know why. Is it a cold of some kind?
You could call it that. I guess what does it mean, Johnny?
If this girl is telling the truth, it means murder tonight and every
weekday night. Bob Bailey. In the transcribed Adventures of the Man with the
Action Packed Expense Account America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator as Trulli Johnny Doller from Special
Investigator Johnny Doller to the home office Northwest Shorety Company, Hartford, Connecticut.
The following is an accounting of expenditures during my investigation of the Lonely Hearts matter.
Rightem one A dollar and sixty cents taxi fair from my apartment of the
Northwest Shorty Building in the office of Dave Elwood, Executive Claims Adjuster, a
hard working little man with thinning hair, who, even after twenty years in
the game, still couldn't help making every claim of personal matter. He met
me in the outer office and led me off to one side. She's waiting
inside there, Johnny, I wanted a brief you before you met her.
Her name is Normal Wells. She's from Chicago. She flew in from there
this morning, hasn't had any sleep, and she's pretty upset. What about
her father died three days ago, suddenly, unexpectedly? What did he die
on? Acute enter ritis? Supposedly the death certificate hasn't been signed yet.
Is that what you meant by murder? And his daughter thinks? So?
Was he insured with you? Fifty thousand dollars term life written five months ago?
Who was the beneficiary this daughter? No? His wife, his second
wife, that is, the girl's mother died years ago. Wells remarried a
month before the policy was issued, a woman named Mabel Burke. The insurance
is payable to her, and the Wells girl thinks she killed him, That's
what she says. She's pretty mixed up. Why did she come here?
And I'm not quite sure, Johnny, I suppose you ask her. Okay,
let's go this way. What about that lonely hearts crack you made on
the phone. Well, that's how he met this new wife, this Mabel
Burke, through a lonely hearts club. Like they say, marriage is a
lottery, in this case, it sounds more like Russian roulette. Yeah,
in here, miss Wells, this is Johnny Dollar. He's a specialist,
an expert in this kind of thing. I'm sure he'll be able to help
you. What did you do, mister mister dollar? Miss well Now,
I'm going to leave you two alone. I have a couple of things I
gotta take care of. You just punched the intercom. If you want me,
Ryan, Dave? Thanks? Would you? Would you care for a
cigarette? Miss Wells? No? Thank you? Yes, yes, I
will too. I please forgive me. I I just can't seem to think
straight. That's perfectly understandable. Yeah, thanks, thank you, mister Dallars.
Forgive me for being so blunt. But when was the last time you
had something to eat? Yesterday morning? I guess, Dave. Yes,
Johnny, I suppose you could send out for a glass of orange usee,
a hot roll, a pot of coffee, or I'll have one of the
girls go get it. No, no, please, I really you are
really going to though. You're shaking so hard you can hardly hold on to
that cigarette. I know you're so stupid at me. You and your father
were pretty close, I am as yes, until he married her. What
kind of a woman is she? But she's strange, it's hard to explain.
She's she's sort of vague, fuzzy around the edges if if that makes
any sense, it's like she isn't even there sometimes but by a way off
somewhere in time of space, a little batty. Is that what you're imploying?
No? No, not really. She could be as sharp as a
tech when she wanted to. But something about her, well, I was
scared of a mister Dalla, and I don't actually know why. I see
my father and I could never be alone. Somehow she always managed to be
there, separating us, driving us apart. Did she ever say anything that
would lead you to believe that she didn't have to? Just being there was
enough to all right? I know what you're thinking. Father, vexation,
second wife, jealous daughter, neurotic imagination. It's a possibility, isn't it.
No? Don't you suppose I thought of that, made allowances for it?
Do you think I'm a fool? I don't know what to think.
Miss Well. As you told Dave L, would you believe your stepmother had
murdered your father? And so far the only reason you've given is the fact
that she was around all the time. Maybe he wanted her around. Maybe
that's why you married her. Of course, he wanted her around. That's
not what made me suspicious. Then what did the fact that he took out
life insurance named her as beneficiary. Not at the time, I wasn't suspicious
at all, mister Dalla, Not until until the night he he died.
