Dragnet, the brainchild of Jack Webb, may very well be the most well-remembered, and the best, radio police drama series. From September, 1949 through February 1957, Dragnet's 30 minute shows, broadcast on NBC, brought to radio true police stories in a low-key, documentary style.
The origins of Dragnet can be traced to a semi-documentary film, "He Walked by Night" from 1948, in which Webb had a small role. Both employed the same Los Angeles Police Department technical adviser, used actual police cases and presented the case in "just the facts" manner that became a hallmark of Dragnet. It is interesting to note that Webb employed that format in other radio series, some pre-dating the film mentioned above.
Dragnet was a long running radio and television police procedural drama, about the cases of a dedicated Los Angeles police detective, Sergeant Joe Friday, and his partners. The show takes its name from an actual police term, a dragnet, meaning a system of coordinated measures for apprehending criminals or suspects.
Dragnet was perhaps the most famous and influential police procedural drama in American media history. The series gave millions of Americans a feel for the boredom and drudgery, as well as the danger and heroism, of real life police work. Dragnet earned praise for improving the public opinion of police officers.
Actor and producer Jack Webb's aims in Dragnet were for realism and unpretentious acting. He achieved both goals and Dragnet remains a key influence on subsequent police dramas in many media. The shows cultural impact is demonstrated by the fact that even after five decades, elements of Dragnet are known to those who have never heard nor seen the program. The ominous four note introduction to the brass and tympani theme music, titled Danger Ahead, is instantly recognizable as well as the shows opening narration:
"Ladies and gentlemen, the story you are about to hear is true. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent."
The original Dragnet starring Jack Webb as Sergeant Joe Friday ran on radio from June 3rd, 1949 to February 26th, 1957; and on television from December 16th, 1951 to August 23rd, 1959, and from January 12th, 1967 to April 16th, 1970. All of these versions ran on NBC. There were two Dragnet feature films, a straight adaptation starring Jack Webb in 1954, and a comedy spoof in 1987. There were also television revivals, without Webb, in 1989 and 2003.
Dragnet debuted inauspiciously. The first several months were bumpy, as Webb and company worked out the program's format and eventually became comfortable with their characters. Friday was originally portrayed as more brash and forceful than his later usually relaxed demeanor. Gradually, Friday's deadpanned, fast-talking persona emerged, described by John Dunning as "a cop's cop: tough, but not hard; conservative, but caring". Friday's first partner was Sergeant Ben Romero, portrayed by Barton Yarborough, a long time radio actor.
When Dragnet hit its stride, it became one of radio's top rated shows. Webb insisted on realism in every aspect of the show. The dialogue was clipped, understated, and sparse -- influenced by the hard-boiled school of crime fiction. Scripts were fast moving, but didn't seem rushed. Every aspect of police work was chronicled, step-by-step. From patrols and paperwork, to crime scene investigation, lab work and questioning witnesses or suspects. Webb was a stickler for accurate details, and Dragnet used many authentic touches, such as LAPD's actual radio call sign, KMA-367, and the names of many real department officials, such as Ray Pinker and Lee Jones of the Crime Lab, or Chief of Detectives, Thad Brown.
Two announcers were used. Episodes began with announcer George Fennemen intoning the series opening:
"The story you are about to hear is true. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent."
Hal Gibney described the basic premise of the episode. For example, "Big Saint", from April 26th, 1951, begins with:
"You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned to auto theft detail. A well organized ring of car thieves begins operations in your city. It's one of the most puzzling cases you've ever encountered. Your job -- break it."
The story usually began with footsteps and a door closing, followed by Joe Friday intoning something like:
"Tuesday, February 12th. It was cold in Los Angeles. We were working the day watch out of Robbery Division. My partner's Ben Romero. The boss is Ed Backstrom, Chief of Detectives. My name's Friday."
Friday offered voice-over narration throughout the episodes, noting the time, date, and place of every scene as he and his partners went through their day investigating the crime. The events related in a given episode might occur in a few hours or might span a few months. At least one episode unfolded in real time, in "City Hall Bombing", from July 21st, 1949. Friday and Romero had less than 30 minutes to stop a man who was threatening to destroy the City Hall with a bomb.
At the end of an episode, announcer Hal Gibney would relate the fate of the suspect. They were usually convicted of a crime, and sent to the state penitentiary or a state mental hospital. Murderers were often executed in the manner proscribed by law. Occasionally, police pursued the wrong suspect, and criminals sometimes avoided justice, or escaped, at least on the radio version of Dragnet.
