 From Hollywood, it's time now for Johnny dollar. Oh sure. My name's Shirley Temple. Now. Who is it and what? Really Vincent Price. Do I sound like Mickey Rooney? Well, no, but now tell me mr. Price. Look the name is Vincent. Okay, Vincent. What can I do for you? Johnny, I have a little problem in connection with one of my paintings in short for a hundred thousand dollars a hundred You call that a little problem this painting is suddenly disappeared. Oh, I see. What's the insurance company for state mutual? Oh, well, they have a small branch office right there in Los Angeles. Yeah, I know but bird Parker the man who sold me the policy and Should take care of this matter. Well every time I've called him he's been out and I learned just this morning that Nobody knows where he is Okay, Vincent. I'll grab the first plane The exciting adventures of the man with the action-packed expense account America's fabulous freelance insurance Investigator is truly Johnny dollar and now act one of yours truly Johnny dollar Expense account submitted by special investigator Johnny dollar to the four-state mutual insurance company home office Hartford, Connecticut Following is an account of expenses incurred during my investigation of the price of fame matter Expense account item one a hundred seventy eight fifty plane fare and incidentals Hartford, Los Angeles By the time the big silver constellation made its landing at the international airport It finally dawned on me that I hadn't arranged with Vincent price about where and how and what time I'd meet him But as I picked up my luggage had discovered a hundred looking for a photograph house winning about the tall gracious man I was looking for sure sure. I'm glad to look for just one at a time when you please I can't very well All right, there you are Just one more, please. Oh, Mr. Price. All right, if you insist here Best wishes from T willy rocking horse. Ah, how are you Johnny? Great, but I didn't say Johnny who you mean to say you folks don't recognize Johnny dollar Give them all I'll wait for you in my car. It's right over here at the car I felt as though I've been run through a ringer But we finally took off in Vincent's car and drove to his beautiful home up in one of the canyons west of Beverly Hills Nestled among the trees with spacious lawns and well-kept gardens. It's furnished in the most excellent taste I know expert but to say that I was impressed by the extraordinary works of art in that home would be the Understatement of the week engravings prints fine sculptures, but most of all paintings And even to my unpracticed eye all of them were well magnificent Here's a little thing I picked up in London Johnny. It's called the old man in red by Goya. Wow Yeah, I thought original oils by him were found only in the big museum Well, I've been pretty lucky in getting hold of some of these Yeah, you know what you were doing too. You like this one called fright and was painted by a Kenneth McMann. Uh-huh Beautiful beautiful like all the rest of them. Thank you. How about this one here at the end? night wind by I'm sorry Vincent. I can't make out that name. You don't have this one lighted like the rest. No, that's to maintain It's somber mood Johnny. Oh, and that's what made it possible for the substitution of this copy to go undetected That's a copy. Yeah, and that's my problem the hundred thousand dollar night wind by Jean-Baptiste has been stolen This was left in its place. Oh, I see. It's not a bad copy He probably worth a couple of hundred dollars, but it's hardly a genuine Baptiste Well, when did you discover this? Substitution when I returned from a lecture tour early last week. Oh, that's right You've been traveling all over the country lecturing on art. Let's just call it talking about Tell me have you notified the police about this? I suppose I should have Well, I felt that was bird parkers John and you haven't been able to reach him over at four state mutual I told you on the phone. He hasn't been in his office for some time Vincent have you any theories about who might have done this? Yes, I'm afraid I have Why do you say it that way? Very few people knew I'd gotten hold of this Baptiste only some close friends and a couple of art experts And the place was not broken into during the time I was away of that I'm sure Well, go on with the family and servants kept very close track of anyone who entered the house while I was gone You have a list. Yes, I do have a list Yes Alfred R. Hawkins, that's an electrician who came to do some wiring He wouldn't know a Rembrandt from a Mickey Mouse and then Schumann music teacher loves music hates painting What about delivery boys people like that? They never get beyond the back door. Go on read on That next one is Ben the gardener. You can forget about him and bird. Oh, huh? Yeah bird Parker He was here twice before Estensively to check on some of the paintings. He'd insured the first time on the 11th Mrs. Price was with him While he poked her out on the 15th. She had to leave to keep an appointment In just 20 left the house. Nobody seems to know Are you thinking the same thing I am now look Johnny? I haven't known bird very long and well He seemed like such a harmless little old funny daddy as for his knowledge of art. Yeah, I wondered about that Well, he was perfectly satisfied to take my evaluation on the two or three things. He'd insured So Johnny, I may be all wrong Vincent a thing like this may only happen once in a thousand years In any event the company will certainly make good your loss. Well with the work of art It isn't really the money that counts and Johnny listen look I may have jumped to a completely