I was hurt, yes, and I felt out of place, so I
moved out of the house three months ago and took an apartment off the loop.
I didn't have the slightest idea she might be planning to kill him.
Did he carry any insurance before they were married? Some protection for you in
case of Oh No, he didn't feel it was necessary. He'd set up
a trust funding and there's some bonds and so on that I suppose will come
to me. No, the policy was entirely her idea. Thinking back,
it seems to me she started talking about insurance the first week after they were
married, and he finally gave in. If he hadn't, I think he'd
still be alive. Just what were the circumstances of his death. I don't
know. I wasn't there she thought of that. What do you mean,
well, he was taken ill? Suddenly in the middle of the night he
wanted her to call me but she wouldn't do it. Why. She claims
she didn't think it was anything serious, so there was no need of it.
Instead, she called the doctor, her doctor. A few minut after
he arrived, my father died. Then they called me after it was all
over. This doctor is he the one who has refused so far to sign
a death certificate. Oh, he was going to sign at all right until
I got there and kicked up a scene. An obvious case of acute enterritis,
he called it. Then he backed down, decided maybe he should have
another opinion. I went to father's doctor, but he said there was nothing
he could do because he hadn't been called in at the time. He's the
one who suggested I come here. He said the insurance company would help me,
since they were involved too, they'd advise me what to do. What
did he think about that diagnosis? Acute enterritis? He said? He said
it was possible, but extremely doubtful. He knew father's physical condition, he
treated him for years. How long had your father known this, Mabel Burke?
Before they were married, less than a month. He'd answered a lonely
heart's head in the paper. So I found out later by accident. Brows
seemed embarrassed by the way they'd met. Was it a private head or an
organization, a club of some sort, a rendezvous club. They have an
office on Atlantic Avenue, mister Dollar, it's not just imagination. Father's own
doctor feels there's something wrong too, That's why he sent me here. I'm
not crazy she killed him for his insurance. I know she did. Maybe
maybe, but there's not much to go on, not at the moment anyway.
I think it's about time for coffee break. Yeah, I imagine it's
a little past time as well. I couldn't really. Oh, yes,
you couldn't. Yes, you could go ahead now again. I'll be back
in a few minutes. I haven't worried with your day, right, Channa,
Well, what do you think? I think it needs some looking into.
How soon can you get miss Wells and me on a plane for Chicago?
Oh and a half. I've already checked. Or I'll have her get
a quote order for an autopsy in case the coroner hasn't already asked for one,
and we'll take it from there. Then you think the girl is telling
the truth, I wouldn't bet on it. Expense Account Item two ninety six
dollars and forty cents transportation from Hartford and taxi tips and ins and enteals in
Chicago. I dropped normal Wells at her apartment, checked in at the hotel,
and phoned the coroner's office. I learned that an autopsy request had been
filed but was being delayed penning a court order. I informed them that the
daughter was available and willing now to cooperate with him. I left my name
and asked the office to keep in touch with me. Idem three two dollars
and ten cents taxi to the offices of the Rendezvous Club. Introductions arranged,
mail forward, and lonely hearts minted and possibly the murders plan. Well,
Hello, I must be in the wrong place. What do you mean,
I mean, I can't see you as the lonely type. Oh I'm not.
I mean I'm not a client. I work here. Really for some
reason, I'd always had they Yeah, that these clubs were run by sweet
old ladies of seventy five or so. Oh, well, I don't exactly
run it, at least I don't own it. That's what you mean.
Hey, you're not a client, for God's sake, any rules against it?
Oh? No, how do I go about it? I mean becoming
a client. Well, you either write in or come in like you are
now, and then you fill out a form, tell all about yourself and
attach a photograph and look, buster, there's no use trying to kid you.
We don't have a woman in our files under forty five years old.
Well maybe I got a mother complex. So I fill out a form.
What do you do with it? Then we'll keep it on file. Then
we send out bulletins to the active members and forward letters back and forth.
Oh you can't come in here and be introduced and look are you serious?
A serious? Well, I don't get it. A young guy with your
looks and I bet you're selling something. No. No, As a matter
of fact, I just got in town and I'm trying to locate a certain
fellow. I I was told he's a member of your club. Oh,
well, why didn't you say so? What's his name? Jonathan Wells?
