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Show Notes — The Lamarr Matter
Johnny Dollar's "action-packed expense account" takes a personal turn in this five‑part 1956 serial when a simple vacation encounter pulls him into one of the most emotionally tangled cases of his career. While trying to relax, Johnny meets a striking young woman whose charm quickly disarms him. But when her wealthy father dies under suspicious circumstances, Johnny is assigned to investigate the very family he's just become entangled with.
The case centers on the Lamarr estate—money, motives, and a web of relationships that don't line up the way they should. As Johnny digs deeper, he uncovers conflicting stories, hidden resentments, and a trail of financial irregularities that point toward foul play. The daughter's grief, the family's evasiveness, and the insurance company's mounting concerns all push Johnny into a tight corner where professional duty clashes with personal feelings.
Across the serial, Johnny's emotional involvement becomes a liability as well as a clue. Each episode tightens the noose: suspicious behavior from those closest to the victim, a pattern of deception surrounding the estate, and a growing sense that the truth is being carefully buried. The tension builds toward a final revelation that forces Johnny to confront both the killer's identity and his own misjudgments.
This serial is classic Bob Bailey—sharp, human, and layered with the kind of emotional stakes that made the 1955–56 run the high-water mark of the series.

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