Scripts tackled a number of topics, ranging from the thrilling (murders, missing persons, and armed robbery) to the mundane (check fraud and shoplifting) -- yet, Dragnet made them all interesting due to the fast moving plots and behind the scenes realism. In "The Garbage Chute", from December 15th, 1949, they even had a locked-room mystery. Though rather tame by modern standards, Dragnet, especially on the radio, handled controversial subjects, such as sex crimes and drug addiction, with unprecedented and even startling realism. The tone was usually serious, but there were moments of comic relief. Romero was something of a hypochondriac, and often seemed hen-pecked. Though Friday dated women, he usually dodged those who tried to set him up with marriage-minded dates.
Due in part to Webb's fondness for radio drama, Dragnet persisted on radio until 1957, as one of the last old time radio shows to give way to television's increasing popularity. In fact, the TV show would prove to be effectively a visual version of the radio show, as the style was virtually the same. The TV show could be listened to, without watching it, with no loss of understanding of the storyline.
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1 Production 2 aka Homicide aka The Nickel Plated Gun - 29:44
2 Production 3 aka The Werewolf - 29:28
3 Production 4 aka Homicide aka Quick Trigger Gun Men - 29:54
4 The Helen Corday Murder - 29:51
5 Red Light Bandit - 29:37
6 Attempted City Hall Bombing - 29:59
7 Missing Persons - Juanita Lasky - 29:56
8 Benny Trounsel - Narcotics - 29:43
9 Production 10 aka Homicide aka Maniac Murderer aka Mad Killer At Large - 29:55
10 Production 11 aka Sixteen Jewel Thieves - 29:43
11 Police Academy - Mario Koski - 29:20
12 Dragnet_49-09-01_013_Auto_Burglaries_-_Myra,_the_Redhead - 29:57
13 Eric Kelby - Body Buried In Nursery - 29:52
14 Sullivan Kidnapping - 29:27
15 James Vickers - Cop Killing - Tunnel Chase - 29:13
16 Brick-Bat Slayer - 29:13
17 Truck Hi-jackers - Tom Laval - 29:15
18 Dragnet_49-11-24_026_Mrs._Rinard,_Albert_Barry_-_Mother-In-Law_Murder - 29:17
19 Spring Street Gang - Juveniles - 29:16
20 George Quan - The Jade Thumb Rings - 29:14
21 22 Rifle for Christmas - 29:22
22 The Roseland Roof Murders - 30:44
23 Max Tyler - Escaped Convict - 29:18
24 The Big Man Part 1 (Narcotics) - 29:18
25 The Big Man Part 2 (Narcotics) - 58:55
26 Dragnet_50-02-02_035_Claude_Jimmerson,_Child_Killer - 29:21
27 The Big Girl - 29:20
28 The Big Grifter - 29:21
29 The Big Kill - 29:23
30 The Big Thank You - 29:38
31 The Big Boys - 29:13
32 The Big Gangster Part 1 - 29:13
33 The Big Gangster Part 2 - 29:19
34 The Big Book - 29:27
35 The Big Watch - 29:23
36 The Big Trial - 29:19
37 The Big Job - 29:21
38 The Big Badge - 29:18
39 The Big Knife - 29:18
40 The Big Pug - 29:20
41 The Big Key - 29:47
42 The Big Fake - 29:37
43 Dragnet_50-06-08_052_Big_Smart_Guy_AFRS#46 - 24:35
44 The Big Smart Guy - 29:38
45 The Big Press - 29:19
46 Dragnet_50-06-22_054_Big_Mink_AFRS#48 - 24:02
47 The Big Mink - 29:19
48 The Big Grab - 29:06
49 The Big Frame - 29:17
50 The Big Bomb - 29:20
51 The Big Gent Part 1 - 29:13
52 The Big Gent Part 2 - 29:21
53 The Big Dare - 29:18
54 The Big Actor - 29:19
55 The Big Youngster - 29:20
56 The Big Chance - 29:21
57 The Big Check - 29:19
58 The Big Poison - 29:21
59 The Big Make - 29:22
60 The Big Pair - 29:18
61 The Big Death - 29:14
62 The Big 38 - 29:14
63 The Big Quack - 29:10
64 The Big Grandma - 29:21
65 The Big Meet - 29:21
66 The Big Church - 29:18
67 The Big Mother - 29:18
68 The Big Parrot - 29:17
69 The Big Betty - 29:18
70 The Big Car - 29:19
71 The Big Picture - 29:18