Probably got his address? Jonathan? Well? Yeah, have you got a
file on him? Who are you? You're with the police? Police?
Now, what gives you that idea? Well, I don't know anything about
the man you're looking for. No, well, I suppose we check through
the files it's not here. We don't keep the files. Where do you
keep them? They're not here? Well, maybe they're in the next office
through that door there. No, you can't go in there. Now,
take it easy. We have no ride in there. I won't let you
stop. You just stand right up there on that desk and stay out of
trouble. Let me down. Who do you think you are? Anyhow?
You'll get out of here. You go get a Warren if you want to
be. Who was in here? Nobody? You smoke cigar? Of course?
I don't smoke. Sid right there in the ash tray, still burning.
Somebody just sneaked out through that door in the hall. Who was he?
What's your name? Titler? Nie Titler? How long have you worked
here? Hey? I've got a hunch you're not a police I didn't say
I was. What about Wells? Have you got a file on him?
Know what happened to it? I don't know what you're talking about. Mabel
Burke, You got a file on her? Of course? Not? What
do you mean? Of course not? She and Wells met through this club.
Lookbuster, Mabel Burke owns this club. Johnnie Deller, Max l Answer,
mister Miller, oh oh, and it tells me you're cutting yourself in
on this. Jonathan Wills, I'm representing the insurance company Wells carried a fifty
thousand dollars policy payable to his widow. What about the autopsy? Any results
understead? It was Will's daughter of college when I was in ki Yes on
the advice of her family doctor. I know I talked to. His version
was a different slant on things. What do you mean he thought she was
suffering from temporary hysteria. He was already trying to come. He didn't think
she'd really fly back to Hartford and sturb a mess like this. You see
all the sudden death was they have caused her. Imagine things like murder.
Maybe it's possible. What do you think I think I'll away from the results
of that autopsy, mister Lanser, I'll keep in touch. From Special Investigator
Johnny Doller to the home office Northwestern Surety Company, Hartford, Connecticut assignment the
law only hearts matter location, Chicago, Illinois. Expense account continued. I
am six two dollars and ten cents for a late lunch at my hotel.
I've finished it went up to my roman started trying to fit the few facts
I had into some kind of a pattern that made sense. Max Lancer at
the DA's office might be right. Maybe it was nothing more than just hysterical
suspicion. And she'd admitted herself that she was burt and jealous when he married
Mabel Burke. Sudden death could still be natural death, and yet all I
could do at the moment was waiting for the results of that autopsy. Yeah,
who is it? Oh? All right, just a minute, come
in, thank you? What's wrong? What? I don't know exactly?
Here? Whar thank you? Yeah? What do you mean? You don't
know exactly? Could I be be losing my mind? Mister Dollar, If
you were, you'd be the last one to think, So tell me what's
happened. I went to the coroner's office to sign the authorization for the autopsy,
and then went back to my apartment. A little while later, the
phone rang, and when I answered it, there was nobody on the line.
Wrong number. Maybe no, I mean, I mean there was somebody
on the line. They didn't say anything. I keep saying hello, and
then there was a clicking in linement did and that's all that happened. Short
time afterward, I heard footsteps side in the hall. He stopped at my
door, and they keep waiting for someone to ring the bell, and they
didn't. I I finally got up enough courage to open the door. Somebody
there. Two minutes after that, the phone ring again, the same thing
as before. I couldn't stay there any longer. I ran out and got
a taxi and came here. Who do you think might be doing a thing
like that? As I don't know what somebody is, I'm not just imagining
things. Max l answer that DA's investigators seems to think you might be.
He talked to me at the coroner's office. That's why I can't do you,
mister Dollar, You've got to help me. Please be glad to but
there must be something you can do. Yeah. I can wait for that
autopsy report, and at the moment that's about all I can do. Now.
Some definite evidence of a crime, something stronger than mere suspicion. We
don't have a leg to stand there. I suppose the report doesn't show anything,
and I wiped the egg off my face and go back to Hartford.
