Desc | 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
03.01.1955	big set up	+ , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Set-Up". Friday and Smith get a tip about three kilos of heroin abou... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
09.27.1951	big september man	+ Program #120. "The Big September Man". Sponsored by: Fatima. A secretary named Adele Pryor has be...
07.06.1954	big search	+ Dragnet. July 6, 1954. Program #255. , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Search". Bunny Moran, a thirtee... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
07.05.1955	big rush	+ , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Rush". A series of tavern robberies by "The Whale" and his partner ...
09.06.1955	big ruling	+ , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Ruling". Sam Arthur Freed, a dope pusher specializing in hooking ki...
06.26.1952	big roll	+ Dragnet. June 26, 1952. Program #159. "The Big Roll". Sponsored by: Fatima. Ken Gorman has been a...
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
05.10.1955	big revision	+ , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Revision". A burglar has been caught, but not his $200,000 in stole... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
07.13.1954	big rescue	+ Dragnet. July 13, 1954. Program #256. , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Rescue". Two robbers hold up t... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
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 ...
01.03.1952	big red part 1 of 2	+ Dragnet. January 3, 1952. Program #134. "The Big Red" Part 1. Sponsored by: Fatima. Friday poses ...
09.04.1952	big ray	+ Dragnet. September 4, 1952. Program #167. "The Big Ray". Sponsored by: Fatima. Alfred Prater has ...
11.03.1953	big rain	+ Dragnet. November 3, 1953. Program #220. "The Big Rain". Sponsored by: Chesterfield, Fatima. Ceci... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
11.12.1950	big quack	+ "The Big Quack". Sponsored by: Fatima. Marla Hutchins commits suicide after being robbed by a pho...
10.13.1953	big plea	+ Dragnet. October 13, 1953. Program #217. "The Big Plea". Sponsored by: Chesterfield, Fatima. Jame... 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
03.01.1951	big partner	+ Detective Sergeant Friday is assigned to Robbery Detail. An armed gang has robbed a jewelers store...
08.21.1952	big paper	+ Dragnet. August 21, 1952. Program #165. "The Big Paper". Sponsored by: Fatima. Blank checks have ...
08.31.1954	big office	+ , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Office". Friday and Smith spend the night working in the police bus... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
04.05.1955	big no tooth	+ , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big No Teeth". A robber with a sawed off shotgun holds up a hotel, then... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
03.08.1951	big new years	+ Dragnet. March 8, 1951. "Big New Year's". On New Year's Eve (despite the March broadcast date) a...
04.20.1954	big net	+ Dragnet. April 20, 1954. Program #244. , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Net". Fourteen women have be... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
01.04.1955	big mug	+ "The Big Mug". Sponsored by: Commercials partially deleted. A "strong arm" bandit continues his o... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
05.03.1955	big momma	+Program #298. , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Mama". The owner of Multiple Uranium Investments has l... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
08.09.1955	big missus	+ "The Big Missus". A woman tells the cops that her ex-convict husband is planning a robbery. Part...

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Air Date	Title	Synopsis
03.01.1955	big set up	+ , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Set-Up". Friday and Smith get a tip about three kilos of heroin abou... 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
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
05.10.1955	big revision	+ , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Revision". A burglar has been caught, but not his $200,000 in stole... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
07.13.1954	big rescue	+ Dragnet. July 13, 1954. Program #256. , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Rescue". Two robbers hold up t... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
11.03.1953	big rain	+ Dragnet. November 3, 1953. Program #220. "The Big Rain". Sponsored by: Chesterfield, Fatima. Ceci... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
10.13.1953	big plea	+ Dragnet. October 13, 1953. Program #217. "The Big Plea". Sponsored by: Chesterfield, Fatima. Jame... 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
08.31.1954	big office	+ , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Office". Friday and Smith spend the night working in the police bus... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
04.05.1955	big no tooth	+ , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big No Teeth". A robber with a sawed off shotgun holds up a hotel, then... 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
01.04.1955	big mug	+ "The Big Mug". Sponsored by: Commercials partially deleted. A "strong arm" bandit continues his o... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
05.03.1955	big momma	+Program #298. , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Mama". The owner of Multiple Uranium Investments has l... 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