Ytjd 1961 01 15 721 The Very Fishy Matter
# The Very Fishy Matter
Picture this: a fog-shrouded waterfront where nothing smells quite right, and we're not just talking about the catch of the day. When insurance investigator Johnny Dollar arrives on the scene, he finds himself tangled in a case that's murkier than the bay itself—one where dead fish and deader men seem to be piling up with equal regularity. Robert Readick's distinctive, rapid-fire delivery cuts through the murk like a searchlight, as our sharp-tongued hero navigates a labyrinth of dock workers, shipping magnates, and suspicious characters who'd rather see Johnny sleeping with the fishes than asking too many questions. The sound design captures every creaking rope, every footfall on wet planking, every ominous splash in the darkness, pulling you straight into the grimy, danger-soaked world of mid-century insurance investigation.
By 1961, *Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar* had become an institution among radio devotees—a show that proved the golden age of radio was far from over, even as television encroached on the medium's territory. Readick's portrayal of the wisecracking, persistent Dollar became the definitive version of the character, a man who could navigate both the seediest dive bars and high-society drawing rooms with equal aplomb. These 1960–1962 CBS episodes represent some of the most polished, dramatically sophisticated work the series produced, with scripts that balanced genuine mystery with noir atmosphere and unexpected humor.
Tune in to "The Very Fishy Matter" and experience why *Johnny Dollar* remained essential listening for mystery lovers until the very last broadcast. This is radio at its finest—intelligent, thrilling, and utterly impossible to switch off once you've heard that distinctive opening theme.