Maybe she was she was clever enough to kill my father in some way that
wouldn't show up in an autopsy. It's a chance. I don't know,
but I do as sure as I'm sitting here. You that she married him
and got him to take off that insurance policy with the full intention of murdering
him. Such things have been known, alright, somebody using a correspondence club
to contact wealthy pigeons. Did you know that your stepmother owns that lonely Hearts
club? That's what the girl in charge told me, A Fanny Tetler.
Do you know her? No, I've never heard of her. I neither
Mabel nor my father ever mentioned that she owned the place. She apparently has
somebody running it for her. A man. I think any idea who he
might be? Now? He slipped down before I got a chance to see
him. Smokes cigars. He left one burning in the ashtray. Wait,
maybe it's her nephew. He smokes cigars. It's the first I've heard of
him. He moved in on us right after Mabel and my father were married.
He's the main reason why I left the house. I couldn't stand him.
He was always after me, bothering. Is he still living? There?
Was in the house that night your father die? Yes? Least he
was when I got there. That was an hour afterward. As I told
you, does he have a job work anywhere? I don't think he's ever
worked. He leaves off of her. He and your father get along all
right. My father could get along with anyone. He always managed to see
the best in people. I mean person was careful to me to act different
around him. I suppose you think that's some more of my imagination. Frankly,
miss Wells, I don't know what to think. There was only some
way to prove what I'm sure of. Well, let's wait for that autopsy
report. Meantime, I think I'll go out and talk to you. Step
what about me? Stay right where you are, don't go out of this
room. When I get back, I'll pick up some things from your apartment,
and you can check in here at this hotel for a few days.
Expense account ADEM seven taxi to Lake Shore Drive and the beachfront residence of the
late Jonathan well. I was beginning to feel more and more like a fool.
It looked as though Max Lancer might be right. Apparently, a jealous,
hysterical girl had lost her head and stirred up a nasty mess all without
one single fact and back up her suspicions. I had a hunch of the
autopsy report was going to show death from natural causes. But two cents I
had a thrown the case over. In fact, I didn't even see where
I had a case. Good afternoon, young man. How on how do
you do? Are you? Missus Wells? Yes? That's right. Is
it something I can do for you? My name is Dollar, Johnny Dollar.
I'm representing the company that holds the insurance policy on your late husband's life.
Mister Mourning will Be represents that company. Matt Mister Matthew R. Morning.
Mister Morning is the local agent. I'm from the home office in Hartford,
Connecticuts. Oh yes, I have my credentials right here. If he
likes isn't necessarily I always judge people by their faces, and do you have
an honest face? Mister? Thank you? I wonder if I could ask
you a few questions, missus Wells? Well, I suppose I know this
must be painful for you, and I'll try to be as brief as pass.
Don't you worry about me? I'm all right, of course I missed
Jonathan and all that. He was a terribly nice friend terribly. But I
think of death is just being a doorway to a greater and more glorious life.
When we're looking at it. You'll just come right in man and ask
all the questions. You're a mind too, You'll come right in here and
we'll sit down and have a nice chat. Oh this is a very attractive
house, Missus Malls. Oh, yes, yes, I think Jonathan built
it years ago he and his first wife lived you know. Of course I've
changed the drapes and things, just some of the little things. It's right
down there now. And his daughter too, as she lived here in the
first month we were married, and then she moved into town. It's strange
that being really sort of nervous and I i've met her. Missus well,
oh well then you know what she's like. Though it's too bad too.
Would you like some teen cookies? That's one thing Jonathan wouldn't miss for the
world. His teen cookies at four o'clock every afternoon. Every afternoon just doesn't
seem the same without him, No, I imagine that's how I won his
heart with my cookies and cakes. But he really did adore them, and
it was such a pleasure. Theyking things for a person who appreciated them so
much. Makes you feel lonesome and lost in not having anybody to put Do
you ever feel lonesome? Well, I guess everybody doesn't. Time I met
Jonathan, I was feeling so lonesome at the desprise. Mister Burke had died
two years before. Mister Yes, he was my husband before Jonathan. That
was in Saint Louis Walter. Oh, handsome president, just like his name
sounds, and a perfect picture of health drive up to the day died.