72 The Big Break - 29:23
73 22 Rifle for Christmas - 29:27
74 The Big Family - 25:43
75 The Big Holdup - 30:20
76 The Big Jump - 29:46
77 The Big Dance - 29:28
78 The Big Tomato - 30:22
79 The Big Children - 29:10
80 The Big Cast - 29:19
81 The Big Crime - 29:19
82 The Big Couple - 29:33
83 The Big Partner - 26:48
84 The Big New Years - 26:35
85 The Big Ben - 26:12
86 The Big Friend - 29:18
87 The Big Threat - 29:35
88 The Big Speech - 29:39
89 The Big Saint - 29:35
90 The Big Casing - 29:27
91 The Big Drills - 26:34
92 The Big Blast - 29:31
93 The Big Mailman - 29:36
94 The Big Bindle - 29:34
95 The Big Imposter - 29:29
96 The Big Building - 29:30
97 The Big Run - 29:31
98 The Big Cliff - 29:30
99 The Big Love - 29:25
100 The Big Set-Up - 29:37
101 The Big Sophomore - 29:19
102 The Big Late Script - 29:33
103 The Big Screen - 29:43
104 The Big Winchester - 29:18
105 The Big In-Laws - 29:30
106 The Big Crazy - 29:32
107 The Big 17 - 29:34
108 The Big Waiter - 26:11
109 The Big Sour - 25:21
110 The Big September Man - 26:28
111 The Big Want Ad - 27:42
112 The Big Shoplift - 29:29
113 The Big Story Man - 25:56
114 The Big Market - 26:26
115 The Big Lease - 29:33
116 The Big Hit and Run Killer - 29:46
117 The Big Bungalow - 29:35
118 The Big Hands - 29:19
119 The Big Affair - 30:05
120 The Big Canaries - 30:05
121 The Big Overtime - 29:52
122 22 Rifle for Christmas - 25:30
123 The Big Sorrow - 29:47
124 The Big Red Part 1 - 29:26
125 The Big Red Part 2 - 29:28
126 The Big Juvenile Division - 29:47
127 The Big Almost No Show - 29:36
128 The Big Honeymoon - 29:23
129 The Big Phone Call - 29:34
130 The Big Producer - 29:30
131 The Big Plant - 29:24
132 The Big Evans - 29:29
133 The Big Fire - 29:34
134 The Big Border - 29:32
135 The Big Rose - 29:32
136 The Big Streetcar - 29:29
137 The Big Show - 29:28
138 The Big Bunco - 29:52
139 The Big Elevator - 29:25
140 The Big Safe - 29:27
141 The Big Gamble - 29:31
142 The Big Mail - 29:19
143 The Big Shakedown - 29:21
144 The Big Fourth - 29:25
145 The Big Whiff - 29:22
146 The Big Jules - 27:28
147 The Big Roll - 29:19
148 The Big Trio - 29:34
149 The Big Hate - 29:14
150 The Big Signet - 29:26
151 The Big Impression - 29:31
152 The Big Drive - 29:19
153 The Big Paper - 29:38
154 The Big Test - 29:31
155 The Big Ray - 29:34
156 The Big Tear - 27:40
157 The Big Bull - 29:36
158 The Big Shot - 29:27
159 The Big Brain - 25:17
160 The Big Jolt - 29:17
161 The Big Lie - 29:34
162 The Big Pill - 29:35
163 The Big Number - 29:39
164 The Big Light - 29:42
165 The Big Dive - 29:27
166 The Big Walk - 29:22
167 The Big Guilt - 29:25
168 The Big Shirt - 29:25
169 The Big Mole - 29:29
170 The Big Eavesdrop - 28:59
171 22 Rifle for Christmas - 26:48
172 The Big Mask Part 1 - 29:54
173 The Big Mask Part 2 - 28:22
174 The Big Small - 29:28
175 The Big String - 29:24
176 The Big Lay-Out - 29:43
177 The Big Strip - 29:43
178 The Big Press - 29:32
179 The Big Tooth - 29:32
180 The Big Smoke - 29:34
181 The Big Want - 29:24
182 The Big Laugh - 29:32
183 The Big Laugh (AFRS) - 25:15
184 The Big Impossible - 29:32
185 The Big Informant - 29:43
186 The Big Dream - 29:41
187 The Big Chet - 28:55
188 The Big Compulsion - 30:02
189 The Big Rip - 28:55
190 The Big Scrapbook - 29:21
191 The Big Carney - 29:25
192 The Big Joke - 29:25
193 The Big False Move - 29:45
194 The Big Gun Part 1 - 31:04
195 The Big Gun Part 2 - 29:02
196 The Big Will - 29:36
197 The Big Lilly - 29:13
198 The Big Revolt - 29:29
199 The Big Ham - 29:23
200 The Big Bop - 29:28
201 The Big Lift - 29:34
202 The Big Cab - 29:28
203 The Big Slip - 29:30
204 The Big Try - 29:43
205 The Big Little Mother - 29:32
