The Evolving Art Form Matter

Trying to convey the evolution in radio drama that took place while Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar was on the air is a tricky proposition. I'm not sure this segment is quite there yet, but I hope you'll enjoy it nonetheless.

The Merry Christmas Matter (Revisited)

Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar's Christmas episodes tended to have a more frivolous tone. Perhaps because it isn't overtly a Christmas story, The Rasmussen Matter is something of an exception. In any case it's one of my favorites this time of year. I've posted about it before, and if you've never heard it, you should be able to find it here. Enjoy.

The Bailey Matter

With the possible exception of Jack Johnstone, Bob Bailey is the single most important figure in this history of Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar, so it;s not surprising that the longest segment yet is the one about him. This is quite rough, to be sure, but still tells an interesting story.

R.I.P. Ed Walker

When I heard that Ed Walker had been diagnosed with cancer and was stepping down from hosting The Big Broadcast, I sent him an email to wish him well. What I hadn't realized is that he was almost certainly hospitalized at the time and very likely didn't get the note. I suspect quite a few other people would have liked to wish him well before his passing yesterday. It's both fitting and sad that he died just a few hours after the airing of his final show, recorded from the hospital. I'm sure people who knew him better will have much more eloquent summations of Ed and his legacy than I could offer, but it occurs to me that during his life he made an awful lot of people happy and that's no small thing.  That final show is currently available to stream via the Big Broadcast's page on WAMU's site, and it seems fitting that the best tribute to Ed Walker ultimately comes from the man himself.

The Ed Walker Matter

Veteran broadcaster and host of WAMU-FM's long-running old-time radio showcase The Big Broadcast was the second interview I shot for this project. I'll always be grateful to Walker not just for the time he gave me in 2013 but also the many years he hosted The Big Broadcast. Earlier this week, it was announced that Walker would be stepping down as the host of The Big Broadcast to focus on some health concerns. Needless to say, I wish him and his family all the best. During the interview, Walker also talked about his life and career in broadcasting. In this clip, he discusses the waning days of radio's golden age.

The Many Voices Matter

If you ever have trouble remembering the names of all the actors who played Johnny Dollar, this will help you. I still need to add some cutaway images, but overall not too shabby.

The Connecticut Connection Matter

Among the cool moments from my conversation with broadcaster Dick Bertel a couple weeks back was this reminiscence of Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar and the particular connection he felt with the show.