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
12.13.1951	the big overtime	+ Dragnet. December 13, 1951. Program #131. "The Big Overtime". Sponsored by: Fatima. A banker's tw...
12.20.1951	twenty two rifle for christmas 1951 broadcast	+ Dragnet. December 20, 1951. Program #132. Sponsored by: Fatima Cigarettes. A very touching story ...
12.27.1951	the big sorrow	+ "The Big Sorrow". Sponsored by: Fatima. A dragnet is set up for two escaped convicts, determined ...
01.03.1952	big red part 1 of 2	+ Dragnet. January 3, 1952. Program #134. "The Big Red" Part 1. Sponsored by: Fatima. Friday poses ...
01.10.1952	big red part 2 of 2	+ Dragnet. January 10, 1952. Program #135. "The Big Red" Part 2. Sponsored by: Fatima. Sgt. Friday ...
01.17.1952	big juvenile	+ Dragnet. January 17, 1952. Program #136. "The Big Juvenile Division". Sponsored by: Fatima. Rober... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
01.24.1952	big court	+ Dragnet. January 24, 1952. Program #137. "The Big Court". Sponsored by: Fatima. A bartender was s...
01.31.1952	the big almost no show	+ Dragnet. January 31, 1952. Program #138. "The Big Almost No-Show". Sponsored by: Fatima Cigarette...
02.07.1952	the big honeymoon	+ Dragnet. February 7, 1952. Program #139. "The Big Honeymoon". Sponsored by: Fatima. Dorothy Wagne...
02.14.1952	the big phone call	+ Dragnet. February 14, 1952. Program #140. "The Big Phone Call". Sponsored by: Fatima. The cops kn...
02.21.1952	the big producer	+ Dragnet. February 21, 1952. Program #141. "The Big Producer". Sponsored by: Fatima. A trail of po...
02.28.1952	the big plant	+ Dragnet. February 28, 1952. Program #142. "The Big Plant". Sponsored by: Fatima Cigarettes. A wom...
03.06.1952	the big evans	+ Dragnet. March 6, 1952. Program #143. "The Big Evans". Sponsored by: Fatima. A narcotics dealer n...
03.13.1952	the big fire	+ Dragnet. March 13, 1952. Program #144. "The Big Fire". Sponsored by: Fatima. Edward Daniels signs...
03.20.1952	big border	+ Dragnet. March 20, 1952. Program #145. "The Big Border". Sponsored by: Fatima. Andy Powell and hi...
03.27.1952	the big rose	+ Dragnet. March 27, 1952. Program #146. "The Big Rose". Sponsored by: Fatima. Rose Baker has disap...
04.03.1952	big streetcar	+ Dragnet. April 3, 1952. Program #147. "The Big Streetcar". Sponsored by: Fatima. Wally Radford ha...
04.10.1952	big show	+ Dragnet. April 10, 1952. Program #148. "The Big Show". Sponsored by: Fatima. A seven-week-old bab...
04.17.1952	the big bunco	+ Dragnet. April 17, 1952. Program #149. "The Big Bunco". Sponsored by: Fatima. Sgt. Friday gets a ...
04.24.1952	the big elevator	+ Dragnet. April 24, 1952. Program #150. "The Big Elevator". Sponsored by: Fatima. A dead woman is ...
05.01.1952	the big safe	+ Dragnet. May 1, 1952. Program #151. "The Big Safe". Sponsored by: Fatima. After two false leads, ...
05.08.1952	big gamble	+ Dragnet. May 8, 1952. Program #152. "The Big Gamble". Sponsored by: Fatima. A series of floating ...
05.15.1952	big mail	+ Dragnet. May 15, 1952. Program #153. "The Big Mail". Sponsored by: Fatima. A mail truck has been ...
05.22.1952	big shakedown	+ Dragnet. May 22, 1952. Program #154. "The Big Shakedown". Sponsored by: Fatima. On the trail of R...
05.29.1952	the big forth	+ Dragnet. May 29, 1952. Program #155. "The Big Fourth". Sponsored by: Fatima. An eight-month-old b...

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Air Date	Title	Synopsis	Rating
01.17.1952	big juvenile	+ Dragnet. January 17, 1952. Program #136. "The Big Juvenile Division". Sponsored by: Fatima. Rober... 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