Dragnet | Crime | Old Time Radio Downloads

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"Ladies and gentlemen…the story you're about to hear is true…"

Dragnet, a term which actually refers to the systematic and coordinated way searching for a wanted person, was also used to pertain to a police drama series that aired from September 1949 to February 1957 in NBC Radio. For 30 minutes per episode, the show featured real police stories in a simple, investigatory style.

The show was said to be inspired by a film called "He Walked by Night," which was released in 1948. In that film, Jack Webb, who portrayed Dragnet's main character Sergeant Joe Friday, was given a small role. Through the help of the Los Angeles Police Department, Webb was able to present true cases, which became the trademark of Dragnet. It narrates every facet of police work—from paperworks and patrols, to crime scene investigations, laboratory works, and interrogation of suspects and witnesses.

As the most popular and influential police series in the history of American media, Dragnet was able to provide its audience the impression of what a real police life could be like. It was well-liked by most radio listeners, as well as police officers. Due to its success, the series also had its television adaptation.

"From beginning to end, from crime to punishment, Dragnet is the story of your police force in action."

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Please enjoy these 332 old time radio episodes:

Air Date	Title	Synopsis
01.04.1955	big mug	+ "The Big Mug". Sponsored by: Commercials partially deleted. A "strong arm" bandit continues his o... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
01.11.1955	big complex	+ , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Complex". A Junior High School has been vandalized three times...an... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
01.18.1955	big token	+ , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Token". A man has robbed a liquor store and killed a man by shooting... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
01.25.1955	big bounce	+ , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Bounce". A check forger who looks like a movie actor takes advantag... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
02.01.1955	big bird	+ , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Bird". A series of burglaries is taking place at new housing develop... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
02.08.1955	big gap	+ , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Gap". Garfield Hunt has been swindled out of $1500 by a phoney emera... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
02.15.1955	big hat	+ , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Hat". A robber has calmly stolen $80,000 in uncut diamonds. Meanwhi... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
02.22.1955	big slug	+ , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Slug". A man in a plaid sports coat is shot while robbing a liquor s... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
03.01.1955	big set up	+ , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Set-Up". Friday and Smith get a tip about three kilos of heroin abou... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
03.08.1955	big father	+ , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Father". A daylight burglar posing as being from the electric compan... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
03.15.1955	big set	+ , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Set. A watch salesman named Russell Liggens reports his sample case... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
03.22.1955	big talk	+ , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Talk". A drunken woman provides the clue to a series of robberies, b... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
03.29.1955	big death	+ , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Death". Arthur McNeil has been shot six times in the head and killed... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
04.05.1955	big no tooth	+ , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big No Teeth". A robber with a sawed off shotgun holds up a hotel, then... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
04.12.1955	the big tie	+ NBC origination, AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Tie". A tie factory has been robbed, the owner says he... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
04.19.1955	big deal	+ , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Deal". A pair of car thieves has a clever method of reselling their... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
04.26.1955	the big child	+ , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Child". A two year old baby has been poisoned, her mother nowhere to...
05.03.1955	big momma	+Program #298. , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Mama". The owner of Multiple Uranium Investments has l... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
05.10.1955	big revision	+ , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Revision". A burglar has been caught, but not his $200,000 in stole... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
05.17.1955	big squealer	+ , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Squealer". A high school boy is found knifed in an alley and very re... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
05.24.1955	big siege	+ , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Siege". A bank robber is trapped in a house. A good story about the... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
05.31.1955	the big sisters	+ , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Sisters". An old lady named Miss Dunbetter has been robbed or has s... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
06.07.1955	the big limp	+ , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Limp". A jewelry store has been burglarized and watches stolen. The...
06.14.1955	big fall guy	+ , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Fallguy". A six year old girl has been kidnapped and a massive effo...
06.21.1955	big grab	+ , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Grab". Grace Marchand, a six year old girl has been kidnapped off th...