His death was sudden unexpected, oh yes, or complete surprise acute in the
day, of course, I don't think he was quite a start from as
Jonathan. Jonathan was always so concerned and he was, Oh, my gracious
girl, I go just rambling on and on. You didn't listen to my
silly little affair. No, no, no, they're very interesting. I've
always tried to keep busy and keep my mind occupied. That's why I started
in business. Oh, well, you've heard about it. Well, I
kind of foolish at first about starting it. I mean, Josh, those
kinds of clubs. It was Burton's idea. Really, he's my nephew,
you know. Here I wish he would hear this afternoon so you could meet
him. It's such a nice boy. He thought I'd do real well at
that kind of business, and he was wrong to absolutely right. Old no
money, you understand. But it was loads of fun meeting all those nice
people, especially man. Yes, that's how I met Jonathan, I the
way it happened. He wrote him to the club and I send it my
picture, and that's what started it. I remember when Burton showed me the
letter. He said, and maybe this one sounds like you're kind of man,
and he certainly was to Does Burton help you with the clob Well,
he runs it. Really. He's such a sweet boy, and he works
so hard. I just don't know what i'd do with us. But I
don't know what I do. Yes, I imagine he's a great comfort to
have. I suppose not. Well, I guess i'd better run along,
missus. Wells, it's been such a pleasure talking with you. It seems
like young folks nowadays don't often have the gift of conversation the way they didn't
mind time. Well, things move fast today. Well, I shope that
company of yours moves fast, young man. I have to start house hunting.
You know, the estate and everything goes to Jonathan's daughter, and all
I have is the insurance. Oh it's such a bottom mister, and a
funal and moving and all the details seems like I just have the worst luck
with my husband's I walked out of there groggy. My head's spinning. I
wonder normal Wells was nervous and hysterical. I felt that way myself after only
a few minutes of it, and I still had no case, not one
piece of evidence. I'd had a pleasant chat with us, sweet old lady,
a little on the duty side, maybe, but that was all dead
end. Max Lanser from the DA's office was waiting for me in the hotel
lobby. Were noticed I'm holding my hat in my hand, mister Dallens.
How come it's a symbol of humility. You were right all along. According
to the Corners report, Jonathan Wells died from a dose of ground glass,
So it's murder after them. And in that case, do something for me,
will you? From now on I'm your man, contact the authorities in
Saint Louis and have them check into what death that happened there. About two
and a half years ago, a man named Walter Mayburly Burke, who's he
missus Wells was married to him at the time. No, just a matter
of bad luck. She told me so herself. Now here's our start to
tell you about tomorrow's intriguing episode of this week's story. Tomorrow, A strange
tak a scared girl, a hunt in the dark, and thirteen knots make
a noose? Join us, won't you? Yours Truly Johnny Dollar? Yours
Truly Johnny Dollar, starring Bob Bailey is transcribed in Hollywood, written by Les
Crutchfield. It is produced and directed by Jack Johnstone. Be sure to join
us tomorrow night at same time and station for the next exciting episode of Yours
Truly Johnny Dollar. Roy Rowan speaking to play play welcome back. Well,
even if the widow is not guilty, he may get herself into trouble volunteering
way too much information that could be prejudicial against her to an insurance investigator.
Overall, a solid start, you know, a lot of questions, Johnny
really showing some care for the daughter and making sure that she takes care of
herself and is safe, even while not being entirely sure of the claim.
We will have to see how this works out on Friday. Well, listener
comments and feedback. Now, and we start with a letter from John.
John writes, Adam, I listened frequently to the Great Detective Episodes podcast.
Allow me to fit them into my schedule. Here are a couple of photos
of Burlington. You said you were through here once. A couple interesting sites,
but basically an old Mississippi river town, lots of aging infrastruck. Now
the new Viking Mississippi boat is also making stops along with the Queens, and
here I think John is referring to river cruises. Now. John had actually
emailed me before, just kind of an informational email, and when he mentioned
he was from Iowa, I asked if he listened on a radio station that's
actually replaying the podcast out there KWQQ. If you are listening on KWQQ,
hello, But as John said, he was a podcast listener, and he
mentioned he was from Burlington, and I remember going through Burlington. We went
through there in nineteen ninety six. And one of the postcards he sent along
is of this bridge, and I do remember driving across it. It's a
quite impressive bridge, and the photographer just got a beautiful picture of it,
and he also sent along this picture of which is this really interesting curving road.