unjustified conclusion about bird Parker. Oh, yeah, sure Well, let's go down to his office and see We'll return to Johnny dollar and the price of fame matter. That's Vincent price in just a moment And now act two of yours truly Johnny dollar and the price of fame matter a Priceless original oil painting stole him from the home of Vincent price famous radio and picture star One of the few people who'd had the opportunity with the man who'd sold him the insurance on it bird Parker Together we went to Parker's office at four state mutual in downtown Los Angeles It was on the 16th that mr. Parker phoned in to say he wasn't feeling very good and wouldn't be in for a day or two Hey, it was on the 15th that he was at your house Vincent Yes, that's over two weeks ago, and you haven't heard from him since miss Pratt. No, mr. Darling, we've tried calling his apartment, but since there hasn't been anything really pressing here at the office What's the address of his apartment, please? Well, it's out in Westwood 1308 Pandora Avenue look Vincent. I'm going out there. I'll call you if I find any transportation Aren't you Johnny by the highest price you're for in the country. Sure. Why not? Oh? Before you go, mr. Price, I wonder if If I could have your autograph, why didn't you get Johnny dollars miss Britt? He loves to give It took a little persuading but the landlord at Bert's apartment finally led us into his forum suite It was empty except for a few old clothes, and it was obvious that he packed and left in a hurry I rummaged around in the closets tables bureau Clue was to where he might have gone and came up with nothing You give up Johnny Yeah, Vincent. I'm afraid so I poked around that desk some more after you'd finished with it and found this wedged in behind a drawer Travel folder Paris yeah, it looks real fresh to Minor travel agency Beverly Hills. Well, what do you think? Oh? Pretty much of a long shot, but but they do pay off sometimes don't they In the trip for myself. Yes, sir first-class all the way. What was the departure date, mr. Weiner 16th first class straight to Paris. Oh brother Paris is a pretty big place Did you make any arrangements for him for after he got there only for when he arrived Reservation that they knew boys it what the hotel low boys the Louvre perhaps That's what I said first-class to said he wanted something not too far from the Montmary Montmartre if you don't mind, that's what I said Yeah, now can I fix you gentlemen up with some plane reservations, too Well, suppose you give me the same flight he took and I'll stop at the same hotel when I get there wait a minute Johnny You're not going to leave me out of this. Well, look, I'm still playing a long shot Vincent a very long What's the difference also? I don't know if my expense account will get by the home office and to count forget it I'm having a ball. Mr. Minor start making those reservations Expense account Adam to $984 for the plane to Paris Well, it turned out to be the most interesting flight I've ever made because of the company of Vincent price an amazing Conversationalist he could talk about anything including art and he has a tremendous sense of humor So as he put it we had a ball from the time we took off in LA till the time we sat down in Louvre g Item 3 520 American taxi into the hotel of war where the manager was Well somewhat helpful May we may we the miss you Parker leave us bought only two days ago after some slight Misunderstanding about the addition to the deal. Yeah, you mean he was running out of money, but she I did not say that That's what you meant, isn't it? You don't worry spent his time around here. Well, of course his business he say Took him constantly to a moment where and more March. Haha who is to know? That's like saying somewhere in Brooklyn. Yeah, Brooklyn perhaps, you know my cousin Johnny He was a Johnny. I just got an idea shoot Works of art even very good ones are sometimes sold in rather well rather Unhorstodox ways they they go through some rather strange hands They're not always sold over the counter so to speak by reputable dealers. You know what I mean Yeah, but how to contact the kind of people might you got any ideas? Why don't you just go on up to our sweet and Sit tight for a while. Hmm. I'll see what I can dig up. You are keeping something from me Vincent But Johnny there are some things even funk keeps from wagons I'll see you later of yours truly Johnny dollar in a moment and Now act three of yours truly Johnny dollar and the price of fame matters Romantic Paris just outside the door and time on my hand So what did I do took Vincent Price's advice went back to my room at the hotel of Juan waiting two three four hours Finally shortly after 8 p.m. Vincent came in bearing a couple of packages Sorry to have made you wait Johnny, but I think I'm on the trail of something Looks to me like you've been on a shopping spree props Johnny before you have you found out where bird Parker is No, but I think you will Yeah, try this out. What's this all about a 10 gallon hat. Yeah, I had to guess that you're sorry We're in where in Paris. Did you find this? I don't know. What do you holy? What am I supposed to be a refugee from Texas exactly? You made it in oil wells Your name is Matthew. Huh? You're over here to see the sites all the wild night life. You've heard about the fully there's air rouble on there Here try on this shirt. Oh, brother Look, I don't know what this is all about, but hadn't we better get something to eat try it on If you don't take me to one of the world-famous restaurants of this maybe tomorrow Yeah, that's good. That shirt's gonna be all right. What do you mean