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Air Date	Title	Synopsis
01.04.1955	big mug	+ "The Big Mug". Sponsored by: Commercials partially deleted. A "strong arm" bandit continues his o... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
01.11.1955	big complex	+ , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Complex". A Junior High School has been vandalized three times...an... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
01.18.1955	big token	+ , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Token". A man has robbed a liquor store and killed a man by shooting... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
01.25.1955	big bounce	+ , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Bounce". A check forger who looks like a movie actor takes advantag... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
02.01.1955	big bird	+ , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Bird". A series of burglaries is taking place at new housing develop... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
02.08.1955	big gap	+ , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Gap". Garfield Hunt has been swindled out of $1500 by a phoney emera... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
02.15.1955	big hat	+ , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Hat". A robber has calmly stolen $80,000 in uncut diamonds. Meanwhi... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
02.22.1955	big slug	+ , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Slug". A man in a plaid sports coat is shot while robbing a liquor s... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
03.01.1955	big set up	+ , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Set-Up". Friday and Smith get a tip about three kilos of heroin abou... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
03.08.1955	big father	+ , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Father". A daylight burglar posing as being from the electric compan... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
03.15.1955	big set	+ , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Set. A watch salesman named Russell Liggens reports his sample case... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
03.22.1955	big talk	+ , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Talk". A drunken woman provides the clue to a series of robberies, b... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
03.29.1955	big death	+ , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Death". Arthur McNeil has been shot six times in the head and killed... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
04.05.1955	big no tooth	+ , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big No Teeth". A robber with a sawed off shotgun holds up a hotel, then... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
04.12.1955	the big tie	+ NBC origination, AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Tie". A tie factory has been robbed, the owner says he... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
04.19.1955	big deal	+ , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Deal". A pair of car thieves has a clever method of reselling their... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
05.03.1955	big momma	+Program #298. , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Mama". The owner of Multiple Uranium Investments has l... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
05.10.1955	big revision	+ , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Revision". A burglar has been caught, but not his $200,000 in stole... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
05.17.1955	big squealer	+ , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Squealer". A high school boy is found knifed in an alley and very re... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
05.24.1955	big siege	+ , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Siege". A bank robber is trapped in a house. A good story about the... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
05.31.1955	the big sisters	+ , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Sisters". An old lady named Miss Dunbetter has been robbed or has s... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT

So enjoyed Dragnet on radio and of course watched every episode on TV. More than one HD channel here plays all of them.

Jeanette

Harry Bartell = always awesome.

John

Virginia Gregg was on everything! I love catching her in tv shows like "Dragnet."

Larisa

I wasn't expecting myself to enjoy Dragnet this much

Tyler

I love radio Dragnet!

Kristi

I like the radio version of "Dragnet" much more than the TV version.

Debra

The radio version is much edgier than the TV version.

Richard

they want you to make sure you get everything and make it much more exciting (say that fast)

Tyler

Harry Bartell, played many characters on Dragnet, both radio and TV as well as many other radio shows.

Walt

"This is the city. Los Angeles, California. I work here. I carry a badge. My name's Friday."

Rick

Excellent I love dragnet

John

My favorite show I love that and never tired to listen that again and again.

Andrew

I love that show

Michael

So enjoyed Dragnet on radio and of course watched every episode on TV. More than one HD channel here plays all of them.

Jeanette

"The story you about to hear is true, the names have been changed to protect the innocent"

Daniel

The Dragnets from the 1950's are very entertaining to me!

Mike

The Dragnet episodes "A .22 Rifle for Christmas" and "The Big Little Jesus" l recommend to here these episode in Christmas. my favorite.

John

I loved this old show, During the noon hour in our LA high school they would often play the Dragnet theme on a loud speaker. It was very popular!

Diana

Dragnet is really good. Good stories, acting and great sound effects.

Dan

Lately I have been listening to and enjoying the Dragnet radio shows. Dragnet had an almost seamless conversion to TV. I still enjoy both. At least some of the Dragnet episodes were the same script on both radio and television (with some narration added to radio to explain the action). The "Baby Jesus" story is one example that's easy to find in audio and video.

Ted

Recycling of scripts was more common among series in that era than it is now. Gunsmoke had many reused scripts both on the radio and also on TV. I prefer that to what latter came to be known on TV as the Montage Episodes .

Tom

Featuring all 309 existing programs as broadcast on NBC from 1949 to 1955 (excluding repeats). You will find this set has the best sound, as well the most complete set of programs available anywhere. Another feature in this set, is many of the programs are in high code to take advantage of the great sound. Dragnet is respected as the best crime drama on radio, later in movies and on TV. (Check out our OTV DVD Catalog for the black & white TV programs, as well the color 1967 to 1970 series).

DRAGNET