Easy Money

In the old time radio series Easy Money, Detective Mike Trent is a former professional magician who now uses his talents to turn the tables on swindlers and con-men. Trent exposes the rackets and the racketeers. Most gamblers know how long the odds are, but Trent shows us that "When you gamble with a professional, he isn't doing any gambling."

While showing us that there really is no such thing as Easy Money, we get to see Mike Trent in action. While Trent isn't as hardboiled as detectives like Philip Marlowe or Mike Hammer, his sense of righteousness help him to stand up to the worst crooks. And of course his cute secretary, Patsy Ryan, is always nearby.

One of the most striking elements of Easy Money is the obvious disdain that the con men have for their marks. And to be honest, most of them aren't all that bright. But, as it turns out, the crooks aren't as smart as they think they are. Because greed doesn't just blind normal people, it blinds the crooks as well.

See also: Get Rich Quick Schemes, Con men, Cheats, and Bunco Artists in Old Time Radio  and Hello Sucker!