tomorrow? Yeah, now stick this genuine simulated imitation diamond type stick thin in the front. Wait a minute. I'll do it for you Yeah, what what the same there you are and with this big hunk of glass on your finger there now look at you Oh, you look I'm hungry. Well, maybe you even get food where you're going Now, where do you think I've gone in this rig to a little joint on the rue Blondel called the Balm a car I want am I supposed to do there if I go there hit around look prosperous and see what happens Oh, that's and remember you made it in oil millions. Yeah, but Vincent Oh, so you're interested in art and your name is Matthew. Well, yeah on your way Johnny The taxi that's waiting for you out front knows exactly where to take you Camera was really a joint It was dirty and the people packed like sardines in it were dirty to characters who made a business of being characters And everybody screamed at everybody else Except that is for the warmly little man who sided up to the postage stamp size table on which my glass and a bottle of wine were balanced Down you you are me so Matthews. Are you not? That's right from Texas. No Oh Yes, sir, pardoning the great and glorious state of Texas Sit down pour yourself a glass of this here ready They call me last agree What's happening? Well, they're but what you call the gray cat Hey, that's cuter than the name of my old friend coyote bill. Well, do you enjoy the pirate nightlife? Oh You know something I'm getting fed up with it Yeah, I think I'll just buy me a couple of nice pitches and go on back home What is kind of pictures, miss you? Well good ones oil pitches like that Monalizzi. I've seen at the Louvre You know good ones on me. Well like a Jean-Baptiste perhaps You mean you know where a man could get a hold of a genuine one of them well for a price, of course Listen, I got money and I'll spend it Wow for them $500,000 for that Monalizzi, but they turned me down But if I could get a hold of a genuine baptist Well partner, you just name the price. Oh, well, I make no promises one of me But I do have a friend and for a slight consideration Name your price and take me to it I would be waiting for you at the corner with the taxi and that is what you call. Okay. Okay. I shall be wait I'll be there partner You bet I will and I'd certainly like to know how Vincent set this up The taxi dropped us off at one of the most Disreputable-looking apartments in the whole of Paris my friend who called himself a great cat looked carefully around before entering the front door Then we climbed four flights of a dark musty stairway No, remember my friend you are not to pay the price He asks at first if you like I will make the arrangements for you now That would be right friendly. Are you partner? But how would you come out on this? Well, all I ask you is 10% of what you pay And maybe a little extra from him for bringing me up here. Oh Mishoo. Oh, no, don't give me that partner. I've been around. I'm wise to how you fellas operate If I can get a hold of a real genuine Baptists you will see what a friend. Mr. Matthews from Texas Yes, yes, he would like to buy the night to win the buy-by-tease that is if it's genuine genuine Of course, it's genuine there on the table. Can't you see for yourself that it's the every? Oh No, well, well bird Parker That's right insurance Investigate you. Oh, I'm way. I've just remembered somebody is waiting for me. That's right. I am Mr. Price. Oh Don't be sure price, but I'm as gold without your fee for taking care of mr. Dollar Listen, listen both of you, please. I'll give you back the painting. I'll do anything you ask. Oh drop dead Well Vincent there it is and it looks like the company has saved a cool hundred thousand dollars I have a confession to make about that Johnny Yeah, like how you happen to know the way to the painting through that squirmy little fellow who brought me here That's how I got hold of the Baptists in the first place The lovely thing isn't it? Yeah, that certainly is and Johnny it is worth a hundred thousand Oh, I'm sure but the truth of the matter is I paid only three hundred dollars for it. You bet. Oh No Well, you've got it back. Thanks to your own efforts and thanks to your being the frontman if I'd tried to get it back myself These people would have run like scared rats. Oh sure sure And just tell me one thing. Would you why aren't you an insurance investigator? Well, you know it's every man to his own Well after all why aren't you an actor? Let's get out of here This position of Bert Parker. Well, that's entirely up to the company Vincent now that he has the painting back doesn't care one way or the other However from the company standpoint, well, it's not the kind of blank eye that's good for you Expense account total including incidentals and transportation back to the States $2341 remarks Well to Vincent price my eternal thanks Not only for the help on this case, but most of all because it's given me a chance to really know him Yours truly Johnny dollar Star will return in just a moment now. Here's our star to tell you about next week story next week The heart of sunny southern Jersey in a case that took a very sudden very strange twist Join us. Won't you yours truly? Johnny dollar originates in Hollywood and is produced and directed by Jack Johnstone who also wrote today's story Heard in our cast were Virginia Greg Junius Matthews Tony Barrett Boris Lewis Howard McNear, and of course our special guest Vincent price Be sure to join us next week same time and station for another exciting story of yours truly Johnny dollar This is Dan cover Lee speaking is the United States Armed Forces radio and television service