Bob Bailey was born Robert Bainter Bailey in the Midwestern town of Toledo, Ohio. There is not much known about his early life. However, Bob Bailey's radio role in Yours Truly Johnny Dollar is one of the most memorable and popular performances in old time radio history.
 Bob Bailey portrayed hardboiled detective George Valentine in Let George Do It with old time radio favorite Virginia Gregg. The show is an excellent example of the hardboiled genre with dames, tough guys, and witty, quick banter. Let George Do It would lead Bob Bailey to another hardboiled detective role Yours Truly Johnny Dollar.
Bob Bailey is best known for his role as Johnny Dollar in Yours Truly Johnny Dollar "the transcribed adventures of the man with the action-packed expense account — America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator." He was not the first actor to play the smart-aleck, tough- talking insurance investigator but he is largely considered to be the best. Playing Johnny Dollar before Bob Bailey was Dick Powell (Richard Diamond) who starred in the audition show, the Charles Russell, Edmond Obrien, John Lund, Gerald Mohr. After him Bob Readick took the role of Johnny Dollar then later Mandel Kramer.
To many listeners, Bob Bailey was the true Johnny Dollar and when he retired from the show in 1960, the show dwindled in popularity and was off the air in 1962.
 Under the pen name "Robert Bainter," Bob Bailey wrote the script "The Carmen Kringle Matter" for Yours Truly Johnny Dollar during the show's run. In the Christmas themed show Johnny Dollar travels to Calico Ghost Town in the Mojave Desert.
Although Bob Bailey was best known for his roles in Let George Do It and Yours Truly Johnny Dollar , he was a prolific radio actor and starred in many additional old time radio shows including Cavalcade of America, Lux Radio Theater, Suspense, and many more.
Bob Bailey Collection contains episodes of
|
E-mail this page to a friend