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
07.20.1954	big heel	+ Dragnet. July 20, 1954. Program #257. , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Heel". A pair of unique tenni... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
02.15.1955	big hat	+ , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Hat". A robber has calmly stolen $80,000 in uncut diamonds. Meanwhi... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
10.05.1954	big handsome bandit	+ , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Handsome Bandit". A tavern has been robbed and a couple shot. One o... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
06.05.1956	big gun part 2	+ "The Big Gun" Part 2. Sponsored by: Chesterfield, Fatima. The conclusion of a car theft story. On...
05.31.1953	big gun part 2 of 2	+ Dragnet. May 31, 1953. Program #206. "The Big Gun" Part 2. Sponsored by: Chesterfield, Fatima. Th...
05.29.1956	big gun part 1	+ "The Big Gun" Part 1. Sponsored by: Chesterfield, Fatima. Sergeant Friday is on the trail of stol...
05.24.1953	big gun part 1 of 2	+ Dragnet. May 24, 1953. Program #205. "The Big Gun" Part 1. Sponsored by: Chesterfield, Fatima. Se... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
06.21.1955	big grab	+ , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Grab". Grace Marchand, a six year old girl has been kidnapped off th...
11.30.1954	big gone	+ , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Gone". A flower shop is robbed and the hold-up men shot and killed.... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
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...
07.12.1955	big genius	+ , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Genius". A young boy has been living in a cave and stealing food to...
02.08.1955	big gap	+ , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Gap". Garfield Hunt has been swindled out of $1500 by a phoney emera... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
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...
05.08.1952	big gamble	+ Dragnet. May 8, 1952. Program #152. "The Big Gamble". Sponsored by: Fatima. A series of floating ...
10.27.1953	big fraud	+ Dragnet. October 27, 1953. Program #219. "The Big Fraud". Sponsored by: Chesterfield, Fatima. INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
11.17.1953	big flight	+ Dragnet. November 17, 1953. Program #222. , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Flight". A new gang has s... 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
08.30.1955	big fellow	+ , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Fellow". The Merton Brothers, dope fiends, robbers, and generally n...
03.08.1955	big father	+ , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Father". A daylight burglar posing as being from the electric compan... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
06.14.1955	big fall guy	+ , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Fallguy". A six year old girl has been kidnapped and a massive effo...
06.01.1950	big fake	+ "The Big Fake". Sponsored by: Fatima. A drunk accuses a rookie cop of beating him up, robbing him...
08.14.1952	big drive	+ Dragnet. August 14, 1952. Program #164. "The Big Drive". Sponsored by: Fatima. John Iverson is fo...
11.16.1954	big dog	+ , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Dog". An old man is threatening to kill the man who poisoned his do... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT

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Air Date	Title	Synopsis
07.20.1954	big heel	+ Dragnet. July 20, 1954. Program #257. , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Heel". A pair of unique tenni... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
02.15.1955	big hat	+ , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Hat". A robber has calmly stolen $80,000 in uncut diamonds. Meanwhi... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
10.05.1954	big handsome bandit	+ , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Handsome Bandit". A tavern has been robbed and a couple shot. One o... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
05.24.1953	big gun part 1 of 2	+ Dragnet. May 24, 1953. Program #205. "The Big Gun" Part 1. Sponsored by: Chesterfield, Fatima. Se... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
11.30.1954	big gone	+ , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Gone". A flower shop is robbed and the hold-up men shot and killed.... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
02.08.1955	big gap	+ , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Gap". Garfield Hunt has been swindled out of $1500 by a phoney emera... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
10.27.1953	big fraud	+ Dragnet. October 27, 1953. Program #219. "The Big Fraud". Sponsored by: Chesterfield, Fatima. INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
11.17.1953	big flight	+ Dragnet. November 17, 1953. Program #222. , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Flight". A new gang has s... 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
03.08.1955	big father	+ , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Father". A daylight burglar posing as being from the electric compan... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
11.16.1954	big dog	+ , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Dog". An old man is threatening to kill the man who poisoned his do... 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