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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
08.24.1950	the big chance	+ Dragnet. August 24, 1950. Program #63. "The Big Chance". Sponsored by: Fatima Cigarettes. A highw...
08.17.1950	the big youngster	+ Dragnet. August 17, 1950. Program #62. "The Big Youngster". Sponsored by: Fatima. A young boy con...
08.10.1950	the big actor	+ Dragnet. August 10, 1950. Program #61. "The Big Actor". Sponsored by: Fatima. $10,000 worth of na...
08.03.1950	the big dare	+ Detective Sergeant Joe Friday was assigned to homicide detail. A woman is knifed to death in her h...
07.27.1950	big gent pt2	+ Dragnet. July 27, 1950. Program #59. "The Big Gent" Part 2. Sponsored by: Fatima. The hunt for "T...
07.20.1950	big gent pt1	+ Dragnet. July 20, 1950. Program #58. "The Big Gent" Part 1. Sponsored by: Fatima. Friday tracks d...
07.13.1950	the big bomb	+ "The Big Bomb". Sponsored by: Fatima. Vernon Carney is threatening to blow up the Los Angeles Cit...
07.06.1950	the big frame	+ "The Big Frame". Sponsored by: Fatima. Eddie Stokes has been the victim of a hit and run driver o...
06.29.1950	the big grab	+ "The Big Grab". Sponsored by: Fatima. Professor Kessell's wife has been kidnapped. The show featu...
06.22.1950	the big mink	+ Dragnet. June 22, 1950. Program #54. "The Big Mink". Sponsored by: Fatima. A furrier named Albert...
06.15.1950	the big press	+ Dragnet. June 15, 1950. Program #53. "The Big Purse". Sponsored by: Fatima. Two young purse-snatc...
06.08.1950	big smart guy	+ "The Big Smart Guy". Sponsored by: Fatima. Elizabeth Benham has been shot and killed by a robber....
06.01.1950	big fake	+ "The Big Fake". Sponsored by: Fatima. A drunk accuses a rookie cop of beating him up, robbing him...
05.25.1950	the big key	+ "The Big Key". Sponsored by: Fatima. Maria Comacho is found dead in a churchyard. The clues are m...
05.18.1950	the big pug	+ "The Big Pug". Sponsored by: Fatima. Two robbers hold up the owner of a cafe in the parking lot o...
05.11.1950	the big knife	+ "The Big Knife". Sponsored by: Fatima. Twenty-one girls have been knifed while at high school. Wh...
05.04.1950	the big badge	+ "The Big Badge". Sponsored by: Fatima. "The Badge Bandit" has struck fifteen times, but is now tr...
04.27.1950	the big job	+ "The Big Job". Sponsored by: Fatima. While trying to arrest Alfred Garvey, an off-duty cop about ...
04.20.1950	the big trail	+ Program #45. "The Big Trial". Sponsored by: Fatima. Sheila Gordon is the victim of a hit and run ...
04.13.1950	the big watch	+ "The Big Watch". Sponsored by: Fatima. A gang of "Hitch-Hike Bandits" are assaulting and killing ...
04.06.1950	the big book	+ "The Big Book". Sponsored by: Fatima. Obscene "comic" books are being sold in high schools. The t...
03.30.1950	big gangster pt2	+ "The Big Gangster" Part 2. Sponsored by: Fatima. The search for the killers of Gus Valentine cont...
03.23.1950	big gangster pt1	+ "The Big Gangster" Part 1. Sponsored by: Fatima. Who has taken a shot at Gus Valentine? Even thou...
03.16.1950	the big boys	+ "The Big Boys". Sponsored by: Fatima. A gang of four robbers, and their puppy (!) have come to Lo...
03.09.1950	the big thank you	+ "The Big Thank You". Sponsored by: Fatima. Annie Johnson, a woman on parole from a murder convict...

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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