I did go ahead and post both pictures over on Instagram and you can
check those out over there at instagram dot com slash great detectives. But thank
you John so much for your support, as well as for the letter and
the pictures. It was really nice to see those. And then we have
some comments on the layer Douglas Douglas of heather Scope matter. Emmett rights,
as soon as I heard the first few minutes, I knew it was a
Jack Johnstone script. A few riders, with the possible exception of Blake Edwards,
are as easy to spot just from the few lines of dialogues as John
Dixon car was to suspense Johnstone was to Johnny Dowler. Well, thanks for
the common Emmett and I definitely agree that Johnstone's writing stands out, particularly from
the other writers in the serial era. Plus, once you've listened to the
self contained episodes, the majority of which were written by Johnstone, you'll probably
see those patterns even more. And then doc emails in and he writes often.
I've heard the arm dog used to refer to a performance or event that
was subpar. However, my wife and I rescue Siberian huskies, and we
believe most dogs are fantastic animals, so I won't insult canines by calling the
Leard Douglas Douglas, et cetera, ad nausea matter a dog, because it
was anything but a fantastic creature. From the ridiculous overreaction of the insurance company
executive to the outrageous accent of the dog owner, I can't imagine a more
a pitiful attempt by the rider to create a script for Johnny Dollar. I
have to wonder how difficult it was for the actors to get the timing right
for the opening scene when each one was talking over the other while a Scottish
terror was chewing up Johnny's pants legs. There is so much more I could
write about the five part episode, but I don't believe the Laird, or
is that Lord matter is worth the effort. Please understand that I truly enjoy
almost all Johnny Dollar episodes. I've listened to all of those you have broadcast
at least once. I've heard most of them two or three times. This
series is amazing. Unlike some listeners, I especially enjoy the five parters,
since it allows the riders more time to develop the care Cherson plot. I
suppose that is what makes this dog in quotation marks smells like a two week
old Red Herring. Please never stop what you're doing. Well, thank you
so much, Doc George reacts to the first two episodes. He writes,
I just couldn't keep from commenting on the first two chapters of this program.
This has to be one of the most poorly written Johnny Doller episodes ever,
At least for the beginning. The entire first episode was painful to listen to,
from the overly long, juvenile silliness in the elevator to an insurance agent
that makes characters usually played by Howard mcneer seem like college professors and the stereotypical
clueless, rich old lady with the too long name even more annoying than Missus
Howell on Gilligan's Island, all to tell us nothing. Most of the second
episode was again consumed with rehashing the first, with the point the whole thing
barely making it by the end not intriguing, as the announcer said, just
awful. I sure hope the remaining parts are better. Well, thanks so
much, George. I appreciate the emails and the criticisms of the episode,
and I think they're fair enough. I think there's some valid points in there,
and also there's just a fact of different people tend to have issues with
different episodes. It really is fascinating. I used to or read through IMDb
reviews of Colombo episodes and you would just see, you know, with generally
every episode, there is this range of thought from this is the best thing
ever in the history of Colombo, too, this was the most horrible thing
ever done. And there can be good arguments. For my part, I
tend to view the layered Douglas Douglas of Heather Scope matter as one of the
lesser cereals, but not the one that I personally dislike. That's coming up,
and doubtless it will be a different one than what some of you don't
like. Often a little more tolerant of silliness, and certainly the first episode
had that. I think the story does have a very clever conceit at its
core, the idea that this somewhat sweet, dotty, eccentric, old wealthy
woman is actually a cold blooded Macavellian killer driven by greed and social position is
a big flipped expectations, and I have to respect the sort of audacity to
turn our expectations on their head. And more than that, I think that
the actors did a good job of selling it. Bob Bailey Handle's comedic material
really well. I do like Harry Bartell as Harry Branson, and while the
segment and the elevator took a little bit long, I think that's it was
fine. And then of course Jeanette Nolan really was convincing as both versions of
the characters. So I wouldn't put this as the worst Johnny doll Or sereal.
