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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
01.19.1954	big bill	+ Dragnet. January 19, 1954. Program #231. , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Bill". A little old lady n... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
01.26.1954	big bid	+ Dragnet. January 26, 1954. Program #232. , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Bid". A clothing store has... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
02.02.1954	big filth	+ Dragnet. February 2, 1954. Program #233. , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Filth". Four children are ... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
02.09.1954	big broad	+ Dragnet. February 9, 1954. Program #234. , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Broad". Sergeant Friday is... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
02.16.1954	big sucker	+ Dragnet. February 16, 1954. Program #235. , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Sucker". A con-man uses re... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
02.23.1954	big pipe	+ Dragnet. February 23, 1954. Program #236. "The Big Pipe". Sponsored by: Chesterfield, L & M. Mrs.... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
03.02.1954	the big tv	+ Dragnet. March 2, 1954. Program #237. , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big TV". Harriet Shipley has disap... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
03.09.1954	the big cup	+ Dragnet. March 9, 1954. Program #238. , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Cup". Ethel Lawrence has been... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
03.16.1954	big rod	+ Dragnet. March 16, 1954. Program #239. , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Rod". A hot-rodder has run do... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
03.23.1954	the big mustache	+ Dragnet. March 23, 1954. Program #240. , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Moustache". A man with a fals... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
03.30.1954	big confession	+ Dragnet. March 30, 1954. Program #241. , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Confession". Paul Marcus conf... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
04.06.1954	the big saw	+ Dragnet. April 6, 1954. Program #242. , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Saw". A pair of bank robbers a... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
04.13.1954	the big note	+ Dragnet. April 13, 1954. Program #243. , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Note". A young woman reports ... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
04.20.1954	big net	+ Dragnet. April 20, 1954. Program #244. , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Net". Fourteen women have be... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
04.27.1954	big lift	+ Dragnet. April 27, 1954. Program #245. , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Lift". A gang of shoplifters... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
05.04.1954	big stop	+ Dragnet. May 4, 1954. Program #246. , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Stop". A traffic cop has been s... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
05.11.1954	big look	+ Dragnet. May 11, 1954. Sponsored by: Chesterfield, L & M. Mrs. Kieran has been found badly beaten... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
05.18.1954	big help	+ Dragnet. May 18, 1954. Program #248. , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Help". Stolen payroll checks a... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
05.25.1954	big watch	+ Dragnet. May 25, 1954. Program #249. , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Watch". A market has been robb... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
06.01.1954	big cowboy	+ Dragnet. June 1, 1954. Program #250. , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Cowboy". Dudley Gray is holed u... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
06.08.1954	big student	+ Dragnet. June 8, 1954. Program #251. , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Student". Louis Rote is capture... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
06.15.1954	big cat	+ Dragnet. June 15, 1954. Program #252. , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Cat". A man reports a deadly ... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
06.22.1954	big customer	+ Dragnet. June 22, 1954. Program #253. , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Customer". A special officer h... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
06.29.1954	big chick	+ Dragnet. June 29, 1954. Program #254. , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Check". The body of Walter Gi... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
07.06.1954	big search	+ Dragnet. July 6, 1954. Program #255. , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Search". Bunny Moran, a thirtee... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT

1 2 3 … 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

Air Date	Title	Synopsis
01.19.1954	big bill	+ Dragnet. January 19, 1954. Program #231. , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Bill". A little old lady n... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
01.26.1954	big bid	+ Dragnet. January 26, 1954. Program #232. , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Bid". A clothing store has... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
02.02.1954	big filth	+ Dragnet. February 2, 1954. Program #233. , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Filth". Four children are ... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
02.09.1954	big broad	+ Dragnet. February 9, 1954. Program #234. , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Broad". Sergeant Friday is... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
02.16.1954	big sucker	+ Dragnet. February 16, 1954. Program #235. , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Sucker". A con-man uses re... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
02.23.1954	big pipe	+ Dragnet. February 23, 1954. Program #236. "The Big Pipe". Sponsored by: Chesterfield, L & M. Mrs.... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
03.02.1954	the big tv	+ Dragnet. March 2, 1954. Program #237. , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big TV". Harriet Shipley has disap... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
03.09.1954	the big cup	+ Dragnet. March 9, 1954. Program #238. , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Cup". Ethel Lawrence has been... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
03.16.1954	big rod	+ Dragnet. March 16, 1954. Program #239. , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Rod". A hot-rodder has run do... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
03.23.1954	the big mustache	+ Dragnet. March 23, 1954. Program #240. , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Moustache". A man with a fals... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
03.30.1954	big confession	+ Dragnet. March 30, 1954. Program #241. , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Confession". Paul Marcus conf... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
04.06.1954	the big saw	+ Dragnet. April 6, 1954. Program #242. , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Saw". A pair of bank robbers a... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
04.13.1954	the big note	+ Dragnet. April 13, 1954. Program #243. , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Note". A young woman reports ... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
04.20.1954	big net	+ Dragnet. April 20, 1954. Program #244. , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Net". Fourteen women have be... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
04.27.1954	big lift	+ Dragnet. April 27, 1954. Program #245. , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Lift". A gang of shoplifters... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
05.04.1954	big stop	+ Dragnet. May 4, 1954. Program #246. , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Stop". A traffic cop has been s... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
05.11.1954	big look	+ Dragnet. May 11, 1954. Sponsored by: Chesterfield, L & M. Mrs. Kieran has been found badly beaten... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
05.18.1954	big help	+ Dragnet. May 18, 1954. Program #248. , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Help". Stolen payroll checks a... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
05.25.1954	big watch	+ Dragnet. May 25, 1954. Program #249. , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Watch". A market has been robb... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
06.01.1954	big cowboy	+ Dragnet. June 1, 1954. Program #250. , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Cowboy". Dudley Gray is holed u... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
06.08.1954	big student	+ Dragnet. June 8, 1954. Program #251. , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Student". Louis Rote is capture... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
06.15.1954	big cat	+ Dragnet. June 15, 1954. Program #252. , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Cat". A man reports a deadly ... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
06.22.1954	big customer	+ Dragnet. June 22, 1954. Program #253. , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Customer". A special officer h... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
06.29.1954	big chick	+ Dragnet. June 29, 1954. Program #254. , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Check". The body of Walter Gi... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
07.06.1954	big search	+ Dragnet. July 6, 1954. Program #255. , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Search". Bunny Moran, a thirtee... 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