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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."

Click here to read more about Dragnet

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Please enjoy these 332 old time radio episodes:

Air Date	Title	Synopsis
07.13.1950	the big bomb	+ "The Big Bomb". Sponsored by: Fatima. Vernon Carney is threatening to blow up the Los Angeles Cit...
07.20.1950	big gent pt1	+ Dragnet. July 20, 1950. Program #58. "The Big Gent" Part 1. Sponsored by: Fatima. Friday tracks d...
07.27.1950	big gent pt2	+ Dragnet. July 27, 1950. Program #59. "The Big Gent" Part 2. Sponsored by: Fatima. The hunt for "T...
08.03.1950	the big dare	+ Detective Sergeant Joe Friday was assigned to homicide detail. A woman is knifed to death in her h...
08.10.1950	the big actor	+ Dragnet. August 10, 1950. Program #61. "The Big Actor". Sponsored by: Fatima. $10,000 worth of na...
08.17.1950	the big youngster	+ Dragnet. August 17, 1950. Program #62. "The Big Youngster". Sponsored by: Fatima. A young boy con...
08.24.1950	the big chance	+ Dragnet. August 24, 1950. Program #63. "The Big Chance". Sponsored by: Fatima Cigarettes. A highw...
08.31.1950	the big check	+ Dragnet. August 31, 1950. Program #64. "The Big Check". Sponsored by: Fatima Cigarettes. Friday a...
09.07.1950	the big poison	+ Dragnet. September 7, 1950. Program #65. "The Big Poison". Sponsored by: Fatima. Mr. and Mrs. App...
09.14.1950	the big make	+ "The Big Make". Sponsored by: Fatima. Sgt. Friday tracks down the robber at Stendahl's Bakery Sho...
09.21.1950	the big pair	+ "The Big Pair". Sponsored by: Fatima Cigarettes. A couple run a racket of selling all the furnitu...
09.28.1950	big death	+ "The Big Death". Sponsored by: Fatima Cigarettes, Chesterfield. A man decides to kill his wife, a...
10.05.1950	the big 38	+ Detective Sergeant Friday has been assigned to robbery detail. A store clerk has been murdered; sh...
10.12.1950	the big quack	+ Dragnet. October 12, 1950. Program #70. "The Big Quack". Sponsored by: Fatima. Marla Hutchins com...
10.19.1950	the big grandma	+ Dragnet. October 19, 1950. "The Big Grandma". Sponsored by: Fatima. An elderly woman has been pas...
10.26.1950	the big meet	+ Dragnet. October 26, 1950. Program #72. "The Big Meet". Sponsored by: Fatima. Sgt. Friday tries t...
11.02.1950	the big church	+ Detective Sergeant Friday is assigned to Homicide Detail. The life of a young woman is in danger. ...
11.09.1950	the big mother	+ Dragnet. November 9, 1950. Program #74. "The Big Mother". Sponsored by: Fatima. The three day old...
11.12.1950	big quack	+ "The Big Quack". Sponsored by: Fatima. Marla Hutchins commits suicide after being robbed by a pho...
11.16.1950	the big parrot	+ Dragnet. November 16, 1950. Program #75. "The Big Parrot". Sponsored by: Fatima. Arson in a roomi...
11.23.1950	big betty	+ Dragnet. November 23, 1950. Program #76. "The Big Betty". Sponsored by: Fatima. A bunko gang has ...
11.30.1950	the big car	+ Dragnet. November 30, 1950. Program #77. "The Big Car". Sponsored by: Fatima, Chesterfield. A man...
12.07.1950	the big picture	+ Dragnet. December 7, 1950. Program #78. "The Big Picture". Sponsored by: Fatima Cigarettes. Serge...
12.14.1950	the big break	+ Dragnet. December 14, 1950. Program #79. "The Big Break". Sponsored by: Fatima, Chesterfield. Aft...
12.21.1950	twenty two rifle for christmas 1950 broadcast	+ Detective Sergeant Joe Friday has been assigned to homicide detail. A small boy is reported missin...

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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