It certainly doesn't make my top five, and honestly, it may not
even make my top fifty. So I've never ranked all fifty eight. I
think that's an exercise that would require a massive amount of work and no one
would much want to see, not even me. But I still think there's
enough redeeming qualities that I found it overall entertaining. But again, your mileage
may vary and other comments. We had some more comments over on YouTube regarding
indictment Sheila Riots regarding the episode Bitter Greats another great story. I hope there
will be more episodes another listener rots, this was a good one. I
do mis Tales of the Texas Rangers, though you should think about doing Mister
District Attorney. That's a bit more of a detective show than this. Well,
thanks for the comment. I had looked at Mister District Attorney a few
years back, and what I found with that series is that it felt a
lot more like a crime show than a detective show. Now, what I
mean by that is that most of the episodes I listened to, we already
knew the outcome of the crime, and there wasn't even a clever inverted mystery
going on. Now, of course, there are some series that we played
that have had episodes that felt more crime show than detective show, like mainly
when I think of Follow Vans Boston Blackie, although Boston Blackie usually tended to
have those as more kind of inverted mysteries where it was a question as to
alcatch him rather than who done it. That's said, when we get into
the adventure series, I will look at some of those programs that I chose
not to do or great Detectives because they didn't really fit with the top of
series that we were wanting to do. I know, for example, we
are going to end up doing Counterspy when we get into the adventure series,
although we're still probably a year and a half off from that. All right,
well, now it's time to thank our Patreon supporter of the day,
and I want to go ahead and think Gary. Gary has been one of
our Patreon supporters since August twenty sixteen, currently supporting the program at the rookie
level of two dollars or more per month. Thank you so much for your
support, and that will do it for today. If you are enjoying this
podcast, please follow us using your favorite podcast software and be sure to rate
and review the podcast wherever you download us from. We'll be back on Friday
with the conclusion of The Lonely Hearts Matter, but join us back here tomorrow
for Dangerous Assignment, where let two of me just stand Stillbuster, I said,
let's goat that's the same gun you were popping away at me with a
minute ago. We'll take it there. You'll have made their mistakes, Mitchell,
I've made a mistake. But you know my name. Don't give me
that I know your name because I have been following you. That's what I
mean. But I am not one of those who shout at you a moment
ago. Oh look, you expect me to believe that you didn't, Mitchell,
I do not feel ablegate it to prove what I say to you.
And yet, if you will kindly place my gun under your nose and smell
of it, you will see that it has not been fired recently. Well,
no it hasn't. Look if you didn't take that shot at me,
who did? Two men were following you. They run off before I could
get to this scene. Who are you? And how come you know my
name? I'm Alfred Goya, chief of Police. Why precisely? And now
may I have my gun back? Why? Yeah? But I still don't
see why you are following me? The warn you, Senor Mitchell, I
know who you are and why you are here. Oh you want me to
keep hands off? You could not have stated it more clearly. I guess
that sort of tips me as the which camp you're in you're mistaken against?
Senior. I am in neither camp. Then what is your angle in this
deal? My angle, as you call it, is quite simple. Politics
is not my business, but law enforcement is. I have the best police
force in South America at present. We are engaged in the search for a
fugit different justice artly, artly, I do not intend to let anything or
anyone interfere without search, Senor Mitchell, And by anyone, I mean chiefly
you. Well, you've made yourself pretty clear. Goya, what happens if
I sort of getting your way somewhere along the line. My policemen are quite
zealous, Senor Mitchell, and the penalty for obstructing justice is quite severe.
Need I say more? Hope you'll be with us then in the meantime do
you say in your comments to Box thirteen at Great Detectives dot net, follow
us on Twitter at Radio Detectives, and check us out on Instagram, Instagram,
dot com, slash Great Detectives from Boise, Idaho. This is your
host, Adam Grahamson and all