206 The Big Plea - 29:41
207 The Big Paint - 29:41
208 The Big Fraud - 29:23
209 The Big Rain - 29:16
210 The Big Kid - 29:40
211 The Big Kid - 25:18
212 The Big Flight - 25:43
213 The Big Present - 29:30
214 The Big Present - 25:37
215 The Big Odd - 29:38
216 The Big Odd - 25:33
217 The Big Pick - 28:34
218 The Big Pick - 25:44
219 The Big Brink - 29:26
220 The Big Brink - 25:04
221 The Big Little Jesus - 29:19
222 The Big Steal - 29:02
223 The Big Steal - 25:34
224 The Big Listen - 29:31
225 The Big Listen - 24:55
226 The Big Switch - 29:02
227 The Big Switch - 25:31
228 The Big Bill - 25:36
229 The Big Bill - 25:01
230 The Big Bid - 29:12
231 The Big Bid - 24:17
232 The Big Filth - 29:17
233 The Big Filth - 25:37
234 The Big Broad - 29:27
235 The Big Broad - 25:00
236 The Big Sucker - 29:27
237 The Big Sucker - 26:08
238 The Big Pipe - 29:54
239 The Big Pipe - 25:26
240 The Big TV - 29:02
241 The Big TV - 23:54
242 The Big Cup - 29:17
243 The Big Cup - 25:59
244 The Big Rod - 29:52
245 The Big Rod - 24:06
246 The Big Mustache - 29:37
247 The Big Mustache - 25:00
248 The Big Confession - 29:48
249 The Big Confession - 26:03
250 The Big Saw - 29:17
251 The Big Saw - 26:15
252 The Big Note - 29:18
253 The Big Note - 26:06
254 The Big Net - 29:20
255 The Big Net - 25:53
256 The Big Lift - 29:10
257 The Big Lift - 25:09
258 The Big Stop - 29:25
259 The Big Stop - 26:08
260 The Big Look - 28:54
261 The Big Look - 25:39
262 The Big Help - 25:18
263 The Big Watch - 26:21
264 The Big Cowboy - 24:54
265 The Big Student - 25:58
266 The Big Cat - 26:14
267 The Big Customer - 25:57
268 The Big Chick - 26:08
269 The Big Search - 25:55
270 The Big Rescue - 26:08
271 The Big Heel - 25:59
272 The Big Match - 26:06
273 The Big Stand - 29:08
274 The Big Stand - 25:48
275 The Big Wish - 26:10
276 The Big Cad - 26:21
277 The Big Shock - 26:00
278 The Big Office - 25:44
279 The Big Trunk - 25:31
280 The Big Cut - 29:24
281 The Big Cut - 25:40
282 The Big Try - 26:13
283 The Big Bible - 29:11
284 The Big Bible - 26:11
285 The Big Handsome Bandit - 26:01
286 The Big Tar Baby - 29:39
287 The Big Tarbaby - 26:27
288 The Big Mannikin - 29:18
289 The Big Mannikin - 26:45
290 The Big Key - 26:21
291 The Big Locker - 29:32
292 The Big Coins - 25:02
293 The Big Dog - 24:47
294 The Big Switch - 25:53
295 The Big Gone - 26:06
296 The Big Dig - 25:53
297 The Big Lens - 26:27
298 The Big Little Jesus - 27:20
299 The Big Underground - 25:39
300 The Big Mug - 26:06
301 The Big Complex - 25:32
302 The Big Token - 25:32
303 The Big Bounce - 24:56
304 The Big Bird - 25:56
305 The Big Gap - 25:34
306 The Big Hat - 25:13
307 The Big Slug - 25:45
308 The Big Set-Up - 25:51
309 The Big Father - 25:31
310 The Big Set - 25:12
311 The Big Set - 25:40
312 The Big Talk - 24:52
313 The Big Talk - 25:19
314 The Big Death - 24:17
315 The Big No Tooth - 24:00
316 The Big Tie - 24:54
317 The Big Deal - 24:34
318 The Big Child - 25:29
319 The Big Momma - 25:26
320 The Big Revision - 25:35
321 The Big Squealer - 25:27
322 The Big Siege - 25:42
323 The Big Sisters - 29:19
324 The Big Sisters - 25:23
325 The Big Limp - 24:50
326 The Big Fall Guy - 29:23
327 The Big Grab - 25:14
328 The Big Convertible - 25:06
329 The Big Rush - 24:39
330 The Big Genius - 25:00
331 The Big Bobo - 29:07
332 The Big Housemaid - 25:10
333 The Big Sheet - 24:59
334 The Big Missus - 29:14
335 The Big Beer - 26:26
336 The Big Blonde - 24:50
337 The Big Fellow - 24:16
338 The Big Ruling - 29:12
339 The Big Daughter - 25:04
340 The Big Close - 25:23
341 22 Rifle for Christmas - 25:10
342 The Big Dream - 26:23
343 The Big Scrapbook - 25:41
344 The Big Present - 25:45