Asc | 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
03.15.1953	the big impossible	+ Dragnet. March 15, 1953. Program #195. "The Big Impossible". Sponsored by: Chesterfield. Bernie H... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
06.07.1951	the big imposter	+ Dragnet. June 7, 1951. Program #104. "The Big Imposter". Sponsored by: Fatima. Jimmy Sherman, a t...
03.22.1953	the big informant	+ Dragnet. March 22, 1953. Program #196. "The Big Informant". Sponsored by: Chesterfield. Three saf... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
04.27.1950	the big job	+ "The Big Job". Sponsored by: Fatima. While trying to arrest Alfred Garvey, an off-duty cop about ...
05.10.1953	the big joke	+ Dragnet. May 10, 1953. Program #203. "The Big Joke". Sponsored by: Chesterfield, Fatima. A barten... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
10.05.1952	the big jolt	+ Dragnet. October 5, 1952. Program #172. , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Jolt". A drunken teenager a...
01.11.1951	the big jump	+ Dragnet. January 11, 1951. Program #83. "The Big Jump". Sponsored by: Fatima. Walter Harrison is ...
05.25.1950	the big key	+ "The Big Key". Sponsored by: Fatima. Maria Comacho is found dead in a churchyard. The clues are m...
11.10.1953	the big kid	+ Dragnet. November 10, 1953. Program #221. , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Kid". A teen-age gang war... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
03.02.1950	the big kill	+ "The Big Kill". Sponsored by: Fatima. Jack Carver, just out of Folsom, is suspected of killing a ...
05.11.1950	the big knife	+ "The Big Knife". Sponsored by: Fatima. Twenty-one girls have been knifed while at high school. Wh...
07.26.1951	the big late script	+ Dragnet. July 26, 1951. Program #111. "The Big Late Script". Sponsored by: Fatima. A successful b...
03.08.1953	the big laugh	+ Dragnet. March 8, 1953. Program #194. "The Big Laugh". Sponsored by: Chesterfield. A thoroughly r... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
01.24.1956	the big lay out	+ "The Big Layout". Sponsored by: Chesterfield. Gary Field, a model student who is the son of a cop...
01.25.1953	the big layout	+ Dragnet. January 25, 1953. Program #188. "The Big Layout". Sponsored by: Chesterfield. Gary Field... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
11.01.1951	the big lease	+ Dragnet. November 1, 1951. Program #125. "The Big Lease". Sponsored by: Fatima. Chester Dillon ha...
12.14.1954	the big lens	+ , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Lens". Two men force their way into Mrs. Alston's car, kidnap, rob h... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
09.08.1953	the big lift	+ Dragnet. September 8, 1953. Program #212. "The Big Lift". A burglar has struck seventeen times a... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
11.02.1952	the big light	+ Dragnet. November 2, 1952. Program #176. "The Big Light". Sponsored by: Chesterfield. Henry Wilso...
06.19.1956	the big lilly	+ "The Big Lilly". Sponsored by: Chesterfield, Fatima. Mrs. Rockman has been beaten to death...no, ...
06.14.1953	the big lily	+ Dragnet. June 14, 1953. Program #208. "The Big Lilly". Sponsored by: Chesterfield, Fatima. Mrs. R... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
06.07.1955	the big limp	+ , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Limp". A jewelry store has been burglarized and watches stolen. The...
07.05.1951	the big love	+ Dragnet. July 5, 1951. Program #108. "The Big Love". Sponsored by: Fatima. The program begins wit...
05.24.1951	the big mailman	+ Dragnet. May 24, 1951. Program #102. "The Big Mailman". Sponsored by: Fatima. The search for Harv...
09.14.1950	the big make	+ "The Big Make". Sponsored by: Fatima. Sgt. Friday tracks down the robber at Stendahl's Bakery Sho...

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Air Date	Title	Synopsis
03.15.1953	the big impossible	+ Dragnet. March 15, 1953. Program #195. "The Big Impossible". Sponsored by: Chesterfield. Bernie H... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
03.22.1953	the big informant	+ Dragnet. March 22, 1953. Program #196. "The Big Informant". Sponsored by: Chesterfield. Three saf... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
05.10.1953	the big joke	+ Dragnet. May 10, 1953. Program #203. "The Big Joke". Sponsored by: Chesterfield, Fatima. A barten... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
11.10.1953	the big kid	+ Dragnet. November 10, 1953. Program #221. , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Kid". A teen-age gang war... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
03.08.1953	the big laugh	+ Dragnet. March 8, 1953. Program #194. "The Big Laugh". Sponsored by: Chesterfield. A thoroughly r... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
01.25.1953	the big layout	+ Dragnet. January 25, 1953. Program #188. "The Big Layout". Sponsored by: Chesterfield. Gary Field... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
12.14.1954	the big lens	+ , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Lens". Two men force their way into Mrs. Alston's car, kidnap, rob h... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
09.08.1953	the big lift	+ Dragnet. September 8, 1953. Program #212. "The Big Lift". A burglar has struck seventeen times a... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
06.14.1953	the big lily	+ Dragnet. June 14, 1953. Program #208. "The Big Lilly". Sponsored by: Chesterfield, Fatima. Mrs. R... 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